William Bradford

September 6, 1620

These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness. And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey’s end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he Were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.

After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was soundly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the mid-ship was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage. So some of the chief of the company, perceiving the mariners to fear the insufficiency of the ship as appeared by their mutterings, they entered into serious consultation with the master and other officers of the ship, to consider in time of the danger, and rather to return than to cast themselves into a desperate and inevitable peril. And truly there was great distraction and difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves; fain would they do what could be done for their wages’ sake (being now near half the seas over) and on the other hand they were loath to hazard their lives too desperately. But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the ship to be strong and firm under water; and for the buckling of the main beam, there was a great iron screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his place; the which being done, the carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it, set firm in the lower deck and otherwise bound, he would make it sufficient. And as for the decks and upper works, they would caulk them as well as they could, and though with the working of the ship they would not long keep staunch, yet there would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not over-press her with sails. So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.

http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm

Reflection:

A huge fear of the puritans who came to America first was the ship breaking. They also felt that they had to rely completely on god for everything. Everything is gods will including men getting sick and dying. This strong sense of religion was what held them together and it was what made them want to come to America. They did not want to be persecuted anymore for what they believed in. This religious background is very important to the American dream because though persecution is not completely gone in America there is less so people feel safer.

Dear Diary,

Today has been another incredibly long day here on board this boat. Tomorrow we will have been on this cursed ship for 2 whole months. I have been reading "Of Plymouth Plantation", a book my mother gave me about the very first people to come to America and I have to say that I whole heartedly agree with them and know just what they were feeling in their ship. In the book there is a man who curses a lot and then he gets sick and dies. Though nobody had died yet (thank God), but most of the sailors here are like the man in the story. They cuss and are rude and sometimes I wish that they would get thrown overboard but then who would be here to take control of the ship so I am glad that they are here. Another problem that the people in the book faced was a fear of the boat breaking or sinking. Though this is my first time on a giant ship like this I have always been afraid if sinking or drowning. That is why I stay up on the top deck most of the day, it’s where I'm at right now. Well, I have to go but I will write again soon.

Nicole Kilbourne