Oral Examination of Bridget Bishop, 1692
From Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the Original Documents, vol. I. Roxbury, Mass.: Privately Printed for W. Elliot Woodward, 1864. 140-142.
Examination of Bridget Bishop No. I.
The Examination of Bridget Bishop at Salem Village 19. Apr. 1692.
By John Hathorn & Jonath : Corwin Esq rs.
As soon as she came near all fell into fits.
Bridget Bishop you are now brought before Authority to give acco of what witchcrafts you are conversant in
I take all this people (turning her head and eyes about) to witness that I am clear.
Hath this woman hurt you speaking to ye afflicted.
Eliz. Hubbard, Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewes affirmed that she had hurt them.
You are here accused by 4 or 5 for hurting them, what do you say to it?
I never saw these persons before, nor I never was in this place before.
Mary Walcot said that her brother Jonathan stroke her appearance and she saw that he had tore her coat in striking, and she heard it tare.
Upon some search in the Couty a rent that seems to answer what was alledged was found.
They say you bewitcht your first husband to death
It it please your worship I know nothing of it.
--She shake her head and the afflicted were tortured.
--The like again upon the motion of her head.
Sam: Braybrook affirmed that she told him to day that she had been accounted a witch these ö 10 years, but she was no witch the Devil cannot hurt her
I am no witch
Why if you have not wrote in the book, yet tell me how far you have gone?
I have no familiarity with the devil.
How is it then, that your appearance doth hurt these?
I am innocent.
Why you seem to act witchcraft before us by the motion of your body which seems to have influence upon the afflicted.
I know nothing of it. I am innocent to a witch I know not what a witch is.
How do you know then that you are not a witch
I do not know what you say.
How can you know, you are no witch, and yet not know what a witch is.
I am clear : if I were any such person you should know it.
You may threaten, butt you can do no more than you are permitted.
I am innocent of a witch.
What do you say of those murders you are charged with?
I hope, I am not guilty of murder,
Then she turned up her eyes, and the eyes of the afflicted were turned up :
It may be you do not know, that any have confessed to day, who have been examined before you, that they are witches.
No. I know nothing of it.
John Hutchinson and John Lewis in open Court affirmed that they had told her.
Why look you, you are taken now in a flat lye.
I did not hear them.
Note Sam : Gold saith that after this examination he aske sd Bridget Byshop if she were not troubled to see the afflicted persons so tormented, said Byshop answered no she was not troubled for them : Then he askt her whether she thought they were bewitcht she said she could not tell what to think about them. Will Good and John Buxton junr was by and he supposeth they heard her also.
Mr Saml Parris being desired to take in wrighting the Examination of Bridget Bishop, hath delivered it as aforesaid. And upon hearing ye same and seeing what wee did then see togather with the charge of the afflicted persons then present; Wee committed said Bridget Olliver
John Hathorne.