6

judgment of him, not without some appearance of prejudice, yet with much wisdom and moderation. They were eager to proceed to present censure; but Mr. Cotton dissuaded them from that, on the ground that it might not be done because some opposed it: so he gave him a grave exhortation. Mr. Cotton was three years older than Mr. Wilson, and two years older than Gov. Winthrop. Notwithstanding the admonition, Mr. Wilson preached on the next Lord's day, and acquitted himself so satisfactorily that Gov. Vane himself, as was the custom in those days, gave publick witness to him.' This was not the end of the church's contentions. One reputed heresy paved the way for another, till at length the sagacity of some men could discover at least eighty dangerous doctrines to prevail, either in the form of explicit avowal or of necessary inference. Partly on account of this trouble a general fast was kept in January 1637. But the observance of no rites whatever was able to abolish the existing differences or points of faith. Mr. Cotton alone of all the settled clergy was on one side; and the very circumstance of his dissenting from his brethren was sufficient to give the dispute a wider notoriety and keener edge. The whole country was by this time divided. One party ranged itself on the side of justification, and the other on that of sanctification; and the distinction between the advocates of free grace, and the adherents to works, was as broad as that which separates protestants from papists.

The General Court which commenced its session in March upheld its interest in the controversy. It had a party in favour of Mr. Cotton and his church, but the majority was on the side of Mr. Wilson and his friends. Of course the correctness of the proceedings against him was questioned, and the church decided to have been in the wrong: his speech in the last court and the whole tenour of his conduct were adjudged not only faultless but reasonable.

Mr. Wheelwright had been so injudicious as to preach a sermon on the late fast day, which was calculated to inflame rather than to allay the irritation already existing. It was understood that he was to be called in question at this court for the seditious tendency of that sermon. Nearly all the church of Boston therefore interposed, and presented a petition or remonstrance on the subject, in which they demanded that as freemen they might be present in cases of judicature, and that the court should declare whether they had a right to deal in cases of conscience before the church. The petition was rejected as a groundless and presumptuous act. The court proceeded to adjudge Mr. Wheelwright to be guilty of sedition and also of contempt. Gov. Vane and some others offered a protest which was rejected. The

church of Boston also offered another petition in which they justified Mr. Wheelwright's sermon. In conclusion, sentence was deferred till the next Court. When they were about adjourning, it was moved that the next session should be held at Newtown. Gov. Vane, considering it an undeserved reproach upon the people of Boston, refused to put the vote. The deputy, Mr. Winthrop, being also a Boston man, declined doing it, except the court required it: so the honour fell to Mr. Endicott, who put the question and it was carried in the affirmative.

We find no event in the course of the history of Boston, which appears to have excited more universal interest in the people of the town than this Antinomian controversy, as it was called. Whether their religious notions were right or wrong, it is impossible to tell; but it is evident that they felt their rights as an independent church to be encroached upon, and that they were jealous for their political privileges. The next court was held, according to vote, on the 17th of May. Soon as the meeting was organized, which was about one o'clock, a petition was offered by those from Boston. Gov. Vane would have read it; but Mr. Winthrop declared it to be out of order, as this was a court of election. Others also opposed the reading; because the petition being upon some pretence of liberty' (a favourite Boston notion) would spend the whole day in debate. Mr. Wilson, in his zeal, got upon the bough of a tree (it was warm weather, and the election was carried on in the field) and there made a speech, advising the people to look to their charter and proceed to the business of the day. The people applauded him and cried out Election! Election! the great majority was for proceeding. Gov. Vane and his friends were not contented, till the deputy told him, that if he would not go on, himself and the rest would proceed without him. Upon this he yielded, and the election resulted in a return to the original establishment, Mr. Winthrop for Governour and Mr. Dudley for Deputy. Some new assistants were chosen, and Mr. Vane, Mr. Coddington and Mr. Richard Dummer left entirely out of office. This meeting was very tumultuous; some fierce speeches were made and blows struck, but the strength being evidently on one side, the other soon grew quiet.

Boston had deferred the choice of her representatives till the election for Governour should be over. The next morning, Mr. Vane, Mr. Coddington and Mr. Atherton Hough were chosen. The court considered this selection an insult, and sent them home again, on the ground that two of the freemen of Boston had not been notified. On a new choice the next day, the town returned the same gentlemen, and 'the

court not finding how they might reject them, they were admitted.'

Upon the election of Mr. Winthrop, the four serjeants, who had attended the former Governour to the court, being all Boston men, laid down their halberds and went home, refusing to perform any such service in honour of Gov. Winthrop.* Mr. Vane and Mr. Coddington being discontented that the people had left them out of all office, refused to sit in the magistrates' seat in the meeting-house, and took their seats with the deacons, although Gov. W. politely invited them to sit with him.

Mr. Wheelwright appeared at this court, according to order, but as a day of fasting had been appointed for the 25th of the month, when it was agreed that all the churches should choose men to meet and confer about the differences,' the court gave him respite to the next session, which was appointed for the first Tuesday in August. They gave him that time to consider whether he would retract his errours and make submission, or abide the decision of the court. His answer was noble if I have been guilty of sedition, let me die; recantation is out of the question: if you proceed thus unrighteously against me, I shall appeal to the tribunal of my king.'

