CHAPTER XXVII.

The Pilgrim Fathers and the Mosaic Code—Toleration in the Seventeenth Century—American and European Thinkers alike reject it—Arrival of Roger Williams at Boston—His Motives for Emigration—His Hopes and Views—Speedily attracts Attention—His Devotion to the Principle of Toleration—His Advocacy of it places Him in Direct Opposition to the System on which Massachusetts is founded—Under the Frown of the Authorities—Williams refuses to join the Boston Church—His Declaration—Statement of his Idea of Toleration—The Pilgrims regard Him as a Dangerous Heresiarch with “a Windmill in his Head”—Consternation at Boston on the Rumor of Williams’ Instalment in the Place of Higginson at Salem—Winthrop’s Letter of Expostulation—The Salem Church does not heed it—Williams begins to preach—Quits Salem for Plymouth—Bradford’s Estimate of the Young Welchman—Williams cements a Lasting and Cordial Friendship with the Indians—Returns to Salem on Skelton’s Death—Recommencement of his Struggle with the Colonial Government—His Pamphlet on the Charter—His Retraction—Ought Women to appear Veiled at Church?—Williams says Yes, Cotton says No—Cotton convinces the Ladies—The English Commission for the Regulation of the Colonies—The Pilgrims decide to “avoid and protract”—Endicott cuts the Cross out of the English Flag—Williams speaks against the “Freeman’s Oath”—Trouble—Williams’ Democracy—Points of Variance between the Reformer and the Colonists—The Citation—Williams before the Court—His Frank Defence—Banishment—The Flight through the Winter Woods—Animadversions—Months of Vicissitude—Settlement of Providence—Williams bases his Colony on Toleration and Democracy—Mather’s Epigram—Williams makes a Distinction between Toleration and License—Williams’ First Visit to England—Intimacy with Vane and Milton—The Second Visit—Cromwell and Marvell added to his List of Trans-atlantic Friends—Elected on his Return President of the Providence Plantations—Excelsior—Williams and the Indians—An Incident—Reflections on the Work and Character of Roger Williams 334