The "first marriage at Boston with prayer-book and ring" occurred on May 18/28, 1686, just four days after Dudley received his commission as president of New England.[397] But there is evidence that zealous opposition to the religious ceremony existed up to the very beginning of this period. Thus, according to Savage, "Lawrence Vanderbosk, a Huguenot clergyman, undertook to solemnize marriages in Boston in 1685." But he was brought before a tribunal for this enormity and promised "to do no more such things," yet in September, says Judge Sewall, "he joined together Giles Sylvester and Hannah, widow of Benjamin Gillam. The reverend offender went to New York the same week."[398] [Footnote 397: GOODWIN, _Pilgrim Republic_, 596; DRAKE, _Hist. of Boston_, 472; DOYLE, _Eng. Colonies_, III, 232.] [Footnote 398: Note by WHITMORE, _Andros Tracts_, II, 37. "'Tis confessed," says Increase Mather referring to this incident, "that once or twice a Debauched _Priest_ has appeared amongst them; particularly one _Vardenbosch_, who, besides the good work of _Baptizing_ a noted whore or two of his acquaintance, made private _Marriages_ without any previous publication of _Banes_ (which is a nusance & _Bane_ to all humane society); and yet so tender was the government as only to give them some _Orall Rebukes_, upon which the guilty Knaves have run away."--MATHER, "A Vindication of New England," _Andros Tracts_, II, 36, 37. For the passage in SEWALL'S _Diary_ referred to, see 5 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, V, 98. There is a discussion of the first clerical marriage in New England, with reference to Vanderbosk, in _Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries_, VIII, 279, 348.]