1656]

PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS.

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England in 1644, through the preaching of George Fox. Averse to form, the Quakers believed that God communi cated directly with the spirits of men, moving them according to His will. They would neither bear arms nor take an oath; they condemned pleasures, forms, and show; they denounced tyranny and abhorred titles. Anxious to propagate their doctrines and ready to seal their opinions with their blood, they had turned their eyes to America as a promising field for effort..

164. In 1656, two Quakeresses arrived at Boston. They were immediately arrested, and after an imprisonment of five weeks expelled from the colony. Laws were passed, forbidding under heavy penalties the introducing or harboring of Quakers in Massachusetts. If one of "the accursed sect" was found within the colony, he was to lose an ear; if he returned, the other ear was forfeited; and for a third offence his tongue was to be pierced with a red-hot iron.

But the persecuted Quakers gloried in bearing witness to their faith. The severer the laws against them, the more they were attracted to Boston. Fines, whippings, and tortures could not keep them away: and finally the authorities declared that all Quakers found a second time in the colony should be punished with death. Three men and one woman suffered on the scaffold under this law, declaring that they died for conscience' sake. Such horror, however, was excited by these executions, that the cruel law was repealed. After this, Quakers were whipped out of the colony, and the excitement gradually died away

165. It seems strange in this more liberal age that the Puritans should so soon have forgotten their own sufferings and displayed the same persecuting spirit from which they had themselves fled. Their only excuse is to be found in the spirit of the times. Laws for the punishment of heresy

the Quakers first known in England? Through whose preaching? What did the Quakers believe? What did they condemn? 164. In 1656, who arrived at Boston? What was done to them? What laws were passed on the subject? What was the effect of these laws? Finally what did the authorities declare? How many persons suffered under this law? What feeling was excited? What was the result? 165. What excuse can the Puritans plead for this intolerance? What had been done in Spain? In

existed in every Christian country. In Spain, multitudes. had perished at the stake and on the rack. Under Charles V., 50,000 persons had been burned, hanged, buried alive, or beheaded, in the Netherlands. Even in England, numbers had suffered under Bloody Mary and some of her successors. The Puritans were only carrying out the same intolerant principles. To Roger Williams and his Providence Plantations, to Lord Baltimore and his happy colony on the Chesapeake, belongs the honor of first rising superior to the bigotry of their age.

CHAPTER XIV.

KING PHILIP'S WAR.

166. UNLIKE the Virginians, the Puritans of New Eng land, during the long struggle between Charles I. and his Parliament, sided against the king; and when the latter was dethroned and Cromwell assumed the government, they were treated with great liberality and favor. The population increased; commerce extended; the fisheries flourished; and ship-building and other trades were pursued with profit.

167. In 1658, Cromwell died; and, his son having abdicated, Charles II. was restored to the throne of England in 1660. The first vessel that left for the colonies after this event brought over Whalley [whol'-le] and Goffe [gof], two of the regicide judges who had condemned Charles I., now compelled to fly from the vengeance of his son. They were well received in Boston by Gov. Endicott. The next year, an order came for their arrest; but the authorities allowed them to escape to Connecticut.

Charles II. having become firmly seated on the throne,

the Netherlands? In England? Who, in the new world, first rose superior to the bigotry of their age?

166. In the struggle between Charles I. and Parliament, which side did the New England Puritans take? What was their condition during Cromwell's administration? 167. What took place in 1660? Soon after, who arrived at Boston? How were they treated? How did the colonists attempt to make their peace with tho king? With

1662]

109

the colonists were obliged to acknowledge his authority. Commissioners were sent to England by the people of Massachusetts to make their peace with the king for having sided against his father, and to procure from him a confirmation of their charter. The king complied with their wishes so far as to confirm the charter, and grant pardon for past offences; but in turn required the Puritans to take an oath of allegiance, to tolerate the Church of England, and to extend the right of voting to those who were not church members. To these demands the colonists returned an evasive answer; and four commissioners were sent over by the king, whose report might have led him to punish by force of arms the independent spirit of New England, had not the great plague and the fire of London called off his attention. At this time New England contained 120 villages and about 60,000 inhabitants.

168. Scarcely had these troubles ended, when the New England colonies became involved in a long and bloody Indian war. It is known as King Philip's War, and broke out in 1675. The faithful Massassoit had died some years before, leaving two sons, Alexander and Philip. Alexander succeeded his father, but shortly afterwards died of a fever brought on by mortification at being arrested and impris oned by the English. His death left Philip chief of the Wampanoags, who now numbered about 700 warriors.

