While he was speaking at the foot of the gallows declaring his innocence, the tobacco smoke from the pipe of the executioner, blew into his face and interrupted him.
Then one of the accusing girls laughed out, and said that "the Devil did hinder him," but Joseph Putnam cried, "If the Devil does hinder him, then it is good proof that he is not one of his." At which some few of the crowd applauded; while others said that Master Putnam himself was no better than he ought to be.
The Reverend Master Burroughs, when upon the ladder, addressing the crowd, asserted earnestly his entire innocence.

Such was the effect of his words that Master Raymond even hoped that an effort would be made to rescue him.

But one of the "afflicted girls" cried out, "See! there stands the black man in the air at his side." Then another said, "The black man is telling him what to say." But Master Burroughs answered: "Then I will repeat the Lord's prayer.
Would the Devil tell me to say that ?" But when he had ended, Master Cotton Mather, who was riding around on his horse, said to the people that "the Devil often transformed himself into an angel of light; and that Master Burroughs was not a rightly ordained minister;" and the executioner at a sign from the official, cut the matter short by turning off the condemned man.
Rebecca Nurse and the other women, with the exception of their last short prayers, said nothing--submitting quietly and composedly to their legal murder.

And before the close of one short hour eight lifeless bodies hung dangling beneath the summer sun.
Joseph Putnam and Master Raymond, and a few others upon whom the solemn words of the condemned had made an evident impression, turned away from the sad sight, and wiped their tearful eyes.

But Master Parris and Master Noyes, and Master Cotton Mather seemed rather exultant than otherwise; though Master Noyes did say; "What a sad thing it is to see eight firebrands of hell hanging there!" But, as Master Cotton Mather more consistently answered: "Why should godly ministers be sad to see the firebrands of hell in the burning." Then, as the hours went on, the bodies were cut down, and stuck into short and shallow graves, dug out with difficulty between the rocks--in some instances, the ground not covering them entirely.