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 No. VI.
 
 THE 
 
 liitcl)a*ttft P^lttfion 
 
 IN 
 
 NEW ENGLAND: 
 
 ITS 
 
 Rise, Progress, and Termination, 
 
 AS EXHIBITED BY 
 
 Dr. cotton MATHER, 
 
 IN 
 
 THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD ; 
 
 AND BY 
 
 Mr. ROBERT CALEF, 
 
 IN HIS 
 
 MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD. 
 
 WITH A 
 
 iitcface, IntrotTUCtiott, antr Notes, 
 
 By SAMUEL G. DRAKE. 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 More Wonders of the Invijible World. 
 
 PRINTED FOR W. ELLIOT WOODWARD, 
 
 ROXBURY, MASS. 
 
 MDCCgLXVI. 
 

 
 No.. 
 
 Entered according to A&. of Congrefs in the Year 1865, 
 
 By SAMUEL G. DRAKE, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the Diftridl Court of the United States 
 
 for the Diftria of Maflachufetts. 
 
 Edition in this size 280 Copies. 
 
 MuNSELL, Printer. 
 
 "S 2r 
 
 vi ...
 
 
 PREFATORY, 
 
 BY THE EDITOR. 
 
 Y Object in this Edition 
 of Mr. Calef's Work is 
 fimilar to that in Dr. 
 Mather's in the preceding 
 Volume, namely, to give 
 a perfectly accurate Re- 
 print of the Work; fo that whoever has 
 Occafion to ufe or confult it may do fo 
 with entire Confidence. I have there- 
 fore reprinted the original Edition of 
 1700, with fuch Notes as was judged 
 might be ufeful to a certain Clafs of 
 Readers. And having mentioned the 
 Notes, I will fay of them here all I 
 have to fay about them. There may be 
 thofe who have no need of fuch Addi- 
 tions. They can pafs them by unheeded ;
 
 vi Prefatory^ 
 
 but it was thought generally that a few Ex- 
 planations and Additions would be a Help 
 to the Party confulting the Work. They 
 have been made as brief as was thought 
 confiftent with the Subjedt. 
 
 With refped: to the original Text, it is 
 given as exactly like the Original as a 
 much better Type can be made to imitate 
 an old Type of i66 Years ago. As to 
 retaining all the Errors in the original 
 Edition, it was thought incompatible with 
 the general good Tafte of the Age. 
 Some, of a peculiar Nature, if judged 
 neceflary to £how a Peculiarity of the 
 Times, may have been retained, and 
 noted for fuch Peculiarity ; but a broken 
 or imperfed: Letter is difcarded as un- 
 worthy of Imitation ; fo tranfpofed or 
 inverted Letters are fet right, as any good 
 proof Reader would have done, had he 
 noticed them in the Original \ but the 
 Orthography of that Day is fcrupuloufly 
 retained. 
 
 Why there was no Edition of the 
 More Wonders of the Invijible Worlds for
 
 by the Editor. vii 
 
 ninety-fix Years, will be found elfewhere 
 explained. The Edition of 1796 is the firft 
 American Edition. This bears the follow- 
 ing Imprint: "Printed in London in the 
 Year 1700. | Reprinted i7i SALEM, Majfa- 
 chufetts, 1796, I By WILLIAM CARL- 
 TON. I Sold at Gushing & Carlton's 
 Book Store^ at the Bible \ and Hearty EJfex- 
 Street.'' The Volume is in Duodecimo, 
 and contains 318 Pages. The fecond 
 Salem Edition is in the lame Form, and 
 contains 309 Pages, exclulive of the Arti- 
 cle headed "Giles Gory," which occupies 
 three Pages ; hence Copies of this Edition 
 contain 312 Pages. Its Imprint — all in 
 fmall Capitals — is thus: "Printed in 
 London, A. D. i/oo. | Reprinted in Sa- 
 lem, by John D. and T. G. Gufhing, Jr. | 
 for Gufhing and Appleton. 1823." The 
 Publifhers of this Edition added the Arti- 
 cle Giles Cory^ at the Suggeftion of Mr. 
 David Pulsifer, then employed in the 
 Office where the Witchcraft Records were 
 kept, as he many Years ago informed 
 
 me.
 
 viii Prefatory^ 
 
 The fecond Salem Edition appears to 
 have been copied from the firft — that of 
 1796. In fome Inftances flight Depart- 
 ures are made from the Copy; and in 
 all thefe, fuch Departures are alfo De- 
 partures from the Original. As late as 
 1796, it might be expelled that fome 
 Uniformity would have been obferved, as 
 long as no Exad:nefs was intended in 
 refped: to the kind of Type ufed in 
 reprinting an old Work — Uniformity in 
 denoting Quotations; but there is no 
 Exad:nefs in this refped: in either Edition. 
 In the firflj as will be feen, fometimes 
 Brackets are ufed to diftinguifh Quotations, 
 but generally italic Type is employed for 
 that Purpofe. In the fecond, inverted 
 Commas are generally ufed, fometimes 
 Brackets. I have followed the Original, 
 bracketing and italicifing as I find it. 
 Inverted Commas to denote Extracts, 
 Quotations and the pofTeffive Cafe of 
 Nouns have been introduced by Writers 
 and Printers mainly, fince the Time of 
 Mr. Calef
 
 by the Editor. ix 
 
 Nothing appears in the Book to (how 
 whether the Author fuperintended the 
 printing of it or otherwife. He may 
 have reiided in London at the Time of 
 its PubUcation, although there are fome 
 Coniiderations that feem to lead to 
 the Conclufion that it may have paffed 
 through the Prefs without his Supervifion ; 
 but, as before obferved. Nothing is known 
 in regard to it, and it is not very probable 
 that Anything more will ever come to 
 Light ; yet equally ftrange Things as that 
 would be, have happened. 
 
