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
the Town._ Altho' _Kembal_ had mentioned the Matter to no Creature
living.
VIII. _William Brown_ testifi'd, That Heaven having blessed him with a
most Pious and Prudent Wife, this Wife of his, one day met with _Susanna
Martin_; but when she approach'd just unto her, _Martin_ vanished out of
sight, and left her extreamly affrighted. After which time, the said
_Martin_ often appear'd unto her, giving her no little trouble; and when
she did come, she was visited with Birds, that sorely peck'd and prick'd
her; and sometimes, a Bunch, like a Pullet's Egg, would rise in her
Throat, ready to choak her, till she cry'd out, _Witch, you shan't choak
me!_ While this good Woman was in this extremity, the Church appointed a
Day of Prayer, on her behalf; whereupon her Trouble ceas'd; she saw not
_Martin_ as formerly; and the Church, instead of their Fast, gave Thanks
for her Deliverance. But a considerable while after, she being Summoned
to give in some Evidence at the Court, against this _Martin_, quickly
thereupon, this _Martin_ came behind her, while she was milking her Cow,
and said unto her, _For thy defaming her at Court, I'll make thee the
miserablest Creature in the World._ Soon after which, she fell into a
strange kind of distemper, and became horribly frantick, and uncapable
of any reasonable Action; the Physicians declaring, that her Distemper
was preternatural, and that some Devil had certainly bewitched her; and
in that condition she now remained.
IX. _Sarah Atkinson_ testify'd, That _Susanna Martin_ came from
_Amesbury_ to their House at _Newbury_, in an extraordinary Season,
when it was not fit for any to Travel. She came (as she said, unto
_Atkinson_) all that long way on Foot. She brag'd and shew'd how dry she
was; nor could it be perceived that so much as the Soles of her Shoes
were wet. _Atkinson_ was amazed at it; and professed, that she should
her self have been wet up to the knees, if she had then came so far; but
_Martin_ reply'd, _She scorn'd to be Drabbled!_ It was noted, that this
Testimony upon her Trial, cast her in a very singular Confusion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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