Part 24

II. In all the Witchcraft which now Grievously Vexes us, I know not whether anything be more Unaccountable, than the Trick which the Witches have to render themselves, and their Tools Invisible. Witchcraft seems to be the Skill of Applying the Plastic Spirit of the World, unto some unlawful purposes, by means of a Confederacy with Evil Spirits. Yet one would wonder how the Evil Spirits themselves can do some things: especially at Invisibilizing of the Grossest Bodies. I can tell the Name of an Ancient Author, who pretends to show the way, how a man may come to walk about Invisible, and I can tell the Name of another Ancient Author, who pretends to Explode that way. But I will not speak too plainly Lest I should unawares Poison some of my Readers, as the pious Hemingius did one of his Pupils, when he only by way of Diversion recited a Spell, which, they had said, would cure Agues. This much I will say; The notion of procuring Invisibility, by any Natural Expedient, yet known, is, I Believe, a meer PLINYISM; How far it may be obtained by a Magical Sacrament, is best known to the Dangerous Knaves that have try'd it. But our Witches do seem to have got the knack: and this is one of the Things, that make me think, Witchcraft will not be fully understood, until the day when there shall not be one Witch in the World.

There are certain people very Dogmatical about these matters; but I'll give them only these three Bones to pick.

First, One of our bewitched people, was cruelly assaulted by a Spectre, that, she said, ran at her with a spindle: tho' no body else in the Room, could see either the Spectre or the spindle. At last, in her miseries, giving a snatch at the Spectre, she pull'd the spindle away, and it was no sooner got into her hand, but the other people then present, beheld, that it was indeed a Real, Proper, Iron spindle, belonging they knew to whom; which when they lock'd up very safe, it was nevertheless by Demons unaccountably stole away, to do further mischief.

Secondly, Another of our bewitched people, was haunted with a most abusive Spectre, which came to her, she said, with a sheet about her. After she had undergone a deal of Teaze, from the Annoyance of the Spectre, she gave a violent snatch at the sheet that was upon it; wherefrom she tore a corner, which in her hand immediately became Visible to a Roomful of Spectators; a palpable Corner of a Sheet. Her Father, who was now holding her, catch'd that he might keep what his Daughter had so strangely seized, but the unseen Spectre had like to have pull'd his hand off, by endeavouring to wrest it from him; however he still held it, and I suppose has it still to show; it being but a few hours ago, namely about the beginning of this October, that this Accident happened; in the family of one Pitman, at Manchester.

Thirdly, A young man, delaying to procure Testimonials, for his Parents, who being under confinement on suspicion of Witchcraft, required him to do that service for them, was quickly pursued with odd Inconveniences. But once above the Rest, an Officer going to put his Brand on the Horns of some Cows, belonging to these people, which tho' he had seiz'd for some of their debts, yet he was willing to leave in their possession, for the subsistance of the poor Family; this young man help'd in holding the Cows to be thus branded. The three first Cows he held well enough; but when the hot Brand was clap'd on the Fourth, he winc'd and shrunk at such a Rate, as that he could hold the Cow no longer. Being afterwards Examined about it, he confessed, that at that very instant when the Brand entered the Cow's Horn, exactly the like burning Brand was clap'd upon his own Thigh; where he has exposed the lasting marks of it, unto such as asked to see them.

Unriddle these Things,--Et Eris mihi magnus Apollo.

A Third CURIOSITIE.

III. If a Drop of Innocent Blood should be shed, in the Prosecution of the Witchcrafts among us, how unhappy are we! For which cause, I cannot express my self in better terms than those of a most Worthy Person, who lives near the present Center of these things. The Mind of God in these matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with due Circumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend justice and yet intend mischief. But on the other side, if the storm of Justice do now fall only on the Heads of those guilty Witches and Wretches which have defiled our Land, How Happy!

The Execution of some that have lately Dyed, has been immediately attended, with a strange Deliverance of some, that had lain for many years, in a most sad Condition, under, they knew not whose evil hands. As I am abundantly satisfy'd, That many of the Self-Murders committed here, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody Witchcraft, letting fly Demons upon the miserable Seneca's; thus it has been admirable unto me to see, how a Devilish Witchcraft, sending Devils upon them, has driven many poor people to Despair, and persecuted their minds, with such Buzzes of Atheism and Blasphemy, as has made them even run distracted with Terrors: And some long Bow'd down under such a spirit of Infirmity, have been marvellously Recovered upon the death of the Witches.

One Whetford particularly ten years ago, challenging of Bridget Bishop (whose Trial you have had) with steeling of a Spoon, Bishop threatned her very direfully: presently after this, was Whetford in the Night, and in her Bed, visited by Bishop, with one Parker, who making the Room light at their coming in, there discoursed of several mischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last they pull'd her out, and carried her unto the Sea-side, there to drown her; but she calling upon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury. From that very time, this poor Whetford was utterly spoilt, and grew a Tempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, and all about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay, till those women were Apprehended by the Authority; then she began to mend; and upon their Execution, was presently and perfectly Recovered, from the ten years madness that had been upon her.