 Taking Liberties with old Authors is 
 
 exceedingly diftafteful to me, even where 
 
 well affured that an Author would have 
 
 gladly made a Change himfelf, had a 
 
 Defedl or Deformity been noticed by 
 
 him ; but I have not even affumed that 
 
 Refponfibility in Mr. Calef 's Work. I 
 
 have done one Thing which the Student 
 
 ought to thank me for, though he may 
 
 not. I have placed the Headings of the 
 
 different Se6tions at the Commencement 
 
 of thofe Sections, throughout the Work. 
 
 B
 
 X Prefatory^ by the Editor. 
 
 In the original Edition thefe were omitted, 
 probably on the fcore of Economy. They 
 alfo ftand at the Commencement of the 
 Book (as in the Original,) entitled " In- 
 dex." The Benefit to the Reader, in 
 reprinting the Captions or Contents of a 
 Sedlion or Chapter over fuch Sedlion or 
 Chapter will be too apparent to require 
 Apology. 
 
 The Pagination of the Original is Ex- 
 actly retained ; being placed at the top 
 inner Margin in Brackets, and in the Page 
 where the original Page begins and ends, 
 as was done in the previous Volume.
 
 \
 
 I 
 
 Robert Calef, probably from England, fe 
 Mafs., previous to 1700; rented Lands in i 
 is ftyled Clothier; died 13th April, lyicf 
 his Grave-ftone in the old Burying-grounI 
 
 Jofeph, went to Ipf- : 
 wich as early as 
 1692; a Phyfician ; 
 d. 28th Dec, 1707, 
 in his 36th Year. 
 
 Mary 5 . . . fhe John, liv- Jererr.iah, liv- ROBERT, (Author of Afors Won- , 
 m., 2dly, Tho- ing 1719 ing 1719. dcrs, &c.) ; Merchant, of Boftonjf 
 
 mas Choate, of 
 Ipfwich. 
 
 died near the Clofe of 1722, or 
 early in 1723, aged about 45. His 
 Children all born in Bofton. 
 
 Robert, born jixh. 
 Dec, 1693, had a 
 Grant of Mill-pri- 
 vilege in Ipfwich, 
 
 lyiSi 
 
 died 1 2th 
 
 July, 1730. 
 
 ■■ Margaret, 
 da. of Dea. 
 John Sta- 
 niford ; d. 
 7 th O6I0- 
 ber, 1727. 
 
 Jofeph, b. 20th 
 May, 1695, in 
 Ipfwich. Ad- 
 miniftrator on 
 Eftate of his 
 Grandfather. 
 
 I 
 Samuel, 
 
 b. 25th 
 
 January, 
 
 1697; d. 
 
 Sept.lft, 
 
 1720. 
 
 Ebenezer. 
 
 haps, Phyfician, , 
 of Charleftown,) 
 d. 1 1 th Oftober, 
 
 1735- 
 
 John, b. 1725 ; Phy- = Mary, dau 
 
 fician of great Re- 
 fpedlability ; a Loyal- 
 iftin the Revolution ; 
 d. at St. Andrews, 
 N. B., 1812. 
 
 of Nathan- 
 iel Rogers, 
 of Ipfwich. 
 
 I. L I I I 
 
 Dfeph, Joleph, Sarah, Peter, bapt. 
 'ingin bapt. 3d Mary, 26th Odl., 
 
 Jofeph, Jofeph, 
 livingin bapt. 3d Mary, 
 1754. of May, bothd. 1729, died 
 
 1724; a early. 1749. 
 
 Leather- 
 
 drelTer. 
 
 Mary, bapt. 23d 
 April, 1732, m. 
 Stephen White, 
 in Waltham, 
 5th June, 1758. 
 
 P.J 
 
 If 
 ap 
 m. 
 w? 
 
 John, Capt. of a Vef- 
 fel ; drowned at Plum 
 Ifland on his return 
 Voyage from the W. 
 Indies, 1782. 
 
 Margaret, born 
 15th Oftober, 
 1748 5 m. Dr. 
 Daniel Scott, 
 of Bofton. 
 
 Mary, bapt. 
 
 March, 
 
 1750 
 
 14th 
 , m. 
 
 Capt. John Dutch, 
 of Ipfwich. 
 
 I I 
 
 Thomas Green, Bethi: 
 
 living 1740. living 
 
 i 
 
 * This Pedigree is given with the Hope that it will tend to intereft fome Defcendant to inveftiga 
 
 of the Name, and has here thrown together fuch Fa£ts as were among his Memoranda, chiefly made a 
 
 ■j- Not much Confidence is felt that the Family given to this Peter is the corredl one. 
 
 j This y antes may not be the one mentioned in N. Eng. Hiji. and Gen, Reg., xiv, 271 ; but is fuppc
 
 t of OTalet* 
 
 Roxbury, = Mary died 
 
 lefter, 1709; 
 id 71, as by 
 )xbury. 
 
