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No. VI.

THE

liitcl)a*ttft P^lttfion

IN

NEW ENGLAND:

ITS

Rise, Progress, and Termination,

AS EXHIBITED BY

Dr. cotton MATHER,

IN

THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD ;

AND BY

Mr. ROBERT CALEF,

IN HIS

MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD.

WITH A

iitcface, IntrotTUCtiott, antr Notes,

By SAMUEL G. DRAKE. IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

More Wonders of the Invijible World.

PRINTED FOR W. ELLIOT WOODWARD,

ROXBURY, MASS.

MDCCgLXVI.

No..

Entered according to A&. of Congrefs in the Year 1865,

By SAMUEL G. DRAKE,

in the Clerk's Office of the Diftridl Court of the United States

for the Diftria of Maflachufetts.

Edition in this size 280 Copies.

MuNSELL, Printer.

"S 2r

vi ...

PREFATORY,

BY THE EDITOR.

Y Object in this Edition of Mr. Calef's Work is fimilar to that in Dr. Mather's in the preceding Volume, namely, to give a perfectly accurate Re- print of the Work; fo that whoever has Occafion to ufe or confult it may do fo with entire Confidence. I have there- fore reprinted the original Edition of 1700, with fuch Notes as was judged might be ufeful to a certain Clafs of Readers. And having mentioned the Notes, I will fay of them here all I have to fay about them. There may be thofe who have no need of fuch Addi- tions. They can pafs them by unheeded ;

vi Prefatory^

but it was thought generally that a few Ex- planations and Additions would be a Help to the Party confulting the Work. They have been made as brief as was thought confiftent with the Subjedt.

With refped: to the original Text, it is given as exactly like the Original as a much better Type can be made to imitate an old Type of i66 Years ago. As to retaining all the Errors in the original Edition, it was thought incompatible with the general good Tafte of the Age. Some, of a peculiar Nature, if judged neceflary to £how a Peculiarity of the Times, may have been retained, and noted for fuch Peculiarity ; but a broken or imperfed: Letter is difcarded as un- worthy of Imitation ; fo tranfpofed or inverted Letters are fet right, as any good proof Reader would have done, had he noticed them in the Original \ but the Orthography of that Day is fcrupuloufly retained.

Why there was no Edition of the More Wonders of the Invijible Worlds for

by the Editor. vii

ninety-fix Years, will be found elfewhere explained. The Edition of 1796 is the firft American Edition. This bears the follow- ing Imprint: "Printed in London in the Year 1700. | Reprinted i7i SALEM, Majfa- chufetts, 1796, I By WILLIAM CARL- TON. I Sold at Gushing & Carlton's Book Store^ at the Bible \ and Hearty EJfex- Street.'' The Volume is in Duodecimo, and contains 318 Pages. The fecond Salem Edition is in the lame Form, and contains 309 Pages, exclulive of the Arti- cle headed "Giles Gory," which occupies three Pages ; hence Copies of this Edition contain 312 Pages. Its Imprint — all in fmall Capitals — is thus: "Printed in London, A. D. i/oo. | Reprinted in Sa- lem, by John D. and T. G. Gufhing, Jr. | for Gufhing and Appleton. 1823." The Publifhers of this Edition added the Arti- cle Giles Cory^ at the Suggeftion of Mr. David Pulsifer, then employed in the Office where the Witchcraft Records were kept, as he many Years ago informed

me.

viii Prefatory^

The fecond Salem Edition appears to have been copied from the firft — that of 1796. In fome Inftances flight Depart- ures are made from the Copy; and in all thefe, fuch Departures are alfo De- partures from the Original. As late as 1796, it might be expelled that fome Uniformity would have been obferved, as long as no Exad:nefs was intended in refped: to the kind of Type ufed in reprinting an old Work — Uniformity in denoting Quotations; but there is no Exad:nefs in this refped: in either Edition. In the firflj as will be feen, fometimes Brackets are ufed to diftinguifh Quotations, but generally italic Type is employed for that Purpofe. In the fecond, inverted Commas are generally ufed, fometimes Brackets. I have followed the Original, bracketing and italicifing as I find it. Inverted Commas to denote Extracts, Quotations and the pofTeffive Cafe of Nouns have been introduced by Writers and Printers mainly, fince the Time of Mr. Calef

by the Editor. ix

Nothing appears in the Book to (how whether the Author fuperintended the printing of it or otherwife. He may have reiided in London at the Time of its PubUcation, although there are fome Coniiderations that feem to lead to the Conclufion that it may have paffed through the Prefs without his Supervifion ; but, as before obferved. Nothing is known in regard to it, and it is not very probable that Anything more will ever come to Light ; yet equally ftrange Things as that would be, have happened.

Taking Liberties with old Authors is

exceedingly diftafteful to me, even where

well affured that an Author would have

gladly made a Change himfelf, had a

Defedl or Deformity been noticed by

him ; but I have not even affumed that

Refponfibility in Mr. Calef 's Work. I

have done one Thing which the Student

ought to thank me for, though he may

not. I have placed the Headings of the

different Se6tions at the Commencement

of thofe Sections, throughout the Work.

B

X Prefatory^ by the Editor.

In the original Edition thefe were omitted, probably on the fcore of Economy. They alfo ftand at the Commencement of the Book (as in the Original,) entitled " In- dex." The Benefit to the Reader, in reprinting the Captions or Contents of a Sedlion or Chapter over fuch Sedlion or Chapter will be too apparent to require Apology.

The Pagination of the Original is Ex- actly retained ; being placed at the top inner Margin in Brackets, and in the Page where the original Page begins and ends, as was done in the previous Volume.

\

I

Robert Calef, probably from England, fe Mafs., previous to 1700; rented Lands in i is ftyled Clothier; died 13th April, lyicf his Grave-ftone in the old Burying-grounI

Jofeph, went to Ipf- : wich as early as 1692; a Phyfician ; d. 28th Dec, 1707, in his 36th Year.

Mary 5 . . . fhe John, liv- Jererr.iah, liv- ROBERT, (Author of Afors Won- , m., 2dly, Tho- ing 1719 ing 1719. dcrs, &c.) ; Merchant, of Boftonjf

mas Choate, of Ipfwich.

died near the Clofe of 1722, or early in 1723, aged about 45. His Children all born in Bofton.

Robert, born jixh. Dec, 1693, had a Grant of Mill-pri- vilege in Ipfwich,

lyiSi

died 1 2th

July, 1730.

■■ Margaret, da. of Dea. John Sta- niford ; d. 7 th O6I0- ber, 1727.

Jofeph, b. 20th May, 1695, in Ipfwich. Ad- miniftrator on Eftate of his Grandfather.

I Samuel,

b. 25th

January,

1697; d.

Sept.lft,

1720.

Ebenezer.

haps, Phyfician, , of Charleftown,) d. 1 1 th Oftober,

1735-

John, b. 1725 ; Phy- = Mary, dau

fician of great Re- fpedlability ; a Loyal- iftin the Revolution ; d. at St. Andrews, N. B., 1812.

of Nathan- iel Rogers, of Ipfwich.

I. L I I I

Dfeph, Joleph, Sarah, Peter, bapt. 'ingin bapt. 3d Mary, 26th Odl.,

Jofeph, Jofeph, livingin bapt. 3d Mary, 1754. of May, bothd. 1729, died

1724; a early. 1749.

Leather-

drelTer.

Mary, bapt. 23d April, 1732, m. Stephen White, in Waltham, 5th June, 1758.

P.J

If ap m. w?

John, Capt. of a Vef- fel ; drowned at Plum Ifland on his return Voyage from the W. Indies, 1782.

Margaret, born 15th Oftober, 1748 5 m. Dr. Daniel Scott, of Bofton.

Mary, bapt.

March,

1750

14th , m.

Capt. John Dutch, of Ipfwich.

I I

Thomas Green, Bethi:

living 1740. living

i

* This Pedigree is given with the Hope that it will tend to intereft fome Defcendant to inveftiga

of the Name, and has here thrown together fuch Fa£ts as were among his Memoranda, chiefly made a

■j- Not much Confidence is felt that the Family given to this Peter is the corredl one.

j This y antes may not be the one mentioned in N. Eng. Hiji. and Gen, Reg., xiv, 271 ; but is fuppc

t of OTalet*

Roxbury, = Mary died

lefter, 1709; id 71, as by )xbury.

November 12th, 17 19.

argaret, dau. of James rton, of Newton, d Dec, 1699. She d before 17th Sept., 44-

Martha, m. Solomon Hewes, zSch Septem- ber, 1700.

Mary, m. Sam'l Ste- vens, 9th of Odlober,

1712.

I

Mary. James, b. 21ft Dec, 1702, d. young.

James, b. 24th Feb., 171 1-12, d. young.

Robert, b. 9th Mar., 17^4, d. young.

papt.

ibru-

14-5. ;Ed- ffin.

Elizabeth, b. 7th May, 1704, liv- ing in 1722.

Mary, born 25th Jan., 171 2-1 3, died young.

I I

Anne, b. Margaret, b.

7th July, 4th Odtober, 1708, m. 1710, mar- Green, li. ried Star, li.

1722. 1722.

James,J b. Nov. 1714,

7th = li.

: Abigail.

1744, but not in the Province ; perhaps the Cap- tive of 1757.

Samuel, a Cap- tive among the Indians with his Father.

' I I I 1 i i ^1

ten, John Green, Mary Green, Rebeckah Green, Jafpar Robert Mary Benjamin

' living 1740. living 1740. living 1740. Star, li. Star,li. Star, Star, li.

1740. 1740. living 1740. 1740.

Subjeft, and to compofe a Genealogy worthy of it. The Compiler of this is not acquainted with any ears ago.

I be he.

MEMOIR OF ROBERT CALEF.

HEN any Man has moral Cou- rage enough to fpeak plainly againft any Vices, Follies, or Superftitions furrounding him, he muft not only be a bold Man, but he does fo regardlefs

^ of the Coft ; for all Experience

teaches that whoever undertakes a Reformation of the Kind muft experience a Fate not altogether unhke him who waged War with the Philiftines. If the Reformer efcapes the Fury of the De- luded, and lives out his natural Time, he often lofes his focial ftanding ; is maligned, fcofFed, and fcorned by all whom he expofed, and a Multitude of thofe who follow them as their Leaders with- out knowing wherefore. It is much the fame now. The Reformer or Corrector of Opinion is hilfed and ilandered in Proportion to the Effort he makes. That is to fay, he is dealt with by Soci- ety leniently if he tells the Truth with a Sort of Provifo ; maintains his Pofition without Firmnefs, and gains but few Followers.

xii Memoir of Robert Calef,

Little is known of Robert Calef, afide from his fingle Book, and what his Enemies have thought proper to fay about him in a bitter Spirit of Detradiion. He was certainly a Man of good Education ; but how he acquired it, where and when, no Mention is found. Dr. Mather, in his Rejoinder to the More Wonders, alTails him at every Point ; but his Attainments in Literature he probably viewed as not vulnerable, as he has made no Attack on that Quarter. It is true he accufes him of being affifted in his Labors, but gives no Clue by which fuch Affiftance may be known.

Notwithftanding Mr. Calef had, by his Inde- pendence in freely arraigning the abfurd Proceed- ings againft thofe charged with imaginary Crimes, he was not without fome Popularity in Bofton, his Place of Relidence, at the Period of thofe Profecutions ; for in the Records of the Town are found the following Entries concerning him : April 1 6th, 1694, "Mr. Robert Calfe was chofen Hayward & Fence-viewer, in the Room of Mr. Edward Wyllys, who refufed to ferve." May 1 2th, 1702, he was added to the Number of the Overfeers of the Poor. On the 19th of April, 1704, Thanks were voted him for his Services in that Office. On March 12th, 1704-5, it was ordered that Mr. Calef be not charged with In- tereft on Moneys remaining in his Hands. The next Year, March loth, 1706-7, he was chofen one of the AfTefTors, but declined the Service.

Memoir of Robert Calef. xiii

The Time of the Emigration of the Family of Calef, or Calfe, to this Country has not been afcertained, nor has there been publifhed any confiderable Memorial of it. The Name is an old Englifh one ; and were Time beftowed upon it, many Items might doubtlefs be found in old . Authors of Perfons who have borne it. At Pre- fent but a Reference or two muft fuffice. In the Time of Henry III (121 6-1270,) a Sir John Calfe flouriflied, on whom a curious Epitaph may be feen in Camden s Remains. Another John Calfe has an Infcription to his Memory in St. Nicholas's Church, London, giving 1426 as the Year of his Deceafe.

It is not very remarkable that fo little is known of Robert Calef, when it is confidered that he had almoft the entire Community againft him. And lefs is learned about him than might be expected in the Perufal of his own Book. That his Character was above Reproach is evident from the Replies of Dr. Mather and his Friends, to his Queftions refped:ing the Proofs of Witchcraft. It helps one's Caufe but very little, merely to call his Antagonift "a Lyar;" and this appears to have been the heavieft Argument brought againfl Mr. Calef in Anfwer to his Statements.

In Dr. Mather's Account of the AffliBions of Margaret Rule, he thus refers to thofe who differ from him ; undoubtedly having fpecial Reference to Mr. Calef: "Yea, to do like Satan himfelf, by fly, bafe unpretending Infinuations, as if I wore not

xiv Memoir of Robert Calef.

the Modefty and Gravity which became a Minifter of the Gofpel, I could not but think myfelf un- kindly dealt withal, and the Negleds of others to do me Juftice in this Affair has caufed me to con- clude this Narrative in another hearing of fuch monftrous Injuries."

By " another hearing," is meant that he had or would take legal Steps to lilence his Opponent; for about the fame Time the Do6lor was fo an- noyed by certain Queries fent him by Mr. Calef, that he returned him Word by his (Mr. Calef's) Bearer, that he would have him arrefled for Slan- der, as he was " one of the worft of Lyars." This the Dod:or proclaimed alfo in his Pulpit. Yet Mr. Calef was always refped;ful in his Language in return, for anything that appears to the con- trary.

On the 29th of September, 1693, ^^' Calef addreffed Dr. Mather a Note, requeiliing that he would meet him at either of the Bookfellers, Richard Wilkins or Benjamin Harris. Mr. Calef delired this Meeting that they might examine together the Memoranda of what he had noted after vifiting the "poffelfed" or bewitched Perfon, Margaret Rule. At that Vilit were alfo both the Doctors Mather, Father and Son. Meantime Mr. Calef was complained of and taken into Cuftody, on the Charge of having committed a fcandalous Libel on Mr. Mather the younger ; the Com- plaint being made by both. Mr. Calef ftates that he did not remember that he had been

Memoir of Robert Calef. xv

charged with Untruth in his Report of the Ex- amination of Margaret ; but it was allerted that he had wronged Dr. Mather by his Omiffions. To which Mr. Calef repHed, that he had reported only what he faw and heard himfelf.

As to the Profecution for Libel, Mr. Calef fays he was taken to the Court of Seffions, and after waiting a while for his Accufers, none ap- peared. He was therefore difmilfed. He had had a Promife from Dr. Mather to meet him to compare Notes, but it does not appear that any Time was ftated ; and after feveral Months had elapfed Mr. Calef wrote, requesting him to fix upon a Time and Place of Meeting. A Meeting however never occurred, of the Kind defired ; but, as the only Means of getting the Doctor's Views of what he had written, he fent him a Copy of his Notes on Margaret Rule's Exhibi- tions, two of which he feems to have witnefTed. On the 15th of January, 1693-4, the Doctor wrote him a long Letter, in which he fays : " I have this to fay, as I have often already faid, that do I fcarcely find any one Thing in the whole Paper, whether refpedting my Father or felf, either fairly or truly reprefented." The Fairnefs on both Sides may be judged of, as both Papers will be found in the enfuing Work, Pages 1 3—22.

The Do6tor fent the Author, accompanying his Letter, Copies of three Depofitions, or State- ments from feveral Perfons, to the Effecfl that what he had ftated regarding the ftrange Condud:

xvi Memoir of Richard Calef,

of Margaret Rule was true ; efpecially as to the Fa6l, that ihe was by invifible Hands raifed from her Bed up to the Garret Floor, and that ftrong Men, the Byftanders, could not hold her down. The Height of the Room is not mentioned ; but one Witnefs, Samuel Aves, fays it was " a great Way ;" that fhe was lifted " towards the Top of the Room." Three others faid, this was " in Sub- ftance true." Alfo, Thomas Thornton, a Paver, faid fhe was lifted up, " fo as to touch the Garret Floor ;" , to which William Hudfon alTented in " Subflance." All of which Teftimonies, Mr. Calef ventured to iniinuate was about as true, as a Report would be that Iron would fwim on Wa- ter ; that if that Rifing in the Air without Hands a6tually took place, it was a Miracle, and if a Miracle it was wrought by the Devil. And yet it feems that Mr. Calef believed none but God himfelf could work Miracles.

^ Between the Date of his laft Letter and the 19th of February, 1693-4, inftead of anfwering Mr. Calef 's Letter, Dr. Mather fent him Word that his Library was open to him, intimating that he might find there Anfwers to any and all of his Objed:ions and Difficulties. But Mr. Calef did not avail himfelf of the Kindnefs thus tendered, though he thanked him by Letter, and at the fame Time complained that he had not written him, pointing out what he conceived to be Er-

' rors in his former Communications ; adding, " if you think Silence a Virtue in this Cafe, I iliall (I

Memoi?' of Rohe?'t Calef. xvii

fuppofe) fo far comply with it as not to loofe you any more Time to look over my Papers." This however did not end the Correfpondence ; for. on the 1 6th of April following he addrelTed a Letter to the Doctor, calling his Attention to certain PalTages in the Wonders of the Invijible Worlds and fome other " late Books of his and his Relations." After ftating a few of the Author's ftrange AfTer- tions, fuch as that the Devil caufes Wars, Plagues, and other Calamities ; that the Devil is a great Linguift ; that Suicides " are the Effe(5ts of a cruel & bloody Witchcraft," and feveral other limilar Quotations. In doling this Letter, he remarks that he is only performing what he be- lieves to be his Duty ; that he is far from doing it to gain Applaufe, or from a Love of Conten- tion ; that, on the other Hand, he expedted to make many Enemies by it.

The next Letter which he wrote to Mr. Ma- ther was dated March the ift, 1694-5. In this he fays he had waited more than a Year " for the Performance of a reiterated Promife" from him, to reply to Arguments which he had fent for his Refutation or Approval. Inftead of that pro- mifed Anfwer, he had received, through the Hand of a third Perfon, "four Sheets of re- cinded Papers." Thefe were delivered under an Injunction that no Copy was to be taken of them, and he was allowed to keep them but a Fort- night. He has given fome Account of thofe " four Sheets," and obferves that he does not won-

C

«

xviii Memoir of Robert Calef.

der at not being allowed to copy them, as they contained fo much "crude Matter and impertinent Abfurdities." Among other Things, he fent Mr. Calef Baxter's World of Spirits, charadterizing it an ungainfayable Book ; upon which Mr. Calef remarks, as aptly as fignificantly, that he knows of no "ungainfayable" Book but the Bible, and thinks no other Man who had ever read it would fo ftyle it except its Author. He is probably correft when he attributes to Mr. Baxter the Weaknefs incident to old Age, in allowing his Name to appear as the Author of The Certainty of the World of Sprits. But his own Words are more to the Point: "As to the fometime Reverend Author, let his Works praife the Re- membrance of him ; but for fuch as are either Erroneous and foifted upon him, or the Effe6l of an aged Imbecility, let them be detected that they may proceed no further."

The Experience of Mr. Calef was limilar, probably, to that of moft Reformers, both before and fmce his Time. To combat fimilar Super- ftitions at this Day would be nearly or quite as hazardous as it was then. Indeed, there have been Cafes within fome thirty Years in New England, in which Individuals have fared much worfe than Robert Calef did in Bofton more than an hundred Years before, and for no offence worthy of Notice ; neither had an Eighth of the Community a Voice in this Perfecution, while in Mr. Calef 's Cafe nine Tenths of the whole Peo-

Memoir of Robert Calef. xix

pie probably were crying out againft him. The Villainy of a fingle Lawyer, and the Imbecility of a Judge may fometimes fucceed in ruining for a Time the Character of any Citizen.

Mr. Calef feems to have been almoft alone in the Warfare he had undertaken. " How Few," he fays, " are willing to be found oppofmg fuch a Torrent, as knowing, that in fo doing, they fliall be fure to meet with Oppofition to the utmoft, from the many, both of Magiftrates, Minifters and people ; and the name of Sadducee, Atheift, and perhaps Witch too caft upon them moft liberally, by Men of the higheft Profeffion in Godlinefs." i Owing to the peculiar State of the Times when Mr. Calef wrote, he felt himfelf obliged to admit a great Deal that a Writer at a later Day would not have found it Neceffary. This will account for fome heavy Papers introduced into the Body of his Work. He had a moft difficult Tafk to perform. Like the Mariner in a Tempeft upon a Lee Shore, he needed an Eye on every Point of the Compafs, and a deep Sea Lead ever in Hand.

What Overtures, if any, he made to Printers in Bofton to print his Books, are unknown. It is pretty certain, however, that no One would have dared to undertake it. And what Agency, if any, he employed to have it done Abroad, is equally unknown. But one Thing is known ; no Book- feller had the Hardihood to offer it for Sale, or dared to give it Shop-room. He had a few

XX Memoir of Robert Calef.

Friends who flood by him, ready to fhield him, as far as was confiftent with their own Safety, but none had the Boldnefs to come out fo openly as he did. Some wrote ftrongly againft the Delu- fion, but not for PubHcation ; as Brattle of Cam- bridge, Gary of Charleftown, and Robert Paine. The Work of the laft named Gentleman has not been made public, and remains in private Hands. It is faid to be a mofl: maflerly Refutation of the Arguments made ufe of againft Witches, written in the Time of the Trials. But it feems, on a careful Perufal of Mr. Galef 's More Wonder Sy that not much more can be faid (admitting or defer- ring to a Sort of Authority which cannot be argued from,) to fhow the utter Abfurdity of the Proceedings on the Witch Trials. He has, it mufl; be admitted, exhaufted the Subjed:. It is very eafy, it is true, to fay the fame Thing, ufing different and more elegant Language, according to the prefent Standard of Elegance ; but for clofe and fuccind: Argument, the Author has not been furpaffed by his SuccefTors. His Statement of Apology for thofe poor People who had confeffed themfelves Witches, and accufed others, is highly fatisfadiory.

