Part 2

Justice Hathorn _replied, she had strength enough to torment those persons, and she should have strength enough to stand. I speaking something against their cruel proceedings, they commanded me to be silent, or else I should be turned out of the Room. The Indian before mentioned, was also brought in to be one of her Accusers: being come in, he now (when before the Justices) fell down and tumbled about like a Hog, but said nothing. The Justices asked the Girls, who afflicted the Indian? they answered she (meaning my wife) and now lay upon him; the Justices ordered her to touch him, in order to his cure, but her head must be turned another way, least instead of curing, she should make him worse, by her looking on him, her hand being guided to take hold of his; but the Indian took hold on her hand, and pulled her down on the Floor, in a barbarous manner; then his hand was taken off, and her hand put on his, and the cure was quickly wrought. I being extreamly troubled at their Inhumane dealings, uttered a hasty Speech_ [That God would take vengeance on them, and desired that God would deliver us out of the hands of unmerciful men.] _Then her Mittimus was writ; I did with difficulty and charge obtain the liberty of a Room, but no beds in it; if there had, could have taken but little rest that Night, she was committed to Boston Prison; but I obtained a Habeas Corpus to remove her to Cambridge Prison, which is in our County of Middlesex. Having been there one Night, next Morning the Jaylor[23] put Irons on her legs (having received such a command) the weight of them was about eight pounds; these with her other Afflictions, soon brought her into Convulsion Fits, so that I thought she would have died that Night, I sent to intreat that the Irons might be taken off, but all intreaties were in vain, if it would have saved her Life, so that in this condition she must continue. The Tryals at Salem coming on, I went thither, to see how things were managed; and finding that the Spectre-Evidence was there received, together with Idle, if not Malicious stories, against Peoples Lives, I did easily see which way it would go; for the same Evidence that served for one, would serve for all the rest; I acquainted her with her danger; and that if she were carried to Salem to be tried, I feared she would never return. I did my utmost that she might have her Tryal in our own County, I with several others Petitioning the Judge for it, and were put in hopes of it;_ [98] _but I soon saw so much, that I understood thereby it was not intended, which put me upon consulting the means of her escape; which thro the goodness of God was effected, and she got to Road Island, but soon found herself not safe when there, by reason of the pursuit after her; from thence she went to New-York, along with some others that had escaped their cruel hands; where we found his Excellency_ Benjamin Fletcher, _Esq: Governour, who was very courteous to us. After this some of my Goods were seized in a Friends hands, with whom I had left them, and myself imprisoned by the Sheriff, and kept in Custody half a day, and then dismist; but to speak of their usage of the Prisoners, and their Inhumanity shewn to them, at the time of their Execution, no sober Christian could bear; they had also tryals of cruel mockings; which is the more, considering what a People for Religion, I mean the profession of it, we have been; those that suffered being many of them Church-Members, and most of them unspotted in their Conversation, till their Adversary the Devil took up this Method for accusing them._

Per Jonathan Cary.[24]

_May 31._ Captain _John Aldin_ was Examined at _Salem_, and Committed to _Boston_ Prison, the Prison-Keeper seeing such a Man Committed, of whom he had a good esteem, was after this the more Compassionate to those that were in Prison on the like account; and did refrain from such hard things to the Prisoners, as before he had used. Mr. _Aldin_ himself has given account of his Examination, in these Words.

_An Account how_ John Aldin,[25] _Senior, was dealt with at_ Salem-_Village._

JOHN ALDIN Senior, _of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, Marriner, on the_ 28_th Day of May,_ 1692, _was sent for by the Magistrates of_ Salem, _in the County of Essex, upon the Accusation of a company of poor distracted, or possessed Creatures or Witches; and being sent by Mr._ Stoughton, _arrived there the_ 31_st_ of May, _and appeared at_ Salem-Village, _before Mr._ Gidney,_ Mr._ Hathorn, _and Mr._ Curwin.

