A Hog, A Dog, And a Little Yellow Bird
As Tituba was questioned by John Hathorne, at the Salem witch Inquisition, she confessed to having seen also a hog and a dog that wanted her to serve them. Then told of a "little yellow bird" that lived with the man. She tells of seeing other animals that wanted her to serve them as well and of being forced, once, to pinch Elizabeth Hubbard and Ann Putnam, Jr.
But now the confessions were about to become more gruesome than any of these Puritans may have ever expected. More questions from Hathorne brought out that Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne all flew while riding a stick to harm these girls.
Off With Their Heads!
Her other statements included that Good and Osborne had told her to "cut off Ann Putnam's head with a knife." When Ann heard this confession she called out that Good and Osborne had urged her to cut off her own head. Tituba told, upon being questioned, that she did not tell her master Samuel Parris, these things because Good and Osborne had threatened to cut of her own head if she told.
Good and Osborne's Familiars
Upon the subject of Good and Osborne having "familiars" she stated that a yellow bird had sucked between Good's fingers. There was also a cat, as well as two "nameless creatures. One had wings, two legs, and a head like a woman's. The other creature was "all over hairy" and had a long nose. All of these creatures had been in the Parris home, standing before the fire.
The Man in Black
Having established that there were creature demons abound, Tituba then described a man who wore black, and sometimes a serge coat of various colors. With him was a woman who had wings and wore a black silk hood that had a white silk hood under it.
The Salem Inquisition Begins, continues with: Hysteria and Terror Reigns in Salem: Flying Women and Spectrals Abound.
Previous: More for the Salem Dungeon: The Devil and a Little Yellow Bird.
Recommended Reading:
Bridget Bishop of Salem: The Witch with the Scarlet Bodice.
Sundays in Salem: Droning Sermons and Hard Benches.
