Part 11

King _Saul_ in his destroying the Witches out of _Israel_, is thought by many to have exceeded, and in his Zeal to have slain the _Gibeonites_ wrongfully under that notion: Yet went after this to a Witch to know his Fortune. For his wrongful destroying the _Gibeonites_ (besides the Judgments of God upon the Land) his Sons were hanged; and for his going to the Witch, himself was cut off. Our sir _William Phips_ did not do this, but as appears by this Book had first his Fortune told him, (by such as the Author counts no better) and though he put it off (to his Pastor, who he new approved not thereof) as if it were brought to him in writing, without his seeking, _&c._ Yet by his bringing it so far, and safe keeping it so many Years, it appears he made some Account of it; for which he gave the Writer, after he had found the Wreck, as a reward, more than Two hundred pounds. His telling his Wife (P. 6.) that he should be a Commander, should have a Brick-House in _Greenlane_,[167] _&c._ might be in confidence of some such Prediction, and that he could foretel to him (P. 90.) that he should be Governour of _New-England_, was probably such an one, (the Scriptures not having revealed it.) Such Predictions would have been counted at _Salem_, pregnant proofs of Witchcraft, and much better than what were against several that suffered there. But Sir _William_, when the Witchcrafts at _Salem_ began (in his Esteem) to look formidable, that he might Act safely in this Affair, he asked the Advice of the Ministers in and near _Boston_; the whole of their Advice and Answer is Printed in _Cases of Conscience_, the last Pages. But lest the World should be Ignorant who it was that drew the said Advice, in this Book of the Life of Sir _William Phips_, P. 77. are these words, _the Ministers made unto his Excellency and the Counsel a return, drawn up at their desire, by Mr. Mather the Younger, as I have been informed_. Mr. _C. M._ therein intending to beguile the World, and make them think that another, and not himself had taken that notice of his (supposed) good Service done therein, which otherwise would have been ascribed to those Ministers in General, though indeed the Advice then given, looks most like a thing of his Composing, as carrying both Fire [153] to increase, and Water to quench the Conflagration.[168] Particularly after the Devils Testimony, by the supposed Afflicted had so prevailed, as to take away the Life of one, and the Liberty of an Hundred, and the whole Country set into a most dreadful consternation, then this Advice is given, ushered in with thanks for what was already done, and in conclusion, putting the Government upon a speedy and vigorous prosecution according to the Laws of God, and the wholesome Statutes of the _English_ Nation, so adding Oil, rather than Water to the Flame; for who so little acquainted with proceedings of _England_, as not to know that they have taken some methods, with those here used to discover who were Witches. The rest of the Advice, consisting of cautions and directions, are inserted in this of the Life of Sir _William_. So that if Sir _William_, looking upon the thanks for what was past, and Exhortation to proceed, went on to take away the Lives of Nineteen more, this is according to the Advice said to be given him by the Ministers, and if the Devil after those Executions be affronted, by disbelieving his testimony, and by clearing and Pardoning all the rest of the Accused; yet this also is according to that Advice, but to cast the Scale; the same that drew this Advice, saith, in _Wonders of the Invisible World, Enchantments Encountered_; [that to have a hand in any thing that may stifle or obstruct a regular detection of that Witchcraft, is what we may well with a Holy fear avoid: Their Majesties good Subjects must not every day be torn to pieces by horrid Witchcraft, and those bloody Felons be wholly left unprosecuted; The Witchcraft is a business that will not be shamm'd.][169] The Pastor of that Church, of which Sir _William_ was a Member, being of this Principle, and thus declaring it, after the former advice; no wonder tho it cast the Scale against those Cautions. It is rather a Wonder that no more Blood was shed, for if that Advice of his Pastors could still have prevail'd with the Governour, Witchcraft had not been so shammed off as it was. Yet now in this Book of the Life of Sir _William_, the pardoning the Prisoners when Condemn'd, and clearing the Goals, is call'd (P. 82) a Vanquishing the Devil, adding this Conquest to the rest of the Noble Atchievements of Sir _William_, tho Performed not only without, but directly against his Pastors Advice. But this is not all, tho this Book pretends to raise a Statue in Honour of Sir _William_, yet it appears it was the least part of the design of the Author to Honour him, but it was rather to Honour himself, and the Ministers; It being so unjust to Sir _William_, as to give a full Account of the cautions given him, but designedly hiding from the Reader the Incouragements and Exhortations to proceed, that were laid before him (under the name of the Ministers Advice) in effect, telling the World that those Executions at _Salem_, were without, and against the Advice of the Ministers, exprest in those Cautions, purposely hiding their giving thanks for what was already done, and exhorting to proceed; thereby rendering Sir _William_ of so sanguin a Complexion, that the Ministers had such cause to fear his going on with the Tragedy, tho against their Advice; that they desired the President to write his _Cases of Conscience, &c._ To plead misinformation will not salve here, however it may seem to palliate other things, but is a manifest, designed traversty, or misrepresentation of the Ministers Advice to Sir _William_, a hiding the truth, and a wronging the dead, whom the Author so much pretends to honour; for which the Acknowledgments ought to be as Universal as the offence. But tho the Ministers Advice, or rather Mr. C. _Mather's_ was perfectly Ambidexter, giving as great or greater Encouragement to proceed in those dark methods, than cautions against [154] them; yet many Eminent persons being accused, there was a necessity of a stop to be put to it. If it be true what was said at the Counsel-board in answer to the commendations of Sir _William_, for his stopping the proceedings about Witchcraft, _viz._ That it was high time for him to stop it, his own Lady being accused; if that Assertion were a truth, then _New-England_ may seem to be more beholden to the accusers for accusing of her, and thereby necessitating a stop, than to Sir _William_, or to the Advice that was given him by his Pastor.[170]

