He belonged to an earlier time, and he held fast to old ideas
that were decaying at the heart. A bigot for the royal power, a man of
class with a contempt for the generality and its clumsily expressed needs,
he grew in narrowness as he grew in years. Berkeley could in these later
times write home, though with some exaggeration: "I thank God there are no
free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred
years; for learning has brought disobedience into the world and printing
has divulged them, and libels against the best governments! God keep us
from both!" But that was the soured zealot for absolutism -- William Berkeley
the man was fond enough of books and himself had written plays.
The spirit of the time was reactionary in Virginia as it was reactionary in
England. Harsh servant and slave laws were passed. A prison was to be
erected in each county; provision was made for pillory and stocks and
duckingstool; the Quakers were to be proceeded against; the Baptists who
refused to bring children to baptism were to suffer. Then at last in 1670
came restriction of the franchise:
"Act III. ELECTION OF BURGESSES BY WHOM. WHEREAS the usuall way of chuseing
burgesses by the votes of all persons who having served their tyme are
freemen of this country who haveing little interest in the country doe
oftener make tumults at the election to the disturbance of his Majestie's
peace, than by their discretions in their votes provide for the
conservation thereof, by makeing choyce of persons fitly qualifyed for the
discharge of soe greate a trust, And whereas the lawes of England grant a
voyce in such election only to such as by their estates real or personall
have interest enough to tye them to the endeavour of the publique good; IT
IS HEREBY ENACTED, that none but freeholders and housekeepers who only are
answerable to the publique for the levies shall hereafter have a voice in
the election of any burgesses in this country.
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