[127] _Q. D. of no Account whatever._ I do not find that the Expounders
of Proverbs have fallen upon this.
[128] One of the Original _Billa veras_ is now before me, and runs
thus: "The Deposition of Mercy Lewis Aged [19.] This Deponent
testifieth and saith that last Night Philip English and his Wife came
to mee, also Goodwife Dasten, Eliza Johnson, and Old Pharoh of Linn:
sd. Mrs. English vrged mee to set my Hand to a Booke, and told mee she
would afflict me dreadfully and kill me if I did not: Said also if I
would but touch the Booke I should bee well, or else I should never.
Mrs. English said she might bring the Book now she thought everie one
of them would bee cleared, and now at this present Time before the
Grandiury sd Philip English, his Wife, and old Pharoh, come into the
Roome, or their Shape and stroke mee on the Brest, and almost choaked
mee, and said they would strangle me if they could. _Owned before the
Grandiury upon the Oath she had taken, Janr_ 12_th,_ 169⅔. _Attests_
Robert Payne, _Foreman._" All in the Autograph of Mr. Saml. Parris,
except the Signature of Payne. See APPENDIX, NUMBER III.
[129] The "Chief Judge," it will be remembered, was Lieut. Gov.
Stoughton.
[130] The Complainants were "Mr. Thomas Putnam, and Mr. John Putnam,
Jr., of Salem Village." She is styled single Woman, "of Redding,"
and her Name is spelt Dusting, Dastin, and Dasting, in the Records.
It would be interesting to know if she was a Relative of the noted
Heroine, Hannah Dustin, of Haverhill, who slew her Indian Captors, and
escaped out of Captivity in 1697. Mr. Chase, the able Historian of
Haverhill, does not seem to have consulted the Records at Salem, as we
find nothing of this Case in his History.
[131] If this was supposed to be dealing justly by the Accused, the
Government Officers of that Day must have had a very _angular_ Idea of
Justice, as understood by upright Men of the present Day. Such a Course
reminds one of "Lidford Law," and of those sentenced "to be hanged and
to pay 40 shillings."
[132] "One that many Years since was Executed at Hartford, in
Connecticut Colony, on the Account of Witchcraft, confessed, that she
had employed Evil Spirits to be revenged on several; but that when she
would have had them do the Like to Mr. Stone (the Eminent Teacher of
the Church there) they told her, they had not leave to do it: Nor is
this to be Evaded by saying some Persons (as of late in New England)
have falsely accused themselves, for this Person was upon Rational
Grounds, thought to be a true Penitent, before her Death. We cannot
argue, that because some have failed in their cursed Attempts, that
therefore never any Succeeded. But the known Success of many was
that which emboldened others to Endeavour the Like.".--I. Mather, in
_Angelographia, To the Reader_. See, also, _Remarkable Providences_ (by
the same), Chap. V.
[_A Fast Proclaimed._]
Before this the Government Issued forth the following Proclamation.
_By the Honourable the Lieutenant Governour, Council and Assembly
of his Majesties[133] Province of the_ Massachusetts Bay, _in
General Court Assembled._
Whereas the Anger of God is not yet turned away, but his Hand is still
stretched out against his People in manifold Judgments, particularly
in drawing out to such a length the troubles of _Europe_,[134] by a
perplexing War; and more especially, respecting ourselves in this
Province, in that God is pleased still to go on in diminishing our
Substance, cutting short our Harvest, blasting our most promissing
undertakings more ways than one, unsettling of us, and by his more
Immediate hand, snatching away many out of our Embraces, by sudden and
violent Deaths, even at this time when the Sword is devouring so many
both at home and abroad, and that after many days of publick and Solemn
addressing of him. And altho considering the many Sins prevailing
in the midst of us, we cannot but wonder at the Patience and Mercy
moderating these Rebukes; yet we cannot but also fear that there is
something still wanting to accompany our Supplications. And doubtless
there are some particular Sins, which God is Angry with our _Israel_
for, that have not been duly seen and resented by us, about which God
expects to be sought if ever he turn again our Captivity.
