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
_XI._ However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been already
produced against the Prisoners, One _John Soam_ Testifi'd, That
bringing home his Hay in Three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the
Window of _Rose Cullenders_ House, whereupon she flew out, with
violent Threatenings against the Deponent. The other Two Carts, passed
by Twice, Loaded, that Day afterwards; but the Cart which touched
_Cullenders_ House, was Twice or Thrice that Day overturned. Having
again Loaded it, as they brought it thro' the Gate which Leads out of
the Field, the Cart stuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could
not possibly get it thro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the
Gate, to make the Cart pass thro', altho' they could not perceive that
the Cart did of either side touch the Gate-Post. They afterwards, did
with much Difficulty get it home to the Yard; but could not for their
Lives get the Cart near the place, where they should unload. They were
fain to unload at a great Distance; and when they were Tired, the Noses
of them that came to Assist them, would burst forth a Bleeding; so
they were fain to give over till next morning; and then they unloaded
without any difficulty.
_XII. Robert Sherringham_ also Testifi'd, That the Axle-Tree of his
Cart, happening in passing, to break some part of _Rose Cullenders_
House, in her Anger at it, she vehemently threatned him, _His Horses
should suffer for it_. And within a short time, all his Four Horses
dy'd; after which he sustained many other Losses in the sudden Dying
of his Cattle. He was also taken with a Lameness in his Limbs; and
so vexed with Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bigness, that no
Art could hinder the Swarming of them, till he burnt up two Suits of
Apparel.
[60] _XIII._ As for _Amy Duny_, 'twas Testifi'd by one _Richard
Spencer_ that he heard her say, _The Devil would not let her Rest;
until she were Revenged on the Wife of_ Cornelius Sandswel. And that
_Sandswel_ testifi'd, that her Poultry dy'd suddenly, upon _Amy Dunys_
threatning of them; and that her Husbands Chimney fell, quickly after
_Duny_ had spoken of such a disaster. And a Firkin of Fish could not be
kept from falling into the Water, upon suspicious words of _Duny's_.
_XIV._ The Judge told the Jury, they were to inquire now, first,
whether these Children were Bewitched; and secondly, Whether the
Prisoners at the Bar were guilty of it. He made no doubt, there were
such Creatures as Witches; for the Scriptures affirmed it; and the
Wisdom of all Nations had provided Laws against such persons. He pray'd
the God of Heaven to direct their Hearts in the weighty thing they had
in hand; for, _To Condemn the Innocent, and let the Guilty go free,
were both an Abomination to the Lord_.
The Jury in half an hour brought them in _Guilty_ upon their several
Indictments, which were Nineteen in Number.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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