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
XV. _If it can be proved, that the party suspected hath called upon
the_ Devil, _or desired his Help, this is a pregnant proof of a League
formerly made between them._
XVI. _If it can be proved, that the party hath entertained a Familiar
Spirit, and had Conference with it, in the likeness of some visible
Creatures; here is Evidence of witchcraft._
XVII. _If the witnesses affirm upon Oath, that the suspected person
hath done any action or work which necessarily infers a Covenant made,
as, that he hath used En-[16]chantments, divined things before they
come to pass, and that peremptorily, raised Tempests, caused the Form
of a dead man to appear; it proveth sufficiently, that he or she is a_
Witch.[72] This is the Substance of Mr. _Perkins_.
* * * * *
'Take next the Sum of Mr. _Gaules_[73] Judgment about the Detection
of Witches. 1. Some Tokens for the Trial of Witches are altogether
unwarrantable. Suchare the old Paganish Sign, the Witches _Long
Eyes;_ the Tradition of Witches not weeping; the casting of the
Witch into the Water, with Thumbs and Toes ty'd a-cross. And many
more such Marks, which if they are to know a Witch by, certainly
'tis no other Witch, but the User of them. 2. There are some Tokens
for the Trial of Witches, more probable, and yet not so certain as
to afford Conviction. Such are strong and long Suspicion: Suspected
Ancestors, some appearance of Fact, the Corps bleeding upon the
Witches touch, the Testimony of the Party bewitched, the supposed
Witches unusual Bodily marks, the Witches usual Cursing and Banning,
the Witches lewd and naughty kind of Life. 3. Some Signs there are
of a Witch, more certain and infallible. As, _firstly_, Declining of
Judicature, or faultering, faulty, unconstant, and contrary Answers,
upon judicial and deliberate examination. _Secondly_, When upon due
Enquiry into a person's Faith and Manners, there are found _all_ or
_most_ of the Causes which produce Witchcraft, namely, _God_ forsaking,
_Satan_ invading, particular _Sins_ disposing; and lastly, a compact
compleating all. _Thirdly_, The Witches free Confession, together with
full Evidence of the Fact. _Confession_ without _Fact_ may be a meer
Delusion, and _Fact_ without _Confession_ may be a meer Accident.
_4thly_, The semblable Gestures and Actions of suspected Witches, with
the comparable Expressions of Affections, which in all Witches have
been observ'd and found very much alike. _Fifthly_, The Testimony of
the Party bewitched, whether pining or dying, together with the joynt
Oaths of sufficient persons, that have seen certain prodigious Pranks
or Feats, wrought by the Party accused. 4. Among the most unhappy
circumstances to convict a Witch, one is, a maligning and oppugning the
Word, Work, and Worship of God, and by any extraordinary sign seeking
to seduce any from it. See _Deut._ 13. 1, 2, _Mat._ 24. 24. _Act._ 13.
8, 10. 2 _Tim._ 3. 8. Do but mark well the places, and for this very
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account