twelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying out
some Land, near her Husband's: Her Expressions in this Anger, were,
_That she would stick as close to +Abbot+ as the Bark stuck to the Tree;
and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an End, so as
Doctor +Prescot+ should never cure him._ These Words were heard by
others besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would hold
his Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his Name
was +Abbot+._ Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in his
Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented. It
bred into a Sore, which was launced by Doctor _Prescot_, and several
Gallons of Corruption ran out of it. For six Weeks it continued very
bad, and then another Sore bred in the Groin, which was also lanced by
Doctor _Prescot_. Another Sore then bred in his Groin, which was
likewise cut, and put him to very great Misery: He was brought unto
Death's Door, and so remained until _Carrier_ was taken, and carried
away by the Constable, from which very Day he began to mend, and so grew
better every Day, and is well ever since.
_Sarah Abbot_ also, his Wife, testified, That her Husband was not only
all this while Afflicted in his Body, but also that strange
extraordinary and unaccountable Calamities befel his Cattel; their Death
being such as they could guess at no Natural Reason for.
IV. _Allin Toothaker_ testify'd, That _Richard_, the son of _Martha
Carrier_, having some difference with him, pull'd him down by the Hair
of the Head. When he Rose again, he was going to strike at _Richard
Carrier_; but fell down flat on his Back to the ground, and had not
power to stir hand or foot, until he told _Carrier_ he yielded; and then
he saw the shape of _Martha Carrier_, go off his breast.
This _Toothaker_, had Received a wound in the _Wars_; and he now
testify'd, that _Martha Carrier_ told him, _He should never be Cured._
Just afore the Apprehending of _Carrier_, he could thrust a knitting
Needle into his wound, four inches deep; but presently after her being
siezed, he was throughly healed.
He further testify'd, that when _Carrier_ and he sometimes were at
variance, she would clap her hands at him, and say, _He should get
nothing by it;_ whereupon he several times lost his Cattle, by strange
Deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given.
V. _John Rogger_ also testifyed, That upon the threatning words of this
malicious _Carrier_, his Cattle would be strangely bewitched; as was
more particularly then described.
VI. _Samuel Preston_ testify'd, that about two years ago, having some
difference with _Martha Carrier_, he lost a _Cow_ in a strange
Preternatural unusual manner; and about a month after this, the said
_Carrier_, having again some difference with him, she told him; _He had
lately lost a Cow, and it should not be long before he lost another;_
which accordingly came to pass; for he had a thriving and well-kept
_Cow_, which without any known cause quickly fell down and dy'd.
VII. _Phebe Chandler_ testify'd, that about a Fortnight before the
apprehension of _Martha Carrier_, on a Lords-day, while the Psalm was
singing in the _Church_, this _Carrier_ then took her by the shoulder
and shaking her, asked her, _where she lived_: she made her no Answer,
although as _Carrier_, who lived next door to her Fathers House, could
not in reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was at
several times crossing the Fields, she heard a voice, that she took to
be _Martha Carriers_, and it seem'd as if it was over her head. The
voice told her, _she should within two or three days be poisoned._
Accordingly, within such a little time, one half of her right hand,
became greatly swollen, and very painful; as also part of her Face;
whereof she can give no account how it came. It continued very bad for
some dayes; and several times since, she has had a great pain in her
breast; and been so siezed on her leggs, that she has hardly been able
to go. She added, that lately, going well to the House of God,
_Richard_, the son of _Martha Carrier_, look'd very earnestly upon her,
and immediately her hand, which had formerly been poisoned, as is
abovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange Burning at
her stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of
the prayer, or singing, till the two or three last words of the Psalm.
VIII. One _Foster_, who confessed her own share in the Witchcraft for
which the Prisoner stood indicted, affirm'd, that she had seen the
prisoner at some of their _Witch-meetings_, and that it was this
_Carrier_, who perswaded her to be a Witch. She confessed, that the
Devil carry'd them on a pole, to a Witch-meeting; but the pole broke,
and she hanging about _Carriers_ neck, they both fell down, and she then
received an hurt by the Fall, whereof she was not at this very time
recovered.
IX. One _Lacy_, who likewise confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now
testify'd, that she and the prisoner were once Bodily present at a
_Witch-meeting_ in _Salem Village_; and that she knew the prisoner to be
a Witch, and to have been at a Diabolical sacrament, and that the
prisoner was the undoing of her, and her Children, by enticing them into
the snare of the Devil.
