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
VII. _John Kembal_[168] testified, that _Susanna Martin_, upon a
Causeless Disgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his,
_That she should never do him any more Good:_ and it came to pass
accordingly. For soon after the Cow was found stark dead on the dry
Ground, without any Distemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he
was followed with a strange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he
lost in one Spring to the Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said _John
Kembal_ had a further Testimony to give in against the Prisoner which
was truly admirable.
Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy
one of this _Martin_, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House. But she
not letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself then
at one _Blezdels_. Having mark'd a Puppy, which he lik'd at _Blezdels_,
he met _George Martin_, the Husband of the Prisoner, going by, who
asked him, _Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies?_
and he answered, _No_. The same Day, _one Edmond Eliot_, being at
_Martin's_ House, heard _George Martin_ relate, where this _Kembal_
had been, and what he had said. Whereupon _Susanna Martin_ replied,
_If I live, I'll give him Puppies enough!_ Within a few days after,
this _Kembal_, coming out of the Woods, there arose a little Black [74]
Cloud in the N.W. and _Kembal_ immediately felt a force upon him, which
made him not able to avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were
before him, albeit he had a broad, plain Cart-way, before him; but tho'
he had his Ax also on his Shoulder, to endanger him in his Falls, he
could not forbear going out of his way to tumble over them. When he
came below the Meeting House, there appeared unto him, a little thing
like a _Puppy_, of a Darkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards
between his Legs. He had the Courage to use all possible Endeavours of
Cutting it with his Ax; but he could not Hit it: the Puppy gave a jump
from him, and went, as to him it seem'd to him into the Ground. Going a
little further, there appeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger
than the first, but as Black as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than
those of his Ax; it flew at his Belly, and away; then at his Throat;
so, over his Shoulder one way, and then over his Shoulder another way.
His Heart now began to fail him, and he thought the Dog would have
tore his Throat out. But he recovered himself, and called upon God in
his Distress; and naming the Name of Jesus Christ, it vanished away at
once. The Deponent spoke not one Word of these Accidents, for fear of
affrighting his Wife. But the next Morning, _Edmond Eliot_, going into
_Martin's_ House, this Woman asked him where _Kembal_ was? He replied,
_At home, a Bed, for ought he knew_. She returned, _They say, he was
frighted last Night._. _Eliot_ asked, _With what?_ She answered, _With
Puppies_. _Eliot_ asked, _Where she heard of it, for he had heard
nothing of it?_ She rejoined, _About the Town_.
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