_Those Wenches being present, who plaid their jugling tricks, falling down, crying out, and staring in Peoples Faces; the Magistrates demanded of them several times, who it was of all the People in the Room that hurt them? one of these Accusers pointed several times at one_ Captain Hill,[26] _there present, but spake nothing; the same Accuser, had a Man standing at her back to hold her up; he stooped down to her Ear, then she cried out,_ Aldin, Aldin _afflicted her; one of the Magistrates asked her if she had ever seen_ Aldin, _she answered no, he asked how she knew it was_ Aldin? _She said, the Man told her so._

_Then all were ordered to go down into the Street, where a Ring was made; and the same Accuser cried out, there stands_ Aldin, _a bold fellow with his Hat on before the Judges, he sells Powder and Shot to the_ Indians _and_ French, [99] _and lies with the_ Indian _Squaes, and has_ Indian _Papooses. Then was_ Aldin _committed to the Marshal's Custody, and his Sword taken from him; for they said he afflicted them with his Sword. After some hours_ Aldin _was sent for to the Meeting-house in the Village before the Magistrates; who required_ Aldin _to stand upon a Chair, to the open view of all the People._

_The Accusers cried out that_ Aldin _did pinch them, then, when he stood upon the Chair, in the sight of all the People, a good way distant from them, one of the Magistrates bid the Marshal to hold open_ Aldins _hands, that he might not pinch those Creatures._ Aldin _asked them why they should think, that he should come to that Village to afflict those persons that he never knew or saw before? Mr._ Gidney _bid_ Aldin _confess, and give glory to God:_ Aldin _said he hoped he should give glory to God, and hoped he should never gratifie the Devil; but appealed to all that ever knew him, if they ever suspected him to be such a person, and challenged any one, that could bring in any thing upon their own knowledge, that might give suspicion of his being such an one. Mr._ Gidney _said he had known_ Aldin _many Years, and had been at Sea with him, and always look'd upon him to be an honest Man, but now he did see cause to alter his judgment:_ Aldin _answered, he was sorry for that, but he hoped God would clear up his Innocency, that he would recall that judgment again, and added that he hoped that he should with_ Job _maintain his Integrity till he died. They bid_ Aldin _look upon the Accusers, which he did, and then they fell down._ Aldin _asked Mr._ Gidney, _what reason there could be given, why_ Aldin's _looking upon him did not strike him down as well? but no reason was given that I heard. But the Accusers were brought to_ Aldin _to touch them, and this touch they said made them well._ Aldin _began to speak of the Providence of God, in suffering these Creatures to accuse Innocent persons; Mr._ Noyes _asked_ Aldin _why he would offer to speak of the Providence of God, God by his Providence (said Mr._ Noyes) _governs the World, and keeps it in peace; and so went on with Discourse, and stopt Aldin's mouth, as to that._ Aldin _told Mr._ Gidney, _that he could assure him that there was a lying Spirit in them, for I can assure you that there is not a word of truth in all these say of me. But_ Aldin _was again committed to the Marshal, and his Mittimus written, which was as follows._

_To Mr. John Arnold, Keeper of the Prison in_ Boston, _in the County of_ Suffolk.[27]

WHEREAS _Captain_ John Aldin _of_ Boston, _Mariner, and_ Sarah Rice,_ Wife of_ Nicholas Rice _of_ Reding, _Husbandman, have been this day brought before us,_ John Hathorn _and_ Jonathan Curwin, _Esquires; being accused and suspected of perpetrating divers acts of Witchcraft, contrary to the form of the Statute, in that Case made and provided: These are therefore_ [100] _in Their Majesties, King_ William _and Queen_ Marys _Names, to Will and require you, to take into your Custody, the bodies of the said_ John Aldin, _and_ Sarah Rice, _and them safely keep, until they shall thence be delivered by due course of Law; as you will answer the contrary at your peril; and this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given under our hands at_ Salem-_Village, the_ 31st _of_ May, _in the Fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady,_ William _and_ Mary, _now King and Queen over_ England, _&c,_ Anno Dom. 1692.

