The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 3 of 3)Mather, Cotton
History
The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 3 of 3)
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England
In all this Business, Mr. Moody openly justified Mr. English, and,
in defiance of all the Prejudices which prevailed, expressed his
Abhorrence of the Measures which had obliged a useful Citizen to flee
from the Executioners. Mr. Moodey was commended by all discerning Men;
but he felt the angry Resentment of the deluded Multitude of his own
Times; among whom, some of high Rank were included. He soon after left
Boston and returned to Portsmouth.
Mrs. English died in 1694, at 42 Years of Age, in Consequence of the
ungenerous Treatment she had received. Her Husband died at 84 Years of
Age, in 1734.
This is the Substance of Communications made to me at different
Times from Madam Susanna Hathorne, his great-grand-Daughter, who
died in Salem, 28 August, 1802, at the Age of 80 Years, who received
the Account from the Descendants of Mr. English, who dwelt upon his
Obligations to Mr. Moodey with great Pleasure."
William Beale[183] of Marbllee Head, aged upward of Sixty Yeares,
testifieth and saith, that last March past was twelve Moenth, towards
the latter end of the Moenth; then myself beeinge in the House of
George Bonfeilds, of Marbllee Head, whither I repaired, that I might
haue helpe to nurse, or Looke after mee, because of a very greate
and wracking Paine had seized upp on my Body, and the Distemper of
the Small Pox then beeing in my House, and my Son Jamis at the same
Time then in my House, lying sick; then towards the latter End of
that Moenth, Aforesayed, in that House, as I lay in my Bed, in the
Morneinge, presently after it was faiere light abroade in the Roome
where I lay in my Bed, which was layed lowe and neere unto the Fire,
towards the norward part of the Roome; I beeing broade Awake, I then
saw upon the south Iaume [Jamb] of that Chimny, A darke Shade which
couered the Iaume of that Chimney aforesayed, from the under Floore to
the upper Flloore, and alsoe A dar[k]ness more then it was beefore,
in the southerne Part of the House, and alsoe in the Middllee of the
Darkness, in the Shade uppon the Iaume of the Chimny aforesayed,
I beeheld somethinge of the Forme or Shape of A Man. I tooke most
notice of his Legs, because they weere of A very greate Statute, or
Bigness. I wondred at the Sighte, and therefore I turned my Head as I
lay in my Bed, and cast my Eyes towards the south Side of the House,
to see if the Sun weere risen, or whether there weere any Person or
anythinge in the House, which by the help of the Sun might cause such A
Shade or Shape, but I saw non, nor any Lighte of the Sun in that Room
then. I then turned my Head uppon the Pillow, where it was before,
I saw in the darkness aforesayed the plaine Shape or els the Person
of Phillip English of Salem, the which, Reports say, married with
William Hollingworths[184] Daughter of Salem, ackcordinge to my best
Iudgement, Knoledg and Understandinge of him, as I had formerly Knoledg
and Ackyuaintance with him, my Coniecktures of him and these Passages
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