80 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



the people of Boston, but in a few weeks was invited by 

 the people of Salem to become an assistant to Mr. Skelton, 

 Mr. Higginson having lately died, which call he accepted. 

 This drew upon Salem a letter from the General Court 

 warning them of his heretical views, the chief of which 

 was that magistrates had no control over the consciences 

 of men, that their power extended only to breaches of the 

 second table, that is, the duties of man to man ; whereas 

 the duties of man to God as stated in the first four com- 

 mandments were questions not to l)e interfered with ; 

 that every man had a right to follow his own inward light. 

 This was a great error in the minds of these Puritans. 

 The Salem people paid no attention to this letter, but 

 settled Mr. Williams immediately on tlie 2d of April, 

 1631. He found his situation, however, very uncomfort- 

 able as he was constantly watched and his remarks criti- 

 cised. Dr. Bentley says "Persecution instantly commenced 

 and before the end of the summer he was oblio:ed to retire 

 to Plymouth." Here he was well received, preaching 

 sometimes as an assistant to the Rev. Ralph Smith and 

 supporting himself chiefly by manual labor, " at the How 

 (hoe) and at the Oar for bread." He associated much 

 with the Indians, studying their language and habits ; 

 and sought in every way to do them good. This was of 

 great use to him and to all New England in after life, for 

 the Indians alwa^^s regarded him almost as a sachem. He 

 says he " had a constant zealous desire to dive into the 

 native language." He published in later life, in 1643, his 

 " Key to the Indian language." He staid in Plymouth al)out 

 two years, but his heart yearned towards Salem and the 

 Salem people ; and accordingly in Aug., 1633, he returned 

 there as assistant to their pastor, Mr. Skelton. During 

 the year following he seems to have been constantly har- 

 assed by the magistrates and was several times summoned 



