Verystrikinginallthesecaseswasthealloyoffrenzywithtrickery。Inmostofthemadnesstherewasmethod。SundrywitcheschargedbythepossessedhadbeenengagedincontroversywiththeSalemchurchpeople。OthersoftheaccusedhadquarrelledwithMr。Parris。Stillothershadbeenengagedinoldlawsuitsagainstpersonsmoreorlessconnectedwiththegirls。
Oneofthemostfearfulcharges，whichcostthelifeofanobleandlovelywoman，aroseundoubtedlyfromherbetterstyleofdressandliving。Oldslumberingneighbourhoodorpersonalquarrelsboreinthiswayastrangefruitageofrevenge；forthecardinaldoctrineofafanatic’screedisthathisenemiesaretheenemiesofGod。
AnypersondaringtohinttheslightestdistrustoftheproceedingswasindangerofbeingimmediatelybroughtunderaccusationofaleaguewithSatan。Husbandsandchildrenwerethusbroughttothegallowsfordaringtodisbelievethesechargesagainsttheirwivesandmothers。Someoftheclergywereaccusedforendeavouringtosavemembersoftheirchurches。[398]
[398]ThisisadmirablybroughtoutbyUpham，andthelawyerlikethoroughnesswithwhichhehasexaminedallthesehiddenspringsofthechargesisoneofthemainthingswhichrenderhisbookoneofthemostvaluablecontributionstothehistoryandphilosophyofdemoniacalpossessioneverwritten。
Onepoorwomanwaschargedwith“givingalooktowardthegreatmeeting-houseofSalem，andimmediatelyademonenteredthehouseandtoredownapartofit。”ThiscauseforthefallingofabitofpoorlynailedwainscotingseemedperfectlysatisfactorytoDr。