Mr. _C. M._ having been very forward to write Books of Witchcraft, has not been so forward either to explain or defend the Doctrinal part thereof, and his belief (which he had a Years time to compose) he durst not venture so as to be copied.[171] Yet in this of the Life of Sir _William_ he sufficiently testifies his retaining that Heterodox belief, seeking by frightfull stories of the sufferings of some, and the refined sight of others, _&c._ P. 69 to obtrude upon the World, and confirm it in such a belief, as hitherto he either cannot or will not defend, as if the Blood already shed thereby were not sufficient.[172]

Mr. _I. Mather_, in his _Cases of Conscience_, P. 25, tells of a Bewitched Eye, and that such can see more than others. They were certainly bewitched Eyes that could see as well shut as open, and that could see what never was, that could see the Prisoners upon the Afflicted, harming of them, when those whose Eyes were not bewitched could have sworn that they did not stir from the Bar. The Accusers are said to have suffered much by biting, P. 73. And the prints of just such a set of Teeth, as those they Accused, had, but such as had not such bewitch'd Eyes have seen the Accusers bite themselves, and then complain of the Accused. It has also been seen when the Accused, instead of having just such a set of Teeth, has not had one in his head.[173] They were such bewitched Eyes that could see the Poisonous Powder (brought by Spectres P. 70.) And that could see in the Ashes the print of the Brand, there invisibly heate to torment the pretended Sufferers with, _&c._[174]

These with the rest of such Legends have this direct tendency, _viz._ To tell the World that the Devil is more ready to serve his Votaries, by his doing for them things above or against the course of Nature, shewing himself to them, and making explicit contract with them, _&c._ than the Divine Being is to his faithful Servants, and that as he is willing, so also able to perform their desires.[175] The way whereby these People are believed to arrive at a power to Afflict their Neighbours, is by a compact with the Devil, and that they have a power to _Commissionate_ him to those Evils, P. 72. However Irrational, or inscriptural such Assertions are, yet they seem a necessary part of the _Faith_ of such as maintain the belief of such a sort of _Witches_.

As the Scriptures know nothing of a covenanting or commissioning Witch, so Reason cannot conceive how Mortals should by their Wickedness arrive at a power to Commissionate Angels, Fallen Angels, against their Innocent Neighbours. But the Scriptures are full in it, and the Instances numerous, that the Almighty, Divine Being has this prerogative to make use of what Instrument he pleaseth, in Afflicting any, and consequently to commissionate Devils: And tho this word commissioning, in the Authors former Books, might be thought to be by inadvertency, yet now after he hath been caution'd of it, still to persist in it seems highly Criminal. And therefore in the name of God, I here charge such belief as guilty of Sacrilege in the highest Nature, and so much worse than stealing Church Plate, _&c._ As it is a higher Offence to steal any of the glorious Attributes of the Al[155]mighty, to bestow them upon Mortals, than it is to steal the Utensils appropriated to his Service. And whether to ascribe such power of commissioning Devils to the worst of Men, be not direct Blasphemy, I leave to others better able to determine. When the _Pharisees_ were so wicked as to ascribe to _Beelzebub_, the mighty works of Christ (whereby he did manifestly shew forth his Power and Godhead) than it was that our Saviour declar'd the Sin against the Holy Ghost to be unpardonable.