 November 12th, 17 19. 
 
 argaret, dau. of James 
 rton, of Newton, 
 d Dec, 1699. She 
 d before 17th Sept., 
 44- 
 
 Martha, m. Solomon 
 Hewes, zSch Septem- 
 ber, 1700. 
 
 Mary, m. Sam'l Ste- 
 vens, 9th of Odlober, 
 
 1712. 
 
 I 
 
 Mary. James, b. 21ft Dec, 
 1702, d. young. 
 
 James, b. 24th Feb., 
 171 1-12, d. young. 
 
 Robert, b. 9th Mar., 
 17^4, d. young. 
 
 papt. 
 
 ibru- 
 
 14-5. 
 ;Ed- 
 ffin. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 7th 
 May, 1704, liv- 
 ing in 1722. 
 
 Mary, born 25th 
 Jan., 171 2-1 3, 
 died young. 
 
 I I 
 
 Anne, b. Margaret, b. 
 
 7th July, 4th Odtober, 
 1708, m. 1710, mar- 
 Green, li. ried Star, li. 
 
 1722. 1722. 
 
 James,J b. 
 Nov. 1714, 
 
 7th = 
 li. 
 
 : Abigail. 
 
 1744, but not 
 in the Province ; 
 perhaps the Cap- 
 tive of 1757. 
 
 Samuel, a Cap- 
 tive among the 
 Indians with his 
 Father. 
 
 ' I I I 1 i i ^1 
 
 ten, John Green, Mary Green, Rebeckah Green, Jafpar Robert Mary Benjamin 
 
 ' living 1740. living 1740. living 1740. Star, li. Star,li. Star, Star, li. 
 
 1740. 1740. living 1740. 
 1740. 
 
 Subjeft, and to compofe a Genealogy worthy of it. The Compiler of this is not acquainted with any 
 ears ago. 
 
 I be he.
 
 MEMOIR OF ROBERT CALEF. 
 
 HEN any Man has moral Cou- 
 rage enough to fpeak plainly 
 againft any Vices, Follies, or 
 Superftitions furrounding him, 
 he muft not only be a bold 
 Man, but he does fo regardlefs 
 
 ^ of the Coft ; for all Experience 
 
 teaches that whoever undertakes a Reformation 
 of the Kind muft experience a Fate not altogether 
 unhke him who waged War with the Philiftines. 
 If the Reformer efcapes the Fury of the De- 
 luded, and lives out his natural Time, he often 
 lofes his focial ftanding ; is maligned, fcofFed, and 
 fcorned by all whom he expofed, and a Multitude 
 of thofe who follow them as their Leaders with- 
 out knowing wherefore. It is much the fame 
 now. The Reformer or Corrector of Opinion is 
 hilfed and ilandered in Proportion to the Effort he 
 makes. That is to fay, he is dealt with by Soci- 
 ety leniently if he tells the Truth with a Sort of 
 Provifo ; maintains his Pofition without Firmnefs, 
 and gains but few Followers.
 
 xii Memoir of Robert Calef, 
 
 Little is known of Robert Calef, afide from 
 his fingle Book, and what his Enemies have 
 thought proper to fay about him in a bitter Spirit 
 of Detradiion. He was certainly a Man of good 
 Education ; but how he acquired it, where and 
 when, no Mention is found. Dr. Mather, in his 
 Rejoinder to the More Wonders, alTails him at 
 every Point ; but his Attainments in Literature he 
 probably viewed as not vulnerable, as he has 
 made no Attack on that Quarter. It is true he 
 accufes him of being affifted in his Labors, but 
 gives no Clue by which fuch Affiftance may be 
 known. 
 
 Notwithftanding Mr. Calef had, by his Inde- 
 pendence in freely arraigning the abfurd Proceed- 
 ings againft thofe charged with imaginary Crimes, 
 he was not without fome Popularity in Bofton, 
 his Place of Relidence, at the Period of thofe 
 Profecutions ; for in the Records of the Town 
 are found the following Entries concerning him : 
 April 1 6th, 1694, "Mr. Robert Calfe was chofen 
 Hayward & Fence-viewer, in the Room of Mr. 
 Edward Wyllys, who refufed to ferve." May 
 1 2th, 1702, he was added to the Number of the 
 Overfeers of the Poor. On the 19th of April, 
 1704, Thanks were voted him for his Services in 
 that Office. On March 12th, 1704-5, it was 
 ordered that Mr. Calef be not charged with In- 
 tereft on Moneys remaining in his Hands. The 
 next Year, March loth, 1706-7, he was chofen 
 one of the AfTefTors, but declined the Service.
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef. xiii 
 
 The Time of the Emigration of the Family 
 of Calef, or Calfe, to this Country has not been 
 afcertained, nor has there been publifhed any 
 confiderable Memorial of it. The Name is an 
 old Englifh one ; and were Time beftowed upon 
 it, many Items might doubtlefs be found in old . 
 Authors of Perfons who have borne it. At Pre- 
 fent but a Reference or two muft fuffice. In 
 the Time of Henry III (121 6-1270,) a Sir John 
 Calfe flouriflied, on whom a curious Epitaph may 
 be feen in Camden s Remains. Another John 
 Calfe has an Infcription to his Memory in St. 
 Nicholas's Church, London, giving 1426 as the 
 Year of his Deceafe. 
 
