The colony destined for America, sailed from _Delft-Haven_ for _Southampton_, July 22, 1620; and there met a ship having some English friends on board, who proposed removing with them. Both vessels proceeded to sea; but returned twice into port, on account of defects in the one from Delft, which was dismissed. Part of the company returned to _London_, the remainder betook themselves to the ship, and sailed from _Plymouth_ the 6th of September. After many delays, difficulties and dangers, they made _Cape Cod_ at break of day on the 9th of November, and entered the harbor on the 10th. They offered up their devout and ardent acknowledgments to God for his protection, and had thoughts of landing; but remarking that they were out of the limits of their patent, and in a sort reduced to a state of nature; and hearing some, who came from London, hint, _there is now no authority over us_; they, while on board, formed themselves into a civil body politic, under the crown of _England_, for the purpose of framing “just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices,” to which they promised “all due submission and obedience.” This _contract_ was subscribed by forty-one persons, on Saturday the 11th of November. The whole company of settlers, men, women, children, and servants, amounted to no more than one hundred and one, the exact number that left England—for one had died, but another was born upon the passage. Enfeebled and sickly, we now behold them at the distance of 3000 miles, not only from their native country, but the hospitable land where they lately resided for years, when unfeeling persecution drove them into a voluntary banishment. They have a long and dreary winter before them, and are upon the strange coast of an uncultivated wilderness, without a relation or friend to welcome their arrival, or an house to shelter them; without even a kind inhabitant to comfort them by tender acts of humanity, much less a civilized town or city, from which succour may be obtained on an emergency. Thus circumstanced, they are employed in making discoveries till the 20th of December, when they concluded upon a place for immediate settlement, which they afterward name _New-Plymouth_, in grateful remembrance of the last town they left in their native country.