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The Ridgely House, Dover, Delaware: Cornbury
The warrant for the arrest of the "criminal" was addressed to Thomas Cordale, Esqr., High-Sheriff of Queens County on Long-Island, or his Deputy, and was signed by Lord Cornbury. It read: "Whereas I am informed, that one Mackennan, and one Hampton, two Presbyterian Preachers, who lately came to this City, have taken upon them to Preach in a Private House, without having obtained My Licence for so doing, which is directly contrary to the known Laws of England, and being likewise informed, that they are gone into Long-Island, with intent there to spread their Pernicious Doctrines and Principles, to the great disturbance of the Order by Law established by the Government of this province. You are therefore hereby Required and Commanded, to take into your Custody the Bodies of the said Mackennan and Hampton, and then to bring them with all convenient speed before me, at Fort-Anne, in New-York."
When brought before Lord Cornbury, Makemie said: "We have Liberty from an Act of Parliament, made the first year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, which gave us Liberty, with which Law we have complied." But Lord Cornbury replied: "No one shall Preach in my Government without my Licence.
That Law does not extend to the American Plantations, but only to England. of. • • • • • • • I know, for I was at Making there- That Act of Parliament was made against Strowling Preachers, and you are such, and shall not Preach in my Government."
Makemie again challenged Lord Cornbury to show "any Pernicious Doctrine in the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church." Later he refused to give "Bail and Security to Preach no more." "Then you must go to Gaol," his Lordship said.
On January 23 another warrant was given to the High Sheriff of New York. He was told "to safely keep till further orders" the prisoners committed to him.
From the prison Makemie sent a petition asking to know the charge, and demanding a speedy trial. Later the prisoner was released on habeas corpus proceedings. At the trial, where Makemie conducted his own defence, he read Chapter 23 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, as a complete reply to the charge that he believed what incited the people to disregard the authority of the king.
OVER THE MASON AND DIXON LINE 215 The jury brought in a verdict of "not guilty," but Makemie was obliged to pay the costs, including the fees of the Court Prosecutor, which amounted to twelve pounds. The total cost of the trial, including the expense of a trip from his home in Maryland, made necessary by a recess in the trial, was more than eighty pounds.
A few months later Makemie died. It was felt by those who knew him that the trying experiences at New York hastened his end.
He had not lived in vain. His struggles for religious liberty were to bear rich fruit before many years.
Henry van Dyke wrote a sonnet to the memory of Francis Makemie, which was read on May 14, 1908, when the monument to the memory of the pioneer was unveiled: "To thee, plain hero of a rugged race, We bring a meed of praise too long delayed!
Thy fearless word and faithful work have made Of God's Republic a firmer resting-place In this New World: for thou hast preached the grace And power of Christ in many a forest glade, Teaching the truth that leaves men unafraid Of frowning tyranny or death's dark face. "Oh, who can tell how much we owe to thee, Makemie, and to labor such as thine, For all that makes America the shrine Of faith untrammelled and of conscience free?
Stand here, grey stone, and consecrate the sod Where rests this brave Scotch-Irish man of God."