 It is not very remarkable that fo little is known 
 of Robert Calef, when it is confidered that he 
 had almoft the entire Community againft him. 
 And lefs is learned about him than might be 
 expected in the Perufal of his own Book. That 
 his Character was above Reproach is evident from 
 the Replies of Dr. Mather and his Friends, to 
 his Queftions refped:ing the Proofs of Witchcraft. 
 It helps one's Caufe but very little, merely to call 
 his Antagonift "a Lyar;" and this appears to have 
 been the heavieft Argument brought againfl Mr. 
 Calef in Anfwer to his Statements. 
 
 In Dr. Mather's Account of the AffliBions of 
 Margaret Rule, he thus refers to thofe who differ 
 from him ; undoubtedly having fpecial Reference 
 to Mr. Calef: "Yea, to do like Satan himfelf, by 
 fly, bafe unpretending Infinuations, as if I wore not
 
 xiv Memoir of Robert Calef. 
 
 the Modefty and Gravity which became a Minifter 
 of the Gofpel, I could not but think myfelf un- 
 kindly dealt withal, and the Negleds of others to 
 do me Juftice in this Affair has caufed me to con- 
 clude this Narrative in another hearing of fuch 
 monftrous Injuries." 
 
 By " another hearing," is meant that he had or 
 would take legal Steps to lilence his Opponent; 
 for about the fame Time the Do6lor was fo an- 
 noyed by certain Queries fent him by Mr. Calef, 
 that he returned him Word by his (Mr. Calef's) 
 Bearer, that he would have him arrefled for Slan- 
 der, as he was " one of the worft of Lyars." This 
 the Dod:or proclaimed alfo in his Pulpit. Yet 
 Mr. Calef was always refped;ful in his Language 
 in return, for anything that appears to the con- 
 trary. 
 
 On the 29th of September, 1693, ^^' Calef 
 addreffed Dr. Mather a Note, requeiliing that he 
 would meet him at either of the Bookfellers, 
 Richard Wilkins or Benjamin Harris. Mr. Calef 
 delired this Meeting that they might examine 
 together the Memoranda of what he had noted 
 after vifiting the "poffelfed" or bewitched Perfon, 
 Margaret Rule. At that Vilit were alfo both the 
 Doctors Mather, Father and Son. Meantime Mr. 
 Calef was complained of and taken into Cuftody, 
 on the Charge of having committed a fcandalous 
 Libel on Mr. Mather the younger ; the Com- 
 plaint being made by both. Mr. Calef ftates 
 that he did not remember that he had been
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef. xv 
 
 charged with Untruth in his Report of the Ex- 
 amination of Margaret ; but it was allerted that 
 he had wronged Dr. Mather by his Omiffions. 
 To which Mr. Calef repHed, that he had reported 
 only what he faw and heard himfelf. 
 
 As to the Profecution for Libel, Mr. Calef 
 fays he was taken to the Court of Seffions, and 
 after waiting a while for his Accufers, none ap- 
 peared. He was therefore difmilfed. He had 
 had a Promife from Dr. Mather to meet him to 
 compare Notes, but it does not appear that any 
 Time was ftated ; and after feveral Months had 
 elapfed Mr. Calef wrote, requesting him to fix 
 upon a Time and Place of Meeting. A Meeting 
 however never occurred, of the Kind defired ; 
 but, as the only Means of getting the Doctor's 
 Views of what he had written, he fent him a 
 Copy of his Notes on Margaret Rule's Exhibi- 
 tions, two of which he feems to have witnefTed. 
 On the 15th of January, 1693-4, the Doctor 
 wrote him a long Letter, in which he fays : " I 
 have this to fay, as I have often already faid, that 
 do I fcarcely find any one Thing in the whole 
 Paper, whether refpedting my Father or felf, either 
 fairly or truly reprefented." The Fairnefs on 
 both Sides may be judged of, as both Papers will 
 be found in the enfuing Work, Pages 1 3—22. 
 
 The Do6tor fent the Author, accompanying 
 his Letter, Copies of three Depofitions, or State- 
 ments from feveral Perfons, to the Effecfl that 
 what he had ftated regarding the ftrange Condud:
 
 xvi Memoir of Richard Calef, 
 
 of Margaret Rule was true ; efpecially as to the 
 Fa6l, that ihe was by invifible Hands raifed from 
 her Bed up to the Garret Floor, and that ftrong 
 Men, the Byftanders, could not hold her down. 
 The Height of the Room is not mentioned ; but 
 one Witnefs, Samuel Aves, fays it was " a great 
 Way ;" that fhe was lifted " towards the Top of 
 the Room." Three others faid, this was " in Sub- 
 ftance true." Alfo, Thomas Thornton, a Paver, 
 faid fhe was lifted up, " fo as to touch the Garret 
 Floor ;" , to which William Hudfon alTented in 
 " Subflance." All of which Teftimonies, Mr. 
 Calef ventured to iniinuate was about as true, as a 
 Report would be that Iron would fwim on Wa- 
 ter ; that if that Rifing in the Air without Hands 
 a6tually took place, it was a Miracle, and if a 
 Miracle it was wrought by the Devil. And yet 
 it feems that Mr. Calef believed none but God 
 himfelf could work Miracles. 
 
