CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Conflicting Currents in Boston.
All this time the under-current of opposition to these criminal proceedings against the alleged witches, was growing stronger, at Boston.

The Reverend Samuel Willard and Joshua Moody both ministers of undoubted orthodoxy from the Puritan stand-point, did not scruple to visit the accused in the keeping of jailer Arnold, and sympathize openly with them.

Captain Alden and Master Philip English and his wife especially, were persons of too great wealth and reputation not to have many sympathizing friends.
On the other hand, the great majority of the Puritans, under the lead of the Reverend Cotton Mather, and the two Salem ministers, Parris and Noyes were determined that the prosecution should go on, until the witches, those children of the Evil One, were thoroughly cast out; even if half of their congregations should have to be hung by the other half.
At a recent trial in Salem, one of the "afflicted" had even gone so far as to cry out against the Rev.Master Willard.

But the Court, it seemed, was not quite ready for that; for the girl was sent out of court, being told that she must have mistaken the person.

When this was reported to Master Willard, it by no means tended to lessen his growing belief that the prosecutions were inspired by evil spirits.
Of course in this condition of things, the position of the Governor, Sir William Phips, became a matter of the first importance.