Few circumstances of much interest occurred | alry. Tasses, gorgets, and corselets are not selduring Gov. Endicott's administration in 1644. dom mentioned in the narrative of the entire skirThe contest, in the mother country, between par-mishes with the Indians. The degree of attention ties was so nearly balanced, and the issue so doubt-given to military affairs varied of course with the ful, that it was difficult for the colony to decide danger apprehended from these subtle foes. The which to adhere to, its policy being to attach itself companies were required sometimes to train every to the strongest. The government adopted a pru-week, and again only four times a year. dent neutrality, to avoid offence on either side, or In 1649, Governor Winthrop having recently rather by public proclamation declared its attach- died, Mr. Endicott was chosen to succeed him, ment to both. Yet the sympathies of the colonists and of the government were clearly on the side of Parliament, as appears from the following incident. A vessel from London, commanded by Captain Stagg, sailing under the authority of Parliament, had captured in Boston harbor another vessel sailing under the King's orders, from Bristol, a port in favor of the King. By all laws, Boston harbor was neutral ground, and the capture unlawful. But when the question, whether Stagg should be allowed to retain his prize, was brought before the Magistrates and Elders, the greater part of them decided in his favor.

and as one of the earliest of his public acts, joined the magistrates, in proclaiming their detestation of long hair. The document is so curious a paper, that we give a copy.*

"Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the manner of Ruffians and barbarous Indians, has begun to invade New England, contrary to the rule of God's word, which says it is a shame for a man to wear long hair, as also the commendable custom generally of all the godly of our nation until within this few years;-We, the magistrates who have subscribed this paper, (for the shewing of our own innocency in this behalf,) do declare A law was passed this year touching the Ana- and manifest our dislike and detestation against baptists, in which, after affirming that from their the wearing of such long hair, as against a thing "first arising," they had been "the Incendiaries of uncivil and unmanly, whereby men doe deforme the Commonwealth and the Troublers of Churches themselves, and offend sober and modest men, and in all places where they have been," that they doe corrupt good manners: We doe therefore earn“denied the Ordinance of Magistracy," &c. ; they estly entreat all elders of this jurisdiction (as often decreed that all persons convicted of uttering as they shall see cause) to manifest their zeale their sentiments should be banished from the against it, in their publicke administrations, and to commonwealth. The law was harsh, and unne- take care that the members of their respective cessary. It has happened very unfortunately for churches be not defiled therewith, that so such as the reputation of Governor Endicott, that the se- shall prove obstinate and will not reform themselves, verest laws aiming to suppress heresies in religion may have God and man to witness against them." were passed, and the strictest execution of them This was signed by Governor Endicott, Deputy took place, under his administration. That he ap- Governor Dudley, and seven Assistants. They proved the laws, and favored the rigorous execution evidently entertained conscientious scruples on the of them, we cannot doubt; and as little that his subject, however whimsical such scruples may appolicy, though a mistaken one, was honestly enter-pear to us.

ed, and that in an age when intolerance was the As a fruit of perhaps the same spirit, guided universal creed, and men's better feelings were by some political considerations, was the various subdued and crushed by a stern fanaticism, an ex- sumptuary laws, passed in later administrations of emption from the common error were a proof of Governor Endicott. In 1650, 1651, 1652, and high virtue, rather than a yielding to it an evidence 1653, he was re-elected Governor, and in 1654, of singular depravity. Deputy Governor under Mr. Bellingham. In 1651, In the year 1645, Mr. Dudley was chosen Gov- the Court decreed that "if any males, of less propernor, and Mr. Endicott was chosen an Assistant, erty than £200, wear gold or silver lace or buttons, and the Sergeant Major General of Massachusetts. or points at their knees, or walks in great boots, In both these offices he was continued by succes- (because leather is scarce); and any females, not sive elections for several years. The means of possessed of £200, wear silk or tiffany hoods or defence possessed by the colony, though perhaps scarfs; they shall be prosecuted and fined." Sevsufficient, were not very ample, so that this year eral prosecutions and convictions took place under the General Court ordered the lads under sixteen this act. "Three men and one woman, in Salem, years to be trained with bows and arrows, as well were each fined 10s. and 2s. 6d. for wearing silver as in the use of small arms. Mr. Endicott was of lace; a woman was fined the same for wearing broad much service in his military capacity, especially in bone lace; another for wearing tiffany, and another encouraging the organization of companies for for wearing a silk hood. Alice Flint was presented learning the military art. Though tolerably well for wearing a silk hood, but proving herself to be provided with muskets, the colonists had not wholly worth £200, was excused. Jonas Fairbanks was laid aside the defensive armor of the days of chiv- * Hutchinson I., 142-3, note.

