An instructive instance of the warping force of these prevalent beliefs in shaping the diction of the most erudite describers of witchcraft facts, is found in Lawson’s summary of events, where, when commenting upon testimony like that given by little Sarah, he says, “Several have confessed against their own mother, that they were instruments to bring them into the devil’s covenant.” But the girl’s testimony mentioned a covenant with her mother alone, saying that the devil was not there, as she saw. It was Lawson, and not the girl, who brought the devil into this case.
The same writer further says, “Some girls of eight or nine years of age did declare that after they were so betrayed by their mothers to the power of Satan, they saw the devil go in their own shapes to afflict others.” But the statement of Sarah is, that she herself went forth and afflicted in her spirit-form, and not that the devil went in her shape. The cultured of that generation had devil on the brain so severely, that they persistently brought him in even where the facts as presented by the witnesses plainly excluded him.
Richard Carrier, eighteen years old, son of Thomas and Martha, was examined.
“Have you been in the devil’s snare?—Yes.
“Is your brother Andrew insnared by the devil’s snare?—Yes.
“How long has your brother been a witch?—Near a month.
“How long have you been a witch?—Not long.
“Have you joined in afflicting the afflicted persons?—Yes.
“You helped to hurt Timothy Swan, did you?—Yes.
“How long have you been a witch?—About five weeks.