When the Righteous God is contending with Apostate Sinners, for their departures from him, by his Judgments, as Plagues, Earthquakes, Storms and Tempests, Sicknesses and Diseases, Wars, loss of Cattle, _&c._ Then not only to ascribe this to the Devil, but to charge one another with sending or commissionating those Devils to these things, is so abominable and so wicked, that it requires a better Judgment than mine to give it its just denomination.[176]

But that Christians so called should not only charge their fellow Christians therewith, but proceed to Trials and Executions; crediting that Enemy to all Goodness, and Accuser of the Brethren, rather than believe their Neighbours in their own Defence; this is so Diabolical a Wickedness as cannot proceed, but from a Doctrine of Devils; how far damnable it is let others discuss. Though such things were acting in this Country in Sir _Williams_ time, yet P. 65. There is a Discourse of a Guardian Angel, as then over-seeing it, which notion, however it may suit the Faith of _Ethnicks_, or the fancies of _Trithemius_; it is certain that the Omnipresent Being, stands not in need as Earthly Potentates do, of governing the World by Vicegerents. And if Sir _William_ had such an Invisible pattern to imitate, no wonder though some of his Actions were unaccountable, especially those relating to Witchcraft: For if there was in those Actions an Angel superintending, there is little reason to think it was _Gabriel_ or the Spirit of _Mercury_, nor _Hanael_ the Angel or Spirit of _Venus_, nor yet _Samuel_ the Angel or Spirit of _Mars_; Names feigned by the said _Trithemius_, _&c._ It may rather be thought to be _Apollyon_, or _Abaddon_.

_Obj._ But here it will be said, What are there no Witches? Do's not the Law of God command that they should be extirpated? Is the Command vain and Unintelligible? _Sol._ For any to say that a Witch is one that makes a compact with, and Commissions Devils, _&c._ is indeed to render the Law of God vain and Unintelligible, as having provided no way whereby they might be detected, and proved to be such; And how the _Jews_ waded thro this difficulty for so many Ages, without the Supplement of Mr. _Perkins_ and _Bernard_ thereto, would be very mysterious. But to him that can read the Scriptures without prejudice from Education, _&c._ it will manifestly appear that the Scripture is full and Intelligible, both as to the Crime and means to detect the culpable. He that shall hereafter see any person, who to confirm People in a false belief, about the power of Witches and Devils, pretending to a sign to confirm it; such as knocking off of invisible Chains with the hand, driving away Devils by brushing, striking with a Sword or Stick, to wound a person at a great distance, _&c._ may (according to that head of Mr. _Gauls_, quoted by Mr. _C. M._ and so often herein before recited, and so well proved by Scripture) conclude that he has _seen Witchcraft performed_.

[156] If _Baalam_ became a Sorcerer by Sacrifizing and Praying to the true God against his visible people; Then he that shall pray that the afflicted (by their _Spectral_ Sight) may accuse some other Person (whereby their reputations and lives may be indangered) such will justly deserve the Name of a _Sorcerer_. If any Person pretends to know more than can be known by humane means, and professeth at the same time that they have it from the _Black-Man, i. e. the Devil_, and shall from hence give Testimony against the Lives of others, they are manifestly such as have a familiar Spirit; and if any, knowing them to have their Information from the _Black-man_, shall be inquisitive of them for their Testimony against others, they therein are dealing with such as have a _Familiar-Spirit_.

And if these shall pretend to _see the dead_ by their _Spectral Sight_, and others shall be inquisitive of them, and receive their Answers what it is the _dead say_, and who it is they accuse, both the one and the other are by Scripture _Guilty of Necromancy_.

