286. As Brattle began to conclude his letter, he added that not all was lost with the events in Salem. He informed the readers that yes, there were men absorbed into the hysteria, but there were also men who disagreed with the trials. The chief judge is very zealous in these proceedings, and says, he is very clear as to all that hath as yet been acted by this Court, and, as far as ever I could perceive, is very impatient in hearing any thing that looks another way. I very highly honor and reverence the wisdom and integrity of the said judge, and hope that this matter shall not diminish my veneration for his honor; however, I cannot but say, my great fear is, that wisdom and counsel are withheld from his honor as to this matter, which yet I look upon not so much as a Judgment to his honor as to this poor land. But although the Chief Judge, and some of the other judges, be very zealous in these proceedings, yet this you may take for a truth, that there are several about the Bay, men for understanding, judgment, and piety, inferior to few (if any,) in New England that do utterly condemn the said proceedings, and do freely deliver their Judgment in the case to be this: that these methods will utterly ruin and undo poor New England. I shall nominate some of these to you: the honorable Simon Bradstreet, (our late Governor); the honorable Thomas Danforth, (our late Deputy Governor); the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather, and the Reverend Mr. Samuel Willard, Major Saltonstall, who was one of the judges, has left the Court, and is very much dissatisfied with the proceedings of it. Excepting Mr. Hale, Mr. Noyes, and Mr. Parris, the Reverend Elders, almost throughout the whole country, are very much dissatisfied. -Letter of Thomas Brattle
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 01:54:26 +0000
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