Part 16

The Witches were Executed; and _Confessed_ nothing; which indeed will not be wondred by them, who Consider and Entertain the Judgment of a Judicious Writer, _That the Unpardonable Sin, is most usually Committed by Professors of the Christian Religion, falling into Witchcraft_.

We will now proceed unto several of the like Tryals among ourselves.[149]

FOOTNOTES:

[113] Written in 1692.

[114] Notwithstanding the extraordinary Familiarity of our Author with the Devil, he does not as yet pretend to have seen him, although he must have been in Everybody's Way. About twenty Years later, according to De Foe, he had become quite scarce, insomuch that few could pretend to have seen him; and hence People became somewhat credulous about the Existence of his Majesty, "as if nothing but seeing the Devil could satisfie them there was such a Person; and nothing is more wonderful to me, in the whole System of Spirits, than that Satan does not think fit to justify the Reality of his Being, by appearing to such in some of his worst Figures, and tell them in full Grimace who he is."--_Essay on Apparitions._

[115] The appearing of the Devil in the Shape of a black Man, or a Man in black is the old Story imported from England. See _Examination and Confession of_ Christian Green, Wife of Robert Green _of Brewham, Co. Somerset_, printed in _Sadducismus Triumphatus_, ed. 1726, P. 306.

[116] It is not so remarkable that some should have destroyed themselves under such Circumstances, as that the greater Part of them did not so perish.

[117] This is not a Whit behind the far-famed Story of "The Devil and Dr. Faustus."

[118] Church Difficulties were so common, that it is not quite certain to which the Author has Reference; though it seems likely he refers to the Troubles in the Time of Mr. Nicholet.--See Felt, _History of_ ii, _Salem_, 587-8.

[119] This was indeed a Dilemma; but it may now seem exceeding strange that learned Judges had not adopted the only safe Course at such a Time, and simply _to have done nothing_. They appear to have been as much amazed and out of their Wits as the poor Sufferers; and to find Relief proceeded to shed their Blood, and to shout thereupon that they "_had been fairly executed!_"

[120] How the Judges could have read these Admissions of a "snarled Business" into which no one could pretend to see, and to "declare their singular Approbation thereof," it is difficult to comprehend, upon any other Grounds than as expressed in the last Note. They were indeed as blind as any in the "_Buffet_."

[121] By these "Ty-dogs" the Author probably had Reference to _Cerberus_. Writers on Mythology do not mention, as I remember, that their Monster was ever turned loose to worry Mankind.

[122] There was a Line of Swedish Monarchs of the Name of Biorn. The first of the Name began to reign about 829 of the present era.

[123] When these _Wonders_ were written, the _Paradise Lost_ had been published twenty-five Years. The Author must have been very familiar with it, yet I have not met with any Reference to Milton in any of his Writings.

[124] It may be Difficult for some to comprehend wherein the Devil was blamed; for, according to the Text he goes no further than he is commanded or permitted to go by a Power whereby he was fully and completely controlled.

[125] "The pious Bishop of Norwich." He was a Cotemporary of the weak King James, and his Companion on one of his Excursions into Scotland. He was mild and temperate compared with Laud and others of his Time. He was born in Leicester about 1574, and died in Norfolk in 1656, in the 82d Year of his Age. He appears not to have been much behind Dr. Mather in speaking of the "damned Brood" of Witches. His Works are even now held in much Repute by many, and were collected and published in three heavy Folios, 1647-62.

[126] The Reader may perhaps find all he will care to know respecting the Suffolk Witches in Hutchinson's _Historical Essay_, 79, _et sequen._ second Edition. But Suffolk furnishes but a small Portion of England infected by Witchcraft, and Mr. Hutchinson's Work has not the hundredth Part of them.

[127] Witchcraft may be said to have been on the Wane in Old England when this of 1692-3 began in New England. Indeed there is no Comparison, as to the Extent of the Delusion between the two Countries.

[128] If he _is_ such a knowing Devil as was generally supposed, he certainly must have known to a certainty the Success he was to meet with before setting out.

[129] It is hardly to be inferred from the Sentiments here expressed, that the Author was among the most earnest of his blind Advocates for extreme Measures against those accused.

