1. IMPRIMIS, that £30 in money shall be forthwith paid him by the companye’s treasurer towards the chardges of fitting himself with apparell and other necessaryes for his voyage.
2. Item, that £10 more shall be paid over by the said treasurer, towards the providing of books for present use.
3. Item, that he shall have £30 yearly paid him for three years, to beginne from the tyme of his first arrival in New England; and so to be accounted and paid him at the end of every yeare.
4. Item, that during the said tyme the company shall provide for him and his family necessaryes of diett, housing, and firewood; and shall be att charges of transporting him into New England. And at the end of the said three years, if he shall not like to continue there any longer, to be at the charge of transporting him back for England.
5. Item, that in convenient tyme an house shall be built, and certayne lands allotted thereunto, which during his stay in the country and continuance in the ministry, shall bee for his use; and after his death, or removal, the same to be for succeeding ministers.
6. Item, at the expiration of the said three years an hundred acres of land shall be assigned to him and his heirs for ever.
7. Item, that in case he shall depart this life in that country, the said company shall take care for his widow during her widowhood and aboade in that country and plantation, and the like for his children while they remain upon the said plantation.
8. Item, that the milk of two kyne shall be appointed towards the chardges of diett for him and his familye as aforesaid, and half the increase of calves during the said three years: But the said two kyne, and the other half of the increase to return to the company at the end of the said three years.
9. Item, that he shall have liberty of carrying over bedding, linen, brass, iron, pewter, of his owne, for his necessary use during the said tyme.
10. Item, that if he continue seven years upon the said plantation, that then one hundred acres of land more shall be allotted him for him and his for ever.
And accordingly it was desired of Mr. Higginson to draw up a confession of faith and covenant in scripture language; which being done, was agreed upon. And because they foresaw that this wilderness might be looked upon as a place of liberty, and therefore might in time be troubled with erroneous spirits, therefore they did put in one article into the confession of faith, on purpose, about the duty and power of the magistrate in matters of religion. Thirty copies of the aforesaid confession of faith and covenant being written out for the use of thirty persons, who were to begin the work.When the 6th of August came, it was kept as a day of fasting and prayer, in which, after the sermons and prayers of the two ministers, in the end of the day, the aforesaid confession of faith and covenant being solemnly read, the forenamed persons did solemnly profess their consent thereunto; and then proceeded to the ordaining of Mr. Skelton pastor, and Mr. Higginson teacher of the church there. Mr. Bradford, the governor of Plimouth, and some others with him, coming by sea, were hindered by cross winds, that they could not be there at the beginning of the day, but they came into the assembly afterward, and gave them the right-hand of fellowship, wishing all prosperity, and a blessed success unto such good beginnings. After which, at several times, many others joined to the church in the same way. The confession of faith and covenant, fore-mentioned, was acknowledged only as a direction, pointing unto that faith and covenant contained in the Holy Scripture, and therefore no man was confined unto that form of words, but only to the substance, end, and scope of the matter contained therein. And for the circumstantial manner of joining to the church, it was ordered according to the wisdom and faithfulness of the elders, together with the liberty and ability of any person.
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