[89] Drake, Annals of Witchcraft, 193.
[90] Increase Mather says: “In December the court sat again at Salem in New England, and cleared about 40 persons suspected for witches, and condemned three. The evidence against these was the same as formerly, so the Warrant for their Execution was sent, and the Graves digged for the said three, and for about five more that had been condemned at Salem formerly, but were Repreived by the Governour.
In the beginning of February, 1693, the Court sate at Charlestown, where the Judge exprest himself to this effect. That who it was that obstructed the Execution of Justice, or hindered those good proceedings they had made, he knew not, but thereby the Kingdom of Satan was advanc’d, etc. and the Lord have mercy on this Country; and so declined coming any more into Court. In his absence Mr. D—— sate as Chief Judge 3 several days, in which time 5 or 6 were cleared by Proclamation, and almost as many by Trial; so that all were acquitted....
So that by the Goodness of God we are once more out of present danger of this Hobgoblin monster; the standing evidence used at Salem were called, but did not appear.
There were others also at Charlestown brought upon their Tryals, who had formerly confessed themselves to be witches; but upon their Tryals deny’d it; and were all cleared; So that at present there is no further prosecution of any.” A Further Account of the Tryals, London, 1693, p. 10.
The court apparently met December 31st, and sat into January, which would account for the apparent discrepancy in regard to the time of its session.
[91] The authorities were accused of great partiality in allowing, in several cases, persons accused by the afflicted to escape, when they were either related to them or their personal friends. Brattle, pp. 69, 70.
[92] Calef, More Wonders, p. 144.
[93] Calef, p. 144. Hutchinson, ii. 61.
[94] Calef, pp. 55–64.