X. Another _Lacy_, who also confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now
testify'd, that the prisoner was at the _Witch-meeting_, in _Salem
Village_, where they had Bread and Wine Administred unto them.
XI. In the time of this prisoners Trial, one _Susanna Sheldon_, in open
Court had her hands Unaccountably ty'd together with a Wheel-band, so
fast that without cutting, it could not be loosed: It was done by a
_Spectre_; and the Sufferer affirm'd, it was the _Prisoners_.
* * * * *
_Memorandum._ This Rampant Hag, _Martha Carrier_, was the person, of
whom the Confessions of the Witches, and of her own Children among the
rest, agreed, That the Devil had promised her, she should be _Queen of
Heb_.
Having thus far done the Service imposed upon me; I will further pursue
it, by relating a few of those Matchless CURIOSITIES, with which the
_Witchcraft_ now upon us, has entertained us. And I shall Report nothing
but with Good Authority, and what I would invite all my Readers to
examine, while 'tis yet Fresh and New, that if there be found any
mistake, it may be as willingly _Retracted_, as it was unwillingly
_Committed_.
THE FIRST CURIOSITIE.
I. 'Tis very Remarkable to see what an Impious and Impudent _imitation_
of Divine Things, is Apishly affected by the Devil, in several of those
matters, whereof the Confessions of our _Witches_, and the Afflictions
of our _Sufferers_ have informed us.
That Reverend and Excellent Person, Mr. _John Higginson_, in my
Conversation with him, Once invited me to this Reflection; that the
Indians which came from far to settle about _Mexico_, were in their
Progress to that Settlement, under a Conduct of the _Devil_, very
strangely Emulating what the Blessed God gave to _Israel_ in the
Wilderness.
_Acosta_, is our Author for it, that the Devil in their Idol
_Vitzlipultzli_, governed that mighty Nation. 'He commanded them to
leave their Country, promising to make them _Lords_ over all the
Provinces possessed by _Six_ other Nations of Indians, and give them a
Land abounding with all precious things. They went forth, carrying their
Idol with them, in a Coffer of _Reeds_, supported by Four of their
Principal _Priests_; with whom he still _Discoursed_ in secret,
Revealing to them the Successes, and Accidents of their way. He advised
them, when to _March_, and where to _Stay_, and without his Commandment
they moved not. The first thing they did, where-ever they came, was to
Erect a _Tabernacle_, for their false god; which they set always in the
midst of their Camp, and they placed the _Ark_ upon an _Alter_. When
they, Tired with pains, talked of, _proceeding no further_ in their
Journey, than a certain pleasant Stage, whereto they were arrived, this
Devil in one Night, horribly kill'd them that had started this Talk, by
pulling out their Hearts. And so they passed on till they came to
_Mexico_.'
The Devil which _then_ thus imitated what was in the Church of the _Old
Testament_, now among _Us_ would Imitate the Affairs of the Church in
the _New_. The _Witches_ do say, that they form themselves much after
the manner of _Congregational Churches_; and that they have a _Baptism_
and a _Supper_, and _Officers_ among them, abominably Resembling those
of our Lord.
But there are many more of these Bloody _Imitations_, if the Confessions
of the _Witches_ are to be Received; which I confess, ought to be but
with very much Caution.
What is their stricking down with a fierce _Look_? What is their making
of the Afflicted _Rise_, with a touch of their _Hand_? What is their
Transportation thro' the _Air_? What is their Travelling _in Spirit_,
while their Body is cast into a Trance? What is their causing of
_Cattle_ to run mad and perish? What is their Entring their Names in a
_Book_? What is their coming together from all parts, at the Sound of a
_Trumpet_? What is their Appearing sometimes Cloathed with _Light_ or
_Fire_ upon them? What is their Covering of themselves and their
Instruments with _Invisibility_? But a Blasphemous Imitation of certain
Things recorded about our Saviour or His Prophets, or the Saints in the
Kingdom of God.
A SECOND CURIOSITIE.
