Was that serpent mark too from Italy ?" "I think it very likely." "Perhaps she is descended from Cleopatra--and that is the mark left by the serpent on the famous queen's breast." "I think it exceedingly probable," said Master Raymond.

My readers will have observed before this, that he was an exceedingly polite and politic young man.
"Well, and so you want me to get Mistress Dulcibel, this witch descendant of that famous old witch, Cleopatra, out of prison ?" "I hoped that, from the well-known kindness of heart of your ladyship, you would be able to do something for us." "You see the difficulty is simply here.

I know that all these charges of witchcraft against such good, nice people as Captain Alden, Master and Mistress English, your betrothed Dulcibel, and a hundred others, are mere bigotry and superstition at the best, and sheer spite and maliciousness at the worst--but what can I do?
Sir William owes his position to the Reverend Increase Mather--and, besides, not being a greatly learned man himself, is more impressed than he ought to be by the learning of the ministers and the lawyers.

I tell him that a learned fool is the greatest fool alive; but still he is much puzzled.

If he does not conform to the wishes of the ministers and the judges, who are able to lead the great majority of the people in any direction they choose, he will lose his position as Governor.