True Stories of History and Biography | Page 7

though a holy
symbol, was abhorred by the Puritans, because they considered it a relic

of Popish idolatry. Now, whenever the train-band of Salem was
mustered, the soldiers, with Endicott at their head, had no other flag to
march under than this same old papistical banner of England, with the
Red Cross in the midst of it. The banner of the Red Cross, likewise,
was flying on the walls of the fort of Salem; and a similar one was
displayed in Boston harbor, from the fortress on Castle Island.
"I profess, brother Williams," Captain Endicott would say, after they
had been talking of this matter, "it distresses a Christian man's heart, to
see this idolatrous Cross flying over our heads. A stranger beholding it,
would think that we had undergone all our hardships and dangers, by
sea and in the wilderness, only to get new dominions for the Pope of
Rome."
"Truly, good Mr. Endicott," Roger Williams would answer, "you speak
as an honest man and Protestant Christian should. For mine own part,
were it my business to draw a sword, I should reckon it sinful to fight
under such a banner. Neither can I, in my pulpit, ask the blessing of
Heaven upon it."
Such, probably, was the way in which Roger Williams and John
Endicott used to talk about the banner of the Red Cross. Endicott, who
was a prompt and resolute man, soon determined that Massachusetts, if
she could not have a banner of her own, should at least be delivered
from that of the Pope of Rome.
Not long afterwards there was a military muster at Salem. Every
able-bodied man, in the town and neighborhood, was there. All were
well armed, with steel caps upon their heads, plates of iron upon their
breasts and at their backs, and gorgets of steel around their necks.
When the sun shone upon these ranks of iron-clad men, they flashed
and blazed with a splendor that bedazzled the wild Indians, who had
come out of the woods to gaze at them. The soldiers had long pikes,
swords, and muskets, which were fired with matches, and were almost
as heavy as a small cannon.
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