<P> The Mayflower was originally bound for the Colony of Virginia, financed by the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London . Storms forced them to anchor at the hook of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, as it was unwise to continue with provisions running short . This inspired some of the Strangers to proclaim that, since the settlement would not be made in the agreed - upon Virginia territory, they "would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them ." To prevent this, the Pilgrims chose to establish a government . The Mayflower Compact was based simultaneously upon a majoritarian model (taking into account that women, children and servants could not vote) and the settlers' allegiance to the king . It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of order and survival . The Pilgrims had lived for some years in Leiden, a city in the Dutch Republic . "Just as a spiritual covenant had marked the beginning of their congregation in Leiden, a civil covenant would provide the basis for a secular government in America ." </P> <P> The original document has been lost, but three versions exist from the 17th century: printed in Mourt's Relation (1622), which was reprinted in Purchas his Pilgrimes (1625); hand - written by William Bradford in his journal Of Plimoth Plantation (1646); and printed by Bradford's nephew Nathaniel Morton in New - Englands Memorial (1669). The three versions differ slightly in wording and significantly in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation . William Bradford wrote the first part of Mourt's Relation, including its version of the compact, so he wrote two of the three versions . The wording of those two versions is indeed quite similar, unlike that of Morton . Bradford's handwritten manuscript is kept in a vault at the State Library of Massachusetts . </P> <P> IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN . We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c . Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience . IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape - Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty - fourth, Anno Domini; 1620 . </P> <P> The document was signed under the Old Style Julian calendar, since England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752 . The Gregorian date would be November 21 . </P>

We...covenant and combine ourselves into a civil body politic
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