THE Object in giving to the Public this new Edition of the _Wonders
of the Invisible World_, is mainly to preserve an accurate Reprint of
that _wonderful_ Book. At the same Time it is intended to show that
its Author has unjustly been singled out and held up to everlasting
Scorn, as though he had been the Instigator of the whole Mischief; that
from his high Standing socially he was more prominent than any other
Man, and that this occasioned his being especially held responsible
is clearly true. His ready Pen also largely contributed to place him
in the front Rank of those whom that woeful Delusion led captive; he
having written more largely upon the Subject than any other.
The first Edition of the _Wonders of the Invisible World_ was published
in Boston early in the Year 1693, at which Time _Witches_ had begun
to grow scarce; in other Words, Prosecutions had nearly ceased, and
People were seriously looking about themselves, and anxiously inquiring
what they had been about? The serious Inquirers were those (though few
in Number) who had from the Beginning had Doubts as to the Reality of
Witchcraft. When this Class began to reason, their Strength began to
concentrate, and in due Time it put an End to the Horrors which had so
strongly tended to the Ruin of the whole Community. Until this Reaction
was brought about, no Person was for a Moment safe. Notwithstanding
this frightful State of Things was thus brought to a Stand, a large
Portion of the People retained all their Faith in the Reality of
Witchcraft, and many of them exclaimed in Despair, that "the
Kingdom of Satan had prevailed," and that they were a "God-forsaken
People." In this latter Class was the Author of the _Wonders of the
Invisible World_. He never wavered in his Faith to the very End,
because his Conviction that he had espoused the Truth was stronger
than any Argument which could be brought against it. Some others of
the Ministers, and one or two of the Judges were equally sanguine
in their own Righteousness. And yet we find the following cautious
Piece of Advice given by "several Ministers to his Excellency and the
Honourable Council":--"We judge that in the Prosecution of these, and
all such Witchcrafts, there is Need of a very critical and exquisite
Caution, lest by too much Credulity for Things received only upon the
Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train of miserable
Consequences, and Satan get an Advantage over us, for we should not be
ignorant of his Devices." For all this it is not easy to discover the
Practice of any of that "exquisite Caution" in the Proceedings against
those accused.
No sooner was the Edition of the _Wonders_ printed in Boston, than
Copies were sent to London and reprinted there with all Dispatch, as
will be seen by the "_Imprimatur_" in the Front of the Work. Mr. Deodat
Lawson's "_Brief and True Narrative_" of the same Affair was printed in
Boston in 1692, by Benj. Harris, and the next Year in London by John
Dunton, in Connection with Dr. Increase Mather's "_Further Account of
the Tryals of the New England Witches_." A second (in Fact, it was
the third) Edition of Mr. Lawson's Work was issued in London in 1704,
which, though he calls it a _second Edition_ is quite a different
Book from the first Edition. In the first he inserted the Names of
the Parties, while in the last, Dashes stand in their Stead. It has
two Dedications: one "To the Right Worshipful and truly Honourable,
Sir Henry Ashhurst, Barrᵗ. and to His Truly Honourable and Religious
Consort, Lady Diana Ashhurst, Barrᵗ:" signed Deodat Lawson. The other
is "To the Worshipful and Worthily Honoured _Bartholomew Gidney_, _John
Hathorne_, and _Jonathan Corwin_, Esqrs. Together with the Reverend
_Mr. John Higginson_, Pastor, and Mr. _Nicholas Noyes_ Teacher of
the Church of Christ at Salem." Signed Deodat Lavson. It should be
mentioned also that Dr. I. Mather's "_Further Account_," &c., contains
Nothing beyond a Reprint of Lawson's Book, (first Edition) except a
"_Letter_" containing "_A further Account of the Tryals of the New
England Witches_," sent "_to a Gentleman in London_." This Letter was
added at the End of the "_Further Account_." It was probably written by
Mr. Mather to John Dunton, his Friend and Publisher, and occupies about
three additional Pages.
In this Reprint of the _Wonders_ I have followed the second Edition,
presuming that to be the most accurate, as the Copy from which it was
printed was doubtless furnished by the Author.
Very few Copies of the original Edition are known to be in Existence.
I have never owned one, and am indebted to my Friend, GEORGE BRINLEY,
Esq., for the Use of his (rather imperfect) Copy. While this Preface
was in the Hands of the Printer, my Publisher, Mr. WOODWARD, has had
the rare Fortune to obtain a very good one.
At this Period the Press literally swarmed with Works upon Witchcraft.
Dunton printed in rapid Succession all the Works from New England, and
other Publishers were equally busy. It would be a Matter of no little
Curiosity if some one would collect the Titles of the Works on this
Subject, and publish them in Book Form, with, or even without Abstracts
of their Contents. In a unique Volume now before me, belonging to
Harvard College Library--for the Loan of which I am indebted to the
Kindness of Mr. SIBLEY, the Librarian--there are several Tracts, the
Titles of which are quite as singular as any of the Mathers. One
or two I will here extract. "The Lancashire Levite Rebuk'd: or, a
Vindication of the Dissenters from Popery, Superstition, Ignorance,
and Knavery, unjustly Charged on them by Mr. Zachary Taylor in his
Book, entitled, "The Surry Impostor." Another runs thus: "The Devil
turn'd Casuist or the Cheats of Rome laid open, in the Exorcism of a
Despairing Devil, at the House of Thomas Pennington in Orrel in the
Parish of Wigan in the County of Lancaster. By Zachary Taylor, M. A.
Chaplin to the right reverend Father in God, Nicholas [Strafford] Lord
Bishop of Chester, and Rector of Wigan."
Witch Books, as they were called, of the Father Land, must have been
common among the People of New England, as will be seen by a Comparison
of the Trials of Witches in both Countries. This Comparison shows that
the accused in this Country were well acquainted with the ridiculous
Nonsense of what had been and was passing at Witch Trials in England.
The same Cant and Incoherency are visible at every Step. Insomuch, that
the Frivolity, Shallow-mindedness and Falsity were so apparent, that
they remind one of the childish Nursery Tales of Youth, and excite the
most profound Wonder how they could have ever been viewed as Matter for
serious Consideration by any Persons having any Pretensions to common
Sense.
The original Records of the Court Proceedings against those accused of
Witchcraft were never fully given to the Public, until about two Years
ago, Mr. W. Elliot Woodward, of Roxbury, caused a complete Transcript
to be made of the whole, and printed them in two Volumes, small Quarto,
uniform with this Undertaking. Those, with the present Volumes, will
put the Student of New England History in Possession of nearly all the
Materials existing upon this deeply interesting, though humiliating,
and in some respects, revolting Subject.
[Decoration]