to come to Examination of Goodwife _C._ And about Twelve of the Clock
they went into the Meeting-House, which was thronged with Spectators.
Mr. _Noyes_ began with a very pertinent and pathetical _Prayer_; and
Goodwife _C._ being called to answer to what was alledged against her,
she desired to go to _Prayer_, which was much wondred at, in the
presence of so many hundred People: The Magistrates told her, they would
not admit it; they came not there to hear her Pray, but to Examine her,
in what was Alledged against her. The Worshipful Mr. _Hathorne_ asked
her, _Why she afflicted those Children?_ She said, she did not Afflict
them. He asked her, who did then? She said, _I do not know; How should I
know?_ The Number of the Afflicted Persons were about that time Ten,
_viz._ Four Married Women, Mrs. _Pope_, Mrs. _Putman_, Goodwife
_Bibber_, and an Ancient Woman, named _Goodall_; three Maids, _Mary
Walcut_, _Mercy Lewes_, at _Thomas Putman's_, and a Maid at _Dr.
Griggs's_; there were three Girls from 9 to 12 Years of Age, each of
them, or thereabouts, _viz._ _Elizabeth Parris_, _Abigail Williams_, and
_Ann Putman_; these were most of them at Goodwife _C.'s_ Examination,
and did vehemently Accuse her in the Assembly of Afflicting them, by
_Biting_, _Pinching_, _Strangling_, _&c._ And that they in their Fits
see her Likeness coming to them, and bringing a _Book_ to them; she
said, she had no _Book_; they affirmed, she had a _Yellow Bird_, that
used to suck betwixt her Fingers, and being asked about it, if she had
any _Familiar Spirit_, that attended her? she said, _She had no
Familiarity with any such thing._ She was a _Gospel Woman_: Which Title
she called her self by; and the Afflicted Persons told her, Ah! she was
_A Gospel Witch_. _Ann Putman_ did there affirm, that one day when
Lieutenant _Fuller_ was at Prayer at her Father's House, she saw the
shape of Goodwife _C._ and she thought Goodwife _N._ Praying at the same
time to the Devil; she was not sure it was Goodwife _N._ she thought it
was; but very sure she saw the shape of Goodwife _C._ The said _C._
said, they were poor distracted Children, and no heed to be given to
what they said. Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Noyes_ replyed, It was the
Judgment of all that were present, they were _Bewitched_, and only she
the Accused Person said, they were _Distracted_. It was observed several
times, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of Examination,
the Persons afflicted were bitten on their Arms and Wrists, and produced
the _Marks_ before the Magistrates, Ministers, and others. And being
watched for that, if she did but _Pinch_ her Fingers, or _Grasp_ one
Hand hard in another, they were Pinched, and produced the _Marks_ before
the Magistrates, and Spectators. After that, it was observed, that if
she did but lean her _Breast_ against the Seat in the Meeting-House,
(being the _Bar_ at which she stood), they were afflicted. Particularly
Mrs. _Pope_ complained of grievous Torment in her _Bowels_, as if they
were torn out. She vehemently accused the said _C._ as the Instrument,
and first threw her Muff at her; but that flying not home, she got off
her _shoe_, and hit Goodwife _C._ on the Head with it. After these
Postures were watched, if the said _C._ did but stir her Feet, they were
afflicted in their _Feet_, and stamped fearfully. The afflicted Persons
asked her, why she did not go to the Company of Witches which were
before the Meeting-House Mustering? Did she not hear the _Drum_ beat?
They accused her of having Familiarity with the _Devil_, in the time of
Examination, in the shape of a Black _Man_ whispering in her Ear; they
affirmed, that her _Yellow Bird_ sucked betwixt her Fingers in the
Assembly; and Order being given to see if there were any sign, the Girl
that saw it, said, it was too late now; she had removed a _Pin_, and put
it on her _Head_; which was found _there_ sticking upright.