VOL. XIV-59

charged with wearing great boots, but was cleared, | clear comprehensiveness to Vane, in tolerance even as the law did not strictly apply to his case.

The salary of the Governor, while not fixed by law, affords a measure by which we may first conjecture the general financial condition of any period, and the general prosperity of the country. That of Gov. Endicott for the year 1644 was £100, a small sum; and for 1651, one hundred marks, each probably worth 13s. 4d., a much smaller sum than before. This however was in accordance with the frugal spirit of the times. Two or three years later, by order of the Court, the Deputies took their meals in the "Court House Chamber," and were "to be supplied with breakfast, dinner, and supper, with a cup of wine or beer at each of the two last meals, and fire and a bed, for three shillings a day; or with dinner, with wine or beer, at eighteen pence a day."

In 1655 Mr. Endicott was chosen Governor, and by successive elections, was continued in that office till his death, a period of ten years. During this time he was officially so far identified with the public history of the colony, that a sketch of his life would be a sketch of that history. We shall only briefly touch on the more prominent events, and those which best show the character of the man, and the condition of the country. We can hardly doubt that many of the public measures of this period took their complexion very much from the temper of the chief magistrate.

to Dudley, he excelled them all in the eye keen to discern the occasion and fit moment for action, in the quick resolve to profit by them, and in the hand always ready to strike.

Like the severer Puritans of his age in the mother country, he seems to have had the common feelings of humanity in a more than ordinary subjection, and like those who "subdued kingdoms and wrought righteousness," to have encased himself in the armor, not of indifference or of fanaticism, but of a strong sense of duty. He felt himself identified with the cause of Christ in the plantation, and for the sake of that cause, he could afford to crush some flowers of sentiment, and lose some graces of character. The same influence which subdued his own passions, made him too regardless of the feelings and preferences of others. Not only the merry-making of rude and riotous men at Merry Mount was odious and intolerable to him, but the pardonable vanity of silks and laces. Of the influence of this colony on the future destinies, and especially on the religious destinies of the world, we may well suppose him to have formed a larger conception than was common among his contemporaries. He may have seemed to himself the ordained of Providence to realise in the new world the idea of a religious commonwealth.

We can hardly wonder, if it were to occur at all, that the persecution of the Quakers, the darkGov. Endicott was undoubtedly the finest spe- est spot on the early history of Massachusetts, cimen, to be found among our Governors, of the should have occurred under the administration of of the genuine Puritan character. That charac-one thus formed by temper, by habit, and by opinter, with its many virtues, which can hardly be too ion.

ness,

highly praised, or too closely imitated, had yet The first notice of this sect in New England much that was austere, rugged and harsh. Firm-was in the setting apart a day, June 11, 1656, for which was a common virtue among them, de- humiliation, on account, among other reasons, of generated in some cases into intractableness and "Ranters and Quakers," who were creating some decision became obstinacy. The same temper noise and disturbance in England. They originated which had withstood the claims of the English hie-there under Charles I., and were perhaps a natural rarchy, became, when acting freely and without product of those unsettled times, when in the heat obstacle, fierce intolerance and a vindictive zeal for God.

of religious feeling, men became fond of paradoxes, and eagerly followed after every novelty. Their Gov. Endicott was of a quick temper, which the founder, George Fox, held that the inward light was habit of military command had not softened; of the sure guide of every man who would walk by strong religious feelings moulded on the darker it, a sentiment exceedingly liable to abuse, and features of Calvinism, resolute to uphold with the opening the door to all sorts of fanaticism. He resword what he had received as Gospel truth, never fused the oath of allegiance, counting it unlawful doubting the right to punish heretics, and fearing to swear at all. He reviled the clergy, and every no enemy so much as a gainsaying spirit. Averse where proclaimed that they had not the true knowbeyond most of his associates to the English Church and to all ceremonies and show in religion, and scrupulous of offending conscience in the slightest observances, the cross in the King's colors was an abomination which he could not away with. Unyielding in his preferences he adhered closely to Williams, through good and through evil report. Inferior to Winthrop in mildness and learning, in

Felt's Annals of Salem.

ledge of Christ. Clothed in leather breeches, and distinguished by his strange language, his boldness, and soon, by his suffering of insult and imprisonment, he speedily gained friends and adherents, and his followers multiplied with great rapidity.

