ned a tavern at their house. This caused quite a stir among the townspeople. She was then accused of entertaining guests and of drinking apple cider all night, among other things. Things came to a climax, when, finally, on April 18, 1692, Bridget Bishop was arrested and charged with being a witch. This time the charge was initiated by some girls who claimed they had been "afflicted by witchcraft." The girls threw fits thoughout the entire trial. Bridget was not alone this time, though, as being sought out, as three women by the names of Merry Warren, Giles Corey, and Abigail Hobbs were also put on trial for being witches. The evidence against Bridget Bishop, besides her marital disputes, her having three husbands, her flashy way of dressing, and her tavern ownership, was provided by members of the Puritan community. A man named Richard Coman said that Bridget Bishop and three woman kept appearing to him at night. Because of this, Coman decided to sleep with a sword in order to protect himself. He also had a friend stay with him. That night, Coman fought with the witches as they tried to take the sword away from him. His friend couldn't see the women, but he could see Coman struggling with the sword... Another man by the name of John Louder said that he had told Bridget to keep her chickens out of his master's orchard. Louder testified, that, that night, her vision appeared to him and it choked his neck all night long. Another man by the name of William Stacy told a story about how he had worked for Bridget Bishop. Stacy was the last to testify. He admitted that he had admired Bridget when he was 22 because she had visited him when he had smallpox. Later he had doubts of her character and began to listen to and engage in the gossip about her. After Bridget expressed her resentment of this he began to have some "unnerving experiences." (Starky, p. 153) Once Bridget got him to do some work for her for which she paid him a threepence. Later...
