he looked into his pocket where he had put it and it had disappeared. On another occasion, his wagon wheel sank into a hole and when he climbed out to free it the hole disappeared before his eyes. *54* One night in the winter he was awakened by something cold pressing between his lips. He looked up and saw that the room was as fight as day and that Bridget was sitting on the foot of his bed. When he looked at her she clapped her cape and hopped away. As she did so, the light flowed out of the room. Stacy also blamed the death of his daughter Priscilla on Goody Bishop. He claimed that one day the child screeched out in agony and so continued for a fortnight until she died.During this entire two day tirade Bridget Bishop did not once open her mouth to defend herself. ( Starkey, p. 154 ) After hearing all the "evidence," the judges condemned her to hang. A difficulty arose on the present status of Massachusetts law. Not until June 8, when the General Court legalized the sentence by reviving an old colonial law making witchcraft a capital offense, could action be taken. Although the whole town turned out to see the execution, Bridget refused to show any sign of remorse. From Ipswich, Marblehead, Beverly, Topsfield, even from Boston, people flocked to see the first victory flaunted in the face of the Prince of Darkness.These tales and recoutings of suppposed examples of Bridget Bishop's witchcraft went on for two days. At the end of the trial, even though she never had a chance in the first place, Bridget was pronounced guilty. It seems that, because she did not adhere to the Puritan's stringent ways, she was viewed as being different, as being a witch. The fact that she was independent, attractive, and aggressive gave people the wrong impression. She was a victim of the focus on the sinfulness of others and desire to rid the community of any threats of evil.The entire town showed up for the hanging. The event was viewed as being the first ...