Called by some supposed impulse of inspiration, Mary Fisher travelled alone across the continent, to open the new light to the Grand Turk. Wher ever they went tumult and excitement followed. Our fathers saw that some of these flying clouds

would pass over them, and finding that already the Brewster came in with her face smeared and as leaven was beginning to work, the Court of Assis-black as a coal. Deborah Wilson went through tants, (in Oct. 1656,) ordered that a shipmaster the streets of Salem "naked as she came into the bringing any of them into the colony, should be world," "to be a sign of the nakedness of others." fined £100; that any one of the sect coming here Proceedings of this sort, were of course not to should be put into a house of correction, whipped, be endured, and, as we have seen, laws were made kept at hard labor, not allowed to speak, &c. ; that of different degrees of severity, till the penalty beany who should introduce their books, or maintain came death for a return from banishment. Under their doctrines, should be fined. They further or- these laws, many whippings were inflicted and there dained that these laws be published in Boston by were many imprisonments, which we cannot rebeat of drum. late in detail. It will suffice for us to refer to some of the severities of justice.

This proving not sufficient to prevent the intrusion of that sect, the next year the court passed a In the year 1659, William Robinson, a merchant law, that any one proved a Quaker, should, if a of London, Marmaduke Stevenson, a countryman man, lose one ear, and on a second conviction, the of Yorkshire, and Mary Dyar were banished, on other; if a woman, to be whipped each time, and pain of death. Robinson, as being a leader among on a third time, whether man or woman, to have them, was also condemned to be whipped. "Then their tongues bored through with a hot iron. As Robinson was brought into the street and there their numbers still increased, a law was made in stript; and having his hand put through the holes Oct. 1658, punishing with death all who should re- of the carriage of a great gun, where the gaoler held turn into this jurisdiction after banishment. him, the executioner gave him twenty stripes with These laws were sanguinary and severe, yet a three-fold cord whip." Robinson and Stevenson, they were enacted to suppress doctrines and 66 pracnot being free in mind," did not leave the colony, tices, at least dangerous to the civil state, and and were soon after arrested and imprisoned again, were executed after long patience and great pro- and Mary Dyar, having returned opened and boldVocation. The Quakers who arrived in 1659, be-ly, was confined also. Being brought before the ing summoned before the court, and questioned court, they were sentenced to death, according to by what authority they came, gave "rude and the law. To which sentence, Stevenson replied, contemptuous" answers. A few days after, the "Give ear ye magistrates, and all who are guilty! Governor passing the prison, where they had been for this the Lord hath said concerning you, and will put for their insolence, on his way home from perform His word upon you; that the same day church, was hailed by Mary Prince, one of them, ye put his servants to death, shall the day of your with "Wo unto thee! thou art an oppressor!" visitation pass over your heads, and you shall be She wrote a taunting letter to the magistrates, and cursed forevermore." The day appointed for the reviled the clergy, calling them Baal's priests, the execution was the 27th Oct. and they were led to brood of Ishmael, &c. Similar to this in almost the gallows by the Marshal, with a band of about all instances was the conduct of those who were 200 men, besides many horsemen. Glorious signs brought before magistrates, refusing them the or- of heavenly joy and gladness were beheld in the dinary tokens of respect, denying their authority, countenances of these three persons, who walked denouncing them as persecutors, and warning them hand in hand, Mary being middlemost, and now of the judgments of God that were to come upon stricken in years. To a question of the Marshal them. In private too, many of them were disor- she replied, 'No eye can see, no ear can hear, no ganising and seditious, affirming that "the Scriptures tongue can utter, no heart can understand the are not the word of God, that magistrates are sweet incomes, and the refreshings of the Lord, naught, and that ministers are déceivers, preach- which I now feel.' This' said Stevenson to the ing "the doctrines of devils." They entered the crowd, 'is the day of your visitation wherein the places of public worship, interrupted the officiating Lord hath visited you.' And so they went on, as elergymen by loud outcries "We deny thy Christ! going to an everlasting wedding feast." Stevenwe deny thy God!" and alarmed the assemblies by son and Robinson were at this time turned off, but denunciations of darkness and wrath. Some acted Mary Dyar was reprieved at the intercession of her even more like madmen, affirming their own inward son. She was conveyed to Rhode Island, though and perfect purity, while all around them was defile- she wrote a letter to the court, refusing to accept "At Boston, one George Wilson, her life on their terms. The next spring, she reand at Cambridge Elizabeth Horton went crying turned, as she said, "in obedience to the will of through the streets, that the Lord was coming God, to testify against their unrighteous law." with fire and sword to plead with them." Thomas The Court, finding that mild measures and pardon Newhouse went into the meeting-house at Boston had no effect on her wilful purpose of martyrdom, with a couple of glass bottles, and broke them before the congregation, and threatened "thus will count is taken, a curious work, and not implicitly to be the Lord break you in pieces." Another time, M. trusted, being written with strong prejudices for that sect.

ment and error.

