William Bradford

Plymouth Plantation

Excerpt: “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."


Reflection: This account has helped me understand how important religious freedom is. I believe that a lot of Americans take for granted what our ancestors worked so hard for. I now feel gratitude for our relatives because they instituted the civil rights we practice today. They underwent days and nights fighting for what they thought was right in order for the future generations to get what they never got to experience. America gave people a dream to better the lives for their children and children to come. It gave the immigrants hope to stand up for themselves. They fought the war of religious persecution and successfully won it!


Dear Diary,
This account is defiantly the story of my life. It has been many days and many nights since our departure, hopefully soon we will arrive to America. As the days go by the more restless we become, many are fighting to stay alive. It is dangerous traveling for so long, the nights are freezing and the food is very scarce. The weather is rough and parts of the ship are beginning to fall off, this has caused us to constantly live in fear of our lives, we must always lean on God and realize that he has a plan for us. Most of all I miss having privacy and hanging out with my friends. Some of us regret deciding to come to America. Scurvy, is a disease that is going around the ship, it's caused from the lack of vitamin C, due to the lack of food it is inevitable to kill the disease. I know after all of our struggles in the end it will all be worth it because were going to America to escape religious prosecution. As much as I want to arrive in America, I really want to be able to practice whatever religion I shall choose. The freedom is overwhelming and amazing! I feel that God has finally answered my prayers and is allowing me to worship him the way I want to. This trip is going to change my life forever and I can't wait to see the outcome!


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