t gush of the Restoration, there was elected a House of Burgesses so
congenial to Berkeley's mind that he wished to see it perpetuated. For
fifteen years therefore he held it in being, with adjournments from one
year into another and with sharp refusals to listen to any demand for
new elections. Yet this demand grew, and still the Governor shut the
door in the face of the people and looked imperiously forth from the
window. His temper, always fiery, now burned vindictive; his zeal for
King and Church and the high prerogatives of the Governor of Virginia
became a consuming passion.

When Berkeley first came to Virginia, and again for a moment in the
flare of the Restoration, his popularity had been real, but for long now
it had dwindled. He belonged to an earlier time, and he held fast to old
ideas that were decaying at the heart. A bigot for the royal power,
a man of class with a contempt for the generality and its clumsily
expressed needs, he grew in narrowness as he grew in years. Berkeley
could in these later times write home, though with some exaggeration:
"I thank God there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall
not have these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience into
the world and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best
governments! God keep us from both!" But that was the soured zealot
for absolutism--William Berkeley the man was fond enough of books and
himself had written plays.

The spirit of the time was reactionary in Virginia as it was reactionary
in England. Harsh servant and slave laws were passed. A prison was to
be erected in each county; provision was made for pillory and stocks and
duckingstool; the Quakers were to be proceeded against; the Baptists
who refused to bring children to baptism were to suffer. Then at last in
1670 came restriction of the franchise:

"Act III. ELECTION OF BURGESSES BY WHOM. WHEREAS the usuall way of
chuseing burgesses by the votes of all persons who having served their
tyme are freemen of this country who haveing little interest in the
country doe oftener make tumults at the election to the disturbance of
his Majestie's peace, than by their discretions in their votes provide
for the conservation thereof, by makeing choyce of persons fitly
qualifyed for the discharge of soe greate a trust, And whereas the
lawes of England grant a voyce in such election only to such as by
their estates real or personall have interest enough to