the witch was trying
to break their necks. The court-room resounded with groans, shrieks,
prayers, and curses; judges, jury, and people were aghast, and even the
accused were sometimes thus led to believe in their own guilt.

Very striking in all these cases was the alloy of frenzy with trickery.
In most of the madness there was method. Sundry witches charged by the
possessed had been engaged in controversy with the Salem church people.
Others of the accused had quarrelled with Mr. Parris. Still others had
been engaged in old lawsuits against persons more or less connected with
the girls. One of the most fearful charges, which cost the life of a
noble and lovely woman, arose undoubtedly from her better style of dress
and living. Old slumbering neighbourhood or personal quarrels bore in
this way a strange fruitage of revenge; for the cardinal doctrine of a
fanatic's creed is that his enemies are the enemies of God.

Any person daring to hint the slightest distrust of the proceedings was
in danger of being immediately brought under accusation of a league with
Satan. Husbands and children were thus brought to the gallows for daring
to disbelieve these charges against their wives and mothers. Some of
the clergy were accused for endeavouring to save members of their
churches.(398)

(398) This is admirably brought out by Upham, and the lawyerlike
thoroughness with which he has examined all these hidden springs of the
charges is one of the main things which render his book one of the
most valuable contributions to the history and philosophy of demoniacal
possession ever written.

One poor woman was charged with "giving a look toward the great
meeting-house of Salem, and immediately a demon entered the house and
tore down a part of it." This cause for the falling of a bit of poorly
nailed wainscoting seemed perfectly satisfactory to Dr. Cotton Mather,
as well as to the judge and jury, and she was hanged, protesting her
innocence. Still another lady, belonging to one of the most respected
families of the region, was charged with the crime of witchcraft. The
children were fearfully afflicted whenever she appeared near them. It
seemed never to occur to any one that a bitter old feud between the
Rev. Mr. Parris and the family of the accused might have prejudiced the
children and directed their attention toward the woman. No account was
made of the fact that her life had been entirely blameless; and yet,
in view of the