Hope Leslie: Volume 2, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Sir Philip and Roslin return to Sir Philip’s lodgings, which Governor Winthrop has secured for them elsewhere. Ignoring his weeping page, Sir Philip begins writing a letter to someone called Wilton. He tries to explain his motivations for coming to New England. He says that he was tired of playing a losing game in England, even though the King needed loyal men. He explains that his patron was Thomas Morton, who had once run an inn in Boston, which became so famous for its merry revels that it got Morton exiled.

Years later, in old age, Morton is restored and permitted to live on Merry Mount again, and he invites Sir Philip Gardiner to join him. Sir Philip agrees, but when he arrives in Boston, he discovers that Morton is in jail and thought to be crazy. However, Sir Philip is undeterred. Nobody knows of his affiliation with Morton, and he is passing as a faithful Puritan in his dress, manner, and speech. His object, though, is now Hope Leslie.

Sir Philip laments that a woman as beautiful as Hope Leslie is “thrown away upon these […] preaching, praying, liberty-loving, lecture-going, pilgrims!” Sir Philip thinks it would be a worthwhile feat to win Hope away from Everell and take her back to England, where she belongs. Having won Governor Winthrop’s and Mr. Fletcher’s approval, Sir Philip believes that fortune is beginning to favor him at last.

However, Rosa has accompanied him—Sir Philip didn’t know what else to do with the unprotected girl and felt pity; so he got her to disguise herself. A vain girl, she went overboard with an elaborate feathered hat and an outfit that would better suit a royal page. Because she is depressed, Rosa doesn’t venture out often, but when she does, Sir Philip notices that she is looked upon with suspicion, and he fears she will end up exposing them both.

Rosa still loves Sir Philip and fears being supplanted in his affections. But he can neither get rid of her nor control her. Sir Philip doesn’t know what his destiny will be, but it’s useless to speculate; it’s enough that he is a faithful Catholic (he admits that Hope Leslie almost blew his cover on this point). Sir Philip does not fear Everell’s success, expecting that he will submit to his guardians’ intention that he marry Esther. He believes he will win Hope’s heart, but if not, then he will win her by other means. His friend Chaddock has a ship in the harbor, and if Sir Philip “should have occasion to smuggle any precious freight,” he believes he will find willing accomplices. Thus he closes his letter to Wilton.

Rosa rests her head on Sir Philip’s shoulder, and he is about to strike her, when she begins laughing hysterically. She says she wishes she were dead or that she had been left in her convent. She believed Sir Philip when he claimed to love her, and now she is alone in the world. Sir Philip feels compassion for her and urges her to behave more prudently—their lives depend on avoiding detection. He promises that his claims to love Hope Leslie were only written for Wilton’s entertainment, and that he will soon return with Rosa to England. She promises to behave herself.