[The General Court, highest in
authority in Massachusetts Bay Colony, consisted of the Governor
as Chair of the Court, the Deputy Governor, 5 assistants, and 5
deputies. Several other ministers were in attendance including
Rev. John Cotton, Mrs. Hutchinson's minister, and the person who
inspired her basic theological position. Anne Hutchinson appears
as the accused in this trial].
Mr. [John] Winthrop, Governor: Mrs Hutchinson, you are called
here as one of those that have troubled the peace of the
commonwealth and the churches here; you are known to be a woman
that hath had a great share in the promoting and divulging of
those opinions that are the cause of this trouble, and to be
nearly joined not only in affinity and affection with some of
those the court had taken notice of and passed censure upon, but
you have spoken divers things, as we have been informed, very
prejudicial to the honour of the churches and ministers thereof,
and you have maintained a meeting and an assembly in your house
that hath been condemned by the general assembly as a thing not
tolerable nor comely in the sight of God nor fitting for your
sex, and notwithstanding that was cried down you have continued
the same. Therefore we have thought good to send for you to
understand how things are, that if you be in an erroneous way we
may reduce you that so you may become a profitable member here
among us. Otherwise if you be obstinate in your course that then
the court may take such course that you may trouble us no
further. Therefore I would intreat you to express whether you do
assent and hold in practice to those opinions and factions that
have been handled in court already, that is to say, whether you
do not justify Mr. Wheelwright's sermon and the petition.
Mrs. Hutchinson: I am called here to answer before you but I hear
no things laid to my charge.
Gov.: I have told you some already and more I can tell you.
Mrs. H.: Name one, Sir.
Gov.: Have I not named some already?
Mrs. H.: What have I said or done?
Gov.: Why for your doings, this you did harbor and countenance
those that are parties in this faction that you have heard of.
Mrs. H.: That's matter of conscience, Sir.
Gov.: Your conscience you must keep, or it must be kept for you.
Mrs. H.: Must not I then entertain the saints because I must keep
my conscience.
Gov.: Say that one brother should commit felony or treason and
come to his brother's house, if he knows him guilty and conceals
him he is guilty of the same. It is his conscience to entertain
him, but if his conscience comes into act in giving countenance
and entertainment to him that hath broken the law he is guilty
too. So if you do countenance those that are transgressors of the
law you are in the same fact.
Mrs. H.: What law do they transgress?
Gov.: The law of God and of the state.
Mrs. H.: In what particular?
Gov.: Why in this among the rest, whereas the Lord doth say
honour thy father and thy mother.
Mrs. H.: Ey Sir in the Lord.
Gov.: This honour you have broke in giving countenance to them.
Mrs. H.: In entertaining those did I entertain them against any
act (for there is the thing) or what God has appointed?
Gov.: You knew that Mr. Wheelwright did preach this sermon and
those that countenance him in this do break a law.
Mrs. H.: What law have I broken?
Gov.: Why the fifth commandment.
Mrs. H.: I deny that for he [Mr. Wheelwright] saith in the Lord.
Gov.: You have joined with them in the faction.
Mrs. H.: In what faction have I joined with them?
Gov.: In presenting the petition.
Mrs. H.: Suppose I had set my hand to the petition. What then?
Gov.: You saw that case tried before.
Mrs. H.: But I had not my hand to [not signed] the petition.
Gov.: You have councelled them.
Mrs. H.: Wherein?
Gov.: Why in entertaining them.
Mrs. H.: What breach of law is that, Sir?
Gov.: Why dishonouring the commonwealth.
Mrs. H.: But put the case, Sir, that I do fear the Lord and my
parents. May not I entertain them that fear the Lord because my
parents will not give me leave?
Gov.: If they be the fathers of the commonwealth, and they of
another religion, if you entertain them then you dishonour your
parents and are justly punishable.
Mrs. H.: If I entertain them, as they have dishonoured their
parents I do.
Gov.: No but you by countenancing them above others put honor
upon them.
Mrs. H.: I may put honor upon them as the children of God and as
they do honor the Lord.
Gov.: We do not mean to discourse with those of your sex but only
this: you so adhere unto them and do endeavor to set forward this
faction and so you do dishonour us.
Mrs. H.: I do acknowledge no such thing. Neither do I think that
I ever put any dishonour upon you.
Gov.: Why do you keep such a meeting at your house as you do
every week upon a set day?