II. In all the _Witchcraft_ which now Grievously Vexes us, I know not
whether anything be more Unaccountable, than the Trick which the Witches
have to render themselves, and their Tools _Invisible_. _Witchcraft_
seems to be the Skill of Applying the _Plastic Spirit_ of the World,
unto some unlawful purposes, by means of a Confederacy with _Evil
Spirits_. Yet one would wonder how the _Evil Spirits_ themselves can do
some things; especially at _Invisibilizing_ of the Grossest Bodies. I
can tell the Name of an Ancient Author, who pretends to show the _way_,
how a man may come to walk about _Invisible_, and I can tell the Name
of another Ancient Author, who pretends to Explode that way. But I will
not speak too plainly Lest I should unawares Poison some of my
_Readers_, as the pious _Hemingius_ did one of his _Pupils_, when he
only by way of Diversion recited a _Spell_, which, they had said, would
cure _Agues_. This much I will say; The notion of procuring
_Invisibility_, by any _Natural Expedient_, yet known, is, I Believe, a
meer PLINYISM; How far it may be obtained by a _Magical Sacrament_, is
best known to the Dangerous Knaves that have try'd it. But our _Witches_
do seem to have got the knack: and this is one of the Things, that make
me think, _Witchcraft_ will not be fully understood, until the day when
there shall not be one Witch in the World.
There are certain people very _Dogmatical_ about these matters; but I'll
give them only these three Bones to pick.
First, One of our bewitched people, was cruelly assaulted by a
_Spectre_, that, she said, ran at her with a _spindle_: tho' no body
else in the Room, could see either the _Spectre_ or the _spindle_. At
last, in her miseries, giving a snatch at the _Spectre_, she pull'd the
_spindle_ away, and it was no sooner got into her hand, but the other
people then present, beheld, that it was indeed a Real, Proper, Iron
_spindle_, belonging they knew to whom; which when they lock'd up very
safe, it was nevertheless by _Demons_ unaccountably stole away, to do
further mischief.
Secondly, Another of our bewitched people, was haunted with a most
abusive _Spectre_, which came to her, she said, with a _sheet_ about
her. After she had undergone a deal of Teaze, from the Annoyance of the
_Spectre_, she gave a violent snatch at the sheet, that was upon it;
wherefrom she tore a corner, which in her hand immediately became
_Visible_ to a Roomful of Spectators; a palpable Corner of a Sheet. Her
Father, who was now holding her, catch'd that he might keep what his
Daughter had so strangely siezed, but the unseen _Spectre_ had like to
have pull'd his hand off, by endeavouring to wrest it from him; however
he still held it, and I suppose has it, still to show; it being but a
few hours ago, namely about the beginning of this _October_, that this
Accident happened; in the family of one _Pitman_, at _Manchester_.
Thirdly, A young man, delaying to procure Testimonials for his Parents,
who being under confinement on suspicion of _Witchcraft_, required him
to do that service for them, was quickly pursued with odd
Inconveniences. But once above the Rest, an Officer going to put his
_Brand_ on the Horns of some _Cows_, belonging to these people, which
tho' he had siez'd for some of their debts, yet he was willing to leave
in their possession, for the subsistance of the poor Family; this young
man help'd in holding the Cows to be thus branded. The three first
_Cows_ he held well enough; but when the hot Brand was clap'd upon the
Fourth, he _winc'd_ and _shrunk_ at such a Rate, as that he could hold
the Cow no longer. Being afterwards Examined about it, he confessed,
that at that very instant when the _Brand_ entered the _Cow's Horn_,
exactly the like burning _Brand_ was clap'd upon his own Thigh; where he
has exposed the lasting marks of it, unto such as asked to see them.
Unriddle these Things,--_Et Eris mihi magnus Apollo._
A THIRD CURIOSITIE.
III. If a Drop of _Innocent Blood_ should be shed, in the Prosecution of
the _Witchcrafts_ among us, how unhappy are we! For which cause, I
cannot express my self in better terms, than those of a most Worthy
Person, who lives near the present Center of these things. _The Mind of
+God+ in these matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with due
Circumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who
transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend justice and
yet intend mischief._ But on the other side, if the storm of Justice do
now fall only on the Heads of those guilty _Witches_ and _Wretches_
which have defiled our Land, _How Happy!_
The Execution of some that have lately Dyed, has been immediately
attended, with a strange Deliverance of some, that had lain for many
years, in a most sad Condition, under, they knew not whose _evil hands_.
As I am abundantly satisfy'd, That many of the Self-Murders committed
here, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody _Witchcraft_, letting
fly _Demons_ upon the miserable _Seneca's_; thus, it has been admirable
unto me to see, how a Devilish _Witchcraft_, sending Devils upon them,
has driven many poor people to _Despair_, and persecuted their minds,
with such Buzzes of _Atheism_ and _Blasphemy_, as has made them even run
_distracted with Terrors_: And some long _Bow'd down_ under such a
_spirit of Infirmity_, have been marvelously Recovered upon the death of
the Witches.
