The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (vol. 2 of 3)

PART II.

A Letter to Mr. C. M. containing a Narrative of two Visits given by him and others to Margaret Rule. p. 13

With a repetition of a former Letter sent to him, to offer a Meeting with him. p. 16

As also the repetition of a former Letter, requesting Information in some Doctrinalls relating to Witchcraft. Ibid

A Letter of Mr. C. M. wherein he declines speaking to those Doctrinalls; Denying some parts of the Narrative, and defending others. The feeling the Imp owned, &c. p. 19

The Copy of a Paper Subscribed by several, testifying Margaret Rule's being held up by Invisible Hands from the Bed. p. 22

A Letter to Mr. C. M. relating to the Narrative, again Praying, an Answer to the Doctrinalls. p. 23

The Copy of a Paper shewing what Sense the Indians had of the Actions here, and what esteem they had thereby taken up of our Ministers. p. 25

A Letter to Mr. C. M. again repeating several Fundamental Doctrinalls, opposite to the Doctrine of Witchcraft, as now understood, praying his Confirmation or Confutation thereof. p. 26

A Letter to Mr C. M. (after minding him of his promise, viz. To give an Answer about Doctrinalls) several Passages quoted in his, and his Relations Books, that need explaining. p. 27

A Letter to Mr B. relating to the belief of Mr. C. M. which he forbad to be Coppyed. p. 30

A Letter to the Ministers repeating those Doctrinalls, sent to Mr. C. M. for his Explanation, with the Summary of his Belief, contained in those Papers, forbidden to be Coppied; as also other Doctrinalls opposite thereto, beseeching them to give their Confirmation or Confutation thereof. p. 33

A Letter to Mr S. W. relating to a Dialogue Written by him about Witchcraft, and to a Paper set forth by the President, &c. of the University, about Possessions and Enchantments. p. 38

A Letter to Mr C. M. relating to the Doctrinalls contained in a Book of Mr. R. B. Printed in London 1691. Some of the Heathen Poets Quoted as the Fountain or Original of such Doctrinalls. p. 43

A Letter to the Ministers mentioning the Doctrine of the Manishees, Demonstrating that the present Age is not free from that Infection, repeating necessary Articles of Faith opposite thereto. p. 48

A Letter to Mr. B. W. relating to the Witches Covenant. p. 52

PART III.. _the Reasons Given by Some of the People Why They Withdrew From

The Reasons given by some of the People why they withdrew from Communion, &c. with the Church at Salem-Village, and from hearing Mr. Parris their Minister, in whose House the Tragedies of Witchcraft begun. p. 55

Mr. Samuel Parris's Acknowledgement. p. 57

The Advice and Determination of the Elders and Messengers, met at Salem-Village, to Compose the Differences there. p. 59

A Letter from the People of the Village to those Elders and Messengers of the several Churches. p. 61

A state of the Controversie between Mr. Parris and his People. p. 62

A Remonstrance, with further Reasons given in by the Attorneys for the People of the Village to the Arbitrators, against Mr. Parris. p. 63

PART IV.

A Letter of a Gentleman endeavouring to prove the received opinions about Witchcraft. p. 64

An Essay to the Answer thereof. p. 77

A Second Letter of the Gentleman's further urging such Doctrines. p. 83

A Rejoinder to the former Answer. p. 87

PART V.

An Account of the matters of Fact at Salem-Village, &c. p. 90

The Examination of Mrs. Cary. p. 95

The Examination of Mr John Aldin. p. 98

Bishop alias Oliver Condemned. p. 100

An Abstract of the Ministers Advice to the Governour. p. 101

Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Sus. Martin, Eliz. How and Sarah Wildes Condemned. p. 101

The Declaration of the Foreman of the Jury, relating to words spoken by Rebecca Nurse. p. 102

Rebecca Nurses Interpretation of these words. p. 103

Mr George Burroughs, John Procter, Eliz. Procter, John Willard, George Jacobs and Martha Carryer Condemned. Ibid.

A Letter of John Procter to the Ministers. p. 104

A Letter of Margaret Jacobs to her Father. p. 105

Martha Cary, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeater, Dorcas Hore, Mary Bradbery, Margaret Scot, W. Red, Samuel Wardwel, Mary Parker, Abigail Falkner, Rebecca Emes, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, and Abigail Hobs Condemned. p. 106

Giles Cary Prest to Death. Ibid.

A Petition of Mary Easty to the Judge. p. 107

A Declaration of some that had confest themselves Guilty (at Andover.) p. 111

The Preface of Mr. C. M. in Wonders of the Invisible World, to his Account of the Tryals of five of those that were Executed at Salem. p. 113

The whole of his said Account, with one Indictment added to each Tryal, viz.

