(H) what did it propound to you. (O) that I should goe no more to meeting, but I said I would and did goe the next Sabbath day. (H) were you never tempted furder. (0) no. (H) why did you yield thus far to the devil as never to goe to meeting since (0) Alas. I have been sike and not able to goe. her husband and others said that shee had not been at meeting this yeare and two months. . . . Salem Village March 1" 1691. Titiba an Indian woman brought before vs by Const Joseph Herrick of Salem vpon Suspition of witchcraft by her committed according to ye complaint of Jos. Hutcheson and Thomas Putnam &c of Salem Village as appears p warrant granted Salem 29 ffebry 169 Titiba vpon examination and after some deny all acknowledged ye matter of fact according to her examination giuen in more fully will appeare, and who also charged Sarah Good and Sarah Osburne with ye same ... (H) Titibe whan evil spirit have you familiarity with. (T) none. (H) why do you hurt these children. (T) I do not hurt them, (H) who is it then. (T) the devil for ought I know. (H) Did you never see the devil. (T) The devil came to me and bid me serve him. (H) Who have you seen. (T) Four women sometimes hurt the children. (H) Who were they. (T) Goode Osburn and Sarah Good and I doe not know who the other were. Sarah Good and Osburne would have me hurt the children but I would not she further saith there was a tale man of Boston that she did see. (H) when did you see them. (T) Last night at Boston. (H) what did they say to you. they said hurt the children (H) and did you hurt them (T) no there is 4 women and one man they hurt the children and they lay all upon me and they tell me if I will not hurt the children they will hurt me. (H) but did you not hurt them (T) yes, but I will hurt them no more. (H) are you not sorry you did hurt them. (T) yes. (H) and why then doe you hurt them. (T) they say hurt children or wee will doe worse to you. (H) what have you seen. an man come to me and say serve me. (H) what service. (T) hurt the children and last night there was an appearance that said kill the children and if I would no go on hurting the children they would do worse to me. (H) what is this appearance you see. (T) Sometimes it is like a hog and sometimes like a great dog, this appearance shee saith shee did see 4 times. (H) what did it say to you (T) it s the black dog said serve me but I said I am afraid he said if I did not he would doe worse to me. (H) what did you say to it. (T) I will serve you no longer. then he said he would hurt me and then he looked like a man and threatens to hurt me, shee said that this man had a yellow bird that kept with him and he told me he had more pretty things that he would give me if I would serve him. (H) what were these pretty things. (T) he did not show me them. (H) what also have you seen (T) two rats, a red rat and a black rat. (H) what did they say to you. (T) they said serve me. (H) when did you see them. (T) last night and they said serve me, but I said I would not (H) what service. (T) shee said hurt the children. (H) did you not pinch Elizabeth Hubbard this morning (T) the man brought her to me and made me pinch her (H) why did you goe to Thomas Putnams last night and hurt his (T) they pull and hall me and make me goe (H) and what would have you doe. Kill her with a knif. Left. Fuller and others said at this time when the child saw these persons and was tormented by them that she did complayn of a knife, that they would have her cut her head off with a knife. (H) how did you go (T) we ride upon stickes and are there presently. (H) doe you goe through the trees or over them. (T) we see nothing but are there presently. [H] why did you not tell your master. [T] I was afraid they said they would cut of my head if I told. [H] would you not have hurt others if you cold. [T] They said they would hurt others but they could not [H] what attendants hath Sarah Good. [T] a yellow bird and shee would have given me one [H] what meate did she give it [T] it did suck her between her fingers. [H] did not you hurt Mr Currins child [T] goode good and goode Osburn told that they did hurt Mr Currens child and would have had me hurt him two, but I did not. [H] what hath Sarah Osburn. [T] yellow dog, shee had a thing with a head like a woman with 2 legges, and wings. Abigail Williams that lives with her Uncle Parris said that she did see the same creature, and it turned into the shape of Goode Osburn. [H] what else have you seen with Osburn. [T] another thing, hairy it goes upright like a man it hath only 2 leggs. [H] did you not see Sarah Good upon Elizabeth Hubbard, last Saterday. [T] I did see her set a wolfe upon her to afflict her, the persons with this maid did say that she did complain of a wolfe. T. shee further saith that shee saw a cat with good at another time. [H] What cloathes doth the man go in [T] he goes in black clouthes a tal man with white hair I thinke [H] How doth the woman go [T] in a white whood and a black whood with a top knot [T] yes it is Goode Good, shee hurts them in her own shape [H] and who is it that hurts them now. [T] I am blind now. I cannot see. Salem Village March the 1 169 Written by Ezekiell Cheevers. Salem Village March 1st 169 [William Elliot Woodward, compiler], Records of Salem Witchcraft (Roxbury, 1864), I, 11-48 passim. 