After her Condemnation she was by one of the Ministers of Salem
excommunicated;[267] yet the Governour saw cause to grant a Reprieve, which when
known (and some say immediately upon granting) the Accusers renewed their
dismal out-cries against her, insomuch that the Governour was by some Salem
Gentleman prevailed with to recall the Reprieve, and she was Executed with the
rest.
The Testimonials of her Christian behaviour, both in the course of her Life,
and at her Death, and her extraordinary care in educating her Children, and
setting them good Examples, etc., under the hands of so many, are so numerous,
that for brevity they are here omitted.[268]
It was at the Tryal of these that one of the Accusers cried out publickly of
Mr. Willard Minister in Boston,[269] as afflicting of her; she was sent out of the
Court, and it was told about she was mistaken in the person.
August 5. The Court again sitting, six more
were tried on the same Account, viz. Mr. George
Burroughs, sometime minister of Wells, John Procter, and Elizabeth Procter his
Wife, with John Willard of Salem-Village, George Jacobs Senior, of Salem, and
Martha Carryer of Andover;[270] these were all brought in Guilty and Condemned;
and were all Executed Aug. 19, except Procter's Wife, who pleaded
Pregnancy.[271]
Mr. Burroughs was carried in a Cart with the others, through the streets of
Salem to Execution; when he was upon the Ladder, he made a Speech for the
clearing of his Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to
the Admiration of all present; his Prayer (which he concluded by repeating the
Lord's Prayer,) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and
such (at least seeming) fervency of Spirit, as was very affecting, and drew Tears
from many (so that it seemed to some, that the Spectators would hinder
the Execution). The accusers said the black Man stood and dictated to him; as
soon as he was turned off, Mr. Cotton Mather, being mounted upon a Horse,
addressed himself to the People, partly to declare, that he was no ordained
Minister, and partly to possess the People of his guilt; saying, That the Devil has
often been transformed into an Angel of Light; and this did somewhat appease the
People, and the Executions went on; when he was cut down, he was dragged by
the Halter to a Hole, or Grave, between the Rocks, about two foot deep, his Shirt
and Breeches being pulled off, and an old pair of Trousers of one Executed, put
on his lower parts, he was so put in, together with Willard and Carryer, one of
his Hands and his Chin, and a Foot of one [of] them being left
uncovered.
[272]
John Willard had been imployed to fetch in several that were accused; but
taking dissatisfaction from his being sent, to fetch up some that he had better
thoughts of, he declined the Service, and presently after he himself was accused
of the same Crime, and that with such vehemency, that they sent after him to
apprehend him; he had made his Escape as far as Nashawag,[273] about 40 Miles
from Salem; yet'tis said those Accusers did then presently tell the exact time,
saying, now Willard is taken.
John Procter and his Wife being in Prison, the Sheriff came to his House
and seized all the Goods, Provisions, and Cattle that he could come at, and sold
some of the Cattle at half price, and killed others, and put them up for the
West-Indies; threw out the Beer out of a Barrel, and carried away the Barrel;
emptied a Pot of Broath, and took away the Pot, and left nothing in the House for
the support of the Children: No part of the said Goods are known to be returned.
Procter earnestly requested Mr. Noyes to pray with and for him, but
it was wholly denied, because he would not own himself to be a Witch.
During his Imprisonment he sent the following Letter, in behalf of himself
and others.
Letter
Salem-Prison, July 23,
1692.
Mr. Mather, Mr.
Allen, Mr. Moody, Mr. Willard, and Mr. Bailey[274]
Reverend Gentlemen.
The innocency of our Case with the Enmity of our Accusers and our
Judges, and Jury, whom nothing but our Innocent Blood will serve their turn,
having Condemned us already before our Tryals, being so much incensed and
engaged against us by the Devil, makes us bold to Beg and Implore your
Favourable Assistance of this our Humble Petition to his Excellency, That if it
be possible our Innocent Blood may be spared, which undoubtedly otherwise will
be shed, if the Lord doth not mercifully step in. The Magistrates, Ministers,
Jewries,[275] and all the People in general, being so much inraged and incensed
against us by the Delusion of the Devil, which we can term no other, by reason
we know in our own Consciences, we are all Innocent Persons. Here are five
Persons who have lately
confessed themselves to be Witches, and do accuse some of us, of being along
with them at a Sacrament, since we were committed into close Prison, which we
know to be Lies. Two of the 5 are (Carriers Sons
[276]) Young-men, who would not
confess any thing till they tyed them Neck and Heels
[277] till the Blood was ready
to come out of their Noses, and 'tis credibly believed and reported this was the
occasion of making them confess that
[278] they never did, by reason they said one
had been a Witch a Month, and another five Weeks, and that their Mother had
made them so, who has been confined here this nine Weeks. My son William
Procter, when he was examin'd, because he would not confess that he was Guilty,
when he was Innocent, they tyed him Neck and Heels till the Blood gushed out
at his Nose, and would have kept him so 24 Hours, if one more Merciful than the
rest, had not taken pity on him, and caused him to be unbound. These actions are
very like the Popish Cruelties. They have already undone us in our Estates, and
that will not serve their turns, without our Innocent Bloods. If it cannot be
granted that we can have our
Trials at Boston, we humbly beg that you would endeavour to have these
Magistrates changed, and others in their rooms, begging also and beseeching you
would be pleased to be here, if not all, some of you at our Trials, hoping thereby
you may be the means of saving the shedding our Innocent Bloods, desiring your
Prayers to the Lord in our behalf, we rest your Poor Afflicted Servants,
