Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-26

From the Second Volume of iPalfrey's History of New
England.
THE PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS.
INTERESTING PASSAGE OF COLONIAL HISTORY
Concluded
Robinson and Stevenson were at that age of
early manhood when enthusiasm is most in
conslderate, and when experience shows that
life is the least priced. The day after their
discharge they appeared at Salem, whence
they pursued their way to the settlements on
the Piscataqua After four weeks they re-
turned to Boston, accompanied by some Salem
friends, one Of whom, a woman showed the
governor some linen, which she said she had
brought for the winding sheets of those who
were to suffer. Mary Dyer, having reconsid-
cred her duty, had returned to Boston a few
days before. On the second day of the session
OF the general court, Robinson, Stevenson,
and Dyer were arraigned at its bar, for ere
bellion, sediton, and presumptuous obtruding
themselves, Notwithstanding their being SEN
fenced to Punishment on pain of death, as
underminers of this government" &c. Avow
ing themselves to be the persons "banished by
the last court Of assistants" they were SEN
fenced to be hanged on the eighth day follow
ing. Precautions were taken against a
popular outbreak, "Capt. James Oliver with
100 soldiers completely armed with pixies, and
h"0NOtSSls WIN pOMueI anu DuIiet, WIS
instructed Ito lead them to the place of execu-
ton" Thrty-six soldiers were also to be
ordered by Capt Oliver, to remain in and
about the town, as sentines to preserve the
peace OF the place while the rest should go to
the execution" And the selectmen of Boston
were "to press ten or twelve able and faithful
persons every night during the sitting OF the
court, to watch with great care the town, es-
pecially the prison"
On the appointed day, the convicts, sur
rounded by the guards, went from the gaol to
Boston common hand-in.hand Mary Dyer
between her companions. They attempted %
address the crowd, but were prevented by the
beating of drums. The two men were hanged
and their bodies buried beneath the gallows.
Mary Dyer, who had stood during the scene
with halter about her neck was now told
that she was dismissed to the care of her son.
who had come from r. l., to intercede with
the magistrates in her behalf. Her courage
had not yet reached the height to which it had
aspired. She was prevailed on to accept the
deiverance, and was led out of the urisdic.
ton. Dyer was not satisfied
with herself, and in the following spring she
came back to Boston again, and was immedi,
ately put in prison. Her husband, then sec
rotary Of Providence plantations, wrote to
Gov. Endicott, blaming her misconduct, and
entreating that she might be once more dis
charged AT her arragnment, "she gave no
other answer, but that she denied our law, and
came to bear witness against it, and could not
choose but come and do as formerly" Again
she was condemned to die. AT the galows the
offer was again renewed to her of release if
she would promise henceforth to keep out of
Massachusetts. But she refused and met her
fate with brave determination. "1n obedience
to the will Of the Lord, cane" she said
"and in his will | abide faithful to the death. "
With an Inconsistency which shows the re-
pugnance felt by the magistrates to executing
the hard law, it was left imperative in some
cases Of manifest violation. But il had one
more victim. William Leddra, for making dis
turbances at Salem and Newbury, had been
committed at the house of correction at Boston.
There he refused to work for his food and
having been repeatedly scourged, was at last
dismissed with the threat of death if he should
return. He returned and was put in prison.
On his trial the offer of Liberation was made to
him, if he would engage to go to England ;
but he rejected it, saying he had no business
there. lie was condemned and executed.
"All that will be Christ's disciples, he said at
the foot of the ladder, must take up the
cross The last words heard from his lips
were those of the martyr Stephen, Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit"
During Leddra's trial, Warlock Christison,
who had been banished, and threatened with
deathlt ne returned, came into court and con-
tronted the judges with bold language. 81 am
come here to warn you" he said, chat We shed
nomore innocent blood" He was arrested,
and after three months was brought to trial
There was ar unprecedented division among
the magistrates, and they are said to have
been no less than two weeks in debate The
governor was so veXed with what he thought
their want of spirit that, at one moment,
flinging something furlouSly on the table, he
said, 81 could find it in my heart to go home"
Ito England.) "You that will not consent,
record it, he cried, as he put the question a
second time to vote /; 81 thank God am not
afraid to give Judgment" Christison was
condemned to die. But the dreadful sentence
could not again be executed. In the mean
time the general court had met, and the evi.
dences Of opposition to any further pur-
suance of this rigorous policy were UNI
misakable. The contest OF will was
at an end. The trial that was to de.
eide which party would hold out longest had
been made, and the Quakers had conquered.
II was settled that the governor and company
massachusetts Bay were not to have the dis.
posa of their home. They had bought it and
paid dear tor it. They had ON their side that
sort of rigid justice winch accredited writers
recognize when they lay down the rule that
perfect right may be maintained at any cost to
the invader. But trespassers had come who
would not be kept away, except by violent
measures, which had produced only partial
eject, and which the invaded could not prevail
upon themselves any longer to employ. The
feeling OF humanity which all along had plead
ed Tor surrender, at length uttered itself in
oyerpowering tones.
The court, it is true, was not ready for such
an express contradiction of some of the leading
men, and such formal concession of victory
TO the Quakers as would have been afforded
by the repeal Of the law for capital punish
ment. But it made other enactments. which
in the existing state OF feeling, would practi
cay supersede the execution of thai law
"Beng DESTROYS to try all means with as much
lenity as might consist with safety, to prevent
the intrusions Of the Quakers, who had moi
been restrained by the laws already provided. >
they ordered that such intruders should be
"tied to carts tail, and whipped from town
TO town towards the borders OF the jursdic
ton" Should they return after being three
times thus dealt with, and should the court
Judge not meet to release them" they were to
''be branded with the letter II on their LETT
shoulder, and be severely whipped and Sent