A Fourth CURIOSITIE.

IV. 'Tis a thousand pitties, that we should permit our Eyes to be so Blood-shot with passions, as to loose the sight of many wonderful things, wherein the Wisdom and Justice of God, would be Glorify'd. Some of those things, are the frequent ==Apparitions== of Ghosts, whereby many Old ==Murders== among us, come to be considered. And, among many Instances of this kind, I will single out one, which concerned a poor man, lately Prest unto Death, because of his Refusing to Plead for his Life. I shall make an Extract of a Letter, which was written to my Honourable Friend, Samuel Sewal, Esq.; by Mr. Putman, to this purpose;

'The Last Night my Daughter Ann, was grievously Tormented by Witches, Threatning that she should be Pressed to Death, before Giles Cory. But thro' the Goodness of a Gracious God, she had at last a little Respite. Whereupon there appeared unto her (she said) a man in a Winding Sheet, who told her that Giles Cory had Murdered him, by Pressing him to Death with his Feet; but that the Devil there appeared unto him, and Covenanted with him, and promised him, He should not be Hanged. The Apparition said, God Hardned his heart; that he should not hearken to the Advice of the Court, and so Dy an easy Death; because as it said, It must be done to him as he has done to me. The Apparition also said, That Giles Cory, was carry'd to the Court for this, and that the Jury had found the Murder, and that her Father knew the man, and the thing was done before she was born. Now Sir, This is not a little strange to us; that no body should Remember these things, all the while that Giles Cory was in Prison, and so often before the Court. For all people now Remember very well, (and the Records of the Court also mention it,) That about Seventeen Years ago, Giles Cory kept a man in his House, that was almost a Natural Fool: which Man Dy'd suddenly. A Jury was impannel'd upon him, among whom was Dr. Zerobbabel Endicot; who found the man bruised to Death, and having clodders of Blood about his Heart. The Jury whereof several are yet alive brought in the man Murdered; but as if some Enchantment had hindred the Prosecution of the Matter, the Court Proceeded not against Giles Cory, tho' it cost him a great deal of Mony to get off. Thus the Story,'

THE Reverend and Worthy Author, having at the Direction of His EXCELLENCY the Governour, so far Obliged the Publick, as to give some Account of the Sufferings brought upon the Countrey by Witchcraft; and of the Tryals which have passed upon several Executed for the Same:

Upon Perusal thereof, We find the Matters of Fact and Evidence, Truly reported. And a Prospect given, of the Methods of Conviction, used in the Proceedings of the Court at Salem.

Boston Octob. 11. 1692. William Stoughton Samuel Sewall.

BUT is New-England, the only Christian Countrey, that hath undergone such Diabolical Molestations? No, there are other Good people, that have in this way been harassed; but none in circumstances more like to Ours, than the people of God, in Sweedland. The story is a very Famous one; and it comes to Speak English by the Acute Pen of the Excellent and Renowned Dr. Horneck. I shall only single out a few of the more Memorable passages therein Occurring; and where it agrees with what happened among ourselves, my Reader shall understand, by my inserting a Word of every such thing in ==Black Letter==.

I. It was in the Year 1669. and 1670. That at Mohra in Sweedland, the ==Devils== by the help of ==Witches==, committed a most horrible outrage. Among other Instances of Hellish Tyranny there exercised, one was, that Hundreds of their Children, were usually in the Night fetcht from their Lodgings, to a Diabolical Rendezvouz, at a place they called, Blockula, where the Monsters that so Spirited them, ==Tempted== them all manner of Ways to ==Associate== with them. Yea, such was the perillous Growth of this Witchcraft, that Persons of Quality began to send their Children into other Countries to avoid it.

II. The Inhabitants had earnestly sought God by ==Prayer==; and ==Yet== their Affliction ==Continued==. Whereupon ==Judges== had a Special ==Commission== to find and root out the Hellish Crew; and the rather, because another County in the Kingdom, which had been so molested, was delivered upon the Execution of the Witches.

III. The ==Examination==, was begun with a Day of ==Humiliation==; appointed by Authority. Whereupon the Commissioners ==Consulting==, how they might resist such a Dangerous Flood, the ==Suffering Children==, were first Examined; and tho' they were Questioned ==One== by ==One== apart, yet their ==Declarations All Agreed==. The ==Witches== Accus'd in these Declarations, were then Examined; and tho' at first they obstinately ==Denied==, yet at length many of them ingenuously ==Confessed== the Truth of what the children had said; owning with Tears, that the ==Devil==, whom they call'd Loeyta, had stopt their ==Mouths==; but he being now ==Gone== from them, they could ==No Longer Conceal== the Business. The things by them ==Acknowledged==, most wonderfully ==Agreed== with what other Witches, in other places had confessed.