These are all of them crimes as easily proved as any whatsoever, and that by such proof as the Law of God requires, so that it is _no Unintelligible Law_.

But if the Iniquity of the times be such that these Criminals not only Escape Indemnified, but are Incouraged in their wickedness, and made use of to take away the Lives of others, this is worse than a making the Law of God _Vain_, it being a rendring of it _dangerous_, against the Lives of Innocents, and without all hopes of better, so long as these Bloody Principles remain.

As long as Christians do Esteem the _Law of God to be Imperfect_, as not describing that crime that it requires to be Punish'd by Death.

As long as men suffer themselves to be Poison'd in their Education, and be grounded in a _False-Belief by the Books of the Heathen_.

As long as the _Devil_ shall be believed to have _a Natural Power, to Act above and against a course of Nature_.

As long as the _Witches_ shall be believed to have a Power to _Commission him_.

As long as the _Devil's Testimony_, by the pretended afflicted, shall be received as _more valid to Condemn_, than their Plea of _Not Guilty_ to acquit.

As long as the _Accused_ shall have their _Lives and Liberties_ confirmed and restored to them, _upon their Confessing themselves Guilty_.

As long as the _Accused_ shall be forc't to _undergo Hardships and Torments_ for their not Confessing.

As long as _Tets_ for the _Devil to Suck_ are searched for upon the Bodies of the accused, as a token of guilt.

As long as the _Lord's Prayer_ shall be profaned, by being made a Test, who are culpable.

As long as _Witchcraft, Sorcery, Familiar Spirits, and Necromancy_, shall be improved to discover who are _Witches_, _&c._

_So long it may be expected that innocents will suffer as Witches_.

_So long God will be Daily dishonoured, And so long his Judgments, must be expected to be continued._[177]

_FINIS._

FOOTNOTES:

[137] This Insinuation is quite well sustained, as will appear by an Extract from Mr. Mather's Diary, printed in Quincy's _Hist. H. C._ i, 60. The Life of Phips is substantially included in the Magnalia. As originally published, it is of considerable rarity.

[138] See Vol. I, Page 25-6.

[139] This Judgment has been sustained by Posterity. Phips's Hands were tied. He could not have done differently, had he had the Knowledge and Disposition, without giving offence to President Mather, who had secured his Advancement.

[140] To this rather mild and inoffensive remark of the Author, Mr. Mather replies: "The last Effort of his [Calef's] Malice is a Postscript against the Life of Sir William Phips, against whose Memory, why any whose _Throats are an open Sepulchre_, should be so monstrously envious, that like Jackalls, they can't let him rest quietly in his Sepulchre, good Men can't imagine any Reason but the third Chapter of Genesis."--_Some Few Remarks_, &c. 47.

[141] "I have endured more than a little from some sort of Men, for my writing the Life of Sir William Phips, and speaking well of him, without either doing or speaking ill against any one good Man under the whole Heavens, in the whole Composure. It seems that I must now write an Apology, for that Book: for which I have no Confession to make, but, _That I don't wish one Line of it unwritten_."--_Ibid_, 47-8.

[142] It must be allowed that the Doctor was a little unfortunate in his Choice of a Hero by which to measure his own.

[143] The "three venerable Persons" were "Nath. Mather, John Howe and Matthew Mead." The first was the Uncle to Dr. Cotton Mather, then a Minister in Dublin, where he died a few Months later. Howe and Mead are too well known to require a notice here.

[144] To this Dr. Mather answers: "When mine Adversaries had, with a concocted Malice, done all they could, they thought at least they had found one Passage wherein they might impeach my Veracity. I had said, that before Quebeck, Sir William lay _within Pistol Shot of the Enemies Cannon_, and that his Ship was shot through, in _an hundred Places_, and that it was shot through with _Four and Twenty Pounders_. (Tis a gross Hardship for any to make my Meaning as if all the shot had been so.) And now they fall to Tragical Exclamattons; they think _Four and Twenty Pounders_ to be too small Dimensions for the Clamors they must batter me withal.... I wrote no more than the very Words which I find in a Journal of the Expedition to Qcebec.... _Calef_ himself has lately owned, that he verily believes I did so."--_Some Few Remarks_, &c. 51-2.