Mr. Galef polTefTed more than ordinary At- tainments in Literature ; he was no Stranger to legal Forms ; and as to theological Learning, was, for Soundnefs of Argument, quite fuperior to thofe who were in the Field againfl him. Thefe Fads excite a Defire to know more of his Hiftory ;

Memoir of Robert Calef. xxi

for all that has been learned about him, is that he was a " Merchant of Bofton," and that he was a Dealer in woolen Goods ; and hence the Attempt of a narrow minded Oppofition to clafs him among the Ordinary and Illiterate of the Time They alfo defcended to vulgar Epithets, calling him a Calf; his Book they call a " Firebrand, thrown by a Mad-man ;" and, " it was highly re- joycing to us, when we heard that our Book- fellers were fo well acquainted with the Integrity of our Paftors, as not one of them would admit of thofe Libels to be vended in their Shops." . This was the Language of the Men who pub- lifhed " Some few Remarks, upon a Scandalous

Book written by one Robert Calef," with

the Motto — "Truth will come off Conqueror." This Publication is dated "January 9th, 1 700-1," and purports to have been drawn up by Obadiah Gill, John Barnard, John Goodwin, William Ro- bie, Timothy Wadfworth, Robert Cumbey, and George Robinfon ; none of whom were Men of fpecial Note then or afterwards. It (hould be obferved, however, that they were Members of the Old North Church. Any further Notice of the Anfwer to the More Wonders is unnecelfary here ; but it will be ufed in the Notes occafion- ally, that the ^^ Slandered'' may fpeak for them- felves.

It was probably about the Time of the IlTue of the Sotne Few Remarks that the More Wonders was caufed to be burnt in the College Yard at

xxii Memoir of Robert Calef,

Cambridge, by Order of the Prelident, Dr. In- creafe Mather. The Burning was doubtlefs per- formed with much of Ceremony and FormaUty, but there does not appear to have been any Record made of it upon the College Books ; or if fo, the Hiftorians of the Inftitution have not men- tioned it. This Kind of Argument again ft what is fet forth in a Book, is about as effectual as that employed againft the Tide of the Ocean by an eaftern Monarch. That the Preiident of the College had no great Faith in his Argument, is pretty clear, or fo much Pains would not have been taken by him in making another Book to refute the Arguments contained in the one he had burned.

The precife Date of Mr. Calef's Death is not upon any Records which have been examined ; and the laft Time he appears to have tranfa6ted any Bufinefs requiring his Signature, was at the Regiftry of Deeds, then under the official Man- agement of John Ballantine, Efq., when he releafed a Mortgage which he held of certain Lands in Roxbury ; which Mortgage was given by Jofeph Holland and his Wife Elizabeth, and dated the nth of March, 1720. [ Of courfe, 1721, N. S. ] The Releafe was ligned by the Mortgagor, April iith, 1722. His Signature on this Occafion has been copied, and is here pre- fented.

Memoir of Robert Calef. xxiii

But a fhort Time previous to this Tranfad:ion he deeded certain Property to his Children. In this Inftrument, dated February loth, 1721, [1722, N. S.,] he ftyles himfelf Clothier, and names Children, Elizabeth, Ann, Margaret and James. Two Houfes and Land ; one in prefent Poffeffion of James Smith ; the other in his own

Polleffion ; bounded N. W. upon Street, N.

E. upon Thomas Wheeler, S. E. upon William Gold, and S. W. upon Bond Street ; alfo one Trad: of Land in Brookline ; alfo a Mortgage from James Barton, Ropemaker, referving to himfelf and his now married Wife the Ufe of the Premifes during their Lives.

The following is an Abftrad; of his Will : " I Robert Calfe of Bofton, being now in found Body and Minde doe make this my laft Will [and] appoint my well beloved Wife Executrix. After funerall Charges and all Other my jufl Debtts being paide, my Will is that my Wife [have] all my Eftate during her Widdowhood ; and in Cafe fhe fee Caus to alter her Condition by Marraig, that then Ihe fhall quitt her Admin- ifterfhip, and the Improvement of the Eftate, wholey to be for the Benneiitt of my Children ; only two hundred Pounds I will unto her upon her Marraig, and the whoolly Remainder to be difpofte of as follower Son James £100, when of Age more then any of the Reft of my Chil- dren : And allfo I give £200 ought of faid Eftate for defraying the Charges of bringing him up

xxiv Memoir of Robert Calef.

to the Collig, if he inclines to Larning, but if not then to be equaley divided among him and the Reft of my Children, viz. Elizabeth, Ann and Margaret, together with what Children it fhall plees God to give me by my prefent Wife : And it is my Will that my Daughters, Elizabeth, Ann and Margaret have an equall Proportion of all my Eftate, Perfonall and Reall, only what is before excepted unto my Son James, and that they be paid upon Marraig or at the Difcretion of my Executrix, if fhe remain a Widow, and if it pleafe God to take away my Children by Death before of Age or without Iftue the whole of my Eftate to return to my Wife or to her Difpofe.

2d of yan.y 1720.

"In Prefence of Sam^J Wentworth, John Alden, Jr. and John Tyler.

" Margaret Calfe prefented the within Will for Probat and John Alden, Jun^" and John Tyler made Oath, &c. and they together with Sami Wentworth, who is now out of the Province fet to their Hands as Witnefles in the Teftator's Pre- fence. Bofton, Feb. i8th, 1722-3.

" Samuel Sewall J Prob^"

The Teftator was too ill, it is probable, to draw up his Will himfelf, or one fo unclerical would not have appeared. The Circumftances, how-

Memoir of Robert Calef, xxv

ever, under which it was made, are entirely con- jediural. His Wife was Hving, a Widow, till about 1744; as in September of that Year her Will was proved. It was made four Years be- fore, namely, September 17th, 1740. The Items of Intereft in it here follow :

" To Grandfon Thomas Green £60 ; to Mar- garet Green £20, and a filver Porringer which her Father now has. To Ann Green £30, and a gold Necklace. To Bethiah Green £20. To John Green £20. To Mary Green £20, and to Rebeckah Green £30; all the Children of my Daughter Ann Green deceafed. To Daughter Margaret Star's four Children, namely, to Jofeph, £20; Robert, £20; Mary, £20; and Benjamin Star, £20. Clothing to be divided between Daughter Star, and Grand Daughter, Ann Green. The Remainder of Eftate to be divided between Daughter Margaret Star and Son James Calf; faid Son to be Executor if in the Province ; otherwife, Coufin Thomas Simpkins.

** Dated, January 2d, 1720. Signed,

"Margaret Calf.

"Witnefles — Abigail Weft, Barnabas Gibbs, John Swinnerton."

It was prefented for Probate by Thomas Simp- kins ; James Calf being out of the Province.

In the General Court Records Notice is given, under Date June 25th, 1723, of a "Petition of Margaret Calef, Widow, and fole Executrix of

D

xxvi Memoir of Robert Calef.

the laft Will of Robert Calef, late of Bofton, Merchant, deceafed," praying for Leave to fell a feventh Part of a Houfe and Land in Roxbury, of which faid Robert Calef died feized. The Father of Mr. Calef, alfo named Robert, had died inteftate, April 13th, 171 9, and his Wife on the 1 2th of November follovv^ing. In the Settle- ment of his Eftatc, it is ftated that the " Houfmg and Lands lying in Roxbury, cannot be divided without Prejudice and Injury ;" hence the Peti- tion before mentioned.

A few Items here follow, given for the Benefit of thofe who may hereafter defire to inveftigate the Hiftory of the Calef Family ;

Dr. Jofeph Calef died at Ipfwich, Dec. 31ft, 1707, leaving a Wife, and Children, Robert, Jo- feph, Samuel, Ebenezer, Peter and Mary. This was, doubtlefs the Emigrant to Ipfwich, where, in 1692, he had a Grant for a Fulling-mill. Jo- feph Calef was a Scout in Capt. John Goff*s Company in 1746. Mary, Widow of Jofeph Calef, married Thomas Choate of Ipfwich ; Date of Marriage is not ftated. Jofeph Calef was of Bofton, 1746, in which Year he petitioned, with others, for the Paving of Atkinfon Street.

James Calef and his Son Samuel were Cap- tives among the Indians and French ; were taken at Fort William Henry, in Auguft, 1757. Abi- gail, the Wife of James and Mother of Samuel, made Application in their behalf to the Authori- ties of the Province. No Mention is made of

Memoir of Robert Calef, xxvii

their place of Refidence. Dr. John Calef, of Ipfwich, married Margaret, Daughter of Nathan- iel and Mary (Leverett) Rogers, of the fame Town. He was born 1725.

After the bloody Fight at Pequawket, Go- vernor Dummer wrote to Eleazer Tyng : " Send down to me forthwith by the Bearer hereof, Mr. Calef, the moft intelligent Perfon among Lovell's Men returned, that I may have a perfed: Account of that Adiion." What Mr. Calef this was, does not with certainty appear.

A Mrs. Mary Calfe died at Concord, N. H., Auguft 10, 1 8 17, aged ninety-eight Years. Her firft Hufband was Samuel Bradley, who was killed by the Indians, Auguft nth, 1746. She after- wards married Robert Calfe, Efq., of Chefter, in the fame State. This is on the Authority of Mr. Bouton, in his Hijiory of Concord, who, in another Place, fays Calfe's Name was Richard. Whether Richard or Robert, he was probably a Defcendant of James, the only furviving Son of Robert, the " Merchant of Bofton." The maiden Name of Mrs. Calfe was Folfom.

When the Federal Conftitution of New Hamp- fliire was adopted (1788,) John Calfe, Efq., was chofen Secretary of the Convention. He was alfo Secretary in 1791, when the Conftitution was revifed. His Son Jofeph died at Hampftead, N. H., Auguft 6, 1854, aged 79. A John Calef was in the Old Mill Prifon, England, 1789. Jere- miah Calef, a Native of Exeter, N. H., died at

xxviii Memoir of Robert Calef,

Northfield, 23d February, 1856, aged 73 Years, 10 Months. James, an only Brother of Jere- miah, died at Sanbornton, 30th March, 1856, aged 71.

Robert Calef was an eminent Ship-mafter be- tween Bofton and London before the Revolution. His Arrival on one Occalion is thus noticed in the Gazette and News- Letter of April 5th, 1764: " In Captain Calef came PafTengers, the Captains, Edward Wendell, John Marfhall, and Dodtor Marfhall of this Town. Mrs. M^^Taggart, and her Son Gray of this Town, died of the Small- pox in London." The Autographs of feveral of the Name of Calef (always fo fpelt) are in the Writer's PofTeffion from 1755 to 1780. In 1755, Jofeph was engaged in fupplying Ships with Water. In 1 767, Jofeph Calef, probably the fame, was largely in the leather Trade. He was a Tan- ner, and his Tan-yard was in the Neighborhood of the Old Bofton Theatre.

What Time the Family of Robert Calef came to this Country has not been afcertained. It was probably in the latter Half of the feventeenth Century, and our Author may have had his Edu- cation before his Emigration. This View may be confidered probable, from a PafTage in his Preface to the More Wonders, &c.

After the Above was written, it came to my Notice, that in a Volume iflued by the Mafs. Hiji. Soc, were fome Extracts from the Diary of Cotton Mather. Alfo the following, concerning

Memoir of Robert Calef, xxix

Robert Calef, in a Memorandum-book of Dr. Belknap : " Robert Calef, Author of More Won- ders of the Invifible Worlds was a Native of Eng- land ; a young Man of good Senfe, and free from Superftition ; a Merchant in Bofton. He was furnifhed with Materials for his Work by Mr. Brattle, of Cambridge ; and his Brother, of Bof- ton ; and other Gentlemen, who were oppofed to the Salem Proceedings. E. P." [Ebenezer Pem- berton ? ]

[■iThe Epiftle to the READER.

And more efpecially to the Noble Bereans^ of this Jge^ wherever

Refiding. Gentlemen,

YOU that are freed from the Slauery of a corrupt Education; and that infpite of human Precepts^ Examples and Precfidents^ can hearken to the DiSlates of Scripture and Reafon:

For your fakes I am content^ that thefe ColleSiions of mine^ as alfo my Sentiments jhould he expofed to puhlick view. In hopes that having well conftdered^ and compared them with Scripture^ you will fee reafon^ as I do^ to quejiion a belief fo prevalent {as that here treated of) as alfo the praSiice f owing from thence ; they Jianding as nearly connext as caufe and effeSi i it being found wholly imprac- ticable^ to extirpate the latter without firji curing the former.

And if the Buffoon or Satyrical will be exerciftng their Talents^ or if the Bigots wilfully and blindly rejeSi the Tejiimonies of their own Reafon^ and more fur e word^ it is no more than what I expeSled from them.

But you Gentlemen^ I doubt not are willing to Dijiinguijh be- tween Truth and Error ^ and if this may be any furtherance to you herein.^ I Jhall not mifs my Aim.

But if you find the contrary^ and that my belief herein is any way Heterodox., I Jhall be thankful for the Information to any Learned or Reverend Perfon., or others^ that Jhall take that pains to inform

1 Tn both the fecond and third The Inhabitants of ancient Benea

Editions this Name is printed Ba- were called Beraans. The prefent

rons. The Printer probably not Aleppo occupies the Site. For the

knowing what elfe to make of it. Point, fee Ails, xvii, 1 1 .

E

4 The Preface, [i]

me better by Scripture^ or found Reafon^ which is what I have been long fee king for in this Country in vain. 2

In a time when not only England in particular^ but almoji all Europe had been labouring againji the Ufur pat ions of Tyranny and Slavery. The Englifh, America has not been behind in a Jhare in the Common calamities; more efpecially New-England, has met not only with fuch calamities as are common to the rejl^ hut with feveral aggravations enhanftng fuch Afflictions^ by the De- vajiations and Cruelties of the Barbarous Indians in their Eaftern borders^ &c.

But this is not all^ they have been harraji [on many accounts) by a more dreadful Enemy^ as will herein appear to the confederate.

P. 66. Were it as we are told in Wonders of the Invifible Worlds that the Devils were walking about our Streets with lengthned Chains making a dreadful noife in our Ears, and Brim- ftone, even without a Metaphor, was making a horrid and a hellifh ftench in our Noftrils.-^ P. 49.

And That the Devil exhibiting himfelf ordinarily as a black- Man, had decoy'd a fearful knot of Proud, Froward, Ignorant, Envious and Malitious Creatures, to lift themfelves in his horrid Service, by entring their Names in a Book tendered unto them ; and that they have had their Meetings and Sacraments, and aflb- ciated themfelves to deftroy the Kingdom of our Lord Jefus

2 This is the Remark that led me upon the Readers of his Poem the to think the Author was not a Na- Horrors fpoken of in the Text : tive of New England. An Extraft ^^^^ j^^^j^^ brought as they are taught, by Dr. Belknap, noted m the ac- unto the Brink of Hell, companying Memoir is corrobora- (That Difmal Place far from Chrifts Face, tive of the Conjefture. Where Death and Darknefs dwell :

3 See Vol. I, Pages I 2 I -2. Co- Where Gods fierce Ire kindleth the Fire,

. , , ° . , r J And Veneeance reeds the Flame

temporary with the Author, we find ^.^^^ pjj^^ oi^ooA, and Brimftone Flood,

that emment Divine, Michael Wig- ^hat none can quench the fame,

glefworth, thus poetically impreffing Day of Doom, Stanza zo8.

[2] The Preface. 5

Chrift, in thefe parts of the World ; having each of them their Spectres, or Devils Commiflionated by them, and [2] repre- fenting of them to be the Engines of their Malice, by thefe wicked Spedlres, fiezing poor People about the Country, with various and bloody Torments. And of thofe evidently preter- natural Torments fome to have died. And that they have be- witched fome even fo far, as to make them felf deftroyers, and others in many Towns, here and there languifli'd under their evil hands. The People, thus afflided, miferably fcratch'd and bit- ten ; and that the fame Invifible Furies did flick Pins in them, and fcal'd them, diftort and disjoint them, with a Thoufand other Plagues ; and fometimes drag them out of their Chambers, and carry them over Trees, and Hills Miles together, many of them being tempted to fign the Devils Laws.

P. 7. Thofe furies whereof feveral have killed more People perhaps than would ferve to make a Village, If this be the true ftate of the AffliSfions of this Country^ it is very deplorable, and beyond all other outward Calamities miferable. But if on the other fide, the Matter be as others do underjland it. That the Devil has been too hard for us by his Temptations, ftgns, and lying Won- ders, with the help of pernicious notions, formerly imbibed and pro- fe[fed', together with the Accufations of a parcel of pofjeffed, dif- traSied, or lying Wenches, accufing their Innocent Neighbours, pretending they fee their Spectres (i. e.) Devils in their likenefs Afflicting of them, and that God in righteous Judgement, [after Men had afcribed his Power to Witches, of commifflonating Devils to do thefe things) may have given them over to firong delufions to believe lyes, ^c And to let loofe the Devils of Envy, Hatred, Pride, Cruelty and Malice againfi each other; yet fiill difguifed under the Majk of Zeal for God, and left them to the branding one another, with the odious Name of Witch ; and upon the Accufation of thofe

6 TT^e Preface. [3]

, above mentioned^ Brother to Accufe and Profecute Brother^ Chtld- \j ren their Parents^ Pajiors and Teachers their immediate Flock unto death ; Shepherds becoming Wolves^ Wife Men Infatuated ; People hauled to Prifons^ with a bloody noife purfuing to^ and infulting over^ the [true] Sufferers at Execution^ while fome are fleeing from that called Jujlice^ Juft^ce itf elf fleeing before fuch Accufations^ when once it did but begin to refrain further proceedings ; and to que/iion fuch PraSiifes^ fome making their Efcape out of Prifons^ rather than by an objlinate Defence of their Innocency^ to run fo apparent hazard of their Lives ; Efiates fei%ed^ Families of Child- ren and others left to the Mercy of the Wildernefs {not to mention here the Numbers prefcribed^ dead in Prifons^ or Executed^ &c.)

All which Tragedies^ tho begun in one Town^ or rather by one Parijh^ has Plague-like fpread more than through that Country. And by its Eccho giving a brand of Infamy to this whole Country^ throughout the World.

If this were the Miferable cafe of this Country in the time thereof and that the Devil had fo far prevailed upon us in our Sentiments and ASfions^ as to draw us from fo much as looking into the Scriptures for our guidance in thefe pretended Intricacies^ lead- ing us to a trujiing in blind guides^ fuch as the corrupt practices of fome other Countries or the bloody Experiments of Bodin^^ [3] and fuch other Authors. Then tho our Cafe be moji miferable^ yet it mujl be faid of New-England, Thou hafi dejiroyed thyfelf and brought this greateji of Miferies upon thee.

4 John Bodin was a Frenchman des Sorciers, in 410. It is full of all

of great Learning, born at Angers thofe Superftitions for which the Age

1530, Some ofhisHiftorical Works in which the Author lived is cele-

were formerly in great Repute in brated. See Camerarius, Living

England as well as in France. His Library, Page 2, Edition 1625, Fol.

Work referred to above was pub- See alfo Mr. Fowler's interefting

lilhed at Paris in 1579, under the Note to the laft Salem Edition of

Title La Demonomaniet ou Traite Salem If^itchcraft, P. ix.

[3I The Preface, 7

And now whether the Witches {fuch as have made a compaSf by ) / Explicit Covenant with the Devil, having thereby obtained a power to CommiJJionate him) have been the eaufe of our miferies.

Or whether a Zeal governed by blindnefs and pajjion, and led by prefident, has not herein precipitated us into far greater wickednefs {if not Witchcrafts) than any have been yet proved againfi thofe that fuffered.

To be able to difiinguijh aright in this matter, to which of thefe two to refer our Miferies is the prefent Work. As to the former, I know of no fob er Man, much lefs Reverend Chriflian, that being ajk'd dares affirm and abide by it, that Witches have that power ; viz. to CommiJJionate Devils to kill and dejlroy. And as to the latter, it were well if there were not too much of truth in it, which remains to be demonfirated.

But here it will be f aid, what need of Raking in the Coals that lay buried in oblivion. We cannot recal thofe to Life again that have fujfered, fuppofing it were unjujily; it tends but to the expofng the ASiors, as if they had proceeded irregularly.

Truly I take this to be juji as the Devil would have it, fa much to fear difobliging men, as not to endeavour to detect his Wiles, that fo he may the fooner, and with the greater Advantages fet the fame on foot again {either here or elfewhere) fo dragging us through the Pond twice by the fame Cat.^ And if Reports do not {herein) deceive us, much the fame has been aSiing this prefent year in Scot- land. And what Kingdom or Country is it, that has not had their bloody fits and turns at it. And if this is fuch a catching difeafe, andfo univerfal, I pre fume I need make no Apology for my Endeav- ours to prevent, as far as in my power, any more fuch bloody Vi£iims or

5 That is by the fame Cord, or to the Head of a certain bow Tim -

Rope. In nautical Ufage, a Rope ber to which it was faftened by the

to do or perform a certain Service. Cat Rope ; hence the Timber is

The Anchor was formerly hoifted called the Cat-head.

8 'The Preface [4]

Sacrifices ; tho indeed I had rather any other would have undertaken fo offenfive^ tho necejjary a tajk ; yet all things weighed^ I had rather thus Expofe rnyfelf to Cenfure^ than that it Jhould be wholly omitted. Were the notions in quejiion^ innocent and harmlefs^ refpeSling the glory of God^ and well being of Men^ I Jhould not have engaged in them^ but finding them in my ejieem^fo intollerably deJlruSlive of both. This together with my being by Warrant called before the Ju/iices^ in my own fuji Vindication^ I took it to be a call from God^ to my Power^ to Vindicate his Truths againji the Pagan and Popifh Affertions., which are fo prevalent; for tho Chriflians in general do own the Scriptures to be their only Rule of Faith and Doifrine^ yet thefe Notions will tell us^ that the Scriptures have not fufficiently^ nor at all defcribed the crime of Witchcraft., whereby the culpable might be deteSfed^ tho it be pofitive in the Command to punijh it by Death ; hence the World has been from time to time perplext in the profecution of the feveral Diabolical mediums of Heathenijh and Popijh Invention., to deteSf an Imaginary Crime {not but that there are Witches., fuch as the Law of God [4] defcribesf which has produced a deluge of Blood ; hereby rendering the Commands of God not only void but dangerous.

So alfo they own Gods Providence and Government of the World., and that Tempejis and Storms.^ JffliSiions and Difeafes are of his fending ; yet thefe Notions tell us, that the Devil has the power of all thefe., and can perform them when commijfion^d by a Witch thereto., and that he has a power at the Witches call to a£i and do., without and againji the courfe of Nature., and all natural caufes.^ in ajffiiSiing and killing of Innocents ; and this is that fo many have died for.

