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
V. _John How_, Brother to the Husband of the Prisoner testified, that
he refusing to accompany the Prisoner unto her Examination, as was by
her desired, immediately some of his Cattle were Bewitched to Death,
leaping three or four foot high, turning about, speaking, falling,
and dying at once; and going to cut off an Ear, for an use that might
as well perhaps have been omitted, the Hand wherein he held his Knife
was taken very numb, and so it remained, and full of Pain, for several
Days, being not well at this very Time. And he suspected this Prisoner
for the Author of it.
VI. _Nehemiah Abbot_[175] testify'd, that unusual and mischievous
Accidents would befal his Cattle, whenever he had any Difference with
this Prisoner. Once, particularly, she wished his Ox choaked; and
within a little while that Ox was choaked with a Turnip in his Throat.
At another Time, refusing to lend his Horse, at the Request of her
Daughter, the Horse was in a preternatural manner abused. And several
other odd things of that kind were testified.
VII. There came in Testimony, that one Goodwife _Sherwin_, upon some
Difference with _How_, was Bewitched; and that she dyed, charging this
_How_ with having an Hand in her Death. And that other People had their
Barrels of Drink unaccountably mischieved, spoil'd and spilt, upon
their displeasing of her.
The things in themselves were trivial, but there being such a Course
of them, it made them the more to be considered. Among others, _Martha
Wood_, gave her Testimony, That a little after her Father had been
employed in gathering an account of _How's_ Conversation, they once and
again lost great Quantities of Drink out of their Vessels, in such a
manner, as they could ascribe to nothing but Witchcraft. As also, That
_How_ giving her some Apples, when she had eaten of them, she was taken
with a very strange kind of Amaze, insomuch that she knew not what she
said or did.
VIII. There was likewise a Cluster of Depositions, That one _Isaac
Cummings_[176] refusing to lend his Mare unto the Husband of this
_How_, the Mare was within a Day or two taken in a strange condition:
The Beast [79] seemed much abused, being bruised as if she had been
running over the Rocks, and marked where the Bridle went, as if burnt
with a red hot Bridle. Moreover, one using a Pipe of Tobacco for the
Cure of the Beast, a blew Flame issued out of her, took hold of her
Hair, and not only spread and burnt on her, but it also flew upwards
towards the Roof of the Barn, and had like to have set the Barn on
Fire: And the Mare dyed very suddenly.
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