File:A book of New England legends and folk lore in prose and poetry. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill (1884) (14579255528).jpg

Identifier: bookofnewengland00drakrich (find matches)
Title: A book of New England legends and folk lore in prose and poetry. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Subjects: Legends -- New England
Publisher: Boston, Roberts Brothers
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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the stepping-stones of history. Nor have tliemost zealous apologists for these acts of the Puritan fathers everbeen able to erase the stain of blood from their otherwise fairescutcheon. Let us recount a single startling episode of this lugubrioushistory. Two words Avill explain the situation. On both sides of the ocean the Puritan cry was freedom toworship God as we do. The persecution of Quakers hadalready begun in England under the austere rule of the PuritanCommonwealth. They were treated as weak fanatics whoneeded wholesome correction, rather than as persons dangerousto the public weal. After this had been some time in progress,some of tlic persecuted Friends came over to New England for i MARY DYER. 37 an asylum, or out of the frying-pan into the fire. The localauthorities, urged on by the whole body of Orthodox ministers,resolved to strangle this new heresy in its cradle. But theyhad forgotten the story of the dragons teeth. For every Quakerthey banished, ten arose in his place.
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SCOUKGING A QUAK£K. Among the first Quakers to arrive in the Colony were twowomen. And it should be observed that the women all alongtook as active a part in disseminating the new doctrines as the 38 NEW-ENGLANIJ LEGENDS. men did. As was inevitable, such an abrupt innovation uponthe settled convictions of the time respecting womans place inthe churches and in society, was a moral shock to the comnni-nity which quickly recoiled upon the heads of the oftenders. These intruding Quakers, having announced themselves asconfessors and missionaries of the true faith of Christ, were allpresently put under lock and key as persons guilty of promul-gating rank heresies, and as blasphemers, and their sectarianbooks were also seized and committed to the flames by thecommon hangman. Tlie Quakers then became violent andaggressive in their turn. They retaliated with prophesies ofevil. They freely denounced the judgments of Heaveii upontheir oppressors. One woman, seeing Governor Endicott passby the p

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