Ecclesiastical History. 5 



manner, as the result of principles more consonant to the spirit 

 of the present age than to the feelings of men at the time when 

 they lived. 



I am aware, however, that there is justice in the remark of 

 the learned editor of Winthrop, when, in speaking of Governor 

 Winthrop's account of these affairs, he says, " An unusual fairness 

 for a party whose feelings had been so much engaged in the con- 

 troversy is here shown by our author." These difficulties origi- 

 nated among the members of the military company, gradually 

 enlisted the feelings of the whole town, arrested the attention 

 of the church, were taken cognizance of by the neighbouring 

 churches, and at last required the interposition of the govern- 

 ment. A sketcli of the rise, progress, and termination of these 

 difficulties will illustrate the principles of our fathers, and give 

 some indication of the spirit and asperity of controversies when 

 the prejudices of religion and of politics were unfortunately 

 blended together. Winthrop, in his Journal, vol. ii. p. 221, in- 

 troduces the subject as follows : — 



" 1645. This court fell out a troublesome business which took up much 

 time. The town of Hingham, having one Ernes their lieutenant seven 

 or eight years, had lately chosen him to be their captain, and had pre- 

 sented him to the standing council for allowance ; but before it was 

 accomplished, the greater part of the town took some light occasion of 

 offence against him, and chose one Allen to be their captain, and pre- 

 sented him to the magistrates (in the time of the last general court) to be 

 allowed. But the magistrates, considering the injury that would hereby 

 accrue to Ernes (who had been their chief commander so many years, 

 and had deserved well in his place, and that Allen had no other skill but 

 what he learned from Emes), refused to allow of Allen, but willed both 

 sides to return home, and every officer to keep his place until the court 

 should take further order. Upon their return home, the messengers, who 

 came for Allen, called a private meeting of those of their own party, and 

 told them truly what answer they received from the magistrates, and soon 

 after they appointed a training day (without their lieutenant's knowl- 

 edge), and being assembled, the lieutenant hearing of it came to them, 

 and would have exercised them, as he was wont to do, but those of the 

 other party refused to follow him, except he would show them some order 

 for it. He told them of the magistrates' order about it ; the others re- 

 plied that authority had advised him to go home and lay down his place 

 honourably. Another asked, what the magistrates had to do with them ? 

 Another, that it was but three or four of the magistrates, and if they 

 had all been there, it had been nothing, for Mr. Allen had brought more 

 for them from the deputies, than the lieutenant had from the magistrates. 

 Another of them professeth he will die at the sword's point, if he might 

 not have the choice of his own officers. Another (viz. the clerk of the 

 band) stands up above the people, and requires them to vote, whether 

 they would bear them out in what was past and what was to come. This 

 being assented unto, and the tumult continuing, one of the officers (he 

 who had told them that authority had advised the lieutenant to go home 

 and lay down his place) required Allen to take the captain's place; but 



