Part 12

[159] Dr. I. Mather's Narrative of this Affair runs thus: "When the King was pleased to give a positive Command that the Charter of New England should be dispatched, it was not for the Agents to say, It shall not be so. True it is, that all the Agents, when they saw what Minutes would be inserted in the Charter, were desirous of a Delay, until the Kings happy Return to England. And I may without Vanity say, no Man laboured to have it so, more than myself. I prayed Arch-Bishop Tillotson to intercede with the Queen for this Favour to us, who at my Request did so. Moreover, I drew up several Reasons against that which in the Minutes of the New Charter is most grievous to us; which were by Sir Henry Ashurst, and my self, delivered to His Majesties Attourney General, on July 24. 1691, and which I did also send to my Lord Sidney, one of His Majesties principal Secretaries of State, then with the King in Flanders."--_Some Few Remarks_, 22-3. Lord Henry _Sydney_ was afterwards Earl of Romney.

[160] Thinking there would be no further Proceedings about the Charter before the Return of the King, Mr. Mather says he went into the Country for the Recovery of his impaired Health, where, before he had been three Weeks, he was surprised by being sent for to London, "with Information that the King had signified His Royal Pleasure to the Earl of Nottingham, that there should be a Procedure with a Charter for the Massachusetts Colony, according to the Minutes that the Lords of the Committee for Plantations had agreed to, notwithstanding the Objections of the Agents."--_Some Few Remarks_, 23.

[161] This Document is printed in the Work just cited, Pages 14 to 18; and also by the Son in his _Remarkables_ of his Father, Pages 157-60. The rebutting of the "Bull" has been noticed in an earlier Page.

[162] Whether this Paper, containing the _variety of Heathen Learning_, was ever printed, the Editor is unable to say.

[163] The Defenders of Dr. Mather say, that, by what they have heard about that Story of Dr. Sharp, attempting "to get himself made Bishop, did what he could to undermine the Presbyterian Government:" and continue,--"Certainly, Satan _himself_ could not but blush to say, that ever Mr. Mather went to destroy the Government of New England, either as to their Civil or Ecclesiastical Constitution."--_Some Few Remarks_, 29, 30. Mr. Calef is very far from bringing any such Charge. Some later Authors are far more severe on Dr. Mather than he. See Baylies, _N. Plymouth_, iv, 134.

[164] After extracting this Acknowledgement of our Author, his Reviewers say: "With what Face then can he insinuate that no Thanks are due to the Instruments of obtaining such a valuable Charter, and so many peculiar Priviledges? Surely he was beside himself, when he wrote such Things as these."--_Ibid._, Page 30.

[165] The Authors of the _Some Few Remarks_, print a Letter from Mr. John Goodwin, as a triumphant Vindication of what Dr. Cotton Mather published respecting the bewitchment of Goodwin's Children. The Letter is too long and too unimportant to occupy Space here. It may be seen on Pages 62 and 63 of that Work. It is, of course, an attempt to sustain Dr. Mather's Account, the substance of which Account is in the _Magnalia_. They then go on: "Now behold how active and forward Mr. Mather was, in transacting the Affairs relating to this Woman; and be astonished, that ever any _One_ should go to insinuate things to the World, as are known by most that ever heard of those afflicted Children, to be so far different from _Truth_, as to do what in you lies to lessen the Esteem of those Servants of Christ, (which you make your chiefest _Butts_) among the Lord's People.... We pray God _Pardon_ your Sin, and give you the Grace to Repent."--_Ibid_, 65. See also _Magnalia_, B. ii, 61; where it appears that Mr. Joseph Dudley was Chief Judge when the poor old crazy Woman was tried and Executed.

[166] Dr. Mather answers: "After the Storm was raised at Salem, I did myself offer to provide Meat, Drink, and Lodging, for no less than _Six_ of the Afflicted, that so an Experiment might be made, whether _Prayer_ with _Fasting_, upon the Removal of those Miserables, one from another, might not put a Period unto the Trouble then arising, without giving the Civil Authority the Trouble of Prosecuting the Methods of the Law on that Occasion. You'll say, How came it then to pass that many People took up another Notion of me? Truly, _Satan knows_. Perhaps 'twas because I thought it my Duty alwayes to speak of the Honourable Judges with as much Honour as I could; (a Crime which I am generally taxed for, and _for which I have been finely requited_!) This made People, who judge of Things _at a Distance_, to dream that I _approved_ of all that was done."--_Ibid_, 39-40. Certainly, if Words mean any thing, what he published fully justifies that Conclusion, notwithstanding his rare _Ambidexterity_. See Vol. I, _Ubique loci_.

