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