Twice Told Tales | Page 2

undismayed expression, the scriptural
forms of speech and the confidence in Heaven's blessing on a righteous
cause which would have marked a band of the original Puritans when
threatened by some peril of the wilderness. Indeed, it was not yet time
for the old spirit to be extinct, since there were men in the street that
day who had worshipped there beneath the trees before a house was
reared to the God for whom they had become exiles. Old soldiers of the
Parliament were here, too, smiling grimly at the thought that their aged
arms might strike another blow against the house of Stuart. Here, also,
were the veterans of King Philip's war, who had burned villages and
slaughtered young and old with pious fierceness while the godly souls
throughout the land were helping them with prayer. Several ministers
were scattered among the crowd, which, unlike all other mobs,
regarded them with such reverence as if there were sanctity in their
very garments. These holy men exerted their influence to quiet the
people, but not to disperse them.
Meantime, the purpose of the governor in disturbing the peace of the
town at a period when the slightest commotion might throw the country
into a ferment was almost the Universal subject of inquiry, and
variously explained.
"Satan will strike his master-stroke presently," cried some, "because he
knoweth that his time is short. All our godly pastors are to be dragged
to prison. We shall see them at a Smithfield fire in King street."

Hereupon the people of each parish gathered closer round their minister,
who looked calmly upward and assumed a more apostolic dignity, as
well befitted a candidate for the highest honor of his profession--a
crown of martyrdom. It was actually fancied at that period that New
England might have a John Rogers of her own to take the place of that
worthy in the Primer.
"The pope of Rome has given orders for a new St. Bartholomew," cried
others. "We are to be massacred, man and male-child."
Neither was this rumor wholly discredited; although the wiser class
believed the governor's object somewhat less atrocious. His
predecessor under the old charter, Bradstreet, a venerable companion of
the first settlers, was known to be in town. There were grounds for
conjecturing that Sir Edmund Andros intended at once to strike terror
by a parade of military force and to confound the opposite faction by
possessing himself of their chief.
"Stand firm for the old charter-governor!" shouted the crowd, seizing
upon the idea--"the good old Governor Bradstreet!"
While this cry was at the loudest the people were surprised by the
well-known figure of Governor Bradstreet himself, a patriarch of nearly
ninety, who appeared on the elevated steps of a door and with
characteristic mildness besought them to submit to the constituted
authorities.
"My children," concluded this venerable person, "do nothing rashly.
Cry not aloud, but pray for the welfare of New England and expect
patiently what the Lord will do in this matter."
The event was soon to be decided. All this time the roll of the drum had
been approaching through Cornhill, louder and deeper, till with
reverberations from house to house and the regular tramp of martial
footsteps it burst into the street. A double rank of soldiers made their
appearance, occupying the whole breadth of the passage, with
shouldered matchlocks and matches burning, so as to present a row of
fires in the dusk. Their steady march was like the progress of a machine
that would roll irresistibly over everything in its way. Next, moving
slowly, with a confused clatter of hoofs on the pavement, rode a party
of mounted gentlemen, the central figure being Sir Edmund Andros,
elderly, but erect and soldier-like. Those around him were his favorite
councillors and the bitterest foes of New England. At his right hand

rode Edward Randolph, our arch-enemy, that "blasted wretch," as
Cotton Mather calls him, who achieved the downfall of our ancient
government and was followed with a sensible curse-through life and to
his grave. On the other side was Bullivant, scattering jests and mockery
as he rode along. Dudley came behind with a downcast look, dreading,
as well he might, to meet the indignant gaze of the people, who beheld
him, their only countryman by birth, among the oppressors of his native
land. The captain of a frigate in the harbor and two or three civil
officers under the Crown were also there. But the figure which most
attracted the public eye and stirred up the deepest feeling was the
Episcopal clergyman of King's Chapel riding haughtily among the
magistrates in his priestly vestments, the fitting representative of
prelacy and persecution, the union of Church and State, and all those
abominations which had driven the Puritans to the wilderness. Another
guard