“John Alden, Sr., of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, mariner, on the twenty-eighth day of May, 1692, was sent for by the magistrates of Salem, in the county of Essex, upon the accusation of a company of poor distracted or possessed creatures or witches; and, being sent by Mr. Stoughton, arrived there on the 31st of May, and appeared at Salem Village before Mr. Gedney, Mr. Hathorne, and Mr. Corwin.

“Those wenches being present who played their juggling tricks, falling down, crying out, and staring in people’s faces, the magistrates demanded of them several times, who it was, of all the people in the room, that hurt them.  One of these accusers pointed several times at one Captain Hill, there present, but spake nothing.  The same accuser had a man standing at her back to hold her up.  He stooped down to her ear:  then she cried out, ‘Alden, Alden afflicted her.’  One of the magistrates asked her if she had ever seen Alden.  She answered, ‘No.’  He asked her how she knew it was Alden.  She said the man told her so.

“Then all were ordered to go down into the street, where a ring was made; and the same accuser cried out, ’There stands Alden, a bold fellow, with his hat on before the judges:  he sells powder and shot to the Indians and French, and lies with the Indian squaws, and has Indian papooses.’  Then was Alden committed to the marshal’s custody, and his sword taken from him; for they said he afflicted them with his sword.  After some hours, Alden was sent for to the meeting-house in the Village, before the magistrates, who required Alden to stand upon a chair, to the open view of all the people.

“The accusers cried out that Alden pinched them then, when he stood upon the chair, in the sight of all the people, a good way distant from them.  One of the magistrates bid the marshal to hold open Alden’s hands, that he might not pinch those creatures.  Alden asked them why they should think that he should come to that village to afflict those persons that he never knew or saw before.  Mr. Gedney bid Alden to confess, and give glory to God.  Alden said he hoped he should give glory to God, and hoped he should never gratify the Devil:  but appealed to all that ever knew him, if they ever suspected him to be such a person; and challenged any one that could bring in any thing on their own knowledge, that might give suspicion of his being such an one.  Mr. Gedney said he had known Alden many years, and had been at sea with him, and always looked upon him to be an honest man; but now he saw cause to alter his judgment.  Alden answered, he was sorry for that, but he hoped God would clear up his innocency, that he would recall that judgment again; and added, that he hoped that he should, with Job, maintain his integrity till he died.  They bid Alden look upon the accusers, which he did, and then they fell down.  Alden asked Mr. Gedney what reason there could be given why Alden’s looking upon him