[130] Not a good Translation, but the Sense is sufficiently apparent. Voltaire has the same in Substance in one of his "Letters concerning the English Nation." A Condition not peculiar to any Country.

[131] The Time of Henry III was from 1574 to 1589.

[132] Those who are familiar with the Works of Erasmus may verify the Story. He may have been, and probably was, like the Rest of the learned World, a Believer in such Nonsense. The great Poet who has contributed to his Immortality in the following Lines may not have heard of the above Story:

"At length Erasmus, that great injured Name, (The Glory of the Priesthood and the Shame!) Stem'd the wild Torrent of a bar'brous Age, And drove those holy Vandals off the Stage."

[133] There was about this Time a Society established in England expressly for the "Reformation of Manners," and a small octavo Volume was issued under its Auspices, setting forth the Objects and Necessity for such a Society. In it the Plantations are remembered.

[134] The Author does not seem to remember that he has elsewhere said with much Emphasis, that "this remote Part of the Earth" was the Devil's own Territory, that he was undisturbed here before the white People came and that he did not expect to be disturbed here.

[135] This was Mr. Samuel Clarke or Clark (as he indifferently wrote his own Surname), and his Father's Name was Hugh Clark. The Life spoken of is in the _Martyrology_ by the Son, a Work not now often referred to, but one abounding with interesting and curious biographical and historical Information, having intimate Connection with the Founders of New England, and containing a good deal concerning many of them. See his _Lives_, appended to the _Martyrology_, Page 127, _et seq._ Folio, 1677. I have often had Occasion to refer to his various Works.

[136] There appears to have been some Mystery about that Perfume of Brimstone, if indeed "Metaphor" be left out of the Account, as the Author says it is to be. One might be led to suppose that the Circumstance which happened at Oxford in 1577, was of the Character of that in the Text, as alluded to by Hutchinson, in his _Historical Essay concerning Witchcraft_, Page 38, but on Reference to his Authority, a Parallel is hardly warranted. The Story will be found fully related in Camden's _Reign of Elizabeth_, 237, Ed. 1675.

[137] In that curious Poem entitled _The Sorceress_, are the following Lines, among others, on "The Spell:"

"Rust of the Gibbet, and Bone of the Dead, I mingle and into the Teakettle throw, Root of Skunk-cabbage and Rattlesnakes Mead, And Leaves pluck'd at Midnight from Juniper bough. Charm break the Rest Of the Parsun distrest, From his Eyes let the Blessing of Slumber depart; Lucifer aid me And Night overshade me, Spirit of Beelzebub, lend me thine Art." &c.

[138] A vast Number of Books had been published previous to our Author's Time upon Magic, and Astrology. A principal Writer on these Subjects was Dr. John Dee. His Diary was published by the _Camden Society_ in 1842. See also William Lilley's _Hist. of his Life and Times_.

[139] This most uncharitable Assertion is a complete Contradiction of what has before been asserted. He had already made poor New England bad enough, but this seems to place her in a perfectly hopeless Condition. Not many Pages back the Author cautioned the World lest it should not do Justice to New England, by believing her worse than Old England. A disordered Brain will always drive a Pen at random.

[140] An Idea reminding one of the Case of the Jew in the _Merchant of Venice_. Unfortunately for the poor accused Wretches, there was no Daniel to sit in Judgment, and to see that no Blood was taken with the Pound of Flesh.

[141] This certainly does not exhibit the Author as a "principal Ringleader" in those Persecutions. A Remark similar has been made to a previous Passage in the Text, of a like Purport. And frequent parallel Passages may be found.

[142] This is the French Form of what we now write _Clucking_. The Verb _to cluck_ is well known, and in frequent Use where Hens are raised, but to employ it as the Doctor does cannot but excite Ridicule.

[143] Allowing this to be a just Conclusion it is remarkable that the Devil did not set his Witches at Work in the Beginning in the Colony of Plymouth; there were repeated Complaints to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, that various Towns in that Colony had neglected Ministers and Churches altogether; while from the County of Essex we hear of no such Complaints.

[144] Additional Particulars respecting this Woman may be seen in Dr. I. Mather's _Prevalency of Prayer_, published in Connection with his _Relation_. See _Early Hist. New England_, 275.

