In Salem the Puritan spirit reigned supreme in magistrates and in ministers.

But in Boston, there was, as we have said, a strong anti-Puritan influence.

The officials sent over from England were generally Episcopalians--the officers of the English men-of-war frequently in port, also were generally Episcopalians.

And though the present Governor, Sir William Phips, was a member of the North Church, the Reverend Cotton Mather taking the place of his father, the Reverend Increase Mather--and though the Governor was greatly under the influence of that dogmatic and superstitious divine--his wife, Lady Mary, was utterly opposed to the whole witchcraft delusion and persecution.
Sir William himself had quite a romantic career.

Starting in life as one of the later offspring of a father and mother who had twenty-six children, and had come as poor emigrants to Maine, he was a simple and ignorant caretaker of sheep until eighteen years of age.