nance, and waited for a new apostolic commission to give it validity. But the vital part of religion never deserted him. However his theories shifted, he never ceased to be a single-hearted lover of God and men. ..... 1 "Mr. Williams was rebap tized by one Holyman, a poor man, late of Salem. Then Mr. Williams rebaptized him and some ten more.' (Winthrop, I. 293.) "At Providence, matters went after the old manner. Mr. Williams and many of his company, a few months since, were in all haste rebaptized, and denied communion with all others; and now he was come to question his second baptism, not being able to derive the authority of it from the Apostles, otherwise than by the ministers of England, whom he judged to be ill authority, so as he conceived God would raise up some apostolic power; therefore he bent himself that way." (Ibid., 306.)-"I walked with him in the Baptists' way about three or four months, in which time he brake from the society, and declared at large the ground and reasons of it, that their baptism could not be right, because it was not administered by an apostle. After that, he set himself upon a way of seeking (with two or three of them that had dissented with him) by way of preaching and praying; and there he continued a year or two, till two of the three left him." (Letter of Richard Scott in George Fox's New-England Fire-Brand Quenched," 247.) 36 CHAPTER XI. THE change of rulers in Massachusetts at the deposition of Winthrop had consisted merely in the promotion of two of his associates in the magistracy, while he was still their colleague in the Board of Assistants. The government continued to be conducted according to the same principles and methods as during the four years of his wise and upright administration. While the intelligence from England caused great uneasiness, the means and the confidence of the colonists were increased by the arrival of large numbers of their friends.1 "Five September. hundred pounds more was raised towards fortifications," almost immediately after the first large expenditure for that purpose. flag. 1634. ... The question which has been referred to, respecting the obliteration of the cross of St. George from the royal enMutilation of sign, arose during the year of Dudley's administhe English tration. At a Court of Assistants, "complaint Νον. 5. was made by some of the country, . . . . . that the ensign at Salem was defaced; namely, one part of the red cross taken out. Upon this an attachment was awarded against Richard Davenport, ensign-bearer, to appear at the next Court to answer. Much matter was made of this, as fearing it would be taken' as an act of rebellion, or of like high nature, in defacing the king's colors; though the truth were, it was done upon this opinion, that the red cross was given to the king of England by the Pope, as an ensign of victory, and so a superstitious thing, and a relic of Antichrist." 3 1 Winthrop, I. 135, 143, 149, 161, 164, 169, 196, 205. 2 Ibid., 144. 3 Ibid., 146. See above, p. 409. Nov. 27. In the existing state of relations with England, the business was critical. The next step taken in relation to it is thus recorded: "The Assistants met at the Governor's, to advise about the defacing of the cross in the ensign at Salem, where, taking advice with some of the ministers, we agreed to write to Mr. Downing in England of the truth of the matter, under all our hands, that, if occasion were, he should show it in our excuse; for therein we expressed our dislike of the thing, and our purpose to punish the offenders, yet with as much wariness as we might, being doubtful of the lawful use of the cross in an ensign, though we were clear that fact, as concerning the matter, was very unlawful." After three months' further deliberation, "Mr. Endicott was called to answer for defacing the cross in the ensign; but because the Court could not agree about the thing, whether the ensigns should be laid by, in regard that many refused to follow them, the whole cause was deferred till the next General Court, and the Commissioners for Military Affairs gave order in the mean time that all the ensigns should be laid aside." It is worthy of remark, as an indication of the sense entertained of the delicacy of the question, that in the public record no notice is taken of these proceedings. 2 1635. March 4. Israel 1634. The eccentricity of another prominent citizen troubled for a short time the quiet of Dudley's government. Israel Stoughton was a member, for Dorchester, of the first General Court that admitted Deputies, hav- Stoughton. ing probably come to Massachusetts the year before. A fortune, exceeding that of most of his neighbors, may have made him impatient of his inferior official position. At a Court of Assistants, "he 1635. was questioned for denying the magistracy among March 4. 1 Winthrop, I. 150. Emanuel setts Company, and came to MassachuDowning, who had married Winthrop's setts in 1637 or 1638. sister, was a member of the Massachu 2 Ibid., 156. us, affirming that the power of the Governor was but ministerial, &c. He had also much opposed the Magistrates, and slighted them, and used many weak arguments against the negative voice, as himself acknowledged upon record." 1 Having, moreover, "written a certain book which had occasioned much trouble and offence to the Court, he did desire of the Court that the said book might forthwith be burned, as being weak and offensive." But his submission did not save him from being "disenabled for bearing any public office in the commonwealth, within this jurisdiction, for the space of three years, for affirming the Assistants were no Magistrates." 2 Those were no times for allowing the authority of the local government to be called in question. chosen Gov ernor. May 6. Dudley did not possess the qualities which attract popular favor, so much as those which justify confidence. John Haynes But probably it was not owing to this defect that his service as Governor was limited to one year. The freemen intended to make it evident, that they did not forget Cotton's lesson concerning the right of permanence in office. It has been mentioned that the Governor now chosen was John Haynes, a person destined to fill an important place in the primeval history of New England. Little is recorded of him before his emigration, except that he was a gentleman of large estate in the county of Essex. He had come to America in company with John Cotton, and at the first election after his arrival had been chosen an Assistant, in which office he had now served a year. Richard Bellingham, who had arrived still more recently, was elected to the second place. Bellingham, Bellingham, who had been educated a lawyer, Governor. had filled the office of Recorder in the English Boston, and was one of the twenty-six freemen named in the charter, which he was thought to have had a hand in 3 See above, pp. 367, 378, 410. Richard Deputy 1 Winthrop, I. 155. 2 Mass. Col. Rec., I. 135, 136. framing. Atherton Hough, who had come over with Haynes, and Richard Dummer, who had been at Roxbury three years, were chosen Assistants. The other Magistrates were the same as in the preceding year, except that Endicott and Ludlow were dismissed to private life, the former on account of his proceeding in relation to the king's flag, the latter because of his having indiscreetly resented the promotion of Haynes over him. "He protested against the election of Governor as void, for that the Deputies of the several towns had agreed upon the election before they came," &c. His objections to such electioneering were thought worthy of consideration. "This was generally discussed, and the election adjudged good." He had yet another way to show his sense of wrong, and "at his own request was dismissed from the charge of overseeing the fortification on Castle Island." He was still for the present one of the Military Commissioners, but from this place also he was discharged after a few months.2 1 The elections at this Court had been made "by papers." The names of candidates for the two highest places were written on the ballots. For the choice of Assist- Elections ants, the names were successively announced by by ballot. the Governor, and the freemen signified their approbation by an inscribed vote, and their dissent by a blank. After a short experience of Deputies in the General Court, it seemed desirable that the freemen should have the largest liberty in their selection, and it was ordered that thenceforward they should "be elected by papers."3 The rich and liberal Governor, "in his speech to the people after his election, declared his purpose to spare their charge towards his allowance this year, partly in respect of their love showed towards him, and partly for that he observed how much the people had been pressed lately with public charges, which the poorer sort did much groan under.” 4 1 Winthrop, I. 158. 2 Mass. Col. Rec., I. 145, 161. 3 Ibid., 157. 4 Winthrop, I. 159. |