The Wonders of the Invisible World Part 10

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 G.o.d-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 G.o.d's Book, and it shall never be put in G.o.d'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 G.o.d, 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 Superst.i.tiously to improve the Word of the Eternal G.o.d. 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 _b.r.e.a.s.t.s_, 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 a.s.sembly, 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 a.s.sembly 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 Mult.i.tude 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 a.s.sembly 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 Princ.i.p.ally 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.sionate 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, _G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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.