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
I. M_ARTHA CARRIER_ was Indicted for the bewitching of certain Persons,
according to the Form usual in such Cases, pleading _Not Guilty_, [80]
to her Indictment; there were first brought in a considerable number
of the bewitched Persons; who not only made the Court sensible of
an horrid Witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it
was _Martha Carrier_, or her Shape, that grievously tormented them,
by Biting, Pricking, Pinching and Choaking of them. It was further
deposed, That while this _Carrier_ was on her Examination, before
the Magistrates, the Poor People were so tortured that every one
expected their Death upon the very spot, but that upon the binding of
_Carrier_ they were eased. Moreover the Look of _Carrier_ then laid the
Afflicted People for dead; and her Touch, if her Eye at the same time
were off them, raised them again: Which Things were also now seen upon
her Tryal. And it was testified, That upon the mention of some having
their Necks twisted almost round, by the Shape of this _Carrier_, she
replyed, _Its no matter though their Necks had been twisted quite off_.
II. Before the Trial of this Prisoner, several of her own Children
had frankly and fully confessed, not only that they were Witches
themselves, but that this their Mother had made them so. This
Confession they made with great Shews of Repentance, and with much
Demonstration of Truth. They related Place, Time, Occasion; they gave
an account of Journeys, Meetings and Mischiefs by them performed, and
were very credible in what they said. Nevertheless, this Evidence was
not produced against the Prisoner at the Bar, inasmuch as there was
other Evidence enough to proceed upon.
III. _Benjamin Abbot_[180] gave in his Testimony, That last _March_ was
a twelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying out
some Land, near her Husband's: Her Expressions in this Anger, were,
_That she would stick as close to Abbot as the Bark stuck to the Tree;
and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an End, so as
Doctor_ Prescot[181] _should never cure him_. These Words were heard
by others besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would
hold his Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his
Name was_ Abbot. Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in
his Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented.
It bred into a Sore, which was launced by Doctor _Prescot_, and several
Gallons of Corruption ran out of it. For six Weeks it continued very
bad, and then another Sore bred in the Groin, which was also lanced
by Doctor _Prescot_. Another Sore then bred in his Groin, which was
likewise cut, and put him to very great Misery: He was brought unto
Death's Door, and so remained until _Carrier_ was taken, and carried
away by the Constable, from which very Day he began to mend, and so
grew better every Day, and is well ever since.
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