Mrs. H.: It is lawful for me to do so, as it is all your
practices, and can you find a warrant for yourself and condemn me
for the same thing? The ground of my taking it up was, when I
first came to this land because I did not go to such meetings as
those were, it was presently reported that I did not allow of
such meetings but held them unlawful and therefore in that regard
they said I was proud and did despise all ordinances. Upon that a
friend came unto me and told me of it and I to prevent such
aspersions took it up, but it was in practice before I came.
Therefore I was not the first.
Gov.: ...By what warrant do you continue such a course?
Mrs. H.: I conceive there lies a clear rule in Titus that the
elder women should instruct the younger and then I must have a
time wherein I must do it.
Gov.: All this I grant you, I grant you a time for it, but what
is this to the purpose that you Mrs. Hutchinson must call a
company together from their callings to come to be taught of
you?...
Mrs. H.: If you look upon the rule in Titus it is a rule to me.
If you convince me that it is no rule I shall yield.
Gov.: You know that there is no rule that crosses another, but
this rule crosses that in the Corinthians. But you must take it
in this sense that elder women must instruct the younger about
their business and to love their husbands and not to make them to
clash....
Mrs. H.: Will it please you to answer me this and to give me a
rule for then I will willingly submit to any truth. If any come
to my house to be instructed in the ways of God what rule have I
to put them away?.... Do you think it not lawful for me to teach
women and why do you call me to teach the court?
Gov.: We do not call you to teach the court but to lay open
yourself....
[They continue to argue over what rule she had broken]
Gov.: Your course is not to be suffered for. Besides that we find
such a course as this to be greatly prejudicial to the state.
Besides the occasion that it is to seduce many honest persons
that are called to those meetings and your opinions and your
opinions being known to be different from the word of God may
seduce many simple souls that resort unto you. Besides that the
occasion which hath come of late hath come from none but such as
have frequented your meetings, so that now they are flown off
from magistrates and ministers and since they have come to you.
And besides that it will not well stand with the commonwealth
that families should be neglected for so many neighbors and dames
and so much time spent. We see no rule of God for this. We see
not that any should have authority to set up any other exercises
besides what authority hath already set up and so what hurt comes
of this you will be guilty of and we for suffering you.
Mrs. H.: Sir, I do not believe that to be so.
Gov.: Well, we see how it is. We must therefore put it away from
you or restrain you from maintaining this course.
Mrs H. If you have a rule for it from God's word you may.
Gov.: We are your judges, and not you ours and we must compel you
to it.
Mrs. H.: If it please you by authority to put it down I will
freely let you for I am subject to your authority....
Deputy Governor, Thomas Dudley: I would go a little higher with
Mrs. Hutchinson. About three years ago we were all in peace. Mrs
Hutchinson, from that time she came hath made a disturbance, and
some that came over with her in the ship did inform me what she
was as soon as she was landed. I being then in place dealt with
the pastor and teacher of Boston and desired them to enquire of
her, and then I was satisfied that she held nothing different
from us. But within half a year after, she had vented divers of
her strange opinions and had made parties in the country, and at
length it comes that Mr. Cotton and Mr. Vane were of her
judgment, but Mr. Cotton had cleared himself that he was not of
that mind. But now it appears by this woman's meeting that Mrs.
Hutchinson hath so forestalled the minds of many by their resort
to her meeting that now she hath a potent party in the country.
Now if all these things have endangered us as from that
foundation and if she in particular hath disparaged all our
ministers in the land that they have preached a covenant of
works, and only Mr. Cotton a covenant of grace, why this is not
to be suffered, and therefore being driven to the foundation and
it being found that Mrs. Hutchinson is she that hath depraved all
the ministers and hath been the cause of what is fallen out, why
we must take away the foundation and the building will fall.
Mrs. H.: I pray, Sir, prove it that I said they preached nothing
but a covenant of works.
Dep. Gov.: Nothing but a covenant of works. Why a Jesuit may
preach truth sometimes.
Mrs. H.: Did I ever say they preached a covenant of works then?
Dep. Gov.: If they do not preach a covenant of grace clearly,
then they preach a covenant of works.
Mrs. H.: No, Sir. One may preach a covenant of grace more clearly
than another, so I said....
Dep. Gov.: When they do preach a covenant of works do they preach
truth?
