Pietas in patriam the life of His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt. late Captain…

And it happening, that some of the Accused coming to confess themselves Guilty, their Shapes were no more seen by any of the Afflicted, though the Confession had been kept never so Secret, but instead thereof the Accused themselves became in all Vexations just like the Afflicted; this yet more confirmed many in the Opinion, that had been taken up.

And another thing that quickened them yet more to Act upon it, was, That the Afflicted were frequently entertained with Apparitions of Chosts at the same Time, that the Spectres of the supposed Witches troubled them: Which Christs always cast the Beholders into far more Consternation than any of the Spectres; and when they exhibited themselves, they cried out ⟨p. 75⟩of being Murdered by the Witchcrafts, or other Violences of the Persons represented in the Spectres. Once or Twice, these Apparitions were seen by others at the very same time that they showed themselves to the afflicted, and seldom were they seen at all, but when something unusual, and suspicious, had attended the Death of the Party thus appearing.

And another thing that quickned them yet more to Act upon it, was, That the Afflicted were frequently entertained with Apparitions of Chosts at the same Time, that the Spectres of the supposed Witches troubled them: Which Christs always cast the Beholders into far more Consternation than any of the Spectres; and when they exhibited themselves, they cryed out ⟨p. 75⟩of being Murdered by the Witchcrafts, or other Violences of the Persons represented in the Spectres. Once or Twice, these Apparitions were seen by others at the very same time that they shew'd themselves to the afflicted, and seldom were they seen at all, but when something unusual, and suspicious, had attended the Death of the Party thus appearing.