"December 3, 1679. Caleb Powell being complained of for suspicion of
working with ye devill to the molesting of William Morse and his
family, was by warrant directed to constable, and respited till
Monday." "December 8, (Monday) Caleb Powell appeared ... and it was
determined that sd. Morse should present ye case at ye county court
at Ipswich in March."
This order was obeyed, and the trial came on. The following is a
specimen of the testimony presented:--
"William Morse saith, together with his wife, that Thursday night being
November 27, we heard a great noyes of knocking ye boards of ye house,
whereupon myselfe and wife looks out and see nobody, but we had stones
and sticks thrown at us so that we were forced to retire.
"Ye same night, ye doore being lockt when we went to bed, we heerd a
great hog grunt in ye house, and willing to go out. That we might not be
disturbed in our sleep, I rose to let him out, and I found a hog and the
door unlockt.
"Ye next night I had a great awl that I kept in the window, the which
awl I saw fall down ye chimney into ye ashes. I bid ye boy put ye same
awl in ye cupboard which I saw done, and ye door shut too. When ye same
awl came down ye chimney again in our sight, and I took it up myselfe.
"Ye next day, being Saturday, stones, sticks and pieces of bricks came
down so that we could not quietly eat our breakfast. Sticks of fire came
downe also at ye same time.
"Ye same day in ye afternoon, my thread four times taken away and come
downe ye chimney againe; my awl and a gimlet wanting came down ye
chimney. Againe, my leather and my nailes, being in ye cover of a
firkin, taken away, and came downe ye chimney.
"The next, being Sunday, stones, sticks and brickbats came down ye
chimney. On Monday, Mr. Richardson [the minister,] and my brother was
there. They saw ye frame of my cow-house standing firm. I sent my boy to
drive ye fowls from my hog's trough. He went to ye cow-house, and ye
frame fell on him, he crying with ye hurt. In ye afternoon ye potts
hanging over ye fire did dash so vehemently one against another that we
did sett down one that they might not dash to pieces. I saw ye andiron
leap into ye pott and dance, and leap out, and again leap in, and leap
on a table and there abide. And my wife saw ye andiron on ye table. Also
I saw ye pott turn over, and throw down all ye water. Againe we see a
tray with wool leap up and downe, and throw ye wool out, and saw nobody
meddle with it. Again a tub's hoop fly off, and nobody near it. Againe
ye woolen wheele upside downe, and stood upon its end, and a spade set
on it. This myself, my wife, and Stephen Greenleaf saw. Againe my tools
fell down on ye ground, and before my boy could take them they were sent
from him. Againe when my wife and ye boy were making ye bed, ye chest
did open and shutt, ye bed-clothes would not be made to ly on ye bed,
but flew off againe.
"We saw a keeler of bread turn over. A chair did often bow to me. Ye
chamber door did violently fly together. Ye bed did move to and fro. Ye
barn-door was unpinned four times. We agreed to a big noise in ye other
room. My chair would not stand still, but was ready to throw me
backward. Ye catt was thrown at us five times. A great stone of six
pounds weight did remove from place to place. Being minded to write,
my ink-horne was hid from me, which I found covered by a ragg, and my
pen quite gone. I made a new penn, and while I was writing, one eare
of corne hitt me in ye face, and sticks, stones, and my old pen were
flung att me. Againe my spectickles were throwne from ye table, and
almost into ye hot fire. My paper, do what I could, I could hardly
keep it. Before I could dry my writing, a mammouth hat rubbed along it,
but I held it so fast that it did only blot some of it. My wife and I
being much afraid that I should not preserve ye writing, we did think
best to lay it in ye Bible. Againe ye next night I lay it there againe,
but in ye morning it was not to be found, till I found it in a box
alone. Againe while I was writing this morning I was forced to forbeare
writing any more, because I was so disturbed by many things constantly
thrown att me."