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. _William Stacy_ testify'd, That receiving Mony of this _Bishop_, for
work done by him; he was gone but a matter of three Rods from her, and
looking for his Mony, found it unaccountably gone from him. Some time
after, _Bishop_ asked him, whether her Father would grind her Grist for
her? He demanded why? She reply'd, _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, suddenly the
Off-wheel stump'd, 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 seem'd 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 deny'd 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.
Many other Pranks of this _Bishop's_ this Deponent was ready to testify.
He also testify'd, That he verily believ'd, the said _Bishop_ was the
Instrument of his Daughter _Priscilla's_ Death; of which suspicion,
pregnant Reasons were assigned.
XII. To crown all, _John Bly_ and _William Bly_ testify'd, That being
employ'd by _Bridget Bishop_, to help to 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
give no Account unto the Court, that was reasonable or tolerable.
XIII. 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
Teat upon her Body: But upon a second search, within 3 or 4 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.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account