After the explosion of the witchcraft delusion, the relations of parties became entirely changed.  The prosecutors at the trials were put on the defensive, and felt themselves in peril.  Parris saw his danger, and, with characteristic courage and fertility of resources, prepared to defend himself, and carry the war upon any quarter from which an attack might be apprehended.  He continued, on his own responsibility, to prosecute, in court, his suit against the parish, and in his usual trenchant style.  As the law then was, a minister, in a controversy with his parish, had a secure advantage, and absolutely commanded the situation, if his church were with him.  From the time of his settlement, Parris had shaped his policy on this basis.  He had sought to make his church an impregnable fortress against his opponents.  But, to be impregnable, it was necessary that there should be no enemies within it.  A few disaffected brethren could at any time demand, and have a claim to, a mutual council; and Mr. Parris knew, that, before the investigations of such a council, his actions in the witchcraft prosecutions could not stand.  This perhaps suggested his movements, in August, 1692, against Samuel Nurse, John Tarbell, and Peter Cloyse.  He did not at that time succeed in getting rid of them; and they remained in the church, and, with the exception of Cloyse, in the village.  They might at any time take the steps that would lead to a mutual council; and Mr. Parris was determined, at all events, to prevent that.  It was evident that the members of that family would insist upon satisfaction being given them, in and through the church, for the wrongs he had done them.  Although, in the absence of Cloyse, but two in number, there was danger that sympathy for them might reach others of the brethren.  Thomas Wilkins, a member in good standing, son of old Bray Wilkins, and a connection of John Willard, an intelligent and resolute man, had already joined them.  Parris felt that others might follow, and that whatever could be done to counteract them must be done quickly.  He accordingly initiated proceedings in his church to rid himself of them, if not by excommunication, at least by getting them under discipline, so as to prevent the possibility of their dealing with him.

This led to one of the most remarkable passages of the kind in the annals of the New-England churches.  It is narrated in detail by Mr. Parris, in his church record-book.  It would not be easy to find anywhere an example of greater skill, wariness, or ability in a conflict of this sort.  On the one side is Mr. Parris, backed by his church and the magistrates, and aided, it is probable, by Mr. Noyes; on the other, three husbandmen.  They had no known backers or advisers; and, at frequent stages of the fencing match, had to parry or strike, without time to consult any one.  Mr. Parris was ingenious, quick, a great strategist, and not over-scrupulous as to the use of his weapons.  Nurse, Tarbell, and Wilkins were