e had taken none of it out of any
Book; for which, his Evasion afterwards, was, That a Gentleman gave him
the Discourse in a Manuscript, from whence he Transcribed it.

IX. The Jury brought him in _Guilty_: But when he came to Die, he
utterly deni'd the Fact, whereof he had been thus convicted.

II.

THE TRYAL OF BRIDGET BISHOP, ALIAS

OLIVER, AT THE COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER,

HELD AT SALEM, JUNE 2. 1692.

I.

She was Indicted for Bewitching of several Persons in the Neighbourhood,
the Indictment being drawn up, according to the _Form_ in such Cases
usual. And pleading, _Not Guilty_, there were brought in several
persons, who had long undergone many kinds of Miseries, which were
preternaturally inflicted, and generally ascribed unto an _horrible
Witchcraft_. There was little occasion to prove the _Witchcraft_, it
being evident and notorious to all beholders. Now to fix the
_Witchcraft_ on the Prisoner at the Bar, the first thing used, was the
Testimony of the _Bewitched_; whereof several testifi'd, That the
_Shape_ of the Prisoner did oftentimes very grievously Pinch them, Choak
them, Bite them, and Afflict them; urging them to write their Names in a
_Book_, which the said Spectre called, _Ours_. One of them did further
testifie, that it was the _Shape_ of this Prisoner, with another, which
one day took her from her Wheel, and carrying her to the Riverside,
threatned there to Drown her, if she did not Sign to the _Book_
mentioned: which yet she refused. Others of them did also testifie, that
the said _Shape_ did in her Threats brag to them that she had been the
Death of sundry Persons, then by her named; that she had _Ridden_ a Man
then likewise named. Another testifi'd, the Apparition of _Ghosts_ unto
the Spectre of _Bishop_, crying out, _You Murdered us!_ About the Truth
whereof, there was in the Matter of Fact but too much suspicion.

II. It was testifi'd, That at the Examination of the Prisoner before the
Magistrates, the Bewitched were extreamly tortured. If she did but cast
her Eyes on them, they were presently struck down; and this in such a
manner as there could be no Collusion in the Business. But upon the
Touch of her Hand upon them, when they lay in their Swoons, they would
immediately Revive; and not upon the Touch of any ones else. Moreover,
Upon some Special Actions of her Body, as the shaking of her Head, or
the turning of her Eyes, they presently and painfully fell into the like
postu