A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 881 



(8) " Thorn. Hess and Michel Burrowes, exam, before the court for the Triall 

 of John Makaraton [Middleton], the 4th of May." 



•• Who saith that after Midleton came out of the water and was taken backe 

 to prison, they being there with him, asked what he could now saj r e for himself; 

 seeing he had ben also tried by water, desierd him to confes the truth to them, 

 & they doe both say that Midleton told them that he was a witch & that he 

 knew yt not before : they affirmed also that they did ernestly perswade Midleton 

 to discover other witches if he knew of any in these Islands. To which he 

 answered that the wife of Thomas Stevenson was a witch, as badcl a one as any 

 in the world. And said also that Gooly North was a witch he feared, but did 

 not positively accuse her to be a witch." 



"The Jury for the keeper of the Commonwealth of England doth present 

 John Midleton of Sandys Tribe in the Somer Islands, Planter, for that he not 

 having the feare of God before his eyes hath feloniously wickedly and abomin- 

 ably consulted and consented to and with the Devill to become a witch. As 

 doth appear by severall signes and inarkes upon his Body, and that diabolicall 

 sin of witchcraft hath put in practice now lately upon the Body or person of 

 John Makaraton, a skotsman of about the age of 50 years : and him hath vexed 

 tormented and disquieted contrary to the peace of the Commonwealth of England 

 and the dignity thereof. 



This Bill being put to the consideration of the Grand Inquest was found Billa 

 vera and for his further triall he put himselfe upon God & the Country, whereof 

 a jury of 12 men sworne did find him guilty, and sentance of death was pro- 

 nounced upon him, and he was executed at Georges towne at the common place 

 of execution the 9th of May 1653." 



S. Trial of Goody Christian Stevenson, 1653. 



Middleton having accused Goody Stevenson of being a witch, was 

 required to make his accusation in her presence in open court, which 

 he did.* She stoutly denied any knowledge whatever of anything 

 of the kind. 



(l'S) " Then Midleton said, I ' thought that a man could not do the thinges I was 

 accused for, & prayed that God would show his judgement upon me as you do. 

 But since I came to prison I prayed to the Lord to discover yt to me, and now 

 he hath found me out, & made me know that I was a witch, which I knew not 

 before: & said I bless God for yt.' Goody Stevenson replied that she for her 

 part was wrongfully accused for she knew nothing that did belong to any such 

 thing. John Midleton said unto her ' I know that you are a witch as well as I ' 

 & said, ' perceiving that you are a witch I would have thee judged.' 



" The examynation of Christian Stevenson taken before Capt n Josias Fforster 

 Govnor, Capt n Roger Wood and the Secretary the 9th of Maye, 1653. 



(1) Christian Stevenson having been accused in open court by John Midleton 

 to be a witch : and she being now examined : she denyeth it & saith that she is 

 noe witch : yt being then demanded of her how she came by the duggs & rnarkes 



* Other testimonies, here omitted, indicate that this man was a half-witted 

 " degenerate." 



Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. XI. 56 Feb., 1903 



