IAL OF MARTHA CARRIER, AT THE

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT

AT SALEM, AUGUST 2. 1692.

I.

_Martha Carrier_ was Indicted for the bewitching certain Persons,
according to the Form usual in such Cases, pleading _Not Guilty_, to her
Indictment; there were first brought in a considerable number of the
bewitched Persons; who not only made the Court sensible of an horrid
Witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it was _Martha
Carrier_, or her Shape, that grievously tormented them, by Biting,
Pricking, Pinching and Choaking of them. It was further deposed, That
while this _Carrier_ was on her Examination, before the Magistrates, the
Poor People were so tortured that every one expected their Death upon
the very spot, but that upon the binding of _Carrier_ they were eased.
Moreover the Look of _Carrier_ then laid the Afflicted People for dead;
and her Touch, if her Eye at the same time were off them, raised them
again: Which Things were also now seen upon her Tryal. And it was
testified, That upon the mention of some having their Necks twisted
almost round, by the Shape of this _Carrier_, she replyed, _Its no
matter though their Necks had been twisted quite off._

II. Before the Trial of this Prisoner, several of her own Children had
frankly and fully confessed, not only that they were Witches themselves,
but that this their Mother had made them so. This Confession they made
with great Shews of Repentance, and with much Demonstration of Truth.
They related Place, Time, Occasion; they gave an account of Journeys,
Meetings and Mischiefs by them performed, and were very credible in what
they said. Nevertheless, this Evidence was not produced against the
Prisoner at the Bar, inasmuch as there was other Evidence enough to
proceed upon.

III. _Benjamin Abbot_ gave his Testimony, That last March was a
twelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying out
some Land, near her Husband's: Her Expressions in this Anger, were,
_That she would stick as close to +Abbot+ as the Bark stuck to the Tree;
and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an End, so as
Doctor +Prescot+ should never cure him._ These Words were heard by
others besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would hold
his Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his Name
was +Abbot+._ Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in his
Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side,