The difference between the colonists and their Anglican adversaries in this regard is brought out in an interesting way through the experience of Edward Winslow, whose second marriage has just been mentioned. In 1634 he was sent on public business to England, where, partly in the interest of Merry-Mount Morton, Mason, and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, he was accused by Archbishop Laud--whose scheme for setting up a governor-general and a bishop in the colonies seemed likely to be frustrated by Winslow's petition relative to the encroachments of the French and Dutch--of "teaching in y^e church publickly," and of performing the marriage ceremony. The latter offense he had committed in his capacity as magistrate. In reply to the charge he excused himself on the ground that the colonists were "necessitated so to doe, having for a long time togeather at first no minister; besids, it was no new-thing, for he had been so maried him selfe in Holland, by y^e magistrats in their statthouse."[375] But "with more courage and candor than caution, he proceeded to defend the practice on its merits, declaring that he knew no scriptural ground for confining this office to the clergy; while from the relations which marriage often had to property and to business obligations, there seemed good reason for making it a civil contract, as in Holland."[376] As a consequence Winslow was imprisoned in the Fleet for seventeen weeks.[377] [Footnote 375: BRADFORD, _Hist. of Plymouth Plantation_, 327-30.] [Footnote 376: GOODWIN, _Pilgrim Republic_, 386.] [Footnote 377: _Cf._ PALFREY, _Hist. of New England_, I, 543.]