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
XIV. There was one very strange thing more, with which the Court
was newly entertained. As this Woman was under a Guard, passing by
the great and spacious Meeting-house of _Salem_, she gave a look
towards the House: and immediately a _Dæmon_ invisibly entring the
Meeting-house, tore down a part of it; so that tho' there was no Person
to be seen there, yet the People, at the noise, running in, found a
Board, which was strongly fastned with several Nails, transported unto
another quarter of the House.
III. _The Tryal of_ SUSANNA MARTIN,[164] _at the Court of Oyer and
Terminer, held by Adjournment at Salem, June 29. 1692._
I. SUS_ANNA MARTIN_, pleading _Not Guilty_ to the Indictment of
_Witchcraft_, brought in against her, there were produced the Evidences
of ma[71]ny Persons very sensibly and grievously Bewitched; who all
complained of the Prisoner at the Bar, as the Person whom they believed
the cause of their Miseries. And now, as well as in the other Trials,
there was an extraordinary Endeavour by _Witchcrafts_, with Cruel
and frequent Fits, to hinder the poor Sufferers from giving in their
Complaints, which the Court was forced with much Patience to obtain, by
much waiting and watching for it.
II. There was now also an account given of what passed at he first
Examination before the Magistrates. The Cast of her _Eye_, then
striking the afflicted People to the Ground, whether they saw that Cast
or no; there were these among other Passages between the Magistrates
and the Examinate.
_Magistrate._ Pray, what ails these People?
_Martin._ I don't know.
_Magistrate._ But what do you think ails them?
_Martin._ I don't desire to spend my Judgment upon it.
_Magistrate._ Don't you think they are bewitch'd?
_Martin._ No, I do not think they are.
_Magistrate._ Tell us your Thoughts about them then.
_Martin._ No, my thoughts are my own, when they are in, but when they
are out they are anothers. Their Master.----
_Magistrate._ Their Master? who do you think is their Master?
_Martin._ If they be dealing in the Black Art, you may know as well as
I.
_Magistrate._ Well, what have you done towards this?
_Martin._ Nothing at all.
_Magistrate._ Why, 'tis you or your Appearance.
_Martin._ I cannot help it.
_Magistrate._ Is it not _your_ Master? How comes your Appearance to
hurt these?
_Martin._ How do I know? He that appeared in the Shape of _Samuel_, a
glorified Saint, may appear in any ones Shape.
It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if the
Afflicted went to approach her, they were flung down to the Ground.
And, when she was asked the reason of it, she said, _I cannot tell; it
may be the Devil bears me more Malice than another_.
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