IV. They confessed, that they did use to ==Call upon== the ==Devil==, who thereupon would ==Carry== them away, over the Tops of Houses, to a Green Meadow, where they gave themselves unto him. Only one of them said, That sometimes the Devil only took away her ==Strength==, leaving her ==Body== on the ground; but she went at other times in ==Body== too.

V. Their manner was to come into the ==Chambers== of people, and fetch away their children upon Beasts, of the Devils providing: promising ==Fine Clothes== and other Fine Things unto them, to inveagle them. They said, they never had power to do thus, till of late; but now the Devil did ==Plague== and ==Beat== them, if they did not gratifie him, in this piece of Mischief. They said, they made use of all sorts of ==Instruments== in their Journeys! Of ==Men==, of ==Beasts==, of ==Posts==; the Men they commonly laid asleep at the place, whereto they rode them; and if the children mentioned the ==Names== of them that stole them away, =they= were miserably ==Scourged== for it, until some of them were killed. The ==Judges== found the marks of the Lashes on some of them; but the Witches said, ==They would Quickly vanish==. Moreover the Children would be in ==Strange Fits==, after they were brought Home from these Transportations.

VI. The ==First Thing==, they said, they were to do at Blockula, was to give themselves unto the Devil, and ==Vow== that they would serve him. Hereupon, they ==cut their Fingers==, and with ==Blood== writ their ==Names== in his ==Book==. And he also caused them to be ==Baptised== by such ==Priests==, as he had, in this Horrid company. In ==some== of them, the ==Mark== of the ==cut Finger== was to be found; they said, that the Devil gave ==Meat== and ==Drink==, as to Them, so to the Children they brought with them: that afterwards their Custom was to Dance before him; and swear and curse most horribly; they said, that the Devil show'd them a great Frightful, Cruel Dragon, telling them, ==If they confessed any Thing==, he would let loose that Great Devil upon them; they added, that the Devil had a ==Church==, and that when the ==Judges== were coming, he told them ==he would== ==kill them all==; and that some of them had ==Attempted to Murder the Judges== but ==could not==.

VII. Some of the ==Children==, talked much of a ==White Angel==, which did use to ==Forbid== them, what the Devil had bid them to do, and ==Assured== them that these doings would ==Not last long==; but that what had been done was permitted for the wickedness of the People. This ==White Angel==, would sometimes rescue the Children, from ==Going in==, with the Witches.

VIII. The Witches confessed many mischiefs done by them, declaring with what kind of ==Enchanted Tools==, they did their Mischiefs. They sought especially to ==kill the Minister== of Elfdale, but could not. But some of them said, that such as they wounded, would ==Be recovered==, upon or before their Execution.

IX. The ==Judges== would fain have seen them show some of their ==Tricks==; but they Unanimously declared, that, ==Since they had confessed==, all, they found all their ==Witchcraft== gone; and the Devil then ==Appeared very Terrible== unto them, threatning with an ==Iron Fork==, to thrust them into a Burning Pit, if they persisted in their Confession.

X. They were discovered no less than three-score and ten Witches in One Village, ==three and twenty== of which ==freely confessing== their Crimes, were condemned to dy. The rest, (==One== pretending she was with Child) were sent to Fahluna, where most of them were afterwards executed. Fifteen Children, which confessed themselves engaged in this Witchery, dyed as the rest. Six and Thirty of them between nine and sixteen years of Age, who had been less guilty, were forced to run the Gantlet, and be lashed on their hands once a Week, for a year together; twenty more who had less inclination to these Infernal enterprises, were lashed with Rods upon their Hands for three Sundays together, at the Church door; the number of the seduced Children, was about three hundred. This course, together with ==Prayers== in all the Churches thro' the Kingdom, issued in the deliverance of the Country.

XI. The most Accomplished Dr. Horneck inserts a most wise caution, in his preface to this Narrative, saies he, there is no Public Calamity, but some ill people, will serve themselves of the sad providence and make use of it for their own ends; as Thieves when an house or town is on Fire, will steal what they can. And he mentions a Remarkable Story of a young Woman, at Stockholm, in the year 1676, Who accused her own Mother of being a Witch; and swore positively, that she had carried her away in the Night; the poor Woman was burnt upon it: professing her innocency to the last. But tho' she had been an Ill Woman, yet it afterwards prov'd that she was not such an one; for her Daughter came to the Judges with hideous Lamentations, Confessing, That she had wronged her Mother, out of a wicked spite against her; whereupon the Judges gave order for her Execution too.