Wonders of the Invisible World, and A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New England Witches — 24. A True Narrative of some Remarkable Passages
A FURTHER
ACCOUNT
OF THE
TRYALS
OF THE
\New-England Witches\.
WITH THE
OBSERVATIONS
Of a Person who was upon the Place several Days when the suspected Witches were first taken into Examination.
To which is added, \Cases of Conscience\ Concerning Witchcrafts and Evil Spirits Personating Men.
Written at the Request of the Ministers of _New-England_.
By _Increase Mather_, President of _Harvard_ Colledge.
\Licensed and Entred according to Order.
\ _London_: Printed for \J. Dunton\, at the _Raven_ in the _Poultrey_.
1693. Of whom may be had the _Third Edition_ of Mr. _Cotton Mather's First Account_ of the Tryals of the _New-England_ Witches, Printed on the same size with this _Last Account_, that they may bind up together.
A TRUE NARRATIVE of some Remarkable Passages relating to sundry Persons afflicted by _Witchcraft_ at _Salem_ Village in _New-England_, which happened from the _19th.
_ of _March_ to the _5th.
_ of _April_, 1692. COLLECTED BY DEODAT LAWSON.
On the Nineteenth day of _March_ last I went to _Salem_ Village, and lodged at _Nathaniel Ingersol's_ near to the Minister Mr. _P.'
s_ House, and presently after I came into my Lodging, Capt. _Walcut's_ Daughter _Mary_ came to Lieut.
_Ingersol's_ and spake to me; but suddenly after, as she stood by the Door, was bitten, so that she cried out of her Wrist, and looking on it with a Candle, we saw apparently the marks of Teeth, both upper and lower set, on each side of her Wrist.
In the beginning of the Evening I went to give Mr. _P.
_ a Visit.
When I was there, his Kinswoman, _Abigail Williams_, (about 12 Years of Age) had a grievous fit; she was at first hurried with violence to and fro in the Room (though Mrs. _Ingersol_ endeavoured to hold her) sometimes making as if she would fly, stretching up her Arms as high as she could, and crying, _Whish, Whish, Whish_, several times; presently after she said, there was Goodw.
_N.
_ and said, _Do you not see her?
Why there she stands!
_ And she said, Goodw.
_N.
_ offered her THE BOOK, but she was resolved she would not take it, saying often, _I wont, I wont, I wont take it, I do not know what Book it is: I am sure it is none of God's Book, it is the Devil's Book for ought I know.
_ After that, she ran to the Fire, and begun to throw Fire-brands about the House, and run against the Back, as if she would run up Chimney, and, as they said, she had attempted to go into the Fire in other Fits.
On Lords Day, the Twentieth of _March_, there were sundry of the afflicted Persons at Meeting, as Mrs. _Pope_, and Goodwife _Bibber_, _Abigail Williams_, _Mary Walcut_, _Mary Lewes_, and Doctor _Grigg's_ Maid.
There was also at Meeting, Goodwife _C.
_ (who was afterward Examined on suspicion of being a _Witch_:) They had several sore Fits in the time of Publick Worship, which did something interrupt me in my first Prayer, being so unusual.
After _Psalm_ was sung _Abigail Williams_ said to me, _Now stand up, and name your Text!
_ And after it was read, she said, _It is a long Text.
_ In the beginning of Sermon, Mrs. _Pope_, a Woman afflicted, said to me, _Now there is enough of that.
_ And in the Afternoon, _Abigail Williams_, upon my referring to my _Doctrine_, said to me, _I know no Doctrine you had, If you did name one, I have forgot it.
_ In Sermon time, when Goodwife _C.
_ was present in the Meeting-House, _Ab.
W.
_ called out, _Look where Goodwife C. sits on the Beam suckling her Yellow Bird betwixt her fingers!
_ _Ann Putman_, another Girle afflicted, said, _There was a Yellow Bird sat on my Hat as it hung on the Pin in the Pulpit;_ but those that were by, restrained her from speaking loud about it.
On _Monday_ the _21st.
_ of _March_, the Magistrates of _Salem_ appointed to come to Examination of Goodwife _C.
_ And about Twelve of the Clock they went into the Meeting-House, which was thronged with Spectators.
Mr. _Noyes_ began with a very pertinent and pathetical _Prayer_; and Goodwife _C.