^ It will elfewhere be feen that to argue that Witches never would

the Author makes it pretty clear, be difcovered by it. In other Words

that to difcover Witches by that where nothing is looked for nothing

Law, or who they are, has never will be found. This Subjeft will

been done. It was therefore eafy be found difcufled elfewhere.

[4-] 7Z^ Preface, 9

Alfo it is generally believed^ that if any Man has Jlrength^ it is j , from God the Almighty Being : but thefe notions will tell us, that I the Devil can make one Man as Jirong as many, which was one of the befi proofs, as it was counted, againji Mr. Burroughs the Minijler ; tho his contemporaries in the Schools during his Minority could have tejiified, that his Jirength was then as much fuperior to theirs as ever'' [fetting afide incredible Romances) it was difcovered to be fence. Thus rendering the power of God, and his providence of none EffeSl.

Thefe are fome of the deflruSiive notions of this Age, and however the afferters of them feem fometimes to value themfelves much upon Jheltring their Neighbors from Spectral Accufations. They may deferve as much thanks as that Tyrant, that having indujlrioufey obtained an unintelligible charge againft his Subjects, in matters wherein it was impojfible they Jhould be Guilty, having thereby their lives in his power, yet fuffers them of his meer Grace to live, and will be calfd gracious Lord.

It were too Icarian^ a tafk for one unfurnijh'd zuith neceffary learning, and Library, to give any Juji account, from whence fo great delufeons have fprung, and fo long continued. Tet as an Effay from thofe fcraps of reading that I have had opportunity of; it will be no great venture to fay, that Signs and Lying Wonders have been one principal caufe.

■''Samuel Webber, aged about 36, /em Witchcraft (by Woodward) ii,

teftified that fome feven or eight 113. See alfo fundry other Tefti-

Years ago he lived at Cafco Bay, monies about Mr, Burroughs's great

where Mr. B. was Minifter. Hav- Strength, ib., 123-5. ^'^o (Vol.

ing heard much ofhis great Strength, I, 153,) The Wonders of the In-

and coming to his Houfe, and in vifible World. Difcourfe about it, he told the faid s The Author's claffical Learning

Webber that he had put his Fingers was probably not very extcnfive.

into the Bung of a Barrel of " Ma- The Ufe of this mythical Name

lafes " and hfted it up and carried however may have been according

it round him. See Records of Sa- to its Acceptation in his Time.

lo The Preface. [5]

// is written o/'Juftin Martyr,^ w;/?'^ lived in the fecond Century^ that he was before his converjion a great Philofopher ; firjl in the way of the Stoicks, and after ^ of the Peripateticks, after that of the Pythagorean, and after that of the Platoniftsy^^f?^; and after all proved of Eminent ufe in the Church of Chriji ; yet a certain Author fpeaking of one Apollonius Tyaneus^" has thefe words [That the moft Orthodox themfelves began to deem him veiled with power fufficient for a Deity ; which occafioned that fo ftrange a doubt from Jujiin Martyr^ as cited by the learned Gregory^ Fol. 37. Ei ©sog^tfi ^c. If God be the creator and Lord of the World, how comes it to pafs that Apollonius his Telijms^ have fo much over-ruled the courfe of things ! for we fee that they alfo have ftilled the Waves of the Sea; and the raging of the Winds, and prevailed againft the Noifome Flies, and Incurfions of wild Beafts,] ^c. If fo Eminent and Early a Chrijiian were by thefe falfe Jhews infuch doubt ^ it is the lefs won- der in our depraved times^ to meet with what is Equivalent thereto : Befides this a certain Author informs me^ that [Julian {afterwards called the Apofiate) being inJiruSied in the Philofophy and Difciplines of the Heathen^ by Libarius his Tutor ^ by this [5] means he came to love Philofophy better than the Gofpel^ and fo by degrees turned from Chrijiianity to Heathenifm.~\

8 The Reader will not find, as he it' Apollonius Thyaneus, accord- has a Right to expeft, this Name in ing to Lempriere. A Pythagorian the common Biographical Works. Philofopher, well (killed in the Arts In the largje Work of Chaudon et of Magic; who, " one Day harangu- Delandine is a fatisfaftory Article ing the Populace at Ephefus, he under the Head Justin; who was a fuddenly exclaimed: 'Strike the Martyr of the fecond Century; yet Tyrant, ftrike him; the Blow is we meet with the Name conftantly given, he is wounded and fallen !* in Hiftory, as Jujiin Martyr; At that very Moment the Emperor Martyr being added to his proper Domitian had been flabbed at Name, to denote that he had fufFered Rome. The Magician acquired Martyrdom. He is alfo ftyled St. much Reputation when the Circum- Jujtin. ftance was known."

[5] The Preface, ii

This fame Julian did^ when Apoftate, forbid that Chrijiians Jhould be inJiruSied in the DifcipUne of the Gentiles, which {it feems) Socrates a Writer of the Ecclefiajiical Hijiory^ does acknow- ledge to be by the ftngular Providence of God; Chrijiians having then begun to degenerate from the Gofpel, and to betake themfelves to Heathenijh learning. And in the Mercury for the Month of February, 1695, there is this Account [That the Chriftian Doc- tors converfing much with the writings of the Heathen^ for the gaining of Eloquence. A Counfel was held at Carthage^ which forbad the reading of the Books of the Gentiles.']

From all which it may be eafily perceived^ that in the Primitive times of Chrijiianity^ when not only ?nany Heathen of the Vulgar; but alfo many learned Men and Philofophers had imbraced the Chrijlian Faith ; they Jlill retained a love to their Heathen-le<irning^ to which as one obferves being tranfplanted into a Chrijiian foils^foon proved productive of pernicious weeds^ which over-ran the face of the Church,^ hence it was fo deformed as the Reformation found it.

Among other pernicious Weeds arifing from this Root^ the Doc- trine of the power of Devils and Witchcraft as it is now^ and long has been underjlood., is not the leajl; the Fables of Homer, Virgil, Horace and Ovid, &c. being for the Elegancy of their Language retained then {and fo are to this day) in the fchools ; have not only introduced., but ejiablijhed fuch Doctrines to the poifoning the Chrijiian World. " . A certain Author expreffes it thus [that as the Chrijiian Schools at firji brought Men from Heathenifm to the Gofpel^ fo thefe Schools carry Men from the Gofpel to Heathenif?n, as to their great perfeSlion] and Mr. I. M. in his Remarkable Providences, gives an account that {as he calls it) an old Counfel

11 Although the Stories and Fables Minds of Scholars, diey ought to

of former Ages may, and doubdefs have none in thefe Times. This,

did, at the Period under Confidera- however, will depend on the Intelli-

tion, have a bad Influence upon the gence of Teachers.

F

12 'The Preface. [5]

did Jnathematize all thofe that believed fuch power of the Devils^ accounting it a Damnable DoSirine.^'^ But as other Evils did afterwards increafe in the Church {partly by fuch Education) fo this infenftbly grew up with them^ tho not to that degree^ as that any Counfel I have ever heard or Read of has to this day taken off thofe Anathema's ; yet after this the Church fo far declined^ that Witchcraft became a Principal^ Eccleftajiical Engine {as alfo that of Herefy was) to root up all that Jiood in their way ; and befides the ways of Tryal^ that we have Jiill in praSfice^ they invented fome.^ which were peculiar to themfelves ; which whenever they were minded to improve againji any Orthodox believer^ they could eafily make EffeSiual : That Deluge of Bloody which that Scarlet Whore has to anfwer for^ Jhed under this notion^ how amazing is it.

The firji m' England that I have read of of any note fince the Reformation^ that afferts this Do6irine^ is the famous Mr. Perkins, he {as alfo Mr. Gaul, and Mr. Bernard, hz.) feems all of them to have undertaken one Tafk. They taking notice of the Multiplicity of irregular ways to try them by^ invented by Heathen and Papifts^ made it their bufmefs and main work herein to oppofe fuch as they faw to be pernicious. And if they did not look more narrowly into it.^ hut followed the firji^ viz. Mr. Perkins whofe Education {as theirs alfo) had forefiaWd him into fuch belief whom they readily fol- lowed., it cannot be wondered at : And that they were men liable to Err., and fo not to be trujled to as perfect guides., will manifejily appear to him that Jhall fee their fever al receits laid down to deteSi them by their Prefumptive and Pofttive ones. And conftder how few

12 It is only neceflary to obferve Crown izmo or a i6mo. by John

that the Title of Dr. I. Mather's Ruffell Smith, London, 1856. This,

Work is An Effny for the Recording I think, is the firft Time the Work

of Ilhijlrious Providences, Sic.,-w\nch. was ever reprinted. It fhows the

was printed in a 1 2mo. 1684. This Author not lefs fuperftitious than

Work was elegantly reprinted in a his very credulous Son.

[6] The Preface, 13

of either have any foundation in Scripture or Reafon; and how vajily they differ from each other in both, each having his Art by himfelf which Forty or an Hundred more may as well imitate, and give theirs, ad infinitum, being without all manner of proof [6] But tho this be their main deftgn to take off People from thofe Evil and bloody ways of trial which they /peak fo much againji. Tet this does not hinder to this day, but the fame evil ways or as bad are Jiill ufed to deteSl them by, and that even among Protejiants ; and is fo far jujiified, that a Reverend Perfon has /aid lately here, how elfe Jhall we deteSi Witches ?^'^ And another being urged to prove by Scripture fuch a fort of Witch as has power to fend Devils to- kill men, replied that he did as firmly believe it as any article of his Faith. And that he {the Inquirer) did not go to the Scripture ; to learn the Myjieries of his trade or Art. What can be f aid more to Ejiablijh there Heathenijh notions and to villifie the Scriptures, our only Rule; and that after we have feen fuch dire effeSfs thereof, as has threatned the utter Extirpation of this whole Country.

And as to moji of the ASlors in thefe Tragedies, tho they are fo far from defending their Anions that they will readily own, that undue Jleps have been taken, &c. yet it feems they choofe that the fame Jhould be ASied over again, inforced by their Example, rather than that it Jhould Remain as a Warning to Pojierity, as herein they have miji it. So far are they from giving Glory to God, and taking the due Jhame to themfelves.

And now to fum up all in a few words, we have feen a Biggot- ted Zeal, Jiirring up a Blind, and moJi Bloody rage, not againji Enemies, or Irreligious proffligate Perfons. But {in Judgment of Charity, and to view) againji as Vertuous and Religious as any they

13 It would perhaps be fruitlefs to jority of the Community being of attempt a Conjefture as to who were the fame Faith, the Perfons referred to, the Ma-

14. The Preface, [6]

: have left behind them in this Country^ which have fuffered as Evil V^ doers {with the utmoji extent of rigour^ not that fo high a Charac- ter is due to all that Suffered) and this by the Tejiimony of Vile Varlets as not only were known before^ but have been further appa- rent ftnce by their Manifefi Lives^ whordoms^ inceji^ l^c. The accufations of thefe^from their Spectral Sight ^ being the chief Evi- dence againji thofe that Suffered. In which Accufations they were upheld by both Magijirates and Minijiers^ fo long as they Appre- hended themfelves in no Danger A'^

And then tho they could defend neither the DoSirine^ nor the PraSfice^ yet none of them have in fuch a publick manner as the cafe Requires^ tefiified against either ; tho at the fame time they could not but be fenfible what a Stain and lajiing Infamy they have brought upon the whole Country, to the indangering the future w elf air not only of this but of other places, induced by their Exam- ple ; if not, to an int ailing the Guilt of all the Righteous Blood that has been by the fame means Shed, by Heathen or Papijis, &c. upon themfelves, wh of e deeds they have fo far jujiified, occafioning the great Dijhonour and Blafphemy of the Name of God, Scandal- izing the Heathen, hardning of Enemies ; and as a Natural effeSt thereof, to the great Increafe of Atheifm.

I Jhall conclude only with acquainting the Reader, that of thefe ColleSlions, the firji containing more Wonders of the Inviftble World, I received of a Gentleman, who had it of the Author, and communicated it to ufe, with his exprefs confent, of which this is a true Copy.^^ As to the letters, they are for Subfiance the fame I

14 It feems that for fome Time it received the Paper from Dr. Ma- never occurred to the Rulers that ther does not appear. At the Time they might be taken for Witches; it was obtained, the Author (Dr. or " cried out upon," as the Phrafe Mather) probably had no Appre- ufed to be. henfion that any Expofition was to

15 Who the Gentleman was that follow. The very vague Note in

[6]

The Preface,

15

fent^ tho with fome fmall Variation or Addition. Touching the two Letters from a Gentleman at his requeji^ I have forhorn naming him. It is great Pity the matters of Faji, and indeed the whole^ had not been done by fome abler hana better Accomplijhed and Advantages with both natural and acquired Judgments^ but others not Appearing^ I have inforc'd myfelf to do what is done^ my other occafions Will not admit any further Scrutiny therein.

R. a

Boflon in New-England.^ Aug 11. 1697.

Proceedings Mafs. Hift. Society for 18(58, p. 288, enlightens the Reader but little. It is faid in that Note — "He [Mr. Calef] was furniflied with Materials for his Work by Mr. Brattle, of Cambridge ; and his Brother of Bofton; and other Gen- tlemen, who were oppofed to the Sakm Proceedings." This Extraft

is figned E. P. ; but the Editor of the Article referred to makes no Conjefture as for whom the Initials ftand. Perhaps they mean Ebene- zer Pemberton, though that Gentle- man was comparatively a young Man in 1697; old enough, how- ever, to have been interefted in thefe Affairs.

CDcmzzzizix

[7] The INDEX.

A

PART I.

MOTHER Brand plucked out of the Burning^ or More Wonders of the Invifihle World; written by Mr. CM. relating to the Affliaions of Margaret Rule. Page i

PART II.

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

With a repetition of a former Letter fent to him, to offer a Meeting with him. p. 10

As alfo the repetition of a former Letter, requeuing Informa- tion in fame DoSlrinalls relating to Witchcraft. Ibid A Letter of Mr. CM. wherein he declines fpeaking to thofe Doc- trinalls ; Denying fome parts of the Narrative, and defending others. The feeling the Imp owned. Sec. P- 19 The Copy of a Paper Subfcribed by fever al, tejlifying Margaret Rule's being held up by Invifible Hands from the Bed. p. 22 A Letter to Mr. CM. relating to the Narrative, again Praying, an Anfwer to the DoSirinalls P- ^3 The Copy of a Paper Jhewing what Senfe the Indians had of the Anions here, and what ejieem they had thereby taken up of our Minijiers. P* ^^

1 8 The Index. [8]

A Litter to Mr. CM. again repeating feveral Fundamental Doc-

trinalls^ oppojite to the DoSfrine of Witchcraft^ as now under-

Jiood^ praying his Confirmation or Confutation thereof p. 26

A Letter to M^ CM. [after minding him of his promife^ viz. To give an Anfwer about Do£irinalls) feveral Paffdges quoted in his^ and his Relations Books^ that need explaining. p. 27

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

[8] A Letter to the Minifters repeating thofe DoSfrinalls^ fent to Mr. CM. for his Explanation.^ with the Summary of his Be- lief contained in thofe Papers., forbidden to be Coppied ; as alfo other DoSirinalls oppofite thereto., befeeching them to give their Confirmation or Confutation thereof. p. 33

A Letter to M^ S. W. relating to a Dialogue Written by him about Witchcraft., and to a Paper fet forth by the Prefident^ &c. of the TJniverfity., about Poffejfions and Enchantments. p. 38

A Letter to Mr CM. relating to the DoSirinalls contained in a Book of Mr. R. B. Printed in London 1691. Some of the Heathen Poets Quoted as the Fountain or Original offuch Doc- trinalls. p. 43

A Letter to the Minifters mentioning the DoSfrine of the Mani- fhees, Demonjirating that the prefent Age is not free from that Infection., repeating neceffary Articles of Faith oppofite thereto.

p. 48

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

PART III.

The Reafons given by fome of the People why they withdrew from Communion^ iffc. with the Church at Salem-Village, and from hearing Mr. Parris their Minijiery in whofe Houfe the Trage- dies of Witchcraft begun. P- 55

[9]

The Index, 19

Mr. Samuel Parrif's Acknowledgement. P- 57

The Advice and Determination of the Elders and Mejfengers^ met

at Salem-Village, to Compofe the Differences there. p. 59

A Letter from the People of the Village to those Elders and Mef-

fengers of the fever al Churches. p. 61

Ajlate of the Controverfie between Mr. Parris and his People, p. 62

A Remonfirance^ with further Re afons given in by the Attorneys for

the People of the Village to the Arbitrators., againji Mr. Parris.

P- 63

PART IV.

A Letter of a Gentleman endeavouring to prove the received

opinions about Witchcraft. p. 64

An Effay to the Anfwer thereof. ?• 71

A Second Letter of the Gentleman's further urging fuch Doc- trines. P- 83

A Rejoinder to the former Anfwer. P* 87

«

PART V.

An Account of the matters of Fa6i at Salem-Village, ^c. p. 90 The Examination of Mrs. Gary. p. 95

The Examination of Mr John Aldin. p. 98

Bifhop alias Oliver Condemned. p. lOO

An AbfiraSi of the Minijiers Advice to the Governour. p. lOi [9] Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurfe, Sus. Martin, Eliz. How and

Sarah Wildes Condemned. p. lOi

The Declaration of the Foreman of the fury., relating to words

fpoken by Rebecca Nurfe. p. 102

Rebecca Nurfes Interpretation of thefe words. p. 103

M'' George Burroughs, John Prober, Eliz. Prober, John Wil-

lard, George Jacobs and Martha Carryer Condemned. Ibid. A Letter o/" John Procter to the Minijiers. p. 104

G

20 The Index. [9]

A Letter o/" Margaret Jacobs to her Father. p. 105

Martha Gary, Mary Eafty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeater, Dorcas Hore, Mary Bradbery, Margaret Scot, W. Red, Samuel Wardwel, Mary Parker, Abigail Falkner, Rebecca Ernes, Mary Lacy, Ann Fofter, «K(^ Abigail Hobs Condemned, p. 106

Giles Gary Prejl to Death. Ibid.

A Petition o/'Mary Eafty to the 'Judge. p. 107

A Declaration offome that had confeji themfelves Guilty (at Ando- ver.) p. Ill

The Preface of Mr. G. M. in Wonders of the Invifihle World^ to

his Account of the Tryals of five of thofe that were Executed at

Salem. P- 113

The whole of his faid Account, with one Indidtment added

to each Tryal, viz.

The Tryal of Mr. Burroughs. p. 1 14

The Tryal of Bridget Bifliop. p. 120

The Tryal of Sufanm Martin. p. 126

The Tryal of EWzaheth How. • P- ^33

The Tryal of Mzrtha. Garryer. p. 136

The Tryal o/'Wardwes IVife at the firjl Superior Court in Salem. p. 141

The Tryal of Sarah Dafton at Gharleftown. Ibid.

The Tryal of Mzry Watkins t7^ Bofton. p. 142

The Tryal of Mr. Bennom at Hartford, in the Collony of Con- neSiicut. Ibid.

A Proclamation for a Faji in the Province o/'Maflachufet. p. 143 The Acknowledgement of fever al Jury-Men^ relating to the Con- demning offomefor Witches. p. 144

A Pojifcript relating to a Book Intituled^ The Life of Sir W.

Phips. p. 145

Therein an ObjeSiion Anfwered^ viz. But what are there no

Witches? p. 155

^dbdbfl&^fLJj^J^Jiii^^i&^^iiii^

I NOW lay before you a very Ejitertaining Story y^^ a Story which relates yet more Won- ders of the Invilible World, a Story which tells the Remarkable AfliBions and Deliverance of one that had been Prodigioujly handled by the Evil Angels. / was myfelf a daily Eye Witnefs to a large part of thefe Occurrences, and there ?nay be produced Scores of Subjiantial WitnelTes to the 7noJi of them ; yea, I know not of any one Pajfage of the Story but what may be fuficiently attejied. I do not Write it with a defign of throwing it prefently into the Frefs, but only to preferve the Memory of fuch Metnorable things, the forgetting whereof would neither be pleafing to God, nor ufeful to Men ; as alfo to give you, with fome others of peculiar and obliging Friends, a fight of fome Curiofities, and I hope this Apology will ferve to Excufe me, if I mention, as perhaps I may, when I come to a tenth Paragraph in t?iy Writing, fome things which I would have omitted in a farther Publication.

Cotton Mather.

i"This fingular "Story" does Neither Farmer nor Savage have it

not appear to have been publiflied in their genealogical Works. Yet

by its Author, nor have I any other there was a Family living for fome

Hiflory of it than is found in thefe Time at the North End of the Name

Pages. Nor do I find anything of of Rule. They may not have been

a Family of the Name of Rule, long refident. See Note 30.

[i] ANOTHER

BRAND

Pluckt out of the

BURNING,

Or, More Wonders of the Invilible World.

w

Part I. Sediion I. The Affliaions of MARGARET RULE. Ithin thefe few years there died in the

Southern Parts a Chriftian Indian, who notwithftanding fome of his Indian Weaknefs, had fomething of a better Character of vertue and Goodnefs, than many of our People can allow to moft of their Country-men, that profefs the Chrijlian Religion^'' He had been a Zealous

i'' There were two noted Chrif- to one of thefe, probably, that the

tian Indians on Martha's Vine- Writer refers. See Book of the

yard a little previous to the Time Indians, B. ii, Ii8; or p. 182, Edi-

the Above was written ; viz., Hia- tion 1851. See alfo Appendix to

coomes and John Tokinojh. It is Ek^. Serm. of 1698, p. 90, et seq.

