Hutchinson says, that, “at the first trial, there was no colony or provincial law against witchcraft in force.  The statute of James the First must therefore have been considered as in force in the province, witchcraft not being an offence at common law.  Before the adjournment, the old colony law, which makes witchcraft a capital offence, was revived with the other local laws, as they were called, and made a law of the province.”  The General Court, which thus revived the law making witchcraft a capital offence, met, June 8, two days before the execution of Bridget Bishop.  The proceedings that took place at Salem were thus assumed as a provincial matter, for which the immediate locality was not responsible, but the legislature, clergy, and people of the country at large.

The Court met again on Wednesday, the 29th of June; and, after trial, sentenced to death Sarah Good, Sarah Wildes, Elizabeth How, Susanna Martin, and Rebecca Nurse, who were all executed on the 19th of July.

Calef says, that, at the trial of Sarah Good,—­

“One of the afflicted fell in a fit; and, after coming out of it, cried out of the prisoner for stabbing her in the breast with a knife, and that she had broken the knife in stabbing of her.  Accordingly, a piece of the blade of a knife was found about her.  Immediately, information being given to the Court, a young man was called, who produced a haft and part of the blade, which the Court, having viewed and compared, saw it to be the same; and, upon inquiry, the young man affirmed that yesterday he happened to break that knife, and that he cast away the upper part,—­this afflicted person being then present.  The young man was dismissed and she was bidden by the Court not to tell lies; and was improved after (as she had been before) to give evidence against the prisoners.”

Hutchinson, in relating this circumstance, refers to a case tried before Sir Matthew Hale, when a similar kind of falsehood was proved against an “afflicted” witness; notwithstanding which he says the person on trial was found guilty, “and the judge and all the court were fully satisfied with the verdict.”

Sarah Good appears to have been an unfortunate woman, having been subject to poverty, and consequent sadness and melancholy.  But she was not wholly broken in spirit.  Mr. Noyes, at the time of her execution, urged her very strenuously to confess.  Among other things, he told her “she was a witch, and that she knew she was a witch.”  She was conscious of her innocence, and felt that she was oppressed, outraged, trampled upon, and about to be murdered, under the forms of law; and her indignation was roused against her persecutors.  She could not bear in silence the cruel aspersion; and, although she was just about to be launched into eternity, the torrent of her feelings could not be restrained, but burst upon the head of him who uttered the false accusation.  “You are a liar,” said she.  “I