_ being called to answer to what was alledged against her, she desired to go to _Prayer_, which was much wondred at, in the presence of so many hundred People: The Magistrates told her, they would not admit it; they came not there to hear her Pray, but to Examine her, in what was Alledged against her.
The Worshipful Mr. _Hathorne_ asked her, _Why she afflicted those Children?
_ She said, she did not Afflict them.
He asked her, who did then?
She said, _I do not know; How should I know?
_ The Number of the Afflicted Persons were about that time Ten, _viz.
_ Four Married Women, Mrs. _Pope_, Mrs. _Putman_, Goodwife _Bibber_, and an Ancient Woman, named _Goodall_; three Maids, _Mary Walcut_, _Mercy Lewes_, at _Thomas Putman's_, and a Maid at _Dr.
Griggs's_; there were three Girls from 9 to 12 Years of Age, each of them, or thereabouts, _viz.
_ _Elizabeth Parris_, _Abigail Williams_, and _Ann Putman_; these were most of them at Goodwife _C.'
s_ Examination, and did vehemently Accuse her in the Assembly of Afflicting them, by _Biting_, _Pinching_, _Strangling_, _&c. _ And that they in their Fits see her Likeness coming to them, and bringing a _Book_ to them; she said, she had no _Book_; they affirmed, she had a _Yellow Bird_, that used to suck betwixt her Fingers, and being asked about it, if she had any _Familiar Spirit_, that attended her?
she said, _She had no Familiarity with any such thing.
_ She was a _Gospel Woman_: Which Title she called her self by; and the Afflicted Persons told her, Ah!
she was _A Gospel Witch_.
_Ann Putman_ did there affirm, that one day when Lieutenant _Fuller_ was at Prayer at her Father's House, she saw the shape of Goodwife _C.
_ and she thought Goodwife _N.
_ Praying at the same time to the Devil; she was not sure it was Goodwife _N.
_ she thought it was; but very sure she saw the shape of Goodwife _C.
_ The said _C.
_ said, they were poor distracted Children, and no heed to be given to what they said.
Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Noyes_ replyed, It was the Judgment of all that were present, they were _Bewitched_, and only she the Accused Person said, they were _Distracted_.
It was observed several times, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of Examination, the Persons afflicted were bitten on their Arms and Wrists, and produced the _Marks_ before the Magistrates, Ministers, and others.
And being watched for that, if she did but _Pinch_ her Fingers, or _Grasp_ one Hand hard in another, they were Pinched, and produced the _Marks_ before the Magistrates, and Spectators.
After that, it was observed, that if she did but lean her _Breast_ against the Seat in the Meeting-House, (being the _Bar_ at which she stood), they were afflicted.
Particularly Mrs. _Pope_ complained of grievous Torment in her _Bowels_, as if they were torn out.
She vehemently accused the said _C.
_ as the Instrument, and first threw her Muff at her; but that flying not home, she got off her _shoe_, and hit Goodwife _C.
_ on the Head with it.
After these Postures were watched, if the said _C.
_ did but stir her Feet, they were afflicted in their _Feet_, and stamped fearfully.
The afflicted Persons asked her, why she did not go to the Company of Witches which were before the Meeting-House Mustering?
Did she not hear the _Drum_ beat?
They accused her of having Familiarity with the _Devil_, in the time of Examination, in the shape of a Black _Man_ whispering in her Ear; they affirmed, that her _Yellow Bird_ sucked betwixt her Fingers in the Assembly; and Order being given to see if there were any sign, the Girl that saw it, said, it was too late now; she had removed a _Pin_, and put it on her _Head_; which was found _there_ sticking upright.
They told her, she had Covenanted with the _Devil_ for ten Years, six of them were gone, and four more to come.
She was required by the Magistrates to answer that Question in the Catechism, _How many persons be there in the God-head?
_ She answered it but oddly, yet was there no great thing to be gathered from it; she denied all that was charged upon her, and said, _They could not prove a Witch;_ she was that Afternoon Committed to _Salem_ Prison; and after she was in Custody, she did not so appear to them, and afflict them as before.
On Wednesday the _23d.
