While Rebecca was in prison under suspicion, she was interviewed by two ministers, Revs.  Haynes and Whiting, as to the charges of Ann Cole—­a next door neighbor—­which were written down by them, all of which, and more, she confessed to be true before the court.

(Note.  Increase Mather regarded this confession as convictive a proof of real witchcraft as most single cases he had known.)

THE MINISTERS’ ACCOUNT—­Promise to Satan—­A merry Christmas meeting—­Stone’s lecture—­Haynes’ plea—­The dear Devil—­The corvine guest—­Sexual delusions

“She forthwith and freely confessed those things to be true, that she (and other persons named in the discourse) had familiarity with the devil.  Being asked whether she had made an express covenant with him, she answered she had not, only as she promised to go with him when he called (which she had accordingly done several times).  But that the devil told her that at Christmas they would have a merry meeting, and then the covenant should be drawn and subscribed.  Thereupon the fore-mentioned Mr. Stone (being then in court) with much weight and earnestness laid forth the exceeding heinousness and hazard of that dreadful sin; and therewith solemnly took notice (upon the occasion given) of the devil’s loving Christmas.

“A person at the same time present being desired the next day more particularly to enquire of her about her guilt, it was accordingly done, to whom she acknowledged that though when Mr. Haynes began to read she could have torn him in pieces, and was so much resolved as might be to deny her guilt (as she had done before) yet after he had read awhile, she was as if her flesh had been pulled from her bones, (such was her expression,) and so could not deny any longer.  She also declared that the devil first appeared to her in the form of a deer or fawn, skipping about her, wherewith she was not much affrighted but by degrees he contrived talk with her; and that their meetings were frequently at such a place, (near her own house;) that some of the company came in one shape and some in another, and one in particular in the shape of a crow came flying to them.  Amongst other things she owned that the devil had frequent use of her body.”

Had Rebecca been content with purging her own conscience, she alone would have met the fate she had invoked, and probably deserved; but out of “love to her husband’s soul” she made an accusation against him, which of itself secured his conviction of the same offense, with the same dire penalty.

THE ACCUSATION—­Nathaniel’s plea—­“Travaile and labour”—­“A red creature”—–­ Prenuptial doubts—­The weighty logs—­Wifely tenderness and anxiety—­Under the greenwood tree—­A cat call—­Terpsichore and Bacchus

“Rebecca Greenswith testifieth in Court Janry 8. 62.

“1.  That my husband on Friday night last when I came to prison told me that now thou hast confest against thyself let me alone and say nothing of me and I wilbe good unto thy children.