Jewel's History of the Quakers, from which this ao

condemned her again to death. When she ascend- to return without leave from authority, we should ed the gallows some said to her, that if she would have been glad of such an opportunity to have said

return, she might yet save her life,' but she replied, Nay in obedience to the will of the Lord I came, and in his will I abide faithful to the death.' She was executed on Boston Common, June 1st, 1660. The course of these outrages and punishments continued till 1661, when the laws on the subject were repealed, and an order came from King Charles II. requiring the government to abstain from all corporeal punishment of them, and to send such as were guilty of misdemeanors to England, to be tried there. Little further trouble was experienced in the colony from them, and they became quiet citizens, being indulged in a few slight particulars.

they should not die." We may add, that if the Quakers deserve commiseration for their suffering, under their delusion, our Fathers likewise are entitled to a candid consideration for doing what they conceived themselves to have a full right to do, and which however they too may have been deluded, they merely thought they ought to do.

It was a practice of these times, in which we see traces of the influence of Mr. Endicott, on every occasion of public concern and perplexity, to appoint a general fast. We find them appointed for "neglect of ordinances," for "the dissipation of youth," for "excess in apparel," for "the Agents in London," for "sickness and death," for "the prevalence of seducers," for "the prevalence of Antichrist abroad," as well as for threatening appearances in the state civil affairs in the colony or in the mother country.

and undecided, or under the control of their preferences, had been in opposition to the King. They had acknowledged the authority of Cromwell, but they had never proclaimed his son. They now found it expedient to modify or conceal their former sentiments, and sent a "very loyal” address to the King and to the two houses of Parliament. The formal proclamation of the King, however, was deferred till August, 1661.

It is not for us to vindicate either party in these sad transactions. The Quakers were evidently in many cases fitter subjects for the mad-house, than for the gallows or whipping post, acting under a frenzy, and supposing themselves controlled by an In July, 1660, the news was received that Charles unseen power, which it would be sin for them to II. had ascended the throne of England. This caus resist. Marmaduke Stevenson, in a statement ed some disquiet and alarm in the colony, where the presented to the court on his trial, said, "So after fear was entertained of a change in their governI had been some time on that island (Barbadoes) ment, or of some restrictions on their religious in the service of God, I heard that New England freedom. They had not much to hope from the had made a law, to put the servants of the living royal favor. The feelings of the people had been God to death. . . and, as I considered the thing, strongly in favor of Parliament and Cromwell in immediately the word of the Lord came unto me, their contest with the King. The acts of the gov saying Thou knowest not but thou mayest go thi-ernment of the colony had been cautiously neutral ther'. . . . So after a little time that I had been there (Rhode Island) the word of the Lord came unto me, saying 'Go to Boston,' and at his command I was obedient, and gave myself up to do his will," &c. The laws made against them provoked them to come, and the severity of the law made their resolve more earnest and intense. The General Court state their own case, in Gov. Endicott's letter to the King. After charging them with being "capital blasphemers,' open seducers from the blessed Trinity, from the Holy Scriptures as a rule of life, open enemies to the government itself," he says, "Such was their dangerous, and impetuous, and desperate turbulence both to religion and state, civil and ecclesiastical, as that how unwillingly soever (could it have been avoided) the "Illustrious Sir-That majestie and benignitie magistrate at last, in conscience both to God and both sate upon the throne whereunto your outcast man, judged himself called upon for the defence of made their former address, witness this seconde all, to keep the passage with the point of the sword, eucharistical approach unto the best of Kings, who held towards them, this could do no harm to him to other titles of royaltie common to him with that would be warned thereby, their wittingly rush- other gods amongst men, delighteth herein more peculiarly to conform himself to the God of gods, ing thereupon was their own act, we with humility in that he hath not despised nor abhorred the afflic conceive a crime bringing their blood upon their tion of the afflicted, neither hath he hid his face own head. The Quakers died, not because of their from him, but when he cried he heard." other crimes how capital soever, but upon their superadded presumptuous and incorrigible contempt of authority breaking in upon us . . . . . had they at last promised to depart the jurisdiction, and not

Hutch, Coll. 327.

99 66

The address, which was voted on this occasion by the General Court to the King, (though we believe it was never sent) deserves notice as a specimen of despicable cringing and adulation, which could not have been expected from these sturdy insisters on their rights. It begins thus→

*The right to punish heretics, and the duty of restrain. ing them by the civil power if necessary, was maintained Morton of Boston, in a book, entitled "The Heart of New at this time in reference to the Quakers, by the Rev. Mr. England rent by the blasphemies of the present generstion."

