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
11. _William Stacy_ testified, that receiving Money of this _Bishop_,
for work done by him, he was gone but a matter of three Rods from her,
and looking for his Money, found it unaccountably gone from him. Some
time after, _Bishop_ asked him whether his Father would grind her Grist
for her? He demanded why? she replied, because folks count me a Witch.
He answered, no question, but he will grind it for you; being then gone
about six Rods from her, with a small load in his Cart, suddainly the
off Wheel slumpt, and sunk down into an hole, upon plain ground, so
that the Deponent, was forced to get help for the recovering of the
Wheel. But stepping back to look for the hole which might give him this
disaster, there was none at all to be found. Some time after he was
waked in the Night; but it seemed as light as day, and he perfectly saw
the shape of this _Bishop_, in the Room troubling of him, but upon her
going out, all was dark again. He charg'd _Bishop_ afterwards with it,
and she denied it not; but was very angry. Quickly after, this Deponent
having been threatned by _Bishop_, as he was in a dark Night going to
the Barn, he was very suddenly taken or lifted from the ground and
thrown against a Stone-wall; after that he was again hoisted up, and
thrown down a bank, at the end of his House. After this, again passing
by this _Bishop_, his Horse with a small load, striving to draw, all
his Gears flew to pieces, and the Cart fell down; and this Deponent
going then to lift a bag of Corn, of about two Bushels, could not budge
it with all his might.[80]
[125] Many other pranks of this _Bishops_, this Deponent was ready to
testifie. He also testified, that he verily believed, the said _Bishop_
was the Instrument of his Daughter _Priscilla's_ death; of which
suspicion, pregnant reasons were assigned.
12. To crown all _John Bly_ and _William Bly_ testified, that being
employ'd by _Bridget Bishop_, to help take down the Cellar-wall of the
old House, wherein she formerly lived, they did in holes of the said
old Wall, find several Poppets made up of Rags, and Hogs Bristles, with
headless Pins in them, the points being outward. Whereof she could now
give no Account unto the Court, that was reasonable or tolerable.[81]
13. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidently
convicted of Gross lying in the Court, several times, while she
was making her Plea. But besides this, a Jury of Women, found a
preternatural Tet upon her Body; but upon a second search, within three
or four hours, there was no such thing to be seen. There was also an
Account of other People whom this Woman had Afflicted. And there might
have been many more, if they had been enquired for. But there was no
need of them.[82]
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