_Magistrate._ 'Pray what ails these people?'
_Martin._ 'I don't know.'
_Magistrate._ 'But what do you think ails them?'
_Martin._ 'I do not desire to spend my judgment upon it.'
_Magistrate._ 'Don't you think they are bewitched?'
_Martin._ 'No, I do not think they are.'
_Magistrate._ 'Tell me your thoughts about them, then?'
_Martin._ 'No: my thoughts are my own, when they are in, but when they
are out, then another's their master.'
_Magistrate._ 'Their master! who do you think is their master?'
_Martin._ 'If they be dealing in the black art you may know as well as
I.'
_Magistrate._ 'Well, what have you done towards this?'
_Martin._ 'Nothing at all.'
_Magistrate._ 'Why, it is you or your appearance.'
_Martin._ 'I can't help it.'
_Magistrate._ 'Is it not your master? How comes your appearance to
hurt these?'
_Martin._ 'How do I know? He that appeared in the shape of Samuel, a
glorified saint, may appear in any one's shape.'
It was then also noted, that if the afflicted went to approach her,
they were flung down to the ground. The court counted themselves
alarmed by these things, to inquire farther into the conversation of
the prisoner, and see what might occur to render these accusations
further credible. John Allen testified, that he refused, because of
the weakness of his oxen, to cart some stones, at the request of this
Martin. She was displeased, and said it had been as good that he had,
for his oxen should never do him any more service. Whereupon, as he
was going home, one of his oxen tired, so that he was forced to unyoke
him that he might get him home. He put his oxen, with many others, on
Salisbury beach; they all ran into Merrimack river, and the next day
were found on Plum Island. They next ran, with a violence that seemed
wholly diabolical, right into the sea, swimming as far as they could
be seen; and out of fourteen good oxen all were drowned, save one.
John Atkinson testified, that he exchanged a cow with the son of said
Martin, whereat she muttered and was unwilling he should have it.
Going to receive his cow, though he hamstringed her, and haltered her,
she, of a tame creature, grew so mad they could scarce get her along.
She broke all the ropes that were fastened unto her, and, though she
was tied fast to a tree, yet she made her escape, and gave them such
further trouble, as they could ascribe it to no cause but witchcraft.
J. Kemball testified, that the said Martin, upon a causeless disgust,
threatened him that a certain cow should never do him any more
service, and it came to pass accordingly, for soon after the cow was
found stark dead on the ground, without any distemper to be discerned
upon her; and this was followed with the death of several more of his
cattle. 'But,' says the reverend author, 'the said J. Kemball had a
further testimony against the prisoner, which was truly admirable. He
applied himself to buy a dog of this Martin; but she, not letting him
have his choice, he said he would supply himself at one Blazdel's,
and marked a puppy there which he liked. G. Martin, the husband of the
prisoner, asked him if he would not have one of his wife's puppies,
and he answered, no. Whereupon the prisoner replied, "As I live I will
give him puppies enough." Within a few days after, Kemball coming out
of the woods, there arose a little black cloud in the N. W. and
Kemball immediately felt a force upon him, which made him not able to
avoid running upon the stumps of trees, although he had a broad,
plain, cart way before him; but though he had his axe on his shoulder
to endanger him in his falling, he could not forbear going out of his
way to tumble over them. When he came below the meeting-house, there
appeared to him a little creature like a puppy, of a darkish color,
and it shot backwards and forwards between his legs. He had the
courage to use all possible endeavors to cut it with his axe, but he
could not hit it, the puppy gave a jump from him, and went, as to him
it seemed, into the ground. On going a little further, there appeared
unto him a black puppy, bigger than the first, but as black as a Coal.
Its motions were quicker than those of his axe. It flew at him and at
his throat over his shoulders one way, and then over his shoulders
another way; his heart now began to fail him, and he thought the dog
would have tore his throat out. But he recovered himself and called on
God in his distress, and it vanished away at once.'--'This S. Martin
once walked from Amesbury to Newbury in an extraordinary season, when
it was not fit for any one to travel. She bragged and showed how dry
she was; it could not be perceived that so much as the soles of her
shoes were wet. Being told that another person would have been wet up
to the knees, she replied, "_she scorned to be drabbed_." It was noted
that this testimony upon her trial, cast her into a very singular
confusion. John Pressy testified, that being one evening bewildered
near the field of Martin, as under enchantment, he saw a marvellous
light, about the bigness of a half bushel, near two rods out of the
way. He struck at it with a stick and laid it on with all his might.
He gave it near forty blows and felt it a palpable substance. But
going from it, his heels were struck up, and he was laid with his back
on the ground, sliding, as he thought, into a pit, from whence he
recovered by taking hold on the bush, although afterwards he could
find no pit in the place. Having gone five or six rods he saw S.
Martin standing on his left hand, as the light had done before, but
they changed no words with one another. At length he got home
extremely affrighted. The next day it was upon inquiry understood,
that Martin was in a miserable condition by pains and hurts that were
upon her.' (Forty stout blows would have killed any one but a witch.)
'The deponent further testified, that having affronted the prisoner,
many years ago, she said he should never prosper; more particularly,
that he should never have more than two cows; that though he were ever
so likely to have more than two cows, yet he should never have them.
From that very day to this, namely, for twenty years together, he
could never exceed that number, but some strange thing or other still
prevented his having more.'