There was some expectation, about this time, of an arrival from England, with a party of emigrants favourable to the sentiments prevailing in Boston. This court therefore seized the opportunity of preventing such a calamity as they supposed their settlement here would be, and passed a law which prohibited all persons to entertain any stranger, who should come with intention to reside, without liberty from one of the standing council or two other assistants. This was a very severe order, and was so disliked by the people of Boston, that upon the Governour's return from court, they all refused to go out to meet him, or show him any respect.

Mr. Cotton was so dissatisfied with this law, that he was on the point of removing to New-Haven. A defence of it was published by the magistrates, and answered by Mr. Vane, who was replied to, probably by Gov. Winthrop. But arguments served only to make each party better satisfied of their own correctness. The difference between Mr. Vane and the Governour became so great, that Vane refused an invitation to a dinner, given by the Governour in honour of Lord Leigh, a young nobleman, who was here on a visit to the

* The country taking notice of this, offered to send in some from the neighbouring towns to carry the halberds by course, and upon that the town of Boston offered to send some men but not the serjeants: the Governour chose rather to make use of two of his own servants.

† See Hutch. coll. of papers. p. 67-84.

country. His lordship and Mr. Vane prepared to return in August. At their departure (Aug. 2) Mr. Vane's friends assembled and accompanied him to the boat. A military company being under arms, gave them divers volleys of shot,' and five pieces of ordnance, and they had five more at the castle. The governour was absent, attending court at Newtown, but he had left order with the captain for their honourable dismission.'

On Mr. Vane's return to England he assumed an active part in the political affairs of the kingdom; was knighted in 1640; joined the party that was against King Charles, and after the restoration was tried for high treason and beheaded June 14, 1662.

He had lived, while in Boston, in the house which now stands on the westerly side of Common Street, (within the square Fh of our plan,) on one of the Tremont hillocks, next northeasterly to the mansion house of Lieut. Gov. Phillips. This is the oldest house in the city of which we have any account. It was originally small. Mr. Vane gave it to Mr. Cotton, who made an addition to it, and lived and died there. His family occupied it some time after. The building is of wood: the front part has a modern appearance, but the back exhibits marks of its antiquity.

CHAPTER XIV.

"Ah me! outstretch'd I see,

In nameless agony,

Woman's imploring hand."

SIR HENRY VANE has had the credit of being the life-blood of the party, which Mrs. Hutchinson's notions had created. However that may have been, it is very apparent that his presence here formed a powerful protection for them against the spirit of persecution, which had already been active. Roger Williams had been banished for holding opinions less dangerous, in the mind of Gov. Winthrop; and it had been declared by Mr. Vane, that the execution of the law against strangers would be followed by the banishment of such as were already here. We shall see that his forebodings were wofully prophetick.

Mrs. Hutchinson continued her lectures, and her admirers are said to have been indefatigable in spreading her sentiments: both church and state were thrown into uproar and

the affections of people strangely alienated; they were frequently quarrelsome, and upon every occasion ready to come to blows. Both parties claimed Mr. Cotton for their own man: the one affirmed that the doctrines they taught were regularly deduced from his sermons, the other denied it. At last Mr. Cotton was desired to declare himself freely from the pulpit, which he accordingly did, and condemned most of the new positions as false and erroneous. This brought upon him the bitterest reproaches: he was called by some a timorous man, that durst not abide by his own sentiments; by others a deceiver, that taught one thing in publick and another in private. One man, more impudent if more witty than the rest, sent him a pound of candles, bidding his servant tell him it was because he wanted light; upon which the good man bestowed only a silent smile.'

The August court probably postponed the business of Mr. Wheelwright, until they should know the result of the synod, which was expected to meet at Newtown, in accordance with the May vote, on the 30th of that month. The object of this assembly having been the purification of Boston from heresy, a particular account of it demands a place here. There were present not only the ministers and messengers from the several churches, but also the magistrates for keeping the peace, who were allowed both to hear, and to speak, if they had a mind. A place was likewise appointed for the favourers of the new opinions, and the doors were set open, for as many as pleased to come in and hear the debates. The first day was spent in choosing Mr. Hooker from Connecticut and Mr. Bulkley minister of Concord, for moderators. Mr. Cotton, though confessedly at the head of the clergy, was thought to be too much a party to be honoured with that dignity. A list was then read of eighty-two erroneous opinions, which had been maintained in various parts of the country, some of which were the most monstrous and absurd ever heard of. The following days were spent in debating the several points. In the morning a committee was employed in forming arguments against the errours to be confuted that day, which in the afternoon were produced in the synod. Next day the defenders gave in their reply, and produced their arguments for the support of their side of the question; the third day, the opponents made the last reply. The authors of the errours were neither mentioned nor enquired for by the synod, but the errours themselves were confuted and condemned by reference to particular texts of scripture, which, says Cotton Mather, being briefly applied unto the case, did, unto reasonable men, immediately smite the errour under the fifth rib. All the members of the synod signed the condemnation, except Mr. Cotton, who, though he expressed his dislike of the major part