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The Mayflower Compact, a document sponsored by William Bradford and other Pilgrims, was signed on November 11, 1620 before leaving their ship at Cape Cod. It was a necessary document for several reasons. While sailing over, grumbling and dissatisfactions among crew and passengers were common. The leaders feared that once landed and when they began to start their life free of constraints, there would be those who would try to subject them to their own rule. To prove their intentions were honorable, A written down agreement showing thoughts, actions, and conditions were spelled out was drawn up and signed. They wanted nothing to interfere with their right to worship as they saw fit.

Originally, their voyage and set conditions of passage collateral was with the Virginia Company. They were to work for them and with them - for a set time -in setting up a new colony in that area. Stormy weather and perilous sea conditions cancelled their plans. Now they must land in New England instead of farther on down the coast in Virginia. They feared their original protection would no longer hold. The Mayflower Compact, resembling the original document as much as they could conceive of it, was their answer to quiet their fears. They wanted no unforeseen rulers to subject them to contrary rules later on.

The two companies, the Virginia Company with whom the Pilgrims had secured passage and Massachusetts Bay Company were different. The leaders, understanding the importance of the first colony and wanting to add whatever protection they could to do no wrong to neither themselves nor their sponsors, undertook to set down their priorities on paper should there be controversy. Being loyal and obedient to the first contract they wanted something in writing to show that they still were loyal to the principals of starting a new colony in the New World even though in another location. After they wrote and signed the Mayflower Compact, they elected John Carver to govern them. After his death, William Bradford was elected and remained governor for several years.

We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Soverign Lord King James, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, defender of the faith, etc. begins the Mayflower Compact. It was written and singed on November 11, 1920. It is interesting to note that although they probably loathed the ruling King's tactics and heavy handed means of dealing with them, they still honored them their position as leaders and they were respectful of England. They had no thoughts to do anything other than to bring honor on England by starting a hopeful new way of life in the colonies. Possibly they had visions of leading such pure and victorious lives in the new land that in time the Church of England would have nothing else to do but to emulate what God's chosen had brought about.

Most new religious begin in this way. Individuals get a whole new view of what religion should be according to what they have perceived and then take off in other directions. Others with like minds or pliable minds follow. The Pilgrims were wise in that they gave God credit for everything but were unwise in the lack of understanding the differences of humanity. Subconsciously they ran the same type of controlling religion that they had grown up under but with differences. In time, their own members turned against them, was kicked out and had to flee to newer, unused territory. As an example, Roger Williams and his new church group at Providence Rhode Island.

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