Hope Leslie

On a beautiful summer day, a crowd gathers for Magawisca’s trial. When Magawisca is led into the courtroom, she is accompanied by a benevolent-looking man whom Everell learns is John Eliot. Magawisca has a queenly, composed expression, and she wears her own clothing instead of borrowed English dress.

Magawisca insists on standing when she’s led to the defendant’s seat. Everell finds himself pushing through the crowd in order to stand next to her. Eliot prays for the proceedings, recalling in his prayer the many kindly actions of American Indians toward white settlers, including Monoca’s goodness and Magawisca’s own heroic act toward Everell. He prays for mercy toward the defendant. After he’s done, many look more compassionately toward Magawisca. Governor Winthrop outlines the charges against Magawisca, and then asks Sir Philip to testify about what he’d overheard regarding a so-called Indian conspiracy while eavesdropping on Magawisca and Hope.

Magawisca gives Sir Philip a piercing look as he stands up, and he cringes. Rosa brings forward a packet of letters, which Sir Philip places before the governor. Sir Philip senses that popular sentiment has shifted in favor of Magawisca. He knows he could be in big trouble if his relationship with Rosa is disclosed, so he decides to try to discredit Magawisca.

After describing the scene in the graveyard, Sir Philip claims that, later that night, he saw Magawisca engaged in “devil-worship” in the cemetery, seeking demonic aid for revenge against the English. Upon hearing this testimony, opinion shifts against Magawisca, though she remains impassive. Everell and Eliot whisper encouragement to her, and Magawisca denies that the English have authority to judge her. She says that she has no fear about following her people to the future world. The magistrates’ response is mixed, with some repudiating her “heathenism” and others saying they can’t condemn her on this basis. Governor Winthrop observes that Sir Philip’s testimony isn’t consistent with what he's previously stated in private.

When Sir Philip argues that he wasn’t under oath before, the Governor points out that he isn’t now, but that Magawisca can request that he be placed under oath. She does. As Sir Philip does so, Magawisca withdraws a crucifix from her mantle, to everyone’s astonishment. She addresses Sir Philip directly, saying that during his visit to her prison cell, he had attributed sacred powers to the object. The blushing knight denies this. Eliot speaks up in defense of Magawisca’s right to provide further testimony. Suddenly it seems as if Sir Philip, not Magawisca, is on trial.

When Magawisca is permitted to speak further, she falters, then requests that Rosa be allowed to leave. When Rosa notices everyone staring at her, she clings to Sir Philip’s cloak, and he kicks her. A murmur of indignation runs through the meetinghouse. Rosa runs away. Sir Philip says that he would be glad to clear up these details in a private interview, and the Governor decides that Magawisca’s trial must be suspended until the magistrates are able to meet again in one month. Magawisca, however, begs that she be put to death now, rather than being made to wait in captivity.

Magawisca goes on to say that they don’t need Sir Philip’s word to prove that she is their enemy—a white person and an Indian cannot be friends. Sending her back to the dungeon will just be a way of killing her by less direct means. As she kneels before the Governor in supplication, her mutilated arm is revealed. She begs for death or liberty, and Everell and the crowd begin chanting for “liberty.” Even Governor Winthrop is moved to tears.

Finally Governor Winthrop says that he cannot grant her liberty right now, but he will fulfill his promise to Monoca to show Magawisca kindness, as far as he is able. Everell whispers that he, too, will help her, and Magawisca is comforted. She is led back to jail, leaving the crowd with “a strange contrariety of opinion and feelings.” Sir Philip is ordered to meet with the Governor in private.