by Howard Pyle
Another charge against Master Burroughs was, that he went on a certain occasion between two places in a shorter time than was possible, if the Devil had not assisted him. Both Increase Mather, the father, and his son Cotton, two of the most prominent and influential of the Boston ministers, said that the testimony as to Mr. Burroughs’ giant strength was alone sufficient rightfully to convict him. It is not improbable that the real animus of the feeling against Master Burroughs was the belief that he was not sound in the faith; for Master Cotton Mather, after his execution, declared to the people that he was “no ordained minister,” and called their attention to the fact that Satan often appeared as an angel of light.
CHAPTER X.
Bridget Bishop Condemned to Die.
Salem, the habitation of peace, had become, by this time a pandemonium. The “afflicted children” were making accusations in every direction, and Mistress Ann Putnam, and many others, were imitating their example.
To doubt was to be accused; but very few managed to keep their heads sufficiently in the whirlwind of excitement, even to be able to doubt. With the exception of Joseph Putnam, and his visitor, Ellis Raymond, there were very few, if any, open and outspoken doubters, and indignant censurers of the whole affair. Dulcibel Burton also, though in a gentler and less emphatic way, sided naturally with them, but, although she was much less violent in her condemnation, she provoked even more anger from the orthodox believers in the delusion.
For Joseph Putnam, as belonging to one of the most influential and wealthy families in Salem, seemed to have some right to have an opinion. And Master Raymond was visiting at his house, and naturally would be influenced by him.
Besides, he was only a stranger at the best; and therefore, not entirely responsible to them for his views. But Dulcibel was a woman, and it was outrageous that she, at her years, should set up her crude opinions against the authority of the ministers and the elders.
Besides, Joseph Putnam was known to be a determined and even rather desperate young man when his passions were aroused, as they seldom were though, save in some just cause; and he had let it be known that it would be worth any person’s life to attempt to arrest him. It was almost the universal habit of that day, to wear the belt and sword; and Messrs. Putnam and Raymond went thus constantly armed. Master Putnam also kept two horses constantly saddled in his stable, day and night, to escape with if necessary, into the forest, through which they might make their way to New York. For the people of that province, who did not admire their Puritan neighbors very much, received all such fugitives gladly, and gave them full protection.
As for Master Raymond, although he saw that his position was becoming dangerous, he determined to remain, notwithstanding the period which he had fixed for his departure had long before arrived. His avowed reason given to Joseph Putnam, was that he was resolved to see the crazy affair through. His avowed reason, which Master Putnam perfectly understood, was to prosecute his suit to Dulcibel, and see her safely through the dangerous excitement also.
“They have condemned Bridget Bishop to death,” said Master Putnam, coming into the house one morning from a conversation with a neighbor.
“I supposed they would,” replied Master Raymond. “But how nobly she bore herself against such a mass of stupid and senseless testimony. Did you know her?”
“I have often stopped at her Inn. A fine, free-spoken woman; a little bold in her manners, but nothing wrong about her.”
“Did you ever hear such nonsense as that about her tearing down a part of the meeting-house simply by looking at it? And yet there sat the best lawyers in the colony on the bench as her judges, and swallowed it all down as if it had been gospel.”
“And then those other stories of her appearing in people’s bed-rooms, and vanishing away suddenly; and of her being responsible for the illness and death of her neighbors’ children; what could be more absurd?”
“And of the finding of puppets, made of rags and hogs’ bristles, in the walls and crevices of her cellar! Really, it would be utterly contemptible if it were not so horrible.”
“Yes, she is to be executed on Gallows Hill; and next week! I can scarcely believe it, Master Raymond. If I could muster a score or two of other stout fellows, I would carry her off from the very foot of the gallows.”
“Oh, the frenzy has only begun, my friend,” replied Raymond. “You know whose trial comes on next?”
“How any one can say a word against Mistress Nurse — that lovely and venerable woman — passeth my comprehension,” said Joseph Putnam’s young wife, who had been a listener to the conversation, while engaged in some household duties.
“My sister-in-law, Ann Putnam, seems to have a spite against that woman. I went to see her yesterday, and she almost foams at the mouth while talking of her.”
“The examination of Mistress Nurse before the magistrate comes off to-day. Shall we not attend it?”
“Of course, but be careful of thy language, Friend Raymond. Do not let thy indignation run away with thy discretion.”
Raymond laughed outright, as did young Mistress Putnam. “This advice from you, Master Joseph! who art such a very model of prudence and cold-bloodedness! If thou wilt be only half as cautious and discreet as I am, we shall give no offence even to the craziest of them.”
CHAPTER XI.
Examination of Rebecca Nurse.
When they arrived at the village, the examination was in progress. Mistress Rebecca Nurse, the mother of a large family; aged, venerable, and bending now a little under the weight of years, was standing as a culprit before the magistrates, who doubtless had often met her in the social gatherings of the neighborhood.
