Where (besides the acquitting Mr. _John Aldin_ by Proclamation) the most remarkable was, what related to _Mary Watkins_, who had been a Servant, and lived about Seven Miles from _Boston_, having formerly Accused her Mistress of Witchcraft, and was supposed to be distracted, she was threatned if she persisted in such Accusations to be punished, this with the necessary care to recover her Health, had that good effect, that she not only had her Health restored, but also wholly acquitted her Mistress of any such Crimes, and continued in Health till the return of the Year, and then again falling into Melancholy humours she was found strangling herself; her Life being hereby prolonged, she immediately accused herself of being a Witch; was carried before a Magistrate and committed. At this Court a Bill of Indictment was brought to the Grand Jury against her, and her confession upon her Examination given in as Evidence, but these not wholly satisfied herewith, sent for her, who gave such account of herself, that they (after they had returned into the Court to ask some Questions) Twelve of them agreed to find Ignoramus, but the Court was pleased to send them out again, who again at coming in returned it as before. She was continued for some time in Prison, _&c._ and at length was sold to _Virginia_. About this time the Prisoners in all the Prisons were released. To omit here the mentioning of several Wenches in _Boston, &c._ who pretended to be Afflicted, and accused several, the Ministers often visiting them, and praying with them, concerning whose Affliction Narratives are in being. In Manuscript not only these, but the generality of those Accusers may have since convinced the Ministers by their vicious courses that they might err in extending too much Charity to them. The conclusion of the whole in the _Massachusetts_ Colony was Sir _William Phips_, Governour, being call'd home, before he went he pardon'd such as had been condemned, for which they gave about 30 Shillings each to the Kings Attorney.[131] [_Case of_ Mrs. Benom.] In _August_ 1697. The Superior Court sat at _Hartford_, in the Colony of _Connecticut_, where one Mistress _Benom_ was tried for Witchcraft, she [143] had been accused by some Children that pretented to the Spectral sight; they searched her several times for Tets; they tried the Experiment of casting her into the Water, and after this she was Excommunicated by the Minister of _Wallinsford_. Upon her Tryal nothing material appeared against her, save Spectre Evidence, she was acquitted, as also her Daughter, a Girl of Twelve or Thirteen Years old, who had been likewise Accused; but upon renewed Complaints against them, they both flew into _New-York_ Government.[132] FOOTNOTES: [127] _Q. D. of no Account whatever._ I do not find that the Expounders of Proverbs have fallen upon this.