Mrs. H.: Yes, Sir. But when they preach a covenant of works for
salvation, that is not truth.
Dep. Gov.: I do but ask you this: when the ministers do preach a
covenant of works do they preach a way of salvation?
Mrs. H.: I did not come hither to answer questions of that sort.
Dep. Gov.: Because you will deny the thing.
Mrs. H.: Ey, but that is to be proved first.
Dep. Gov.: I will make it plain that you did say that the
ministers did preach a covenant of works.
Mrs. H.: I deny that.
Dep. Gov.: And that you said they were not able ministers of the
New Testament, but Mr. Cotton only.
Mrs. H.: If ever I spake that I proved it by God's word.
Court: Very well, very well.
Mrs. H.: If one shall come unto me in private, and desire me
seriously to tell them what I thought of such an one, I must
either speak false or true in my answer.
Dep. Gov.: Likewise I will prove this that you said the gospel in
the letter and words holds forth nothing but a covenant of works
and that all that do not hold as you do are in a covenant of
works.
Mrs. H.: I deny this for if I should so say I should speak
against my own judgment....
Mr. Hugh Peters: That which concerns us to speak unto, as yet we
are sparing in, unless the court command us to speak, then we
shall answer to Mrs. Hutchinson notwithstanding our brethren are
very unwilling to answer.
[The Governor says to do so. Six minsters then testify to the
particular charges and that she was "not only difficult in
her opinions, but also of an intemperate spirit"]
Mr Hugh Peters:.... [I asked her] What difference do you conceive
to be between your teacher and us?... Briefly, she told me there
was a wide and broad difference.... He preaches the covenant of
grace and you the covenant of works, and that you are not able
ministers of the New Testament and know no more than the apostles
did before the resurrection of Christ. I did then put it to her,
What do you conceive of such a brother? She answered he had not
the seal of the spirit.
Mrs. H.: If our pastor would shew his writings you should see
what I said, and that many things are not so as is reported.
Mr. Wilson:...what is written [here now] I will avouch.
Mr. Weld: [agrees that Peters related Hutchinson's words
accurately]
Mr. Phillips: [agrees that Peters related Hutchinson's words
accurately and added] Then I asked her of myself (being she spake
rashly of them all) because she never heard me at all. She
likewise said that we were not able ministers of the New
Testament and her reason was because we were not sealed.
Mr. Simmes: Agrees that Peters related Hutchinson's words
accurately
Mr. Shephard: Also to Same.
Mr. Eliot: [agrees that Peters related Hutchinson's words
accurately]
Dep. Gov.: I called these witnesses and you deny them. You see
they have proved this and you deny this, but it is clear. You say
they preached a covenant of works and that they were not able
ministers of the New Testament; now there are two other things
that you did affirm which were that the scriptures in the letter
of them held forth nothing but a covenant of works and likewise
that those that were under a covenant of works cannot be saved.
Mrs. H.: Prove that I said so.
Gov.: Did you say so?
Mrs. H.: No, Sir, it is your conclusion.
Dep. Gov.: What do I do charging of you if you deny what is so
fully proved?
Gov.: Here are six undeniable ministers who say it is true and
yet you deny that you did say that they preach a covenant of
works and that they were not able ministers of the gospel, and it
appears plainly that you have spoken it, and whereas you say that
it was drawn from you in a way of friendship, you did profess
then that it was out of conscience that you spake....
Mrs. H.:....They thought that I did conceive there was a
difference between them and Mr. Cotton.... I might say they might
preach a covenant of works as did the apostles, but to preach a
covenant of works and to be under a covenant of works is another
business.
Dep. Gov.: There have been six witnesses to prove this and yet
you deny it. [and then he mentions a seventh, Mr. Nathaniel Ward]
Mrs. H.: I acknowledge using the words of the apostle to the
Corinthians unto him, [Mr. Ward] that they that were ministers of
the letter and not the spirit did preach a covenant of works.
