r,
who had shipped some tobacco to a relative in Boston, and demanded a
steer in payment for the shipment. The tax-gatherer attempted to drive
away the ox, when the sturdy wife assailed him with her mop-stick and
drove him from the premises.

[Illustration: The sturdy wife assailed him with her mop-stick and drove
him away.]

The exasperated people finally, in December, 1677, seized the public
funds and imprisoned the governor and six of his councillors, called a
new representative assembly and appointed a chief magistrate and judge.
Then, for two years, the colonists were permitted to conduct the affairs
of their government without any foreign control. Meanwhile, John
Culpepper, their leader, whom the royalists denounced as an "ill man,
who merited hanging for endeavoring to set the people to plunder the
rich," conscious of his integrity, went boldly to England to plead the
cause of the colony. While in the act of re-embarking for America, he
was arrested, tried for treason and honorably acquitted. Returning to
North Carolinia, he was appointed surveyor-general of the province, and,
in 1680, laid out the city of Charleston in South Carolinia.

Until the arrival of Seth Sothel as governor, North Carolinia enjoyed a
period of repose. He had purchased a share in the provinces of
Clarendon, and was sent to administer the government. On his voyage, he
was captured by Algerine pirates, but, escaping them, reached North
Carolinia, in 1683.

It has been said of this avaricious, extortionate and cruel statesman,
that "the dark shades of his character were not relieved by a single
virtue." His advent disturbed the public tranquillity. He plundered the
people, cheated the proprietors, and on all occasions seems to have
prostituted his delegated power to purposes of private gain. About six
weeks of his misrule were all the independent colonists could stand.
Then the people rose in rebellion, seized the governor, and were about
to send him to England to answer their accusations before the
proprietors, when he asked to be tried by the colonial assembly. It is
asserted by historians of note, that that body was more merciful than
his associates in England would have been, for they found him guilty and
sentenced him to only one year's punishment and perpetual
disqualification for the office of governor.

Sothel withdrew to the southern colony, and was succeeded by Philip
Ludwell, an energetic, honest man, whose wisdom and sense o