[167] Salem Street was in those Times, called _Green-Lane_; at the Corner made by that _Lane_ and Charter Street, the Governor actually resided. See _History and Antiquities of Reason_, 816.

[168] Dr. Mather says in Reply: "Moreover, when the Ministers presented unto the Governour and Council, their Advice against making the _Spectral Exhibitions_ to be so much as a _Presumption of Witchcraft_, it was _my_ poor Hand which drew up that Advice, and my Heart was always in it."--_Some Few Remarks_, 38-9. But the Doctor does not explain how, in speaking of this _Address_ in the Life of Phips, he came to make use of the Words--_as I have been informed_--while in the _Some Few Remarks_ he owns that it was drawn by his _poor Hand_. See _Life of Phips in Magnalia_, Book II, 63.

[169] See Volume I, Page 34.

[170] Dr. Douglass goes further in this Matter. He says that "some of the Confessing Witches, by overacting their Parts in accusing some of Gov. Phips's, and the Rev. Mr. Mather's Relations; as also some of the Accused good Christians, and of good Estates, those arrested the Accusers in high Actions for Defamation; this put a stop to Accusations."--_Summary_, i, 450.

[171] Referring to certain Answers in writing put into Mr. Calef's Hands, with an Injunction against his printing them. See _ante_, Vol. II, Page 86.

[172] This Statement is fully borne out, as will be seen on referring to the Life of Phips, as directed above, or to the same in the _Magnalia_, B. ii, 60, _et seq._; one Extract here must suffice: "But of all the _Preternatural_ things which befel these People, there were none more unaccountable than those, wherein the prestigious _Dæmons_ would ever now and then cover the most _Corporeal_ Things in the World with a _Fascinating Mist_ of Invisibility. As now; a Person was cruelly assaulted by a _Spectre_, that, she said, run at her with a _Spindle_, though no Body else in the Room could see either the _Spectre_ or the _Spindle_: At last, in her Agonies, giving a Snatch at the _Spectre_, she pulled the _Spindle_ away; and it was no sooner got into her Hand, but the other Folks then present beheld that it was indeed a Real, Proper, Iron _Spindle_; which, when they locked up very safe, it was nevertheless by the _Dæmons_ taken away to do farther Mischief." In the _Wonders of the Invisible World_ (Vol. I, 205), this Story of the Spindle will be seen among the _Curiosities_ and is given, as the Author there tells the Reader, as "a Bone to pick" for the _Dogmatical_. _See also_ Lawson, 102.

[173] It is highly interesting to hear the Doctor's Account of this: "It was also found, that the Flesh of the Afflicted was often _Bitten_ at such a Rate, that not only the _Print of Teeth_ would be left on their _Flesh_, but the very _Slaver_ of _Spittle_ too: As there would appear just such a _set of Teeth_ as was in the _Accused_, even such as might be clearly distinguished from other People's. And usually the _Afflicted_ went through a terrible Deal of seeming Difficulties from the tormenting _Spectres_, and must be long waited on before they could get a Breathing Space from their Tormentors to give in their Testimonies."--_Life of Phips, in Magnalia_, B. ii, 61-2.

[174] The Doctor must once again be heard, otherwise the Reader can have but a faint Idea of what our Author is exposing: "The Miserable exclaimed extreamly of _Branding Irons_ heating at the Fire on the Hearth to mark them; now, though the Standers by could see no _Irons_, yet they could see distinctly the Print of them in the Ashes, and _smell_ them too as they were carried by the _not-seen Furies_, unto the poor Creatures for whom they were intended; and those poor Creatures were thereupon _Stigmatized_ with them, that they will bear the Marks of them to their Dying Day. Nor are these the _Tenth Part_ of the _Prodigies_ that fell out among the Inhabitants of New England."--_Ibid._, Page 61. If any one, after reading these strongly expressed Opinions of the learned Doctor, will entertain Doubts, as to his extreme Credulity and Faith in Witchcraft, it is not likely to be in human Power to remove them.

