When Winthrop, and the other wise men of Massachusetts, heard of it, they were disquieted, 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 engrossed by dissensions with his people, that he had no leisure to punish the offender.  In other 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 remarkable 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.

Chapter IV

“Roger Williams,” said Grandfather, “did not keep possession of the chair a great while.  His opinions of civil and religious matters differed, in many respects, from those of the rulers and clergymen of Massachusetts.  Now the wise men of those days believed, that the country could not be safe, unless all the inhabitants thought and felt alike.”

“Does any body believe so in our days Grandfather?” asked Laurence.

“Possibly there are some who believe it,” said Grandfather; “but they have not so much power to act upon their belief, as the magistrates and ministers had, in the days of Roger Williams.  They had the power to deprive this good man of his home, and to send him out from the midst of them, in search of a new place of rest.  He was banished in 1634, and went first to Plymouth colony; but as the people there held the same opinions as those of Massachusetts, he was not suffered to remain among them.  However, the wilderness was wide enough; so Roger Williams took his staff and travelled into the forest, and made treaties with the Indians, and began a plantation which he called Providence.”

“I have been to Providence on the railroad,” said Charley.  “It is but a two hours’ ride.”

“Yes, Charley,” replied Grandfather; “but when Roger Williams travelled thither, over hills and valleys, and through the tangled woods, and across swamps and streams, it was a journey of several days.  Well; his little plantation is now grown to be a populous city; and the inhabitants have a great veneration for Roger Williams.  His name is familiar in the mouths of all because they see it on their bank bills.  How it would have perplexed this good clergyman, if he had been told that he should give his name to the Roger Williams bank!”