The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination, (Vol 1 of 3)

97

The Annotator is very greatly out in his Reckoning if the Reader does not decide that the Author was of all Men the most "bedeviled" of any ever heard or read of by him. This is the Editor's Corollary.

98

This is related by one Mr. Balsom. See Clarke's Martyrology, ii, 179. The Devil had Possession of the Body of the Man, and uttered the Language italicized in the Text, making Use of the Man's Organs of Speech.

99

It may not be easy for the Reader to discern how the whole Earth and the infinite Realms of Space about it can be much of a Gaol, especially with such a liberal Yard. The Doctor's Imagination is singularly at random sometimes.

100

A noted Puritan of the Time of Cromwell. In such of his Books as have come under my Notice, his Name is uniformly Burroughs. His Rare Jewell, 410, 1648, was formerly very popular, and there is a handsome Edition of it as late as 1845.

101

One has indeed a very "easie Time of it" in prophecying, and it is quite as easy to be laughed at for such Folly by those who come after such shallow-pated Soothsayers. The Author felt very sure that by the Year 1697, only five Years from the Time he was writing, that the Devil would have "his Wings so singed that he should no more set the Affairs of this World on Fire." That is to say – the Millenium would then begin!

102

The Turks had not received their greatest Check until after our Author wrote. Mahomet IV commenced with renewed Vigor the War against Germany in 1663. It was continued with alternate Success and Disaster, until 1683, when John Sobieski, King of Poland, raised the Siege of Vienna; but it was not till 1699 that the Turks were driven out of Transylvania.

103

The reported Utterance of Queen Mary (Consort of William the Third) at an Interview between her and the Author's Father, at Whitehall, April 9th, 1691. See Parentator, p. 130.

104

This refers to the coming in of the Prince of Orange, and the Overthrow of James the Second's Government.

105

On the 15th of March, 1691, Louis the XIV captured Nice in Piedmont, defended by the Duke of Savoy. But in the following Year the French lost the Supremacy of the Sea in the terrible Battle off La Hogue. That Supremacy they have never yet obtained.

106

See Morton's Memorial, P. 38, Edition 16º. Edition 1721. Mather's Relation, 110, Ed. 4º, 1864. Johnson's Wonderworking Providence, 51.

107

Having Reference, probably, to the Antinomians, as the more liberal Christians were called.

108

The Difficulties with the Episcopalians.

109

The absurd Notion that the Devil's Time was very short in 1693, was generally entertained by Christians. This Matter has already been referred to. When the World and its Affairs can go on without antagonistic Forces it is pretty certain the Devil's Time will be about out.

110

Although the Affairs of the French King had begun to decline when the Author wrote the above, his Opponents were not without great Fear from him, as he achieved several considerable Victories on the Land after the signal Defeat of his Fleet mentioned in a previous Note.

111

This Paragraph, though bracketed, is in the original Edition, Page 47.

112

Written in 1692.

113

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.

114

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.

115

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.

116

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

117

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.

118

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!"

119

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."

120

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.

121

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.

122

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.

123

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.

124

"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.

125

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.

126

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.

127

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.

128

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.

129

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.

130

The Time of Henry III was from 1574 to 1589.

131

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."

132

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.

133

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.

134

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.

135

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.

136

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.

137

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.

138

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.

139

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.

140

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.

141

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.

142

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.

143

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.

144

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.

145

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

146

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.

147

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

148

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

149

George Burroughs. Why the Author merely gave the Initials of the Name of Mr. Burroughs is left to Conjecture. Perhaps he considered him deeper in the Devil's Arts than the Rest of the accused, and perhaps he (the Author) had been more uncharitable towards him than towards others. See the Rev. Mr. Upham's highly interesting Lectures on Witchcraft, 101, et seq. He was "the most prominent Victim of the diabolical Fanaticism of 1692. He was Son of that 'Mrs. Rebecca Burrows, who came from Virginia when her Son was quite young.' He was admitted a Member of Mr. Eliot's Church, Roxbury, 12 Apl., 1674. Probably his Father had died in Virginia, and we may hope, that the Mother also had gone to another World before the sad Proof of Perverseness of God's Ordinances in her chosen Refuge by the horrible Proceedings against her only Child." —Savage. His Wife, as will appear presently, was a Sister of "Mr. Ruck" of Salem. See Mr. Willis's Hist. Portland.

150

It is not difficult to understand how a Person, believing, as all then believed, would be "cast into very great Confusion" at such Questions.

151

Deodat Lawson, who had preached at Salem Village; and on the 24th of March, 1692, he there preached a Sermon, entitled "Christ's Fidelity the only Shield against Satan's Malignity; being Lecture Day, and a Time of Publick Examination, of some Suspected for Witchcraft." The second Edition of this Sermon was reprinted in London is 1704, in 12mo. Mr. Lawson was a sincere Believer in Witchcraft, and in his dedicatory Remarks, hopes "that it may please the ALMIGHTY GOD, to manifest his Power, in putting an End to your Sorrows of this Nature, by bruising Satan under your Feet shortly." – What is at present known of him and his Family will be found in Savage, under the appropriate Head. Respecting his Wife and Daughter, he says they had been dead above three Years. Appendix to the above Sermon, P. 99. He does accuse Mr. Burroughs.

