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
[49] Perhaps Son of the first William Hudson, one of the first Settlers
of Boston.
[50] Captain _John Hill_, of whom Dr. Usher Parsons has given an
interesting and ample Account in the _N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg._ for
April and July, 1858.
As a Contrast to the next Sentence of the Text take this: "Some of
the Indian Pawawes (_i. e._, Wizzards) in this Country, have received
the Gospel, and given Good Evidence of a True Conversion to God in
Christ, have, with much Sorrow of Heart, declared how they had, whilst
in their _Heathenism_ by the Hands of Evil Angels Murdered their
Neighbors."--Dr. I. Mather, _to the Reader in Angelographia_. In the
valuable Collection of Dr. J. S. H. Fogg, of S. Boston, are many of the
Papers of Capt. Hill, of much Interest on the Period referred to.
[51] See Vol. I, Page 37, of these Volumes.
[52] The Absurdity of the Practice of the Courts then in Use, in their
shocking Abuses of accused Persons, will be found in all its Deformity,
on perusing the Trials of those Days. The Practice of insulting and
browbeating those on Trial was according to the Custom of the English
Courts of those Days, and for a long Time after.
[53] Nothing was more common among those who imagined themselves
bewitched, than the Notion that they were transformed into Cats, and
other Animals; and that in those Shapes they attended Witch Meetings.
At such Meetings the Devil was always present, and acted as Master of
Ceremonies. A very sure Evidence of Insanity.
[54] Called in Captain John Stevens's _Spanish and English Dictionary_,
_Cahori_, which is defined, "one that pretends to see into the Bowels
of the Earth, through Stone Walls, or into a Man's Body; a Cheat put
upon the Ignorant." There is something very similar in our Times, even
leaving out the Founder of the Mormon Sect.
[55] This Work, here often referred to, was printed in 1689. Its more
extended Title is, _Memorable Providences relating to Witchcraft and
Possessions_, in a 16mo. But few Copies are known to exist.
[56] I suppose Mr. Thomas Brattle, the then Treasurer of Harvard
College. He was a principal Founder of the Church in Brattle Square,
known by his Name. He wrote an Account of the Witchcraft of 1692, which
laid in Manuscript about one hundred Years, when Dr. Belknap caused it
to be printed in Part, in the _Colls. Ms. H. Society_, v, 61-80. Mr.
Brattle was a Scholar, a Graduate of Harvard College, and, like Mr.
Calef, a Merchant of Boston. His Communications to the Royal Society of
London procured him the Title of F. R. S.
It is possible that the Initial (Mr. B----) may stand for Gov.
Bradstreet; but I presume Mr. Brattle is meant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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