Wherefore it is Commanded and Appointed, that _Thursday_ the Fourteenth
of _January_ next, be observed as a Day of Prayer, with Fasting
throughout this Province, strictly forbidding all Servile labour
thereon; that so all Gods People may offer up fervent Supplications
unto him, for the Preservation, and Prosperity of his Majesty's Royal
Person and Government, and Success to attend his Affairs both at home
and abroad; that all iniquity may be put away which hath stirred God's
Holy jealousie against this Land; that he would shew us what we know
not, and help us wherein we have done amiss to do so no more; and
especially that whatever mistakes on either hand have been fallen into,
either by the body of this People, or any orders of men, referring to
the late Tragedy, raised among us by Satan and his Instruments, thro
the awful Judgment of God, he [144] would humble us therefor and pardon
all the Errors of his Servants and People, that desire to love his Name
and be attoned to his Land; that he would remove the Rod of the wicked
from off the Lot of the Righteous, that he would bring the _American_
Heathen, and cause them to hear and obey his Voice.
_Given at_ Boston, Decemb 17, 1696, _in the_ 8_th Year of his Majesties
Reign_.
Isaac Addington, _Secretary_.
Upon the Day of the Fast in the full Assembly at the South
Meeting-House in _Boston_ one of the Honourable Judges,[135] who had
sat in Judicature in _Salem_, delivered in a Paper, and while it was
in reading stood up, But the Copy being not to be obtained at present,
It can only be reported by Memory to this effect, _viz._ _It was to
desire the Prayers of God's People for him and his, and that God having
visited his Family,_ &c. _he was apprehensive that he might have fallen
into some Errors in the Matters at_ Salem, _and pray that the Guilt of
such Miscarriages may not be imputed either to the Country in general,
or to him or his family in particular_.
[_Jury-men's Acknowledgement._]
Some that had been of several Jewries, have given forth a Paper,
Sign'd with their own hands in these words.
W_E whose names are under written, being in the Year_ 1692, _called to
serve as Jurors in Court at_ Salem _on Tryal of many; who where by some
suspected Guilty of doing Acts of Witchcraft upon the Bodies of sundry
Persons:_
_We confess that we ourselves were not capable to understand, nor able
to withstand the mysterious delusions of the Powers of Darkness, and
Prince of the Air; but were for want of Knowledge in ourselves, and
better Information from others, prevailed with to take up with such
Evidence against the Accused, as on further consideration, and better
Information, we justly fear was insufficient for the touching the Lives
of any, Deut._ xvii. 6. _whereby we fear we have been instrumental with
others, tho Ignorently and unwittingly, to bring upon ourselves, and
this People of the Lord, the Guilt of Innocent Blood; which Sin the
Lord saith in Scripture, he would not pardon,_ 2 Kings xxiv. 4. _that
is we suppose in regard of his temporal Judgments. We do therefore
hereby signifie to all in general (and to the surviving Sufferers in
especial) our deep sense of, and sorrow for our Errors, in acting on
such Evidence to the condemning of any person._
_And do hereby declare that we justly fear that we were sadly deluded
and mistaken, for which we are much disquieted and distressed in our
minds; and do therefore humbly beg forgiveness, first of God for
Christ's sake for this our Error; And pray that God would not impute
the guilt of it to ourselves, nor_ [145] _others; and we also pray that
we may be considered candidly, and aright by the living Sufferers as
being then under the power of a strong and general Delusion, utterly
unacquainted with, and not experienced in matters of that Nature._
_We do heartily ask forgiveness of you all, whom we have justly
offended, and do declare according to our present minds, we would none
of us do such things again on such grounds for the whole World; praying
you to accept of this in way of Satisfaction for our Offence; and that
you would bless the Inheritance of the Lord, that he may be entreated
for the Land._
_Foreman, Thomas Fisk_,
_William Fisk_,
_John Bacheler_,
_Thomas Fisk, Junior_
_John Dane_,
_Joseph Evelith_,
_Thomas Perly, Senior_
_John Pebody_,
_Thomas Perkins_,
_Samuel Sayer_,
_Andrew Elliott_,
_Henry Herrick, Senior_,[136]