governor. The question of taxation had also begun
to simmer a full century before the Revolution. Sir William Phips
found his berth of High Sheriff a difficult and turbulent business, and
"the infamous Government then rampant there, found a way wholly to put
by the execution of his patent; yea, he was like to have had his person
assassinated in the face of the sun, before his own door."

This rough ship carpenter and treasure seeker weathered the storm and
rose so high in the good graces of the throne that in 1692 he carried
to Massachusetts the new charter signed by William III by virtue of
which he became the first royal governor of that colony, and as an
administrator he was no less interesting than when he was cruising off
the coast of Hispaniola. The manners of the quarterdeck he carried to
the governor's office. His fists were as ready as his tongue, and his
term of two years was enlivened by one lusty quarrel after another. In
nowise ashamed of his humble beginnings, he gave a dinner to his old
friends of the Boston ship-yard and told these honest artisans that if
it were not for his service to the people, he "would be much easier in
returning to his broad axe again."

Hawthorne has given a picture of him in the days of his greatness, "a
man of strong and sturdy frame, whose face has been roughened by
northern tempests, and blackened by the burning sun of the West Indies.
He wears an immense periwig flowing down over his shoulders. His coat
has a wide embroidery of golden foliage, and his waistcoat likewise is
all flowered over and bedizened with gold. His red, rough hands, which
have done many a good day's work with the hammer and adze, are half
covered by the delicate lace ruffles at his wrists. On a table lies
his silver-headed sword, and in a corner of the room stands his
gold-headed cane, made of a beautifully polished West India wood."

Cotton Mather helps to complete the presentment by relating that "he
was very tall, beyond the common set of men, and thick as well as tall,
and strong as well as thick. He was in all respects exceedingly
robust, and able to conquer such difficulties of diet and travel as
would have killed most men alive. Nor did the fat whereinto he grew
very much in his later years, take away the vigor of his motions."

As a fighting seaman and soldier, Sir William Phips saw hard service
before he was made royal governor. In 1690 he was in command of an
expedition which made