puritans finding the new land

troubles

the transfer of passengers to the Mayflower after one of the other ships became unseaworthy

they

Even though Bradford is one of the Pilgrims, he refers to them in the third person.

God's providence

A special work of divine intervention observed during the voyage.

proud and profane

Describes a young man among the seamen who was haughty and disrespectful.

lusty

Refers to a young man with a strong and able body.

haughty

Describes the young man's arrogant demeanor.

execrations

Grievous curses or expressions of anger.

gently reproved

To be mildly corrected or scolded.

smite

To strike or inflict a serious injury.

grievous disease

A severe illness that led to the young man's death.

thrown overboard

To be cast into the sea, in this case referring to the young man's fate.

hull

To keep a ship steady in rough seas without using sails.

seele

A term referring to a part of the ship that contributed to the young man's fall into the sea.

topsail halyards

Ropes used to control the topsail of a ship.

fathoms

A unit of measurement equal to six feet, used to measure water depth.

profitable member

Someone who contributes positively to both church and society.

Cape Cod

The land where the Pilgrims arrived after their long voyage.

good harbor

A safe place for ships to dock.

blessed the God of Heaven

To express gratitude to God for safe passage.

vast and furious ocean

Describes the dangerous and expansive sea the Pilgrims crossed.

perils

Serious and immediate dangers faced during the voyage.

miseries

The hardships and suffering experienced during the journey.

firm and stable earth

Refers to solid ground, contrasting with the instability of the sea.

divers

numerous

providence

divine care or guidance; foresight

profane

irreverent

reproved

reprimanded

sundry

various or assorted

halyards

ropes for raising a sail

peril

danger

scurvy

disease typical on long sea voyages resulting from lack of vitamin C.

succor

help; relief

Scripture

In the Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 28), shipwrecked Christians were helped by the 'barbarous people' of Malta.

Apostle

Bradford is referring to the biblical story of St Paul being shipwrecked on the Mediterranean Island of Malta.

subject to

likely to be affected by something

general calamity

a term referring to the widespread suffering and misfortune experienced by the Pilgrims

homely

necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named

dainty

delicate or refined in taste

queasy

feeling nauseous or uneasy

inaccommodate

unfit

loathsome

offensive or disgusting

William Brewster

one of the pilgrim leaders

Myles Standish

professional soldier hired by the Pilgrims to be their military advisor. He was not originally a Puritan but later became a member of the congregation.

calamity

an event that brings terrible loss or lasting distress

Samoset

a Pemaquid tribal chief from Maine

Squanto

a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who in 1614 had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and taken to Spain to be sold as a slave. He escaped and eventually returned to Massachusetts in 1619, only to find that his home village had been destroyed by plague.

Massasoit

the great sachem who made peace with the Pilgrims

discourse

conversation

peace terms

1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of their people. 2. That if any of his did hurt to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him. 3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his. 4. If any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any did war against them, he should aid them. 5. He should send to his neighbors confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace. 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

Sowams

the place where Massasoit returned, some 40 miles from the Pilgrims' location

interpreter

a person who translates spoken language

instrument

a special tool or means used for a specific purpose

corn

a staple crop that the Pilgrims were directed to set by Squanto

fish

a resource that Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to take

procuring

the act of obtaining or acquiring something

Sachem

chief

aforesaid

spoken of earlier

now ... 24 years

The treaty actually lasted until King Philip's War began in 1675.

confederates

allies; persons who share a common purpose

comprised

included

procure

to obtain by care or effort

commodity

a product or economic good; an article of trade

feigned

fictitious; not genuine

reports

Although the specific day of the Plymouth colonists' first Thanksgiving is not known, it occurred in the fall of 1621.

First Thanksgiving

For three days, Massasoit and almost a hundred of his men joined the Pilgrims for feasts and games.

Captain Smith

a historical figure who wrote about the experiences of the early settlers.

Nandsamond

Noise or rumor from Nansemond, another tribe of the Chesapeake region.

peace

a state of tranquility or quietness, free from disturbance.

war

a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country.

acorns

the nut of the oak tree, used as food by some indigenous peoples.

venison

meat from a deer.

wild turkeys

a large bird native to North America, significant in the diet of early settlers.

fowl

birds, especially those raised for food.

fishing

the activity of catching fish, a source of food for early settlers.

harvest

the process of gathering mature crops from the fields.

provisions

supplies of food, especially for a journey.