NE Governor of the Colony of Massachusetts perished on the scaffold, not because he was a tyrant or oppressor, but because he was an asserter of liberty. Henry Vane was the son of Sir Henry Vane, secretary of state and comptroller of the household of Charles I. He was educated at Westminster School, London, and Magdalen College, Oxford, but took no degree, having renounced the Church of England. His father intended him for the diplomatic service and sent him to travel on the Continent of Europe. In his travels he visited Geneva, then a centre of religious ferment, and returned to England a Puritan and a Republican.

Young Vane determined to cast in his lot with the colonists of Massachusetts, and sailed for Boston in 1635. He was well received on account of his social position and his already high reputation. Before he had completed his twenty-fourth year he was elected Governor. His administration was brief and stormy. His sudden popularity had raised prejudices in the minds of men who had no means of calling forth such enthusiasm. At his election a salute was fired by fifteen large vessels, at that time lying at anchor in the harbor. A few days later a deputation of leading men waited on Governor Vane to remind him that the mere presence of such a large number of foreign vessels in the port was formidable and threatening in the feeble condition of the settlement.

Vane readily admitted that there was justice in their caution, and at once gave an instance of his tact and skill in managing men. He invited the captains of all the vessels in port to dinner, discussed the situation freely and candidly with his guests and laid before them his proposal. The conversation that ensued was frank and friendly, and the result was that the captains readily assented to the agreement, which ran thus: "First, that all inward-bound vessels should anchor below the port and wait for the Governor's pass; secondly, that before discharging their cargoes they should submit their invoices to the government; thirdly, that none of their crews should be permitted to remain on shore, except under urgent necessity."

The next act of Vane's administration is important as furnishing the first occasion of active opposition to the young Governor. The mate of the British vessel "Hector" had declared the colonists traitors and rebels, because he did not see the king's flag flying at the port. The excitement of the townsmen against the mate became so violent that Vane sent for the captain of the ship and dispatched a marshal and other officers to arrest the mate. The crew refused to surrender their officer without the captain's order. The captain had therefore to march along with the marshal. The mate was surrendered and ample apology made to the civil authorities. The king's colors bore the cross and were therefore regarded as idolatrous by the more rigid Puritans. There was much discussion; much ill-feeling was engendered: but finally Vane, acting upon his authority as Governor, and supported by only one magistrate, placed the king's flag on the fort, protesting at the same time against idolatry.

A fierce religious controversy was provoked by Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, who, on her arrival from England, had become a member of the Boston Church. She was a woman of keen perception, subtilty of reasoning and a gifted leader of devotional exercises. She criticised the discourses of the ministers and the soundness of their doctrines. She soon had arrayed against her all magistrates, ministers and leading men of the Colony. Instead of proceeding against her as a calumniator and disturber of the peace, they declared her a