102 THE DORSET COLONY IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Christian faith, as 

 well as for the honour of our king and country, to plant the first 

 colony in the northern parts of Virginia, unite and bind ourselves 

 by the present act, mutually and most solemnly in the presence of 

 God and one another, to a civil state body, to our better order- 

 ing and to the upholding and furthering of the above-named aims, 

 and by virtue of this from time to time to arrange, lay down, and 

 introduce such right and reasonable ordinations, resolutions, consti- 

 tutions, and offices as shall be found fitted for the general good of 

 the settlement. To which we promise all due submission and 

 obedience." 



This voluntary declaration, showing the true animus of the 

 settlers on reaching their destination, gives no evidence of Republican 

 sentiments, whilst it is full of unaffected piety and true patriotism 

 that does them infinite credit. 



John Carver was appointed first Governor. Miles Standish, 

 who is described as being of small stature and insignificant 

 appearance, but of undaunted courage and inflexible endurance, 

 was their military leader, and was sent out with some companions 

 to reconnoitre the country. After many hardships, dangers, and 

 losses they determined on fixing their settlement at a certain 

 harbour which, in honour of their last port of departure, they 

 named New Plymouth. Their sufferings during the first winter 

 were very severe, and it seems the new arrivals were in no way 

 benefitted by the traders in fish and furs, who, hailing from 

 Bristol, Plymouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester, and Exeter, had 

 had commercial interests in the Bay of Boston for years prior to 

 this new settlement. Edmund Burke, in his "Account of the 

 European Settlements in America," states that nearly half of them 

 perished from scurvey, cold, and want ; but the remainder were not 

 dismayed. They were soon joined by friends in great numbers 

 until the King became alarmed and endeavoured to prohibit 

 emigration. Amongst those seeking and soliciting grants in New 

 England were the Pelhams, the Hampdens, the Pyms, and even 

 Oliver Cromwell, "when Archbishop Laud, unwilling that so 