Gov.: Mrs. Hutchinson, the court you see hath laboured to bring
you to acknowledge the error of your way that so you might be
reduced, the time grows late, we shall therefore give you a
little more time to consider of it and therefore desire that you
attend the court again in the morning. . [The next morning]
Gov.: We proceeded... as far as we could... There were divers
things laid to her charge: her ordinary meetings about religious
exercises, her speeches in derogation of the ministers among us,
and the weakening of the hands and hearts of the people towards
them. Here was sufficient proof made of that which she was
accused of, in that point concerning the ministers and their
ministry, as that they did preach a covenant of works when others
did preach a covenant of grace, and that they were not able
ministers of the New Testament, and that they had not the seal of
the spirit, and this was spoken not as was pretended out of
private conference, but out of conscience and warrant from
scripture alleged the fear of man is a snare and seeing God had
given her a calling to it she would freely speak. Some other
speeches she used, as that the letter of the scripture held forth
a covenant of works, and this is offered to be proved by probable
grounds....
Controversy--should the witnesses should be recalled and made
swear an oath, as Mrs. Hutchinson desired, is resolved against
doing so
Gov.: I see no necessity of an oath in this thing seeing it is
true and the substance of the matter confirmed by divers, yet
that all may be satisfied, if the elders will take an oath they
shall have it given them....
Mrs. H.: After that they have taken an oath I will make good what
I say.
Gov.: Let us state the case, and then we may know what to do.
That which is laid to Mrs. Hutchinson charge is that, that she
hath traduced the magistrates and ministers of this jurisdiction,
that she hath said the ministers preached a covenant of works and
Mr. Cotton a covenant of grace, and that they were not able
ministers of the gospel, and she excuses it that she made it a
private conference and with a promise of secrecy, &c. Now
this is charged upon her, and they therefore sent for her seeing
she made it her table talk, and then she said the fear of man was
a snare and therefore she would not be affeared of them....
Dep. Gov.: Let her witnesses be called.
Gov.: Who be they?
Mrs. H.: Mr. Leveret and our teacher and Mr. Coggeshall.
Gov.: Mr. Coggeshall was not present.
Mr. Coggeshall: Yes, but I was. Only I desired to be silent till
I should be called.
Gov.: Will you, Mr. Coggeshall, say that she did not say so?
Mr. Coggeshall: Yes, I dare say that she did not say all that
which they lay against her.
Mr. Peters: How dare you look into the court to say such a word?
Mr. Coggeshall: Mr. Peters takes upon him to forbid me. I shall
be silent.
Mr. Stoughton [assistant of the Court]: Ey, but she intended this
that they say.
Gov.: Well, Mr. Leveret, what were the words? I pray, speak.
Mr. Leveret: To my best remembrance when the elders did send for
her, Mr. Peters did with much vehemency and intreaty urge her to
tell what difference there was between Mr. Cotton and them, and
upon his urging of her she said "The fear of man is a snare,
but they that trust upon the Lord shall be safe." And being
asked wherein the difference was, she answered that they did not
preach a covenant of grace so clearly as Mr. Cotton did, and she
gave this reason of it: because that as the apostles were for a
time without the spirit so until they had received the witness of
the spirit they could not preach a covenant of grace so clearly.
Gov.: Don't you remember that she said they were not able
ministers of the New Testament?
Mrs. H.: Mr. Weld and I had an hour's discourse at the window and
then I spake that, if I spake it....
Gov.: Mr Cotton, the court desires that you declare what you do
remember of the conference which was at the time and is now in
question.
Mr. Cotton: I did not think I should be called to bear witness in
this cause and therefore did not labor to call to remembrance
what was done; but the greatest passage that took impression upon
me was to this purpose. The elders spake that they had heard that
she had spoken some condemning words of their ministry, and among
other things they did first pray her to answer wherein she
thought their ministry did differ from mine. How the comparison
sprang I am ignorant, but sorry I was that any comparison should
be between me and my brethren and uncomfortable it was. She told
them to this purpose that they did not hold forth a covenant of
grace as I did. But wherein did we differ? Why she said that they
did not hold forth the seal of the spirit as he doth. Where is
the difference there? Say they, why saith she, speaking to one or
other of them, I know not to whom. You preach of the seal of the
spirit upon a work and he upon free grace without a work or
without respect to a work; he preaches the seal of the spirit
upon free grace and you upon a work. I told her I was very sorry
that she put comparisons between my ministry and theirs, for she
had said more than I could myself, and rather I had that she had
put us in fellowship with them and not have made that
discrepancy. She said, she found the difference....
This was the sum of the difference, nor did it seem to be so ill
taken as it is and our brethren did say also that they would not
so easily believe reports as they had done and withal mentioned
that they would speak no more of it, some of them did; and
afterwards some of them did say they were less satisfied than
before. And I must say that I did not find her saying that they
were under a covenant of works, nor that she said they did preach
a covenant of works.