[175] The Cry of "Blasphemer, Sadducee, Infidel, Liar, Slanderer," &c., &c., could not then, nor at any other Time, alter the Facts so truly and so succinctly stated here. Against the above is found: "He insinuates, that our Reverend Ministers make the Devil an _Independent Being_, and (as he says) _consequently a God_. An abominable Charge!"--_Some Few Remarks_, 8, 9. See, also, Vol. I, Page 72-3.

[176] And yet, as inconsistent with Reason as this absurd Stuff is, it was the generally prevailing Belief, and is thus _defended_ in the _Some Few Remarks_, P. 8: "The whole Body of the Ministers in the Country are charged, as Guilty of Sacriledge in the highest Degree, if not direct Blasphemy, and Diabolical Wickedness." It will at once be seen that this is as unjust a Charge as Malignity in its Blindness could invent. Well did our Quaker Poet write, some 17 Years ago:

"When the Thought of Man is free, Error fears its lightest Tones; So the Priest cried 'Sadducee!' And the People took up Stones."

[177] These Notes may fittingly be closed by another Extract from our amiable Quaker Poet, who seems attentively to have examined the Characters of both the _Wonders_ and the _More Wonders_:

"In the solemn Days of Old, Two Men met in Boston Town-- One a Merchant Frank and bold, One a Preacher of renown.

Cried the last, in bitter Tone-- 'Prisoner of the Wells of Truth, Satan's Hireling thou hast sown With his Tares the Heart of Youth!'

Spake the honest Merchant then-- God be Judge 'twixt Thee and I; All thou knowst of Truth hath been Unto Men like thee a lie."

APPENDIX.

NUMBER I.

_Examination of Giles Cory._

WHY this Examination was not given by Dr. Mather, in his Account of the Witchcraft, cannot be certainly stated; while it may be conjectured that it was omitted for one of the two following Reasons: 1st, it may have been thought not sufficiently damning to the Accused; or, 2dly, it may have been rejected, as a great Part of the Proceedings was, for want of Room. It seems not now to be among the Copies of those Proceedings recently made, or Mr. Woodward would not have omitted it in his Work. It is given here, as transcribed by Mr. David Pulsifer, for the Edition of the _More Wonders_, &c., published in Salem by Cushing & Appleton, in 1823. The previous Edition, of course, does not contain it.[178]

The Examination of Giles Cory, at a Court at Salem Village, held by John Hathorn and Jonathan Curwin, Esqrs., April 19, 1692.

Giles Cory, you are brought before Authority upon high Suspicion of sundry Acts of Witchcraft. Now tell us the Truth in this Matter.

I hope, through the Goodness of God, I shall; for that Matter I never had no Hand in, in my Life.

Which of you have seen this Man hurt you?

Mary Wolcott, Mercy Lewis, Ann Putman, Jr., and Abigail Williams affirmed he had hurt them.

Hath he hurt you too? speaking to Elizabeth Hubbard. She going to answer was prevented by a Fit.

Benjamin Gold, Hath he hurt you?

I have seen him several Times, and been hurt after it, but cannot affirm that it was he.

Hath he brought the Book to any of you?

Mary Wolcott and Abigail Williams and others affirmed he had brought the Book to them.

Giles Cory, they accuse you, or your Appearance, of hurting them, and bringing the Book to them. What do you say? Why do you hurt them? Tell us the Truth.

I never did hurt them.

It is your Appearance hurts them, they charge you; tell us. What have you done?

I have done nothing to damage them.

Have you never entered into Contract with the Devil?

I never did.

What Temptations have you had?

I never had Temptations in my Life.

What! have you done it without Temptations?

What was the Reason (said Good wife Bibber) that you were frighted in the Cow-house? And then the Questionist was suddenly seized with a violent Fit.

Samuel Braybrook, Goodman Bibber, and his Daughter, testified that he had told them this Morning that he was frighted in the Cow-house.

Cory denied it.

This was not your Appearance but your Person, and you told them so this Morning. Why do you deny it?

What did you see me in the Cow-house?

I never saw nothing but my Cattle.

Divers witnessed that he told them he was frighted.

Well, what do you say to these Witnesses?

What was it frighted you?

I do not know that ever I spoke the Word in my Life.

Tell the Truth. What was it frighted you?

I do not know any Thing that frighted me.

All the Afflicted were seized now with Fits, and troubled with Pinches. Then the Court ordered his Hands to be tied.

What! Is it not enough to act Witchcraft at other Times, but must you do it now in Face of Authority?