They told her, she had Covenanted with the _Devil_ for ten Years, six of
them were gone, and four more to come. She was required by the
Magistrates to answer that Question in the Catechism, _How many persons
be there in the God-head?_ She answered it but oddly, yet was there no
great thing to be gathered from it; she denied all that was charged upon
her, and said, _They could not prove a Witch;_ she was that Afternoon
Committed to _Salem_ Prison; and after she was in Custody, she did not
so appear to them, and afflict them as before.
On Wednesday the _23d._ of _March_, I went to _Thomas Putman's_, on
purpose to see his Wife: I found her lying on the Bed, having had a sore
Fit a little before; she spake to me, and said, she was glad to see me;
her Husband and she both desired me to Pray with her while she was
sensible; which I did, though the Apparition said, _I should not go to
Prayer._ At the first beginning she attended; but after a little time,
was taken with a Fit; yet continued silent, and seemed to be _Asleep_:
When Prayer was done, her Husband going to her, found her in a _Fit_; he
took her off the Bed, to set her on his Knees, but at first she was so
stiff, she could not be bended; but she afterwards sat down, but quickly
began to strive violently with her _Arms_ and _Leggs_; she then began to
Complain of, and as it were to Converse Personally with, Goodwife _N._
saying, _Goodwife N. Be gone! Be gone! Be gone! are you not ashamed, a
Woman of your Profession, to afflict a poor Creature so? What hurt did I
ever do you in my life? You have but two Years to live, and then the
Devil will torment your Soul; for this your Name is blotted out of God's
Book, and it shall never be put in God's Book again; be gone for shame,
are you not afraid of that which is coming upon you? I know, I know what
will make you afraid; the wrath of an Angry God, I am sure that will
make you afraid; be gone, do not torment me, I know what you would have_
(we judged she meant, _her Soul_) _but it is out of your reach; it is
cloathed with the white Robes of Christ's Righteousness._ After this,
she seemed to dispute with the Apparition about a particular _Text_ of
Scripture. The Apparition seemed to deny it; (the Womans Eyes being fast
closed all this time) she said, _She was sure there was such a Text_,
and she would tell it; and then the Shape would be gone, for, said she,
_I am sure you cannot stand before that Text!_ Then she was sorely
Afflicted, her Mouth drawn on one side, and her Body strained for about
a Minute, and then said, _I will tell, I will tell; it is, it is, it
is_, three or four times, and then was afflicted to hinder her from
telling, at last she broke forth, and said, _It is the third Chapter of
the Revelations._ I did something scruple the reading it, and did let my
scruple appear, lest Satan should make any Superstitiously to improve
the Word of the Eternal God. However, tho' not versed in these things, I
judged I might do it this once for an Experiment. I began to _read_, and
before I had near read through the first Verse, she opened her Eyes, and
was well; this Fit continued near half an hour. Her Husband and the
Spectators told me, she had often been so relieved by reading Texts that
she named, something pertinent to her Case; as _Isa. 40.1._ _Isa. 49.1._
_Isa. 50.1._ and several others.
On Thursday the Twenty-Fourth of _March_, (being in course the
Lecture-Day at the Village,) Goodwife. _N._ was brought before the
Magistrates Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Corwin_, about Ten of the Clock in
the Forenoon, to be Examined in the Meeting-House, the Reverend Mr.
_Hale_ begun with Prayer, and the Warrant being read, she was required
to give Answer, _Why she afflicted those persons?_ She pleaded her own
Innocency with earnestness. _Thomas Putman's_ Wife, _Abigail Williams_,
and _Thomas Putman's_ Daughter accused her that she appeared to them,
and afflicted them in their Fits; but some of the others said, that they
had seen her, but knew not that ever she had hurt them; amongst which
was _Mary Walcut_, who was presently after she had so declared bitten,
and cryed out of her in the Meeting-House, producing the _Marks_ of
_Teeth_ on her wrist. It was so disposed, that I had not leisure to
attend the whole time of Examination, but both Magistrates and Ministers
told me, that the things alledged by the afflicted, and defences made by
her, were much after the same manner as the former was. And her motions
did produce like effects, as to _Biting_, _Pinching_, _Brusing_,
_Tormenting_, at their _Breasts_, by her _Leaning_, and when bended
back, were as if their Backs were broken. The afflicted Persons said,
the _Black Man_ whispered to her in the Assembly, and therefore she
could not hear what the Magistrates said unto her. They said also, that
she did then ride by the Meeting-House, behind the _Black Man_. _Thomas
Putman's_ Wife had a grievous Fit in the time of Examination, to the
very great impairing of her strength, and wasting of her spirits,
insomuch as she could hardly move hand or foot when she was carried out.
