One cannot regard this affair as altogether creditable to the Federal Commissioners and their clerical advisers.  One of the clearest-headed and most impartial students of our history observes that “if the English were to meddle in the matter at all, it was their clear duty to enforce as far as might be the principles recognized by civilized men.  When they accepted the appeal made by Uncas they shifted the responsibility from the Mohegan chief to themselves.” [18] The decision was doubtless based purely upon grounds of policy.  Miantonomo was put out of the way because he was believed to be dangerous.  In the thirst for revenge that was aroused among the Narragansetts there was an alternative source of danger, to which I shall hereafter refer. [19] It is difficult now to decide, as a mere question of safe policy, what the English ought to have done.  The chance of being dragged into an Indian war, through the feud between Narragansetts and Mohegans, was always imminent.  The policy which condemned Miantonomo was one of timidity, and fear is merciless.

The Federal Commissioners heartily approved the conduct of Massachusetts toward Gorton, and adopted it in the name of the United Colonies.  After a formal warning, which passed unheeded, a company of forty men, under Edward Johnson of Woburn and two other officers, was sent to Shawomet.  Some worthy citizens of Providence essayed to play the part of mediators, and after some parley the Gortonites offered to submit to arbitration.  The proposal was conveyed to Boston, and the clergy were again consulted.  They declared it beneath the dignity of Massachusetts to negotiate “with a few fugitives living without law or government,” and they would no more compound with Gorton’s “blasphemous revilings” than they would bargain with the Evil One.  The community must be “purged” of such wickedness, either by repentance or by punishment.  The ministers felt that God would hold the community responsible for Gorton and visit calamities upon them unless he were silenced. [20] The arbitration was refused, Gorton’s blockhouse was besieged and captured, and the agitator was carried with nine of his followers to Boston, where they were speedily convicted of heresy and sedition.  Before passing judgment the General Court as usual consulted with the clergy who recommended a sentence of death.  Their advice was adopted by the assistants, but the deputies were more merciful, and the heretics were sentenced to imprisonment at the pleasure of the court.  In this difference between the assistants and the deputies, we observe an early symptom of that popular revolt against the ascendancy of the clergy which was by and by to become so much more conspicuous and effective in the affair of the Quakers.  Another symptom might be seen in the circumstance that so much sympathy was expressed for the Gortonites, especially by women, that after some months of imprisonment and abuse the heretics were banished under penalty of death. [Sidenote:  Trial and sentence of the heretics]