Salem was then a small village, about sixteen miles north-east of Boston, and its minister was the Rev. Samuel Parris, born in London in 1653. He entered Harvard College, but could not take a degree, went to Barbados, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and finally turned religious, and was ordained minister of Salem congregation in 1689, naturally taking a leading part in the little community. At his house, during the winter of 1691-92, a society of girls met, curiously enough, for the purpose of practising palmistry, fortune-telling, necromancy, magic, and spiritualism; and they soon became so far advanced in these arts as to be seized with unnatural spasms, falling insensible on the floor, writhing in agony, and uttering piercing cries. As this conduct was decidedly abnormal, as was their amusement, it was settled that they were bewitched, and they were sympathized with as being ‘afflicted Children.’ Fasting and prayer were tried, but with no good result. On being questioned as to who had bewitched them, they answered ‘Good,’ ‘Osborn,’ and ‘Tituba.’ Sarah Good was a woman generally disliked, Sarah Osborn was a bed-ridden woman who did not bear a very good character, and Tituba was an Indian woman in Mr. Parris’ service. On March 1, 1692, they were brought before the court charged with bewitching the children. One indictment must serve as a specimen for all: ‘The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary Doe present: That Sarah Good, ye wife of William Good of Salem Village, In the County of Essex, husbandman, upon y{e} first day of March in y{e} fourth year of y{e} Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady W{m} & Mary, by y{e} Grace of God, of England, Scotland, ffrance & Ireland King & Queen, defend{rs} of y{e} faith etc & Divers other days & times as well before as after, Certaine Detestable Arts, Called Witchcrafts & Sorceries, wickedly & ffeloniously hath used, practised & Exercised at & within y{e} Township of Salem aforesaid, In, upon & against An Puttman, Single woman of Salem Village, by which said Wicked arts, the said An Puttman y{e} said first day of March, in y{e} fourth year abovesaid & divers other other days & times, as well before as after, was & is hurt, Tortured, afflicted, Pined, Consumed, wasted & Tormented, & also for Sundry acts of Witchcraft by said Good Committed & done before & since that time against y{e} peace of our Soveraigne Lord & Lady y{e} King & Queen Their Crowne & dignity & against y{e} forme of Statues In that Case made & provided. ‘Witness. Ann Putman. Jurat. Eliz. Hubbard. Abigail Williams. Jurat.’ On examination, Good and Osborn denied the accusation _in toto_, but Tituba, the Indian woman, gave damning evidence against them, and it is worthy of being given _in extenso_: ‘THE EXAMINATION OF TITIBE. ‘Titibe what evil Spirit have you familiarity with?--None. ‘Why do you hurt these children?--I do not hurt them. ‘Who is it then?--The Devil for ought I know.