Others also were there grievously afflicted, so that there was once such
a hideous scrietch and noise (which I heard as I walked at a little
distance from the Meeting-House) as did amaze me, and some that were
within, told me the whole Assembly was struck with Consternation, and
they were afraid, that those that sate next to them were under the
Influence of _Witchcraft_. This Woman also was that day committed to
_Salem_ Prison. The Magistrates and Ministers also did inform me, that
they apprehended a Child of _Sarah G._ and examined it, being between 4
and 5 years of Age. And as to matter of Fact, they did unanimously
affirm, that when this _Child_ did but cast its Eye upon the afflicted
Persons, they were tormented; and they held her _Head_, and yet so many
as her _Eye_ could fix upon were afflicted. Which they did several times
make careful Observation of: The afflicted complained, they had often
been _Bitten_ by this Child, and produced the marks of _a small set of
teeth_ accordingly; this was also committed to _Salem_ Prison, the Child
looked _hail, and well_ as other Children. I saw it at Lieut.
_Ingersol's_. After the Commitment of Goodw. _N._ _Tho. Putman's_ Wife
was much better, and had no violent Fits at all from that _24th._ of
March, to the _5th._ of _April_. Some others also said they had not seen
her so frequently appear to them, to hurt them.
On the _25th._ of _March_ (as Capt. _Stephen Sewal_ of _Salem_ did
afterwards inform me) _Eliz. Paris_ had sore Fits at his House, which
much troubled _himself, and his Wife_, so as he told me they were almost
discouraged. She related, that the great _Black Man_ came to her, and
told her, if she would be ruled by him, she should have whatsoever she
desired, and go to a _Golden City_. She relating this to Mrs. _Sewal_,
she told the Child, it was the _Devil_, and he was a _Lyar from the
Beginning_, and bid her tell him so, if he came again: which she did
accordingly, at the next coming to her, in her Fits.
On the _26th._ of _March_, Mr. _Hathorne_, Mr. _Corwin_, and Mr.
_Higison_, were at the Prison-Keeper's House to Examine the Child, and
it told them there, it had a little _Snake_ that used to suck on the
lowest Joynt of its Fore-Finger; and when they enquired where, pointing
to other places, it told them, not there, but _there_, pointing on the
lowest Joint of the Fore-Finger, where they observed a deep Red Spot,
about the bigness of a _Flea-bite_; they asked who gave it that _Snake_?
whether the great Black Man? It said no, its Mother gave it.
The 31 of _March_ there was a _Publick Fast_ kept at _Salem_ on account
of these Afflicted Persons. And _Abigail Williams_ said, that the
Witches had a _Sacrament_ that day at an house in the Village, and that
they had _Red Bread_ and _Red Drink_. The first of _April_, _Mercy
Lewis_, _Thomas Putman's_ Maid, in her Fit, said, they did eat _Red
Bread_, like _Man's Flesh_, and would have had her eat some, but she
would not; but turned away her head, and spit at them, and said, _I will
not Eat, I will not Drink, it is Blood, &c._, she said, _That is not the
Bread of Life; that is not the Water of Life; Christ gives the Bread of
Life; I will have none of it!_ The first of _April_ also _Mercy Lewis_
aforesaid saw in her Fit a _White Man_, and was with him in a glorious
Place, which had no _Candles_ nor _Sun_, yet was full of Light and
_Brightness_; where was a great Multitude in White glittering Robes, and
they Sung the Song in the fifth of _Revelation_, the 9th verse, and the
110 _Psalm_, and the 149 _Psalm_; and said with her self, _How long
shall I stay here! let me be along with you:_ She was loth to leave this
place, and grieved that she could tarry no longer. This _white Man_ hath
appeared several times to some of them, and given them notice how long
it should be before they had another Fit, which was sometimes a day, or
day and half, or more or less, it hath fallen out accordingly.
