At length, the government had to meet the public feeling.  A proclamation was issued, “By the Honorable the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Assembly of His Majesty’s province of the Massachusetts Bay, in General Court assembled.”  It begins thus:  “Whereas the anger of God is not yet turned away, but his hand is still stretched out against his people in manifold judgments;” and, after several specifications of the calamities under which they were suffering, and referring to the “many days of public and solemn” addresses made to God, it proceeds:  “Yet we cannot but also fear that there is something still wanting to accompany our supplications; and doubtless there are some particular sins which God is angry with our Israel for, that have not been duly seen and resented by us, about which God expects to be sought, if ever he again turn our captivity.”  Thursday, the fourteenth of the next January, was accordingly appointed to be observed as a day of prayer and fasting,—­

“That so all God’s people may offer up fervent supplications unto him, that all iniquity may be put away, which hath stirred God’s holy jealousy against this land; that he would show us what we know not, and help us, wherein we have done amiss, to do so no more; and especially, that, whatever mistakes on either hand have been fallen into, either by the body of this people or any orders of men, referring to the late tragedy, raised among us by Satan and his instruments, through the awful judgment of God, he would humble us therefor, and pardon all the errors of his servants and people that desire to love his name; that he would remove the rod of the wicked from off the lot of the righteous; that he would bring in the American heathen, and cause them to hear and obey his voice.

     “Given at Boston, Dec. 17, 1696, in the eighth year of His
     Majesty’s reign.

     ISAAC ADDINGTON, Secretary.”

The jury had acted in conformity with their obligations and honest convictions of duty in bringing in their verdicts.  They had sworn to decide according to the law and the evidence.  The law under which they were required to act was laid down with absolute positiveness by the Court.  They were bound to receive it, and to take and weigh the evidence that was admitted; and to their minds it was clear, decisive, and overwhelming, offered by persons of good character, and confirmed by a great number of confessions.  If it had been within their province, as it always is declared not to be, to discuss the general principles, and sit in judgment on the particular penalties of law, it would not have altered the case; for, at that time, not only the common people, but the wisest philosophers, supported the interpretation of the law that acknowledged the existence of witchcraft, and its sanction that visited it with death.

Notwithstanding all this, however, so tender and sensitive were the consciences of the jurors, that they signed and circulated the following humble and solemn declaration of regret for the part they had borne in the trials.  As the publication of this paper was highly honorable to those who signed it, and cannot but be contemplated with satisfaction by all their descendants, I will repeat their names:—­