John Hathorn, } _Assistants_. Jonathan Curwin, }

_To_ Boston Aldin _was carried by a Constable, no Bail would be taken for him; but was delivered to the Prison-keeper, where he remained Fifteen Weeks; and then observing the manner of Tryals, and Evidence then taken, was at length prevailed with to make his Escape, and being returned, was bound over to Answer at the Superior Court at_ Boston, _the last_ Tuesday _in_ April, Anno, 1693. _And was there cleared by Proclamation, none appearing against him._

Per. John Aldin.

At Examination, and at other times, 'twas usual for the Accusers to tell of the black Man, or of a Spectre, as being then on the Table, &c. The People about would strike with Swords, or sticks at those places. One Justice broke his cane at this Exercise, and sometimes the Accusers would say, they struck the Spectre, and it is reported several of the accused were hurt and wounded thereby, though at home at the same time.

The Justices proceeding in these works of Examination, and Commitment, to the end of _May_, there was by that time about a Hundred persons Imprisoned upon that Account.[28]

_June_ 2. A special Commission of _Oyer_ and _Terminer_, having been Issued out, to Mr. _Stoughton_, the New Lieutenant Governour, Major _Saltonstall_, Major _Richards_, Major _Gidny_, Mr. _Wait Winthrop_, Captain _Sewall_, and Mr. _Sergeant_;[29] These (a _Quorum_ of them) sat at _Salem_ this day; where the most that was done this Week, was the Tryal of one _Bishop_ alias _Oliver_, of _Salem_; who having long undergone the repute of a Witch, occasioned by the Accusations of one _Samuel Gray_: he about 20 Years since, having charged her with such Crimes, and though upon his Death-bed, he testified his sorrow and repentance for such Accusations, as being wholly groundless; yet the report taken up by his means continued, and she being accused by those afflicted, and upon search a Tet, as they call it, being found, she was brought in guilty by the Jury; she [101] received her Sentence of Death, and was Executed, _June_ 10. but made not the least Confession of any thing relating to Witchcraft.[30]

_June_ 15. Several Ministers in and near _Boston_, having been to that end consulted by his Excellency, exprest their minds to this effect, _viz._

That they were affected with the deplorable state of the afflicted; That they were thankful for the diligent care of the Rulers, to detect the abominable Witchcrafts, which have been committed in the Country, praying for a perfect discovery thereof. But advised to a cautious proceeding, least many Evils ensue, _&c._ And that tenderness be used towards those accused, relating to matters presumptive and convictive, and also to privacy in Examinations, and to consult Mr. _Perkins_ and Mr. _Bernard_, what tests to make use of in the Scrutiny: That Presumptions and Convictions ought to have better grounds, than the Accusers affirming that they see such persons Spectres afflicting them; and that the Devil may afflict in the shape of good Men; and that falling at the sight, and rising at the touch of the Accused, is no infallible proof of guilt; That seeing the Devils strength consists in such Accusations, our disbelieving them may be a means to put a period to the dreadful Calamities; Nevertheless they humbly recommend to the Government, the speedy and vigorous prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according to the direction given in the Laws of God, and the wholesome Statutes of the _English_ Nation, for the Detection of Witchcraft.[31]

This is briefly the substance of what may be seen more at large in _Cases of Conscience_, (_ult._) And one of them since taking occasion to repeat some part of this advice, _Wonders_ of the _Invisible World_, p. 83. declares, (notwithstanding the Dissatisfaction of others) that if his said Book may conduce to promote thankfulness to God for such Executions, he shall rejoice, _&c._

