History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1675.] WITCHCRAFT—TRIAL OF MARY PARSONS. 233
tlie record could be found. To uote the difference, if any,
between the evidence produced at the two trials would give
a more comprehensive insight into the inner life of those
early days, by showing to what extent the imaginations of
the aggrieved parties could carry the most insignificant in-
cidents of their daily surroundings. Possibly that used in
the defence at the slander trial was again made to do duty
when the situation was reversed. At any rate it Avas
equally abortive in each case. Mary Parsons was not only
compelled to stand trial on charge of practicing witchcraft,
but she also suffered the added indignity of imprisonment
in Boston, while waiting the action of the court. This
must have been extremely humiliating to a person of her
pride and dignity. But she came out of this trial as she
did out of the other, with flying colors. The furor against
witches which followed many years after, had not at this
time begun, men were able to weigh testimony without
prejudice, and to render a verdict creditable to their sense
of humanity and justice.
Mrs. Parsons Speaks Tlic fact that Mrs. Parsous Voluntarily ajj-
for herself. peared before the court, "desiring to clear
herself of such an execrable crime," and
that subsequently she argued her own case before the
court, must not be overlooked. On both of these occasions
she met her accusers boldly, protesting her innocence, and
showing "how clear she was of such a crime." Attorneys
were then an almost unknown quantity, especially in the
inland towns, and criminal lawyers had little occasion for
existence. It seems to have been customary for the accused
to argue their own cases, and other instances of women
speaking in courts of justice are not unknown. ^ In this
trial, Mrs. Parsons was "called to speak for herself," and
from the meagre report upon record, undoubtedly did so
most effectively.
1 "In 1667, a woman spoke in town meeting in Windsor, in a case which concerned
her, and not without effect." lu 1677, "widow Editha Holyoke of Springfield, went
into court and ' spoke in the ease ' relating to her share of her husband's estate."
—Judd's History of Hadley, p. 235, note.