mong its branches now.

One would expect that the effect of this predominant clerical influence
would have been to make the aim of the Puritan codes lofty, their
consistency unflinching, their range narrow, and their penalties
severe,--and it certainly was so. Looking at their educational
provisions, they seem all noble; looking at their schedule of sins and
retributions, one wonders how any rational being could endure them for a
day. Communities, like individuals, furnish virtues piecemeal. Roger
Williams, with all his wise toleration, bequeathed to Rhode Island no
such system of schools as his persecutors framed for Massachusetts. But
the children who were watched and trained thus carefully might be put to
death, if they "cursed their orderly parents" after the age of
sixteen;--not that the penalty ever was inflicted, but it was on the
statute-book. Sabbath-breaking was placed on a level with
murder,--though Calvin himself allowed the old men to play at bowls and
the young men to practise military training, after afternoon service,
at Geneva. Down to 1769 not even a funeral could take place on Sunday in
Massachusetts, without license from a magistrate. Then the stocks and
the wooden cage were in frequent use, though "barbarous and cruel"
punishments were forbidden in 1641. Scolds and railers were set on a
ducking-stool and dipped over head and ears three times, in running
water, if possible. Mrs. Oliver, a troublesome theologian, was silenced
with a cleft stick applied to her tongue. Thomas Scott, in 1649, was
sentenced for some offence to learn "the chatachise," or be fined ten
shillings, and, after due consideration, paid the fine. Sometimes
offenders, with a refinement of cruelty, were obliged to "go and talk to
the elders." And if any youth made matrimonial overtures to a young
female without the consent of her parents, or, in their absence, of the
County Court, he was first fined and then imprisoned. A new etymology
for the word "courting."

An exhibition of this mingled influence was in the relation of the
ministers to the Indian wars. Roger Williams, even when banished and
powerless, could keep the peace with the natives. But when the brave
Miantonimo was to be dealt with for suspected treason, and the civil
authorities decided, that, though it was unsafe to set him at liberty,
they yet had no ground to put him to death, the matter being finally
referred to five "elders," Uncas was straightway authorized to sl