[145] Many, no Doubt, will think it strange that the Author did not count himself in. Had he done so he assuredly would have lost no Credit with his Readers now, nor probably by those in future.

[146] This Mr. Beacon does not appear to have belonged to Boston. He was probably a casual Resident at that Time.

[147] We are told by Bishop Burnet (the Father of our Governor Burnet), that Judge Hale was born at Alderly in Gloucestershire, the first of November, 1609, and died on the 25th of December, 1676. In the Life of Sir Matthew, appended to his _Contemplations_, is given one of the most interesting Pieces of Biography extant. In Accordance with one of his Sayings he was buried in the Church-yard of Alderly, and not in the Church, as was in his Time the prevailing Custom--that Saying was: "The Churches were for the Living, and the Church-yards for the Dead." In the Bishop's Life of him will be found a particular Account of his Family. After the great Fire of London he was one of the principal Judges that sat in Clifford's Inn, to regulate the Affairs between Landlord and Tenant, growing out of that Desolation. And with Sir Orlando Bridgman he rendered great Service in accommodating Differences which otherwise would long have retarded the rebuilding of the City. Whereas its "sudden and quiet building is justly reconed one of the Wonders of the Age." He was made "Lord Chief Justice of England," May 18th, 1671, which Office he resigned but a few Months previous to his Death, owing to his Infirmity. He lamented the rigorous Proceedings against the Nonconformists, though the adherent to the established Church; and used to say, "Those of the Separation were good Men, but they had _narrow Souls_, who would break the Peace of the Church, about such _inconsiderable Matters_, as the Points in Difference were." There does not appear to be taken any Notice of the Trials of Witches by Burnet in his Life of the Judge. It may be sufficient to say, that, like our Judges, Sewall and Stoughton, he was a Believer in Witchcraft, because there was Evidence of its Existence in the Bible! He was a timid Man, and this Timidity would not allow him so much as "to sum up the Evidence" in the Trial above given, and thus was the Case submitted to the Jury, who speedily gave in their Verdict of Guilty. There can be no Doubt but if Sir Matthew Hale had lived until the End of the New England Trials, he would, like Judge Sewall, have repented of his Course.

[148] Spelt Keyling in the _Life of Hale_, whom he (Hale) succeeded as Lord Chief Justice, without taking his good Sense with him.

[149] There is different, and somewhat more of a common Sense Account of this Trial in Hutchinson's _Essay_, Pp. 139-157, Chap. viii.

I. THE TRYAL OF G. B. _At a Court of_ OYER _and_ TERMINER, HELD IN SALEM, 1692.

GLAD should I have been, if I had never known the Name of this Man; or never had this occasion to mention so much as the first Letters of his Name. But the Government requiring some Account of his [61] Trial to be inserted in this Book, it becomes me with all Obedience to submit unto the Order.

I. This _G. B._[150] was Indicted for Witch-craft, and in the prosecution of the Charge against him, he was Accused by five or six of the Bewitched, as the Author of their Miseries; he was Accused by Eight of the Confessing Witches, as being an head Actor at some of their Hellish Randezvouzes, and one who had the promise of being a King in Satan's Kingdom, now going to be Erected: He was accused by Nine Persons for extraordinary Lifting, and such feats of Strength, as could not be done without a Diabolical Assistance. And for other such things he was Accused, until about thirty Testimonies were brought in against him; nor were these judg'd the half of what might have been considered for his Conviction: However they were enough to fix the Character of a Witch upon him according to the Rules of Reasoning, by the Judicious _Gaule_, in that Case directed.