So much were they moved by his confirming to them his declarations of “liberty and moderation to tender consciences."

well if at the next election any other person of good reputation be chosen in the place, and that hee may noe longer exercise that charge." What the The policy of the Colonists was in part only suc- General Court might have done on this royal recessful. For they soon received a letter from his commendation, we can not know, for before its inMajesty, in which, while he in substance confirmed fluence could be ascertained, Mr. Endicott had their charter, he changed it in some material partic-been called to other services in another world. ulars, and those too which our fathers regarded as When Mr. Endicott was chosen to the place of of high value as any of the rest. "Wee do here- Governor in 1665, the Court requested that whoby charge and require you," says he, "that free-ever should hold that office would reside in Bosdom and liberty be duly admitted and allowed, ton, or within a few miles out of respect to stranso that they that desire to use the booke of com-gers; and made a special request to Governor Enmon prayer, and perform their devotion in that dicott that he would regard this expression of their manner that is established here be not denyed the wish as far as his own necessary occasions would exercise thereof, or undergone any prejudice or permit. He continued, however, to reside in Sadisadvantage thereby, and that all persons of good lem, the place of his first choice, in N. E., and, and honest lives and conversations be admitted to with all his public cares, to interest himself deepthe Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to ly in whatever concerned his chosen home. Yet the said booke of common prayer, and their chil- as his official duties came to require frequent and dren to baptism." He further ordered, what was long absences from home, and the growing infirmimore offensive even, 66 that all the freeholders of ties of age made journeying an inconvenience, he competent estates, not vicious in conversations, decided to remove to Boston, where he had selectorthodox in religion, (tho' of different persuasions ed an eligible site, on the spot lately occupied by concerning church government,) may have their Gardiner Green, Esq., and now converted into vote in the election of all officers, civill and milita- Pemberton Square. ry." This last order changed most materially the Hardly had he effected this change of his earthframe of government of the colony. Heretofore ly home, when death summoned him to an everthe elections had been made, and the laws passed, lasting dwelling-place. He died, March 15th, by those only who were members of the church. 1665, in his seventy-seventh year. His funerThe doors of the church were now thrown open al was attended with every public demonstrato a large number, to whom they had before been tion of respect, and his mortal remains were laid shot, or the civil privileges of church members in the chapel burying-ground. His tomb-stone were made common to almost all, and the power of the colony was in danger of changing hands. The connexion of Church and State was thus effectually broken, and the rights of men, as men, placed more nearly on a footing of equality. The distribution of power may have become in some respects more equitable, it was certainly more democratic.

was in good preservation till the commencement of the American Revolution, when it was demolished by the British soldiery, so that all traces of the location have been obliterated.

Among other tokens of regard for his memory, was the grant of an annuity of £30 made to his widow. From this we may infer that he had not grown rich in the public service.

During all the great political struggles and chan- The main points in the character of Governor ges which had been going on in the mother coun- Endicott, have been alluded to or described. We try, Mr. Endicott had been a member of the gov- may add a single feature-his fondness for hortiernment in New England, and most of the time in cultural pursuits-which indicates both his prudent the office of chief magistrate. In all the trying foresight of the interests of the colony, and his emergencies which thus arose, his prudence was own good taste. Mr. Higginson, in a letter writno less conspicuous than his energy. His own ten in 1629, thus refers to it" Our Gov. hath opinions leaned strongly to republicanism, yet he store of green pease growing in his garden, as avoided many natural expressions of it, lest the good as ever I eat in England. Our Governor colony should incur the displeasure of the admin- hath already planted a vineyard with great hope of istration at home. With all the caution he could increase. Also mulberries, plums, rasberries, curexercise, however, his inclination became well rents, chesnuts, filberds, walnuts, hurtleberries and known to Charles I., to whom, of course, his prin- hawes of white thorn, neere as good as our cherciples were offensive. Accordingly, in 1664, Sec-ries in England." Gov. Endicott added to his retary Morrice wrote thus to the General Court-vineyard and pea garden, about 1633, the orchard "And since his Majesty hath too much reason to of which one venerable survivor still bears the pasuspect that Mr. Endicott, who hath during all the triarchal honors of two centuries in green old age. late revolutions continued the government there, is "The Endicott Pear Tree," according to family not a person well affected to his Majesties person, tradition, was imported at the same time with the or his government, his Majestie will take it very "Dial" now in possession of the East India Ma