Thewitchalightedatthedoor；andtakinghimbythehand，ledhiminside。Therehesawsevenoldwomen，pullingatsevenhalterswhichhungfromtheroof。Astheypulled，largepiecesofmeat，lumpsofbutter，loavesofbread，basinsofmilk，hotpuddings，blackpuddings，andotherruraldainties，fellfromthehaltersontothefloor。Whileengagedinthischarmtheymadesuchuglyfaces，andlookedsofiendish，thathewasquitefrightened。Aftertheyhadpulled，inthismannerenoughforanamplefeast，theyset-to，andshowed，whatevermightbesaidofthewayinwhichtheirsupperwasprocured，thattheirepicurismwasalittlemorerefinedthanthatoftheScottishwitches，who，accordingtoGellieDuncan’sconfession，feastedupondeadmen’sfleshintheoldkirkofBerwick。Theboyadded，thatassoonassupperwasready，manyotherwitchescametopartakeofit，severalofwhomhenamed。Inconsequenceofthisstory，manypersonswerearrested，andtheboyRobinsonwasledaboutfromchurchtochurch，inorderthathemightpointouttotheofficers，bywhomhewasaccompanied，thehagshehadseeninthebarn。Altogetherabouttwentypersonswerethrownintoprison；eightofthemwerecondemnedtodie，includingMotherDickenson，uponthisevidencealone，andexecutedaccordingly。Amongthewretcheswhoconcoctedthisnotablestory，notonewaseverbroughttojusticeforhisperjury；andRobinson，thefather，gainedconsiderablesumsbythreateningpersonswhowererichenoughtobuyoffexposure。
Amongtheillweedswhichflourishedamidthelongdissensionsofthecivilwar，MatthewHopkins，thewitch-finder，standseminentinhissphere。Thisvulgarfellowresided，intheyear1644，atthetownofManningtree，inEssex，andmadehimselfveryconspicuousindiscoveringthedevil’smarksuponseveralunhappywitches。Thecredithegainedbyhisskillinthisinstanceseemstohaveinspiredhimtorenewedexertions。Inthecourseofaveryshorttime，wheneverawitchwasspokenofinEssex，MatthewHopkinswassuretobepresent，aidingthejudgeswithhisknowledgeof“suchcattle，“ashecalledthem。Ashisreputationincreased，heassumedthetitleof“WitchfinderGeneral，“andtravelledthroughthecountiesofNorfolk，Essex，Huntingdon，andSussex，forthesolepurposeoffindingoutwitches。Inoneyearhebroughtsixtypoorcreaturestothestake。Thetesthecommonlyadoptedwasthatofswimming，sohighlyrecommendedbyKingJamesinhis“Demonologie。“Thehandsandfeetofthesuspectedpersonsweretiedtogethercrosswise，thethumboftherighthandtothetoeoftheleftfoot，andviceversa。Theywerethenwrappedupinalargesheetorblanket，andlaidupontheirbacksinapondorriver。Iftheysank，theirfriendsandrelativeshadthepoorconsolationofknowingtheywereinnocent，buttherewasanendofthem:iftheyfloated，which，whenlaidcarefullyonthewaterwasgenerallythecase，therewasalsoanendofthem；fortheyweredeemedguiltyofwitchcraft，andburnedaccordingly。
AnothertestwastomakethemrepeattheLord’sprayerandcreed。
Itwasaffirmedthatnowitchcoulddosocorrectly。Ifshemissedaword，orevenpronouncedoneincoherently，whichinhertrepidation，itwasmostprobableshewould，shewasaccountedguilty。Itwasthoughtthatwitchescouldnotweepmorethanthreetears，andthoseonlyfromthelefteye。Thustheconsciousinnocenceofmanypersons，whichgavethemfortitudetobearunmeritedtorturewithoutflinching，wasconstruedbytheirunmercifultormentorsintoproofsofguilt。InsomedistrictsthetestresortedtowastoweightheculpritagainstthechurchBible。IfthesuspectedwitchprovedheavierthantheBible，shewassetatliberty。Thismodewasfartoohumaneforthewitch-findersbyprofession。Hopkinsalwaysmaintainedthatthemostlegitimatemodeswereprickingandswimming。
Hopkinsusedtotravelthroughhiscountieslikeamanofconsideration，attendedbyhistwoassistants，alwaysputtingupatthechiefinnoftheplace，andalwaysatthecostoftheauthorities。