[145] After the Doctor had spoken of being "battered with Clamors," he triumphantly Exclaims--"But hold _Robin_, [Mr. Calef's Christian Name being Robert] I am not so soon _shot through_; and the _Statue_, as I told thee, has _knock'd out thy Brains_!"--_Ibid_, Page 52. His Life of Phips he calls a _Statue_.

[146] The harsh and ungovernable Temper of the Governor was a Matter of Notoriety in his Time. See _Life of Phips in the Magnalia_, B. ii, Page 72, &c.

[147] "It is not worth our while to take Notice of every thing this _Calf_ sayes, 'tis often so impertinent; however, we will lay open one thing more. He says that Mr. Mather procured a Charter for Sir William to be Governor, and _himself established President of the Colledge_. Can there be greater Nonsense mixed with Malice! How could that be, when Mr. Mather had been President of the Colledge _ten_ Years before Sir William came to be Governor?" This is a very shallow Attempt to impeach, by Hypercriticism, the Truth of Mr. Calef's Statement. Everybody knew the fact that Dr. I. Mather was President of the College. Mr. Calef's Meaning is plain enough, namely, that Mr. Mather's Solicitude was about _keeping_ his Office of President.

[148] "It is to be confessed and bewailed, that many Inhabitants of New England, and young People especially, had been led away with little _Sorceries_, wherein they _did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God_; they would often cure Hurts with _Spells_, and practice detestable Conjurations with _Sieves_, and _Keyes_, and _Pease_, and _Nails_, and _Horse-shoes_, and other Implements to learn the Things for which they had a forbidden and impious Curiosity. Wretched Books had stolen into the Land, wherein Fools were instructed how to become able Fortune-tellers."--_Life of Sir W. Phips._ See _Magnalia_, B. ii, 60. Some twenty Years later the Author's Ideas had undergone a slight Change. See _Remarkables_, 161, _et seq._

[149] Complete Lists of all the Freemen in Massachusetts, and the Qualifications necessary to become such, will be found in the _New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Register_, Vols. III, IV and VII.

[150] Palmer's Book is thus entitled: "An Impartial Account of the State of New England: or, the Late Government there, Vindicated. In Answer to the Declaration which the Faction set forth, when they Overturned that Government. With a Relation of the Horrible Usage they treated the Governour with, and his Council; and all that had His Majesty's Commission. _In a_ Letter _to the_ Clergy _there._ By _John Palmer_. London: Printed for _Edward Poole_, at the _Ship_ over against the _Royal Exchange_, in _Cornhill_, 1690." 4to, 40 Pages. This Work is about to be republished by the PRINCE SOCIETY.

[151] Actions brought without Foundation.

[152] "The Superior Gentlemen in the Oppressed Country, thought, that a Well-qualified Person going over with the Addresses of the Churches to the King, might, by the Help of such Protestant Dissenters as the King began upon Political Views to cast a fair Aspect upon, obtain some Relief to the growing Distresses of the Country; and Mr. Mather was the Person that was pitch'd upon.... To his Wonderment, they that at another Time would have almost assoon parted with their Eyes as have parted with him now were willing to it."--_Remarkables of Dr. I. Mather_, 103.

[153] Mr. Bradstreet was then about 86 Years of Age. A pretty full Account of the Transactions of this Period may be read in Hutchinson, _Hist. Mass._, i, _sub. An._ 1689: "The Representatives of 54 Towns met at Boston, on the 22d of May. They soon discovered a Desire to reassume the Charter. The major Part of the Council were against it." _Ibid._, i, 386, first Edition.

[154] I do not find this animadverted upon in the _Some Few Remarks_.

[155] See Neal's _Hist. N. England_, where will be found the "Declaration" in full, in which it is said: "Having fully and deliberately examined the Minds and Instructions of the several Towns, do find it to be the general Consent and Concurrence of our several Towns to reassume the Government according to Charter-Rights," &c. Vol. II, 55.

[156] The _underwritten_ Recantation does not appertain to the printed Declaration. Neal says: "'Tis certain the Massachuset-Provinces had hard Measure in the Loss of their Charter, and harder yet, in not having it restored at the Revolution," &c. Vol. II, 59.

[157] Elisha Cooke and Thomas Oakes, both of them Assistants. See Hutchinson, _Hist. Mass._, i, 393.

[158] Sir Henry Ashurst.