24 -^^ Apparition [2]

Preacher of the Gofpel to his Neighbourhood, and a fort of Overfeer, or Officer, to whofe Con- dud: was owing very much of what good order was maintained among thofe Profelited Savages. This Man returning home from the Funeral of his Son, was complemented by an EngliJhfJian, expreffing Sorrow for his Lofs; now, tho' the Indians ufe upon the Death of Relations, to be the mofi; Paffionate and Outragious Creatures in the World, yet this Converted Indian Handfomly and ChearfuUy replid. Truly I a?n forry, and I am not forry ; I am forry that I have Buried a dear Son ; but I am not forry that the will of God is done. I know that without the will of God my fon could not have died, and I know that the will [2^ of God is always juf and good, and fo I am fatisjied. Immediately upon this, even within a few hours, he fell himfelf Sick of a Difeafe that quickly kill'd him ; in the time of which Difeafe he called his Folks about him, earneftly perfwading them to be Sincere in their Praying unto God, and beware of the Drunkennefs, the Idlenefs, the Lying, whereby fo many of that Nation difgrac'd their Profeffion of Chriftianity ; adding, that he was afhamed, 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 fure he was now going to the Lord fefus Chrijl, who had bought him with his own Precious Blood; and for his part, he long'd to Die that he might be with his

[A

to An Indian, 25

Glorious Lord ; and in the mid'ft of fuch pafTages he gave up the Ghoft, but in fuch repute, that the Englijh People of good Fafliion did not think much of Travelling a great way to his Interment. Left my Reader do now wonder why I have re- lated this piece of a Story, I will now haften to abate that Wonder, by telling that whereto this was intended, but for an IntroduBion : 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 Terri- ble afpedt, and more than humane Dimenlions, threatning bittterly to kill him if he would not promife to leave off Preaching as he did to his Countrey-Men, and promife particularly, that if he preached any 7nore, he would fay nothing of Jefus Chriji unto them ? The Indian amaz'd, yet had the courage to anfwer, / will in fpite of you go on to preach Chrift more than ever I did, and the God whom I ferve will keep me that you Jhall never hurt me. Hereupon the Apparition abating fomewhat of his fiercenefs, offered to the Indian a Book of a confiderable thicknefs and a Pen and Ink, and faid, that if he would now fet his hand unto that Book, he would require nothing further of him ; but the Man refufed the motion with indignation, and fell down upon his knees into a Fervent and Pious Prayer unto God, for help againft the Tempter, whereupon the Demon Vanifh't.

This is a Story which I would never have ten- dered unto my Reader, if I had not Receiv'd it

26 Margaret Rule [3]

from an honeft and ufeful Englijh MaUy^^ who is at this time a Preacher of the Gofpel to the In- dians ; nor would the probable Truth of it have encouraged me to have tendered it, if this alfo had not been a fit introduction unto yet a further Narrative.

SeB. 2. 'Twas not much above a year or two, after this Accident (of which no manner of Noife has been made) that there was a Prodigious de- fcent of Devils upon divers places near the Centre of this Province ; wherein fome fcores of Mifera- ble People were Troubled by horrible appearances of a Black-Man^ accompanied with SpeBres, wearing thefe and thofe Humane Shapes, who of- fer'd them a Book to be by them lign'd, in token of their being Lifted for the Service of the Devil, and upon their [3] denying to do it, they were dragooned with a thoufand Preternatural Torments, which gave no little terror to the beholders of thefe unhappy Energuments. There was one in the North part of Bojion feized by the Evil An- gels many Months after the General Storm of the late Inchantments was over, and when the Coun- trey had long lain pretty quiet, both as to Molef- tations and Accufations from the INVISIBLE WORLD, her Name was Margaret Rule, a Young Woman, She was born of fober and honeft Parents, yet Living, but what her own Character was before her Vifitation, I can fpeak with the

1'5 Perhaps Capt. Thomas Tup- 1698, p. 95. There were alfo El- per. See Noyes^s Ele£lmi Ser7noj2, dad and Samuel T. — Sewall's BISS.

[3] AffliEied. 27

lefs confidence of exa6lnefs, becaufe I obferve that wherever the Devils have been let loofe to worry any Poor Creature amongft us, a great part of the Neighbourhood prefently fet themfelves to in- quire and relate all the little Vanities of their Childhood, with fuch unequal exaggerations, as to make them appear greater Sinners than any whom the Pilate of Hell has not yet Preyed upon : But it is affirm'd, that for about half a year before her Vilitation, fhe was obfervably im- proved in the hopeful fymptoms of a new Crea- ture ; She was become furioully concern'd for the everlafting Salvation of her Soul, and careful to avoid the fnares of Evil Company. This Young Woman had never feen the affliction of Mercy Short^^"^ whereof a Narrative has been already given, and yet about half a year after the glorious and lignal deliverance of that poor Damfel, this Margaret fell into an afflidion, marvellous, re- fembling hers in almoft all the circumftances of it, indeed the Afflictions were fo much alike, that the relation I have given of the one, would almoft ferve as the full Hiftory of the other, this was to that, little 7nore than the fecond part to the fame Tune ; indeed Margarets cafe was in feveral points lefs remarkable than Mercies^ and in fome other things the Entertainment did a little vary.

SeB. 3. 'twas upon the Lords Day the loth of September, in the Year 1693. that Margaret Rule,

1" Nothing is learned of this Per- this Work. There were Perfons fon beyond what is to be found in early at Newbury of the fame Name.

H

28 The Black Man [4]

after fome hours of previous difturbance in the Publick AfTembly, fell into odd Fits, which caufed her Friends to carry her home, where her Fits in a few hours grew into a Figure that fatisfied the Spectators of their being preternatural ; fome of the Neighbours were forward enough to fuf- pe6t the rife of this Mifchief in an Houfe hard- by, where lived a Miferable Woman, who had been formerly Imprifoned on the fufpicion of Witchcraft, and who had frequently Cured very painfull Hurts by muttering over them certain Charms, which I fhall not indanger the Poyfoning of my Reader by repeating. This Woman had the Evening before Margaret fell into her Ca- lamities, very bitterly treated her, and threatn'd her ; but the hazard of hurting a poor Woman that might be innocent, notwithftanding Surmizes that might have been more ftrongly grounded than thofe, cauf 'd the pious People in the Vicinity to try rather whether incelTant Supplication to God [4] alone, might not procure a quicker and fafer Eafe to the AffliBed, than hafty Profecution of any fuppof'd Criminal, and accordingly that unexceptionable courfe was all that was ever fol- lowed ; yea, which I look'd on as a token for good, the Afflidted Family was as averfe as any of us all to entertain thoughts of any other courfe.

Se5l. 4. The Young Woman was alfaulted by Fight cruel JpeBres, whereof flie imagin'd that fhe knew three or four, but the reft came ftill

[4.] Defcrihed, 29

with their Faces cover d, fo that fhe could never have a diftinguilhing view of the countenance of thofe whom llie thought Ihe knew ; fhe was very careful of my reitterated charges to forbear blazing the names, left any good Perfon fhould come_ to fuffer any blaft of Reputation thro' the cunnmg Malice of the great Accufer ; neverthelefs having fince privately named them to myfelf, I will ven- ture to fay this of them, that they are a fort of Wretches, who for thefe many years have gone under as Violent Prefumptions of Witchcraft, as perhaps any creatures yet living upon earth ; al- tho' I am farr from thinking that the Vifions of this Young Woman were Evidence enough to prove them fo. Thefe curfed SpeBres now brought unto her a Book about a Cubet long, a Book Red and thic^, but not very broad, and they demanded of her that fhe would fet her Hand to that Book, or touch it at leaft with her Hand, as a Sign of her becoming a Servant of the Devtl, upon her peremptory refufal to do what they afked, they did not after renew the profers of the Book unto her, but inftead thereof, they fell to Tormenting of her in a manner too Hellifh to be fufhciently defcrihed, in thofe Torments con- fining her to her Bed, for juft Six weeks together. SeB. 5. Sometimes, but not always together with the SpeBres, there looke't in upon the Young Woman (according to her account) a port and a Black Man, whom they call'd their Mafter — a Wight exactly of the fame Dimenfions and

30 Margaret Rule, [5]

Complexion and voice, with the Divel that has exhibited himfelf unto other infefted People, not only in other parts of this Country but alfo in other Countrys, even of the European World, as the relation of the Enchantments there inform us, they all profeft themfelves Vaffals of this Devil, and in obedience unto him they addrefs themfelves unto various w^ays of Torturing her ; accordingly ihe w^as cruelly pinch' d with Invifibk hands, very often in a Day, and the black and blew marks of the pinches became immediately vifible unto the ftanders by. Belides this, when her attendants had left her without fo much as one pin about her, that fo they might prevent fome fear'd inconveniencies ; yet fhe would ever now and then be miferably hurt with Pins which were found ftuck into her Neck, Back and Arms, however the Wounds made by the Pins would in a few minutes ordinarily be cured ; fhe would alfo be ftrangely diftorted in her Joynts, and thrown into fuch exorbitant Convulfions as [5] were aftonifhing unto the Spedlators in General ; They that could behold the doleful condition of the poor Family without fenfible compaffions, might have Intrals indeed, but I am fure they could have no true Bowels in them.

Se5i. 6. It were a moft Unchriftian and uncivil, yea a moft unreafonable thing to imagine that the Fitt's of the Young Woman were but meer Impojiures : And I believe fcarce any, but Peo- ple of a particular Dirtinefs, will harbour fuch an

[5] Nine Days Fajl, 31

Uncharitable Cenfure/° however, becaufe I know not how far the Devil may drive the Imagination of poor Creatures when he has polTeflion of them, that at another time when they are thefjifehes would fcorn to Dijfembk any thing. I fhall now confine my Narrative unto pafTages, wherein there could be no room left for any Diffimulation. Of thefe the iirft that I'll mention fhall be this; From the time that Margaret Rule firft found herfelf to be formally befieged by the SpeBres untill the Ninth Day following, namely from the Tenth of September to the Eighteenth, fhe kept an entire Faft, and yet fhe was unto all ap- pearance as Frefh, as Lively, as Hearty, at the Nine Days End, as before they began ; in all this time, tho' fhe had a very eager Hunger upon her Sto- mach, yet if any refrefhment were brought unto her, her Teeth would be fet, and fhe would be thrown into many Miferies, Indeed once or twice or fo in all this time, her Tormentors permitted her to fwallow a Mouthful of fomewhat that might increafe her Miferies, whereof a Spoonful of Rum was the mofl confiderable ; but other- wife, as I faid, her Faji unto the Ninth day was very extream and rigid : However, afterwards there fcarce palled a day wherein fhe had not liberty to take fomething or other for her Sujlten- tation. And I mufl add this further, that this

2^ If the learned Author were his own Matter, as being a more living at this Day he would doubt- dirty Work than any he then com- lefs gladly blot out many Pages of plained of.

32 Margaret Rule. [6]

bufinefs of her Faji was carried fo, that it was impoffible to be dilTembled without a Combination of Multitudes of People unacquainted with one another to fupport the Juggle, but he that can imagine fuch a thing of a Neighbourhood, fo fill'd with Vertuous People is a bafe man, I cannot call him any other.

SeB. J. But if the Sufferings of this Young Woman were not Impojiure, yet might they not be pure Diftemper ? I will not here inquire of our Saducees what fort of Diftemper 'tis' fhall ftick the Body full of Pins, without any Hand that could be ieen to ftick them ; or whether all the Pin-makers in the World would be willing to be Evaporated into certain ill habits of Body producing a Dijiemper, but of the Dijiemper my Reader ftiall be Judge when I have told him fomething further of thofe unufual Sufferings. I do believe that the Evil Angels do often take Advantage from Natural Dijiempers in the Chil- dren of Men to annoy them with fuch further Mifchiefs as we call preternatural. The Malig- nant Vapours and Humours of our Difeafed Bodies may be ufed by Devils thereinto infinu[6]ating as engine of the Execution of their Malice upon thofe Bodies ; and perhaps for this reafon one Sex may fuffer more Troubles of fome kinds from the Invijible World than the other, as well as for that reafon for which the Old Serpent made where he did his Jirjl Adddrefs. But I Pray what will you fay to this, Margaret Pule would

[6] Invifihle Powder, 33

fometimes have her Jaws forcibly' pulled open, whereupon foniething hivijible would be poured down her throat ; we all faw her fwallow, and yet we faw her try all fhe could by Spitting, Coughing and Shriking, that flie might not fwalow, but one time the ftanders by plainly faw fomething of that odd Liquor itfelf on the outlide of her Neck ; She cried out of it as of Scalding Brimjione poured into her, and the whole Houfe would Immediately fcent fo hot of Brimjione that we were fcarce able to endure it, whereof there are fcores of WitneiTes ; but the Young Woman herfelf would be fo monftroully Injlanid that it would have broke a Heart of Stone to have feen her Agonies, this was a thing that feveral times happen'd and feveral times when her Mouth was thus pull'd open, the ftanders by clapping their Hands clofe thereupon the diflreffes that other- wife followed would be diverted. Moreover there was a whitijlo powder to us Invifible fomtimes caft upon the Eyes of this Young Woman, whereby her Eyes would be extreamly incommoded, but one time fome of this Powder was fallen actually Vifible upon her Cheek, from whence the People in the Room wiped it with their Handkerchiefs, and "fomtimes the Young Woman would alfo be fo bitterly fcorched with the unfeen Sulphur thrown upon her, that very fenfible Blijlers would be raifed upon her Skin, whereto her Friends found it necelfary to apply the OyVs proper for common Burnings but the moft of thefe Hurts

34 Margaret Rule. [7]

would be cured in two or three days at fartheft : I think I may without Vanity pretend to have read not a few of the beft Syftem's of Phyjick^^ that have been yet feen in thefe American Regions, but I muft confefs that I have never yet learned the Name of the Natural Diflemper, whereto thefe odd fymptoms do belong : However I might fuggeft perhaps many a Natural Medicine^ which would be of fingular ufe againft many of them.

Se5i. 8. But there fell out fome other matters far beyond the reach of Natural Dijie??iper : This Margaret Rule once in the middle of the Night Lamented fadly that the SpeBres threat'ned the Drowning of a Young Man in the Neighbour- hood, whom fhe named unto the Company : well it was afterwards found that at that very time this Young Man, having been preft on Board a Man of War then in the Harbour, was out of fome diffatisfacStion attempting to fwim afhoar, and he had been Drowned in the attempt, if a Boat had not feafonably taken him up ; it was by compu- tation a minute or two after the Young Womans difcourfe of the Drowning, that the Young Man took the Water; At another time flie told us that [7] the SpeBres bragg'd and laughed in her hearing about an exploit they had lately done, by ftealing from a Gentleman his Will foon after he had written it : and within a few hours after flie

21 Jt would be curious, if not ad- poflefs at that Time. Doubtlefs mirable, at this Day could we know Galen and Paracelfus were confpi- what medical Books the Dodtor did cuous on his Shelves.

[7] Mar gaf^et lifted up. 35

had fpoken this there came to me a Gentleman with a private complaint, that having written his Willy it was unaccountably gone out of the way, how or where he could not Imagine ; and belides all this, there were wonderful Noifes every now and then made about the Room, which our Peo- ple could Afcribe to no other Authors but the SpeBreSy yea, the Watchers affirm that they heard thofe fiends clapping of their hands together with an Audiblenefsy wherein they could not be Im- pofed upon : And once her Tormentors pull'd her up to the Cieling of the Chamber, and held her there before a very Numerous Company of SpeBatorSy who found it as much as they could all do to pull her down again. ^^ There was alfo another very furprifing circumftance about her, agreeable to what we have not only read in feve- ral Hifhories concerning the Lnps that have been Imployed in Witchcraft ; but alfo known in fome of our own afflidted : We once thought we per- ceived fomething Jiir upon her pillow at a' little dif- tance from her, whereupon one prefent laying his hand there , he to his horror apprehended that he felty tho' none could fee it, a living Creature, not altogether unlike a Rat, which nimbly efcaf d from him : and there were diverfe other Perfons who were thrown into a great confternation by feeling, as they Judg'd, at other times the fame Invifble Animal.

22 Mr. Calef has not commented as it merited, and as he might have fo feverely on this Part of the Story done with propriety,

I

36 A White Spirit. [8]

SeB. 9. As it has been with a Thoufand other Inchanted People, fo it was with Margaret Rule in this particular, that there were feveral words which her Tormentors would not let her hear, efpecially the words Pray or Prayer, and yet fhe could fo hear the letters of thofe words diftindly mentioned as to know what they ment. The ftanders by were forced fometimes thus in dif- courfe to fpell a word to her, but becaufe there were fome fo ridiculous as to count it a fort of Spell or a Charm for any thus to accommodate themfelves to the capacity of the Sufferer, little of this kind was done. But that which was more fingular in this matter, was that fhe could not ufe thefe words in thofe penetrating difcourfes, where- with fhe would fometimes addrefs the SpeBres that were about her. She would fometimes for a long while together apply herfelf to the Spec- tres^ whom fhe fuppofed the Witches, with fuch Exortations to Repentance as would have melted an Heart of Adamant to have heard them ; her ftrains of Expreffion and Argument were truly Extraordinary ; A perfon perhaps of the beft Education and Experience and of Attainmejits much beyond hers could not have exceeded them : neverthelefs when iTie came to thefe Words God, Lord, Chrijl, Good, Repent, and fome other fuch, her Mouth could not utter them, whereupon flie would fometimes in an Angry Parenthejis com- plain of their Wickednefs in ftopping that Word, but fhe would then go [8] on with fome other

[8] A White Spirit, 37

Terjns that would ferve to tell what fhe ment. And I believe that if the moft fufpicious Perfon in the world had beheld all the Circumftances of this matter, he would have faid it could not have been diffembled.

SeB. 10. Not only in the Swedijh, but alfo in the Salem Witchcraft the Inchanted People have talked much of a White Spirit from whence they received marvellous Affiftances in their Miferies ; what lately befel Mercy Short "-^ from the Com- munications of fuch a Spirit, hath been the juft Wonder of us all, but by fuch a Spirit was Mar- garet Rule now alfo vifited. She fays that fhe could never fee his Face ; but that fhe had a fre- quent view of his bright, Shining and glorious Garments; he flood by her Bed-Jide continually heartning and comforting of her and counfelling her to maintain her Faith and hope in God, and never comply with the temptations of her Adver- faries ; fhe fays he told her, that God had permit- ted her affliBions to befall her for the everlajiing and unfpeakahle good of her own foul, and for the good of many others, and for his own Iminortal Glory, and that Jhe fliould therefore he of good Chear, and be ajfured of a fpeedy deliverance ; and the won- derful refolution of mind wherewith flie encoun- tered her Affliaions were but agreeable to fuch expedations. Moreover a Minifter having one Day with fome Importunity Prayed for the de-

••^3 Mr. Savage has found quite a us no Mercy with them. See his Number of Short Famihes, but gives Genealogical Diaiunary.

38 The Black Man [8]

liverance of this ''Young Woman, and pleaded that fhe belong'd to his Flock and charge ; he had fo far a right unto her as that he was to do the part of a Minifter of our Lord for the bringing of her home unto God ; only now the Devil hindred him in doing that which he had a right thus to do, and whereas He had a better Title unto her to bring her home to God than the Divel could have unto her to carry her away from the Lord, he therefore humbly applied him- felf unto God, who alone could right this matter, with a fuit that fhe might be refcued out of Satans Hands ; Immediately upon this, tho' fhe heard nothing of this tranfadtion fhe began to call that Minifter her Father, and that was the Name whereby fhe every day before all forts of People diftinguifhed him : the occafion of it fhe fays was this, the white Spirit prefently upon this tranfad:ion did after this manner fpeak to her, Margaret, .you now are to take notice that (fuch a Man) is your Father, God has given you to him, do you from this time look upon him as your Father, obey him, regard him as your Father, follow his Counfels and you fh all do well ; And tho' there was one pafTage more, which I do as little know what to make of as any of the reft, I am now going to relate it ; more than three times have I feen it fulfilled in the Deliverance of Inchanted and PolTeft Perfons, whom the Providence of God has cafl into my way, that their Deliverance could not be obtained before the third Faji kept

[9] beats the SpeSires. 39

for them, and the third day ftill obtain'd the DeHverance, altho' I have thought of befeeching of the Lord thrice, when buffered by Sa[g]tan, yet I muft earneftly Intreat all my Readers to beware of any fuperftitious conceits upon the Number Three, if our God will hear us upon once Praying and Falling before him 'tis well, and if he will not vouchfafe his Mercy upon our thrice doing fo, yet we muft not be fo difcouraged as to throw by our Devotion but if the Soveraign Grace of our God will in any particular Instances count our Patience enough tryed when we have Solemnly waited upon him for any determinate Number of times, who fhall fay to him, what doeft thou, and if there fliall be any Number of Inftances, where- in this Grace of our God has exadlly holden the fame courfe, it may have a room in our humble Obfervations, I hope, without any Superftition ; I fay then that after Margaret Rule had been more than five weeks in her Miferies, this White Spirit faid unto her, Well this day fuch a Man (whom he named) has kept a third day for your deliverance, now be of good cheer you Jhall fpeedily be delivered. I inquired whether what had been faid of that Man were true, and I gained exadt and certain information that it was precifely io, but I doubt left in relating this PalTage that I have ufed more opennefs than a Friend ftiould be treated with, and for that caufe I have concealed feveral of the moft memorable things that have occurred not only in this but in fome former

40 An Evidence of the [9]

Hiftories, altho indeed I am not fo well fatisfied about the true nature of this white Spirit, as to count that I can do a Friend much Honour by reporting what notice this white Spirit may have thus taken of him.

SeB. II. On the laft day of the Week her Tormentors as fhe thought and faid, approaching towards her, would be forced ftill to recoil and retire as unaccountably unable to meddle with her, and they would retire to the Fire fide with their Poppets ; but going to ftick Pins into thofe Poppets, they could not (according to their vifions) make the Pins to enter, fhe infulted over them with a very Proper derilion, daring them now to do their worft, whilft fhe had the fatisfad:ion to fee their Black Mafier flrike them and kick them, like an Overfeer of fo many Negro's, to make them to do their work, and renew the marks of his vengeance on them, when they failed of doing of it.^'^ At laft being as it were tired with their ineffediual Attempts to mortifie her they furioufly faid. Well you pant be the laji. And after a paufe they added. Go, and the Devil go with you, we can do no more; whereupon they flew out of the Room, and fhe returning perfectly to herfelf moft affec- tionately gave thanks to God for her deliverance ; her Tormentors left her extream weak and faint, and overwhelmed with Vapours, which would not only caufe her fometimes to Swoon away, but

24 This Relation is pretty neai'ly Witches by Dr. Horneck. This equal to anything told of the Swedilh Author will be further noticed.

