MLA Format Heading Mayflower Compact and Arbella Covenant Directions​
: Below, you will find the text of the Mayflower Compact and an excerpt from the Arbella Covenant, two documents that are the foundation of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, respectively. Read the two documents and at the end of each, write a BRIEF summary of its concepts. Then, compare/contrast them with the table. After every else is done, answer the questions at the end of the document. Part I: Read the documents Two Important New England Settlements The Plymouth Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony ● Flagship Mayflower arrives ­ 1620 ● Flagship Arbella arrives ­ 1630 ● Leader ­ William Bradford ● Leader ­ John Winthrop ● Settlers known as Pilgrims and ● Settlers are mostly Puritans or Separatists Congregational Puritans ● "The Mayflower Compact"​
provides ● "The Arbella Covenant"​
clearly for social, religious, and economic establishes a religious and theocratic freedom, while still maintaining ties to settlement, free of ties to Great Great Britain. Britain. Source information from​
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature Mayflower Compact 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, etc. Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia1, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant 2
and Combine ourselves together in a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet 3and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty­fourth. Anno Domini 1620. (William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, ed. Samuel Morison, 75­6.) John Carver Edward Tilly Digery Priest William Bradford John Tilly Thomas Williams Edward Winslow Francis Cooke Gilbert Winslow William Brewster Thomas Rogers Edmund Margeson Isaac Allerton Thomas Tinker Peter Brown Miles Standish John Rigdale Richard Bitteridge John Alden Edward Fuller George Soule Samuel Fuller John Turner Richard Clark Christopher Martin Francis Eaton Richard Gardiner William Mullins James Chilton John Allerton William White John Craxton Thomas English Richard Warren John Billington Edward Doten John Howland Moses Fletcher Edward Leister Stephen Hopkins John Goodman Summarize the Mayflower Compact​
: 1
They thought they were going there...ending up landing in the Hudson River Valley. Moved along the coastline until they reached Massachusetts. 2
legal agreement 3
fulfill Source information from​
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature From ​
The Arbella Covenant​
or "A Modell of Christian Charity" (1630) by John Winthrop E­Text God Almighty in His most holy and wise providence4, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind as in all times some must be rich, some poor; some high and eminent in power and dignity, others mean and in subjection. First, to hold conformity with the rest of His works, ... Secondly, that He might have the more occasion to manifest the work of His spirit, ... Thirdly, that every man might have need of other, ... All men thus (by divine providence) ranked into two sorts, rich and poor, under the first are comprehended all such as are able to live comfortably by their own means duly5 improved, and all others are poor, according to the former distribution. There are two rules whereby we are to walk, one toward another; justice and mercy. ... There is likewise a double law by which we are regulated in our conversation, one towards another; in both the former respects, the law of nature and the law of grace, or the moral law of the Gospel. (1) For the persons, we are a company professing ourselves fellow members of Christ; (2) the care of the public must oversway all private respects by which not only conscience but mere civil policy doth bind us; (3) the end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord, the comfort and increase of the body of Christ6 whereof we are members; (4) for the means whereby this must be effected, they are twofold: a conformity with the work and the end we aim at. ... Thus stands the cause between God and us: we are entered into covenant with Him for this work; we have taken out a commission, the Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles, ... if we shall neglect the observation of these articles ... the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us. ... For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by­word through the world. We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God, and all professors for God's sake. We shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going. Therefore, let us choose life, that we, and our seed may live; by obeying. His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity. 4
protective care in accordance with what is required 6
the elected of the Puritans 5
Source information from​
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature Summarize the Arbella Covenant: Part II: Table for Compare/Contrast​
: Find at least three concepts for each column on the table. Concepts specific to the Mayflower Compact Concepts shared with both documents Concepts specific to the Arbella Covenant Part III: Discussion Questions​
: Answer the following questions on this document. Use complete sentences. Answer on a separate line; do not type your answer at the end of the question 1. What do the concepts specific to the Mayflower Compact show you about the people in that group? a. 2. What do the concepts specific to the Arbella Covenant show you about the people in that community? 3. What do the shared concepts tell you about Puritan society, as a whole? 4. How do these documents illustrate a religious view of all aspects of life? Source information from​
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature