Butthoughprogresswasmade，itwasslow。In1664，thevenerableSirMatthewHalecondemnedtwowomen，namedAmyDunyandRoseCullender，tothestakeatSt。Edmondsbury，uponevidencethemostridiculous。Thesetwooldwomen，whoseuglinessgavetheirneighboursthefirstideathattheywerewitches，wenttoashoptopurchaseherrings，andwererefused。Indignantattheprejudiceagainstthem，theywerenotsparingoftheirabuse。Shortlyafterward，thedaughteroftheherring-dealerfellsick，andacrywasraisedthatshewasbewitchedbytheoldwomenwhohadbeenrefusedtheherrings。Thisgirlwassubjecttoepilepticfits。TodiscovertheguiltofAmyDunyandRoseCullender，thegirl’seyeswereblindedcloselywithashawl，andthewitcheswerecommandedtotouchher。Theydidso，andshewasimmediatelyseizedwithafit。Uponthisevidencetheyweresenttoprison。Thegirlwasafterwardstouchedbyanindifferentperson，andtheforceofherimaginationwassogreat，that，thinkingitwasagainthewitches，shefelldowninaviolentfitasbefore。This，however，wasnotreceivedinfavouroftheaccused。
　　Thefollowingextract，fromthepublishedreportsofthetrial，willshowthesortofevidencewhichwasreceived:——
　　“SamuelPacey，ofLeystoff，agood，soberman，beingsworn，saidthat，onThursdaythe10thofOctoberlast，hisyoungerdaughter，Deborah，aboutnineyearsold，wassuddenlytakensolamethatshecouldnotstandonherlegs，andsocontinuedtillthe17thofthesamemonth，whenthechilddesiredtobecarriedtoabankontheeastsideofthehouse，lookingtowardsthesea；and，whileshewassittingthere，AmyDunycametothisexaminant’shousetobuysomeherrings，butwasdenied。Thenshecametwicemore，but，beingasoftendenied，shewentawaydiscontentedandgrumbling。Atthisinstantoftime，thechildwastakenwithterriblefits，complainingofapaininherstomach，asifshewasprickedwithpins，shriekingoutwithavoicelikeawhelp，andthuscontinuedtillthe30thofthesamemonth。Thisexaminantfurthersaith，thatAmyDuny，havinglonghadthereputationofawitch，andhischildhaving，intheintervalsofherfits，constantlycriedoutonher，asthecauseofherdisorder，saying，thatthesaidAmydidappeartoherandfrighther，hehimselfdidsuspectthesaidAmytobeawitch，andchargedherwithbeingthecauseofhischild’sillness，andsetherinthestocks。Twodaysafter，hisdaughterElizabethwastakenwithsuchstrangefits，thattheycouldnotforceopenhermouthwithoutatap；andtheyoungerchildbeinginthesamecondition，theyusedtoherthesameremedy。
　　BothchildrengrievouslycomplainedthatAmyDunyandanotherwoman，whosehabitandlookstheydescribed，didappeartothem，andtormentthem，andwouldcryout，’TherestandsAmyDuny！TherestandsRoseCullender！’theotherpersonwhoafflictedthem。Theirfitswerenotalike。Sometimestheywerelameontherightside；sometimesontheleft；andsometimessosore，thattheycouldnotbeartobetouched。Sometimestheywereperfectlywellinotherrespects，buttheycouldnothear；atothertimes，theycouldnotsee。Sometimestheylosttheirspeechforone，two，andonceforeight，daystogether。Attimestheyhadswooningfits，and，whentheycouldspeak，weretakenwithafitofcoughing，andvomitedphlegmandcrookedpins；andonceagreattwopennynail，withabovefortypins；whichnailhe，theexaminant，sawvomitedup，withmanyofthepins。Thenailandpinswereproducedinthecourt。Thusthechildrencontinuedfortwomonths，duringwhichtimetheexaminantoftenmadethemreadintheNewTestament，andobserved，whentheycametothewordsLordJesus，orChrist，theycouldnotpronouncethem，butfellintoafit。
　　WhentheycametothewordSatan，ordevil，theywouldpoint，andsay，’Thisbites，butmakesmespeakrightwell。’Findinghischildrenthustormentedwithouthopesofrecovery，hesentthemtohissister，MargaretArnold，atYarmouth，beingwillingtotrywhetherchangeofairwouldhelpthem。
　　“MargaretArnoldwasthenextwitness。Beingsworn，shesaid，thataboutthe30thofNovember，ElizabethandDeborahPaceycametoherhouse，withherbrother，whotoldherwhathadhappened，andthathethoughthischildrenbewitched。She，thisexaminant，didnotmuchregardit，supposingthechildrenhadplayedtricks，andputthepinsintotheirmouthsthemselves。She，therefore，tookallthepinsfromtheirclothes，sewingthemwiththreadinsteadofpinningthem。But，notwithstanding，theyraised，attimes，atleastthirtypins，inherpresence，andhadterriblefits；inwhichfitstheywouldcryoutuponAmyDunyandRoseCullender，saying，thattheysawthemandheardthemthreatening，asbefore；thattheysawthings，likemice，runningaboutthehouse；andoneofthemcatchedone，andthrewitintothefire，whichmadeanoise，likearat。Anothertimetheyoungerchild，beingoutofdoors，athinglikeabeewouldhaveforceditselfintohermouth，atwhichthechildranscreamingintothehouse，andbeforethisexaminantcouldcomeather，fellintoafit，andvomitedatwopennynail，withabroadhead。Afterthat，thisexaminantaskedthechildhowshecamebythisnail，whensheanswered，’Thebeebroughtthenail，andforceditintomymouth。’Atothertimes，theeldestchildtoldthisexaminantthatshesawfliesbringhercrookedpins。
　　Shewouldthenfallintoafit，andvomitsuchpins。Onetimethesaidchildsaidshesawamouse，andcreptunderthetabletolookforit；
　　andafterwards，thechildseemedtoputsomethingintoherapron，saying，’Shehadcaughtit。’Shethenrantothefire，andthrewitin，onwhichtheredidappeartothisexaminantsomethinglikeaflashofgunpowder，althoughshedoesownshesawnothinginthechild’shand。Oncethechild，beingspeechless，butotherwiseverysensible，ranupanddownthehouse，crying，’Hush！hush！’asifshehadseenpoultry；butthisexaminantsawnothing。Atlastthechildcatchedatsomething，andthrewitintothefire。Afterwards，whenthechildcouldspeak，thisexaminantaskedherwhatshesawatthetime？Sheanswered，thatshesawaduck。Anothertimetheyoungestchildsaid，afterafit，thatAmyDunyhadbeenwithher，andtemptedhertodrownherself，orcutherthroat，orotherwisedestroyherself。AnothertimetheybothcriedoutuponAmyDunyandRoseCullender，saying，’Whydon’tyoucomeyourselves？Whydoyousendyourimpstotormentus？’“
　　ThecelebratedSirThomasBrown，theauthorof“VulgarErrors，“
　　wasalsoexaminedasawitnessuponthetrial。Beingdesiredtogivehisopinionofthethreepersonsincourt，hesaid，hewasclearlyofopinionthattheywerebewitched。Hesaid，therehadlatelybeenadiscoveryofwitchesinDenmark，whousedthesamewayoftormentingpersons，byconveyingcrookedpins，needles，andnailsintotheirbodies。Thathethought，insuchcases，thedevilacteduponhumanbodiesbynaturalmeans，namely，byexcitingandstirringupthesuperabundanthumours，hedidafflicttheminamoresurprisingmannerbythesamediseasestheirbodieswereusuallysubjectto；thatthesefitsmightbenatural，onlyraisedtoagreatdegreebythesubtletyofthedevil，co-operatingwiththemaliceofthesewitches。
　　Theevidencebeingconcluded，SirMatthewHaleaddressedthejury。
　　Hesaid，hewouldwaiverepeatingtheevidence，topreventanymistake，andtoldthejury，thereweretwothingstheyhadtoinquireinto。First，Whetherornotthesechildrenwerebewitched；secondly，Whetherthesewomendidbewitchthem。Hesaid，hedidnotintheleastdoubttherewerewitches；first，BecausetheScripturesaffirmedit；
　　secondly，Becausethewisdomofallnations，particularlyourown，hadprovidedlawsagainstwitchcraft，whichimpliedtheirbeliefofsuchacrime。Hedesiredthemstrictlytoobservetheevidence，andbeggedofGodtodirecttheirheartsintheweightyconcerntheyhadinhand，since，tocondemntheinnocentandlettheguiltygofree，arebothanabominationtotheLord。
　　Thejurythenretired，and，inabouthalfanhour，returnedaverdictofguiltyuponalltheindictments，beingthirteeninnumber。
　　ThenextmorningthechildrencamewiththeirfathertothelodgingsofSirMatthewHale，verywell，andquiterestoredtotheirusualhealth。Mr。Pacey，beingaskedatwhattimetheirhealthbegantoimprove，replied，thattheywerequitewellinhalfanhouraftertheconvictionoftheprisoners。
　　Manyattemptsweremadetoinducetheunfortunatewomentoconfesstheirguilt；butinvain，andtheywerebothhanged。
　　EleventrialswereinstitutedbeforeChief-JusticeHoltforwitchcraftbetweentheyears1694and1701。Theevidencewasoftheusualcharacter；butHoltappealedsosuccessfullyineachcasetothecommonsenseofthejury，thattheywereeveryoneacquitted。A
　　generalfeelingseemedtopervadethecountrythatbloodenoughhadbeenshedupontheseabsurdcharges。Nowandthen，theflameofpersecutionburntupinaremotedistrict；buttheseinstanceswerenolongerlookeduponasmeremattersofcourse。Theyappear，onthecontrary，tohaveexcitedmuchattention；asureproof，ifnootherweretobeobtained，thattheywerebecomingunfrequent。
　　Acaseofwitchcraftwastriedin1711，beforeLordChiefJusticePowell；inwhich，however，thejurypersistedinaverdictofguilty，thoughtheevidencewasoftheusualabsurdandcontradictorycharacter，andtheenlightenedjudgedidallinhispowertobringthemtoarightconclusion。TheaccusedpersonwasoneJaneWenham，betterknownastheWitchofWalkerne；andthepersonswhowereallegedtohavesufferedfromherwitchcraftweretwoyoungwomen，namedThorneandStreet。Awitness，namedMr。ArthurChauncy，deposed，thathehadseenAnnThorneinseveralofherfits，andthatshealwaysrecovereduponprayersbeingsaid，orifJaneWenhamcametoher。Herelated，thathehadprickedtheprisonerseveraltimesinthearms，butcouldneverfetchanybloodfromher；thathehadseenhervomitpins，whentherewerenoneinherclothesorwithinherreach；
　　andthathehadpreservedseveralofthem，whichhewasreadytoproduce。Thejudge，however，toldhimthatwasneedless，ashesupposedtheywerecrookedpins。
　　Mr。FrancisBragge，anotherwitness，deposed，thatstrange“cakes“
　　ofbewitchedfeathershavingbeentakenfromAnnThorne’spillow，hewasanxioustoseethem。Hewentintoaroomwheresomeofthesefeatherswere，andtooktwoofthecakes，andcomparedthemtogether。
　　Theywerebothofacircularfigure，somethinglargerthanacrownpiece；andheobservedthatthesmallfeatherswereplacedinaniceandcuriousorder，atequaldistancesfromeachother，makingsomanyradiiofthecircle，inthecentreofwhichthequillendsofthefeathersmet。Hecountedthenumberofthesefeathers，andfoundthemtobeexactlythirty-twoineachcake。Heafterwardsendeavouredtopullofftwoorthreeofthem，andobservedthattheywereallfastenedtogetherbyasortofviscousmatter，whichwouldstretchsevenoreighttimesinathreadbeforeitbroke。Havingtakenoffseveralofthesefeathers，heremovedtheviscousmatterwithhisfingers，andfoundunderit，inthecentre，someshorthairs，blackandgrey，mattedtogether，whichheverilybelievedtobecat’shair。
　　Healsosaid，thatJaneWenhamconfessedtohimthatshehadbewitchedthepillow，andhadpractisedwitchcraftforsixteenyears。
　　Thejudgeinterruptedthewitnessatthisstage，andsaid，heshouldverymuchliketoseeanenchantedfeather，andseemedtowonderwhenhewastoldthatnoneofthesestrangecakeshadbeenpreserved。HisLordshipaskedthewitnesswhyhedidnotkeeponeortwoofthem，andwasinformedthattheyhadallbeenburnt，inordertorelievethebewitchedpersonofthepainsshesuffered，whichcouldnotbesowelleffectedbyanyothermeans。