The language reported by this witness to have been used by Susanna Martin created in her, at the time, visible mortification, as well as resentment.  A writer at the period, not by any means inclined to give a representation favorable to the prisoners, reports her expression thus:  “She scorned to be drabbled.”  She was undoubtedly a woman who spoke her mind freely, and with strength of expression, as the magistrates found.  From this cause, perhaps, she had shocked the prejudices and violated the conventional scrupulosities then prevalent, to such a degree as to incur much comment, if not scandal.  There had been a good deal of gossip about her; and, some time before, she had been proceeded against as a witch.  But there was no ground for any serious charges against her character.  Like Mrs. Ann Hibbens, perhaps the head and front of her offending was that she had more wit than her neighbors.  She certainly was a strong-minded woman, as her examination shows.  Two reports of it, each in the handwriting of Parris, have come down to us.  They are almost identical, and in substance as follows:—­

On the appearance of the accused, many of the witnesses against her instantly fell into fits.  The magistrate inquired of them,—­

     “Hath this woman hurt you?”

     “(Abigail Williams declared that she had hurt her often. 
     ‘Ann Putnam threw her glove at her in a fit,’ and the rest
     were struck dumb at her presence.)

     “What! do you laugh at it? said the magistrate.—­Well I may
     at such folly.

     “Is this folly to see these so hurt?—­I never hurt man,
     woman, or child.

“(Mercy Lewis cried out, ’She hath hurt me a great many times, and plucks me down.’  Then Martin laughed again.  Several others cried out upon her, and the magistrate again addressed her.)

     “What do you say to this?—­I have no hand in witchcraft.

     “What did you do? did you consent these should be hurt?—­No,
     never in my life.

     “What ails these people?—­I do not know.

     “But what do you think ails them?—­I do not desire to spend
     my judgment upon it.

     “Do you think they are bewitched?—­No:  I do not think they
     are.

     “Well, tell us your thoughts about them.—­My thoughts are
     mine own when they are in; but, when they are out, they are
     another’s.

     “Who do you think is their master?—­If they be dealing in
     the black art, you may know as well as I.

     “What have you done towards the hurt of these?—­I have done
     nothing.

     “Why, it is you, or your appearance.—­I cannot help it.

     “How comes your appearance just now to hurt these?—­How do I
     know?

     “Are you not willing to tell the truth?—­I cannot tell.  He
     that appeared in Samuel’s shape can appear in any one’s
     shape.