That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by
the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was
to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of
such as either lye about the meeting house, without attending
to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields
without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of
such persons, and to present them to the magistrates, whereby
they may be accordingly proceeded against.” This predilection
for minding other people’s business was time-honored among
the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the
suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.