William Bradford "Of Plymouth Plantation"

"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" (Bradford 1).

Diary:

I've have been on the ship for 2 months and not yet have I seen this new land. Although some fellow passengers have stopped praying, my payers, nor praise to God, has stopped. I have full faith in my lord. Oh savior, the days seem to get longer, let us see land soon. The children, as well as adults, are becoming restless with every passing day. We were told that this passge to the new world would only be 2 months, I wonder how much longer we will have to wait.

Reflection:

This Puritan writing describes a voyage to the new world and the passengers' faith in God during the trip. Throughout the narritive, the author continually refernces things as an act of god, and claims that many things are God's doing. The auhtor truly believes that this passge to the new world is God's will.

Source: "Of Plymouth Plantation"-William Bradford

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