152

It is refreshing, after reading this Case of Mr. Burroughs, as related by our Author, and to which we are at a Loss to find Words denunciatory enough to apply, to read the Conclusion to which my learned and judicious Friend, Mr. Willis comes, after a full View of all the Circumstances: "There has nothing survived Mr. Burroughs, either in his Living or Dying, that casts any Reproach upon his Character; and although he died the Victim of Fanaticism as wicked and stupid as any which has ever been countenanced in civilized Society, and which for a Time prejudiced his Memory, yet his Reputation stands redeemed in a more enlightened Age from any Blemish." —History of Portland, 246, Ed. 1865.

153

In 1680 poor Bridget Bishop appears to have been simply Bridget Oliver, and in that Year she was accused of being a Witch. "Feb. 22, the Negro of John Ingersol testified, before the Court of Commissioners, that he saw the Shape of said Bridget on a Beam of the Barn, with an Egg in its Hand, and that while he looked for a Rake or Pitchfork to strike it with, it vanished." She was ordered to give Bonds or go to Prison. See Felt, Annals of Salem, 265. She was the Wife of Edward Bishop, as will be seen further on. Her Husband was probably the Son of the first Edward Bishop of Salem. The Paternity of Bridget is uncertain. She may have been of the Family of Thomas Oliver, whose coming to Salem is recorded in the Founders of New England.

154

There was a Family of Hobbs at Topsfield. On May 13th, 1692, William Hobbs of that Place was taken and sent to the Jail in Boston. On the 23d of the same Month Deliverance and Abigail, probably of the Family of William before named, were also sent to Boston and imprisoned. See Felt's Annals, 304, also Hist. Colls. Essex Inst., 141.

155

Mr. Felt does not seem to have met with this Person in the Salem Records. He is mentioned in Savage's Dictionary, as marrying, at Salem, 28 Dec. 1671, Abigail Lord. More will be found of him when we come to the More Wonders. See also Colls. Essex Inst. ii, 140. There are also numerous other References to Persons of the Name.

156

Often spelt Bligh. A Brick-maker of Salem. His Wife was Rebecca, Daughter, probably, of Deac. Charles Gott, by whom he had a large Family. The Names of his Children are given by Savage.

157

The Man who had the following extraordinary Experience was unknown to both Felt and Savage, although he appears to have been an old Inhabitant of Salem. His Name was probably Cumin, Cuming, or Cummings, and may have been the Freeman of 1669.

158

Supposed to be the Quaker, over a Transaction of which Mr. Savage with great Eagerness "exults." That Transaction will be found detailed in the Hist. and Antiqs. of Boston, 357. Were Quakers allowed to testify in those Days? Mr. Lemuel Shattuck has given an Account of the Family in the Appendix to his Memorials, 361, et seq.

159

Hence it seems Shattuck was living at Salem as early as 1663.

160

This Name has probably undergone some orthographic Changes, as Lowder, Lodder, &c. There was a Lodder's Lane in Salem, so called because "the old Man, George Lowder lived on the western Corner where the West House is." —Hist. Colls. Salem Inst. vi, 109. John Louder had a Wife "Eliz'a," and by her Sons, William, born 10 Feb. 1691; Nicholas, 31st 6mo., 1693; a Daughter Elizabeth, born 1 Oct. 1695, and a Son Jared, born 1 Nov. 1697. —Ibid. ii, 257.

161

Doubtless the same William, Son of Thomas Stacy of Salem, who married Priscilla Buckley, 28th 9 mo, 1677. He had a Daughter Priscilla, the same whose Death is mentioned in the Text, without Doubt. The Family Record is quite extensive, and may be seen in Hist. Colls. Salem Inst., iii, 193. See also, Felt, Annals of Salem, Vol. 2, Index.

162

That a Child's Rag-baby, or Doll, should be found in an out-of-the-way Place, put there by little Girls in their Play, did certainly "crown all" the Stupidity and Folly yet exhibited among People of mature Years. It proves, as Mr. Chever says, in his Notes on these Affairs, that "the Reason and Wisdom of the Magistrates had, for the Time, departed." —Hist. Colls. Salem Inst., ii, 78.

163

Susannah Martin belonged to Amesbury. She appears to have been a Woman of superior Mind, judging by her sensible Replies to the benighted Magistrate. She was a Widow, and one of those sent to Boston and imprisoned on the 2d of May, and on the 19th of July was hanged. She was probably the second Wife of George Martin of Salisbury, a Daughter of Richard North.

164

Probably Son of Theodore Atkinson well known among the early prominent Men of New England; yet he finds no Place in Eliot's Biographical Dictionary. John was a Hatter, and his Wife was Sarah Myrick, whom he married in 1664. See Savage's Dictionary, i, 74.

165

There was a Family of Peaches in the County of Essex. In 1668 there was John and John Jr., often mentioned in various Records.

166

He was of Salisbury, 1665, had been of Newbury. His Wife was Sarah, Daughter of John Eaton. He had several Children, whose Births and Names will be found in Savage.

167

There were several contemporaneous John Kimbals about Essex or Old Norfolk County, but I meet with nothing to fix upon any one of them as this John Kembal. The Name is since Kimball.

168

Probably Son of the Hon. William Brown of Salem, who married Hannah, Daughter of George Curwen. We have no probable Cause of Mrs. Brown's Languishment, every Ill being then attributed to the Devil or his Witches. It seems she never recovered from her Malady, whatever it was, but died on the 22d of Nov. of the same Year, (1692). He died in 1716. – See Quincy, Hist. Har. Col., i, 418, and Savage's Dictionary, i, 279.