At these Tryals some of the Jewry made Inquiry of the Court, what Account they ought to make of the Spectre Evidence? and received for Answer [as much as of Chips in Wort][127] _January_ 31, 169⅔. The Superior Court began at _Charlestown_, for the County of _Middlesex_, Mr. _Stoughton_, M. _Danforth_, M. _Winthorp_, and Mr. _Sewall_ Judges, where several had Ignoramus returned upon their Bills of Indictment, and _Billa Vera_ upon others.[128] In the time the Court sat, word was brought in, that a Reprieve was sent to _Salem_, and had prevented the Execution of Seven of those that were there Condemned, which so moved the chief Judge, that he said to this effect, _We were in a way to have cleared the Land of these, &c. who it is obstructs the course of Justice I know not; the Lord be merciful to the Countrey_, and so went off the Bench, and came no more that Court:[129] The most remarkable of the Tryals, was of _Sarah Daston_, she was a Woman of about 70 or 80 Years of Age, To usher in her Tryal, a report went before, that if there were a Witch in the World she was one, as having been so accounted of, for 20 or 30 Years; which drew many People from _Boston, &c._ to hear her Tryal. There were a multitude of Witnesses produced against her; but what Testimony they gave in seemed wholly forreign, as of accidents, illness, &_c._ befalling them, or theirs after some Quarrel; what these testified was much of it of Actions said to be done 20 Years before that time. The Spectre-Evidence was not made use of in these Tryals, so that the Jewry soon brought her in not Guilty, her Daughter and Grand-daughter, and the rest that were then tried, were also acquitted. After she was cleared Judge _Danforth_ Admonished her in these words, _Woman, Woman, repent, there are shrewd things come in against you_; she was remanded to Prison for her Fees, and there in a short time expired.[130] One of _Boston_ that had been at the Tryal of _Daston_, being the same Evening in company with one of the Judges [142] in a publick place, acquainted him that some that had been both at the Tryals at _Salem_ and at this at _Charlestown_, had asserted that there was more Evidence against the said _Daston_ than against any at Salem, to which the said Judge conceeded, saying, _That it was so_. It was replied by that person, _that he dare give it under his hand, that there was not enough come in against her to bear a just reproof_. _April_ 25, 1693. The first Superior Court was held at _Boston_, for the County of _Suffolk_, the Judges were the Lieutenant Governour, Mr. _Danforth_, Mr. _Richards_, and Mr. _Sewall_, Esquires. [Mary Watkins's _Tryal_.]