In May, 1645, the General Court enacted a law designed to suppress the
invention and circulation of false reports, whether injurious to private
individuals or to the public in general.
The preamble was in these words:
“WHEREAS, Truth in words, as well as actions, is required of all men,
especially of Christians who are the professed servants of the God of
truth; and
“WHEREAS, All lying is contrary to truth, and some sort of lies are
not only sinful (as all lies are), but also pernicious to the public
weal and injurious to particular persons. It is therefore ordered that
every person who shall wittingly and willingly make or publish any lie
pernicious to the public weal or tending to the damage or injury of any
particular person, or with intent to deceive and abuse the people with
false news and reports shall be punished.
For the 1st offence a fine of 10 shillings, &c.
For the 2d offence a fine of 20 shillings or be whipped upon the naked
body not exceeding 10 stripes.
For the 3rd offence a fine of 4 shillings or 15 stripes, &c., &c.”
The following is a case for slander in imputing to a woman the offence
witchcraft.
“May 29 and 30, 1649—The widdow Marshfield, complains against Mary, the
wife of Hugh Parsons, of Springfield, for reporting her to be suspected
for a witch, and she produced Jo Matthews and his wife for her witnesses
who were examined upon oath. Jo Matthews said that Mary Parsons told
him how she was taught to try a witch by a widdow woman that now lives
in Springfield, and that she had lived in Windsor, and that she had
three children, and that one of them was married, and at last she said
it was the widdow Marshfield. Jo Matthews answered that he believed no
such thing of her—but, thereupon, said he, Mary Parsons replied, you
need not speak so much for goody Marshfield, for I am sure (said she),
she hath envied every woman’s child in ye end (?) till her own daughter
had a child, and then said she yt child died and ye cow died, and I am
persuaded said she, they were bewitched, and she said moreover, it was
reported to her by one in town that she was suspected to be a witch when
she lived in Windsor, and that it was publicly knowne that the devill
followed her house in Windsor, and for aught I know said she follows her
here.
Goody Matthews saith upon oath that when Goody Parsons came to her house
she said to her, I wonder what is become of the half pound of wool.
Goody Parsons said that she could not tell except the witch had witched
it away. I wonder, said I, that you talk so much of a witch—do you
think there is any witch in towne? Yes, said she, and she came into my
house while the wool was cardinge. Who is it, said I? She said that An
Stebbinge had told her in Mr. Smith’s chamber that she was suspected to
be a witch in Windsor, and that there were divers strange lights seen of
late in the Meddow that were never seen before ye widdow Marshfield came
to town, and that she did grudge at other women that had children because
her daughter had none, and about the time (namely of the grudging) ye
child died and ye cow died.
Goody Parsons did stiffly deny the truth of their testimonys, but the
said witness had delivered their testimony upon oath, and finding that
she had defamed ye good name of the Widdow Marshfield I sentenced her
to be well whipped on the morrow after lecture with twenty lashes by
the constable unless she could promise the payment of 3L to ye Widdow
Marshfield for and towards the reparation of her good name.”