 ^ Between the Date of his laft Letter and the 
 19th of February, 1693-4, inftead of anfwering 
 Mr. Calef 's Letter, Dr. Mather fent him Word 
 that his Library was open to him, intimating that 
 he might find there Anfwers to any and all of his 
 Objed:ions and Difficulties. But Mr. Calef did 
 not avail himfelf of the Kindnefs thus tendered, 
 though he thanked him by Letter, and at the 
 fame Time complained that he had not written 
 him, pointing out what he conceived to be Er- 
 
 ' rors in his former Communications ; adding, " if 
 you think Silence a Virtue in this Cafe, I iliall (I
 
 Memoi?' of Rohe?'t Calef. xvii 
 
 fuppofe) fo far comply with it as not to loofe you 
 any more Time to look over my Papers." This 
 however did not end the Correfpondence ; for. on 
 the 1 6th of April following he addrelTed a Letter 
 to the Doctor, calling his Attention to certain 
 PalTages in the Wonders of the Invijible Worlds and 
 fome other " late Books of his and his Relations." 
 After ftating a few of the Author's ftrange AfTer- 
 tions, fuch as that the Devil caufes Wars, Plagues, 
 and other Calamities ; that the Devil is a great 
 Linguift ; that Suicides " are the Effe(5ts of a 
 cruel & bloody Witchcraft," and feveral other 
 limilar Quotations. In doling this Letter, he 
 remarks that he is only performing what he be- 
 lieves to be his Duty ; that he is far from doing 
 it to gain Applaufe, or from a Love of Conten- 
 tion ; that, on the other Hand, he expedted to 
 make many Enemies by it. 
 
 The next Letter which he wrote to Mr. Ma- 
 ther was dated March the ift, 1694-5. In this 
 he fays he had waited more than a Year " for the 
 Performance of a reiterated Promife" from him, 
 to reply to Arguments which he had fent for his 
 Refutation or Approval. Inftead of that pro- 
 mifed Anfwer, he had received, through the 
 Hand of a third Perfon, "four Sheets of re- 
 cinded Papers." Thefe were delivered under an 
 Injunction that no Copy was to be taken of them, 
 and he was allowed to keep them but a Fort- 
 night. He has given fome Account of thofe 
 " four Sheets," and obferves that he does not won- 
 
 C
 
 « 
 
 xviii Memoir of Robert Calef. 
 
 der at not being allowed to copy them, as they 
 contained fo much "crude Matter and impertinent 
 Abfurdities." Among other Things, he fent Mr. 
 Calef Baxter's World of Spirits, charadterizing it 
 an ungainfayable Book ; upon which Mr. Calef 
 remarks, as aptly as fignificantly, that he knows 
 of no "ungainfayable" Book but the Bible, and 
 thinks no other Man who had ever read it would 
 fo ftyle it except its Author. He is probably 
 correft when he attributes to Mr. Baxter the 
 Weaknefs incident to old Age, in allowing his 
 Name to appear as the Author of The Certainty 
 of the World of Sprits. But his own Words 
 are more to the Point: "As to the fometime 
 Reverend Author, let his Works praife the Re- 
 membrance of him ; but for fuch as are either 
 Erroneous and foifted upon him, or the Effe6l of 
 an aged Imbecility, let them be detected that they 
 may proceed no further." 
 
 The Experience of Mr. Calef was limilar, 
 probably, to that of moft Reformers, both before 
 and fmce his Time. To combat fimilar Super- 
 ftitions at this Day would be nearly or quite as 
 hazardous as it was then. Indeed, there have 
 been Cafes within fome thirty Years in New 
 England, in which Individuals have fared much 
 worfe than Robert Calef did in Bofton more 
 than an hundred Years before, and for no offence 
 worthy of Notice ; neither had an Eighth of the 
 Community a Voice in this Perfecution, while in 
 Mr. Calef 's Cafe nine Tenths of the whole Peo-
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef. xix 
 
 pie probably were crying out againft him. The 
 Villainy of a fingle Lawyer, and the Imbecility 
 of a Judge may fometimes fucceed in ruining for 
 a Time the Character of any Citizen. 
 
 Mr. Calef feems to have been almoft alone in 
 the Warfare he had undertaken. " How Few," 
 he fays, " are willing to be found oppofmg fuch a 
 Torrent, as knowing, that in fo doing, they fliall 
 be fure to meet with Oppofition to the utmoft, 
 from the many, both of Magiftrates, Minifters and 
 people ; and the name of Sadducee, Atheift, and 
 perhaps Witch too caft upon them moft liberally, 
 by Men of the higheft Profeffion in Godlinefs." i 
 Owing to the peculiar State of the Times 
 when Mr. Calef wrote, he felt himfelf obliged 
 to admit a great Deal that a Writer at a later 
 Day would not have found it Neceffary. This 
 will account for fome heavy Papers introduced 
 into the Body of his Work. He had a moft 
 difficult Tafk to perform. Like the Mariner in 
 a Tempeft upon a Lee Shore, he needed an Eye 
 on every Point of the Compafs, and a deep Sea 
 Lead ever in Hand. 
 
 What Overtures, if any, he made to Printers in 
 Bofton to print his Books, are unknown. It is 
 pretty certain, however, that no One would have 
 dared to undertake it. And what Agency, if any, 
 he employed to have it done Abroad, is equally 
 unknown. But one Thing is known ; no Book- 
 feller had the Hardihood to offer it for Sale, or 
 dared to give it Shop-room. He had a few
 
 XX Memoir of Robert Calef. 
 
