It is for the Priest And against this I bear my testimony.
NORTON.
Away with all these Heretics and Quakers! Quakers, forsooth! Because a quaking fell On Daniel, at beholding of the Vision, Must ye needs shake and quake?
Because Isaiah Went stripped and barefoot, must ye wail and howl?
Must ye go stripped and naked?
must ye make A wailing like the dragons, and a mourning As of the owls?
Ye verify the adage That Satan is God's ape! Away with them! Tumult.

The Quakers are driven out with violence, EDITH following slowly.

The congregation retires in confusion.
Thus freely do the Reprobates commit Such measure of iniquity as fits them For the intended measure of God's wrath And even in violating God's commands Are they fulfilling the divine decree! The will of man is but an instrument Disposed and predetermined to its action According unto the decree of God, Being as much subordinate thereto As is the axe unto the hewer's hand! He descends from the pulpit, and joins GOVERNOR ENDICOTT, who comes forward to meet him.
The omens and the wonders of the time, Famine, and fire, and shipwreck, and disease, The blast of corn, the death of our young men, Our sufferings in all precious, pleasant things, Are manifestations of the wrath divine, Signs of God's controversy with New England.
These emissaries of the Evil One, These servants and ambassadors of Satan, Are but commissioned executioners Of God's vindictive and deserved displeasure.
We must receive them as the Roman Bishop Once received Attila, saying, I rejoice You have come safe, whom I esteem to be The scourge of God, sent to chastise his people.
This very heresy, perchance, may serve The purposes of God to some good end.
With you I leave it; but do not neglect The holy tactics of the civil sword.
ENDICOTT.
And what more can be done?
NORTON.
The hand that cut The Red Cross from the colors of the king Can cut the red heart from this heresy.
Fear not.

All blasphemies immediate And heresies turbulent must be suppressed By civil power.
ENDICOTT.
But in what way suppressed?
NORTON.
The Book of Deuteronomy declares That if thy son, thy daughter, or thy wife, Ay, or the friend which is as thine own soul, Entice thee secretly, and say to thee, Let us serve other gods, then shalt thine eye Not pity him, but thou shalt surely kill him, And thine own hand shall be the first upon him To slay him.
ENDICOTT.
Four already have been slain; And others banished upon pain of death.
But they come back again to meet their doom, Bringing the linen for their winding-sheets.
We must not go too far.

In truth, I shrink From shedding of more blood.