[lo] being of a God, 41

alfo now and then for a little while difcompofe the reafonablenefs of her Thoughts ; Neverthe- lefs her former troubles returned not, but we are now waiting to fee the good effects of thofe troubles upon the Souls of all concern'd, And now I fuppofe that fome of our Learned wit-\^io\ lings of the Coffee-Houfe, for fear left thefe proofs of an Invijible-world fhould fpoil fome of their fport, will endeavour to turn them all into fport, for which Buffoonary their only pretence will be, they cant underjiand how fuch things as thefe could be done whereas indeed he that is but Philofopher enough to have read but one Little Treatife, Pub- lifhed in the Year 1656, by no other Man than the Chyrurgion of an Arfjiy, or but one Chap, of Helmont,'^^ which I will not quote at this time too particularly, may give a far more intelligible account of thefe Appearances than moft of thefe Blades can give why and how their Tobacco makes 'em Spit ; or which way the flame of their Can- dle becomes illuminating, as for that cavil, the world would be undone if the Devils could have fuch power as they feem to have in fever al of our Jio- ries,^^ it may be Anfwered that as to many things

25 Jean-Baptifte Van-Helmont, a us how much Power the Devil has. Refident of Bruflels, bom in 1577. By fome of his AiTertions it feems He was fo noted a Phyfician and that it is unlimited. Indeed he (Dr. Naturahft, that he was reputed a Mather) has told us that this Con- Magician, for which he was thrown tinent in reality belonged to the into Prifon. He made his Efcape Devil. Ifthat was aftually the Cafe, and fled into Holland, where he died it certainly was an infringement on in 1644. h's Rights for Europeans to intrude

26 The Writer nowhere informs themfelves here at all.

4-2 An Evidence of the [^^1

the Lying Devils have only known them to be done, and then pretended unto the doing of thofe things, but the true and beft Anfwer is, that by thefe things we only fee what the Devils could have powers to do, if the great God fhould give them thofe powers, whereas now our Hiftories affords a Glorious Evidence for the being of a God, the World would indeed be undone, and horribly undone, if thefe Devils, who now and then get liberty to play fome very mifchievous pranks, were not under a daily reftraint of fome Almighty Superior from doing more of fuch Mifchiefs. Wherefore inflead of all Apifh fouts and jeers at Hiftories, which have fuch undoubted confirma- tion, as that no Man that has breeding enough to regard the Common Laws of Humane Society, will offer to doubt of 'em, it becomes us rather to adore the goodnefs of God, who does not permit fuch things every day to befall us all, as he fometimes did permit to befall fome few of our miferable Neighbours.

SeB. 12. And what after all my unwearied Cares and Pains, to refcue the Miferable from the Lions and Bears of Hell, which had fiezed them, and after all my Studies to difappoint the Devils in their defigns to confound my Neighbourhood, muft I be driven to the neceffity of an Apology? Truly the hard reprefentations wherewith y^wd" /// Men have reviled my conduB, and the Countenance which other Men have given to thefe reprefenta- tions, oblige me to give Mankind fome account

[ii] being of a God. 43

of my Behaviour ; No Chriftian can, I fay none but evil w^orkers can criminate my vifiting fuch of my poor flock as have at any time fallen under the terrible and fenfible moleftations of Evil An- gels; let their Afflidtions have been what they vs^ill, I could not have anfwered it unto my Glorious Lord, if I had withheld my juft Counfels and Comforts from them ; and if I have alfo with fome exacftnefs obferv'd the methods of the Invijible World, when they have thus become obfervable, I have been but a Servant of Mankind in doing fo ; yea no lefs a Perfon than the Vener- able Baxter, has more than once or twice in the moft Publick manner invited Mankind to thank 11] me for that Service. I have not been infen- ible of a greater danger attending me in this fulfilment of my Miniftry, than if I had been to take Ten Thoufand fteps over a Rocky Mountain fill'd with Rattle-Snakes ; but I have confider'd, he that is wife will obferve things, and the Sur- prijing Explication and confirmation of the biggeji part of the Bible, which I have feen given in thefe things, has abundantly paid me for obferving them. Now in my vifiting of the Miferable, I was always of this opinion, that we were Igno- rant of what Powers the Devils might have to do their mifchiefs in the fhapes of fome that had never been explicitly engaged in Diabolical Con- federacies, and that therefore tho' many Witch- \ crafts had been fairly detedted on Enquiries pro- voked and begun by SpeBeral Exhibitions, yet we K

44 Glorious Advantages, [^^]

could not eafily be too jealous of the Snares laid for us in the devices of Satan ; the World knows how many Pages I have Compofed and Publifhed, and particular gentlement in the Government know how many Letters I have written to pre- vent the exceffive Credit of SpeBeral Accufations, wherefore I have ftill charged the AfliBed that they fhould Cry out of no body for Afflidiing of 'em. But that if this might be any Advantage they might privately tell their minds to fome one Perfon of difcretion enough to make no /// life of their communications, accordingly there has been this efFed: of it, that the Name of No one good Perfon in the World ever came under any blemifh by means of any AfliBed^ Perfon that fell under my particular cognizance, yea no one Man, Woman or Child ever came into any troube for the fake of any that were AfliBed after I had once begun to look after 'em ; how often have I had this thrown into my difh, that many years ago I had an oppor- tunity to have brought forth fuch People as have in the late ftorm of Witchcraft been complain'd of, but that I fmother'd all, and after that ftorm was raif'd at Salem, I did myfelf offer to provide Meat, Drink and Lodging for no lefs than Six of the Afflidled, that fo an Experiment might be made, whether Prayer with Fafling upon the removal of the diftreffed might not put a Period to the trouble then riling, without giving the Civil Authority the trouble of profecuting thofe things which nothing but a Confcientious regard unto

[i2] Oppofers Complained of . 45

the cries of Miferable Families, could have over- come the Relud:ancies of the Honourable Judges to meddle w^ith ; ^^ In fhort I do humbly but freely affirm it, there is not that Man living in this World who has been more defirous than the poor Man I to jhelter my Neighbours from the Incon- veniences of SpeBeral Outcries, yea I am very jealous I have done fo much that way as to Sin in what I have done, fuch have been the Cow- ardize and Fearfulnefs whereunto my regard unto the diffatisfadlions of other People has precipi- tated me. I know a Man in the World, who has thought he has been able to Convid: fome fuch Witches as ought to Dye, but his refped: unto the Fublick Peace has caufed him rather to try whether He [12] could not renew thetn by repent- ance : and as I have been Studious to defeat the Devils of their expectations to fet people together by the Ears, thus, I have alfo checked and quell'd thofe forbidden curiofities, which would have given the Devil an invitation to have tarried amongft us, when I have feen wonderful Snares laid for Curious People, by the fecret and future things difcovered from the Mouths of Damfels pojfeji with a Spirit of divination ; Indeed I can

27 This will be found remarked " When it was reprinted at London,

upon hereafter. The Author makes the famous Mr. Baxter prefixed a

a large Handle of Mr. Baxter's Preface unto it, wherein he fays.

Commendations of his Story of the ' This great Injlance comes with fuch

Goodwin Children ; which Story convincing Evidence, that he mujl be

he afterwards printed in the Mag- a very obdurate Sadducee, that wiU

nalia, Book vi, 71, &c.; and adds: not believe it. ^^^ — Ibid.,-]^.

46 Oppofers Complained of . [12]

recoiled: but one thing wherein there could be given fo much as a Shadow of Reafon for Excep- tions, and that is my allowing of fo many to come and fee thofe that were AffliBed;-^ now for that I have this to fay, that I have almoft a Thoujand times intreated the Friends of the Miferable, that they would not permit the Intruiion of any Com- pany, but fuch as by Prayers or other ways might be helpful to them ; Neverthelefs I have not ab- folutely forbid all Company from coming to your Haunted Chambers, partly becaufe the Calamities of the Families were fuch as required the AfTift- ance of many friends ; partly becaufe I have been willing that there fliould be dijinterejled Witnejfes of all forts, to confute the Calumnies of fuch as would fay all was but Impojlure ; and partly be- caufe I faw God had Sandified the Spedacle of the Miferies on the Afflided unto the Souls of many that were Spedators, and it is a very Glo- rious thing that I have now to mention — The Devils have with moft horrendous operations broke in upon our Neighbourhood, and God has at fuch a rate over-ruled all the Fury and Malice of thofe Devils, that all the Afflided have not only been Delivered, but I hope alfo favingly brought home unto God, and the Reputation of no one good Perfon in the World, has been damaged, but

28 It was befides hinted that there tempt of the Sadducees to imphcate

were Times when the Numbers ad- fome one who might be rather zeal-

mitted to the Afflidled were not ous to deteft Witchcraft when alone

above the /z?g-a/^r Number. But with the Affliaed. TheDodorwas

this was doubtlefs a mifchievous At- very indignant at this, as will appear.

[13] Oppofers Complained of. 47

inftead thereof the Souls of many, efpecially of the rifing Generation, have been thereby awa- ken'd unto fome acquaintance with Religion, our young People who belonged unto the Praying Meetings of both Sexes, a part would ordinarily fpend whole Nights by whole Weeks together in Prayers and Pfalms upon thefe occafions, in which Devotions the Devils could get nothing but like Fools a Scourge for their own Backs, and fome fcores of other young People who were ftrangers to real Piety, were now ftruck with the lively demonftrations of Hell evidently fet forth before their Eyes, when they faw Perfons cruelly Frighted, wounded and Starved by Devils and Scalded with burning Brimjlone, and yet fo pre- ferved in this tortured eftate as that at the end of one Months wretchednefs they were as able ftill to undergo another, fo that of thefe alfo it might now be faid. Behold they Pray in the whole — the Devil got juft nothing ; but God got praifes, Chrift got Subjedls, the Holy Spirit got Temples, the Church got Addition, and the Souls of Men got everlafling Benefits ; I am not fo vain as to fay that any Wifdome or Vertue of mine did contri- bute unto this good order of things : But I am fo juft, as to fay I did not hinder this Good. [13] When therefore there have been thofe that pickt up little incoherent fcraps and bits of my Dif- courfes in this fruitful difcharge of my Miniftry, and fo traverfted 'em in their abufive Pamphlets, as to perfwade the Town that I was their cofftmon

4-8 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [13]

'Enemy in thofe very points, wherein, if in any one thing whatfoever I have fenfibly approved myfelf as true a Servant unto 'em as poffibly I could, tho my Life and Soul had been at Stake for it. Yea to do like Satan himfelf, by fly, bafe, unpre- tending Injinuations, as if I wore not the Modefty and Gravity which became a Minifter of the Gofpel, I could not but think myfelf unkindly dealt withal, and the negled:s of others to do me jujlice in this affair has caufed me to conclude this Narrative with complaints in another hearing of fuch Monftrous Injuries.^9

PART II.

A Letter to Mr, C. M.

Bojion, Jan. wth^ 1693.

Mr. Cotton Mather,

REverend Sir, I finding it needful on many accounts, I here prefent you with the Copy of that Paper, which has been fo much Mifrep- refented, to the End that what Ihall be found defedive or not fairly Reprefented, if any fuch fhall appear, they may be fet right, which Runs thus.

29 It would have been highly gra- negleft of others." The " another tifying had the Author informed his hearing'^ will be found explained by Readers what he meant by " the and by.

[t4-] a Letter to Mr, CM. 49

September the I'^th^ ^^92-

IN the Evening when the Sun was withdrawn, giving place to Darknefs to fucceed, I with foi7ie others were drawn by curiojity to fee Margaret Rule, andfo much the rather becaufe it was reported Mr.

M would be there that Night : Being co??ie to

her Fathers Houfe^° into the Cha?nber wherein fie was in Bed, found her of a healthy countenance of about feventeen Tears Old, lying very Jlill, and f peaking very little, what Jhe did fay feenzd as if Jhe were Light-headed. Then Mr. M — Father and Son 3' ca?7ie up and others with them, in the whole were about 30 or 40 Perfons, they being fat, the Father on a Stool, and the Son upon the Bedfde by her, the Son began to quejiion her, Margaret Rule, how do you do ? then a paufe without any anfwer. Queftion. What do there a great many Witches ft upon you? Anfwer. Yes. Q. T)o you not know that there is a hard Ma/ier? Then fhe was in a Fit ; He laid his hand upon her Face and Nofe, but, as he faid, without perceiving Breath ; then he brujl^d her on the Face with his Glove, and rubbed her Stomach [her breaf not covered with the Bedcloaths) and bid others do fo too, and faid [i^^ it eafed her, then Jhe revived. Q. Dont you know there is a hard Mafter? A. Tes. Reply; Dont

30 The Family of Rule appear tranfient Sojourners here. Mr. Ma- te have refided at the North End thcr fays Margaret's Parents were of the Town. Where they came fober and honeft, and living at the from, or what became of them does Time in Bofton. See ante. not appear. They were, perhaps, 3' Increafe and Cotton Mather.

50 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [14]

ferve that hard Majier, you know who. Q. Do you believe ? Then again Jhe was in a Fit, and he again rub'd her Bre^, &c. {about this time Mar- garet Perd 3^ an attendant ajfifted him in rubbing of her. The AffliBed fpake angerely to her faying dont you meddle with me, and haftily put away her hand) he wrought his Fingers before her Eyes and afied her if Jhe f aw the Witches? A. No.^ Q. Do you believe ? A. Tes. Q. Do you believe in you know who ? A. Tes. Q. Would you have other people do fo too, to believe in you know who ? A. Tes. Q. Who is it that AffliBs you ? A. / know not, there is a great many of them [about this time the Father queftiond if Jhe knew the SpeBres ? An atteftdant faid, if Jhe did Jhe would not tell; The Son proceeded.) Q. Tou have feen the Black-man, hant you? A. No, Reply, / hope you never Jhall. Q. Tou have had a Book offered you, hant you? A. No. Q. The brujhing of you gives you eafe, don't it? A. Tes., She turn d herf elf e and a little Groan d. Q. Now the Witches Scratch you and Pinch you, and Bite you, dont they ? A. Tes, then he put his hand upon her Breaji and Belly, viz. on the Cloaths over her, and felt a Living thing, as he faid, which moved the Father alfo to feel, andjlme others. Q. Dont you feel the Live thing in the Bed? A. No. Reply, that is only Fancie. Q. the great company of People increafe your Torment, don't they ? A. Tes. The People about were de- fired to withdraw. One Woman faid, I am fur e I

3' A Name not met with beyond this Affair.

[I+]

A Letter to Mr. CM. 51

am no Witch, I will not go ; Jo others, fo none with- drew. Q. Shall we go to Prayers, Then fhe lay in a Fit as before. But this tifne to revive her, they waved a Hat and brujhed her Head and Pillow therewith. Q. Shall we go to PRAT, &c. Spell- ing the Word. A. Tes. The Father went to Pray er for perhaps half an Hour,^^ chiefly againfl the Power of the Devil and Witchcraft, and that God would bring out the AffliBers : during Prayer- tif?ie, the Son flood by, and when they thought fhe was 'in a Fit, rub'd her and bruflid her as before, and beckned to others to do the like, after Prayer he proceeded ; Q. Tou did not hear when we were at Prayer, did you ? A. Tes. Tou dont hear always, you dont hear fometimes pafl a Word or two, do you '^ A. No. Then turning him about faid, this is jufl another Mercy Short : Mar- garet Perd reply' d, Jhe was not like her in her Fits. Q. What does Jhe eat or drink ? A. Not eat at all ; but drink Rum. Then he adinonijhed the young People to take warning, &c. Saying it was a fad thing to be fo Tormented by the Devil and his Inflruments : A Toung-?nan prefent in the habit of a Seaman, reply d this is the Devil all over. Than the Minijiers withdrew. Soon after they were gone the AjJliBed deflred the Women to be gone, faying, that the Company of the Men was not ofl^enflve to her, and having hold of the hand of

33 The Doftor was greatly difturb- of the Prayer; averring that it was ed at this Statement of the Length not above a quarter of an Hour.

L

52 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [15]

a Toung-man, faid to have been her Sweetheart

formerly, who was withdrawing ; Jhe pulfd him

again into his Seat, faying he Jhould not go to Night.

[15] September the igth, 1693.

THIS Night I renewed my Vifit, and found her rather of a frejher Countenance than before, about eight Perfons prefent with her, Jhe was in a Fit Screeming and making a Noife : Three or four Perfons rub'd and brufii'd her with their hands, they faid that the brujhing did put them away, if they bruJFd or rub'd in the right place ; therefore they bruJJjed and rubbed in fever al places, and faid that when they did it in the right place Jhe could fetch her Breath, and by that they knew. She being come to herfelf was foon in a merry talking Pit. A Young-man came in and ajk'd her how Jhe did? She anfwered very bad, but at prefent a little better ; he joon told her he muji be gone and bid her good Night, at which Jhe J^eeni d troubled, faying that Jhe liked his Company ; and faid Jhe would not have hitn go till Jhe was well ; adding, for I Jhall Die when you are gone. Then Jloe co77iplained they did not put her on a clean Cap, but let her ly fo like a BeaJi,Jaying Jhe Jhould lofe her Fellows. She faid Jhe wondered any People Jhould be fo Wicked as to think Jhe was not AJliSied, but to think Jloe DiJfem- bled, A Toung-woman anfwered Tes, if they were to fee you in this merry Fit, they would fay you P>if- fe?nbled indeed ; She reply' d, Mr. M — faid this was her laughing tiine, Jhe mujt laugh now : She faid

[i5] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 53

l^f^ M — had been there this Evening, and jhe en- quired, how long he had been gon ? She faid he jlay'd alone with her in the room half an Hour, and faid that he told her there were fome that came for Spies, and to report about Town that Jhe was not AffiiBed. That during the faid time Jhe had no Fit, that he ajked her if Jhe knew how many times he had Prayed for her to day? And that Jhe an- fwered that Jhe could not tell; and that he replfd he had Prayed for her Nine times to Day; the At- tendants faid that Jhe was Jometimes in a Fit that none could open her foints,'^'^ and that there came an Old Iron-jaw' d Woman and try'd, but could not do it ; they likewife faid, that her Head could not be moved from the Pillow ; I trfd to move her head, and found no more difficulty than another Bodies [andfo did others) but was not willing to offend by lifting it up, one being reproved for endeavouring it, they Jay ing Angrily you will break her Neck. The Attendants faid Mr. M — would not go to Prayer with her when People were in the Room, as they did one Night that Night he felt the Live-Creature. Margaret Perd and another, faid they J melt brim- Jione;^^ I and others faid we did not J me II any ; then they faid they did not know what it was : This Margaret faid, Jhe wiJJfd Jhe had been here when Mr. M — was here, another Attendant faid, if you

-■1 The general Inference would of his Dominions would not have

naturally be that the Doftor's Pray- been perceptible. It may be that

ers were not very efFeftive. he did not make his Appearance,

35 His Satanic Majefty was fup- owing to the Prefence of fome ob-

pofed to be very near, or the Scent durate Unbelievers, See Note 3.

54 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [i6]

had been here you might not have been permitted in, for her own Mother was not puffer ed to be prefent.

Sir, after the foreft Afflidiion and greateft blem- ifli to Religion that ever befel this Countrey, and after moft Men began to Fear that fome undue fteps had been taken, and after His Excellency (with their Majeftyes Approbation as is faid) had put a Hop to Executions, and Men began [i6] to hope there would never be a return of the like ; finding thefe Accounts to contain in them fome- thing extraordinary, I writ them down the fame Nights in order to attain the certainty of them, and foon found them fo confirmed that I have (befides other Demonftrations) the whole, under the Hands of two Perfons are ready to atteft the Truth of it, but not fatisfied herewith; I fhewed them to fome of your particular Friends, that fo I might have the greater certainty : But was much furprifed with the MefTage you fent me, that I fhould be Arrefted for Slander, and at your calling me one of the worfl of Lyars, making it Pulpit-news with the Name of Pernicious Li- bels, &c. This occafion'd my firft Letter.

September the 2()th, 1693.

Reverend SIR,

I Having written from the Mouths of fever al Perfons, who affrm they were prefent with Margaret Rule, the i 3 th Infant, her Anfwers and Behaviour, &c. And having Jhewed it to feveral of my Friends, as alfo yours, and underjianding you

[i6]

A Letter to Mr. CM. 55

are offended at it ; This is to acquaint you that if you and any one particular Friend^ will pleaje to meet me and fome other Indifferent P erf on with me, at Mr. Wilkinfs, or at Ben Harrifs,3'^j)/d?z^ intimatiiig the time, I jhall be ready there to read it to you, as alfo a further Account of proceedings the 1 9th Infant, which may be needful to prevent Groundlefs prejudices, and let deferved blame be caji where it ought ; From,

Sir, yours in what I may, R. C.

The effects of which. Sir, (not to mention that long Letter only once read to me) was, you fent me word you would meet me at Mr. Wil- kins's but before that Anfwer, at yours and your Fathers complaint, I was brought before their Majeflies Juftice, by Warrant, as for Scandalous Libels againft yourfelf, and was bound over to Anfwer at Seffions ; I do not remember you then objecfled againft the Truth of what I had wrote, but afferted it was wronged by omiffions, which if it were fo was paft any Power of mine to remedy, having given a faithful account of all that came to my knowledge ; And Sir, that you might not be without fome Cognizance of the reafons why I took fo much pains in it, as alfo for my own Information, if it might have been, I wrote to you my fecond Letter to this.effed:.

Sf* Richard Wilkins and Benja- of Dunton's Life and Errors. Har-

min Harris were Bookfellcrs and ris printed The Wonders of the In-

Publifhers in Bofton at this Period, v'lftble World, as will be feen on

They arc duly noticed in the Hif- reference to the Title-page. See

tor-i and Antiquities of Dojion, out Thomas's Iliji. Printing, ii, 412.

56 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [17]

November the 24M, 1693.

Reverend SIR,

HAVING expeSied fome Weeks, your meeting me at Mr. Wilkins according to what you inti- mated to me, J. M — and the time drawing near for our meeting elfewhere, I thought it not amifs to give you a Summary of my thoughts in the great concern, which as you fay has been agitated with fo much [17] heat. That there are Witches is not the doubt, the Scriptures efe were in vain, which afjign their Puni/hment to be by death; But what this Witchcraft is, or wherein it does confft,feems to be the whole dificulty : And as it may be eafly demon- f rated, that all that bear that Name cannot be jujily fo accounted, fo that fome things and ABions not fo efeemed by the mofl, yet upon due examination will be found to merit no better CharaBer.

In your late Book you lay down a brief Synopfis of what has been written on that SubjeB, by a Tri- umvirate of as Eminent Men as ever handled it 37 [as you are pleafd to call them) viz. Mr. Perkins, Gaule, and Bernard conf fling of about 30 Tokens to know them by, many of them diflinB from, if not thwarting each other : Among all of which I can find hut one decifive. Viz. That of Mr. Gaule, Head I V. and runs thus ; Among the mofl unhappy Circumflances to conviB a Witch, one is a maligning and oppugning the Word, Work, or Worfljip of God, and by any extraordinary Sign fee king to f educe any

^^ See Vol. i. Page 37. ,

[ly] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 57

from it, fee Deu. 13. i, 2. Mat. 24. 24. Ads. 13. 8, 10. 2. Tim. 3. 8. Bo but mark well the places, and for this very property of thus oppofing and per- verting, they are all there concluded Arrant and abfolute Witches.