The 3d of _April_, the Lord's-day, being Sacrament-day, at the Village,
_Goodw. C._ upon Mr. _Parris's_ naming his Text, _John 6.70._ _One of
them is a Devil_, the said _Goodw. C._ went immediately out of the
Meeting-House, and flung the Door after her violently, to the amazement
of the Congregation. She was afterwards seen by some in their Fits, who
said, _O +Goodw. C.+ I did not think to see you here!_ (and being at
their _Red bread and drink_) said to her, _Is this a time to receive the
Sacrament, you ran away on the Lord's-Day, and scorned to receive it in
the Meeting-House, and, Is this a time to receive it? I wonder at you!_
This is the sum of what I either saw my self, or did receive Information
from persons of undoubted Reputation and Credit.
REMARKS OF THINGS MORE THAN ORDINARY ABOUT THE
AFFLICTED PERSONS.
1. They are in their Fits tempted to be _Witches_, are shewed the List
of the Names of others, and are tortured, because they will not yeild to
Subscribe, or meddle with, or touch the BOOK, and are promised to have
present Belief if they would do it.
2. They did in the Assembly mutually _Cure_ each other, even with a
_Touch_ of their Hand, when Strangled, and otherwise Tortured; and would
endeavour to get to their Afflicted, to relieve them.
3. They did also foretel when anothers Fit was a-coming, and would say,
_Look to her!_ she will have a Fit presently, which fell out
accordingly, as many can bear witness, that heard and saw it.
4. That at the same time, when the _Accused_ Person was present, the
_Afflicted Persons_ saw her Likeness in other places of the
Meeting-House, suckling her _Familiar_, sometimes in one place and
posture, and sometimes in another.
5. That their Motions in their Fits are _Preternatural_, both as to the
manner, which is so strange as a well person could not Screw their Body
into; and as to the violence also it is preternatural being much beyond
the Ordinary force of the same person when they are in their right mind.
6. The _eyes_ of some of them in their fits are exceeding fast closed,
and if you ask a question they can give no answer, and I do believe they
cannot hear at that time, yet do they plainely converse with the
Appearances, as if they did discourse with real persons.
7. They are utterly pressed against any persons _Praying_ with them, and
told by the appearances, they shall not go to _Prayer_, so _Tho.
Putman's_ wife was told, _I should not Pray;_ but she said, _I should:_
and after I had done, reasoned with the _Appearance_, _Did not I say he
should go to Prayer._
8. The forementioned _Mary W._ being a little better at ease, the
Afflicted persons said, _she had signed the Book_; and that was the
reason she was better. Told me by _Edward Putman_.
REMARKS CONCERNING THE ACCUSED.
1. For introduction to the discovery of those that afflicted them, It is
reported Mr. _Parris's_ Indian Man, and Woman, made a Cake of _Rye
Meal_, and the Childrens water, baked it in the Ashes, and gave it to a
Dog, since which they have discovered, and seen particular persons
hurting of them.
2. In Time of Examination, they seemed little affected, though all the
Spectators were much grieved to see it.
3. _Natural_ Actions in them produced _Preternatural_ actions in the
Afflicted, so that they are their own _Image_ without any _Poppits_ of
Wax or otherwise.
4. That they are accused to have a Company about 23 or 24 and they did
_Muster in Armes_, as it seemed to the Afflicted Persons.
