silence false accusers, and expressed herself in the forcible language which Parris’s report of the examination shows that she was well able to use.  It is almost amusing to see how the pride of the magistrates was touched, and their wrath kindled, by what she was reported to have said, “that the magistrates’ and ministers’ eyes were blinded, and that she would open them.”  It rankled in Hathorne’s breast:  he returns to it again and again, and works himself up to a higher degree of resentment on each recurrence.  Mr. Noyes’s ire was roused, and he, too, put in a stroke.  It will be noticed, that she avoided a contradiction of her husband, and could not be brought to give the names of persons from whom she had received information.  “If you will all go hang me, how can I help it?” “Ye are all against me.”  “What can I do, when many rise up against me?” “When all are against me, what can I [say to] help it?” Situated as she was, all that she could do was to give them no advantage, or opportunity to ensnare her, and to avoid compromising others; and it must be allowed that she showed much presence and firmness of mind.  Her request, made at the opening of the examination, and at “sundry times,” to “go to prayer,” somewhat confounded them.  She probably was led to make and urge the request particularly in consequence of the tenor of Mr. Noyes’s prayer at the opening.  She felt that it was no more than fair that there should be a prayer on her side, as well as on the other.  It might well be feared, that, if allowed to offer a prayer, coming from a person in her situation, an aged professor, and one accustomed to express herself in devotional exercises, it might produce a deep impression upon the whole assembly.  To refuse such a request had a hard look; but, as the magistrates saw, it never would have done to have permitted it.  It would have reversed the position of all concerned.  The latter part of the examination has the appearance that she was suspected to be unsound on a particular article of the prevalent creed.  It is much to be regretted that the abrasion of the paper at the folding has obliterated her last answer to this part of the inquisition.  It is singular that Mr. Parris has left the blank in her final answer.  Probably she used her customary expression, “I am a gospel woman.”  The writing, at this point, is very clear and distinct; and a vacant space is left, just as it is given above.

The fact that Martha Corey was known to be an eminently religious person, and very much given to acts of devotion, constituted a serious obstacle, no doubt, in the way of the prosecutors.  Parris’s record of the examination shows how they managed to get over it.  They gave the impression that her frequent and long prayers were addressed to the Devil.