Part 8

1. E_LIZABETH How_, pleading, not Guilty to the Indictment of Witchcrafts, then charged upon her; the Court, according to the usual proceeding of the Courts in _England_; in such Cases, began with hearing the Deposition of several Afflicted People, who were grievously tormented by sensible and evident Witchcrafts, and all complained of the Prisoner, as the cause of their trouble. It was also found that the Suffers were not able to bear her look, as likewise, that in their greatest swoons, they distinguished her touch from other Peoples, being thereby raised out of them.

And there was other Testimony of People to whom the shape of this _How_, gave trouble Nine or Ten Years ago.[97]

2. It has been a most usual thing for the bewitched persons at the same time that the Spectres representing the Witches, Troubled them to be visited with Apparitions of Ghosts, pretending to have been murdered by the Witches then represented. And sometimes the confessions of the Witches afterwards acknowledged those very Murders, which these Apparitions charged upon them; altho they had never heard what Information had been given by the Sufferers.

There was such Apparitions of Ghosts testified by some of the present Sufferers, and the Ghosts affirmed that this _How_ had murdered them: which things were fear'd, but not proved.[98]

3. This _How_ had made some attempts of Joining to the Church at _Ipswich_, several Years ago; but she was denied an Admission into that holy Society, partly thro a suspicion of Witchcraft, then urged against her. And there now came in Testimony of preternatural Mischiefs, presently befalling some that had been Instrumental to debar her from the Communion whereupon she was intruding.[99]

4. There was a particular Deposition of _Joseph Safford_, that his Wife had conceived an extream Aversion, to this _How_, on the reports of her Witchcrafts; but _How_ one day taking her by the hand, and saying, _I believe you are not Ignorant of the great scandal, that I lye under, by an Evil report raised upon me_. She immediately, unreasonably, and unperswadeably, even like one Inchanted, began to take this Womans part. _How_ being soon after propounded, as desiring an Admission to the Table of the Lord, some of the Pious Brethren were unsatisfied about her. The Elders appointed a meeting to hear matters objected against her; and no arguments in the World could hinder this Goodwife _Safford_ from going to the Lecture. She did indeed promise with much ado that she would not go to the Church-meeting; yet she could not refrain going thither also. [134] _How_'s affairs there were so canvassed, that she came off rather Guilty, than cleared; nevertheless Goodwife _Safford_ could not forbear taking her by the Hand, and saying, _Tho you are condemned before Men, you are justified before God_. She was quickly taken in a very strange manner; Frantick, Raving, Raging, and crying out, _Goody_ How _must come into the Church; she is a precious Saint, and tho' she be condemned before Men, she is justified before God_. So she continued for the space of two or three hours; and then fell into a Trance. But coming to herself, she cried out, _Ha! I was mistaken!_ afterwards again repeated, _Ha! I was mistaken!_ being asked by a stander by, Wherein? she replied, _I thought Goody_ How _had been a precious Saint of God, but now I see she is a Witch: she has bewitched me and my Child, and we shall never be well, till there be Testimony for her, that she may be taken into the Church._[100]

And _How_ said afterwards, _That she was very sorry to see_ Safford _at the Church-meeting mentioned. Safford_ after this, _declared herself to be Afflicted by the shape of_ How, _and from that shape she endured many miseries._

5. _John How_, Brother to the Husband of the Prisoner testified that he refusing to accompany the Prisoner unto her Examination as was by her desired, immediately some of his Cattle, were bewitched to Death, leaping Three or four Foot high, turning about, squeaking, falling and dying at once; and going to cut off an Ear, for an use, that might as well perhaps have been omitted, the Hand wherein he held his Knife was taken very Numb; and so it remained, and full of pain for several Days; being not well at this very time. And he suspected this Prisoner, for the Author of it.[101]

6. _Nehemiah Abbot_ testified, that unusual and mischievous accidents would befall his Cattle, whenever he had any difference with this Prisoner. Once particularly she wished his Ox choaked, and within a little while, that Ox was choaked with a Turnip in his Throat. At another time, refusing to lend his Horse, at the request of her Daughter, the Horse was in a preternatural manner abused. And several other odd things of that kind were testified.[102]

