[17] In the printed text Gov. Hutchinson gives but four lines to the
Morse case. Fuller details may be found in _Remarkable Providences_,
pp. 101-111; _Magnalia_, vol. ii. pp. 450-452, and Drake’s _Annals_,
pp. 144-150. In his Appendix (pp. 258-296), Mr. Drake has given
depositions and other papers connected with the proceedings against
Mrs. Morse. Other depositions, with a petition of Wm. Morse in behalf
of his wife, are in _Mass. Archives_, vol. cxxxv. fol. 11-19.
Mrs. Morse was convicted 20 May, 1680, and sentenced to be hanged.
June 1, she was reprieved till the next session of the court. “Nov.
3. The deputies, on perusal of the acts of the honored court of
assistants relating to the woman condemned for witchcraft, do not
understand the reason why execution of the sentence given against her
by the court is not executed, and that her second reprieval seems to
us to be beyond what the law will allow, and do therefore judge meet
to declare ourselves against it, with reference to the concurrence of
the honored magistrates hereto.” This action was “not consented to by
the magistrates.” (MS. memoranda in _Mass. Archives_, vol. cxxxv. fol.
18.) The deputies subsequently voted to give her a new trial; but the
magistrates refused. Between this disagreement of the deputies and
magistrates she escaped punishment. She was released from prison, but
never acquitted or pardoned.