 Friends who flood by him, ready to fhield him, 
 as far as was confiftent with their own Safety, but 
 none had the Boldnefs to come out fo openly as 
 he did. Some wrote ftrongly againft the Delu- 
 fion, but not for PubHcation ; as Brattle of Cam- 
 bridge, Gary of Charleftown, and Robert Paine. 
 The Work of the laft named Gentleman has not 
 been made public, and remains in private Hands. 
 It is faid to be a mofl: maflerly Refutation of the 
 Arguments made ufe of againft Witches, written 
 in the Time of the Trials. But it feems, on a 
 careful Perufal of Mr. Galef 's More Wonder Sy that 
 not much more can be faid (admitting or defer- 
 ring to a Sort of Authority which cannot be 
 argued from,) to fhow the utter Abfurdity of the 
 Proceedings on the Witch Trials. He has, it 
 mufl; be admitted, exhaufted the Subjed:. It is 
 very eafy, it is true, to fay the fame Thing, ufing 
 different and more elegant Language, according 
 to the prefent Standard of Elegance ; but for clofe 
 and fuccind: Argument, the Author has not been 
 furpaffed by his SuccefTors. His Statement of 
 Apology for thofe poor People who had confeffed 
 themfelves Witches, and accufed others, is highly 
 fatisfadiory. 
 
 Mr. Galef polTefTed more than ordinary At- 
 tainments in Literature ; he was no Stranger to 
 legal Forms ; and as to theological Learning, was, 
 for Soundnefs of Argument, quite fuperior to thofe 
 who were in the Field againfl him. Thefe Fads 
 excite a Defire to know more of his Hiftory ;
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef. xxi 
 
 for all that has been learned about him, is that he 
 was a " Merchant of Bofton," and that he was a 
 Dealer in woolen Goods ; and hence the Attempt 
 of a narrow minded Oppofition to clafs him 
 among the Ordinary and Illiterate of the Time 
 They alfo defcended to vulgar Epithets, calling 
 him a Calf; his Book they call a " Firebrand, 
 thrown by a Mad-man ;" and, " it was highly re- 
 joycing to us, when we heard that our Book- 
 fellers were fo well acquainted with the Integrity 
 of our Paftors, as not one of them would admit 
 of thofe Libels to be vended in their Shops." . 
 This was the Language of the Men who pub- 
 lifhed " Some few Remarks, upon a Scandalous 
 
 Book written by one Robert Calef," with 
 
 the Motto — "Truth will come off Conqueror." 
 This Publication is dated "January 9th, 1 700-1," 
 and purports to have been drawn up by Obadiah 
 Gill, John Barnard, John Goodwin, William Ro- 
 bie, Timothy Wadfworth, Robert Cumbey, and 
 George Robinfon ; none of whom were Men of 
 fpecial Note then or afterwards. It (hould be 
 obferved, however, that they were Members of 
 the Old North Church. Any further Notice of 
 the Anfwer to the More Wonders is unnecelfary 
 here ; but it will be ufed in the Notes occafion- 
 ally, that the ^^ Slandered'' may fpeak for them- 
 felves. 
 
 It was probably about the Time of the IlTue 
 of the Sotne Few Remarks that the More Wonders 
 was caufed to be burnt in the College Yard at
 
 xxii Memoir of Robert Calef, 
 
 Cambridge, by Order of the Prelident, Dr. In- 
 creafe Mather. The Burning was doubtlefs per- 
 formed with much of Ceremony and FormaUty, 
 but there does not appear to have been any Record 
 made of it upon the College Books ; or if fo, 
 the Hiftorians of the Inftitution have not men- 
 tioned it. This Kind of Argument again ft what 
 is fet forth in a Book, is about as effectual as that 
 employed againft the Tide of the Ocean by an 
 eaftern Monarch. That the Preiident of the 
 College had no great Faith in his Argument, is 
 pretty clear, or fo much Pains would not have 
 been taken by him in making another Book to 
 refute the Arguments contained in the one he 
 had burned. 
 
 The precife Date of Mr. Calef's Death is not 
 upon any Records which have been examined ; 
 and the laft Time he appears to have tranfa6ted 
 any Bufinefs requiring his Signature, was at the 
 Regiftry of Deeds, then under the official Man- 
 agement of John Ballantine, Efq., when he 
 releafed a Mortgage which he held of certain 
 Lands in Roxbury ; which Mortgage was given 
 by Jofeph Holland and his Wife Elizabeth, and 
 dated the nth of March, 1720. [ Of courfe, 
 1721, N. S. ] The Releafe was ligned by the 
 Mortgagor, April iith, 1722. His Signature on 
 this Occafion has been copied, and is here pre- 
 fented.
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef. xxiii 
 
 But a fhort Time previous to this Tranfad:ion 
 he deeded certain Property to his Children. In 
 this Inftrument, dated February loth, 1721, 
 [1722, N. S.,] he ftyles himfelf Clothier, and 
 names Children, Elizabeth, Ann, Margaret and 
 James. Two Houfes and Land ; one in prefent 
 Poffeffion of James Smith ; the other in his own 
 
 Polleffion ; bounded N. W. upon Street, N. 
 
 E. upon Thomas Wheeler, S. E. upon William 
 Gold, and S. W. upon Bond Street ; alfo one 
 Trad: of Land in Brookline ; alfo a Mortgage 
 from James Barton, Ropemaker, referving to 
 himfelf and his now married Wife the Ufe of the 
 Premifes during their Lives. 
 