_ of _March_, I went to _Thomas Putman's_, on purpose to see his Wife: I found her lying on the Bed, having had a sore Fit a little before; she spake to me, and said, she was glad to see me;
her Husband and she both desired me to Pray with her while she was sensible; which I did, though the Apparition said, _I should not go to Prayer.
_ At the first beginning she attended; but after a little time, was taken with a Fit; yet continued silent, and seemed to be _Asleep_: When Prayer was done, her Husband going to her, found her in a _Fit_; he took her off the Bed, to set her on his Knees, but at first she was so stiff, she could not be bended; but she afterwards sat down, but quickly began to strive violently with her _Arms_ and _Leggs_; she then began to Complain of, and as it were to Converse Personally with, Goodwife _N.
_ saying, _Goodwife N. Be gone!
Be gone!
Be gone!
are you not ashamed, a Woman of your Profession, to afflict a poor Creature so?
What hurt did I ever do you in my life?
You have but two Years to live, and then the Devil will torment your Soul; for this your Name is blotted out of God's Book, and it shall never be put in God's Book again; be gone for shame, are you not afraid of that which is coming upon you?
I know, I know what will make you afraid; the wrath of an Angry God, I am sure that will make you afraid; be gone, do not torment me, I know what you would have_ (we judged she meant, _her Soul_) _but it is out of your reach; it is cloathed with the white Robes of Christ's Righteousness.
_ After this, she seemed to dispute with the Apparition about a particular _Text_ of Scripture.
The Apparition seemed to deny it; (the Womans Eyes being fast closed all this time) she said, _She was sure there was such a Text_, and she would tell it; and then the Shape would be gone, for, said she, _I am sure you cannot stand before that Text!
_ Then she was sorely Afflicted, her Mouth drawn on one side, and her Body strained for about a Minute, and then said, _I will tell, I will tell; it is, it is, it is_, three or four times, and then was afflicted to hinder her from telling, at last she broke forth, and said, _It is the third Chapter of the Revelations.
_ I did something scruple the reading it, and did let my scruple appear, lest Satan should make any Superstitiously to improve the Word of the Eternal God.
However, tho' not versed in these things, I judged I might do it this once for an Experiment.
I began to _read_, and before I had near read through the first Verse, she opened her Eyes, and was well; this Fit continued near half an hour.
Her Husband and the Spectators told me, she had often been so relieved by reading Texts that she named, something pertinent to her Case; as _Isa.
40. 1. _ _Isa.
49. 1. _ _Isa.
50. 1. _ and several others.
On Thursday the Twenty-Fourth of _March_, (being in course the Lecture-Day at the Village,) Goodwife.
_N.
_ was brought before the Magistrates Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Corwin_, about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, to be Examined in the Meeting-House, the Reverend Mr. _Hale_ begun with Prayer, and the Warrant being read, she was required to give Answer, _Why she afflicted those persons?
_ She pleaded her own Innocency with earnestness.
_Thomas Putman's_ Wife, _Abigail Williams_, and _Thomas Putman's_ Daughter accused her that she appeared to them, and afflicted them in their Fits; but some of the others said, that they had seen her, but knew not that ever she had hurt them; amongst which was _Mary Walcut_, who was presently after she had so declared bitten, and cryed out of her in the Meeting-House, producing the _Marks_ of _Teeth_ on her wrist.
It was so disposed, that I had not leisure to attend the whole time of Examination, but both Magistrates and Ministers told me, that the things alledged by the afflicted, and defences made by her, were much after the same manner as the former was.
And her motions did produce like effects, as to _Biting_, _Pinching_, _Brusing_, _Tormenting_, at their _Breasts_, by her _Leaning_, and when bended back, were as if their Backs were broken.
The afflicted Persons said, the _Black Man_ whispered to her in the Assembly, and therefore she could not hear what the Magistrates said unto her.
They said also, that she did then ride by the Meeting-House, behind the _Black Man_.
_Thomas Putman's_ Wife had a grievous Fit in the time of Examination, to the very great impairing of her strength, and wasting of her spirits, insomuch as she could hardly move hand or foot when she was carried out.
Others also were there grievously afflicted, so that there was once such a hideous scrietch and noise (which I heard as I walked at a little distance from the Meeting-House) as did amaze me, and some that were within, told me the whole Assembly was struck with Consternation, and they were afraid, that those that sate next to them were under the Influence of _Witchcraft_.
