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
_XI._ However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been already
produced against the Prisoners, One _John Soam_ Testifi'd, That bringing
home his Hay in Three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of
_Rose Cullenders_ House, whereupon she flew out, with violent
Threatenings against the Deponent. The other Two Carts, passed by Twice,
Loaded, that Day afterwards; but the Cart which touched _Cullenders_
House, was Twice or Thrice that Day overturned. Having again Loaded it,
as they brought it thro' the Gate which Leads out of the Field, the Cart
stuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could not possibly get it
thro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate, to make the
Cart pass thro', altho' they could not perceive that the Cart did of
either side touch the Gate-Post. They afterwards, did with much
Difficulty get it home to the Yard; but could not for their Lives get
the Cart near the place, where they should unload. They were fain to
unload at a great Distance; and when they were Tired, the Noses of them
that came to Assist them, would burst forth a Bleeding; so they were
fain to give over till next morning; and then they unloaded without any
difficulty.
_XII._ _Robert Sherringham_ also Testifi'd, That the Axle-Tree of his
Cart, happening in passing, to break some part of _Rose Cullenders_
House, in her Anger at it, she vehemently threatned him, _His Horses
should suffer for it._ And within a short time, all his Four Horses
dy'd; after which he sustained many other Losses in the sudden Dying of
his Cattle. He was also taken with a Lameness in his Limbs; and so vexed
with Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bigness, that no Art could
hinder the Swarming of them, till he burnt up two Suits of Apparel.
_XIII._ As for _Amy Duny_, 'twas Testifi'd by one _Richard Spencer_ that
he heard her say, _The Devil would not let her Rest; until she were
Revenged on the Wife of +Cornelius Sandswel+._ And that _Sandswel_
testifi'd, that her Poultry dy'd suddenly, upon _Amy Dunys_ threatning
of them; and that her Husbands Chimney fell, quickly after _Duny_ had
spoken of such a disaster. And a Firkin of Fish could not be kept from
falling into the Water, upon suspicious words of _Duny's_.
_XIV._ The Judg told the Jury, they were to inquire now, first, whether
these Children were Bewitched; and secondly, Whether the Prisoners at
the Bar were guilty of it. He made no doubt, there were such Creatures
as Witches; for the Scriptures affirmed it; and the Wisdom of all
Nations had provided Laws against such persons. He pray'd the God of
Heaven to direct their Hearts in the weighty thing they had in hand;
for, _To Condemn the Innocent, and let the Guilty go free, were both an
Abomination to the Lord._
The Jury in half an hour brought them in _Guilty_ upon their several
Indictments, which were Nineteen in Number.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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