The 30th of _June_, the Court according to Adjournment again sat; five more were tried, _viz._ _Sarah Good_ and _Rebecca Nurse_, of _Salem-Village_; _Susanna Martin_ of _Amsbury_; _Elizabeth How_ of _Ipswich_; and _Sarah Wildes_ of _Topsfield_: these were all condemned that Sessions, and were all Executed on the 19th of _July_.[32]

At the Tryal of _Sarah Good_, one of the afflicted fell in a Fit, and after coming out of it, she cried out of the Prisoner, for stabbing her in the breast with a Knife, and that she had broken the Knife in stabbing of her, accordingly a piece of the blade of a Knife was found about her. Immediately information being given to the Court, a young Man was called, who produced a Haft and part of the Blade, which the Court having viewed and compared, saw it to be the same. And upon inquiry the young Man affirmed, that yesterday he happened to brake that Knife, and that he cast away the upper part, this afflicted person being then [102] present, the young Man was dismist, and she was bidden by the Court not to tell lyes;[33] and was improved (after as she had been before) to give Evidence against the Prisoners.

At Execution, Mr. _Noyes_ urged _Sarah Good_ to Confess, and told her she was a Witch, and she knew she was a Witch, to which she replied, you are a lyer; I am no more a Witch than you are a Wizard, and if you take away my Life, God will give you Blood to drink.

At the Tryal of _Rebecca Nurse_, this was remarkable that the Jury brought in their Verdict not Guilty, immediately all the accusers in the Court, and, suddenly after all the afflicted out of Court, made an hideous out-cry, to the amazement, not only of the Spectators, but the Court also seemed strangely surprized: one of the Judges exprest himself not satisfied, another of them as he was going off the Bench, said they would have her Indicted anew. The chief Judge said he would not Impose upon the Jury; but intimated, as if they had not well considered one Expression of the Prisoners when she was upon Tryal, _viz._ That when one _Hobbs_, who had confessed herself to be a Witch, was brought into the Court to witness against her, the Prisoner turning her head to her, said, [_What, do you bring her? she is one of us_] or to that effect, this together with the Clamours of the Accusers, induced the Jury to go out again, after their Verdict, not Guilty. But not agreeing, they came into the Court, and she being then at the Bar, her words were repeated to her, in order to have had her explanation of them, and she making no Reply to them, they found the Bill, and brought her in Guilty; these words being the Inducement to it, as the Foreman has signified in writing, as follows.

_July_ 4, 1692. I Thomas Fisk,[34] _the Subscriber hereof, being one of them that were of the Jury last week at_ Salem-court,_ upon the Tryal of_ Rebecca Nurse, _&c. being desired by some of the Relations to give a Reason why the Jury brought her in Guilty, after her Verdict not Guilty; I do hereby give my Reasons to be as follows, viz._

_When the Verdict not Guilty was, the honored Court was pleased to object against it, saying to them, that they think they let slip the words, which the Prisoner at the Bar spake against herself, which were spoken in reply to Goodwife_ Hobbs _and her Daughter, who had been faulty in setting their hands to the Devils Book, as they have confessed formerly; the words were_ [What do these persons give in Evidence against me now, they used to come among us.] _After the honored Court had manifested their dissatisfaction of the Verdict, several of the Jury declared themselves desirous to go out again, and thereupon the Honoured Court gave leave; but when we came to consider of the Case, I could not tell how to take her words, as an Evidence against her, till she had a further opportunity to put her Sense upon them, if she would take it; and then going into Court, I mentioned the words aforesaid, which by one of the_ [103] _Court were affirmed to have been spoken by her, she being then at the Bar, but made no reply, nor interpretation of them; whereupon these words were to me a principal Evidence against her._

Thomas Fisk.

When goodwife _Nurse_ was informed what use was made of these words, she put in this following Declaration into the Court.

THESE _presents do humbly shew to the honoured Court and Jury, that I being informed, that the Jury brought me in Guilty, upon my saying that Goodwife_ Hobbs _and her Daughter were of our Company; but I intended no otherways, than as they were Prisoners with us, and therefore did then, and yet do judge them not legal Evidence against their fellow Prisoners. And I being something hard of hearing, and full of grief, none informing me how the Court took up my words, and therefore had no opportunity to declare what I intended, when I said they were of our Company._

Rebecka Nurse.

After her Condemnation she was by one of the Ministers of _Salem_ excommunicated; yet the Governour saw cause to grant a Reprieve, which when known (and some say immediately upon granting) the Accusers renewed their dismal outcries against her, insomuch that the Governour was by some _Salem_ Gentleman prevailed with to recall the Reprieve, and she was Executed with the rest.

The Testimonials of her Christian behaviour, both in the course of her Life, and at her Death, and her extraordinary care in educating her Children, and setting them good Examples, _&c._ under the hands of so many, are so numerous, that for brevity they are here omitted.[35]

It was at the Tryal of these that one of the Accusers cried out publickly of Mr. _Willard_ Minister in _Boston_, as afflicting of her, she was sent out of the Court, and it was told about she was mistaken in the person.

_August_ 5. The Court again sitting, six more were tried on the same Account, viz. Mr. _George Burroughs_, sometime minister of _Wells_, _John Procter_, and _Elizabeth Procter_ his Wife, with _John Willard_ of _Salem_-Village, _George Jacobs_ Senior, of _Salem_, and _Martha Carryer_ of _Andover_; these were all brought in Guilty and Condemned; and were all Executed _August_ 19, except _Procter's_ Wife, who pleaded Pregnancy.[36]

Mr. _Burroughs_ was carried in a Cart with the others, through the streets of _Salem_ to Execution; when he was upon the Ladder, he made a Speech for the clearing of his Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to the Admiration of all present; his Prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lord's Prayer,) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least seeming) fervency of [104] Spirit, as was very affecting, and drew Tears from many (so that it seemed to some, that the Spectators would hinder the Execution) the accusers said the black Man stood and dictated to him; as soon as he was turned off, Mr. _Cotton Mather_, being mounted upon a Horse, addressed himself to the People, partly to declare, that he was no ordained Minister, and partly to possess the People of his guilt; saying That the Devil has often been transformed into an Angel of Light;[37] and this did somewhat appease the People, and the Executions went on; when he was cut down, he was dragged by the Halter to a Hole, or Grave, between the Rocks, about two foot deep, his Shirt and Breeches being pulled off, and an old pair of Trousers of one Executed, put on his lower parts, he was so put in, together with _Willard_ and _Carryer_, one of his Hands and his Chin, and a Foot of one of them being left uncovered.

_John Willard_, had been imployed to fetch in several that were accused; but taking dissatisfaction from his being sent, to fetch up some that he had better thoughts of, he declined the Service, and presently after he himself was accused of the same Crime, and that with such vehemency, that they sent after him to apprehend him; he had made his Escape as far as Nashawag,[38] about 40 Miles from _Salem_; yet 'tis said those Accusers did then presently tell the exact time, saying, now _Willard_ is taken.

_John Procter_ and his Wife being in Prison, the Sheriff came to his House and seized all the Goods, Provisions, and Cattle that he could come at, and sold some of the Cattle at half price, and killed others, and put them up for the _West-Indies_; threw out the Beer out of a Barrel, and carried away the Barrel; emptied a Pot of Broath, and took away the Pot, and left nothing in the House for the support of the Children: No part of the said Goods are known to be returned. _Procter_ earnestly requested Mr. _Noyes_ to pray with and for him, but it was wholly denied, because he would not own himself to be a Witch.

During his Imprisonment he sent the following Letter, in behalf of himself and others.

Salem-_Prison_, July 23, 1692.

Mr. Mather, Mr. Allen, Mr. Moody, Mr. Willard, and Mr. Bailey.[39]

Reverend Gentlemen.