7. There came in Testimony that one Goodwife _Sherwin_, upon some difference with _How_ was bewitched, and, that she died, charging this _How_ of having an hand in her Death. And that other People had their Barrels of Drink unaccountably mischiev'd, spoiled, and spilt upon their displeasing her.[103]

The things in themselves were trivial; but there being such a course of them, it made them the more to be considered. Among others, _Martha Wood_ gave her testimony, that a little after, her Father had been employed in gathering an account of this _How's_ Conversation, they once and again lost great quantities of Drink, out of their Vessels, in such a [135] manner, as they could ascribe to nothing but Witchcraft. As also that _How_ giving her some Apples, when she had eaten of them, she was taken with a very strange kind of a maze, insomuch that she knew not what she said or did.[104]

8. There was likewise a Cluster of Depositions, that one _Isaac Cummings_, refusing to lend his Mare, unto the Husband of this _How_; the Mare was within a Day or two taken in a strange condition. The beast seemed much abused; being bruised, as if she had been running over the Rocks, and marked where the Bridle went, as if burnt with a red hot Bridle. Moreover one using a Pipe of Tobacco for the cure of the Beast, a blew flame issued out of her, took hold of her hair, and not only spread and burnt on her, but it also flew upwards towards the Roof of the Barn, and had like to have set the Barn on fire. And the Mare dy'd very suddenly.[105]

9. _Timothy Perly_ and his Wife, testified, not only that unaccountable Mischiefs befel their Cattle, upon their having of differences with this Prisoner; but also that they had a Daughter destroyed by Witchcrafts; which Daughter still charged _How_, as the cause of her Affliction; and it was noted that she would be struck down, whenever _How_ were spoken of. She was often endeavoured to be thrown into the Fire, and into the Water, in her strange Fitts; tho her Father had corrected, for charging _How_ with bewitching her, yet (as was testified by others also) she said she was sure of it, and must dye standing to it. Accordingly she charged _How_ to the very death; and said, _Tho_ How _could Afflict and Torment her Body, yet she could not hurt her Soul, and that the truth of this matter would appear when she should be dead and gone_.[106]

10. _Francis Lane_ testified, that being hired by the Husband of this _How_ to get him a parcel of Posts and Rails, this _Lane_ hired _John Pearly_ to assist him. This Prisoner then told _Lane_ that she believed the Posts and Rails would not do, because _John Pearly_ helped him; but that if he had got them alone without _John Pearly_'s help, they might have done well enough. When _James How_ came to receive his Posts and Rails of _Lane_, _How_ taking them up by the Ends, they, tho good and sound yet unaccountably broke off, so that _Lane_ was forced to get Thirty or Forty more. And this Prisoner being informed of it, she said, _She told him so before: because_ Pearly _helped about them_.[107]

11. Afterwards there came in the Confessions of several other (penitent) Witches, which affirmed this _How_ to be one of those who with them had been baptized by the Devil in the River, at _Newberry-Falls_: before which he made them there kneel down by the Brink of the River, and Worship him.[108]

FOOTNOTES:

[96] The Indictment does not appear in the Records, probably for the Reason that it had been given to or taken by Dr. Mather, and never returned. Mrs. How was of Topsfield, Wife of James How of that Town. Ephraim Wildes was the Constable who apprehended her. Her Examination was on the 30th of May, 1692, occupies two Pages, and was taken down by Mr. "Sam. Parris."

[97] The Author has not taken up the respective Parties who gave Evidence. Among others, no Notice is taken of that of two Ministers, namely, Mr. Samuel Phillips and Mr. Edward Payson, both of Rowley. Mr. Phillips gave his Age as about 67. Mr. _Paison_ did not state his. Their Testimonies were passed over undoubtedly because they did not in the least criminate Mrs. How; nor did they pretend that they had seen any Thing like Witchcraft.

[98] They were not only not proved, but there are no Testimonies recorded containing these Ghost Stories. The following Witnesses are not noticed by Dr. Mather, viz.: Samuel Perley, aged about 52, and his Wife about 46. Deborah Hadley, aged about 70 Years; had lived near Elizabeth How ("ye Wife of James How, Jr. of Ipswich 24 year.") She gave her a good Character. Mrs. Hadley testified on the 24th of June. The next Day Daniel Warner, Sen. gave in his Testimony. It was of the same tenor of Mrs. Hadley's. John Warner, Senʳ. also signed the same Evidence. They had been well acquainted with Mrs. How "aboue 20 yeers." So Simon Chapman and his Wife testified. Simon gave his Age as about 48--"hath ben aquainted with the Wiuef of James How, iunʳ. as a Naybar for this 9 or 10 Yers;" never knew any harm of her, and "found hur joust in hur delling, faythfooll," &c.