The English settlements having extended on all sides, the Wampanoags at last found themselves confined to two small peninsulas. They had sold a great part of their land, and could no longer enjoy the forest freedom which was neces sary to their happiness. They now began to understand the meaning of those mysterious marks which they had made from time to time on deeds conveying their possessions away forever. The white men were daily increasing in number, and the natives became alarmed lest they should be driven

what success did the commissioners meet? What did the king demand in turn? What followed? How many villages and inhabitants did New England now contain? 168. In 1675, what broke out in New England? Who was King Philip? How had he become chief of the Wampanoags? How large was this tribe? What was their condition?

out even from the little that remained to them of the land of their fathers.

Several unfortunate occurrences increased the suspicion and hostility of the natives. In 1674, a chief who had been required for some offence to give up his arms, was again summoned to Boston for examination. Instead of obeying the order, he, with some others, killed the informer; and the murderers, having been arrested and found guilty, were publicly hanged. The Indians immediately revenged themselves by attacking Swanzey, a settlement near Mount Hope, and killing eight or nine of the inhabitants.

The English far provided with

169. Philip wept when he heard that the war had begun, nor was he ever afterwards seen to smile. He felt that it must result in the destruction of his tribe. outnumbered the Red Men, and were well arms, ammunition, and the necessaries of life. The Indians, though they had learned the use of fire-arms, were poorly supplied with them, and lacked the discipline and confidence of their enemies. Yet Philip resolved to do all that could be done by a great warrior. He would at least leave his enemies a victory which they would have cause to mourn.

Within a week after the attack on Swanzey, a body of troops from Boston reached the vicinity. The Indians were obliged to retreat. Their route was traced by burning houses, and poles fixed in the earth bearing the scalps and heads of their unfortunate victims. Great consternation prevailed; but volunteers continued to take the field, and the Wampanoags were soon driven from Mount Hope [see Map, p. 84].

170. Philip was now a fugitive, but he was more terrible than ever. Moving rapidly among the neighboring tribes, he exhorted them, with burning eloquence, to join the common cause of their race. His appeals were successful. From

What did they begin to fear? What occurrences increased their suspicion? What was the first act of hostility committed by the natives? 169. What were Philip's feelings on hearing of this? Why? What reasons had he for fearing the worst? What did he resolve to do? What was the first movement of the colonists? In what did it result? [See Map, p. 84.-Into what water does the peninsula on which Mount Hope lies, prolect?] What course did Philip now pursue? What tribe joined the league in violation

1675]

THE ATTACK ON HADLEY.

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Maine to Connecticut, the whole Indian population, with a few exceptions, rose to this sanguinary war. Even the Narragansetts, who had promised to remain at peace with the English, finally joined the league;-their chief no doubt remembering the wrongs of his father Miantonomoh.

sides, and no one could tell when he was safe from the prowling savage. Brookfield, Deer

The whole frontier was thus kept in constant alarm. The terrible war

whoop resounded on all

Buckland

Greenfield

Northampton Hadley

Cont

Amherst

M.Holyoke
S.Hadley

Westfield

oSpringfield

Southwick

MOHEGANS

Brookfield

SETTLEMENTS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

field, and Springfield were burned. Hadley was surprised while the people were at church. A panic seized the inhabitants. In the midst of the confusion, when the Indians were about commencing their bloody work, a strange being bowed down with age made his appearance, recalled the people to their senses, formed them in line, led them to the charge, and completely defeated the savage assailants. He vanished as suddenly as he had appeared, and for some time the people attributed their deliverance to an angel. It was afterwards found that this mysterious personage was no other than Goffe, the regicide, who had been a general in Cromwell's army. Seeing the danger of his countrymen from his place of concealment, he had come forth for their rescue.

71. The colonists, finding vigorous measures necessary, determined to invade the country of the Narragansetts. A

of their promise? What probably incited their chief to do so? What was the state of the whole frontier? What places were burned? [See Map above.-Which of these places was furthest east? furthest south? furthest north? What river are Springfield and Deerfield near? Where is Hadley? Near what mountain? In what state are thesə places? Give an account of what happened at Hadley. Who was the mysterious porsonage? 171. What was the next step of the colonists? How many men were raised!