[more back and forth between Rev. John Cotton, trying to defend
Mrs. Hutchinson, and Mr. Peters, about exactly what Mrs.
Hutchinson said]
Mrs. H.: If you please to give me leave I shall give you the
ground of what I know to be true. Being much troubled to see the
falseness of the constitution of the Church of England, I had
like to have turned Separatist. Whereupon I kept a day of solemn
humiliation and pondering of the thing; this scripture was
brought unto me--he that denies Jesus Christ to be come in the
flesh is antichrist. This I considered of and in considering
found that the papists did not deny him to be come in the flesh,
nor we did not deny him--who then was antichrist? Was the Turk
antichrist only? The Lord knows that I could not open scripture;
he must by his prophetical office open it unto me. So after that
being unsatisfied in the thing, the Lord was pleased to bring
this scripture out of the Hebrews. he that denies the testament
denies the testator, and in this did open unto me and give me to
see that those which did not teach the new covenant had the
spirit of antichrist, and upon this he did discover the ministry
unto me; and ever since, I bless the Lord, he hath let me see
which was the clear ministry and which the wrong. Since that time
I confess I have been more choice and he hath left me to
distinguish between the voice of my beloved and the voice of
Moses, the voice of John the Baptist and the voice of antichrist,
for all those voices are spoken of in scripture. Now if you do
condemn me for speaking what in my conscience I know to be truth
I must commit myself unto the Lord.
Mr. Nowel [assistant to the Court]: How do you know that was the
spirit?
Mrs. H.: How did Abraham know that it was God that bid him offer
his son, being a breach of the sixth commandment?
Dep. Gov.: By an immediate voice.
Mrs. H.: So to me by an immediate revelation.
Dep. Gov.: How! an immediate revelation.
Mrs. H.: By the voice of his own spirit to my soul. I will give
you another scripture, Jer[emiah] 46: 27-28--out of which the
Lord showed me what he would do for me and the rest of his
servants. But after he was pleased to reveal himself to me I did
presently, like Abraham, run to Hagar. And after that he did let
me see the atheism of my own heart, for which I begged of the
Lord that it might not remain in my heart, and being thus, he did
show me this (a twelvemonth after) which I told you of before....
Therefore, I desire you to look to it, for you see this scripture
fulfilled this day and therefore I desire you as you tender the
Lord and the church and commonwealth to consider and look what
you do. You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power
over my body and soul; and assure yourselves thus much, you do as
much as in you lies to put the Lord Jesus Christ from you, and if
you go on in this course you begin, you will bring a curse upon
you and your posterity, and the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Dep. Gov.: What is the scripture she brings?
Mr. Stoughton [assistant to the Court]: Behold I turn away from
you.
Mrs. H.: But now having seen him which is invisible I fear not
what man can do unto me.
Gov.: Daniel was delivered by miracle; do you think to be
deliver'd so too?
Mrs. H.: I do here speak it before the court. I look that the
Lord should deliver me by his providence.... [because God had
said to her] though I should meet with affliction, yet I am the
same God that delivered Daniel out of the lion's den, I will also
deliver thee.
Mr. Harlakenden [assistant to the Court]: I may read scripture
and the most glorious hypocrite may read them and yet go down to
hell.
Mrs. H.: It may be so....
Gov.: I am persuaded that the revelation she brings forth is
delusion.
[The trial text here reads:] All the court but some two or three
ministers cry out, we all believe it--we all believe it. [Mrs.
Hutchinson was found guilty]
Gov.: The court hath already declared themselves satisfied
concerning the things you hear, and concerning the
troublesomeness of her spirit and the danger of her course
amongst us, which is not to be suffered. Therefore if it be the
mind of the court that Mrs. Hutchinson for these things that
appear before us is unfit for our society, and if it be the mind
of the court that she shall be banished out of our liberties and
imprisoned till she be sent away, let them hold up their hands.
[All but three did so]
Gov.: Mrs. Hutchinson, the sentence of the court you hear is that
you are banished from out of our jurisdiction as being a woman
not fit for our society, and are to be imprisoned till the court
shall send you away.
Mrs. H.: I desire to know wherefore I am banished?
Gov.: Say no more. The court knows wherefore and is satisfied.
This page last updated August 9, 2000.