Sarah Good was first examined, the other two being removed from the house for the time.  In complaining of her, and bringing her forward first, the prosecutors showed that they were well advised.  There was a general readiness to receive the charge against her, as she was evidently the object of much prejudice in the neighborhood.  Her husband, who was a weak, ignorant, and dependent person, had become alienated from her.  The family were very poor; and she and her children had sometimes been without a house to shelter them, and left to wander from door to door for relief.  Whether justly or not, she appears to have been subject to general obloquy.  Probably there was no one in the country around, against whom popular suspicion could have been more readily directed, or in whose favor and defence less interest could be awakened.  She was a forlorn, friendless, and forsaken creature, broken down by wretchedness of condition and ill-repute.  The following are the minutes of her examination, as found among the files:—­

     “The Examination of Sarah Good before the Worshipful Esqrs. 
     John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin.

     “Sarah Good, what evil spirit have you familiarity
     with?—­None.

     “Have you made no contracts with the Devil?—­No.

     “Why do you hurt these children?—­I do not hurt them.  I
     scorn it.

     “Who do you employ then to do it?—­I employ nobody.

     “What creature do you employ then?—­No creature:  but I am
     falsely accused.

     “Why did you go away muttering from Mr. Parris his house?—­I
     did not mutter, but I thanked him for what he gave my child.

     “Have you made no contract with the Devil?—­No.

“Hathorne desired the children all of them to look upon her, and see if this were the person that hurt them; and so they all did look upon her, and said this was one of the persons that did torment them.  Presently they were all tormented.

     “Sarah Good, do you not see now what you have done?  Why do
     you not tell us the truth?  Why do you thus torment these
     poor children?—­I do not torment them.

     “Who do you employ then?—­I employ nobody.  I scorn it.

     “How came they thus tormented?—­What do I know?  You bring
     others here, and now you charge me with it.

     “Why, who was it?—­I do not know but it was some you brought
     into the meeting-house with you.

     “We brought you into the meeting-house.—­But you brought in
     two more.

     “Who was it, then, that tormented the children?—­It was
     Osburn.

     “What is it you say when you go muttering away from persons’
     houses?—­If I must tell, I will tell.

     “Do tell us then.—­If I must tell, I will tell:  it is the
     Commandments.  I may say my Commandments, I hope.