Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction : explaining the Salem witch hunt. Putting Salem into a larger context ; Puritanism and the supernatural world ; Dangerous women ; Malevolent neighbors ; The witch panic of 1692 ; The afflicted girls ; Trying a witch ; The collapse of the trials - The documents. 1. Signs and assaults from the supernatural world. The arrival of a comet and the death of a star preacher ; Samuel Sewall finds reassurance in a rainbow ; The death of Cotton Mather's infant son ; Strange afflictions in the Goodwin household ; The horseshoe controversy in Newberry, Massachusetts ; Mary Rowlandson's account of the Indian attack on Lancaster ; Cotton Mather on the Quaker threat ; The Dominion of New England ; Cotton Mather on the recent history of New England -- 2. Beginnings. John Hale's account, 1702 ; Deodat Lawson's account, 1692 ; Samuel Parris on the outbreak of witchcraft accusations in Salem village, March 27, 1692 ; Samuel Parris's statement to his congregations about Mary Sibley's use of countermagic, March 27, 1692 -- 3. Witches on trial. Sarah Good. Arrest warrant for Sarah Good, February 29, 1692 ; Examination of Sarah Good (as recorded by Ezekiel Cheever), March 1, 1692 ; Elizabeth Hubbard against Sarah Good, March 1, 1692 ; Ann Putnam Jr. against Sarah Good, March 1, 1692 ; William Allen, John Hughes, William Good, and Samuel Braybrook against Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, March 5, 1692 ; Abigail Williams against Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, May 23, 1692 ; Indictment against Sarah Good for afflicting Sarah Bibber, June 28, 1692 ; Sarah Bibber against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 ; Sarah Gadge and Thomas Gadge against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 ; Joseph Herrick Sr. and Mary Herrick against Sarah Good, June 28, 1692 ; Samuel Abbey and Mary Abbey against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 ; Henry Herrick and Jonathan Batchelor against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 ; Samuel Sibley against Sarah Good, June 29, 1692 ; Death warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth How, and Sarah Wilds (July 12, 1692) and officer's return (July 19, 1692) - Tituba. First examination of Tituba (as recorded by Jonathan Corwin), March 1, 1692 ; Second examination of Tituba (as recorded by Jonathan Corwin), March 2, 1692 ; Elizabeth Hubbard against Tituba, March 1, 1692 ; Ann Putnam Jr. against Tituba, March 1, 1692 ; Indictment against Tituba for covenanting with the devil, May 9, 1693 - John Proctor. Elizabeth Booth against John Proctor, April 11, 1692 ; Abigail Williams against John Proctor, May 31, 1692 ; Physical examination of John Proctor and John Willard, June 2, 1692 ; Mary Warren against John Proctor, June 30, 1692 ; Petition of John Proctor, July 23, 1692 ; John DeRich against John Proctor and others, August 4, 1692 ; Samuel Sibley against John Proctor, August 5, 1692 ; Petition for John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, August 5, 1692 ; Petition for John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, August 5, 1692 - Bridget Bishop. Examination of Bridget Bishop (as recorded by Ezekiel Cheever), April 9, 1692 ; William Stacy against Bridget Bishop, May 30, 1692 ; Sarah Churchill and Mary Warren against Bridget Bishop and others, June 1, 1692 ; Physical examinations of Bridget Bishop and others, June 2, 1692 ; John Bly Sr. and Rebecca Bly against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 ; Richard Coman against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 ; John Louder against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 ; Samuel Shattuck and Sarah Shattuck against Bridget Bishop, June 2, 1692 ; Susannah Sheldon against Bridget Bishop and others, June 3, 1692 - Dorcas Hoar. Examination of Dorcas Hoar (as recorded by Samuel Parris), May 2, 1692 ; Sarah Bibber against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 ; Elizabeth Hubbard against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 ; Ann Putnam Jr. against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 ; Mary Walcott against Dorcas Hoar, July 2, 1692 ; Mary Gage against Dorcas Hoar and others, September 6, 1692 ; John Hale against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 ; Joseph Morgan and Deborah Morgan against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 ; John Tuck against Dorcas Hoar, September 6, 1692 ; Petition of John Hale, Nicholas Noyes, Daniel Epes, and John Emerson Jr. September 21, 1692 - George Burroughs. Benjamin Hutchinson against George Burroughs and others, April 22, 1692 ; Examination of George Burroughs (as recorded by Samuel Parris), May 9, 1692 ; Elizar Keyser against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 ; Mercy Lewis against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 ; John Putnam Sr. and Rebecca Putnam against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 ; Mary Walcott against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 ; Simon Willard and William Wormall against George Burroughs, May 9, 1692 ; Abigail Hobbs, Deliverance Hobbs, and Mary Warren against George Burroughs and others, June 1, 1692 ; Mary Webber against George Burroughs, August 2, 1692 ; Ann Putnam Jr. against George Burroughs, August 3, 1692 ; Physical examination of George Burroughs and George Jacobs Jr. August 4, 1692 ; Hannah Harris against George Burroughs, August 5, 1692 ; Sarah Wilson and Martha Tyler against George Burroughs, September 15, 1692