Life of Roger Williams, the earliest legislator and true champion for a full and absolute liberty of conscience

Preface

In New England, the name of Roger Williams is now a

lousehold word. As one of the earliest advocates, and the

rst legislator of religious liberty, his fame has recently been

lore widely diffused. An admirable poem, by Judge Dur-

e, entitled " Roger Williams in Banishment," was reprinted

England in 1840, and in 1848 Williams's "Bloudy Ten-

ent of Persecution Discussed" was published by the Hanserd

Knollys Society, with a biographical introduction by the able

In describing the conduct of this extraordinary man, as well as that of his persecutors, truth has compelled the author sometimes to censure where he would gladly praise, but he has endeavored to maintain the strictest impartiality. The spirit of Williams was eminently catholic ; and his name and memory are the property, not of a single denomination, but of the whole Christian world.

In preparing the present volume, the writer has spared no pains to obtain information from every source, whether contained in MSS. or printed works, and many facts relative to Williams's early life are now for the first time presented to u the public. He is happy here to offer his acknowledgements to Lord H. Vane, and to several clergymen and literary gentlemen, for courteous replies to his inquiries, and for some valuable facts.

IV PREFACE.

A memoir of Roger Williams was published in 1834, by Professor Knowles. It is a work of great research, and very useful for reference, but too much encumbered with documents, and too minute in its local details, to interest general readers. To this volume the writer is largely indebted.

In the numerous extracts given from the manuscripts of Williams, no alteration has been made, except to modernize the orthography, and to correct the punctuation when necessary to render his meaning more perspicuous.

No portrait of Williams is known to exist. One, indeed, has been published, purporting to be such, but is spurious, being, with slight alterations, the likeness of Benjamin Franklin, which appeared in an edition of his works printed in Philadelphia about half a century ago.

At a crisis when the public mind is so strongly excited on questions of civil and religious liberty, the great principle advocated by Roger Williams — that civil rulers have no authority to prescribe, enjoin, or regulate religious belief — demands the most serious consideration of every church and of every government.

Contents

PAGE.

PREFACE iii.

Chapter I

Historical Notice of the First Settlements of New England- Opinions of the Puritans on Ecclesiastical Affairs . 1

Chapter II

Early Life of Williams — Ilis Education at Salters' Hall — Studies at Oxford — Is admitted to orders— Becomes a decided Nonconformist 9

CHAPTER HI.

Roger Williams embarks for America— He arrives in Boston— His Opinions on Ecclesiastical Polity — He is invited to Salem — The General Court interfere— He removes to Plymouth 1±

Condition of Providence— Law to Protect Conscience— Mrs. Hutchinson is banished from Massachusetts — Her adherents are welcomed at Providence— Settlement on Rhode Island commenced — The Agency of Williams in its Purchase 55

Chapter X

League of the New England Colonies— The Settlements in Rhode- Inland excluded— Williams's first risit to England— Publishes his

CONTEXTS. vii

PAGE.

Key to the Indian Languages— Obtains a Charter— His Letter to Cotton — The "Bloudy Tenent" — He returns to America— His Reception at Boston and Providence 63

Chapter XI

Williams's efforts in preventing a general Indian War — Form of Government under the Charter — Spirit of the Laws — Dissensions — Williams's Letter to the Town of Providence — Coddington*s Commission — Oppressive Policy of the other New England Colonies — Persecution of John Clarke and others in Massachusetts — Letter of Sir Richard Saltonstall — Williams and Clarke appointed Agents to the Mother Country 76

Chapter XII

Williams and Clarke sail for England— Coddington's Commission revoked, and the former Charter confirmed — Letter of the General Assembly to Williams — Publishes his Experiments of Spritual Life and Health, and their Preservatives— ' ; The Hireling Ministry" — Rejoinder to Cotton— Correspondence 85

Chapter XIII

Williams's Correspondence with the Daughter of Sir Edward Coke — His Intercourse with Sir Henry Vnne. ( 'romwell, and Milton 90

CHAPTER XIY.

Williams returns to America — His Letter to Governor Winthrop — Reorganization of the Government— He is elected President of the Colony— His Letter to the Government of Massachusetts— His Letter on Civil and Religious Liberty Ill

CHAPTER XV. Letter from Cromwell— Williams attempts to establish Friendly

Viii CONTENTS.

I

PAGE.

Relations with Massachusetts— Severe Laws against the Quakers in the other Colonies— Rhode Island refuses to join in the Persecution —Letter to John Clarke— Williams retires from the Presidency . . 124

CHAPTER XYI.

The King grants a new Charter— Williams appointed an Assistant Charges against Rhode Island refuted — Controversy with the Quakers—Philip's War— Services of Williams 132

CHAPTER XVH.

Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Colony— Williams's Religious Opinions—His Labors as a Minister— His Letter to Governor Bradstreet —His Death 144

CHAPTER XVHI.

General Estimate of his Character— Spread of his great Principle —Concluding Observations 150

Appendix

1. Williams's Letter to Major Mason 157

II. Extract from Sir Henry Vane's Healing Question propounded, &c , 1G9

III. Genealogy of the Cromwell Family 173

" Like Israel's host, to exile driven, Across the flood the pilgrims fled ;

Their hands bore up the ark ch. Heaven, And Heaven their trusting footsteps led,

Till on these savage shores they trod, And won the wilderness for God."