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
[79] John Louder gave his Age "about thirty two." He said he lived
with Mr. John Gedney in Salem about seven or eight Years since. He was
doubtless afflicted by the same Agents as Samuel Shattuck was, and saw
quite as much if not hurt as much. A black Pig seemed determined to
keep him Company; but there were some other Things equally nondescript.
See _Records_, i, 160-1.
[80] _Stacy_ was of Salem, aged thirty six, or thereabouts. He goes
back fourteen Years, which was the time of the Money Transaction.
So that Dr. Mather's version of the Affair, as though it had just
happened, is not a fair one. Stacy was often in the same Predicament
of Shattuck and Louder, only Stone Fences, Stumps and other odd things
knocked him about in a manner, which if it surprised the Magistrates,
it probably surprised nobody who might be better acquainted with him.
See _Wonders_, Vol. i, 172.
[81] This Evidence has been referred to in a previous Note.
[82] It was no difficult matter, during a long and tedious Examination,
so to bewilder and confound Persons of firmer nerves than an aged
Matron, and thus make them contradict themselves, not knowing what to
say and hardly what was said to them. Respecting the Jury of Women, who
searched her, the Reader may consult the Records, if his Patience is
equal to his Curiosity.
[83] It would be much more satisfactory if the matter of the Dæmon had
been well attested. If a Noise, and the Transportation of _that Board_
is all the Evidence that could be adduced that the Devil was at work
there, it can hardly be said to amount to much. Besides, if the Devil
had had any ill will towards the Meeting House, he could easily have
set fire to it. His Enmity to M. Houses is generally admitted.
[Susanna Martin's _Indictment_.]
_The Indictment of_ Susanna Martin.
[Essex ss.] _Anno Regni Regis & Reginæ Willielmi & Mariæ, nunc Angliæ,
&c. quarto._--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account