SOURCE: “William Bradford: The Value of Puritan Historiography,” in Major Writers of Early American Literature, edited by Everett Emerson, University of Wisconsin Press, 1972, pp. 11-31.

In this excerpt, Levin considers the relationship between Bradford's Puritanism and his historiography, discussing the author's reconciliation of economic and spiritual goals in his work, and arguing that Bradford's faith encouraged him to study history.

Famine once we had, wanting corn and bread, But other things God gave us in the stead, As fish and ground nuts, to supply our strait, That we might learn on providence to wait; And know by bread man lives not in his need, But by each word that doth from God proceed. But a while after plenty did come in, From His hand only who doth pardon sin. And all did flourish like the pleasant green, Which in the joyful spring is to be seen. … Another cause...