This Head as here laid down and infer ted by you, either is a Truth or not, if not, why is it here in-

fertedfrom one of the Triumvirate if it be a Truth, as the Scriptures quoted will abundantly ^ tejlifie, whence is it that it is fo little regarded, tho it be the only Head well proved by Scripture, or that the reft of the Tvi\xmYU2itQ Jliould fo far forget their Work as not to mention it. It were to be unjuft to the Memory of thofe otherwife Wife Men, to fuppofe them to have any Sinifter defign ; But perhaps the

force of a prevailing opinion, together with an Edu- cation thereto Suited, might overjhadow their ^ Judg- ments, as being wont to be but too prevalent in many other cafes. But if the above be Truth, then the Scripture is full and plain. What is Witchcraft ? And iffo, what need of his next Head of Hanging of People without as full and clear Evidence as in other Cafes? Or what fieed of the reft of the Re- ceipts of the Triumvirate.^ what need of Praying that the AffliBed may be able to difcover who 'tis that Apsis them ? or what need of Searching for Tefsfor the Devil to Suck in his Old Age, or the Experiment of faying the Lord's Prayer, &c. Which a multitude mvre praBifed in fome places Superjh- tioufty inclind. Other ABions have been praBifed for eafing the AffliBed, lefts juftifiable, if not ftrongly

58 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [i8]

favouring of Witchcraft itfef^ viz. Fondly Ima- gining by the Hand, &c. to drive off Spedires, or to knock off Invifble Chains, or by Jiriking in the Air to Wound either the AffliBed or others, &c. / write not this to accufe any, but that all 7nay beware be- lieving. That the Devil's bounds are fet, which he cannot pafs. That the Devils are fo full of Malice, That it can?iot be added to by Mankind, That where he hath Power he neither can nor will omit Exe- cuting it. That 'tis only the Almighty that fet s [i8] bounds to his rage, and that only can Commiffonate him to hurt or dejiroy any.

Thefe laji. Sir, are fuch Foundations of Truth, in my efieem, that I cannot but own it to be my duty to afcert them, when called, thd with the hazard of my AIL^^ And confequently to deteB fuch as thefe. That a Witch can Commiffonate Devils to AffiSi Mortals, That he can at his or the Witches pleafure Affume any Shape, That Hanging or Drawing of Witches can leffen his Power of AffiBing, or refore thofe that were at a dijiance Tormented, with fnany others depending on thefe ; all tending, in my efteem, highly to the Dishonour of God, and the Indangering the well-being of a People, and do further add, that as the Scriptures are full that there is Witchcraft, (ut fup.)yo 'tis as plain that there are Poffeffons, and that the Bodies of the Poffef have hence been not only AffiBed, but ft range ly agitated, if not their

•'-' The Author feemed to be fully a means of his ruin, as to any con- aware of the Danger of aflerting liderable Fortune. See Introduc- the plain Truth. It probably was tery Memoir.

[i8] A Letter to Mr. C. M. 59

tongues improved to foretell futurities^ &c. and why not to accufe the Innocent, as bewitching them; having pretence to Divination to gain credence. This being reafonable to be expeBed^from him who is the Father of Lies, to the end he tnay thereby in- volve a Countrey in Blood, Mallice, and Evilyfur- mifng which he greedily feeks after, and fo finally lead them from their fear and dependance upon God to fear him, and a fuppofed Witch thereby attaining his end upon Mankind; and not only fo, but Natural Difiemper, as has been frequently obferved by the Judicious, have fo operated as to deceive, more than the Vulgar, as is teflified by many Fajnous Phyfi- cians, and others. And as for that proof of Mul- titudes of ConfeJJions, this Countrey may be by this time thought Competent fudges, what credence we ought to give them, having had fuch numerous In- fiances, as alfo how obtain d.

And now Sir, if herein be any thing in your efleem valuable, let me intreat you, not to account it the worfe for coming frotn fo mean a hand ; which however y ou may have received Prejudices, &c. A??i ready to ferve you to my Power ; but if you fudge other wife hereof you may take your own Methods for my better Information. Who am. Sir, yours to com?nand, in what I may, P. C.^^

In Anfwer to this lafl, Sir, you replyed to the Gentleman that prefented it, that you had nothing

39 A mifprint. R. C. was in- in the Salem Editions, tended. The Corredlion is made

M

6o A Letter to Mr. C. M. [19]

to Profecute againft me ; and faid as to your Sen- timents in your Books, you did not bind any to believe them, and then again renew'd your pro- mife of meeting me, as before, tho' not yet per- formed. Accordingly, tho' I waited at Seffions, there was none to obje6t ought againfl: me, upon which I was difmiffed. This gave me fome reafon to believe that you intended all (hould have been forgotten ; But inftead of that, I find the Coals are frefh blown up, I being fuppofed to be repre- fented, in a late Manufcript, More Wonders of the, &c. as traverfing your Difcourfe in your Faithful difcharge of your Duty, &c. And fuch as fee not with the Authors Eyes, rendred Saducees and Witiins,'^° &c. and the Arguments that fquare not with the Sentiments [19] therein contain'd, Buf- foonary ; rarely no doubt, agreeing with the Spirit of Chrift, and his dealings with an unbelieving Thomas, yet whofe infidelity was without compare lefs excufable, but the Author having refolved long fince, to have no more than one fingle Grain of Patience, with them that deny, ^c the Won- der is the lefs. It mufl needs be that offences come, but wo to him by whom they come. To vindicate myfelf therefore from fuch falfe Impu- tations, of Satan-like infinuations, and mifrepre- fenting your Adiions, &c. and to vindicate your- felf. Sir, as much as is in my power from thofe fuggeftions, faid to be infinuated, as if you wore

■10 Epithets applied by Mr. Mather " Flaihy and fleeting Witlings." — to thofe who diflented from him. Remarka/>/esofDr. I. M., 164.

[19] A Letter 'to Mr. C. M. 61

not the Modefly, and Gravity, that becomes a Minifter of the Go/pel ; which it feems, fome that never faw the faid Narratives, report them to contain ; I fay, Sir, for thefe reafons, I here pre- fent you w^ith the firfl: Coppy that ever was taken, &c. And purpofe for a Weeks time to be ready, if you fhall intimate your pleafure to wait upon you, either at the place formerly appointed, or any other that is indifferent to the End ; that if there fhall appear any defeats in that Narrative, they may be amended.

Thus, Sir, I have given you a genuine account of my Sentiments and Actions in this Affair ; and do requefl and pray, that if I err, I may be fhewed it from Scripture, or found Reafon, and not by quotations out of Virgil, nor Spanijh 'Rhetoricky For I find the Witlings mentioned, are fo far from anfwering your profound queflions, that they cannot fo much as pretend to fhew a diftincStion between Witchcraft in the Common notion of it, and Poffeflion ; Nor fo much as to demonftrate that ever the "Jews or primitive Chrijiians did believe, that a Witch could fend a Devil to Afflid: her Neighbours ; but to all thefe. Sir, (ye being the Salt of the Earth, &c.^ I have reafon to hope for a Satisfactory Anfwer to him, who is one that reverences your Perfon and Of-

4 1 Whittier had, no doubt, been reading Calef recently, when he wrote :

"To garnifh the Story, with hear a ftreak Of Latin, and there another of Greek : And the Tales he heard and the Notes he took Behold are they not in his Wonder- Book ?"

62 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [20]

fice ; And am. Sir, yours to Command in what I may, R. C.

Bojion, "January the \^th, 169 1. Mr. R. C.

WHEREAS you intimate your deiires, that what's not fairly (I take it for granted you mean truly alfo,) reprefented in a Paper you lately fent me, containing a pretended Narrative of a Vilit by my Father and felf to an Afflicted Young woman, whom we apprehended to be under a Diabolical PoJfeJJion, might be rediified : I have this to fay, as I have often already faid, that do I fcarcely find any one thing in the whole Paper, whether refped:ing my Father or felf, either fairly or truly reprefented. Nor can I think that any that know my Parents Circumftances, but mufl think him deferving a better Character by far, than this Narrative can be thought to give him. When the main defign we managed in [20] Vifit- ing the poor Afflidied Creature, was to prevent the Accufations of the Neighbourhood; can it be fairly reprefented that our defign was to draw out fuch Accufations, which is the reprefentation of the Paper. We have Tefl:imonies of the beft Witnefi^es and in Number not a few. That when we afked Rule whether fhe thought fhe knew who Tormented her ? the Quefi:ion was but an Introduction to the Solemn charges which we then largely gave, that fhe fhould rather Dye than tell the Names of any whom fhe might Imagine

[2o] A Letter of Mr. C. M. 63

that fhe knew. Your Informers have reported the Queftion, and report nothing of what fol- lows, as eflential to the giving of that Queftion : And can this be termed a piece of fairnefs ? Fair it cannot be, that when Minifters Faithfully and Carefully difcharge their Duty to the Miferable in their Flock, little bits, fcraps and fhreds of their Difcourfes, fhould be tackt together to make them contemtible, when there fhall be no notice of all the Neceftary, Seafonable, and Profitable things that occurr'd, in thofe Difcourfes ; And without which, the occafion of the lefler PalTages cannot be underftood ; and yet I am furnifhed with abundant Evidences, ready to be Sworn, that will poffitively prove this part of unfairnefs, by the above mention'd Narrative, to be done both to my Father and felf. Again, it feems not fair or reafonable that I fhould be expof'd, for which your felf (not to fay fome others) might have expof'd me for, if I had not done, viz. for dif- couraging fo much Company from flocking about the Pofl^eft Maid, and yet, as I perfwade myfelf, you cannot but think it to be good advice, to keep much Company from fuch haunted Cham- bers ; befides the unfairnefs doth more appear, in that I find nothing repeated of what I faid about the advantage, which the Devil takes from too much Obfervation and Curiofity.'^^

4'^ With this View of the Devil, Way of becoming one of his de- the Author was certainly, according luded Followers than any other : to his own Account, more in the " Tis a moft commendable Cau-

64 A Letter of Mr. CM. [21]

In that feveral of the Queftions in the Paper are fo Worded, as to carry in them a prefuppofal of the things inquired after, to fay the befl of it is very unfair : But this is not all, the Narrative contains a number of Miftakes and Falihoods ; w^hich were they wilful and defign'd, might juftly be termed grofs Lies. The reprefentations are far from true, when 'tis affirm'd my Father and felf being come into the Room, I began the Dif- courfe ; I hope I underftand breeding a little better than fo : For proof of this, did occalion ferve, fundry can depofe the contrary.

'Tis no lefs untrue, that either my Father or felf put the Queftion, how many Witches lit upon you ? We always cautioully avoided that expreflion ; It being contrary to our inward be- lief: All the ftanders by will (I believe) fwear they did not hear us ufe it (your WitnefTes ex- cepted) and I tremble to think how hardy thofe woful Creatures muft be, to call the Almighty by an Oath, to fo falfe a thing. As falfe a repre- fentation 'tis, that I rub'd Rules Stomach, her Breaft not being covered. The Oath of the neareft Sped:ators, giving a true account of that matter [21] will prove this to be little lefs than a grofs (if not a doubled) Lie ; and to be fomewhat plainer, it carries the Face of a Lie contrived on purpofe (by them at leaft, to whom you are be-

tioufnefs," he tells us elfewhere, " to tells us, we come al length to be-

be very fhy left the Devil get fo far lieve any Lies, wherewith he may

into our Faith, as that for the fake abufe us ! " Faith can hardly re-

of many Truths which we find he move fuch a Mountain.

[2i] A Letter of Mr, C. M. 65

holden for the Narrative) Wickedly and Bafely to expofe me. For you cannot but know how- much this reprefentation hath contributed, to make People believe a Smutty thing of me ; I am far from thinking, but that in your own Con- fcience you believe, that no indecent A6tion of that Nature could then be done by me before fuch obfervers, had I been fo Wicked as to have been inclin'd to what is Bafe. It looks next to impoffible that a reparation flioud be made me for the wrong done to, I hope, as to any Scandal an unblemifh'd, tho' weak and fmall Servant of the Church of God. Nor is what follows a lefs untruth, that 'twas an Attendant and not myfelf who faid, if Rule knows who Afflifts her, yet fhe wont tell. I therefore fpoke it that I might en- courage her to continue in that concealment of all Names whatfoever ; to this I am able to fur- nifh myfelf with the Atteftation of Sufficient Oaths. 'Tis as far from true, that my apprehen- fion of the Imp, about Rule, was on her Belly, for the Oaths of the Spectators, and even of thofe that thought they felt it, can teftify that 'twas upon the Pillow, at a diftance from her Body. As untrue a Reprefentation is that which follows. Viz. That it was faid unto her, that her not Apprehending of that odd palpable tho' not vifi- ble. Mover was from her Fancy, for I endeavoured to perfwade her that it might be but Fancy in others, that there was any fuch thing at all. Witnefles every way fufficient can be produced

66 A Letter of Mr. C. M. [22]

for this alfo. 'tis falfely reprefented that my Father felt on the Young-woman after the ap- pearance mentioned, for his hand was never near her; Oath can fufficiently vindicate him. 'Tis very untrue, that my Father Prayed for perhaps half an Hour, againft the power of the Devil and Witchcraft, and that God would bring out the Afflid:ors. WitnelTes of the beft Credit, can depofe, that his Prayer was not a quarter of an Hour, and that there was no more than about one claufe towards the clofe of the Prayer, which was of this import ; and this claufe alfo was guarded with a fingular warinefs and modefty, viz. ' If there were any evil Inftruments in this matter God would pleafe to difcover them : And that there was more than common reafon for that petition I can fatisfie any one that will pleafe to Inquire of me. And flrange it is, that a Gentle- man that from 18 to 54 hath been an Exemplary Minifter of the Gofpel ; and that befides a ftation in the Church of God, as confiderable as any that his own Country can afford, hath for divers years come off with honour, in his Application to three Crown'd Heads, and the chiefefl Nobility of three Kingdoms, knows not yet how to make one fhort Prayer of a quarter of an hour, but in New- England he muft be Libell'd for it. There are divers other down-right miftakes, which you [22] have permitted yourfelf, I would hope, not know- ingly, and with a Malicious defign, to be receiver or Compiler of, which I fhall now forbear to

[22] A Letter of Mr, C. M. 67

Animadvert upon. As for the Appendix of the Narrative I do find myfelf therein Injurioufly treated, for the utmoft of your proof for what you fay of me, amounts to Httle more than, viz. Some People told you, that others told them, that fuch and fuch things did pafs, but you may affure yourfelf, that I am not unfurnifh'd with WitnefTes, that can convi6t the fame. Whereas you would give me to believe the bottom of thefe your Methods, to be fome difratisfad:ion about the commonly receiv'd Power of Devils and Witches ; I do not only with all freedom offer you the ufe of any part of my Library, which you may fee caufe to perufe on that Subjed;, but alfo if you and any elfe, whom you pleafe, will vifit me at my Study, yea, or meet me at any other place, lefs inconvenient than thofe by you propof'd ; I will with all the fairnefs and calmnefs in the World difpute the point. I beg of God that he would beflow as many Blefhngs on you, as ever on myfelf, and out of a fincere wifh, that you may be made yet more capable of thefe Blefhngs, I take this occafion to lay before you the faults (not few nor fmall ones neither) which the Paper contained, you lately fent me, in order to be Ex- amined by me. In cafe you want a true and full Narrative of my Vifit, whereof fuch an indecent Traverfly (to fay the beft) hath been made, I am not unwilling to communicate it, in mean time muft take liberty to fay, 'Tis fcarcely confifl- ent with Common Civility, much lefs Chriflian N

68 Tejiimonials, [22]

Charity, to offer the Narrative, now with you, for a true one, till you have a truer, or for a full one, till you have a fuller. Your Sincere (tho' Injur'd) Friend and Servant,

C. MATHER.

'The Copy of a Paper Receivd with the above

Letter,

I DO Teftifie that I have feen Margaret Rule in her Afflid:ions from the Invilible World, lifted up from her Bed, wholly by an Invifible force, a great way towards the top of the Room where fhe lay ; in her being fo lifted, fhe had no Affiflance from any ufe of her own Arms or Hands, or any other part of her Body, not fo much as her Heels touching her Bed, or refting on any fupport whatfoever. And I have feen her thus lifted, when not only a flrong Perfon hath thrown his whole weight a crofs her to pull her down ; but feveral other Perfons have endea- voured, with all their might, to hinder her from being fo raifed up, which I fuppofe that feveral others will teftifie as well as myfelf, when call'd unto it. Witnefs my Hand,

SAMUEL AFES.^^

43 A Family of this Name is fup- Savage had never read of Samuel

pofed to have lived at the Corner Aves. Whether he was of the Fam-

of Lynn Street and Henchman's ily of John Aves, banifhed for at-

Lane, as that Corner for a long tempting to burn the Town in 1679,

Period was known as Aves's Corner, is not known. — Hiji. Bojlon, 43 1.

[23] Tejlimonials. 69

WE can alfo Teftifie to the fubftance of what is above Written, and have feveral times feen [23] Margaret Rule fo lifted up from her Bed, as that fhe had no ufe of her own Lims to help her up, but it was the declared apprehenfion of us, as well as others that faw it, impoffible for any hands, but fome of the Invifible World to lift her.

ROBERT EARLE.^ Copia JOHN WILKIN S.

DAN. WILLIAMS.

WE, whofe Names are under- writted do tefti- iie. That one Evening when we were in the Chamber where Margaret Rule then lay, in her late Afflidiion, we obferved her to be, by an Invifible Force, lifted up from the Bed whereon file lay, fo as to touch the Garret Floor, while yet neither her Feet, nor any other part of her Body refled either on the Bed, or any other fupport, but were alfo by the fame force, lifted up from all that was under her, and all this for a confider- able while, we judg'd it feveral Minutes ; and it was as much as feveral of us could do, with all our ftrength to pull her down. All which hap- pened when there was not only we two in the

*• ' Robert Earl was the Prifon- Of Williams, no certain Trace is keeper or Jailor of the Town at an found. Their Obfcurity will pro- early Period. John Wilkins was bably fhield them from further Ex- probably the Freeman of 1673. pofure.

70 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [23]

Chamber, but we fuppofe ten or a dozen more, whofe Names we have forgotten,

Copia THOMAS THORNTON.^^

WilHam Hudfon'^^ Tejiifies to the fubjiance of Thorntons Tejiimony, to which he alfo hath fet his Hand.

Bofion, January 18, 1693. Mr. Cotton Mather, Reverend SIR,

YOURS of the I ^th Inftant, I receiv'd yefter- day ; and foon found I had promifed myfelf too much by it, viz. Either concurrence with, or a denial of thofe Fundamentals mentioned in mine, of Novemb. the 24/-^. finding this waved by an Invitation to your Library, &c. I thank God I have the Bible, and do Judge that fufficient to demonftrate that cited Head of Mr, Gaule, to be a Truth, as alfo thofe other Heads mentioned, as the Foundations of Religion. And in my ap- prehenfion, if it be afked any Chriftian, whether God governs the World, and whether it be he only can Commiffionate Devils, and fuch other Fundamentals, He ought to be as ready as in the Queftion, who made him ? (a little Writing cer- tainly might be of more ufe, to clear up the con- troverted points, than either looking over many

45 Son of Timothy Thornton. ^6 Perhaps Son of the firft Wil- His Occupation was that of a Pa- liam Hudfon, one of the firft Set- ver, tiers of Bofton,

[2+]

A Letter to Mr, CM. 71

Books in a well furnifh'd Library, or than a dif- pute, if I were qualified for it ; the Inconvenien- cies of Paffion being this way befl avoided) And am not without hopes that you will yet oblige me fo far, as to confider that Letter, and if I Err, to let me fee it by Scripture, <£?<:.

Yours, almoft the whole of it, is concerning the Narrative I fent to you, and you feem to inti- mate as if I were giving Characters, Refle6li-[24 ons, and Libell's, &c. concerning yourfelf anc. Relations ; all which 'were as far from my thoughts, as ever they were in writing after either yourfelf, or any other Minifter. In the front you declare your apprehenfion to be, that the Afflicted was under a Diabolical Poffeffion, and if fo, I fee not how it fhould be occafion'd by any Witch- craft (unlefs we afcribe that Power to a Witch, which is only the Prerogative of the Almighty, of Sending or Commiffionating the Devils to Affli6t her.) But to your particular Objections againft the Narrative ; and to the firfl my intel- ligence not giving me any further, I could not infert that I knew not. And it feems improbable that a Queftion fliould be put, whether fhe knew (or rather who they were) and at the fame time to charge her, and that upon her Life, not to tell, and if you had done fo, I fee but little good you could promife yourfelf or others by it, fhe being Polfeft, as alfo having it inculcated fo much to her of Witchcraft. And as to the next Objedtion about company flocking, ^c. I do profefs my

72 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [24]

Ignorance, not knowing what you mean by it. And Sir, that moil of the Queflions did carry with them a prefuppofing the things inquired after, is evident, if there were fuch as thofe relating to the Black-man and a Book, and about her hearing the Prayer, &c. (related in the faid Narrative, which I find no Obje6lion againft.) As to that which is faid of mentioning yourfelf firft difcourfings and your hopes that your breed- ing was better (I doubt it not) nor do I doubt your Father might firfi: • apply himfelf to others ; but my intelligence is, that you firft fpake to the Afflidted or Pofi^effed, for which you had the ad- vantage of a nearer approach. The next two Objections are founded upon miftakes : I find not in the Narrative any fuch Queftion, as how many Witches fit upon you ? and that her Breafi: was not covered, in which thofe material words, (with the Bed-Cloaths) are wholly omit- ted ; I am not willing to retort here your own Language upon you ; but can tell you, that your own difcourfe of it publickly, at Sir W. P's Table, has much more contributed to, ^c. As to the Reply, if fhe could fhe would not tell, whether either or both fpake it it matters not much. Neither does the Narrative fay you felt the live thing on her Belly ; tho I omit now to fay what further demonfi:rations there are of it. As to that Reply, that is only her fancy, I find the word (her) added. And as to your Fathers feel- ing for the live Creature after you had felt it, if

bs]

A Letter to Mr. C. M. 73

it were on the Bed it was not fo very far from her. And for the length of his Prayer, poflibly your Witnelfes might keep a more exadl account of the time than thofe others, and I fland not for a few Minutes. For the reft of the Objections I fuppofe them of lefs moment, if lefs can be (however fhall be ready to receive them, thofe matters of greateft concern I find no Objections againft) thefe being all that yet appear, it may be thought that if the Narrative be not [25] fully exaCt, it was as near as Memory could bear away ; but fhould be glad to fee one more perfed: (which yet is not to be expedied, feeing none writ at the time.) You mention the appendix, by which I underftand the Second Vifit, and if you be by the polfelTed belyed (as being half an hour with her alone (excluding her own Mother) and as telling her you had Prayed for her Nine times that day, and that now was her Laughing time, ftie muft Laugh now) I can fee no Wonder in it ; what can be expedied lefs from the Father of Lies, by whom, you Judge, fhe was pofTeft.

