Page:King Philip's war, and Witchcraft in New England (IA kingphilipswarwi00hutc).pdf/67

Rh and that it was not all the effect of fraud and imposture, proceeded from the reluctance in human nature to reject errors once imbibed. As the principal actors went off the stage, this opinion has gradually lessened; and perhaps it is owing to a respect to the memory of their immediate ancestors that many do not yet seem to be fully convinced.

There are a great number of persons who are willing to suppose the accusers to have been under bodily disorders which affected their imaginations. This is kind and charitable, but seems to be winking the truth out of sight. A little attention must force conviction that the whole was a scheme of fraud and imposture, begun by young girls who at first, perhaps, thought of nothing more than being pitied and indulged, and continued by adult persons, who were afraid of being accused themselves. The one and the other, rather than confess their fraud, suffered the lives of so many innocents to be taken away.

Define the meaning of the following words: