Carpenter/Moll/Beard 4
Will Beard, Stephanie Carpenter, and Sydney Moll
Ms. Henry
American Literature I
26 October, 2014
"Of Plymouth Plantation:" Chapters 9 & 10
"Of Plymouth Plantation" is a manuscript of Bradford's history starting in 1620. The first book was copied into the church records and preserved, but unfortunately the second part was presumably lost. The manuscripts were found in the residence of the Bishop of London and were published together for the first time in 1856. There seems to be immeasurable history in these books.
William Bradford, the author of "Of Plymouth Plantation" gives a narrative of the voyage to Cape Cod. In the beginning of chapter 9, Bradford starts with a story of a young sailor whom had cursed and slighted the pilgrims for their weakness and constant sickness. However, that same sailor died from an unstated disease, giving the pilgrims peace as they no longer had persecution from any sailor.
Bradford also mentions that young John Howland had fallen into the sea. Howland was under the water for a long time and as he held on to a topsail halyard, a rope that hangs overboard, he was pulled down to a deep level while the ship moved at a steady pace. After he was rescued Howland was sick for a long time, but survived in spite of his experience.
As the Pilgrims finally reach Cape Code, Bradford explains the problems of the voyage which were part of the reason they had not made it all the way to Jamestown. The Pilgrims were elated to see land however they were also troubled because they had arrived during winter. Not only were land conditions poor for farming at this time, but the ground was also hard. The few provisions they brought had been...