 The following is an Abftrad; of his Will : 
 " I Robert Calfe of Bofton, being now in found 
 Body and Minde doe make this my laft Will 
 [and] appoint my well beloved Wife Executrix. 
 After funerall Charges and all Other my jufl 
 Debtts being paide, my Will is that my Wife 
 [have] all my Eftate during her Widdowhood ; 
 and in Cafe fhe fee Caus to alter her Condition 
 by Marraig, that then Ihe fhall quitt her Admin- 
 ifterfhip, and the Improvement of the Eftate, 
 wholey to be for the Benneiitt of my Children ; 
 only two hundred Pounds I will unto her upon 
 her Marraig, and the whoolly Remainder to be 
 difpofte of as follower Son James £100, when 
 of Age more then any of the Reft of my Chil- 
 dren : And allfo I give £200 ought of faid Eftate 
 for defraying the Charges of bringing him up
 
 xxiv Memoir of Robert Calef. 
 
 to the Collig, if he inclines to Larning, but if 
 not then to be equaley divided among him and 
 the Reft of my Children, viz. Elizabeth, Ann 
 and Margaret, together with what Children it 
 fhall plees God to give me by my prefent Wife : 
 And it is my Will that my Daughters, Elizabeth, 
 Ann and Margaret have an equall Proportion of 
 all my Eftate, Perfonall and Reall, only what is 
 before excepted unto my Son James, and that 
 they be paid upon Marraig or at the Difcretion 
 of my Executrix, if fhe remain a Widow, and if 
 it pleafe God to take away my Children by Death 
 before of Age or without Iftue the whole of my 
 Eftate to return to my Wife or to her Difpofe. 
 
 2d of yan.y 1720. 
 
 "In Prefence of Sam^J Wentworth, John Alden, 
 Jr. and John Tyler. 
 
 " Margaret Calfe prefented the within Will for 
 Probat and John Alden, Jun^" and John Tyler 
 made Oath, &c. and they together with Sami 
 Wentworth, who is now out of the Province fet 
 to their Hands as Witnefles in the Teftator's Pre- 
 fence. Bofton, Feb. i8th, 1722-3. 
 
 " Samuel Sewall J Prob^" 
 
 The Teftator was too ill, it is probable, to draw 
 up his Will himfelf, or one fo unclerical would 
 not have appeared. The Circumftances, how-
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef, xxv 
 
 ever, under which it was made, are entirely con- 
 jediural. His Wife was Hving, a Widow, till 
 about 1744; as in September of that Year her 
 Will was proved. It was made four Years be- 
 fore, namely, September 17th, 1740. The Items 
 of Intereft in it here follow : 
 
 " To Grandfon Thomas Green £60 ; to Mar- 
 garet Green £20, and a filver Porringer which 
 her Father now has. To Ann Green £30, and 
 a gold Necklace. To Bethiah Green £20. To 
 John Green £20. To Mary Green £20, and to 
 Rebeckah Green £30; all the Children of my 
 Daughter Ann Green deceafed. To Daughter 
 Margaret Star's four Children, namely, to Jofeph, 
 £20; Robert, £20; Mary, £20; and Benjamin 
 Star, £20. Clothing to be divided between 
 Daughter Star, and Grand Daughter, Ann Green. 
 The Remainder of Eftate to be divided between 
 Daughter Margaret Star and Son James Calf; 
 faid Son to be Executor if in the Province ; 
 otherwife, Coufin Thomas Simpkins. 
 
 ** Dated, January 2d, 1720. Signed, 
 
 "Margaret Calf. 
 
 "Witnefles — Abigail Weft, Barnabas Gibbs, 
 John Swinnerton." 
 
 It was prefented for Probate by Thomas Simp- 
 kins ; James Calf being out of the Province. 
 
 In the General Court Records Notice is given, 
 under Date June 25th, 1723, of a "Petition of 
 Margaret Calef, Widow, and fole Executrix of 
 
 D
 
 xxvi Memoir of Robert Calef. 
 
 the laft Will of Robert Calef, late of Bofton, 
 Merchant, deceafed," praying for Leave to fell a 
 feventh Part of a Houfe and Land in Roxbury, 
 of which faid Robert Calef died feized. The 
 Father of Mr. Calef, alfo named Robert, had 
 died inteftate, April 13th, 171 9, and his Wife on 
 the 1 2th of November follovv^ing. In the Settle- 
 ment of his Eftatc, it is ftated that the " Houfmg 
 and Lands lying in Roxbury, cannot be divided 
 without Prejudice and Injury ;" hence the Peti- 
 tion before mentioned. 
 
 A few Items here follow, given for the Benefit 
 of thofe who may hereafter defire to inveftigate 
 the Hiftory of the Calef Family ; 
 
 Dr. Jofeph Calef died at Ipfwich, Dec. 31ft, 
 1707, leaving a Wife, and Children, Robert, Jo- 
 feph, Samuel, Ebenezer, Peter and Mary. This 
 was, doubtlefs the Emigrant to Ipfwich, where, 
 in 1692, he had a Grant for a Fulling-mill. Jo- 
 feph Calef was a Scout in Capt. John Goff*s 
 Company in 1746. Mary, Widow of Jofeph 
 Calef, married Thomas Choate of Ipfwich ; Date 
 of Marriage is not ftated. Jofeph Calef was of 
 Bofton, 1746, in which Year he petitioned, with 
 others, for the Paving of Atkinfon Street. 
 
