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

In fine, the Country was in a dreadful Ferment, and wise Men foresaw a long Train of Dismal, and Bloody Consequences. Hereupon they first advised, that the Afflicted might be kept asunder, in the closest Privacy; and one particular Person, (whom I have cause to know) in pursuance of this Advice, offered himself singly to provide Accommodations for any six of them, that so the Success of more than ordinary Prayer with Fasting might with Patience, be experienced, before any other Courses were taken.

And Sir William Phips arriving to his Government, after this ensnaring horrible Storm was begun, did consult the neighbouring Ministers of the Province, who made unto His Excellency and the Council a return, (drawn up, at their desire, by Mr. Mather the Younger as I have been informed) wherein they declared.

And Sir William Phips arriving to his Government, after this ensnaring horrible Storm was begun, did consult the neighbouring Ministers of the Province, who made unto His Excellency and the Council a return, (drawn up, at their desire, by Mr. Mather the Younger as I have been inform'd) wherein they declared.

We Judge, That in the Prosecution of These and all such Witchcrafts, there is need of a very Critical and Exquisite Caution. Lest, by too much Credulity, for things received only upon the Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train of miserable Consequences, and Satan get an Advantage over us; for we should not be Ignorant of his Devices. As in complaints upon Witchcrafts, there may be Matters of Enquiry, which do not amount unto Matters of Presumption; and there may be Matters of Presumption, which yet may not be reckoned Matters of Conviction, so 'tis necessary, that all Proceedings thereabout, be managed with an excee•••g Tenderness towards those that may be complained of; especially if they have been Persons formerly of an unblemished Reputation. When the first Enquiry is made into the Circumstances of such as may lie under any just Suspicion of Witchcrafts, we could wish, that there may be admitted as little as is possible of such Noise, Company, and Openness, as may too hastily expose them that are Examined; and that there may nothing be used as a Test for the Trial of the Suspected, the lawfulness whereof may be doubted among the People of God: But that the Directions given by such judicious Writers as Perkins and Bernard, be consulted in such a Case. Presumptions, whereupon Persons may be committed, and much more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be condemned, as guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly