child because he went to the eastward with Sir Edmon, and preached so to the soldiers; and that he had bewitched a great many soldiers to death at the eastward when Sir Edmon was there; and that he had made Abigail Hobbs a witch, and several witches more.  And he has continued ever since, by times, tempting me to write in his book, and grievously torturing me by beating, pinching, and almost choking me several times a day.  He also told me that he was above a witch.  He was a conjurer.”

Her father and the other persons present made oath that they saw and heard all this at the time; that “they beheld her tortures and perceived her hellish temptations by her loud outcries, ’I will not, I will not write, though you torment me all the days of my life.’” It will be observed that this was the evening before Thomas Putnam wrote his letter to the magistrates, preparing them for something “high and dreadful” that was soon to be brought to light.

A similar scene took place not long afterwards, in the presence of her father and her uncle Edward, to which they also testify.  It was thus described by her under oath:—­

“THE DEPOSITION OF ANN PUTNAM, who testifieth and saith, that, on the 8th of May, at evening, I saw the apparition of Mr. George Burroughs, who grievously tortured me, and urged me to write in his book, which I refused.  He then told me that his two first wives would appear to me presently, and tell me a great many lies, but I should not believe them.  Then immediately appeared to me the forms of two women in winding-sheets, and napkins about their heads, at which I was greatly affrighted; and they turned their faces towards Mr. Burroughs, and looked very red and angry, and told him that he had been a cruel man to them, and that their blood did cry for vengeance against him; and also told him that they should be clothed with white robes in heaven, when he should be cast into hell:  and immediately he vanished away.  And, as soon as he was gone, the two women turned their faces towards me, and looked as pale as a white wall; and told me that they were Mr. Burroughs’s two first wives, and that he had murdered them.  And one of them told me that she was his first wife, and he stabbed her under the left arm, and put a piece of sealing-wax on the wound.  And she pulled aside the winding-sheet, and showed me the place; and also told me, that she was in the house where Mr. Parris now lives, when it was done.  And the other told me, that Mr. Burroughs and that wife which he hath now, killed her in the vessel, as she was coming to see her friends, because they would have one another.  And they both charged me that I should tell these things to the magistrates before Mr. Burroughs’ face; and, if he did not own them, they did not know but they should appear there.  This morning, also, Mrs. Lawson and her daughter Ann appeared to me, whom I knew, and told me Mr. Burroughs murdered them.  This morning also appeared to me another