Authored and signed by the Pilgrim men, the “Mayflower Compact” was the first covenant or constitution in American history. There is little doubt it was thoughtfully written, and it clearly explains their intent and purpose:
Just as the Pilgrims’ crossing the Atlantic Ocean had not been smooth sailing, neither was life after landing on New England’s shore. Approximately half their group died within a short time, and it was very hard for the survivors to care for the ill among them. However they bore their burden with brotherly love and carried on with unfailing hope. According to Bradford:
“In these hard and difficult beginnings… most sad and lamentable was that in 2 or 3 months time halfe of their company dyed, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts, being infected with the scurvie and other diseases, and which this long voyage and their inaccomodate condition had brought upon them; so as there dyed sometime 2 or 3 a day in the foresaid time; that of 100 persons, scarce 50 reminded.
And of these in the time of most distress, there were but 6 or 7 sound persons who, to their great commendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night or day, but with abundance of toyle and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them, in a word did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren.”
(To be continued… See A GREAT HOPE Part 3.)
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