One _Whetford_ particularly ten years ago, challenging of _Bridget
Bishop_ (whose Trial you have had) with steeling of a Spoon, _Bishop_
threatned her very direfully: presently after this, was _Whetford_ in
the Night, and in her Bed, visited by _Bishop_, with one _Parker_, who
making the Room light at their coming in, there discoursed of several
mischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last they pull'd her out, and
carried her unto the Sea-side, there to _drown_, her; but she calling
upon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury.
From that very time, this poor _Whetford_ was utterly spoilt, and grew a
Tempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, and
all about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay,
till those women were Apprehended, by the Authority; _then_ she began to
mend; and upon their Execution, was presently and perfectly Recovered,
from the ten years madness that had been upon her.
A FOURTH CURIOSITIE.
IV. 'Tis a thousand pitties, that we should permit our Eyes, to be so
_Blood-shot_ with passions, as to loose the sight of many wonderful
things, wherein the Wisdom and Justice of God, would be Glorify'd. Some
of those things, are the frequent \Apparitions\ of Ghosts, whereby many
Old \Murders\ among us, come to be considered. And, among many instances
of this kind, I will single out one, which concerned a poor man, lately
_Prest_ unto Death, because of his Refusing to _Plead_ for his Life. I
shall make an Extract of a Letter, which was written to my Honourable
Friend, _Samuel Sewal_, Esq.; by Mr. _Putman_, to this purpose;
'The Last Night my Daughter _Ann_, was grievously Tormented by Witches,
Threatning that she should be _Pressed_ to Death, before _Giles Cory_.
But thro' the Goodness of a Gracious God, she had at last a little
Respite. Whereupon there appeared unto her (she said) a man in a Winding
Sheet, who told her that _Giles Cory_ had Murdered him, by _Pressing_
him to Death with his Feet; but that the Devil there appeared unto him,
and Covenanted with him, and promised him, _He should not be Hanged._
The Apparition said, God Hardned his heart; that he should not hearken
to the Advice of the Court, and so Dy an easy Death; because as it said,
_It must be done to him as he has done to me._ The Apparition also said,
That _Giles Cory_, was carry'd to the Court for this, and that the Jury
had found the Murder, and that her Father knew the man, and the thing
was done before she was born. Now Sir, This is not a little strange to
us; that no body should Remember these things, all the while that _Giles
Cory_ was in Prison, and so often before the Court. For all people now
Remember very well, (and the Records of the Court also mention it,) That
about Seventeen Years ago, _Giles Cory_ kept a man in his House, that
was almost a Natural Fool: which Man Dy'd suddenly. A Jury was
impannel'd upon him, among whom was Dr. _Zorobbabel Endicot_; who found
the man bruised to Death, and having clodders of Blood about his Heart.
The Jury, whereof several are yet alive brought in the man Murdered; but
as if some Enchantment had hindred the Prosecution of the Matter, the
Court Proceeded not against _Giles Cory_, tho' it cost him a great deal
of Mony to get off.' Thus the Story.
_The Reverend and Worthy Author, having at the Direction of His
EXCELLENCY the Governour, so far Obliged the Publick, as to give some
Account of the Sufferings brought upon the Countrey by +Witchcraft+; and
of the Tryals which have passed upon several Executed for the Same:_
_Upon Perusal thereof, We find the Matters of Fact and Evidence, Truly
reported. And a Prospect given, of the +Methods of Conviction+, used in
the Proceedings of the Court at +Salem+_
Boston Octob. 11. William Stoughton
1692. Samuel Sewall.
But is _New-England_, the only Christian Countrey, that hath undergone
such Diabolical Molestations? No, there are other Good people, that have
in this way been harassed; but none in circumstances more like to
_Ours_, than the people of God, in _Sweedland_. The story is a very
Famous one; and it comes to Speak English by the Acute Pen of the
Excellent and Renowned Dr. _Horneck_. I shall only single out a few of
the more Memorable passages therein Occurring; and where it agrees with
what happened among ourselves, my Reader shall understand, by my
inserting a Word of every such thing in \Black Letter\.
I. It was in the Year 1669. and 1670. That at _Mohra_ in _Sweedland_,
the \Devils\ by the help of \Witches\, committed a most horrible outrage.
