declared unto me the Time and Occasion, with the particular
Circumstances of their Hellish Obligations and Abominations.

Nor is there designed any Reflection on those worthy Persons who have
been concerned in the late Proceedings at _Salem_: They are wise and
good Men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, and
have out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in our
own Judgments they were satisfied about: Having therefore so arduous a
Case before them, Pitty and Prayers rather than Censures are their due;
on which account I am glad that there is published to the World (by my
Son) a _Breviate of the Tryals_ of some who were lately executed,
whereby I hope the thinking part of Mankind will be satisfied, that
there was more than that which is called _Spectre Evidence_ for the
Conviction of the Persons condemned. I was not myself present at any of
the Tryals, excepting one, _viz._ that of _George Burroughs_; had I been
one of his Judges, I could not have acquitted him: For several Persons
did upon Oath testifie, that they saw him do such things as no Man that
has not a Devil to be his Familiar could perform: And the Judges affirm,
that they have not convicted any one meerly on the account of what
_Spectres_ have said, or of what has been represented to the Eyes or
Imaginations of the sick bewitched Persons. If what is here exposed to
publick view, may be a means to prevent it for the future, I shall not
repent of my Labour in this Undertaking. I have been prevailed with so
far as I am able to discern the Truth in these dark Cases, to declare my
Sentiments, with the Arguments which are of weight with me, hoping that
what is written may be of some use to discover the _Depths of Satan_;
and to prevent innocent ones having their Lives endangered, or their
Reputations ruined, by being through the Subtility and Power of the
Devils, in consideration with the Ignorance and Weakness of Men,
involved amongst the Guilty. It becomes those of my Profession to be
very tender in Cases of Blood, and to imitate our Lord and Master, _Who
came not to destroy the Lives of Men, but to save them_.

I likewise design in what I have written, to give my testimony against
these unjustifiable ways of discovering Witchcrafts, which some among us
have practised. I hear that of late there was a _Witch-cake_ made with
the Urine of bewitched Creatures, as one Ingredient by several Persons
in a place, which has suffered