And befides the above Letter, you were pleafed to fend me another Paper containing feveral Tef- timonies of the Poflefied being lifted up, and held a fpace of feveral Minutes to the Garret floor, &c. but they omit giving the account, whether after fhe was down they bound her down : or kept holding her : And relate not how many were to pull her down, which hinders the knowledge what number they muft be to be

74 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [25]

ftronger than an Invilible Force. Upon the whole, I fuppofe you exped: I fhould believe it ; and if fo, the only advantage gain'd, is that w^hich has been fo long controverted between Protectants and Papifts, whether miracles are ceaft, will hereby feem to be decided for the latter; it being, for ought I can fee, if fo, as true a Miracle as for Iron to fwim, and that the Devil can work fuch Miracles.

But Sir, leaving thefe little difputable things, I do again pray that you would let me have the happinefs of your approbation or confutation of that Letter before referred to.

And now. Sir, that the God of all Grace may enable us Zealoully to own his Truths, and to follow thofe things that tend to Peace, and that yourfelf may be as an ufeful Inftrument in his hand, effedtually to ruin the remainders of Heathenifh and Popifh Superftitions, is the earneft delire and prayer of yours to command, in what I may. R. C.

Pojifcript — Sir, I here fend you the Coppy of a paper that lately came to my Hands, which tho' it contains no Wonders, yet is remarkable, and Runs thus.

[26]

A Letter to Mr, C. M. 75

An account of what an Indian told Cap- tain Hill^^'^ at Saco-Fort,

THE Indian told him that the French Minijiers were better than the Englijh^ for before the French cajfie among them there were a great many Witches among the Indians, but now there were none^ and there were much Witches among the EngUfh Minijiers, as Burroughs, who was Hangd for it.

Were I difpofed to make refledtions upon it, I fuppofe you will Judge the Field large, enough, but I forbear, as above. R. C.

[26] Bojion Feb. the \<^th, 1693. Mr. Cotton Mather,

Reverend Sir, Having received as yet no Anfwer to mine of Novemb. the 24th. except an offer to perufe Books, &c. relating to the Doc- trinals therein contain'd : Nor to my laft of fan-

'^1 Captain John Hill, of whom God in Chrift, have, with much

Dr. Ufher Parfons has given an in- Sorrow of Heart, declared how

terefting and ample Account in the they had, whilft in their Heathen-

N. E. Hift. and Gen. Reg. for ifm by the Hands of Evil Angels

April and July, 1858. Murdered their Neighbors." — Dr.

As a Contraft to the next Sen- I. Mather, to the Reader in Angelo-

tence of the Text take this : "Some graphia. In the valuable Collec-

of the Indian Pawawes (/. e., Wiz^ tion of Dr. J. S. H. Fogg, of S.

zards) in this Country, have re- Bofton, are many of the Papers

ceived the Gofpel, and given Good of Capt. Hill, of much Intereft on

Evidence of a True Converfion to the Period referred to.

o

76 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [26]

uary the i8th. In which I did again pray that if I err'd I might be fhewed it by Scripture, Viz. in beUeving that the Devils bounds are fett, which he cannot pafs ; that the Devils are fo full of Malice that it cant be added to by Mankind : That where he hath power he neither can nor will omit Executing it ; That it's only the Al- mighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only can commiffionate him to hurt or deftroy any ; And confequently to deteft as erroneous and dan- gerous, the belief that a Witch can Commiffionate Devils to Afflid; Mortals ; That he can at his or the Witches pleafure affiime any fliape : That Hanging or Chaining of Witches can leiTen his Power of Afflidiing, and reftore thofe that were, at a diftance. Tormented by him. And whether Witchcraft ought to be underflood now in this Age, to be the fame that it was when the Divine Oracles were given forth, particularly, thofe quoted by Mr. Gaiile in that cited Head [tVojiders of the Invijible World ;^^ Mr. Gauks IV. Head, to dif- cover Witches) which do fo plainly ffiew a Witch, in Scripture-fenfe to be one that maligne, &c. And that pretend to give a Sign in order to fe- duce, &c. For I have never underftood in my time, any fuch have Suffered as Witches, tho' fufficiently known ; But the only Witch now inquired after, is one that is faid to become fo by making an Explicit Covenant with the Devil, /'. e. the Devil appearing to them, and making a com-

■^^ See Vol. I, Page 37, of thefe Volumes.

[27]

A Letter to Mr, C. M. 77

pad: mutually, promifing each to other, teftified by their iigning his Book, a material Book, which he is faid to keep and that thereby they are Inti- tuled to a power, not only to Afflidt others, but fuch as is truly exorbitant, if not highly intrench- ing upon the prerogative of him, who is the Soveraign being ; For who is he that faith, and it cometh to pafs, when the Lord commandeth it not.

Such explicit Covenant being as is faid in this Age reckoned elfential to compleat a Witch : Yet I finding nothing of fuch covenant (or power thereby obtain'd) in Scripture, and yet a Witch therein fo fully defcrib'd, do pray that if there be any fuch Scriptures I may be directed to them, for as to the many Legends in this cafe I make no account of them ; I Read indeed of a Cove- nant with Death and with Hell, but fuppofe that to be in the Heart (or Mental) only, and fee not what ufe fuch explicit one can be of between Spirits, any further than as 'tis a Copy of that Mental which is in the Heart. The dire effeds and confequences of fuch notion may be found written in indelible Koman Characters of Blood in all Countryes where they have prevail'd, and what can lefs be [27] expedied when Men are Indicted for that, which, as 'tis impoffible to prove fo, for any to clear himfelf of. Viz, Such explicit Covenant with the Devil, and then for want of better Evidence, mufl: take up with fuch as the Nature of fuch fecret Covenant can bear, as Mr.

78 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [27]

Gaule hath it, /. e. Diftra6ted Stories, and ftrange and Foreign Events, ^c. Thereby endeavouring to find it, though by it's but fuppofed efFedls ; By the fame Rules that one is put to purge himfelf of fuch Compad:, by the fame may all Mankind.+9

This then being fo Important a cafe, it con- cerns all to know what Foundations in Scripture is laid for fuch a Structure ; For if they are defi- cient of that Warrant, the more Eminent the Architedis are the more dangerous are they thereby rendered, ^c. Thefe are fuch confidera- tions as I think will vindicate me in the efteem of all Lovers of Humanity, in my endeavours to get them cleared. And to that End, do once more pray, that you would fo farr oblige me as to give your Approbation or Confutation of the above Dodlrinals ; But if you think filence a Vertue in this cafe, I fhall (I fuppofe) fo far comply with it as not to loofe you any more time to look over my papers. And if any others will fo far oblige me, I Ihall not be ungrateful to them ; Praying God to guide and profper you, I am. Sir, yours to my power,

R. C.

(He that doth Truths comet h to the Light.)

40 The Abfurdity of the Praftice Days. The Praftice of infulting

of the Courts then in Ufe, in their and browbeating thofe on Trial was

fliocking Abufes of accufed Perfons, according to the Cuftom of the

will be found in all its Deformity, Englifh Courts of thofe Days, and

on perufing the Trials of thofe for a long Time after.

[27]

A Letter to Mr. C. M. 79

Bofton April the \t>th, 1694.

Mr. Cotton Mather. Reverend Sir,

HAVING as yet Received no Anfwer to my laft, touching the Doftrinals therein refer- red to, tho' at the deHvery of it, you were pleafed to promife the Gentleman that prefented it, that I fhould have it, and after that you acqainted the fame Gentleman that you were about it. The length of time iince thofe promifes, makes me fuppofe you are preparing fomething for the Prefs (for I would not queftion your veracity) do think it may not be amifs, when you do any thing of that Nature for the publick view, that you alfo explain fome paiTages of fome late Books of yours and your Relations, which are hard to be underftood, to Inftance in a few of many Wonders of the Invifible Worlds pag. 17. [Plagues are fo7ne of thefe woes with which the Devil caufes our Trouble^ pag. 1 8 . Hence cotne fuch Plagues as that befom of de- fruSlion which within our Memory fwept away fuch a throng of People from one Englifh city, in one Viftation. Wars are fome of thofe woes with which the Devil caufes our Trouble, pag. 16. Hence 'tis that the Devil like a Dragon keeping a Guard upon fuch Fruits as would refrejh a Languijlnng World, has hindered Mankind for many Ages from hitting upon thofe ufefull Inventions. The benighted World muf Jogg on for thoufands of Tears, without the

8o A Letter to Mr, C. M. [28]

knowledge of the Load-Jlone, Printing and SpeBa- cles, pag. 10, It is [28] not likely that every Devil does know every Language. ' Tis pojjible the Expe- rience, or if I may call it fo, the Education of all Devils is not alike ; Cafes of confcience, page 63. 'The Devil has itzfiBed on many the Difeafe call'd Lycanthropia.5°

Memor. provid. Relat. to Witch. Difc. on Wit. pag. 24. / a?n alfo apt to think that the Devils are feldom able to hurt us in any of our exteriour concerns, without a ComtniJ/ion fro?n fojne of our fellow Worms. When foul Mouth' d Men Jliall wijh harm to their Neighbours, they give a Commijfon to the Devil to perform what they defre, and if God Jljould not Mercifully prevent, they would go thro with it ; Hear this you that in wilde PaJ/iojt will give every thing to the Devil; Hear it you that be- fpeak a Rot, a Pox, or a Plague, on all that Jlo all provoke you ; I here IndiB you as Guilty of Hellifli Witchcraft in the Sight of God. More Wonders of the Invifible World, pag. 49. They each of them have their SpeBres or Devils Comtnifponed by them and reprefenting of them, pag. 14. But fuch a permijjion from God for the Devil to conie down and break in upon Mankind ?nuf often times be ac- companied with a Cnmmijpon frofu fo?ne of Mankind itfelf Inchantments Encountered. Thefe Witches

•5^ Nothing was more common in thofe Sliapes they attended Witch

among thofe who imagined them- Meetings. At fuch Meetings the

felves bewitched, than the Notion Devil was always prefent, and adled

that they were transformed into as Mailer of Ceremonies. A very

Cats, and other Animals; and that fure Evidence of Infanity.

[28] A Letter to Mr. C. M. 8i

ha've driven a "Trade of CoiJimiffionating their con- federate Spirits, to do all forts of Mif chiefs to their Neighbours, pag. 50. They have bewitched fome even fo far r, as to make them Self dejir oyer s, pag. 144. As I a?n abundantly fatisfedy that many of the Self-murders comniitted here, have been the ef- fects of a cruel and Bloody Witchcraft, letting fy Daemons upon the Miferable Seneca's, pag. 5 1 . We have feen fome of their Children fo Dedicated to the Devil, that in their Infancy the hnps have fucked the?n. Cafes of confcience, pag. 24. They be- queath their Daemons to their Children as a Legacy, by whom they are often aj/ijled to fee and do things beyond the Power of Nature, pag. 2 1 . There are in Spain a fort of People calFd Zahurs,^' that can fee into the Bowels of the Earth. [On Tuefdays and Fridays,] (and to add) that in pag. 49. The words are [For the Law of God allows of no Reve- lation fro?n any other Spirit but himfelf If a. viii. 19. It is a Sin againji God to ?nake ufe of the Devils help, to know that which cannot be otherways known ; and I tefify againfl it as a great traiif- I grej/ion, which may Jujlly provoke the Holy one of \ Ifrael, to let loofe Devils on the whole Land?\ Al- ' tho the Devils Accufation may be fo far regarded, as to caufe an inquiry into the Truth of things, fob. i. II, 12, and ii, 5, 6. Tet not fo as to be an

51 Called in Captain John Ste- or into a Man's Body ; a Cheat put

vens's Spanijh and Englijh DiSiion- upon the Ignorant." There is fome-

tfrj, CtfW/, which is defined, "one thing very fimilar in our Times,

that pretends to fee into the Bowels even leaving out the Founder of" the

of the Earth, through Stone Walls, Mormon Seft.

82 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [29]

'Evidence or Ground of ConviBion, for the Devils Tejiimony ought not to be taken in JVHOLE Nor In PART.^ It is a known Truth, that fome unwary expreffions of the primative Fathers, were afterwards improved for the Introducing and ef- tabUfhing of Error, as their calHng the Virgin Mary^ the Mother of God, &c. Hence occafion and Advantage was taken to propagate the Idol- izing of her (the Hke might be faid of the Eu- cha[^Z()\riJi, thefe affertions, above rehearfed, being apparently liable to a like Male Conftrudiion, and no lefs dangerous, are therefore as I faid highly- needful to be explain'd, and that in a moft pub- lick manner. For were they to be underftood Litterally and as they are fpoken, it muft feem as if the Authors were Introducing among Chriftians very dangerous Doctrines, fuch, as were they af- ferted by the beft of Men, yet ought to be rejected by all, &c. Viz. That 'tis the Devil that brings the mofl of Evils upon Mankind, by way of Infliction, that do befall theln ; And that the Witch can commiffionate him to the performance of thefe, with many others as dangerous Doc- trines, and fuch as feem in their tendency to look favourably upon the Antient Pagan Docflrine of this countrey, who did believe that God did hurt to none, but Good to all, but that the Devil muft be pleaf'd by Worfhipping, &c. From whom came all their Miferies, as they believed. For what were all this but to Rob God of his Glory in the higheft manner, and giving it to a Devil

[29] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 83

and a Witch ; Is it not he that has faid fhall there be Evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it ? But if any are fond of their own notions becaufe fome Eminent Men have before now aflerted them ; they may do well to compare them with that excellent faying, Wonders of the Invijtble World, pag. 7. \^About this Devil there are many things, whereof we may reafonably and profitably be inquifitive, fuch things I mean as are in our Bi- bles reveal' d to us ; according to which if we do not fpeak on fo dark a SubjeB, but according to our own uncertain and perhaps Humourfom ConjeBures, there is no Light in us. Or that other, pag. y^. At every other Weapon the Devil will be too hard for «j-,] For 'tis moil certain that other Notions, Weapons and Practices have been taken up with ; And that the event has been anfwerable, the Devil has been too hard for fuch as have fo done. I Ihall forbear to inftance from the Dogmatical part, and fhall mention fome praftices that as much need explaining. Mem. provid. Relat. to Witch, pag. 29, 30, 31.5^ Where account is given that it was Pray'd for that the afflicfled might be able to declare, whom fhe apprehended herfelf Afflidted by, together with the Immediate anfwer of fuch Prayer. To this you once Reply'd when it was mentioned to you, that you did not then underftand the wiles of Satan.

52 This Work, here often refer- Providences relating to Witchcraft red to, was printed in 1689. Its aytd PoOeJJions, in a i6mo. But more extended Title is. Memorable few Copies are known to exift.

84 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [30]

To which I have nothing to objedt, but it might be a good Acknowledgment ; But con- fidering that the Book is gone forth into all the World, cannot but think the Salve ought to be proportion'd to the Sore, and the notice of the Devils wiles as Univerfal, as the means recom- mending them. Another Praftice \% pag. 20, 21. [ 'There was one Jingular pajpon that frequently at- tended her, an Invijibk Chain would be clapt about her, and Jhe in much pain and fear cry out when they began to put it on, once I did with my own hand knock it off as it began to be fajiened about her.^ [30] If this were done by the power or Vertue of any ord'nance of Divine Inftitution, it is well, but would have been much better if the Inftitution had been demonftrated, or was there any Phyfical Vertue in that particular Hand. But fuppofing that neither of thefe will be alTerted by the Au- thor, I do think it very requifite, that the World may be acquainted with the Operation, and to what Art or Craft to refer their Power of Knock- ing off Invifble Chains.

And thus. Sir, I have Faithfully difcharged (what in this I took to be my Duty) and am fo far from doing it to gain applaufe, or from a Spirit of Contradidlion, that I exped: to procure me many Enemies thereby, (but as in cafe of a Fire) where the Glory of God, and the Good and Wellfare of Mankind are fo nearly concern'd, I thought it my duty to be no longer an Idle Spediator ; And can, and do fay, to the Glory of

[30] A Letter to Mr, B. 85

God, in this whole Affair, I have endeavoured a Confcience voide of offence, both tow^ards God and towards Man ; And therein at the leaft have the advantage of fuch as are very Jealous they have done fo much herein, as to Sin in what they have done, viz. In fheltring the Accufed, fuch have been the Cowardice and Fearfulnefs, where- unto the regard to the Diffatisfadlion of other People have precipitated them ; Which by the way muff needs acquaint all, that for the future other meafures are refolved upon (by fuch) which how Bloody they may prove when opportunity fhall offer, is with him who orders all things, according to the counfel of his own Will : And now that the Song of Angels may be the Emula- tion of Men, is the earnefl Delire, and Prayer, of Sir, Yours to Command in what I may,

R. C. Glory to God in the Higheji, and on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men.

Bojlon, March the iji. 1694. Mr. B.53 Worthy Sir,

AFTER more than a Years waiting for the performance of a reiterated promife from one under lingular obligations, and a multitude

53 1 fuppofe Mr. Thomas Brattle, an Account of the Witchcraft of

the then Treafurer of Harvard Col- 1692, which laid in Manufcript

lege. He was a principal Founder about one hundred Years, when

of the Church in Brattle Square, Dr. Belknap caufed it to be printed

known by his Name. He wrote in Part, in the Colls. Ms. H. So-

86 A Letter to Mr, B. [31]

of advantages to have done* it fooner. The utmoft compliance I have mett with, is (by your Hands) the fight of four Sheets of recinded Papers, but I muft firft be obliged to return them in a Fort- night, and not Copied, which I have now com- plied with : And having read them am not at all Surprized at the Authors Caution in it, not to admit of fuch crude matter and impertinent ab- furdities, as are to be found in it to fpread. He feems concern'd that I take no notice of his feveral Books, wherein, as he faith, he has unan- fwerably proved things to which I might reply, that I have fent him letters of quotations out of thofe Books, to know how much of them he will abide by, for I thought it hard to affix their [31] Natural confequences till he had opportunity to explain them. And faith that he had fent me (Mr. Baxters World of Spirits) an ungainfayable Book, &c. (tho I know no ungainfayable Book, but the Bible) which Book I think no Man that has read it, will give fuch a Title to but the Au- thor, he fpeaks of my reproaching his publick Sermons, of which I am not confcious to myfelf, unlefs it be about his interpretation of a Thunder Storm (that broke into his Houfe) which favoured fo much of Enthuliafm.54^

ciety, V, 61-80. Mr. Brattle was a It is poffible that the Initial (Mr. Scholar, a Graduate of Harvard B — ) may ftand for Gov. Brad- College, and, like Mr. Calef, a ftreet; but I prefume Mr. Brattle is Merchant of Bofton. His Com- meant,

munications to the Royal Society of ^4 jj muft have been difficult for

London procured him the Title of a common-fenfe Man, as Mr. Calef

F. R. S. was, to hear fuch Matters treated

[31]

A Letter to Mr, B. 87

As to thofe papers, I have (as I read them) noted in the Margin where, in a hafly reading, I thought it needful, of which it were unreafonable for him to complain ; feeing I might not take a Copy, thereby to have been inabled, more at lea- fure to digefl what were needfull to be faid on fo many Heads ; and as I have not flatter'd him, fo for telling what was fo needful, with the hazard of making fo many Enemies by it, I have ap- proved myfelf one of his beft Friends : And befides his own fenfe of the weaknefs of his An- fwer, teftified by the prohibition above, he has wholly declined anfwering to moft of thofe things that I had his promife for, and what he pretends to fpeak to, after mentioning, without the needful Anfwer or Proof drops it.

His firft main Work is after his definition of a Witch, which he never proves (without faying any thing to Mr. Gauls Scriptural defcription, tho' fo often urged to it, and tho' himfelf has in his Book recommended and quoted it) is to mag- nifie the Devils Power, and that as I think beyond

ferioufly in the Pulpit, and keep his ftruck with a Clap of Thunder; on Rifibility under complete Control!, being taken up, his dead Body was If Thunder and Lightning were the found exceeding hot, and withall Work of the Devil, as it feems Mr. fmelling ftrong of Sulphur, info- Mather believed, it is not very much that they were forced to drop ftrange that he fhould difcoverfome him, and let him ly a confiderable very odd Pranks in their Operations. Time ere he could be removed. The Father (Dr. I. Mather) re- It is reported that fometimes Thun- lates, among his PhiloJ'ophical Medi- der and Lightning has been gene- tations, that as " a Man was walk- rated out of the fulphurous and ing, in Auguft, 1682, in the Field, bituminous Matter which the firey near Darking in England, he was Mountain ^tna hath caft forth."

88 A Letter to Mr. B. [32]

and againft the Scripture, this takes him up about 1 1 Pages, and yet in Page 22 again returns to it, and as I underftand it, takes part with the P hart- fees againft our Saviour in the Argument, for they charge him that he caft out Devils thro' Beelzebub, Our Saviours Anfwer is. Mat. xii, 25. Every Kingdom divided againji itfelf is brought to defolation ; and every City or Houfe divided againji itfelf, Jhall not ft and, and if Satan caft out Satan, he is divided againft himfelf how Jhall then his King- dom ft and: And yet notwithftanding this Anfwer together with what follows, for further Illuftra- tion, our Author is it feems refolved to aftert that our Saviour did not in this Anfwer deny that many did fo, {viz.) caft out Devils by Beelzebub, ■ and Page 23 grants that the Devils have a Mira- culous Power, but yet muft not be call'd miracles, and yet can be diftinguiftied, as he intimates, only by the Confcience or Light within, to the no fmall fcandal of the Chriftian Religion.