II. The Court being sensible, that the Testimonies of the Parties Bewitched, use to have a Room among the _Suspicions_ or _Presumptions_, brought in against one Indicted for Witchcraft; there were now heard the Testimonies of several Persons, who were most notoriously Bewitched, and every day Tortured by Invisible Hands, and these now all charged the Spectres of _G. B._ to have a share in their Torments. At the Examination of this _G. B._ the Bewitched People were grievously harassed with Preternatural Mischiefs, which could not possibly be dissembled; and they still ascribed it unto the endeavours of _G. B._ to Kill them. And now upon his Tryal of one of the Bewitched Persons, testified, that in her Agonies, a little black Hair'd Man came to her, saying his Name was _B._ and bidding her set her hand unto a Book which he shewed unto her; and bragging that he was a _Conjurer_, above the ordinary Rank of Witches; That he often Persecuted her with the offer of that Book, saying, _She should be well, and need fear nobody, if she would but Sign it;_ But he inflicted cruel Pains and Hurts upon her, because of her denying so to do. The Testimonies of the other Sufferers concurred with these; and it was remarkable, that whereas _Biting_ was one of the ways which the Witches used for the vexing of the Sufferers; when they cry'd out of _G. B._ Biting them, the print of the Teeth would be seen on the Flesh of the Complainers, and just such a Set of Teeth as _G. B's_ would then appear upon them, which could be distinguished from those of some other Mens. Others of them testified, That in their Torments, _G. B._ tempted them to go unto a Sacrament, unto which they perceived him with a Sound of Trumpet, Summoning of other Witches, who quickly after the Sound, would come from all Quarters unto the Rendezvouz. One of them falling into a kind of Trance, afterwards affirmed, that _G. B._ had carried her into a very high Mountain, where he shewed her mighty and glorious Kingdoms, and said, _He would give them all to her, if she would_ [62] _write in his Book;_ but she told him, _They were none of his to give;_ and refused the Motions; enduring of much Misery for that refusal.

It cost the Court a wonderful deal of Trouble, to hear the Testimonies of the Sufferers; for when they were going to give in their Depositions, they would for a long time be taken with Fits, that made them uncapable of saying anything. The Chief Judg asked the Prisoner, who he thought hindred these Witnesses from giving their _Testimonies?_ And he answered, _He supposed it was the Devil_. That Honourable Person, then repli'd, _How comes the Devil so loathe to have any Testimony born against you?_ Which cast him into very great Confusion.[151]

III. It has been a frequent thing for the Bewitched People to be entertained with Apparitions of _Ghosts_ of Murdered People, at the same time that the _Spectres_ of the Witches trouble them. These Ghosts do always affright the Beholders more than all the other spectral Representations; and when they exhibit themselves, they cry out, of being Murdered by the Witchcrafts or other Violences of the Persons who are then in Spectre present. It is further considerable, that once or twice, these _Apparitions_ have been seen by others, at the very same time that they have shewn themselves to the Bewitched; and seldom have there been these _Apparitions_, but when something unusual or suspected, have attended the Death of the Party thus Appearing. Some that have been accused by these _Apparitions_ accosting of the Bewitched People, who had never heard a word of any such Persons ever being in the World, have upon a fair Examination, freely and fully confessed the Murthers of those very Persons, altho these also did not know how the Apparitions had complained of them. Accordingly several of the Bewitched, had given in their Testimony, that they had been troubled with the Apparitions of two Women, who said, that they were _G. B's_ two Wives, and that he had been the Death of them; and that the Magistrates must be told of it, before whom if _B._ upon his Tryal denied it, they did not know but that they should appear again in the Court. Now, _G. B._ had been Infamous for the Barbarous usage of his two late Wifes, all the Country over. Moreover, it was testified, the Spectre of _G. B._ threatning of the Sufferers, told them, he had Killed (besides others) Mrs. _Lawson_ and her Daughter _Ann_.[152] And it was noted, that these were the Vertuous Wife and Daughter of one at whom this _G. B._ might have a prejudice for his being serviceable at _Salem Village_, from whence himself had in ill Terms removed some Years before: And that when they dy'd, which was long since, there were some odd Circumstances about them, which made some of the Attendents there suspect something of Witchcraft, tho none Imagined from what Quarter it should come.

Well, _G. B._ being now upon his Tryal, one of the Bewitched Persons was cast into Horror at the Ghost of _B's_ two Deceased Wives then appearing before him, and crying for _Vengeance_ against him. Hereupon seve[63]ral of the Bewitched Persons were successively called in, who all not knowing what the former had seen and said, concurred in their Horror of the Apparition, which they affirmed that he had before him. But he, tho much appalled, utterly deny'd that he discerned any thing of it; nor was it any part of his _Conviction_.

