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Page 7
These men had mostly a stern and rigid aspect. To judge by their looks,
you might have supposed that there was as much iron in their hearts, as
there was upon their heads and breasts. They were all devoted Puritans,
and of the same temper as those with whom Oliver Cromwell afterwards
overthrew the throne of England. They hated all the relics of Popish
superstition as much as Endicott himself; and yet, over their heads, was
displayed the banner of the Red Cross.
Endicott was the captain of the company. While the soldiers were
expecting his orders to begin their exercise, they saw him take the
banner in one hand, holding his drawn sword in the other. Probably he
addressed them in a speech, and explained how horrible a thing it was,
that men, who had fled from Popish idolatry into the wilderness, should
be compelled to fight under its symbols here. Perhaps he concluded his
address somewhat in the following style.
"And now, fellow soldiers, you see this old banner of England. Some of
you, I doubt not, may think it treason for a man to lay violent hands
upon it. But whether or no it be treason to man, I have good assurance
in my conscience that it is no treason to God. Wherefore I have resolved
that we will rather be God's soldiers, than soldiers of the Pope of
Rome; and in that mind I now cut the Papal Cross out of this banner."
And so he did. And thus, in a province belonging to the crown of
England, a captain was found bold enough to deface the King's banner
with his sword.
When Winthrop, and the other wise men of Massachusetts, heard of it,
they were disquieted, being afraid that Endicott's act would bring great
trouble upon himself and them. An account of the matter was carried to
King Charles; but he was then so much engrossed by dissensions with his
people, that he had no leisure to punish the offender. In other times,
it might have cost Endicott his life, and Massachusetts her charter.
* * * * *
"I should like to know, Grandfather," said Laurence, when the story was
ended, "whether, when Endicott cut the Red Cross out of the banner, he
meant to imply that Massachusetts was independent of England?"
"A sense of the independence of his adopted country, must have been in
that bold man's heart," answered Grandfather; "but I doubt whether he
had given the matter much consideration, except in its religious
bearing. However, it was a very remarkable affair, and a very strong
expression of Puritan character."
Grandfather proceeded to speak further of Roger Williams, and of other
persons who sat in the great chair, as will be seen in the following
chapter.
CHAPTER IV.
"Roger Williams," said Grandfather, "did not keep possession of the
chair a great while. His opinions of civil and religious matters
differed, in many respects, from those of the rulers and clergymen of
Massachusetts. Now the wise men of those days believed, that the country
could not be safe, unless all the inhabitants thought and felt alike."
"Does any body believe so in our days Grandfather?" asked Laurence.
"Possibly there are some who believe it," said Grandfather; "but they
have not so much power to act upon their belief, as the magistrates and
ministers had, in the days of Roger Williams. They had the power to
deprive this good man of his home, and to send him out from the midst of
them, in search of a new place of rest. He was banished in 1634, and
went first to Plymouth colony; but as the people there held the same
opinions as those of Massachusetts, he was not suffered to remain among
them. However, the wilderness was wide enough; so Roger Williams took
his staff and travelled into the forest, and made treaties with the
Indians, and began a plantation which he called Providence."
"I have been to Providence on the railroad," said Charley. "It is but a
two hours' ride."
"Yes, Charley," replied Grandfather; "but when Roger Williams travelled
thither, over hills and valleys, and through the tangled woods, and
across swamps and streams, it was a journey of several days. Well; his
little plantation is now grown to be a populous city; and the
inhabitants have a great veneration for Roger Williams. His name is
familiar in the mouths of all because they see it on their bank bills.
How it would have perplexed this good clergyman, if he had been told
that he should give his name to the ROGER WILLIAMS BANK!"
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