One sailor, a "proud and profane young man," in particular is especially outspoken in mocking the Pilgrims for their seasickness. He seems to regard them as a hassle, and he curses them every day of the voyage, even saying that if he had the chance, he would throw them overboard, and "make merry with what they had." But this young man was struck with what Bradford calls a "grievous disease," which turns out to be...
One sailor, a "proud and profane young man," in particular is especially outspoken in mocking the Pilgrims for their seasickness. He seems to regard them as a hassle, and he curses them every day of the voyage, even saying that if he had the chance, he would throw them overboard, and "make merry with what they had." But this young man was struck with what Bradford calls a "grievous disease," which turns out to be mortal. In fact, Bradford notes, it is him that is thrown overboard when he receives a burial at sea. Like everything else that occurs to them or the people around them, Bradford and the Pilgrims interpret the young man's death as God's will. "They [the Pilgrims] noted it to be the just hand of God upon him," he says. Later, some of the mariners want to return home when the ship is damaged in a serious of violent storms. But the Pilgrims (and, in fact, some of the crew) prevail upon the ship's captain to continue. So the relationship between the godly Puritans and the decidedly secular-minded crew is strained, and the strains reveal themselves in moments of peril and adversity. The Pilgrims turn to their faith, and the sailors seem to take out their anxieties on the Pilgrims, who they must have seen as somewhat odd and perhaps a little self-righteous.
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