5. Since they were confined, the Persons have not been so much Afflicted
with their appearing to them, _Biteing_ or _Pinching_ of them &c.
6. They are reported by the Afflicted Persons to keep dayes of _Fast_
and dayes of _Thanksgiving_, and _Sacraments_; Satan endeavours to
Transforme himself to an _Angel of Light_, and to make his Kingdom and
Administrations to resemble those of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. Satan Rages Principally amongst the Visible Subjects of Christ's
Kingdom and makes use (at least in appearance) of some of them to
Afflict others; that _Christ's Kingdom, may be divided against it self_,
and so be weakened.
8. Several things used in _England_ at Tryal of Witches, to the Number
of 14 or 15 which are wont to pass instead of, or in Concurrence with
_Witnesses_, at least 6 or 7 of them are found in these accused: see
_Keebles Statutes_.
9. Some of the most solid Afflicted Persons do affirme the same things
concerning _seeing_ the accused _out_ of their Fitts as well as _in_
them.
10. The Witches had a _Fast_, and told one of the Afflicted Girles, she
must not _Eat_, because it was _Fast Day_, she said, she _would_: they
told her they would _Choake_ her then; which when she did eat, was
endeavoured.
A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRYALS OF
THE NEW-ENGLAND WITCHES, SENT IN A LETTER FROM
THENCE, TO A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON.
Here were in _Salem_, _June 10, 1692_, about 40 persons that were
afflicted with horrible torments by _Evil Spirits_, and the afflicted
have accused 60 or 70 as Witches, for that they have _Spectral
appearances_ of them, tho the Persons are absent when they are
tormented. When these Witches were Tryed, several of them confessed a
contract with the Devil, by signing his Book, and did express much
sorrow for the same, declaring also thir _Confederate Witches_, and said
the Tempters of them desired 'em to sign the _Devils Book_, who
tormented them till they did it. There were at the time of
_Examination_, before many hundreds of Witnesses, strange Pranks play'd;
such as the taking Pins out of the Clothes of the afflicted, and
thrusting them into their flesh, many of which were taken out again by
the _Judges_ own hands. Thorns also in like kind were thrust into their
flesh; the accusers were sometimes _struck dumb, deaf, blind_, and
sometimes lay as if they were dead for a while, and all foreseen and
declared by the afflicted just before it 'twas done. Of the afflicted
there were two Girls, about _12 or 13 years of age_, who saw all that
was done, and were therefore called the _Visionary Girls_; they would
say, _Now he, or she, or they, are going to bite or pinch the Indian_;
and all there present in Court saw the visible marks on the _Indians_
arms; they would also cry out, _Now look, look, they are going to bind
such an ones Legs_, and all present saw the same person spoken of, fall
with her Legs twisted in an extraordinary manner; Now say they, we shall
all fall, and immediately 7 or 8 of the afflicted fell down, with
_terrible shrieks and Out-crys_; at the time when one of the Witches was
_sentenc'd, and pinnion'd_ with a Cord, at the same time was the
afflicted _Indian_ Servant going home, (being about 2 or 3 miles out of
town,) and had both his Wrists at the same instant bound about with a
like Cord, in the same manner as she was when she was sentenc'd, but
with that violence, that the Cord entred into his flesh, not to be
untied, nor hardly cut----Many _Murders_ are suppos'd to be in this way
committed; for these Girls, and others of the afflicted, say, _they see
Coffins, and bodies in Shrowds_, rising up, and looking on the accused,
crying, _Vengeance, Vengeance on the Murderers_----Many other strange
things were transacted before the Court in the time of their
Examination; and especially one thing which I had like to have forgot,
which is this, One of the accus'd, whilst the rest were under
Examination, was drawn up by a Rope to the Roof of the house where he
was, and would have been choak'd in all probability, had not the Rope
been presently cut; the Rope hung at the Roof by some _invisible tye_,
for there was no hole where it went up; but after it was cut the
_remainder_ of it was found in the Chamber just above, lying by the very
place where it hung down.
