until it spread alienation and acrimony throughout the village.  A majority of the people were all along in favor of Bayley; but the minority were implacable.  His engagement to preach was renewed from year to year.  At length, the controversy waxed so warm that some definite action became necessary.  On the 10th of March, 1679, both parties applied to the mother-church for advice.  A paper was presented by his opponents, with sixteen, and another from his friends, with thirty-nine signers.  There was still another, also in his favor, signed by ten persons living near, but not within the village line.  Although the number of his opponents was so much less than of his friends, they included persons, such as Nathaniel Putnam and Bray Wilkins, of large estates and families, and much general influence; and it is evident that the First Church was not inclined wholly to disregard them.  The record of that church says, “There was much agitation on both sides, and divers things were spoken of by the brethren; but the business being long, and many of the brethren gone, we could not make a church act of advice in the case; therefore it was left to another time.”  At a meeting on the 22d of April, the Salem Church advised the minority “to submit to the generality for the present;” but, when a church should be formed there, “then they might choose him or any other.”  This advice does not appear to have satisfied either party; and the quarrel went on with renewed vehemence on both sides.  At length, it reached such a pitch that it became necessary to carry it up to the General Court.  The whole affair was investigated by that body, and all the papers that had passed in relation to it were adduced.  They are quite voluminous, and on file in the office of the Secretary of State, in Boston.  These interesting and curious documents illustrate the energy of action of both parties; and give, it is probable, the best picture anywhere to be found of a first-rate parish controversy of the olden times.

The General Court came down upon the case with a strong hand.  They decided in favor of Bayley, whom they pronounced “orthodox, and competently able, and of a blameless and self-denying conversation;” and they “do order, that Mr. Bayley be continued and settled the minister of that place, and that he be allowed sixty pounds per annum for his maintenance, one-third part thereof in money, the other two-thirds in provisions of all sorts such as a family needs, at equal prices, and fuel for his family’s occasions; this sum to be paid by the inhabitants of that place.”  This was thirteen pounds a year more than Bayley’s friends had ever voted for him.  To make the matter sure, the General Court required the parish to choose three or five men among themselves to apportion every man’s share of the tax to secure the sixty pounds:  and, if any difficulty should occur in getting men among themselves to perform this duty, they appointed to act, in that event, Mr. Batter, Captain Jonathan