She was guarded by two constables, she who needed no guarding. Around, and as near her as they were allowed to stand, stood her husband and her grown-up sons and daughters.
One of the strangest features of the time, as it strikes the reader of this day, was the peaceful submission to the lawful authorities practised by the husbands and fathers, and grown-up sons and brothers of the women accused. Reaching as the list of alleged witches did in a short time, to between one hundred and fifty and two hundred persons — nearly the whole of them members of the most respectable families — it is wonderful that a determined stand in their behalf was not the result. One hundred resolute men, resolved to sacrifice their lives if need be, would have put a stop to the whole matter. And if there had been even twenty men in Salem, like Joseph Putnam, the thing no doubt would have been done.
And in the opinion of the present writer, such a course would have been far more worthy of praise, than the slavish submission to such outrages as were perpetrated under the names of law, justice and religion. The sons of these men, eighty years later, showed at Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill, that when Law and Peace become but grotesque masks, under which are hidden the faces of legalized injustice and tyranny, then the time has come for armed revolt and organized resistance.
But such was the darkness and bigotry of the day in respect to religious belief, that the great majority of the people were mentally paralyzed by the accepted faith, so that they were not able in many respects to distinguish light from darkness. When an estimable man or woman was accused of being a witch, for the term was indifferently applied to both sexes, even their own married partners, their own children, had a more or less strong conviction that it might possibly be so. And this made the peculiar horror of it.
In at least fifty cases, the accused confessed that they were witches, and sometimes accused others in turn. This was owing generally to the influence of their relatives, who implored them to confess; for to confess was invariably to be acquitted, or to be let off with simple imprisonment.
But to return to poor Rebecca Nurse, haled without warning from her prosperous, happy home at the Bishop Farm, carried to jail, loaded with chains, and now brought up for the tragic farce of a judicial examination. In this case also, the account given in my friend’s little book is amply confirmed by other records. Mi
stress Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams (the minister’s niece), Elizabeth Hubbard and Mary Walcott, were the accusers.
“Abigail Williams, have you been hurt by this woman?” said magistrate Hathorne.
“Yes,” replied Abigail. And then Mistress Ann Putnam fell to the floor in a fit; crying out between her violent spasms, that it was Rebecca Nurse who was then afflicting her.
“What do you say to those charges?” The accused replied: “I can say before the eternal Father that I am innocent of any such wicked doings, and God will clear my innocence.”
Then a man named Henry Kenney rose, and said that Mistress Nurse frequently tormented him also; and that even since he had been there that day, he had been seized twice with an amazed condition.
“The villain!” muttered Joseph Putnam to those around him, “if I had him left to me for a time, I would have him in an amazed condition!”
“You are an unbeliever, and everybody knows it, Master Putnam,” said one near him. “But we who are of the godly, know that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
“Quiet there!” said one of the magistrates.
Edward Putnam (another of the brothers) then gave in his evidence, saying that he had seen Mistress Ann Putnam, and the other accusers, grievously tormented again and again, and declaring that Rebecca Nurse was the person who did it.
“These are serious charges, Mistress Nurse,” said Squire Hathorne, “are they true?”
“I have told you that they are false. Why, I was confined to my sick bed at the time it is said they occurred.”
“But did you not send your spectre to torment them?”
“How could I? And I would not if I could.”
Here Mistress Putnam was taken with another fit. Worse than the other, which greatly affected the whole people. Coming to a little, she cried out: “Did you not bring the black man with you? Did you not tell me to tempt God and die? Did you not eat and drink the red blood to your own damnation?”
These words were shrieked out so wildly, that all the people were greatly agitated and murmured against such wickedness. But the prisoner releasing her hand for a moment cried out, “Oh, Lord, help me!”
“Hold her hands,” some cried then, for the afflicted persons seemed to be grievously tormented by her. But her hands being again firmly held by the guards, they seemed comforted.
Then the worthy magistrate Hathorne said, “Do you not see that when your hands are loosed these people are afflicted?”
“The Lord knows,” she answered, “that I have not hurt them.”
“You would do well if you are guilty to confess it; and give glory to God.”
“I have nothing to confess. I am as innocent as an unborn child.”
“Is it not strange that when you are examined, these persons should be afflicted thus?”
“Yes, it is very strange.”
“The Lord knows that I haven’t hurt them”
“Do you believe these afflicted persons are bewitched?”
“I surely do think they must be.”
Weary of the proceedings and the excitement, the aged lady allowed her head to droop on one side. Instantly the heads of the accusers were bent the same way.
Abigail Williams cried out, “Set up Mistress Nurse’s neck, our necks will all be broken.” The jailers held up the prisoner’s neck; and the necks of all the accused were instantly made straight again. This was considered a marvelous proof; and produced a wonderful effect upon the magistrates and the people. Mistress Ann Putnam went into such great bodily agony at this time, charging it all upon the prisoner, that the magistrates gave her husband permission to carry her out of the house. Only then, when no longer in the sight of the prisoner, could she regain her peace.
