The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England WitchesMather, Cotton
History
The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England -- Early works to 1800
VII. _John Kembal_ testified, that _Susanna Martin_, upon a Causeless
Disgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his, _That she should
never do him any more Good:_ and it came to pass accordingly. For soon
after the Cow was found stark dead on the dry Ground, without any
Distemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he was followed with a
strange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he lost in one Spring to
the Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said _John Kembal_ had a further
Testimony to give in against the Prisoner which was truly admirable.
Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy
one of this _Martin_, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House. But she
not letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself then
at one _Blezdels_. Having mark'd a Puppy, which he lik'd at _Blezdels_,
he met _George Martin_, the Husband of the Prisoner, going by, who asked
him, _Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies?_ and he
answered, _No._ The same Day, one _Edmond Eliot_, being at _Martin's_
House, heard _George Martin_ relate, where this _Kembal_ had been, and
what he had said. Whereupon _Susanna Martin_ replied, _If I live,
I'll give him Puppies enough!_ Within a few days after, this _Kembal_,
coming out of the Woods, there arose a little Black Cloud in the N. W.
and _Kembal_ immediately felt a force upon him, which made him not able
to avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were before him, albeit
he had a broad, plain Cart-way, before him; but tho' he had his Ax also
on his Shoulder to endanger him in his Falls, he could not forbear going
out of his way to tumble over them. When he came below the Meeting
House, there appeared unto him, a little thing like a _Puppy_, of a
Darkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards between his Legs. He
had the Courage to use all possible Endeavours of Cutting it with his
Ax; but he could not Hit it: the Puppy gave a jump from him, and went,
as to him it seem'd into the Ground. Going a little further, there
appeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger than the first, but as
Black as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than those of his Ax; it flew
at his Belly, and away; then at his Throat; so, over his Shoulder one
way, and then over his Shoulder another way. His Heart now began to fail
him, and he thought the Dog would have tore his Throat out. But he
recovered himself, and called upon God in his Distress; and naming the
Name of JESUS CHRIST, it vanished away at once. The Deponent spoke not
one Word of these Accidents, for fear of affrighting his Wife. But the
next Morning, _Edmond Eliot_, going into _Martin's_ House, this Woman
asked him where Kembal was? He replied, _At home, a Bed, for ought he
knew._ She returned, _They say, he was frighted last Night._ Eliot
asked, _With what?_ She answered, _With Puppies._ _Eliot_ asked, _Where
she heard of it, for he had heard nothing of it?_ She rejoined, _About
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches — John Shaqi
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