This work is based on a Baptist publication, entitled “An Humble Supplication to the King’s Majesty, as it was presented 1620.” This latter was a clear and concise argument against persecution and for liberty of conscience. It was written by Murton, or some other London Baptist, who was imprisoned in Newgate for conscience sake. His confinement was so rigid that he was denied pen, paper, and ink. A friend in London sent him sheets of paper, as stoppers for the bottles containing his daily allowance of milk. He wrote his thoughts on these sheets with milk, returning them to his friends as stoppers for the empty bottles. They were held to the fire and thus became legible. Roger Williams based his book on the argument of this “Humble Supplication.” [Illustration: Roger Williams’ Reference to “An Humble Supplication” in His “Bloudy Tenent”] In such Paper written with _Milk_ nothing will appeare, but the way of reading it by _fire_ being knowne to this _friend_ who received the Papers, he transcribed and kept together the Papers, although the _Author_ himselfe could not correct, nor view what himselfe had written. It was in _milke_, tending to soule _nourishment_, even for _Babes_ and Sucklings in _Christ_. It was in _milke_, spiritually _white_, pure and innocent, like those _white horses_ of the _Word_ of _truth_ and _meeknesse_, and the _white Linnen_ or _Armour_ of _rightousnesse_, in the _Army_ of _Jesus_. _Rev._ 6. & 19. It was in _milke_, soft, meeke, peaceable and gentle, tending both to the _peace_ of _soules_, and the _peace_ of _States_ and Kingdomes. [Sidenote: The Answer writ in Bloud.] _Peace._ The _Answer_ (though I hope out of milkie pure intentions) is returned in _bloud_: _bloudy_ & slaughterous _conclusions_; _bloudy_ to the _souls_ of all men, forc’d to the _Religion_ and _Worship_ which every civil State or Common-weale agrees on, and compells all subjects to in a dissembled _uniformitie_. Bloudy to the _bodies_, first of the holy _witnesses_ of _Christ Jesus_, who testifie against such invented worships. Secondly, of the _Nations_ and Peoples slaughtering each other for their severall respective Religions and Consciences. * * * * * The little band which settled Providence on that June day, 1636, had grown into a large town. With other towns they suffered the same injustice from neighboring colonies. The assembly in Newport, September 19, 1642, which intrusted the work of securing a charter to Williams, was in reality fusing together these separate groups, which had a common enemy and common principles, into a State. The Town of Providence, a great monument to Roger Williams, must now give way to the State of Rhode Island, which was destined to become a still larger monument to the ideals of this great exponent of civil and religious liberty, “a liberty which does not permit license in civil matters in contempt of law and order.” III