from a
disease similar to that of the Goodwins, were pronounced to be
preternaturally afflicted. Two miserable Indians, man and wife,
servants in the family, who indiscreetly attempted to cure the
witch-patients by means of some charm or drug, were suspected
themselves as the guilty agents, and sent to execution. The
physicians, who seem to have been entirely ignorant of the origin
of these attacks, and as credulous as the unprofessional world,
added fresh testimony to the reality of 'possession.'[157] At
first, persons of the lower classes and those who, on account of
their ill-repute, would be easily recognised to be diabolic
agents, were alone incriminated. But as the excitement increased
others of higher rank were pointed out. A _black_ man was
introduced on the stage in the form of an Indian of terrible
aspect and portentous dimensions, who had threatened the
christianising colonists with extermination for intruding their
faith upon the reluctant heathen. In May 1692, a new governor,
Sir William Phipps, arrived with a new charter (the old one
had been suspended) from England; this official, far from
discouraging the existing prejudices, urged the local authorities
on to greater extravagance. The examinations were conducted in
the ordinary and most approved manner, the Lord's Prayer and the
secret marks being the infallible tests. Towards the end of May
two women, Bridget Bishop and Susannah Martin, were hanged.

[157] A phenomenon of apparently the same sort as that which
was of such frequent occurrence in the Middle Age and in the
seventeenth century, is said to have been lately occupying
considerable attention in the South of France. The _Courrier
des Alpes_ narrates an extraordinary scene in one of the
churches in the _Commune_ of Morzine, among the women, on
occasion of the visitation of the bishop of the district. It
seems that the malady in question attacks, for the most
part, the female population, and the patients are
confidently styled, and asserted to be, _possessed_. It
'produces all the effects of madness, without having its
character,' and is said to baffle all the resources of
medical science, which is ignorant of its nature. There had
been an intermission of the convulsions for some time, but
they have now reappeared with greater violence than
ever.--_The Times_ newspaper, June 6, 1864.

On June 2, a formal commission sat, before which the most
ridiculous evidenc