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
4. _One_ Deliverance Hobbs, _who had confessed her being a Witch, was
now tormented by the Spectres for her Confession. And she now testified
that this_ Bishop _tempted her to sign the Book again, and to deny
what she had confess'd. She affirmed, that it was the shape of this
Prisoner, which whipped her with Iron Rods, to compel her thereunto.
And she affirmed, that this_ Bishop _was at a General meeting of
the Witches in a field, at_ Salem-_Village; and there partook of a
Diabolical Sacrament, in Bread and Wine then administered._[73]
5. _To render it further unquestionable, that the Prisoner at the Bar
was the Person truly charged in this Witchcraft; there was produced
many Evidences of other Witchcrafts, by her perpetrated. For instance,_
John Cook _testified, that about five or six Years ago, one morning
about Sun-Rise, he was in his Chamber, assaulted by the shape of this
Prisoner: which look'd on him, grinn'd at him, and very much hurt him,
with a blow on the side of the head; and that on the same day about
Noon, the same shape walked in the Room where he was, and an Apple
strangely flew out of his hand, into the lap of his Mother, six or
eight foot from him._[74]
[122] 6. Samuel Gray, _testify'd, that about fourteen Years ago, he
wak'd on a Night, and saw the Room where he lay full of light; and
that he then saw plainly a Woman between the Cradle and the Bedside,
which looked upon him. He rose, and it vanished; tho he found the Doors
all fast: Looking out at the Entry door, he saw the same Woman in the
same garb again, and said,_ In God's name, what do you come for? _He
went to Bed, and had the same Woman again assaulting him. The Child
in the Cradle gave a great Screech, and the Woman disappeared. It was
long before the Child could be quieted; and tho it were a very likely
thriving Child, yet from this time it pined away, and after divers
Months died in a sad condition. He knew not_ Bishop, _nor her name; but
when he saw her after this, he knew by her countenance, and apparel,
and all circumstances, that it was the Apparition of this_ Bishop,
_which had thus troubled him._[75]
7. John Bly _and his Wife, testified, that he bought a Sow of_ Edward
Bishop, _the Husband of the Prisoner, and was to pay the price agreed
unto another person. This Prisoner being angry that she was thus
hindred from fingring the Money, quarrel'd with_ Bly, _soon after which
the Sow was taken with strange Fitts, jumping, leaping, and knocking
her head against the Fence, she seemed blind and deaf, and would
neither eat nor be sucked. Whereupon a Neighbour said, she believed the
creature was over-looked; and sundry other circumstances concurred,
which made the Deponents believe that_ Bishop _had bewitched it._[76]
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