being sent to fray away the thieves by night, left the thieves and fell to barking at true men walking in the day, then mine innocency may appear. I wot not that I should be brought to this strait when I was first buffeted by these slanders and sinister surmises, but regarded the reports as some wasps' nests, to buzz about mine ears, wherein I was thankful that it was no worse. And now as touching this matter whereof I am accused, as I am innocent before God, so is thy handmaiden verily not guilty before men. And so I would admonish the court to beware of pride in their own fantástical opinions as touching this matter of witchcraft. I thank God that I have been instructed to read the Scriptures in mine own mother tongue, and I fear you will make God's word a railing and a taunting-stock to a wicked and perverse generation. For where God's blessed truth speaketh of witches, it meaneth no such mean sort of witches as ye wot of. Beware, then, of the Scriptures, how you add thereunto what is not written, lest ye encounter the terrible threatenings of the prophets, and the curses of God's own mouth. And so with these few admonitions, I am not guilty."

Saying this, she sank back into her seat, reclining partly on the bosom of her father, who had borne her into the meeting-house where the court was held upon his arm, and sat watching every word and every motion with the tenderest solicitude. The habitual severity of the old Puritan's features were not easily softened; but on this occasion the

big tear was occasionally observed to start and glisten in his eye, although he repeatedly dashed the intruder away, as if determined to conceal from the public gaze the emotions of his bursting heart. Still, had old Mr. Disborough entertained the least suspicion of his daughter's guilt, such was the strength of his virtue, that he would have spurned her from him in an instant. His bosom was warm with a parent's affection; but there was at the same time burning within it a purer and a holier flame of love, for an object seen only by the eye of faith, and in comparison of which all objects of mere earthly attachment were as nothing. But the wretched parent knew well the virtues, and the excellence of his daughter. His wife had been early taken from him, and Mercy was doubly endeared to him by the sweet remembrance which her likeness to her deceased parent daily awakened. So frequently had the old man had occasion to exclaim, in the words of King Lemuel's mother"many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all," that now in the hour of her tribulation, however dark were the circumstances made to appear against her, every feeling of distrust was repelled ere it had obtruded upon his mind.

There was likewise another spectator of the trying scene, who was far from being a disinterested one-the reader anticipates the name of David Salisbury. He had been assiduous in his attentions to his intended bride during her imprisonment, and had laboured with all the ardour and

devotion of which a sincere and generous lover is capable, to mitigate her sufferings, animate her hopes, and arouse to cheerfulness her sometimes drooping spirits. Indeed, although he had grown up, as we have seen, a believer in the prevailing prejudices and superstitions, yet the very fact of the foul charge being preferred against the adored object of his affections, had gone far to shake his belief, if not entirely to eradicate it.

As the trial proceeded, witness after witness was introduced, and all the facts which appear in the preceding pages of this narration, together with many more which we have not space to insert, were explicitly sworn to. During the whole trial, however, the maiden interposed neither question nor objection, but sat reclining upon her parent until she heard the name of Deacon Goodspeed called. Had she been pierced by a sharp arrow, or stung by a serpent, she could not have been more suddenly startled from the revery into which she seemed to have fallen. As he approached to take the oath, she exclaimed with vehemence,“O full of all subtlety and all mischief, and crafty as thy master who beguiled the mother of all living, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord! Dost thou dream therein of a good intent in these matters ? or rather, for thy hypocrisy and deceit, thou painted sepulchre, is it not one wherein thy conscience will ever bear the witness of God's threatened wrath?"

The witness was unembarrassed by the rebuke, however, and after dispelling a transient, though malicious smile of exultation, which for an instant played across his features as his dull eye stole a glance at the situation into which he had brought his victim, he proceeded with his testimony. Several other witnesses were subsequently examined, including the minister, whereupon the case was closed, so far as written or oral testimony could be adduced. But there yet remained one further test, whereby all doubt must inevitably be removed from even the most incredulous and stiff-necked of the congregation-this test was the watery ordeal.

As Goody Clawson was poor, and without friends, excepting the compassionate Mercy, who was not now in a situation to render any assistance, her case was very quickly despatched. The same testimony, in truth, was equally relevant to both cases; and in order to save time, it was determined that they should both be subjected to the watery trial together. An early hour of the following morning was assigned for the experiment, wherein it was believed Heaven itself would, by the result, pronounce upon the innocence or the guilt of the parties; and the proper officers were directed to execute this important part of the public duty.

CHAPTER VII.

Oh you blessed ministers above,

Keep me in patience; and with ripened time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapped up

In countenance.-SHAKSPEARE.

Their ordeal laws they used in doubtful cases, when clear proofs were wanted.-HAKEWILL.

Most of the intervening night was spent by Mercy, with her father and her betrothed, in deep and fervent prayer. Deacon Goodspeed sat up late with the minister, mourning over the wickedness of the times, when so many feet were straying from the paths of Zion, and sympathizing with his spiritual teacher, that such a lovely lamb of his flock as Mercy should have gone so widely astray. But, said he, we are commanded, even if the right eye offend, to pluck it out, and cast it into the

FIRE.

Very few of the good people of Menunkatuck slept that night-their minds being wholly absorbed in the interesting spectacle of the morrow. Morning at length came; and the sun had no sooner burnished the tree-tops as if they had been dipt in molten gold, than the officers, punctual to their orders, appeared at the doors of the temporary prison, to execute their stern commands. The

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