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
"The Sort of such as are said to be Witches," writes Scot, "are Women
which be commonly old, lame, bleare-eied, pale, fowle, and full of
Wrinkles; poore, sullen, Superstitious, and Papists; or such as know no
Religion; in whose drousie Minds the Divell hath gotten a fine Seat;
so as, what Mischeefe, Mischance, Calamitie, or Slaughter is brought
to passe, they are easilie persuaded the same is doone by themselves;
imprinting in their Minds an earnest and constant Imagination thereof.
They are leane and deformed, shewing Melancholie in their Faces, to the
Horror of all that see them. They are doting, Scolds, mad, develish,
and not much differing from them that are thought to be possessed with
Spirits; so firme and stedfast in their Opinions, as whosoever shall
onelie have respect to the Constancie of their Words uttered, would
easilie beleeve they were true indeed.
"These miserable Wretches are so odious unto all their Neighbors, and
so feared, as few dare offend them, or denie them anie Thing they
aske: whereby they take upon them; yea, and some Times thinke, that
they can doo such Things as are beyond the Abilitie of humane Nature.
These go from House to House, and from Doore to Doore for a Pot full
of Milke, Yest, Drinke, Pottage, or some such Reelefe; without the
which they could hardlie live: neither obtaining for their Service and
Paines, nor by their Art, nor yet at the Divels Hands (with whome they
are said to make a perfect and visible Bargaine) either Beautie, Monie,
Promotion, Welth, Worship, Pleasure, Honor, Knowledge, Learning, or any
other Benefit whatsoever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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