Editing Cotton Mather (section)

== Conflict with Governor Dudley ==
In Massachusetts at the start of the 18th century, [[Joseph Dudley]] was a highly controversial figure, as he had participated actively in the government of Sir Edmund Andros in 1686–1689.  Dudley was among those arrested in the revolt of 1689, and was later called to London to answer the charges against him brought by a committee of the colonists.  However, Dudley was able to pursue a successful political career in Britain.  Upon the death in 1701 of acting governor [[William Stoughton (judge)|William Stoughton]], Dudley began enlisting support in London to procure appointment as the new governor of Massachusetts.{{sfn|Silverman|2002|pp=203–204}}

Although the Mathers (to whom he was related by marriage), continued to resent Dudley's role in the Andros administration, they eventually came around to the view that Dudley would now be preferable as governor to the available alternatives, at a time when the English Parliament was threatening to repeal the Massachusetts Charter.{{sfn|Silverman|2002|p=205}}  With the Mathers' support, Dudley was appointed governor by the Crown and returned to Boston in 1702.  Contrary to the promises that he had made to the Mathers, Governor Dudley proved a divisive and high-handed executive, reserving his patronage for a small circle composed of transatlantic merchants, Anglicans, and religious liberals such as [[Thomas Brattle]], Benjamin Colman, and [[John Leverett the Younger|John Leverett]].{{sfn|Silverman|2002|p=207}}

In the context of [[Queen Anne's War]] (1702–1713), Cotton Mather preached and published against Governor Dudley, whom Mather accused of corruption and misgovernment.  Mather sought unsuccessfully to have Dudley replaced by Sir [[Charles Hobby]].  Outmaneuvered by Dudley, this political rivalry left Mather increasingly isolated at a time when Massachusetts society was steadily moving away from the Puritan tradition that Mather represented.{{sfn|Silverman|2002|p=221}}