nd power, if not in terms of exaggeration. The most absolute
and comprehensive authority as to both appointments and trade in the
colonies ordered by the Long Parliament and Commonwealth are referred to
in brief and vague terms, or not at all noticed, by the historical
eulogist of the Massachusetts Bay Puritans,[81] who, while they were
asserting their independence of the royal rule of England, claimed and
exercised absolute rule over individual consciences and religious
liberty in Massachusetts, not only against Episcopalians, but equally
against Presbyterians and Baptists; for this very year, says Hutchinson,
"several persons came from England in 1643, made a muster to set
Presbyterian government under the authority of the Assembly of
Westminster; but the New England Assembly, the General Court, soon put
them to the rout."[82] And in the following year, 1644, these "Fathers
of American liberty" adopted measures equally decisive to "rout" the
Baptists. The ordinance passed on this subject, the "13th of the 9th
month, 1644," commences thus: "Forasmuch as experience hath plentifully
and often proved that since the first arising of the Anabaptists, about
one hundred years since, they have been the incendaries of the
Commonwealths and the infectors of persons in main matters of religion,
and the troubles of churches in all places where they have been, and
that they who have held the baptizing of infants unlawful, have usually
held other errors or heresies therewith, though they have (as other
heretics used to do) concealed the same till they spied out a fit
advantage and opportunity to vent them by way of question or scruple,"
etc.: "It is ordered and agreed, that if any person or persons within
this jurisdiction shall either openly condemn _or_ oppose the baptizing
of infants, _or_ go about secretly to seduce others from the approbation
or use thereof, _or_ shall purposely depart the congregation at the
ministration of the ordinance, _or_ shall deny the ordinance of
magistracy, or their lawful right and authority to make war, _or_ to
punish the outward breakers of the first Table, and shall appear to the
Court to continue therein after the due time and means of conviction,
_shall be sentenced to banishment_."[83]

In the following year, 1646, the Presbyterians, not being satisfied with
having been "put to the rout" in 1643, made a second attempt to
establish their worship within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay.
Mr.