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
_VIII._ As for _Susan Chandler_, her Mother Testified, That being at
the search of _Rose Cullender_, they found on her Belly a thing like a
Teat, of an Inch long; which the _said Rose_ ascribed to a strain. But
near her Privy-parts, they found Three more, that were smaller than the
former. At the end of the long Teat, there was a little Hole, which
appeared, as if newly Sucked; and upon straining it, a white Milky
matter issued out. The Deponent further said, That her Daughter being
one Day concerned at _Rose Cullenders_ taking her by the Hand, she fell
very sick, and at Night cry'd out, _That_ Rose Cullender _would come to
Bed unto her_. Her Fits grew violent, and in the Intervals of them,
she declared, _That she saw_ Rose Cullender _in them, and once having
of a great Dog with her_. She also Vomited up Crooked Pins; and when
she was brought into Court, she fell into her Fits. She Recovered her
self in some Time, and was asked by the Court, whether she was in a
Condition to take an Oath, and give Evidence. She said, she could; but
having been Sworn, she fell into her Fits again, and, _Burn her! Burn
her!_ were all the words that she could obtain power to speak. Her
Father likewise gave the same Testimony with her Mother; as to all but
the Search.
_IX._ Here was the Sum of the Evidence: Which Mr. Serjeant
Keeling,[148] thought not sufficient to Convict the Prisoners. For
admitting the Chil[59]dren were Bewitched, yet, said he, it can never
be Apply'd unto the Prisoners, upon the Imagination only of the Parties
Afflicted; inasmuch as no person whatsoever could then be in Safety.
Dr. _Brown_, a very Learned Person then present, gave his Opinion, that
these Persons were Bewitched. He added, That in _Denmark_, there had
been lately a great Discovery of Witches; who used the very same way of
Afflicting people, by Conveying Pins and Nails into them. His Opinion
was, that the Devil in Witchcrafts, did Work upon the Bodies of Men and
Women, upon a _Natural Foundation;_ and that he did Extraordinarily
afflict them, with such Distempers as their Bodies were most subject
unto.
_X._ The Experiment about the _Usefulness_, yea, or _Lawfulness_
whereof Good Men have sometimes disputed, was divers Times made, That
tho' the Afflicted were utterly deprived of all sense in their Fits,
yet upon the _Touch_ of the Accused, they would so screech out, and fly
up, as not upon any other persons. And yet it was also found that once
upon the touch of an innocent person, the like effect follow'd, which
put the whole Court unto a stand: altho' a small Reason was at length
attempted to be given for it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account