rstand, nor able to withstand, the mysterious delusions of the
powers of darkness, and prince of the air, but were, for want of
knowledge in ourselves, and better information from others,
prevailed with to take up with such evidence against the accused,
as, on further consideration, and better information, we justly
fear was insufficient for the touching the lives of any (Deut.
xvii. 6), whereby we fear we have been instrumental, with others,
though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon ourselves and this
people of the Lord the guilt of innocent blood; which sin, the Lord
saith in Scripture, he would not pardon (2 Kings, xxiv. 4), that
is, we suppose, in regard of his temporal judgments. We do,
therefore, signify to all in general (and to the surviving
sufferers in special) our deep sense of, and sorrow for, our
errors, in acting on such evidence to the condemning of any person;
and do hereby declare, that we justly fear that we were sadly
deluded and mistaken, for which we are much disquieted and
distressed in our minds, and do therefore humbly beg forgiveness,
first of God for Christ's sake, for this our error; and pray that
God would not impute the guilt of it to ourselves nor others; and
we also pray that we may be considered candidly and aright by the
living sufferers, as being then under the power of a strong and
general delusion, utterly unacquainted with, and not experienced
in, matters of that nature.

'We do heartily ask forgiveness of you all, whom we have justly
offended; and do declare, according to our present minds, we would
none of us do such things again on such grounds for the whole
world; praying you to accept of this in way of satisfaction for our
offence, and that you would bless the inheritance of the Lord, that
he may be entreated for the land.

'FOREMAN, THOMAS FISK, &C.'

To the reading of this paper Ralph Lucy made no reply save this, even
more gloomily than before:

'All their repentance will avail nothing to my Lois, nor will it bring
back her life.'

Then Captain Holdernesse spoke once more, and said that on the day of
the general fast, appointed to be held all through New England, when
the meeting-houses were crowded, an old, old man with white hair had
stood up in the place in which he was accustomed to worship, and had
handed up into the pulpit a written confession