I am a poor Creature and cannot help it.

Upon the Motion of his Head again, they had their Heads and Necks afflicted.

Why do you tell such wicked Lies against Witnesses, that heard you speak after this Manner, this very Morning?

I never saw anything but a black Hog.

You said that you were stopped once in Prayer; what stopt you?

I cannot tell. My Wife came towards me and found Fault with me for saying living to God and dying to Sin.

What was it frighted you in the Barn?

I know nothing frighted me there.

Why there are three Witnesses that heard you say so to-day.

I do not remember it.

Thomas Gold testified that he heard him say, that he knew enough against his Wife, that would do her Business.

What was that you knew against your Wife?

Why, that of living to God, and dying to Sin.

The Marshal and Bibber's Daughter confirmed the same; that he said he could say that that would do his Wife's Business.

I have said what I can say to that.

What was that about your Ox?

I thought he was hipt.

What Ointment was that your Wife had when she was seized? You said it was Ointment she made by Major Gidney's Direction.

He denied it, and said she had it of Goody Bibber, or from her Direction.

Goody Bibber said it is not like that Ointment.

You said you knew upon your own Knowledge, that she had it of Major Gidney.

He denied it.

Did you not say, when you went to the Ferry with your Wife, you would not go over to Boston now, for you should come yourself next Week?

I would not go over because I had not Money.

The Marshal testified he said as before.

One of his Hands was let go, and several were afflicted. He held his Head on one Side, and then the Heads of several of the Afflicted were held on one Side. He drew in his Cheeks, and the Cheeks of some of the Afflicted were suckt in.

John Bibber and his Wife gave in Testimony concerning some Temptations he had to make away with himself.

How doth this agree with what you said, that you had no Temptations?

I meant Temptations to Witchcraft.

If you can give way to self-murther, that will make way to Temptation to Witchcraft.

_Note._--There was Witness by several, that he said he would make away with himself, and charge his Death upon his Son.

Goody Bibber testified that the said Cory called said Bibber's Husband, Damned Devilish Rogue.

Other vile Expressions testified [to] in open Court by several others.

Salem Village, April 19, 1692. Mr. Samuel Paris being desired to take in Writing the Examination of Giles Cory, delivered it in; and upon hearing the same, and seeing what we did see at the Time of his Examination, together with the Charge of the afflicted Persons against him, we committed him to their Majesties Gaol.[179]

JOHN HATHORN.

NUMBER II.

THE following Ballad, in the Chevy Chase Style, was cut from a Newspaper sixteen years ago. No one at this Day will probably require to be informed who was the Author of it, as but _one_ Person probably _could_ have written it. I have not looked over the Poems of Mr. Whittier to see if it be there. Any one having an inclination may do so. The Introduction accompanied it, on its first appearance:

The following Ballad is handed in for Preservation as illustrative of that dark Period in our local History. Giles Corey and his Wife lived in what is now Danvers, and the Spot is now pointed out on the Estate of Hon. Daniel P. King where their House formerly stood. The Localities are fast fading out from Remembrance, and I venture the Suggestion that it may be in the Province of the Historical Department of our Essex Institute to mark them by some permanent Monumental Erection.--_Salem Observer._

GILES COREY AND GOODWYFE COREY.

A BALLAD OF 1692.

Come all New-England Men And hearken unto me, And I will tell what did befalle Upon ye Gallows Tree.

In Salem Village was the Place As I did heare them saye, And Goodwyfe Corey was her Name Upon that paynfull Daye:

This Goody Corey was a Witch The People did believe, Afflicting of the Godly Ones Did make them sadlie Greave.

There were two pyous Matron Dames And goodly Maidens Three, That cryed upon this heynous Witch As you shall quicklie see.

Goodwyfe Bibber, she was one, And Goodwyfe Goodall two, These were ye sore afflicted ones By Fyts and Pynchings too:

And those Three Damsels fair She worried them full sore, As all could see upon their Arms The divers Marks they bore.

And when before the Magistrates For Tryall she did stand, This Wicked Witch did lye to them While holding up her Hand;

"I pray you all Good Gentlemen Come listen unto me, I never harmed those two Goodwyfes Nor yet these Children Three:"

"I call upon my Saviour Lord" (Blasphemously she sayed) "As Witness of my Innocence In this my hour of Need."