The Tryal of Mr. Burroughs. p. 114

The Tryal of Bridget Bishop. p. 120

The Tryal of Susanna Martin. p. 126

The Tryal of Elizabeth How. p. 133

The Tryal of Martha Carryer. p. 136

The Tryal of Wardwes Wife at the first Superior Court in Salem. p. 141

The Tryal of Sarah Daston at Charlestown. Ibid.

The Tryal of Mary Watkins at Boston. p. 142

The Tryal of Mr. Bennom at Hartford, in the Collony of Connecticut. Ibid.

A Proclamation for a Fast in the Province of Massachuset. p. 143

The Acknowledgement of several Jury-Men, relating to the Condemning of some for Witches. p. 144

A Postscript relating to a Book Intituled, The Life of Sir W. Phips. p. 145

Therein an Objection Answered, viz. But what are there no Witches? p. 155

SIR,

I NOW lay before you a very Entertaining Story, a Story which relates yet more Wonders of the Invisible World, a Story which tells the Remarkable Afflictions and Deliverance of one that had been Prodigiously handled by the Evil Angels. I was myself a daily Eye Witness to a large part of these Occurrences, and there may be produced Scores of Substantial Witnesses to the most of them; yea, I know not of any one Passage of the Story but what may be sufficiently attested. I do not Write it with a design of throwing it presently into the Press, but only to preserve the Memory of such Memorable things, the forgetting whereof would neither be pleasing to God, nor useful to Men; as also to give you, with some others of peculiar and obliging Friends, a sight of some Curiosities, and I hope this Apology will serve to Excuse me, if I mention, as perhaps I may, when I come to a tenth Paragraph in my Writing, some things which I would have omitted in a farther Publication.

Cotton Mather.

FOOTNOTES:

This singular "Story" does not appear to have been published by its Author, nor have I any other History of it than is found in these Pages. Nor do I find anything of a Family of the Name of Rule. Neither Farmer nor Savage have it in their genealogical Works. Yet there was a Family living for some Time at the North End of the Name of Rule. They may not have been long resident. See Note 33.

ANOTHER BRAND Pluckt out of the BURNING, Or, More Wonders of the Invisible World.

Part I. Section I.

The Afflictions of MARGARET RULE.

WIthin these few years there died in the Southern Parts a Christian Indian, who notwithstanding some of his Indian Weakness, had something of a better Character of vertue and Goodness, than many of our People can allow to most of their Country-men, that profess the Christian Religion. He had been a Zealous Preacher of the Gospel to his Neighbourhood, and a sort of Overseer, or Officer, to whose Conduct was owing very much of what good order was maintained among those Proselited Savages. This Man returning home from the Funeral of his Son, was complemented by an Englishman, expressing Sorrow for his Loss; now, tho' the Indians use upon the Death of Relations, to be the most Passionate and Outragious Creatures in the World, yet this Converted Indian Handsomly and Chearfully replid, Truly I am sorry, and I am not sorry; I am sorry that I have Buried a dear Son; but I am not sorry that the will of God is done. I know that without the will of God my son could not have died, and I know that the will of God is always just and good, and so I am satisfied. Immediately upon this, even within a few hours, he fell himself Sick of a Disease that quickly kill'd him; in the time of which Disease he called his Folks about him, earnestly perswading them to be Sincere in their Praying unto God, and beware of the Drunkenness, the Idleness, the Lying, whereby so many of that Nation disgrac'd their Profession of Christianity; adding, that he was ashamed, when he thought how little Service he had hitherto done for God; and that if God would prolong his Life he would Labour to do better Service, but that he was fully sure he was now going to the Lord Jesus Christ, who had bought him with his own Precious Blood; and for his part, he long'd to Die that he might be with his Glorious Lord; and in the mid'st of such passages he gave up the Ghost, but in such repute, that the English People of good Fashion did not think much of Travelling a great way to his Interment. Lest my Reader do now wonder why I have related this piece of a Story, I will now hasten to abate that Wonder, by telling that whereto this was intended, but for an Introduction: know then, that this remarkable Indian being a little before he Died at work in the Wood making of Tarr, there appeared unto him a Black Man, of a Terrible aspect, and more than humane Dimensions, threatning bittterly to kill him if he would not promise to leave off Preaching as he did to his Countrey-Men, and promise particularly, that if he preached any more, he would say nothing of Jesus Christ unto them? The Indian amaz'd, yet had the courage to answer, I will in spite of you go on to preach Christ more than ever I did, and the God whom I serve will keep me that you shall never hurt me. Hereupon the Apparition abating somewhat of his fierceness, offered to the Indian a Book of a considerable thickness and a Pen and Ink, and said, that if he would now set his hand unto that Book, he would require nothing further of him; but the Man refused the motion with indignation, and fell down upon his knees into a Fervent and Pious Prayer unto God, for help against the Tempter, whereupon the Demon Vanish't.

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