During the "usurpation" period, beginning in 1686, the laws requiring civil marriage were set aside. Joseph Dudley, who entered upon his duties as president of New England in May of that year, published "an order of council, authorizing and empowering ministers and justices of the peace, the order says, 'to consummate marriages,' after three several times publication or licence from the president or deputy."[393] With this compromise Governor Andros was not satisfied; and it was his intention to allow marriages to be performed only by the Episcopal clergy. To do this at once, however, was impracticable. "Magistrates," says Hutchinson, "still continued to give people in matrimony. Other provision could not immediately be made." For at the time there was but one Episcopal clergyman in the country; and "Sir Edmund considered the Congregational ministers as mere laymen. Randolph wrote to the bishop of London, 'I press for able and sober ministers, and we will contribute largely to their maintenance; but one thing will mainly help, when no marriages shall hereafter be allowed lawful but such as are made by the ministers of the church of England."[394] Another restraint upon marriage was accounted a still more serious hardship. "None were allowed to marry except they entered into bonds with sureties to the governor, to be forfeited in case there should afterwards appear to have been any lawful impediment."[395] This requirement in many cases amounted to a practical prohibition.[396] [Footnote 393: HUTCHINSON, _Hist. of Mass._, I, 392, note; _cf._ SNOW, _Hist. of Boston_, 172, 173, 192; DRAKE, _Hist. of Boston_, 472, 473; SHIRLEY, "Early Jurisprudence of New Hamp.," _Procds. New Hamp. Hist. Soc._ (1876-84), 308; WHITMORE, in _Mem. Hist. Bost._, II, 1, 2.] [Footnote 394: HUTCHINSON, _Hist. of Mass._, I, 318; _cf._ ARNOLD, _Hist. of Rhode Island_, I, 498, 499; GREEN, _Short Hist. of Rhode Island_, 103. TRUMBULL, _Hist. of Conn._, I, 372, followed by HOLLISTER, _Hist. of Conn._, I, 317, makes the following extraordinary statement: "Magistrates only were allowed to join people in the bands of wedlock. The governor (Andros) not only deprived the clergy of the perquisite from marriages, but soon superseded the laws for their support."] [Footnote 395: HUTCHINSON, _Hist. of Mass._, I, 318. At least twenty-two of these bonds are extant. One, dated Jan. 11, 1686-87, given "unto Edward Randolph, Esq., Secretary of his Majesty's Territory and Dominion," may be found among the "Usurpation Papers" in 3 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, VII, 170; and also in _New Hamp. Provincial Papers_, II, 18. The other twenty-one are in the _Early Court Files of Suffolk_, Nos. 29996-30016. Following is a copy of the first: