Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/369

 The First Nezv England Wilck.

��353

��the testimony. We will only quote the evidence of Zecliaiiah Davis, who said. —

" I liaviiig offended Goody INIorse, my three calves fell a dancing and roarinoje, and were in such a condi- tion as I never saw a calf in before. A calf ran a roarino;e away soe that we gott him only with much adoe and putt iiim in ye harne, and we heard him roar severell times in ye nigiit. In ye morning I went to ye barne, and there he was, setting upon his tail like a dog. I never see no calf set after that manner before; and so he remained in these fits till he died."

The entry on the court record is as follows:

"Boston, May ye 30, 1G80: The Grand Jury presented Elizabeth, wife of William Morse. She was indicted by ye name of Elizalieth Morse for that she not having ye fear of God before her eyes, being instigated by the Divil, and had familiarity with the Divil contrary to ye peace of our sovereign lord, the King, his crown and dignity, the laws of God and of this jurisdiction. After the prisoner was att ye barr and pleaded not guil- ty, and put herself on ye country and God for trial. Ye evidences being produced were read and committed to ye jurv "

"Boston, May 21st of 1G80: Ye iurv brought in their verdict. They found Elizabeth Morse guilty accord- ing to indictment,

" May ye 27: — Then ye sentence of ye Governor, to v/it. Elizabeth Morse, you are to goe from hence to ye plaice from which you came, and thence to ye plaice of execution, and there to be hanged by ye neck till you be dead; and ye Lord have mercy on your Soul!

"June ye 1st: — Ye Governor and ye magistrates voted ye reprieving of Eliz. Morse, as attests

P^DWAKD Rawson, Secretary.

The unfortunate woman seems to

��have remained imprisoned until the meeting of the legislature. On the records of that body we find, —

"■ Ye Deputies on perusal of ye Acts of ye Hon. Court of Assistants relating to ye woman condemned for witchcraft doe not understand why execution of ye sentence given her by ye sd. court is not executed. Her repreeval seems to us to be beyond wliat ye law will allow, and doe there- foie judge meete to declare ourselves against it, etc. This Nov. 3d, IGSO. Wm. Tokkky, Clerk.

Then follows this entry: " Exceptions not consented to by ye magistrates.

EuwAiu) Rawson, Secretary.'"

Mrs. Morse continued in prison until May, 1681. On the 14th of that month her husband petitioned for her to " the honorable gen. court now sitting in Boston," begging to clere up ye truth." This petition recites a review of the testimony of seventeen persons who had testified against Goody Morse. On the 18th he peti- tioned " ye hon. Governor, deputy Governor, deputies and magistrates." In answer, a new hearing was grant- ed. The court record says, —

" Ye Deputyes judge meet to grant ye petitioner a hearing ye next sixth day, and that warrants go forth to all persons concerned from this court, then to appear in order to her further triall, our honored magistrates here- to consenting.

W>i. ToRREY, Clerk."

Again the magistrates were refrac- tory, for we find, —

"May twenty-fourth, 1G81:— Not consented to by ye magistrates.

Edward Rawson, Secretary."

No further trial followed. Mr. Morse did not rest in his efforts for the release of his wife. He called a council of the clergymen of the neigh-

�� �