[99] Against such gratuitous, and to say the least, hearsay Testimony, the Doctor should, in fairness, have noticed such Evidence as that referred to in the last Note. A few others must not be overlooked. Joseph Knowlton stated that he had been acquainted with Mrs. How, as a Neighbor, and sometimes boarded in the House at his first coming to live in these Parts, which was about ten Years ago. He and his Wife Mary both gave her a good Character. His Age was "forty tu," and his Wife's "thurty-tu."

James How, Sen., aged about 94, testified that he had lived by Elizabeth, the Wife of James How, Junʳ, for about thirty Years; and, "setting a side humain Infurmity," she always behaved well, becoming her Place as a Daughter and Wife in all Relations.

Respecting the Church Difficulty, referred to in the Text, one Jacob Foster, aged about 29, swore, that "some Years agoe," as Goodwife How was about to join the Church, his Father was a Means of preventing it. Whereupon his Mare was lost for several Days. When found she looked as if she had been miserably beaten and abused. Sworn June 30th, 1692. Thomas Andrews of Boxford, aged about 50, told a more ridiculous Story about a Mare, belonging to Josiah Comings, Senʳ of Topsfield.

[100] Joseph Safford gave his Age about 60.

[101] John How gave his Age as about 50. The Doctor has made some wretched Mistakes in his Abstract of this Testimony. It was his Sow that "leaped up about three or foure foot hie," and fell down dead. The _squeaking_ belonged to the Swine, and not to the Cattle.

[102] I do not find any Note of Nehemiah Abbot's Evidence in the Records.

[103] This has reference, perhaps, to the Ghost Stories darkly hinted at by the Dr. Mather in a previous Page.

[104] I have not noticed Martha Wood's Evidence among the Records. The "great Quantities of Drink" reported lost, was probably found by some of the Witnesses already noticed.

[105] Cummin's Testimony occupies above two solid Pages. His Age was about sixty Years. His Christian Name was mistaken by Mather, being Isaac instead of Josiah, as appears by the Records.

[106] Timothy _Perley_ and his Wife Deborah testified, June 1st, 1692, that he was about 39 Years of Age, and his Wife about 33. The Abstract above is exceedingly defective. See the _Records_, ii, 73-4.

[107] Francis Lane gave his Age as about 27, and said that the Time the Witches afflicted the Rails was about "seauen" Years ago, and makes a long Story out of it; but it is of a Piece with most of the Evidence. Lane's Parentage has not been traced.

[108] They affirmed that many of those wretched Souls had been Baptized at Newberry Falls; and at several other Rivers and Ponds; and as to the Manner of Administration, the Great Officer of _Hell_ took them up by the Body, and putting their Heads into the Water, said over them, _Thou art mine, and I have full Power over the_: And thereupon they engaged and covenanted to renounce GOD, CHRIST, their _sacred Baptism_, and the whole Way of _Gospel Salvation_; and to use their utmost Endeavours to oppose the Kingdom of CHRIST, and to set up and _advocate_ the Kingdom of _Satan_.--Lawson, _Second Edition_, 118. See, also, Vol. I, Page 102-3.

[Martha Carryer's _Indictment_.]

[136] _The Indictment of_ Martha Carryer.[109]

[Essex ss.] _Anno Regni Regis & Reginæ Wilielmi & Mariæ, nunc Angliæ, &c. quarto._--