Among other Instances of Hellish Tyranny there exercised. One was, that
Hundreds of their Children, were usually in the Night fetcht from their
Lodgings, to a Diabolical Rendezvouz, at a place they called,
_Blockula_, where the Monsters that so Spirited them, \Tempted\ them all
manner of Ways to \Associate\ with them. Yea, such was the perillous
Growth of this _Witchcraft_, that Persons of Quality began to send their
Children into other Countries to avoid it.
II. The Inhabitants had earnestly sought God by \Prayer\; and \Yet\
their Affliction \Continued\. Whereupon \Judges\ had a Special
\Commission\ to find and root out the Hellish Crew; and the rather,
because another County in the Kingdom, which had been so molested, was
delivered upon the Execution of the _Witches_.
III. The \Examination\, was begun with a Day of \Humiliation\; appointed
by Authority. Whereupon the Commissioners \Consulting\, how they might
resist such a Dangerous Flood, the \Suffering Children\, were first
Examined; and tho' they were Questioned \One\ by \One\ apart, yet their
\Declarations All Agreed\. The \Witches\ Accus'd in these Declarations,
were then Examined; and tho' at first they obstinately \Denied\, yet at
length many of them ingeniously \Confessed\ the Truth of what the
children had said; owning with Tears, that the \Devil\, whom they call'd
_Locyta_, had \Stopt\ their \Mouths\; but he being now \Gone\ from them,
they could \No Longer Conceal\ the Business. The things by them
\Acknowledged\, most wonderfully \Agreed\ with what other Witches, in
other places had confessed.
IV. They confessed, that they did use to \Call upon\ the \Devil\, who
thereupon would \Carry\ them away, over the Tops of Houses, to a Green
Meadow, where they gave themselves unto him. Only one of them said,
That sometimes the _Devil_ only took away her \Strength\, leaving her
\Body\ on the ground; but she went at other times in \Body\ too.
V. Their manner was to come into the \Chambers\ of people, and fetch away
their children upon Beasts, of the Devils providing: promising \Fine
Cloaths\ and other Fine Things unto them, to inveagle them. They said,
they never had power to do thus, till of late; but now the Devil did
\Plague\ and \Beat\ them, if they did not gratifie him, in this piece of
Mischief. They said, they made use of all sorts of \Instruments\ in their
Journeys! Of \Men\, of \Beasts\, of \Posts\; the _Men_ they commonly laid
asleep at the place, whereto they rode them; and if the children
mentioned the \Names\ of them that stole them away, they were miserably
\Scurged\ for it, until some of them were killed. The \Judges\ found the
marks of the Lashes on some of them; but the Witches said, \They would
Quickly vanish\. Moreover the Children would be in \strange Fits\, after
they were brought Home from these Transportations.
VI. The \First Thing\, they said, they were to do at _Blockula_, was to
give themselves unto the Devil, and \Vow\ that they would serve him.
Hereupon, they \cut their Fingers\, and with \Blood\ writ their \Names\
in his \Book\. And he also caused them to be \Baptised\ by such
\Priests\, as he had, in this Horrid company. In \some\ of them, the
\Mark\ of the \cut Finger\ was to be found; they said, that the Devil
gave \Meat\ and \Drink\, as to _Them_, so to the Children they brought
with them: that afterwards their Custom was to _Dance_ before him; and
_swear_ and _curse_ most horribly; they said, that the Devil show'd them
a great, Frightful, Cruel _Dragon_, telling them, \If they confessed any
Thing\, he would let loose that Great Devil upon them; they added, that
the Devil had a \Church\, and that when the \Judges\ were coming, he
told them, \he would kill them all\; and that some of them had
\Attempted to Murder the Judges\, but \could not\.
VII. Some of the \Children\, talked much of a \White Angel\, which did
use to \Forbid\ them, what the Devil had bid them to do, and \Assure\
them that these doings would \Not last long\; but that what had been
done was permitted for the wickedness of the People. This \White Angel\,
would sometimes rescue the Children, from \Going in\, with the Witches.
VIII. The Witches confessed many mischiefs done by them, declaring with
what kind of \Enchanted Tools\, they did their Mischiefs. They sought
especially to \kill the Minister\ of _Elfdale_, but could not. But some of
them said, that such as they wounded, would \Be recovered\, upon or before
their Execution.
IX. The \Judges\ would fain have seen them show some of their \Tricks\;
but they Unanimously declared, that, \Since they had confessed\, all,
they found all their \Witchcraft\ gone; and the Devil then Appeared very
Terrible unto them, threatning with an \Iron Fork\, to thrust them into
a Burning Pit, if they persisted in their Confession.