The subject of this passage is how courage, faith, prudence and fortitude can help overcome all the challenges involved in great undertakings. By writing it, William Bradford wished to make the young descendants of the Mayflower Pilgrims aware of the virtues that made it possible for the Puritans the northern part of the American continent to pursue this venture. He refers to the "answerable courages" through which they faced all kinds of difficulties, which were found to be "many, but not invincible", and depsite the uncertainty and the hardships that the Pigrims had to face, the author shows himself optimistical, hopeful and full of faith, as he expresses that "through ye help of God, by fortitude and patience, [such challenges may] either be borne, or overcome."
