五月花号
《五月花号公约》
众人订立了《五月花号公约》
这些移民本来是打算乘坐“五月花号”前往弗吉尼亚的,可是半路遭遇风向改变,只能在普利茅斯湾登陆。他们本来是持有土地许可状的,到了新地方许可状就没用了,为了避免内讧,船上41名成年男子参与讨论,妇女们只有旁听的份,经过反复和郑重的讨论协商,他们在船舱中签署了一份公约,此即后人所称的“五月花号公约”,这是英国移民在北美洲自愿达成的第一个社区自治协议。
“五月花公约”内容如下:
In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten,the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c., haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions,& offices, from time to time, as sha