Meanwhile, Mrs. Hutchinson had won over practically all the Boston church, except Wilson, Winthrop, and a few others, who, however, were strong enough to defeat the proposal to install Wheelwright as teacher.[404] The strife was gradually spreading, and Vane, who had allied himself with the Hutchinson party, made a flimsy excuse to resign the governorship. The Boston church and the Court both refused to consider his reasons valid, and the resignation was withdrawn. A conference of the ministers, called by the Court, was held in December, to try to compose the differences, but accomplished nothing except to increase the bitter feeling between the parties. A day of fasting was proclaimed, and although Wheelwright had removed to Mt. Wollaston, he attended the Boston church on that occasion, and preached his famous “fast-day sermon.”[405] For expressions contained in it, as falsely interpreted by the authorities, he was declared by the Court to have been guilty of contempt and sedition, the same body condemning Stephen Greensmith to a fine of £40 for saying that all the ministers, except Cotton, Wheelwright, and, possibly, Hooker, taught a covenant of works.[406] Footnote 404: _Ibid._, vol. I, pp. 241 _ff._ Footnote 405: It is reprinted by C. H. Bell, _John Wheelwright_ (Prince Society, Boston, 1876), pp. 153 _ff._ Footnote 406: _Massachusetts Records_, vol. I, p. 189. Wheelwright having next been summoned to appear before the General Court, a petition was presented, signed by nearly all the members of the Boston church, asking that the hearings should be open to freemen, and that cases of conscience might be first dealt with by the churches.[407] This was declared to be “a groundless and presumptuous act.” Wheelwright's examination was begun in private, and the authorities stated that it would proceed _ex officio_. This raised loud complaints among the people, who avowed that it was but one of those High Commission proceedings which they had left England to escape. Wheelwright refused to answer the questions put, and the hearings were finally allowed to be open. The clergy were then asked by the Court whether they did teach a covenant of works. All but Cotton replied in the affirmative, and the verdict was thus foreshadowed. Nevertheless, it took two days of further struggling, again behind closed doors, before the sentence of sedition and contempt could be agreed to, and the party of the priests and magistrates secure their victory.[408] A petition, denying that any of Wheelwright's utterances had been seditious, was presented to the Court, signed by sixty members of the Boston church, for which they were rebuked by Winthrop.[409] Footnote 407: J. Winthrop, _History_, vol. I, p. 256. Footnote 408: Adams, _Three Episodes_, vol. I, pp. 444 _f._ Footnote 409: Adams, _Antinomianism_, pp. 133 _ff._; Winthrop, _History_, vol. I, pp. 183 _f._