Tho' our Saviour and his Apoftles accounts this the chief or principal proof of his Godhead, John XX. 30, 31. John x. 37, 38. Jolin v. 30. Mark xvi. 17, 18. ^Bs ii. 22. and iv. 30. with many others and that Miracles belong only to God, who alfo Governs the World, Pfal. cxxxvi. 4. Jer. xiv. 22. Ifa. xxxviii. 8. Pfal. Ixii. 11. , Lam. iii. 37. udmos iii. 6. [32] But to forbear quoting that which the Scripture is moft full in, do only fay that he that dares affert the Devil to have fuch a Miraculous Power had need have

[32] A Letter to Mr, B. 89

other Scriptures than ever I have feen. In Page 12. our Author proceeds and ftates a queftion to this efFed:, If the Devil has fuch Pow^ers, and cant exert them without permiffion from God, what can the Witch contribute thereunto ? Inftead of an Anfwer, to this weighty objed:ion, our Author firft concedes that the Devil's do ordinarily exert their Powers, without the Witches contributing to it, but yet that to the end to increafe their guilt he may cheat a Witch, by making her be- lieve herfelf the Author of them.^s His next is, if Witchcraft be, as I fuppofe it is, the £kill of applying the Plaftic Spirit of the World, &c. then the confent of the Witch doth naturally contri- bute to that mifchiefs that the Devil does. And his laft anfwer runs to this effect. Is it not the Ordination of God, that where the Devil can get the confent of a Witch for the hurting of others, the hurt fhall as certainly be as if they had fet MaflifF Dogs upon them, or had given them Poyfon into their Bowels; and Gods Providence muft be as great in delivering from one as from the other, and this it feems is not only his Belief, but the moft Orthodox and moft learned anfwer that our Author could pitch upon. If Witch- craft be as I fuppofe it is, ^c. and is it not the

•''5 There feems always to have fure us that the Devil commiffions

been great Confufion, and no the Witch, and fometimes that the

lels Perplexity, among Believers in Witch governs the Devil. Hence,

Witchcraft refpefting the Parts to be even Believers are very much puz-

affigned to the Devil and the Witch zled to know what to believe. See

refpedively. Sometimes they af- Vol. I, Introd., Pages xviii, xix.

90 A Letter to Mr. B. [32]

Ordination of God, that, ^c. What is all this but precarious, and begging the queftion, and a plain dropping the Argument he cannot manage ; however, to amufe the Ignorant, and to confound the Learned, he hooks in a cramp word, if not a nonentity, (yiz.) Plajiic Spirit of the World, for who is it either knows that there is a Plajiic Spirit, or what it is, or how this can any way ferve his purpofe.5^

He then proceeds to Scripture Inftances of Witches, &c. and where I thought it needful, I have, as I faid, fhewed my diffent from his Judg- ment : He accounts it unreaionable to be held to the proof of his definition of a Witch, which he makes to confift in a Covenant with the Devil, and chufes rather a tedious procefs about a Piftol to defend him from it, which indeed is one par- ticular way whereby Murder has been Committed, and fo the Dore becomes Culpable ; But his defi- nition of a Witch, which as I faid, ftill remains to be proved, is to this effed:. That a Witch is one that Covenants with, and Commiffions Devils to

^'^' It would no doubt puzzle the the World. It is faid, Ifa. 65, 20.

Devil himfelf to explain that Term, That the Sinner of an hundred Tears

Plajiic Spirit. It appears to have Jhall be accurfed. But then what

been made ufe of for the fame (hall the Sinner be that is more than

Reafcn that a certain Fifh difcolors 5000 Years old ? The Devil and

the Water when purfued by an all the Angels that finned with him.

Enemy. are Sinners of above 5000 Years

The following Ideas refpcfting old, and will therefore become the

the Devil then entertained may not moil accurfed and damned Crea-

be out of Place in this Connexion : tures in the whole Univerfe at the

(( '

The Devil is the oldeft Sinner, Great Day." — Dr. I. Mather, An- and the moft curfed Creature in all gelographia, 120.

[33]

A Letter to Mr. B. 91

do mifchiefs, that fhe is one in Covenant, or that by Vertue of fuch Covenant fhe can Commiffion- , ate him tD Kill. The not bringing Scripture to prove thefe tv^o, is a fufficient demonflration there is none ; and fo that our Author leaves off jufl vv^here he began, ^2;. in a bare Affertion, together with his own Biggoted experiences, hinting alfo at multitudes of Hiftories to confirm him in the belief of his definition. Here being all that I take notice of to be confiderable.

[33] And now. Sir, if you think fit to improve your Friendfhip with the Author for the Glory of God, the Sovereign Being, the good and wel- fare of Mankind^ and for his real and true Intereft, as you fee it convenient, put him in mind. That the Glory of God is the end why Mankind was made, and why He hath fo many Advantages to it. That the Flames we have feen threatning the utter extirpation of the Country, muft own their Original to thefe dangerous Errors (if not herefies) which if they remain Unextinguifhed, may and moft likely will be ad:ed over again.

That 'tis more Honour to own an Error in time, than tenacioufly after full Conviction to re- tain it. But if our Author will again Vindicate fuch matters, pleafe to acquaint him, that I fhall not any more receive his Papers, if I may not Copy and ufe them ; and that when he does, inftead of fuch abftruife matters, I ftill pray his determination in thofe things I have his promife

Q

92 A Letter to the Minijiers, [33]

for. And thus begging Pardon for thus long detaining of you, I am. Sir, your to Command,

. R. C.

Bofton, March 18, 1694.

To the Minijiers J whether Englifh, French,

or Dutch,

I Having had not only occafion, but renewed provocation to take a view of the Myfterious Doctrines, which have of late been fo much con- tefted among us, could not meet with any that had fpoken more, or more plainly the fenfe of thofe Doctrines (relating to the Witchcraft) than the Reverend Mr. C. M. but how clearly and confiftent, either with himfelf or the truth, I medle not now to fay, but cannot but fuppofe his ftrenuous and Zealous alTerting his opinions, has been one caufe of the difmal Convulfions we have here lately fallen into ; Suppoiing that his Books of Memorable Providences, relating to Witchcraft, as alfo his Wonders of the Invifble World, did contain in them things not warrantable, and very dangerous, I fent to him a Letter of Quotations out of thofe Books, <£?<;.

That fo, if it might have been, I might under- ftand what tollerable Senfe he would put upon his own words, which I took to be a better way of Proceeding, than to have affixed what I thought to be their natural confequences, and left I might be Judged a Sceptic I gave him a full

[34] A Letter to the Minijlers. 93

and free account of my belief relating to thofe Dodrines, together with the grounds thereof; And prayed him that if I err'd I might be fhewed it by Scripture, and this I had his reiterated promife for. But after more than a Years waiting for the performance thereof, all that is done in compli- ance therewith, is that in Feb. laft, he fent me four fheets of his writing as his behef, but before I might receive it I muft engage to deliver it back in a Fortnight and not Copy'd.57 A Summary account [34] of which I Ihall give you, when I have firft acquainted you what the Dodirines were which I fent to him for his concurrence with, or confutation of, and to which I had his promife,

as above.

Thefe by way of Queftion, {Fiz.) whether that fourth Head cited and recommended by himfelf (In Wonders of the Invifible World, of Mr. Gauls) ought to be believed as a truth, which runs thus ; Among the moft unhappy circumftances to Con- vidt a Witch, one is a MaHgning and Oppugning the Word, Work, and Worihip of God, and feeking by any Extraordinary fign to feduce any from it, Beut. xiii. i, 2. Mat. xxiv. 24. ABs xiii. 8, 10. 2 Tim. iii. 8. do but mark well the

57 In Anfwer to this, the Dr. fays : fwer which every impartial Reader

" The Reafon that made me unwil- will decide, redounds entirely to the

ling to truft any of my Writings in Credit of Mr. Calcf, and that Cz-

the Hands of this Man, was becaufe vilit^j is alfo altogether on his bide.

I faw the Weaver (though he pre- Yet, in an Air of Triumph the Doc-

fumes to call himfelf a Merchant) tor adds: '^Th^ Antifcriptural Doc-

was a Stranger to all the Rules of trines cfpoufed by this Man^do alio

Civility." This is the Kind of An- call for no further Anfwer.'

94- A hetter to the Minijiers. [34]

places, and for this very property of thus op- pugning and perverting, they are all there con- cluded arrant and abfolute Witches.

And if in Witchcraft the Devil by means of a Witch does the Mifchief, how 'tis poffible to diftinguifh it from PolTeffion, both being faid to be performed by the Devil, and yet without an Infallible difl:ind;ion there can be no certainty in Judgment. And whether it can be proved that the Jewi/h Church in any Age before, or in our Saviours time, even in the time of their greateft Apoftacy did believe that a Witch had power to Commiffionate Devils to do Mifchief.

So much to the Queftions. Thefe were fent as my belief : That the devils bounds are fett, that he cant pafs ; That the devils are fo full of Malice, that it cant be added to by Mankind ; That where he hath power he neither can nor will omit executing it ; That 'tis only the Al- mighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only can Commiffionate him to hurt or deftroy. And now I fhall give you the Summary account of his four fheets above mentioned, as near as memory could recoiled:, in Ten Particulars.

I. That the Devils have in their Natures a power to work Wonders and Miracles ; particu- larly that the Pharifees were not miftaken in alTerting that the Devils might be caft out by Beelzebub ; and that our Saviours Anfwer does not oppofe that affertion ; and that he hath the Power of Death, that he can make the mofl Solid things

[34] A Letter to the Minijlers, 95

Invifible; and can Invifibly bring poyfon and force it. down Peoples Throats. s^

2. That to alTert this Natural, wonderful Power of the Devil, makes moft for the Glory of God, in preferving Man from its effefts,

3. Yet this Power is reftrained by the Al- mighty, as pleafeth him.

4. That a Witch is one that makes a Covenant with the Devil.

5. That by vertue of fuch a Covenant, fhe ar- rives at a Power to Commiffionate him.

6. That God has ordain'd, that when the Devil is call'd upon by the Witch, tho' he were before reftrained by the Almighty, the defired mifchiefs

■5S In this Connexion it may be interefting to have the Views of Dr. Increafe Mather refpe£ling the At- tributes of the Devil.

" There were many of them [the Devils Angels] that were concerned in that firft Tranfgreffion and Re- bellion againft the Lord. It is faid, Ephef. 2. 3. That the Devil is the Prince of the Power of the Air. So that there is a Power, an Hojl, a vaft Army of thofe Evil Spirits, that did joyn with the Devil, in fet- ting themfelves againft the Great God. How many, is not for us to fay, the Written Word of God not fpeaking anything as to the Quantity of their Number; only it is mani- feft from the Scripture, that there are far more Angels that have fin- ned, far more Devils than there are Men in all the World. There is not a Man in the whole World but

there are Devils to tempt him con- tinually. And if fo, they muft needs be more in Number than Men are. We read in the Gofpel of no lefs than a Legion of Devils in one poor miferable Man. Luk. 8, 30. You read there of a pofTefed Man, and Chrift demanded of the Evil Spirit what his Name was : The chief Devil among them made Anfwer, // is Legion for we are many. A Legion is fix Thoufand fix Hundred and Sixty-fix. Now then, if the Devil has fuch vaft Numbers of In- fernal Spirits under him ; if he has fuch Troops of them, as that he can fpare no lefs than a Legion to afflid, and as it were to keep Garrifon in one poor miferable Man : what prodigious Numbers of Evil Angels muft there needs be." — Angelo- graphia, iii-iiz. See alfo The Devil Difcovered, Vol. I, 217-247.

96 A Letter to the Minijlers, [35]

ordinarily fhall as certainly be performed, as if the Witch had [35] lodged poyfon in the Bowels of her Neighbour, or had fet MaflifF Dogs on them.

7. That the Witche's Art of applying the Plajiic Spirit of the World to unlawful purpofes, does Naturally contribute to the mifchiefs done by the Devil.

8. That that God which reftrain'd an Abime- lich and a Laban from hurting, does alfo reftrain the Witch from Calling upon or Improving the Devil, when he will not have his Power io ex- erted.

9. That to have a Familiar Spirit, is to be able to caufe a Devil to take bodily (hapes, whereby either to give refponfes, or to receive orders for doing mifchief.

10. That this is the Judgment of mofi: of the Divines in the Countrey, whether Englijh, Dutch or French.^^

^^ Dr. Mather's Animadverfions tuous and fenfible Man, but let

on thefe " Ten Articles " fhould be their Opinions about the Salem

read in Connexion : " When he Troubles be what they will, they

fent about unto all the Minifters deteft it, as, a File Book ; as being

a Libellous Letter againft myfelf, an intire Libel upon the whole

falfely charging me with writing in Government and Minijiry in the

a Manufcript of mine Ten Articles Land ; yea, they think it beneath a

(which are of his own drawing up) Minifter of the Gofpel to beftow

whereof the chief are of his own the Pains of an Anfwer upon it.

pure Invention, there was not one The Book ferves but as an Engine

of all thofe reverend Perfons, who to difcover (by their approbation

thought him worthy of an Anfwer. of it) a few Perfons in the Land

And now his Book is come abroad, that will diftinguilh themfelves by

I cannot hear (and many obferve an exalted Malignity^ Some Few

the Like) of fo much as one ver- Remarks on a Scandalous Book,'^^-'^.

[35] A Letter to the Minifters, 97

This as I faid, I took to be moft material in the four {heets fent to me as his belief, and is alfo all the performance he has yet made of his feve- ral promifes ; which ten Articles being done only by memory, left thro' miftake or want of the Original, I might have committed any errors, I fent them to him that, if there were any, they might be rectified : But inftead of fuch an An- fwer, as might be expected from a Minifter and a learn'd Gentleman, one Mr. W — fhewed me a Letter writ by Mr. C. M — to himfelf, which I might read, but neither borrow nor Copy, and fo, if I were minded, could give but a fhort ac- count of it.

And paffing over his hard Language, which, as I am confcious to myfelf ; I never deferv'd, (relating to my writing in the margin of the four fheets ; and to thefe ten Articles) fo I hope I underftand my Duty, better than to imitate him in retorting the like. Among his many words in his faid Letters, I meet with two fmall Objediions ; one is againft the word [Miracle) in the firft Article, the word, I fay, not the matter, for the works he attributes to the Devil are the fame in their being above or againft the Courfe of Nature and all Natural caufes, yet he will not admit of thefe to be call'd Miracles. And hence he reckon's it the greateft difficulty he meets with in this whole affair, to diftinguifti the works of the Devil from Miracles. And hence alfo he concedes to the Devil the Power to make the

98 A Letter to the Minijiers. [36]

moft Solid things Invifible, and Invifibly to bring Poyfon and force it down Peoples Throats, ^c. Which I look upon to be as true Miracles as that. 2 Kings vi. 18. and this is the fenfe I underftand the word in, and in this fenfe, he himfelf in the four fheets admits it ; for he has an objection to this effed:. Viz. [If the Devils have fuch power, &c. then miracles are not ceaf 'd ; and where are we then ? (his Anfwer is) Where ! even jufi: where we were before, fay I] fo that it feems the only offence here is at my ufing his words. His fecond objection (for weight) is againft the whole ninth Article, and wonders [36] how 'tis poffible for one Man fo much to mifunderftand another ; Yet as I re- member, he fpeaking of the Witch of Endor in the faid four fheets fays, fhe had a familiar Spirit, and that [a Spirit belonging to the Invifible World, upon her calling appear'd to Saul^ &c. and if fo 'tis certain he gave refponfes, he alfo tells of Balaam, that it was known that he could fet Devils on People to deftroy them, and there- fore how this objection fhould bear any Force I fee not; The reft of the objedlions are of fo fmall weight that once reading may be fufficient to clear them up, and if this be not fo, he can, when he pleafes, by making it Publick together with the Margins I writ. Convince all People of the truth of what he afferts ; But here 'tis to be noted, that the 2d. ^^rd. \th. and ^th Articles he concedes to, as having nothing to objed: againft

[36] A Letter to the Minijiers, 99

them, but that they are his belief; and that the 6th. and jth. he puts for Anfwer to an objeaion which he thus frames. Viz. If the Devil have fuch powers but cannot exert them but by per- miffion from God, what can the Witch con- tribute thereto. And thus I have faithfully performed what I undertook, and do folemnly declare, I have not intentionally in the leaft wronged the Gentleman concerned, nor defign'd the leaft blemifh to his Reputation; but if it ftands in competition with the Glory of God, the only Almighty Being, his truths and his Peoples welfare, I fuppofe thefe too valuable to be trampled on for his fake, tho' in other things I am ready to my power (tho' with denying fome part of my own intereft) to ferve him. Had this Gentleman declined or detraded his four fheets, I fee not but he might have done it, and which I think there was caufe enough for him to have done, but to own the four fheets, and at the fame time to difown the Doftrine contain'd in them, and this knowing that I have no Copy, renders the whole of the worfe afpedt.

And now I fhall give you a further account of my Belief, when I have firft premifed, that 'tis a prevailing Belief in this Countrey, and elfewhere, that the Scriptures are not full in the Defcription of, and in the way and means how to detect a Witch, tho' pofitive in their Punifhment to be by Death; and that hence they have thought themfelves under a neceffity of taking up with R

>

lOO A Letter to the Minijiers, [37]

the Sentiments of fuch Men or Places that are thought worthy to give rules to detedl them by : And have accordingly pra6tifed, viz. In fearching for Tets for the Devil to fuck ; Trying whether the fufpedted can fay the Lords Prayer ; And whether the Afflicted falls at the fight, and rifes at the touch of the fuppofed Witch ; As alfo by the Affli6ted or PoiTefled giving account who is the Witch.

Touching thefe my belief is, that 'tis highly Derogatory to the wifdom of the Wife Lawgiver, to afcert. That he has given a Law by Mofes, the Penalty whereof is Death ; and yet no direction to his People, whereby to know and deted: the cul- pable, till our Triumvirate Mr. [37] Per kins ^ Gaul and Bernard, had given us their receits, and that that fourth Head of Mr. Gauls, being fo well prov'd by Scripture is a truth, and contains a full and clear Teftimony, who are Witches culpable of Death, and that plainly and from Scripture, yet not excluding any other branch, when as well proved by that infallible rule. And that the going to the Afflicted or PoffeiTed, to have them Divine who are Witches by their Spedteral fight, is a great wickednefs, even the Sin of Saul (for which he alfo Died) but with this difference, the one did it for Augury, or to know future Events, the other in order to take away Life; and that the fearching for Tets, the experiment of their faying the Lords Prayer ; the falling at the fight and rifing at the touch of the fuppofed

[37] A Letter to the Minijters, 10 1

Criminal, being all of them foreign from Scrip- ture, as well as reafon, are abominations to be abhor'd and repented of. And that our Salem Witchcraft, either refpedling the Judges and Ju- ries, their tendernefs of Life, or the Multitude and pertinency of witnefTes, both Affli6ted and Confeflbrs, or the Integrity of the Hiftorians, are as Authentic, and made as certain as any ever of that kind in the World ; and yet who is it that now fees not through it, and that thefe were the Sentiments that have procured the forefl Afflidiion, and moft lafting infamy that ever befel this Country, and moft like fo to do again, if the fame notions be ftill entertain'd and finally that thefe are thofe laft times, of which the Spirit fpeaks expreflly, Tim. iv. i. And now ye that are Fathers in the Churches, Guides to the People, and the Salt of the Earth.

I befeech you confider thefe things ; and if you find the Glory of God diminifht by afcribing fuch power to Witches and Devils ; His truths oppof'd by thefe notions ; and his People afperfed in their Doctrines and Reputations, and indan- gered in their Lives ; I dare not dictate to you, you know your duty as Watchmen, and the Lord be with you.

But if you find my belief contrary to found Dodirine, I intreat you to fhew it me by the Scripture ; And in the mean time blame me not if I cannot believe that there are feveral Al- mighties ; for to do all forts of wonders, beyond

I02 A Letter to Mr. S. W. [38]

and above the Courfe of Nature, is certainly the work of Omnipotency . So alfo, he that fhall Commiffionate or Impower to thefe, muft alfo be Almighty ; and I think it not a fufficient faho, to fay they may be reftrain'd by the moft High ; and hope you will not put any hard Con- itrudtion on thefe my Endeavours to get informa- tion (all other ways failing) in things fo needful to be known; praying the Almightys Guidance and protection, I am

Yours to the utmoft of my Power,

R. C.

[38] Bofton, Sept. the 20th, 1695. Mr. Samuel Willard. Reverend Sir,

MY former of March the i8th. directed to the Minifters (and which was lodg'd with yourfelf) containing feveral Articles, which I fent as my belief, praying them if I erred to fhew it me by Scripture, I have as yet had no Anfwer to, either by word or writing, which makes me gather that they are approved of as Orthodox, or at leaft that they have fuch Founda- tions, as that none are willing to manifefl: any oppolition to them : And therefore with fubmif- lion, &c. I think that that late feafonable and well-delign'd Dialogue intituled, Some mifcella- ny Obfervations,^° &c. of which yourfelf is the

60 The Suppofition was correft. referred to, printed in Philadelphia in There was an Edition of the Work 1692, in a fmall Quarto of 16 Pages.

[38] A Letter to Mr. S. W. 103

fuppof'd Author (and which was fo ferviceable in the time of it) is yet liable to a male conftrudtion^ even to the endangering to revive what it moll oppofes, and to bring thofe praftices agam on Foot, which in the day thereof were fo terrible to this whole Countrey : The words which 1 fuppofe fo liable to Mifconftrudtion, are^^^. 14. -^ Who informed them f S. the SpeBre. B. very g'ood, and thafs the Devil turned Informer How are good Men like to fare againjl whom he hath particular Malice !

It is but a Prefumption, and Wife Men will weigh Prefumptions againji Prefumptions, There ts to be no Examination without grounds of Sufpicton Some Perfons Credit ought to be accounted too good to be undermined fo far as to be fufpeBed on fo flight a ground: and it is an Injury done them to bring them upon Examination, which renders them openly SufpeSed. I will not deny but for Perfons already fufpeBed and of III fame, it may occafion thetr

Upon this Letter and the Work of '-"^^'If^^tnlTna^^^^

Mr Willard Dr. Mather remarks, only faid Go tell hm I hat the An

!v[deXunder great Excitement fv^er to him and hs Letter ts m the

and Indignation as'refpeas the For- ^^enty Sixth of the Proverbs, and

mer • " I remember that when this the Fourth.

mLble Man fent unto an eminent Mr. Willard's Silence was un-

Minfte in the Town, a Libellous doubtedly owing to a very different

Tmer^ reflefting both on a Judi- Caufe than that given by D. Ma-

cious bifcourfe written by him, and ther It i» fairly inferabk that Mr

on the Holy Propofals made by the Willard was too good a Logician

Pr^fident and Fellows of Harvard- not to fee that Mr Calef ^^J^^

Colleze about recording of Remark- ment did not admit of Refutation

M^Cidences, and then he de- and that ^s own Reputation would

manded and expefted an Anfwer be beft conferved by Silence.

104- A Letter to Mr, S. W. [39]

being examined. In which thefe words ('tis but a prefumption, &c.) (and fome Perfons credit, &c.) (and I will not deny but for Perfons already fuf- pecSted, &c.) this I take to be waving to