The Knight of the Golden Melice | Page 8

godly ministers, and maligning
magistrates, had risen, in consequence of the mistaken leniency of the
Court, to an alarming height, so as to threaten the very foundations of

their government. There was not a Satan-instigated railing Rabsheka,
who did not now have his daily fling at the servants of the Lord,
engaged in much tribulation in planting his vineyard, and there were
many saints who were already calling out, O Lord, how long! They had
themselves just been witnesses of the audacity, wherewith, in the very
presence of the right worshipful Governor, and the worshipful
Assistants, the prisoner had assumed to sit in judgment upon a member
of the congregation, and to foul him with abuse. Never had he dared to
exhibit such topping insolence, had he not supposed himself supported
by a mutinous spirit from without. It was a dangerous spirit which, if
inflamed by indulgence, would become a deadly boil to poison the
whole body politic. Prick therefore the imposthume at once, and, like
wise surgeons, let out the offensive matter. He was not surprised at the
indignation of the worthy Deputy. It was a zeal unto godliness, and
devoutly did he wish, that himself, and all, were more inspired with it.
When he had asked that the prisoner might be permitted to speak freely,
it was that every Assistant might be convinced by his own ears of the
boldness wherewith rebellion to constituted authority, impudently
bursting from the bottomless pit, ventured to obtrude into a court of
justice, and to boast of its misdeeds. Was a child of the covenant of
grace, and our brother in Christ, to be reproached with the sins which
he had committed when in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity,
and which had been washed out by the blood of the New-Testament?
Nay, then, give a universal license to every lewd fellow, to rake up the
sins of your youth, and let him send to England--that England which
spewed us out of her mouth, as if we were not the children of her
bowels--to obtain the proofs. Had there been no word of evidence, the
bare conduct of the prisoner before them was enough to satisfy them of
his dangerous character, and he should feel his conscience accusing
him of failure in his obligations to the Church and the Colony, were he
not to advise exemplary punishment, whereof banishment would be a
necessary but the slightest part."
The speech of Spikeman was evidently acceptable to a majority of the
Assistants. It appealed to the fanaticism of some, and to the fears of
others; but there were some on whom it produced no such effect.
Captain Endicott, fierce zealot as he was, found in it something

disagreeable. As his manner was, he stroked with his hand the long tuft
on his chin, before he commenced speaking:
"There are things," he said, "in the speech of the worshipful brother
whereof I approve, and others, again, whereunto I may not give my
assent. Though it may savor of worldly pride, and be proof of the old
Adam lingering in me, I will say, that however guilty in the sight of
God, before whom I acknowledge myself the chief of sinners, I
challenge before man an examination of my life, and fear no evil report
from England or elsewhere. But for this self-boasting, I crave the
pardon and prayers of my brethren. Touching the prisoner, which is the
matter in hand, I find him somewhat bold, and not altogether in other
respects what I desire, but yet not worthy of severe punishment, or
likely to be a dangerous person in the Commonwealth. Where need
requires, I trust, with preventing grace, never to be deficient in prompt
and energetic action, but no necessity therefor hath, in my judgment, at
present arisen. For, as for this young man, ye are to recollect that he is a
soldier, and that a stout one, and may yet do the Commonwealth
service in her defence, whereunto I doubt not his willingness, and that
his free speech doth proceed rather from the license of camps than from
malignity of temper. Moreover, I find not the rule of Scripture whereby
we are bound that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
shall be established altogether complied with, meaning not, thereby, to
impugn the statement of our brother of the congregation, worthy good
man Timpson, but only that his words are not confirmed as our law
requires."
Thus spoke Endicott, who was afterwards so notorious for his severities
against dissidents; but these sentiments found no echo in the mind of
the Deputy Governor.
"I thank God," he said, "that however gross and innumerable my errors
and backslidings, I am no libertine." (Here Endicott's eyes flashed, but
he contented himself with stroking,