“Mistress Nurse was then recommitted to the jail in Salem, in order to further examination.”
“What deviltry is coming next?” said Joseph Putnam to his friend.
Many of those around glared on the speaker, but he was well known to all of them as a daring — and when angered even a desperate young man — and they allowed him to say with impunity, freely what no one else could even have whispered. His son in after years, looked not into the wolf’s eyes in the dark den with a sterner gaze, than he looked into the superstitious and vengeful wolves’ eyes around him.
“To think that a godly old woman like Mistress Nurse, should be tormented by this Devil’s brood of witches, led on by that she-devil sister of mine, Ann Putnam.”
Many around heard him, but none cared to meet the young man’s fierce eyes, as they blazed upon those that were nearest.
“Do control yourself, my friend,” whispered Master Raymond. “Preserve yourself for a time when your indignation may do some good.”
Then the constable brought in a little girl of about five years of age, Dorcas Good, a daughter of Sarah Good, who had been arrested on the complaint of Edward and Jonathan Putnam.
The evidence against this little girl of five was overwhelming. Mistress Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott were the accusers — charging the innocent and pretty little creature with biting, pinching and choking them — the little girl smiling while they were giving their testimony. She was not old enough to understand what it was all about, and that even her life was in danger from these demoniacs. They absolutely pretended to show the marks of her little teeth in their arms. Then, after going through the usual convulsions, they shrieked out that she was running pins into them; and the pins were found on examination sticking into their bodies.
The little girl was, as I have said, at first inclined to laugh at all the curious proceedings, and the spasms and contortions of the witnesses, but at last, seeing everyone so solemn and looking so wickedly at her, she began to cry; until Joseph Putnam went up to her and gave her some sweet cake to eat, which he had provided for his own luncheon and then, looking into his kind face, she began to smile again.
The Magistrates frowned upon Master Putnam, as he did this, but he paid no attention to their frowns. And when the little girl was ordered back to jail as a prisoner to await her trial, he bent down and kissed her before she was led away by the constable.
This was the end of the proceedings for that day and the crowd began to disperse.
“This is a pretty day’s work you have made of it, sister-in-law,” said Joseph Putnam, striding up to his brother’s wife. “You say that you are tormented by many devils, and I believe it. Now I want to give you, and all the Devil’s brood around you, fair warning that if you dare to touch with your foul lies any one belonging to my house including the stranger within my gates, you shall answer it with your lives, in spite of all your judges and prisons.”
So saying, he glared at his two brothers, who made no reply, and walked out of the meeting-house in which this ungodly business had been transacted.
“Oh, it is only Joe,” said Thomas Putnam; “he always was the spoiled child of the family.”
His wife said nothing, but soon a hard, bitter smile took the place of the angry flush that the young man’s words had produced. Dulcibel Burton was not one of his household, nor within his gates.
CHAPTER XII.
Burn Me, or Hang Me, I Will Stand in the Truth of Christ.
After the trial and conviction of Bridget Bishop, the Special Court of seven Judges — a majority of whom were leading citizens of Boston, the Deputy Governor of the Province, acting as Chief-Justice — decided to take further counsel in this wonderful and important matter of the fathers of the church. So the Court took a recess, while it consulted the ministers of Boston and other places, respecting its duty in the case. The response of the ministers, while urging in general terms the importance of caution and circumspection, recommended the earnest and vigorous carrying on of the war against Satan and his disciples.
Among the new victims, one of the most striking cases was that of George Jacobs and his grand-daughter Margaret. The former was a venerable-looking man, very tall, with long, thin white hair,
who was compelled by his infirmities to support himself in walking with two staffs. Sarah Churchill, a chief witness, against him, was a servant in his family; and probably was feeding in this way some old grudge.
“You accuse me of being a wizard,” said the old man on his examination; “you might as well charge me with being a buzzard.”
They asked the accused to repeat the Lord’s prayer. And Master Parris, the minister, who acted as a reporter, said “he could not repeat it right after many trials.”
“Well,” said the brave old man finally, after they had badgered him with all kinds of nonsensical questions, “Well, burn me, or hang me, I will stand in the truth of Christ!”
As his manly bearing was evidently producing an effect, the “afflicted girls” came out in full force the next day at the adjourned session. When he was brought in, they fell at once into the most grievous fits and screechings.
“Who hurts you?” was asked, after they had recovered somewhat.
“This man,” said Abigail Williams, going off into another fit.
“This is the man,” averred Ann Putnam; “he hurts me, and wants me to write in the red book; and promises if I will do so, to make me as well as his grand-daughter.”
“Yes, this is the man,” cried Mercy Lewis, “he almost kills me.”
“It is the one who used to come to me. I know him by his two staffs, with one of which he used to beat the life out of me,” said Mary Walcott.
Mercy Lewis for her part walked towards him; but as soon as she got near, fell into great fits.
Then Ann Putnam and Abigail Williams “had each of them a pin stuck in their hands and they said it was done by this old Jacobs.”