Thereupon the Deputy-Governor
dismissed us, saying that it might be that the Devil did not want them
for witches, because they could better serve him as Quakers: whereat all
the Court fell to laughing."
"And what did become of the women?" I asked.
"They kept them in jail awhile," said Nurse Lake, "and then sent them
back to England. But the others that followed fared harder,--some
getting whipped at the cart-tail, and others losing their ears. The
hangman's wife showed me once the ears of three of them, which her
husband cut off in the jail that very morning."
"This is dreadful!" said I, for I thought of my dear brother and sweet
Margaret Brewster, and tears filled mine eyes.
"Nay; but they were sturdy knaves and vagabonds," answered Nurse Lake,
"although one of them was the son of a great officer in the Barbadoes,
and accounted a gentleman before he did run out into his evil practices.
But cropping of ears did not stop these headstrong people, and they
still coming, some were put to death.
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