July 4, 1692.
I Thomas Fisk, the Subscriber hereof, being one of them that were of the Jury the last week at Salem-Court,
upon the Tryal of Rebecka Nurse, etc., being desired by some of the Relations
to give a Reason why the Jury brought her in Guilty, after her Verdict not Guilty;
I do hereby give my Reasons to be as follows, viz.
When the Verdict not Guilty was, the honoured Court was pleased to object
against it, saying to them, that they think they let slip the words, which the
Prisoner at the Bar spake against her self, which were spoken in reply to
Goodwife Hobbs and her Daughter, who had been faulty in setting their hands to
the Devils Book, as they have confessed formerly; the words were “What,
do these persons
give in Evidence against me now, they used to come among us.”
After the honoured Court had manifested their dissatisfaction of the Verdict,
several of the Jury declared themselves desirous to go out again, and thereupon
the honoured Court gave leave; but when we came to consider of the Case, I
could not tell how to take her words, as an Evidence against her, till she had a
further opportunity to put her Sense upon them, if she would take it; and then
going into Court, I mentioned the words aforesaid, which by one of the Court
were affirmed to have been spoken by her, she being then at the Bar, but made
no reply, nor interpretation of them; whereupon these words were to me a
principal Evidence against her.
