21st July, 1692. Before Major Gidney, Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Corwin and Capt. Higginson.
Q. Goody Foster! you remember we have
three times spoken with you, and do you now remember what you then
confessed to us? - You have been engaged in very great wickedness,
and some have been left to hardness of heart to deny; but it seems
that God will give you more favour than others, inasmuch as you
relent. But your daughter here hath confessed some things that you
did not tell us of. Your daughter was with you and Goody Carrier,
when you did ride upon the stick.
A. I did not know it.
Q. How long have you known your daughter
to be engaged?
A. I cannot tell, nor have I any knowledge of it at all.
Q. Did you see your daughter at the
meeting?
A. No.
Q. Your daughter said she was at the
witches meeting, and that you yourself stood at a distance off and
did not partake at that meeting; and you said so also; give us a
relation from the beginning until now.
A. I know none of their names that were there, but only Goody
Carrier.
Q. Would you know their faces if you saw
them?
A. I cannot tell.
Q. Where there not two companies in the
field at the same time?
A. I remember no more.
Q. Mary Warren, one of the afflicted,
said that Goody Carrier's shape told her, that Goody Foster had made
her daughter a witch. - Do not you acknowledge that you did so about
13 years ago?
A. No, and I know no more of my daughter's being a witch than what
day I shall die upon.
Q. Are you willing your daughter should
make a full and free confession?
A. Yes.
Q Are you willing to do so too?
A. Yes.
Q. You cannot expect peace of conscience without a free confession.
A. If I knew any thing more I would speak it to the utmost.
-- Goody Lacey, the daughter, called in, began thus; Oh! mother! how do you do? We have left Christ, and the devil hath gat hold of us. How shall I get rid of this evil one? I desire God to break my rocky heart that I may get the victory this time.
Q. Goody Foster! you cannot get rid of
this snare, your heart and mouth is not open.
A. I did not see the devil, I was praying to the Lord.
Q. What Lord?
A. To God.
Q. What God do witches pray to?
A. I cannot tell, the Lord help me.
Q. Goody Lacey! had you no discourse
with your mother when riding?
A. No, I think I had not a word.
Q. Who rid foremost on that stick to the
village?
A. I suppose my mother
--Goody Foster said, that Goody Carrier was foremost—
Q. Goody Lacey! how many years ago since
they were baptized?
A. Three or four years ago, I suppose.
Q. Who baptized them?
A. The old serpent.
Q. How did he do it?
A. He dipped their heads in the water, saying, they were his, and
that he had power over them.
Q. Where was this?
A. At Fall's River.
Q. How many were baptized that day?
A. Some of the chief; I think they were six baptized.
Q. Name them.
A. I think they were of the higher powers--Mary Lacey, the
granddaughter was brought in, and Mary Warren fell into a violent
fit.
Q. How dare you come in here, and bring
the devil with you to afflict these poor creatures?
--Lacey laid her hand on Warren's arm, and she recovered from her
fit.
Q. You are here accused of practicing
witchcraft upon Goody Ballard; which way do you do it?
A. I cannot tell. Where is my mother that made me a witch, and I knew
it not?
Q. Can you look upon that maid, Mary
Warren, and not hurt her? Look upon her in a friendly way.
--She, trying to do so, struck her down with her eyes.
Q. Do you acknowldge now you are a
witch?
A. Yes.
Q. How long have you been a witch?
A. Not above a week.
Q. Did the devil appear to you?
A. Yes.
Q. In what shape?
A. In the shape of a horse.
Q. What did he say to you?
A. He [b]id me not to be afraid of any thing, and he would
not bring me out, but he has proved a liar from the
beginning.
Q. When was this?
A. I know not; above a week.
Q. Did you set your hand to the
book?
A. No.
Q. Did he bid you worship him?
A. Yes, he bid me also afflict persons.
--You are now in the way to obtain mercy if you will confess and
repent. She said, the Lord help me.
Q. Do not you desire to be saved by
Christ?
A. Yes
--Then you must confess freely what you know in this matter. She then
proceeded. --
I was in bed and the devil came to me and bid me obey him and I
should want for nothing, and he would not bring me out.
Q. But how long ago?
A. A little more than a year.
Q. Was that the first time?
A. Yes.
Q. How long was you gone from your
father when you run away?
A. Two days.
Q. Where had you your food?
A. At John Stone's.
Q. Did the devil appear to you then,
when you was abroad?
A. No, but he put such thoughts in my mind, as not to obey my
parents.
Q. Who did the devil bid you
afflict?
A. Timothy Swan. Richard Carrier comes often a nights and has me to
afflict persons.
Q. Where do ye go?
A. To Goody Ballard's sometimes.
Q. How many of you were there at a
time.
A. Richard Carrier and his mother, and my mother and grandmother.
--Upon reading over the confession so far, Goody Lacey, the mother,
owned this last particular.
Q. How many more witches are there in
andover?
A. I know no more, but Richard Carrier.