In _December 1692_, the Court sate again at _Salem_ in _New-England_,
and cleared about 40 persons suspected for Witches, and Condemned three.
The Evidence against these three was the same as formerly, so the
Warrant for their Execution was sent, and the _Graves digged_ for the
said three, and for about five more that had been Condemned at _Salem_
formerly, but were Repreived by the Governour.
In the beginning of _February 1693_, the Court sate at _Charles-Town_
where the Judge exprest himself to this effect.
_That who it was that obstructed the Execution of Justice, or hindred
those good proceedings they had made, he knew not, but thereby the
Kingdom of Satan was advanc'd_, &c. _and the Lord have mercy on this
Country:_ and so declined coming any more into Court. In his absence
_Mr. D----_ sate as Chief Judge 3 several days, in which time 5 or 6
were clear'd by Proclamation, and almost as many by Trial; so that all
are acquitted.
The most remarkable was an Old Woman named _Dayton_, of whom it was
said, _If any in the World were a Witch, she was one, and had been so
accounted 30 years._ I had the Curiosity to see her tried; she was a
decrepid Woman of about 80 years of age, and did not use many words in
her own defence. She was accused by about 30 Witnesses; but the matter
alledged against her was such as needed little apology, on her part not
one passionate word, or immoral action, or evil, was then objected
against her for 20 years past, only strange accidents falling out, after
some Christian admonition given by her, as saying, _God would not
prosper them, if they wrong'd the Widow._ Upon the whole, there was not
proved against her any thing worthy of Reproof, or just admonition, much
less so heinous a Charge.
So that by the _Goodness_ of God we are once more out of present danger
of this _Hobgoblin Monster_; the standing Evidence used at _Salem_ were
called, but did not appear.
There were others also at _Charles-town_ brought upon their _Tryals_,
who had formerly confess'd themselves to be Witches; but upon their
tryals deny'd it, and were all clear'd; So that at present there is no
_further prosecution of any_.
CASES of CONSCIENCE
Concerning
Evil Spirits
Personating MEN;
WITCHCRAFTS,
Infallible Proofs of Guilt in such as are
Accused with that CRIME.
All Considered according to the Scriptures, History,
Experience, and the Judgment of many Learned
MEN.
By _Increase Mather_, President of _Harvard_ Colledge at _Cambridge_,
and Teacher of a Church at _Boston_ in _New England_.
PROV. xxii. xxi.
_----That thou mightest Answer the Words of Truth, to them
that send unto thee._
_Efficiunt Daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen, quasi sint,
conspicienda hominibus exhibeant._ _Lactantius_ Lib. 2. _Instit._
Cap. 15. _Diabolus Consulitur, cum iis mediis utimur aliquid
Cognoscendi, quae a Diabolo sunt introducta._ _Ames Cas. Cons._ L. 4.
Cap. 23.
Printed at _Boston_, and Re-printed at _London_, for \John Dunton\, at
the _Raven_ in the _Poultrey_. 1693.
CHRISTIAN READER.
_So Odious and Abominable is the Name of a Witch, to the Civilized, much
more the Religious part of Mankind, that it is apt to grow up into a
Scandal for any, so much as to enter some sober cautions against the
over hasty suspecting, or too precipitant Judging of Persons on this
account. But certainly, the more execrable the Crime is, the more
critical care is to be used in the exposing of the Names, Liberties, and
Lives of Men (especially of a Godly Conversation) to the imputation of
it. The awful hand of God now upon us, in letting loose of evil Angels
among us to perpetrate such horrid Mischiefs, and suffering of Hell's
Instruments to do such fearful things as have been scarce heard of; hath
put serious persons into deep Musings, and upon curious Enquiries what
is to be done for the detecting and defeating of this tremendous design
of the grand Adversary: And, tho' all that fear God are agreed, +That no
evil is to be done, that good may come of it+; yet hath the Devil
obtained not a little of his design, in the divisions of Reuben, about
the application of this Rule._