Charley had already exhausted5 the less eager activity of the other children; and they had betaken themselves to occupations that did not admit of his companionship. Laurence sat in a recess6 near the book-case, reading, not for the first time, the Midsummer Night's Dream. Clara was making a rosary of beads7 for a little figure of a Sister of Charity, who was to attend the Bunker Hill Fair, and lend her aid in erecting8 the Monument. Little Alice sat on Grandfather's foot-stool, with a picture-book in her hand; and, for every picture, the child was telling Grandfather a story. She did not read from the book, (for little Alice had not much skill in reading,) but told the story out of her own heart and mind. [pg 017]
Charley was too big a boy, of course, to care any thing about little Alice's stories, although Grandfather appeared to listen with a good deal of interest. Often, in a young child's ideas and fancies, there is something which it requires the thought of a lifetime to comprehend. But Charley was of opinion, that if a story must be told, it had better be told by Grandfather, than little Alice.
"Grandfather, I want to hear more about your chair," said he.
Now Grandfather remembered that Charley had galloped9 away upon a stick, in the midst of the narrative10 of poor Lady Arbella, and I know not whether he would have thought it worth while to tell another story, merely to gratify such an inattentive auditor11 as Charley. But Laurence laid down his book and seconded the request. Clara drew her chair nearer to Grandfather, and little Alice immediately closed her picture-book, and looked up into his face. Grandfather had not the heart to disappoint them.
He mentioned several persons who had a share in the settlement of our country, and who would be well worthy12 of remembrance, if we could find room to tell about them all. Among the rest, Grandfather spoke13 of the famous Hugh Peters, a minister of the gospel, who did much good to the inhabitants of Salem. Mr. Peters afterwards went back to England, and was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell; but Grandfather did not tell the children what became of this upright and zealous14 man, at last. In fact, [pg 018] his auditors15 were growing impatient to hear more about the history of the chair.
"After the death of Mr. Johnson," said he, "Grandfather's chair came into the possession of Roger Williams. He was a clergyman, who arrived at Salem, and settled there in 1631. Doubtless the good man has spent many a studious hour in this old chair, either penning a sermon, or reading some abstruse17 book of theology, till midnight came upon him unawares. At that period, as there were few lamps or candles to be had, people used to read or work by the light of pitchpine torches. These supplied the place of the "midnight oil," to the learned men of New England."
Grandfather went on to talk about Roger Williams, and told the children several particulars, which we have not room to repeat. One incident, however, which was connected with his life, must be related, because it will give the reader an idea of the opinions and feelings of the first settlers of New England. It was as follows:
THE RED CROSS
While Roger Williams sat in Grandfather's chair, at his humble18 residence in Salem, John Endicott would often come to visit him. As the clergy16 had great influence in temporal concerns, the minister and magistrate19 would talk over the occurrences of the day, and consult how the people might be governed according to scriptural laws. [pg 019]
One thing especially troubled them both. In the old national banner of England, under which her soldiers have fought for hundreds of years, there is a Red Cross, which has been there ever since the days when England was in subjection to the Pope. The Cross, though a holy symbol, was abhorred20 by the Puritans, because they considered it a relic21 of Popish idolatry. Now, whenever the train-band of Salem was mustered22, the soldiers, with Endicott at their head, had no other flag to march under than this same old papistical banner of England, with the Red Cross in the midst of it. The banner of the Red Cross, likewise, was flying on the walls of the fort of Salem; and a similar one was displayed in Boston harbor, from the fortress24 on Castle Island.
"I profess25, brother Williams," Captain Endicott would say, after they had been talking of this matter, "it distresses26 a Christian27 man's heart, to see this idolatrous Cross flying over our heads. A stranger beholding28 it, would think that we had undergone all our hardships and dangers, by sea and in the wilderness29, only to get new dominions30 for the Pope of Rome."
"Truly, good Mr. Endicott," Roger Williams would answer, "you speak as an honest man and Protestant Christian should. For mine own part, were it my business to draw a sword, I should reckon it sinful to fight under such a banner. Neither can I, in my pulpit, ask the blessing31 of Heaven upon it." [pg 020]
Such, probably, was the way in which Roger Williams and John Endicott used to talk about the banner of the Red Cross. Endicott, who was a prompt and resolute32 man, soon determined33 that Massachusetts, if she could not have a banner of her own, should at least be delivered from that of the Pope of Rome.
Not long afterwards there was a military muster23 at Salem. Every able-bodied man, in the town and neighborhood, was there. All were well armed, with steel caps upon their heads, plates of iron upon their breasts and at their backs, and gorgets of steel around their necks. When the sun shone upon these ranks of iron-clad men, they flashed and blazed with a splendor34 that bedazzled the wild Indians, who had come out of the woods to gaze at them. The soldiers had long pikes, swords, and muskets35, which were fired with matches, and were almost as heavy as a small cannon36.
These men had mostly a stern and rigid37 aspect. To judge by their looks, you might have supposed that there was as much iron in their hearts, as there was upon their heads and breasts. They were all devoted38 Puritans, and of the same temper as those with whom Oliver Cromwell afterwards overthrew39 the throne of England. They hated all the relics40 of Popish superstition41 as much as Endicott himself; and yet, over their heads, was displayed the banner of the Red Cross.
Endicott was the captain of the company. While [pg 021] the soldiers were expecting his orders to begin their exercise, they saw him take the banner in one hand, holding his drawn42 sword in the other. Probably he addressed them in a speech, and explained how horrible a thing it was, that men, who had fled from Popish idolatry into the wilderness, should be compelled to fight under its symbols here. Perhaps he concluded his address somewhat in the following style.
"And now, fellow soldiers, you see this old banner of England. Some of you, I doubt not, may think it treason for a man to lay violent hands upon it. But whether or no it be treason to man, I have good assurance in my conscience that it is no treason to God. Wherefore I have resolved that we will rather be God's soldiers, than soldiers of the Pope of Rome; and in that mind I now cut the Papal Cross out of this banner."
And so he did. And thus, in a province belonging to the crown of England, a captain was found bold enough to deface the King's banner with his sword.
When Winthrop, and the other wise men of Massachusetts, heard of it, they were disquieted43, being afraid that Endicott's act would bring great trouble upon himself and them. An account of the matter was carried to King Charles; but he was then so much engrossed44 by dissensions with his people, that he had no leisure to punish the offender45. In other [pg 022] times, it might have cost Endicott his life, and Massachusetts her charter.
"I should like to know, Grandfather," said Laurence, when the story was ended, "whether, when Endicott cut the Red Cross out of the banner, he meant to imply that Massachusetts was independent of England?"
"A sense of the independence of his adopted country, must have been in that bold man's heart," answered Grandfather; "but I doubt whether he had given the matter much consideration, except in its religious bearing. However, it was a very remarkable46 affair, and a very strong expression of Puritan character."
Grandfather proceeded to speak further of Roger Williams, and of other persons who sat in the great chair, as will be seen in the following chapter.
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1
riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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5
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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7
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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8
erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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9
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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10
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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12
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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15
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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16
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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18
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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20
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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22
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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28
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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29
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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38
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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39
overthrew
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| overthrow的过去式 | |
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40
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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41
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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42
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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45
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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46
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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