[41] “A gentleman of more than ordinary understanding, learning and
experience, desired me to write to New-England about your trials and
convictions of witches; not being satisfied with the evidence upon
which some who have been executed were found guilty. He told me, that
in the time of the great reformation parliament, a certain person or
persons had a commission to discover and prosecute witches. Upon these
prosecutions many were executed, in at least one county in England,
until, at length, a gentleman of estate and of great character for
piety was accused, which put an end to the commission. And the judges
upon a re-hearing, reversed many judgments; but many lives had been
taken away. All that I speak with much wonder that any man, much less a
man of such abilities, learning and experience as Mr. Stoughton, should
take up a persuasion, that the devil cannot assume the likeness of an
innocent, to afflict another person. In my opinion, it is a persuasion
utterly destitute of any solid reason to render it so much as probable,
and besides, contradictory to many instances of fact in history. If you
think good, you may acquaint Mr. Stoughton and the other judges with
what I write.” _Letter from London to I. Mather, Jan. 9, 1692-3._