The Godly Ministers were shockt This Witch-prayer for to hear, And some did see ye Black Man[180] there A whispering in her Eare.

The Magistrates did saye to her Most surely thou doth lye, Confess thou here thy hellish Deeds Or ill Death thou must dye.

She rent her Cloaths, she tore her Haire, And lowdly she did crye, "May Christe forgive mine Enimies When I am called to dye."

This Goodwyfe had a Goodman too, Giles Corey was his Name, In Salem Gaol they shut him in With his blasphemous Dame.

Giles Corey was a Wizzard strong, A stubborn Wretch was he, And fitt was he to hang on high Upon ye Locust Tree:

So when before ye Magistrates For tryall he did come, He would no true Confession make But was compleatlie dumbe.

"Giles Corey," said ye Magistrates "What hast thou heare to pleade To these who now accuse thy soule Of Crymes and horrid Deed?"

Giles Corey--he sayde not a Word, No single Word spake he: "Giles Corey," sayth ye Magistrate, "We'll press it out of thee."

They got them then a _heavy Beam_, They layde it on his Breast, They loaded it with heavy Stones, And hard upon him prest.

"More weight," now sayd this wretched Man, "More weight," again he cryed, And he did no Confession make But wickedlie he Dyed.

Dame Corey lived but six Dayes more, But six Day's more lived she, For She was hung at Gallows Hill Upon ye Locust Tree.

Rejoyce all true New-England Men, Let Grace still more abounde, Go search ye Land with myght and maine Till all these Imps be founde:

And that will be a glorious Daye, A goodlie Sight to see, When you shall hang these Brands of Fyre Upon ye Gallows Tree.

NUMBER III.

_Testimony of William Beale, of Marblehead, against Mr. Philip English of Salem, Given August_ 2_d_, 1692. Taken from the Original.

AS Philip English was a Man of a large Estate for those Days, and carried on an extensive Business, it may be thought singular that Mr. Calef should make no Mention of his Case in his Work. It may be that he had not sufficient Data for the Purpose; or, more probably, it may have been, that for certain Reasons he chose to leave the Matter in the Hands of the two Ministers of the Old South, who, or one of whom, had not the Independence to work openly with Mr. Calef, but who, clandestinely, took the Part of the Accused, and helped him to escape. However this may have been, so far as Mr. Willard was concerned, enough will have been seen in Mr. Calef's Work to cause an Agitation of the Question. And yet, it will appear, from what is to follow, that Mr. Moody (then with Mr. Willard in the Old South) was the principal Instrument in the Protection and final Escape of Mr. English and his Wife from the Jaws of a "blind Ferocity."

The Testimony of William Beale, which follows was probably contrived by certain Parties to recover Property owned or claimed by Mr. English. At the Time of his Arrest, he owned a Ship of 170 Tons, named the Porcupine, which was commanded by Robert Bartel, whose Son, William Bartel, was living in 1739, at the Age of 45.

Mr. English, it is said, was an Episcopalian. Whether his Sentiments had anything to do with his being proceeded against, does not appear. He stated that by the Prosecution he was damaged £1,500. A Petition of his to the Committee appointed by the General Court to compensate Sufferers may be seen in Mr. Woodward's _Collections_, ii, 233. It is curious to see now the Awards made to the Survivors of those whose Mothers and Fathers had been judicially murdered! A few Pounds seems to have settled the Account.

What follows, previous to William Beale's Testimony, although once printed, will be quite new, probably, to the Majority of Readers; and it is due to the Memory of a persecuted Family to perpetuate it in Connection with the wicked Attempt at their Ruin.

About the Year 1810, the Rev. Timothy Alden was engaged in preparing a Catalogue of Books for the Massachusetts Historical Society. While in this Employment he procured from the Rev. William Bentley, D.D., of Salem, the ensuing Account of Mr. English. What led to this Result was Mr. Alden's Endeavors to obtain Information concerning a Portsmouth Gentleman. Mr. Alden was then much interested in Portsmouth Affairs. Dr. Bently proceeds: "In the Times of the Witchcraft in Salem Village, no Person distinguished for Property, and known in the commercial World, was accused but Philip English.[181] He came young into America, from the Island of Jersey, lived in the Family of Mr. Hollingworth, a rich Inhabitant of Salem, and afterwards married his only Daughter and Child, Susanna. The Wife had received a better Education than is common even at this Day [1809], as Proofs I hold sufficiently discover.