Transcription

[Front]
The Humble, & Sincere Declaration of us, Subscri–
bers, Inhabitants, in Ipswich, on y^e behalf of o^E Neigh
b^Es Jno Procter & his wife now in Trouble & und^E Suspit
ion of Witchcraft.

To the Hon^Eable Court of Assistants now Sitting In
Boston.

<?>Hon^Eed, & Right Worshipfull<?>!
The foresd John Procter: may have Greate Reason<?>
to Justifie the Divine Sovereigntie of God und^E thes S<e>–
vere Remarqu^Es of Providenc upon his Peac & Hon^E;
und^E A due Reflection upon his Life Past; And so the
Best of us have Reason to Adoar the Great Pittie &
Indulgenc of Gods Providenc, that we are not a<s>

Exposed to the utmost Shame, y^t the Divell Can
Invent und^E the p^Emissions of Sovereigntie, tho not
for y^t Sin fore Named; yet for o^E many Trans–
gretions; for we Do at present Suppose that it
may be A Method w^thin the Seveerer, But Just
Transactions of the Infinite Majestie of God; y^t he
Some times may p^Emitte Sathan to p^Esonate, Dissem–
ble, & therby abuse Inocents, & Such as Do in the fear
of God Defie the Devill and all his works. The Great
Rage he is p^Emitted to attempt holy Job w^th
The Abuse he Does the famous Samuell, In Disqui–
eting his Silent Dust, by Shaddowing his venerable
P^Eson in Answer to the Charmes of witch Craft, &
other Instances from Good hands; may be Arg^t<s> Besides
the unsearcheable footstepps of Gods Judgments y^t
are brought to Light Every Morning y^t Astonish
o^E weaker Reasons, To teach us Adoration, Tremb–
ling, & Dependanc, &c^a But

We must not Trouble y^E Honr^Es by being Tedious,
Therfore we being Smitten with the Notice of
what hath happened, we Recoon it w^thin the Duties
of o^E Charitie, that Teacheth us to do, as we would
be done by; to offer thus much for the Clearing of
o^E Neighbo^Es Inocencie; viz That we never
had the Least Knowledge of Such a Nefandous wickedness
in o^E Said Neighbours, Sinc they have been w^thin our
acquaintanc; Neither do we remember any Such
Thoughts in us Concerning them; or Any Action by them
or either of them Directly tending that way; no more
than might be in the <li>ves of any other p^Esons

[Reverse]
of the Clearest Reputation as to Any Such Evill<s>
What God may have Left them to, we Cannot Go into
Gods pavillions Cloathed w^th Cloudes of Darknesse Round
About. But as to what we have Ever heard
seen, or heard of them [ ]
upon o^E Consciences we Judge them Innocent
of y^e Crime objected.

His Breading hath been Amongst us; and was
of Religious Parents in o^E place; & by Reason of
Relations, & Prop^Eties w^thin o^E Towne hath had
Constant Intercourse w^th us.

We speak upon o^E p^Esonall acquaintanc, & obser–
vation: & So Leave our Neighbours, & this our
Testimonie on their Behalfe to the wise Thoughts
of y^E Honours, &
Subscribe &c^a

Jn^o Wise
William Story Sen^r
Reienallde ffoster:
Tho^s: Chote
John Burnum S^r
william: Thomsonn.
Tho. Low. sanor
Isaac ffoster
John Burnum jun^E
William Goodhew
Isaac perkins
Nathanill Perkins
Thomas Lovkine.
William Cogswell
Thomas Warny
John ffellows
william Cogswell Sen
Jonathan Cogswell

[Reverse]
John Cogswell J^u
John Cogswell
Thomas Andrews
Joseph Andrews
Benjamin marshall
John Andrews Ju^r
william Butler
William Andrews
John Andr Andrews
John Chote Se^r
Joseph prockter
Samuell Gidding
Jseph Euleth
Jems: White.

[Reverse]
Petition in favor of John Proctor & wife

Petition in support of John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, about August 5, 1692, Phillips Library, on deposit from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives, DEP 01, box 2, folder 20