(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
[H] doe you see who it is that torments these children now.

[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.

Salem Village

March the 1 169

I cannot see.

Written by Ezekiell Cheevers.
Salem Village March 1* 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.

COPY

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

we have herewith sent copies of such commissions (if they may properly be so called), they being only defensive, and were granted by the Deputy Governor (contrary to the mind of the then Governor), and he not knowing the due form and method in such cases, took no bonds, concluding as he hath solemnly declared, that they were bound upon a merchandizing voyage; their design being unknown to the authority.

Your Lordships are further pleased to require copies of the tryall of George Cutler and Robert Munday, with all proceedings from first to last, relating to the same; and of all other persons and things in the like case. Likewise a copy of the laws and Acts of this government, all which we have accordingly done. Humbly submitting ourselves to your Lordships' favorable constructions upon any thing that may therein be found amiss; we being wholly ruled and governed by the good and wholesome [laws] of our Mother, the kingdom of England, as far as the constitution of our place will bear; and we doubt not, but your Lordships are sensible that in these remote parts, we cannot in every punctillo follow the niceties of the laws of England; but it will be a great damage to his Majesty's interest in the settling and peopling the country.

We do also acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships' letter bearing date Whitehall, February the 3d, 1698-9, with his Majesty's Instructions, relating to the observation of the Acts of trade, &c.; all which we kindly accept, and shall with the best of our endeavors comply with the same, and we do further acknowledge the receipt of a letter bearing date Whitehall, January the 24th, 1698-9 (the which came to our hands the 24th instant), wherein his Majesty gives us to understand, that severall ships of force have been fitted out of Scotland, with an intent to settle in some parts of America, contrary to his Majesty's knowledge, forbidding of us to hold any correspondency with them, whilst they are engaged in the aforesaid enterprise; commanding us to send your Lordships an account of our proceeds therein. In obedience to which, we forthwith issued out a Proclamation concerning the same, a copy of which, we herewith send you, and it shall be our further endeavor to see it duly executed.

And may it please your Lordships to accept this further information: that on the beginning of April last, arrived a ship upon our coast, which was by the men that did belong to her, sunk, as they have since confessed. It was a hagboat, of about four hundred tons, belonging to London, bound for the Island of Borneo, in the East India, whereof one Capt'n Gullop was Commander. And at the Island of Polonoys, near

the Island of Sumatra, their Commander being on shore with severall others, the boatswain's mate of said ship, one Bradish, with severall others combined, and run away with her, leaving their Commander and severall others, on shore, at said Island of Polonoys.

And for your Lordships' better information, we have herewith sent you the examination of one of the men, now a prisoner in his Majesty's jail in this government, who after the sinking of the said ship, distributed themselves into severall parts of this country, and are all taken and secured in the severall governments, except one, with the greatest part of their money that they brought with them.

We having in our hands to the value of twelve hundred pounds, or thereabouts; all which we shall secure till further orders from your Lordships, we having used all the dilligence we can for discovering what more may be distributed about the country.

We shall always for time to come be very observant in following your Lordships, advice and Instructions, in all cases relating to his Majesty's interest, and once more humbly begging your Lordships' favorable constructions in what of weakness may appear in us. We being a plain and mean sort of people, yet true and loyall subjects to his Most Excellent Majesty, King William, and we hope time will make manifest the same to your Lordships, we being not insensible of the many enemies we have, who hath and do make it their business to render us (to his Majesty and your Lordships), as ridiculous as they can, and to present things to your Lordships quite contrary to what they are or were. For instance, there is one Esquire Randolph, who was employed by the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, who did publickly declare he would be a means to eclipse us of our priviledges; and we know he picked up severall false reports against us. But we do not doubt your Lordships will in time have a further insight and knowledge of such men's actions, and we humbly beg of your Lordships, that you will not entertain any reports against us, so as to give any determination on the same, to our ill conveniency till we can have liberty to answer for ourselves; we having commissionated and appointed Jahleel Brenton, Esq'r (his Majesty's late Collector of his Customs in these parts), our Agent to answer to what shall be objected against us, or in any other matter or thing, relating to this his Majesty's Collony, begging your Lordships' favor towards him in what shall appear just and right.

So having not further to offer to your Lordships at present, but humbly submitting ourselves to his Most Excellent Majesty, and your