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. _William Stacy_[162] testify'd, That receiving Mony of this
_Bishop_, for work done by him; he was gone but a matter of three Rods
from her, and looking for his Mony, found it unaccountably gone from
him. Some time after, _Bishop_ asked him, whether her Father would
grind her Grist for her? He demanded why? She reply'd, _Because Folks
count me a Witch_. He answered, _No question but he will grind it for
you_. Being then gone about six Rods from her, with a small Load in
his Cart, suddenly the Off-wheel slump't; and sunk down into an hole,
upon plain Ground; so that the Deponent was forced to get help for
the recovering of the Wheel: But stepping back to look for the hole,
which might give him this Disaster, there was none at all to be found.
Some time after, he was waked in the Night; but it seem'd as light
as day; and he perfectly saw the shape of this _Bishop_ [70] in the
Room, troubling of him; but upon her going out, all was dark again.
He charg'd _Bishop_ afterwards with it, and she deny'd it not; but
was very angry. Quickly after, this Deponent having been threatned
by _Bishop_, as he was in a dark Night going to the Barn, he was
very suddenly taken or lifted from the Ground, and thrown against a
Stone-wall: After that, he was again hoisted up and thrown down a Bank,
at the end of his House. After this again, passing by this _Bishop_,
his Horse with a small Load, striving to draw, all his Gears flew to
pieces, and the Cart fell down; and this Deponent going then to lift
a Bag of Corn, of about two Bushels, could not budge it with all his
Might.
Many other Pranks of this _Bishop's_ this Deponent was ready to
testify. He also testify'd, That he verily believ'd, the said _Bishop_
was the Instrument of his Daughter _Priscilla's_ Death; of which
suspicion, pregnant Reasons were assigned.
XII. To crown all, _John Bly_ and _William Bly_ testify'd, That being
employ'd by _Bridget Bishop_, to help take down the Cellar-wall of the
old House wherein she formerly lived, they did in holes of the said old
Wall, find several _Poppets_, made up of Rags and Hogs-brussels, with
headless Pins in them, the Points being outward; whereof she could give
no Account to the Court, that was reasonable or tolerable.[163]
XIII. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidently
convicted of _gross Lying_ in the Court, several times, while she
was making her Plea; but besides this, a Jury of Women found a
preternatural Teat upon her Body: But upon a second search, within 3 or
4 hours, there was no such thing to be seen. There was also an Account
of other People whom this Woman had Afflicted; and there might have
been many more, if they had been enquired for; but there was no need of
them.
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