is no foundation for it in the statement of Governor
Bradford, who was one of the passengers, and who says that they were
"not a little joyful" when they found certainly that the land was Cape
Cod; and afterwards, speaking of their coasting in the neighbourhood,
Bradford says, "They hasted to a place that their pilot (one Willm.
Coppin, _who had been there before_) did assure them was a good harbour,
which he had been in." (History of Plymouth Plantation, p. 86.) They did
not even go ashore on their first entrance into Cape Cod harbour; but,
as Bradford says, "after some deliberation among themselves and with the
master of the ship, they _tacked about_ and resolved to stand for the
_southward, to find some place about Hudson river for their
habitation_." (_Ib._, p. 117.) "After sailing southward half a day, they
found themselves suddenly among shoals and breakers" (a ledge of rocks
and shoals which are a terror to navigators to this day); and the wind
shifting against them, they scud back to Cape Cod, and, as Bradford
says, "thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night
overtook them, and the next day they got into the Cape harbour, where
they rode in safety. Being thus arrived in a good harbour, and brought
safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven,"
&c.

The selection, before leaving England, of the neighbourhood of the
Hudson river as their location, showed a worldly sagacity not to be
exceeded by any emigrants even of the present century. Bancroft
designates it "the best position on the whole coast." (History of the
United States, Vol. I., p. 209.)]

[Footnote 7: The agreement was as follows:--"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, &c., 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 [then called] Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly
and mutually, in the presence of God and of one another, covenant and
combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better
ordering and preservation, and furthermore of the ends aforesaid; and by
virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just laws,
ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as