IV. Iudicious Writers have assigned it a great place in the Conviction of _Witches, when Persons are Impeached by other notorious Witches, to be as ill as themselves; especially, if the Persons have been much noted for neglecting the Worship of God_. Now, as there might have been Testimonies enough of _G. B's_ Antipathy to _Prayer_, and the other Ordinances of God, tho by his Profession, singularly Obliged thereunto; so, there now came in against the Prisoner, the Testimonies of several Persons, who confessed their own having been horrible _Witches_, and ever since their Confessions, had been themselves terribly Tortured by the Devils and other Witches, even like the other Sufferers; and therein undergone the Pains of many _Deaths_ for their Confessions.

These now testified, that _G. B._ had been at Witch-meetings with them; and that he was the Person who had Seduc'd, and Compell'd them into the snares of Witchcraft: That he promised them _Fine Cloaths_, for doing it; that he brought Poppets to them, and Thorns to stick into those Poppets, for the Afflicting of other People; and that he exhorted them with the rest of the Crew, to Bewitch all _Salem Village_, but besure to do it Gradually; if they would prevail in what they did.

When the _Lancashire Witches_ were Condemn'd I don't remember that there was any considerable further Evidence, than that of the Bewitched, and than that of some that confessed. We see so much already against _G. B._ But this being indeed not enough, there were other things to render what had already been produced _credible_.

V. A famous Divine recites this among the Convictions of a Witch; _The Testimony of the party Bewitched, whether Pining or Dying; together with the joint Oaths of sufficient Persons that have seen certain Prodigious Pranks or Feats wrought by the Party Accused_. Now, God had been pleased so to leave this _G. B._ that he had ensnared himself by several Instances, which he had formerly given of a Preternatural Strength, and which were now produced against him. He was a very Puny Man, yet he had often done things beyond the strength of a Giant. A Gun of about seven foot Barrel, and so heavy that strong Men could not steadily hold it out with both hands; there were several Testimonies, given in by Persons of Credit and Honor, that he made nothing of taking up such a Gun behind the Lock, with but one hand, and holding it out like a Pistol, at Arms-end. _G. B._ in his Vindication, was so foolish as to say, That _an_ Indian _was there, and held it out at the same time:_ Whereas none of the Spectators ever saw any such _Indian;_ but they supposed the _Black Man_, (as the Witches call the Devil; and they generally say he resembles an _Indian_) might [64] give him that Assistance. There was Evidence likewise brought in, that he made nothing of taking up whole Barrels fill'd with _Malasses_ or _Cider_, in very disadvantageous Postures, and Carrying of them through the difficultest Places out of a Canoo to the Shore.

[Yea, there were two Testimonies that _G. B._ with only putting the Fore Finger of his Right hand into the Muzzle of an heavy Gun, a Fowling-piece of about six or seven foot Barrel, did lift up the Gun, and hold it out at Arms-end; a Gun which the Deponents though strong Men could not with both hands lift up, and hold out at the But-end, as is usual. Indeed, one of these Witnesses was over-perswaded by some Persons to be out of the way upon _G. B's_ Tryal; but he came afterwards with Sorrow for his withdraw, and gave in his Testimony: Nor were either of these Witnesses made use of as Evidences in the Trial.]

VI. There came in several Testimonies relating to the Domestick Affairs of _G. B._ which had a very hard Aspect upon him; and not only prov'd him a very ill Man; but also confirmed the belief of the Character, which had been already fastned on him.

'Twas testified, that keeping his two Successive Wives in a strange kind of Slavery, he would when he came home from abroad, pretend to tell the Talk which any had with them; That he has brought them to the point of Death, by his harsh Dealings with his Wives, and then made the People about him, to promise that in case Death should happen, they would say nothing of it; That he used all means to make his Wives Write, Sign, Seal, and Swear a Covenant, never to reveal any of his Secrets; That his Wives had privately complained unto the Neighbours about frightful Apparitions of Evil Spirits, with which their House was sometimes infested; and that many such things have been whispered among the Neighbourhood. There were also some other Testmonies relating to the Death of People whereby the Consciences of an Impartial Jury were convinced that _G. B._ had Bewitched the Persons mentioned in the Complaints. But I am forced to omit several passages, in this, as well as in all the succeeding Tryals, because the Scribes who took notice of them, have not supplyed me.