This Woman also was that day committed to _Salem_ Prison.
The Magistrates and Ministers also did inform me, that they apprehended a Child of _Sarah G. _ and examined it, being between 4 and 5 years of Age.
And as to matter of Fact, they did unanimously affirm, that when this _Child_ did but cast its Eye upon the afflicted Persons, they were tormented; and they held her _Head_, and yet so many as her _Eye_ could fix upon were afflicted.
Which they did several times make careful Observation of: The afflicted complained, they had often been _Bitten_ by this Child, and produced the marks of _a small set of teeth_ accordingly; this was also committed to _Salem_ Prison, the Child looked _hail, and well_ as other Children.
I saw it at Lieut.
_Ingersol's_.
After the Commitment of Goodw.
_N.
_ _Tho.
Putman's_ Wife was much better, and had no violent Fits at all from that _24th.
_ of March, to the _5th.
_ of _April_.
Some others also said they had not seen her so frequently appear to them, to hurt them.
On the _25th.
_ of _March_ (as Capt. _Stephen Sewal_ of _Salem_ did afterwards inform me) _Eliz.
Paris_ had sore Fits at his House, which much troubled _himself, and his Wife_, so as he told me they were almost discouraged.
She related, that the great _Black Man_ came to her, and told her, if she would be ruled by him, she should have whatsoever she desired, and go to a _Golden City_.
She relating this to Mrs. _Sewal_, she told the Child, it was the _Devil_, and he was a _Lyar from the Beginning_, and bid her tell him so, if he came again: which she did accordingly, at the next coming to her, in her Fits.
On the _26th.
_ of _March_, Mr. _Hathorne_, Mr. _Corwin_, and Mr. _Higison_, were at the Prison-Keeper's House to Examine the Child, and it told them there, it had a little _Snake_ that used to suck on the lowest Joynt of its Fore-Finger; and when they enquired where, pointing to other places, it told them, not there, but _there_, pointing on the lowest Joint of the Fore-Finger, where they observed a deep Red Spot, about the bigness of a _Flea-bite_; they asked who gave it that _Snake_?
whether the great Black Man?
It said no, its Mother gave it.
The 31 of _March_ there was a _Publick Fast_ kept at _Salem_ on account of these Afflicted Persons.
And _Abigail Williams_ said, that the Witches had a _Sacrament_ that day at an house in the Village, and that they had _Red Bread_ and _Red Drink_.
The first of _April_, _Mercy Lewis_, _Thomas Putman's_ Maid, in her Fit, said, they did eat _Red Bread_, like _Man's Flesh_, and would have had her eat some, but she would not; but turned away her head, and spit at them, and said, _I will not Eat, I will not Drink, it is Blood, &c. _, she said, _That is not the Bread of Life; that is not the Water of Life; Christ gives the Bread of Life; I will have none of it!
_ The first of _April_ also _Mercy Lewis_ aforesaid saw in her Fit a _White Man_, and was with him in a glorious Place, which had no _Candles_ nor _Sun_, yet was full of Light and _Brightness_; where was a great Multitude in White glittering Robes, and they Sung the Song in the fifth of _Revelation_, the 9th verse, and the 110 _Psalm_, and the 149 _Psalm_; and said with her self, _How long shall I stay here!
let me be along with you:_ She was loth to leave this place, and grieved that she could tarry no longer.
This _white Man_ hath appeared several times to some of them, and given them notice how long it should be before they had another Fit, which was sometimes a day, or day and half, or more or less, it hath fallen out accordingly.
The 3d of _April_, the Lord's-day, being Sacrament-day, at the Village, _Goodw.
C.
_ upon Mr. _Parris's_ naming his Text, _John 6. 70. _ _One of them is a Devil_, the said _Goodw.
C.
_ went immediately out of the Meeting-House, and flung the Door after her violently, to the amazement of the Congregation.
She was afterwards seen by some in their Fits, who said, _O +Goodw.
C.
+ I did not think to see you here!
_ (and being at their _Red bread and drink_) said to her, _Is this a time to receive the Sacrament, you ran away on the Lord's-Day, and scorned to receive it in the Meeting-House, and, Is this a time to receive it?
I wonder at you!
_ This is the sum of what I either saw my self, or did receive Information from persons of undoubted Reputation and Credit.
