A worthy Gentleman of _Boston_,[51] being about this time accused by those at _Andover_, he sent by some particular Friends a Writ to Arrest those Accusers in a Thousand Pound Action for Defamation, with instructions to them, to inform themselves of the certainty of the proof, in doing which their business was perceived, and from thence forward the Accusations at _Andover_ generally ceased. In _October_ some of these Accusers were sent for to _Gloucester_, and occasioned four Women to be sent to Prison, but _Salem_ Prison being so full it could receive no more; two were sent to _Ipswich_ Prison.[52] In _November_ they were sent for again by Lieutenant _Stephens_, who was told that a Sister of his was bewitched; in their way passing over _Ipswich_-bridge, they met with an old Woman, and instantly fell into their Fits: But by this time the validity of such Accusations being much questioned, they found not that Encouragement they had done elsewhere, and soon withdrew. These Accusers swore that they saw three persons sitting upon Lieutenant _Stephens's_ Sister till she died; yet Bond was accepted for those Three. And now Nineteen persons having been hang'd, and one prest to death, and Eight more condemned, in all Twenty and eight, of which above a third part were Members of some of the Churches in _N. England_, and more than half of them of a good Conversation in general, and not one clear'd. About Fifty having confest themselves to be Witches, of which not one Executed; above an Hundred and Fifty in Prison, and above Two Hundred more accused. The Special Commission of _Oyer_ and _Terminer_ comes to a period, which has no other foundation than the Governours Commission, and had proceeded in the manner of swearing Witnesses, _viz._ By holding up the hand, (and by receiving Evidences in writing) according to the Ancient Usuge of this Countrey; as also having their Indictments in _English_. In the Tryals, when any were Indicted for Afflicting, Pining, and wasting the Bodies of particular persons by Witchcraft; it was usual to hear Evidence of matter foreign, and of perhaps Twenty or Thirty years standing, about over-setting Carts, the death of Cattle, unkindness to Relations, or unexpected Accidents befalling after some quarrel.[53] Whether this was admitted by the Law of _England_, or by what other Law, wants to be determined; the Executions seemed mixt, in pressing to death for not pleading, which most agrees with the Laws of _England_, and Sentencing Women to be hanged for Witchcraft, according to the former practice of this Country, and not by burning, as is said to have been the Law of _England_. And though the confessing Witches were many; yet not one of them that confessed their own guilt, and abode by their Confession were put to Death. [111] Here followeth what account some of those miserable Creatures give of their Confession under their own hands.