etts
should call forth, here and there, a voice of remonstrance,
notwithstanding the argus-eyed watchfulness and espionage exercised by
the Church government at Massachusetts Bay over all persons and papers
destined for England, and especially in regard to every suspected person
or paper. One of these is from Sir Henry Vane, who went to Massachusetts
in 1636, and was elected Governor; but he was in favour of toleration,
and resisted the persecution against Mrs. Anne Hutchinson and her
brother, Mr. Wheelwright. The persecuting party proved too strong for
him, and he resigned his office before the end of the year. He was
succeeded as Governor by Mr. Winthrop, who ordered him to quit
Massachusetts. He was, I think, the purest if not the best statesman of
his time;[102] he was too good a man to cherish resentment against
Winthrop or against the colony, but returned good for evil in regard to
both in after years. Sir Henry Vane wrote to Governor Winthrop, in
regard to these persecutions, as follows:

"Honoured Sir,--

"I received yours by your son, and was unwilling to let him return
without telling you as much. The exercise of troubles which God is
pleased to lay upon these kingdoms and the inhabitants in them, teaches
us patience and forbearance one with another in some measure, though
there be no difference in our opinions, which makes me hope, that from
the experience here, it may also be derived to yourselves, lest while
the Congregational way amongst you is in its freedom, and is backed with
power, it teach its oppugners here to extirpate it and roote it out, and
from its own principles and practice. I shall need say no more, knowing
your son can acquaint you particularly with our affairs.

"&c., &c.,
H. VANE.[103]
June 10, 1645."

Another and more elaborate remonstrance of the same kind was written by
Sir Richard Saltonstall, one of the original founders, and of the first
Council of the Company--one who had appeared before the King in Council
in 1632, in defence of Endicot and his Council, in answer to the charges
of Church innovation, of abolishing the worship of the Church of
England, and banishing the Browns on account of their adhering to the
worship which all the emigrants professed on their leaving England. Sir
R. Saltonstall and Mr. Cradock, the Governor of the Company, could
appeal to the address of Winthrop and his eleven ships of emigrants,
which they had delivered to their "Fathers and Brethren of the