THE Jurors for our Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queen, present, That _Martha Carryer_, Wife of _Thomas Carryer_ of _Andover_, in the County of _Essex_, Husbandman, The Thirty first Day of _May_, in the fourth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord and Lady _William_ and _Mary_, by the Grace of God, of _England_, _Scotland_, _France_ and _Ireland_, King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, _&c._ And divers other days and times, as well before as after, certain detestable Arts, called Witchcrafts, and Sorceries, Wickedly and Felloniously hath used, practised, and exercised, at and within the Township of _Salem_, in the County of _Essex_ aforesaid, in, upon, and against one _Mary Wolcott_ of _Salem_-Village, Single Woman, in the County of _Essex_ aforesaid; by which said wicked Arts the said _Mary Wolcott_, the Thirty first Day of _May_, in the fourth Year aforesaid, and at divers other days and times, as well before as after, was and is Tortured, Afflicted, Pined, Consumed, Wasted and Tormented; against the Peace of our Soveraign Lord and Lady, _William_ and _Mary_, King and Queen of _England_; their Crown and Dignity, and against the Form of the Statute, in that Case made and provided.

Witnesses--_Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam_.

There was also a Second Indictment for afflicting _Elizabeth Hubbard_, by Witchcraft. Witnesses--_Elizabeth Hubbard_, _Mary Wolcott_, _Ann Putnam_, _Mary Warrin_.

[Martha Carryer's _Tryal_.]

The Trial of _Martha Carryer_, August 2, 1692. As may be seen in _Wonders of the Invisible World_, from P. 132, to 138.

1. M_Artha Carryer_ was indicted for the bewitching of certain persons according to the form usual in such Cases: Pleading not Guilty to her Indictment; there were first brought in a considerable number of the Bewitched persons; who not only made the Court sensible of an horrid Witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it was _Martha Carryer_, or her shape, that grievously tormented them by biting, pricking, pinching and choaking them. It was further deposed that while this _Carryer_ was on her Examination before the Magistrates, the poor People were so tortured, that every one expected their Death upon the very spot; but that upon the binding of _Carryer_ they were eased. [137] Moreover the looks of _Carryer_ then laid the Afflicted People for dead, and her Touch, if her Eyes at the same time were off them, raised them again. Which things were also now seen upon her Tryal. And it was testified, that upon the mention of some having their Necks twisted almost round by the shape of this _Carryer_, she replied, _Its no matter, tho their Necks had been twisted quite off_.[110]

2. Before the Tryal of this Prisoner, several of her own Children had frankly and fully confessed not only that they were Witches themselves, but that this their Mother had made them so. This confession they made with great shows of Repentance, and with much Demonstration of Truth. They related Place, Time, Occasion; they gave an Account of Journeys, Meetings, and Mischiefs by them performed; and were very credible in what they said. Nevertheless, this Evidence was not produced against the Prisoner at the Bar, in as much as there was other Evidence enough to proceed upon.[111]

3. _Benj. Abbot_ gave in his Testimony, That last _March_ was a Twelve month, this _Carryer_ was very angry with him, upon laying out some Land near her Husbands. Her expressions in this Anger were, _That she would stick as close to_ Abbot, _as the Bark stuck to the Tree; and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an end, so as Doctor_ Prescot _should never cure him_. These words were heard by others, besides _Abbot_ himself, who also heard her say, _She would hold his Nose as close to the Grind-stone as ever it was held since his name was_ Abbot. Presently after this he was taken with a swelling in his Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented. It bred unto a Sore, which was lanced by Dr. _Prescot_, and several Gallons of Corruption ran out of it. For six Weeks it continued very bad; and then another Sore bred in his Groin, which was also lanced by Dr. _Prescot_. Another Sore bred in his Groin which was likewise Cut, and put him to very great misery. He was brought unto Death's door, and so remained until _Carryer_ was taken and carried away by the Constable. From which very day he began to mend, and so grew better every day, and is well ever since.[112]

_Sarah Abbot_ also his Wife testified, that her Husband was not only all this while Afflicted in his Body; but also that strange, extraordinary and unaccountable calamities befel his Cattle; their Death being such as they could guess at no Natural Reason for.[113]

4. _Allin Toothaker_ testified, that _Richard_ the Son of _Martha Carryer_, having some difference with him, pull'd him down by the Hair of the Head, when he rose again, he was going to strike at _Richard Carryer_, but fell down flat on his back to the ground, and had not power to stir Hand or foot, until he told _Carryer_ he yielded; and then he saw the shape of _Martha Carryer_, go off his Breast.

