rson yeald readie obedience unto them uppon penaltie of the
paynes and forfeitures in that case appoynted." And, indeed, the pains
and forfeitures threatened were savage enough.

Official Virginia, loyal to the Established Church, was jealous and
fearful of Papistry and looked askance at Puritanism. It frowned upon
these and upon agnosticisms, atheisms, pantheisms, religious doubts, and
alterations in judgment--upon anything, in short, that seemed to push a
finger against Church and Kingdom. Yet in this Virginia, governed by
Sir William Berkeley, a gentleman more cavalier than the Cavaliers, more
royalist than the King, more churchly than the Church, there lived not
a few Puritans and Dissidents, going on as best they might with
Established Church and fiery King's men. Certain parishes were
predominantly Puritan; certain ministers were known to have leanings
away from surplices and genuflections and to hold that Archbishop Laud
was some kin to the Pope. In 1642, to reenforce these ministers, came
three more from New England, actively averse to conformity. But Governor
and Council and the majority of the Burgesses will have none of that.
The Assembly of 1643 takes sharp action.

For the preservation of the puritie of doctrine and unitie of the
church, IT IS ENACTED that all ministers whatsoever which shall reside
in the collony are to be conformable to the orders and constitutions
of the church of England, and the laws therein established, and not
otherwise to be admitted to teach or preach publickly or privately.
And that the Gov. and Counsel do take care that all nonconformists
upon notice of them shall be compelled to depart the collony with all
conveniencie. And so in consequence out of Virginia, to New England
where Independents were welcome, or to Maryland where any Christian
might dwell, went these tainted ministers. But there stayed behind
Puritan and nonconforming minds in the bodies of many parishioners. They
must hold their tongues, indeed, and outwardly conform--but they watched
lynx-eyed for their opportunity and a more favorable fortune.

Having launched thunderbolts against schismatics of this sort, Berkeley,
himself active and powerful, with the Council almost wholly of his
party and the House of Burgesses dominantly so, turned his attention
to "popish recusants." Of these there were few or none dwelling in
Virginia. Let them then not attempt to come from Maryland! The rulers of
the colony legislated wi