Edith felt its truth, and its consolation, as she sat by the side of her husband’s couch, and wrote, from his dictation, the reply that saved him from immediate compliance with the dreaded summons.  Nothing would have induced Roger to plead illness as an excuse for disobedience unless it had actually existed:  and his fearless spirit would probably have led him into the snare that was laid for him.  Edith knew this secret danger; for Governor Winthrop, who had seen and admired her on one of his visits to Plymouth, and who now kindly sympathized in her feelings, had sent her a private note by the messenger, in which he warned her of the danger that waited Williams at Boston, and desired her, by some means, to prevent his appearing before the General Assembly.  Winthrop highly disapproved of the young minister’s bold and independent conduct; but he shrunk from so cruel an act as was resolved on by his council.  He did not, however, choose to declare his more lenient judgement; and he adopted the plan of informing Roger’s wife of the fate that was designed for him, and leaving it to her judgement and affection to take the proper measures to avert it.

It was not until after the departure of the messenger, that Edith told her husband of Winthrop’s kind interference, and showed him his note.  The indignation of Williams at such a flagrant disregard of all common justice was so great, that Edith feared it would bring on an accession of the fever.  It, however, acted in a perfectly contrary manner.  He slept well that night, and the following morning declared his intention of setting off immediately to Boston, and there accusing the General Assembly of their unlawful intention, and daring them to put it into execution.

’I will upbraid them with their injustice, and charge them with their purposed crime!’ he exclaimed; and his fine eyes flashed with excitement, that almost made Edith fear that the fever had affected his mind.  ‘I will appeal to God and man against their lawless cruelty,’ he continued; ’and rouse the whole colony to defend my right to liberty of thought and action.’

Oh, Roger!’ cried his wife—­and she caught his burning hand, and pressed it to her throbbing heart—­’cease such wild and desperate words!  Would you drive me to distraction, by thus throwing yourself into the power of your bitter and relentless enemies?  Who in Boston would stand up to defend your cause?  Who could deliver you from the evil intentions of these cruel men?  It is true that the Governor has shown himself your friend—­I should rather say, my friend—­by giving me this secret information; but he would not openly espouse your cause, or resist the will of the Assembly.  Why, then, should you spurn from you the means of safety that have been so mercifully afforded, and tempt Providence to leave you to your fate’?