It was the latter end of _February_ 1691,[2] when divers young Persons belonging to Mr. _Parris's_ Family, and one or more of the Neighbourhood, began to [91] Act, after a strange & unusual manner, _viz._ as by getting into Holes, and creeping under Chairs and Stools, and to use sundry odd Postures and Antick Gestures, uttering foolish, ridiculous Speeches, which neither they themselves nor any others could make sense of; the Physicians[3] that were called could assign no reason for this; but it seems one of them, having recourse to the old shift, told them he was afraid they were Bewitched; upon such suggestions, they that were concerned, applied themselves to Fasting and Prayer, which was attended not only in their own private Families, but with calling in the help of others. _March_ the 11_th_. Mr. _Parris_ invited several Neighbouring Ministers to join with him in keeping a Solemn day of Prayer at his own House; the time of the exercise those Persons were for the most part silent, but after any one Prayer was ended, they would Act and Speak strangely and Ridiculously, yet were such as had been well Educated and of good Behaviour, the one a Girl of 11 or 12 years old, would sometimes seem to be in a _Convulsion_ Fit, her Limbs being twisted several ways, and very stiff, but presently her Fit would be over. A few days before this Solemn day of Prayer, Mr. _Parris's_ _Indian_ Man and Woman made a Cake of Rye Meal, with the Childrens Water, and Baked it in the Ashes, and as is said, gave it to the Dog; this was done as a means to Discover Witchcraft; soon after which those ill affected or afflicted Persons named several that they said they saw, when in their Fits, afflicting of them. The first complain'd of, was the said _Indian_ Woman, named _Tituba_,[4] she confessed that the _Devil_ urged her to sign a Book, which he presented to her, and also to work Mischief to the Children, _&c._ She was afterwards Committed to Prison, and lay there till Sold for her Fees. The account she since gives of it is, that her Master did beat her and otherways abuse her, to make her confess and accuse (such as he call'd) her Sister-Witches, and that whatsoever she said by way of confessing or accusing others, was the effect of such usage; her Master refused to pay her Fees, unless she would stand to what she had said.