Centuries of June (15 page)

Those assembled argued softly amongst themselves until Mr. Hathorne called for order. “I have read the depositions against thee, Goodwife Corey, and heard the testimonies of the Innocents, and am most dissatisfied by your answers—”

“You have no proof against me but the words of the misguided,” she said. “I am no witch.”

“The magistrates find otherwise, and I beg you confess.”

“How might I confess to that which is not true? Which is baseless Gossip?”

“By my order, you are to be sent to Salem prison and remain there until you confess your sin of witchcraft and consort with the devil and to testify against all those who worship him.”

After she had been led away and the meetinghouse cleared, I took up my hat and cloak to make my way for home. Outside the door stood Mr. Corey with Alice Bonham, who did falsely say to me that she saw Mrs. Putnam place the iron pin in her own daughter’s cap, and she adamantly proclaimed the innocence of the accused. Mr. Corey, too, pleaded for my intercession, but the hour was late, and I had to hurry home for my tea.

Having come to the end of this account, I paused and looked to Alice for some signal to continue. She stood in the center of the bathroom and held out a washrag, revealing that it was ordinary terrycloth, flat as a flag, and containing no secret compartments or hidden pockets. With a theatrical flourish, she gathered the cloth at one end and proceeded to bunch it into her closed fist, and with a wave, she mimed some hocus-pocus and opened her hand to disclose the cloth now formed into a small tent. With two fingers, she lifted the point to uncover in her open palm a small, yellow bird that nodded its tiny head and spread its wings and tail feathers. This bird—some sort of housefinch—hopped to the faucet on the sink when she gently prompted it to freedom. Alice shook the washrag and another bird emerged from the folds, as if born from the petals of a large flower. In a quick, snapping motion, she raised her arms to a perpendicular position and from the sleeves flew two more finches, one of which landed on the old man’s silver hair. Smiling now, she reached to lift the hem of her red skirt, and a whole flock of birds escaped, a dozen or more, and the bright yellow flash of feathers filled the room. One perched on the shower curtain rod and began to sing. Two hung onto the toilet seat. Another pair scrabbled on the toothbrush holder. Alice held out one hand, and the birds converged upon it as if drawn by scent or seed, dancing the length of her arm, delicately nibbling at her fingernails and tasting the salt on her skin. With no warning, Alice suddenly dropped her limb, and they vanished as mysteriously as they
had arrived. My comrades burst into applause, but I was too stunned to move or speak.

“So are you a witch or just a magician?” Dolly asked.

Alice glowered at her and raised her auburn eyebrows for a split second, answering neither in the affirmative or negative, indicating only amusement at the question. She handed Jane the next batch of documents.

Salem Village
10 May 1692

Loving Sister
,

The jails of Salem are full of WITCHES
.

Half the village stands accused and Half must be afflicted, or so it seems. Mr. Bonham says that, in addition to those I have writ thee, there are two dozen more in the jail, and no one is spared. A beggar child, no more than four years, is the youngest, and the elders include Goodwife Corey and Goodwife Nurse, whom thou have met when last thee visited. No more devout Christian woman have I ever met. The affliction has spread from those who knew the Indian maid to Women of honour and distinction. Mrs. Ann Putnam and her young daughter swear against many, and Mr. Thomas Putnam has sent the legal complaints to the magistrates
.

We in the Village now look upon each Neighbour with a suspicious eye and are studied by our former Friends for any errancy. It is like living in a house made of Straw and waiting for the wind to blow or some stray ember burn down the whole and all. I am very afraid. What if those girls name me?

Sarah, I cannot speak of this to Mr. Bonham or tell my secrets to him, for did he know of my late dalliance with these girls he would beat me or send me home or, who knows, turn me over to
these Witch Hunters. I cannot say. Nor can I escape this place, but must bear all in silence and sanguinity
.

Your loving sister
,
Alice

Postscript. You said you might come for a visit and bring your little boy. Pray do, and soon
.

More passages followed from Mr. Bonham’s diary, as read by the old man.

1 M
AY

What madness infects us? So terrific the unceasing Stench of Hypocricy, one would think the clouds befoul the earth. I put Putnam behind this. May please God to bring relief from this plague of Mendacity. Though she says naught, Alice is afraid by so many ordered into jail, and rightly so, for those girls call out every one without discrimination.

25 M
AY

By my count, there are 60 in the jail. Poor Giles Corey joins his ancient wife, and Goodman Proctor and his Elizabeth, old Bridget Bishop, and too many to catalogue. Would the new Governour come and settle matters and be shewn the travesty of bearing of false witness. We are relieved that Alice’s sister arrives next week, so at the last, the poor thing can find some comfort and commiseration.

He stopped at that red flag and closed the book at Alice’s command. She extracted a letter for Dolly.

Casco Bay
1 June 1692

Dearest Alice
,

With a heavy heart, I write to say I cannot travel as planned, for our little William has come down with some ailment that turns him scarlet and wracks him with a dreadful cough. He burned with fever for three days, though the worse be over, but the physician says he is not fit to journey, and I am loath to leave him thus. Perhaps we shall see you later in the summer when he is mended, and I write in haste so as not to leave him too long unattended. Say a small prayer for his health, and I shall write again soon. I am so sorry to disappoint you, and only urge you stay resolute. All things must pass
.

Your loving sister
,
Sarah

“Did the boy get well?” Dolly asked. “Little William?”

The red-haired woman nodded and then turned to me to continue the story as Nicholas Noyes.

