The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 2 of 3)Mather, Cotton
History
The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 2 of 3)
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England
[6] See Vol. I, Pages 121-2. Cotemporary with the Author, we find that
eminent Divine, Michael Wigglesworth, thus poetically impressing upon
the Readers of his Poem the Horrors spoken of in the Text:
Whom having brought as they are taught,
Unto the Brink of Hell,
(That Dismal Place far from Christs Face,
Where Death and Darkness dwell:
Where Gods fierce Ire kindleth the Fire,
And Vengeance feeds the Flame
With Piles of Wood, and Brimstone Flood,
That none can quench the same.
_Day of Doom, Stanza 208._
[7] John Bodin was a Frenchman of great Learning, born at Angers 1530.
Some of his Historical Works were formerly in great Repute in England
as well as in France. His Work referred to above was published at Paris
in 1579, under the Title _La Démonomanie, ou Traite des Sorciers_, in
4to. It is full of all those Superstitions for which the Age in which
the Author lived is celebrated. See Camerarius, _Living Library_, Page
2, Edition 1625, _Fol._ See also Mr. Fowler's interesting Note to the
last Salem Edition of _Salem Witchcraft_, P. ix.
[8] That is by the same Cord, or Rope. In nautical Usage, a Rope to
do or perform a certain Service. The Anchor was formerly hoisted to
the Head of a certain bow Timber to which it was fastened by the _Cat_
Rope; hence the Timber is called the _Cat-head_.
[9] It will elsewhere be seen that the Author makes it pretty clear,
that to discover Witches by that Law, or who they are, has never been
done. It was therefore easy to argue that Witches never would be
discovered by it. In other Words where nothing is looked for nothing
will be found. This Subject will be found discussed elsewhere.
[10] Samuel Webber, aged about 36, testified that some seven or eight
Years ago he lived at Casco Bay, where Mr. B. was Minister. Having
heard much of his great Strength, and coming to his House, and in
Discourse about it, he told the said Webber that he had put his Fingers
into the Bung of a Barrel of "Malases" and lifted it up and carried it
round him. See _Records of Salem Witchcraft_ (by Woodward) ii, 113. See
also sundry other Testimonies about Mr. Burroughs's great Strength,
_ib._, 123-5. Also (Vol. I, 153,) _The Wonders of the Invisible World_.
[11] The Author's classical Learning was probably not very extensive.
The Use of this mythical Name however may have been according to its
Acceptation in his Time.
[12] The Reader will not find, as he has a Right to expect, this Name
in the common Biographical Works. In the large Work of _Chaudon et
Delandine_ is a satisfactory Article under the Head JUSTIN; who was a
Martyr of the second Century; yet we meet with the Name constantly in
History, as _Justin Martyr_; Martyr being added to his proper Name, to
denote that he had suffered Martyrdom. He is also styled _St. Justin_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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