21st July, ’92. Before Major Gedney, Mr. Hathorne, Mr. Corwin and Capt.
Higginson.
Goody Foster, you remember we have three times spoken with you, and do
you now remember what you then confessed to us? Her former confession
was read, which she owned to be all true.
You have been engaged in very great wickedness, and some have been left
to hardness of heart to deny; but it seems that God will give you more
favor than others, inasmuch as you relent. But your daughter here hath
confessed some things that you did not tell us of. Your daughter was
with you and Goody Carrier, when you did ride upon the stick. A. I did
not know it. Q. How long have you known your daughter to be engaged?
A. I cannot tell, nor have I any knowledge of it at all. Q. Did you
see your daughter at the meeting? A. No. Q. Did not you know your
daughter to be a witch? A. No. Q. Your daughter said she was at the
witches meeting, and that you yourself stood at a distance off and did
not partake at that meeting; and you yourself said so also; give us a
relation from the beginning until now. A. I know none of their names
that were there, but only Goody Carrier. Q. Would you know their faces
if you saw them? A. I cannot tell. Q. Were there not two companies in
the field at the same time? A. I remember no more.
Mary Warren, one of the afflicted, said that Goody Carrier’s shape told
her, that this Goody Foster had made her daughter a witch. Q. Do not
you acknowledge that you did so about thirteen years ago? A. No, and
I know no more of my daughter’s being a witch than what day I shall
die upon. Q. Are you willing your daughter should make a full and free
confession? A. Yes. Q. Are you willing to do so too? A. Yes. Q. You
cannot expect peace of conscience without a free confession. A. If I
knew any thing more, I would speak it to the utmost. Goody Lacey, the
daughter, called in, began thus; Oh, mother! how do you do? We have
left Christ, and the Devil hath gat hold of us. How shall I get rid of
this evil one? I desire God to break my rocky heart that I may get the
victory this time. Q. Goody Foster, you cannot get rid of this snare,
your heart and mouth is not open. A. I did not see the Devil, I was
praying to the Lord. Q. What Lord? A. To God. Q. What God do witches
pray to? A. I cannot tell, the Lord help me. Q. Goody Lacey, had you
no discourse with your mother in your riding? A. No, I think I had not
a word. Q. Who rid foremost on that stick to the village? A. I suppose
my mother. Goody Foster said that Goody Carrier was foremost. Q. Goody
Lacey, how many years ago since they were baptized? A. Three or four
years ago, I suppose. Q. Who baptized them? A. The old serpent. Q. How
did he do it? A. He dipped their heads in the water, saying they were
his, and that he had power over them. Q. Where was this? A. At Fall’s
river. Q. How many were baptized that day? A. Some of the chief; I
think there were six baptized. Q. Name them. A. I think they were of
the higher powers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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