N
OTES AND
S
UNDRY
,
continued
Part, the Fifth

Bridget Bishop, accused of witchcraft by her husband and others, and accounted in testimony of several witnesses who swore whereto, was put to trial by Court of Oyer and Terminer, chief judge William Stoughton, our Deputy Governour, and examined by the women who found several excrescences or witch’s teats upon her body that hurt her not when lanced with a pin. Thus proved a witch she confessed that some “folks counted her a witch,” and did threaten Mr. Hathorne in saying, “If I were such a person, you should know it.” She was sentenced to death,
and on the 10th of June, she was hanged by the neck on Gallows Hill in front of many witnesses to God’s judgment upon her, and when at last she ceased to breathe, a clamor rose that demonstrated the will of all to have such Evil exterminated. Governour William Phipps, upon learning that some of the magistrates objected and that Mr. Saltonsall resigned as judge in protest, has called upon Increase Mather and his son and other ministers of Boston to advize him how best we proceed these trials.

The old man interrupted, at her instruction, my discourse with another passage from Nathan Bonham.

11 June

The most unusual event in all my life happened this last night. My wife was severely disturbed after witnessing the execution of Goody Bishop, and when it came time to go to bed, Alice would not, saying instead she would sit a while by the fire, and thus I bade her goodnight. A fitful sleep had I, visions of the body swinging from the rope, and after mid-night but before the dawn, I awoke in discomfort and found myself alone in the bed. I called for Alice, but she did not answer, so I shook off the blankets and went to look for her, finding herself still before the fire. You startle me, she said when I came into the room, but I am glad you are here. I beg you look upon me, she said, to see if you might discover any mark unnatural. She stood before the fire and undid her shift, letting it fall to the floor, so that she was Naked as an Infant, and I had never seen her thus before, for she was so modest, and was amazed by how fine she was in her nakedness, a young woman, and I am ashamed to say my passion rose, but holding myself in check, I examined her skin closely as she had asked, and the bold woman was not
afraid to be thus seen, instead holding her gaze upon me as I inspected every aspect, running my fingers over any suspicious bump. Do you fear you are a witch? I asked, and she laughed and said No, but she feared others might call her so, and she wanted no blemish or mole to be construed as a witch’s teat. I found nothing, and she was so happy that there before the fire, she lay with me for the first time since the child was lost, and I was overcome with sensation and a fullness of wickedness. For if she is a witch, she is a bonny one, and if this be sorcery, I am most consumed by pining, even as this I write, for such visions before my mind.

Red as her dress, Alice blushed so intensely that she threatened to disappear entirely within the fabric. A far-gone memory took hold of her, and she moved next to the old man, embraced him, her head pressed against his chest, and laced her fingers in his hair. With mischief in her gestures, she reached into the wild forest atop his head and extracted a large sewing needle, displaying it for all to see and wonder, and after we admired her prestidigitation, Alice rolled her eyes and indicated that we should follow her gaze.

Stuck in the ceiling, glistening like razor blades, a thousand such needles loomed, the sharp ends pointed directly at our skulls. We barely had time to comprehend the full danger before she clapped once and down they rained like a thousand tiny daggers, and by instinct, we all covered our noggins with our hands. Each needle struck as softly as drizzle, evaporating when the point struck skin, as if we were standing in a sudden shower without ever getting wet. Until the needles actually hit and proved harmless, we were frightened, and in that momentary interval, a slight cackle escaped from her lips.

“She really is a witch,” said Dolly.

“Or a magician,” Jane said. “That was quite a trick.”

“Aye,” the old man nodded. “She is a magic woman no matter what else she is.”

I went back to the Noyes journal and turned the page. Tucked between the leaves, several documents needed to be unfolded and read into the record.

I
NDICTMENT

Anno Regis et Reginae Willim et Mariae nunc: Anglia &c Quarto
Essex ss. The jurors for our Sovereign Lord and Lady the King and Queen presents that Alice Bonham of Salem Village and Farms within the province of Massachusetts Bay in New-England, the sixteenth day of June, in the fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King and Queen, defenders of the faith etc., divers other days and times as well before as after, certain detestable arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries, wickedly and ferociously hath used, practiced & exercised, at and within the township of Salem in the county of Essex & aforesaid, in, upon, and against one Ann Putnam, Jnr. of Salem Village, single woman, the sixteenth of June, by which said wicked arts the said Ann Putnam was and is tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted, and is tormented, also for sundry other acts of witchcraft by the said Alice Bonham committed and done against the peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen, their crown & dignity and against the form of the statute in the case made and provided:

WITNESSES
Ann Putnam
Abigail Williams
Elizabeth Hubbard
Ann Putnam, Sr.

Three other indictments, concerning the other witnesses, were included, and folded next to these were four separate depositions.

D
EPOSITION OF
A
NN
P
UTNAM
J
UNIOR

v. A
LICE
B
ONHAM

Ann Putnam, aged about eleven years, saith

I being in the home of Betty Parris did see Alice Bonham practice sorcerie with the Maid Tituba, that they did conjure with a green glass an infant child and the baby could be heard crying though she be dead. That Alice Bonham did make a poppet that came alive when charmed and that this doll, in the shape of a child, did come visit me in the night and torment me. And that the child’s mother, Alice Bonham, would also visit in the night to claim her little girl and did find the poppet in my bed and was angered and did afflict me with pains by sitting upon my chest and biting me on my arms and legs.

D
EPOSITION OF
A
BIGAIL
W
ILLIAMS

v. A
LICE
B
ONHAM

Abigail Williams, aged about eleven years, testifieth

That the shape of Alice Bonham does and hath visited in the night and brings a great book and asks me to sign my name in blood and when refused, does torture me with an iron needle pricking me about the legs, and another night did bring the poppet with her who does cry and torment me.

D
EPOSITION OF
E
LIZABETH
H
UBBARD

v. A
LICE
B
ONHAM