_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.
THE _innocency of our Case with the Enmity of our Accusers and our
Judges, and Jury, whom nothing but our Innocent Blood will serve their
turns, having Condemned us already before our Tryals, being so much
incensed and engaged against us by the Devil, makes us bold to Beg and
Implore your_ [105] _Favourable Assistance of this our Humble Petition
to his Excellency, that if it be possible our Innocent Blood may be
spared, which undoubtedly otherwise will be shed, if the Lord doth
not mercifully step in. The Magistrates, Ministers, Jewries, and all
the People in general, being so much inraged and incensed against us
by the Delusion of the Devil, which we can term no other, by reason
we know in our own Consciences, we are all Innocent Persons. Here are
five Persons who have lately confessed themselves to be Witches, and
do accuse some of us, of being along with them at a Sacrament, since
we were committed into close Prison, which we know to be Lies. Two of
the_ 5 _are_ (Carrier's _Sons_) _Young men, who would not confess any
thing till they tyed them Neck and Heels, till the Blood was ready to
come out of their Noses, and 'tis credibly believed and reported this
was the occasion of making them confess that they never did, by reason
they said one had been a Witch a Month, and another five Weeks, and
that their Mother had made them so, who has been confined here this
nine Weeks. My son_ William Procter, _when he was examin'd, because he
would not confess that he was Guilty, when he was Innocent, they tyed
him Neck and Heels till the Blood gushed out at his Nose, and would
have kept him so_ 24 _Hours, if one more Merciful than the rest, had
not taken pity on him, and caused him to be unbound. These actions are
very like the Popish Cruelties.[40] They have already undone us in our
Estates, and that will not serve their turns, without our Innocent
Bloods. If it cannot be granted that we can have our Trials at_ Boston,
_we humbly beg that you would evdeavour to have these Magistrates
changed, and others in their rooms, begging also and beseeching you
would be pleased to be here, if not all, some of you at our Trials,
hoping thereby you may be the means of saving the shedding our Innocent
Bloods, desiring your Prayers to the Lord in our behalf, we rest your
Poor Afflicted Servants_,