[138] This _Toothaker_ had received a wound in the Wars, and he now testified, that _Martha Carryer_ told him, _He shall never be cured_. Just afore the apprehending of _Carryer_, he could thrust a Knitting-Needle into his wound four Inches deep, but presently after her being seized, he was thoroughly healed.

He further testified, that when _Carryer_ and he sometimes were at variance, she would clap her Hands at him and say, _He should get nothing by it_. Whereupon he several times lost his Cattle, by strange Deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given.[114]

5. _John Roger_ also testified, that upon the threatning words of this malicious _Carryer_, his Cattle would be strangely bewitched; as was more particularly then described.[115]

6. _Samuel Preston_ testified, that about two Years ago, having some difference with _Martha Carryer_, he lost a Cow in a strange, preternatural, unusual manner; and about a Month after this, the said _Carryer_, having again some difference with him, she told him, _He had lately lost a Cow, and it should not be long before he lost another!_ which accordingly came to pass; for he had a thriving and well kept Cow, which without any known cause quickly fell down and died.[116]

7. _Phebe Chandler_ testified, that about a Fortnight before the Apprehension of _Martha Carryer_, on a Lords Day, while the Psalm was singing in the Church, this _Carryer_ then took her by the Shoulder, and shaking her, asked her, _Where she lived?_ she made her no Answer, altho as _Carryer_, who lived next door to her Father's House, could not in Reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was at several times crossing the Fields she heard a Voice that she took to be _Martha Carryers_, and it seem'd as if it were over her head. The Voice told her, _She should within two or three Days be Poison'd_: Accordingly within such a little time, one half of her Right Hand became greatly swollen and very painful; as also part of her Face; whereof she can give no Account how it came. It continued very bad for some days; and several times since she has had a great pain in her Breast; and been so seized on her Legs that she has hardly been able to go. She added that lately, going well to the House of God, _Richard_ the Son of _Martha Carryer_, look'd very earnestly upon her, and immediately her Hand which had formerly been Poisoned, as is abovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange burning at her Stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of the Prayer, or Singing, till the two or three last words of the Psalm.[117]

8. One _Foster_, who confessed her own share in the Witchcraft, for which the Prisoner stood Indicted, affirmed, that she had seen the Prisoner at some of their Witch-meetings, and that it was this _Carryer_, who perswaded her to be a Witch. She confessed that the Devil carried them on [139] a Pole to a Witch-meeting, but the Pole broke, and she hanging about _Carryer's_ Neck, they both fell down, and she then received an hurt by the fall, whereof she was not at this very time recovered.[118]

9. One _Lacy_, who likewise confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now testified that she and the Prisoner, were once bodily present, at a Witch-meeting in _Salem_-Village, and that she knew the Prisoner to be a Witch, and to have been at a Diabolical Sacrament, and that the Prisoner was the undoing of her and her Children, by enticing them into the Snare of the Devil.[119]

10. Another _Lacy_, who also confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now testified that the Prisoner was at the Witch meeting in _Salem_-Village, where they had Bread and Wine administred unto them.

11. In the time of this Prisoners Tryal, one _Susanna Shelden_[120] in open Court, had her Hands unaccountably tied together, with a Wheel-band, so fast, that without cutting, it could not be loosed. It was done by a Spectre; and the Sufferer affirm'd, it was the Prisoners.

_Memorandum._ This _Rampant Hag, Martha Carryer_, was the person of whom the Confessions of the Witches and of her own Children, among the rest, agreed, that the Devil had promised her, she should be Queen of Hell.[121]

Thus far the Account given in _Wonders of the Invisible World_; in which setting aside such words as these, in the Tryal of _G. B._ viz. [_They_ (i. e.) _the Witnesses were enough to fix the character of a Witch upon him._]

In the Tryal of _Bishop_, these words, [_but there was no need of them_] i. e. of further Testimony.

In the Tryal of _How_, where it is said, [and there came in Testimony of preternatural Mischiefs, presently befalling some that had been instrumental to debar her from the Communion, whereupon she was _intruding_.] _Martin_ is call'd [one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked Creatures in the World.] In his Account of _Martha Carryer_, he is pleased to call her [a _Rampant Hag_,] &c.

These Expressions as they manifest, that he wrote more like an Advocate than an Historian; so also that those that were his Imployers were not mistaken in their choice of him for that work, however he may have mist it in other things.