The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination, (Vol. 1 of 3)Mather, Cotton
History
The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination, (Vol. 1 of 3)
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England
_V. Margaret Arnold_, the Sister of Mr. _Pacy_, Testifi'd unto the like
Sufferings being upon the Children, at her House, whither her Brother
had Removed them. And that sometimes, the Children (_only_) would see
things like Mice, run about the House; and one of them suddenly snap'd
one with the Tongs, and threw it into the Fire, where it screeched
out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee, flew at the Face
of the younger Child; the Child fell into a Fit; and at last Vomited
up a _Two-penny Nail_, with a Broad Head; affirming, _That the Bee
brought this Nail, and forced it into her Mouth_. The Child would in
like manner be assaulted with Flies, which brought Crooked Pins, unto
her, and made her first swallow them, and then Vomit them. She one Day
caught an Invisible _Mouse_, and throwing it into the Fire, it Flash'd
like to Gun-Powder. None besides the Child saw the _Mouse_, but every
one saw the _Flash_. She also de[58]clared, out of her Fits, that in
them, _Amy Duny_ much tempted her to destroy her self.
_VI._ As for _Ann Durent_, her Father Testified, That upon a Discontent
of _Rose Cullender_, his Daughter was taken with much Illness in her
Stomach and great and sore Pains, like the Pricking of Pins: and then
Swooning Fits, from which Recovering, she declared, _She had seen
the Apparition_ of Rose Cullender, _Threatning to Torment her_. She
likewise Vomited up diverse Pins. The Maid was Present at Court, but
when _Cullender_ look'd upon her, she fell into such Fits, as made her
utterly unable to declare any thing.
_Ann Baldwin_ deposed the same.
_VII. Jane Bocking_, was too weak to be at the Assizes. But her Mother
Testifi'd, that her Daughter having formerly been Afflicted with
Swooning Fits, and Recovered of them; was now taken with a great Pain
in her Stomach; and New Swooning Fits. That she took little Food, but
every Day Vomited Crooked Pins. In her first Fits, she would Extend
her Arms, and use Postures, as if she catched at something, and when
her Clutched Hands were forced open, they would find several Pins
diversely Crooked, unaccountably lodged there. She would also maintain
a Discourse with some that were Invisibly present, when casting abroad
her Arms, she would often say, _I will not have it!_ but at last say,
_Then I will have it!_ and closing her Hand, which when they presently
after opened, a Lath-Nail was found in it. But her great Complaints
were of being Visited by the shapes of _Amy Duny_, and _Rose Cullender_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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