18. Guilt Contracted by the Witch Judges (1697) BY CHIEF JUSTICE SAMUEL SEWALL Sewall was a distinguished Massachusetts man; for a time a minister, later a judge. In the latter capacity he joined in the condemnation of the witches. His public humiliation is characteristic of the time. - Bibliography: Tyler, American Literature, II, 99-103; Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, II, ch. vi, notes; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 129. See Contemporaries, I, No. 149. `OPY of the Bill I put up on the Fast day; giving it to Mr. Willard as he pass'd by, and standing up at the reading of it, and bowing when finished; in the Afternoon. Samuel Sewall, sensible of the reiterated strokes of God upon himself and family; and being sensible, that as to the Guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Comission of Oyer and Terminer at Salem (to which the order for this Day relates) he is, upon many accounts, more concerned than any that he knows of, Desires to take the Blame and shame of it, Asking pardon of men, And especially desiring prayers that God, who has an Unlimited Authority, would pardon that sin and all other his sins; personal and Relative: And according to his infinite Benignity, and Sovereignty, Not Visit the sin of him, or of any other, upon himself or any of his, nor upon the Land: But that He would powerfully defend him against all Temptations to Sin, for the future; and vouchsafe him the efficacious, saving Conduct of his Word and Spirit. Diary of Samuel Sewall (Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, Fifth Series, V, Boston, 1878), I, 445. 19. An Explanation by Rhode Island (1699) BY GOVERNOR SAMUEL CRANSTON Cranston was annually elected governor of Rhode Island for thirty years (16961726); a firm, popular, and successful administrator. This letter is addressed to the Lords of Trade. - Bibliography: Arnold, Rhode Island, I, 544-548; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, III, 376-380, V, 163; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 133. - For previous Rhode Island history, see Contemporaries, I, ch. xvii. R IGHT Honorable: Your letter bearing date Whitehall, October the 25th, 1698, came to our hands the 5th of April last, as likewise the duplicate of the same, we received the same day; wherein your Lordships do signify your observation of the long interval between the date of your letter, the 9th of February, 1698-9, and our-answer to the same. May it please your Lordships: We shall not justify ourselves wherein. we have been remiss, or negligent in that affair; and hope your Lordships will not impute any thing of contempt in us for the same; and we shall for the future endeavor to be more dilligent and observant in returning your Lordships an answer, and giving an account of the affairs of this government. But we having no shipping that sails directly from this Collony, and many times we are disappointed for want of timely notice from other places, the which has been a great disappointment to us in the performance of our duty to your Lordships. Your Lordships are also pleased to signify that our letter was principally in vindication of our conduct in relation to piracies and pirates, &c. We hope your Lordships will put that constructions upon our writing, that we do not vindicate ourselves, wherein we have ignorantly erred, or for want of better knowledge and a right method we have gone out of the due form and practice your Lordships have now prescribed for us; and wherein we did or do vindicate ourselves, it is in our innocency, and it's said sins of ignorance ought to be forgiven. And we do humbly beg your Lordships' pardon for the same, hoping for the future to be more circumspect. Your Lordships having been so favorable as to give us directions and instructions, the which we accept as a most bountifull favor from you, and shall with our best endeavors follow the same accordingly. Your Lordships are also pleased to require a copy of all private commissions which have been granted to any persons from this government, with the bonds, &c. And in obedience to your Lordships' command, E |