 James Calef and his Son Samuel were Cap- 
 tives among the Indians and French ; were taken 
 at Fort William Henry, in Auguft, 1757. Abi- 
 gail, the Wife of James and Mother of Samuel, 
 made Application in their behalf to the Authori- 
 ties of the Province. No Mention is made of
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef, xxvii 
 
 their place of Refidence. Dr. John Calef, of 
 Ipfwich, married Margaret, Daughter of Nathan- 
 iel and Mary (Leverett) Rogers, of the fame 
 Town. He was born 1725. 
 
 After the bloody Fight at Pequawket, Go- 
 vernor Dummer wrote to Eleazer Tyng : " Send 
 down to me forthwith by the Bearer hereof, Mr. 
 Calef, the moft intelligent Perfon among Lovell's 
 Men returned, that I may have a perfed: Account 
 of that Adiion." What Mr. Calef this was, does 
 not with certainty appear. 
 
 A Mrs. Mary Calfe died at Concord, N. H., 
 Auguft 10, 1 8 17, aged ninety-eight Years. Her 
 firft Hufband was Samuel Bradley, who was killed 
 by the Indians, Auguft nth, 1746. She after- 
 wards married Robert Calfe, Efq., of Chefter, in 
 the fame State. This is on the Authority of Mr. 
 Bouton, in his Hijiory of Concord, who, in another 
 Place, fays Calfe's Name was Richard. Whether 
 Richard or Robert, he was probably a Defcendant 
 of James, the only furviving Son of Robert, the 
 " Merchant of Bofton." The maiden Name of 
 Mrs. Calfe was Folfom. 
 
 When the Federal Conftitution of New Hamp- 
 fliire was adopted (1788,) John Calfe, Efq., was 
 chofen Secretary of the Convention. He was 
 alfo Secretary in 1791, when the Conftitution was 
 revifed. His Son Jofeph died at Hampftead, N. 
 H., Auguft 6, 1854, aged 79. A John Calef was 
 in the Old Mill Prifon, England, 1789. Jere- 
 miah Calef, a Native of Exeter, N. H., died at
 
 xxviii Memoir of Robert Calef, 
 
 Northfield, 23d February, 1856, aged 73 Years, 
 10 Months. James, an only Brother of Jere- 
 miah, died at Sanbornton, 30th March, 1856, 
 aged 71. 
 
 Robert Calef was an eminent Ship-mafter be- 
 tween Bofton and London before the Revolution. 
 His Arrival on one Occalion is thus noticed in 
 the Gazette and News- Letter of April 5th, 1764: 
 " In Captain Calef came PafTengers, the Captains, 
 Edward Wendell, John Marfhall, and Dodtor 
 Marfhall of this Town. Mrs. M^^Taggart, and 
 her Son Gray of this Town, died of the Small- 
 pox in London." The Autographs of feveral of 
 the Name of Calef (always fo fpelt) are in the 
 Writer's PofTeffion from 1755 to 1780. In 1755, 
 Jofeph was engaged in fupplying Ships with 
 Water. In 1 767, Jofeph Calef, probably the fame, 
 was largely in the leather Trade. He was a Tan- 
 ner, and his Tan-yard was in the Neighborhood 
 of the Old Bofton Theatre. 
 
 What Time the Family of Robert Calef came 
 to this Country has not been afcertained. It was 
 probably in the latter Half of the feventeenth 
 Century, and our Author may have had his Edu- 
 cation before his Emigration. This View may 
 be confidered probable, from a PafTage in his 
 Preface to the More Wonders, &c. 
 
 After the Above was written, it came to my 
 Notice, that in a Volume iflued by the Mafs. 
 Hiji. Soc, were fome Extracts from the Diary of 
 Cotton Mather. Alfo the following, concerning
 
 Memoir of Robert Calef, xxix 
 
 Robert Calef, in a Memorandum-book of Dr. 
 Belknap : " Robert Calef, Author of More Won- 
 ders of the Invifible Worlds was a Native of Eng- 
 land ; a young Man of good Senfe, and free from 
 Superftition ; a Merchant in Bofton. He was 
 furnifhed with Materials for his Work by Mr. 
 Brattle, of Cambridge ; and his Brother, of Bof- 
 ton ; and other Gentlemen, who were oppofed to 
 the Salem Proceedings. E. P." [Ebenezer Pem- 
 berton ? ]
 
 [■iThe Epiftle to the READER. 
 
 And more efpecially to the Noble Bereans^ of this Jge^ wherever 
 
 Refiding. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 YOU that are freed from the Slauery of a corrupt Education; 
 and that infpite of human Precepts^ Examples and Precfidents^ 
 can hearken to the DiSlates of Scripture and Reafon: 
 
 For your fakes I am content^ that thefe ColleSiions of mine^ as alfo 
 my Sentiments jhould he expofed to puhlick view. In hopes that 
 having well conftdered^ and compared them with Scripture^ you will 
 fee reafon^ as I do^ to quejiion a belief fo prevalent {as that here 
 treated of) as alfo the praSiice f owing from thence ; they Jianding 
 as nearly connext as caufe and effeSi i it being found wholly imprac- 
 ticable^ to extirpate the latter without firji curing the former. 
 
 And if the Buffoon or Satyrical will be exerciftng their Talents^ 
 or if the Bigots wilfully and blindly rejeSi the Tejiimonies of their 
 own Reafon^ and more fur e word^ it is no more than what I expeSled 
 from them. 
 
 But you Gentlemen^ I doubt not are willing to Dijiinguijh be- 
 tween Truth and Error ^ and if this may be any furtherance to you 
 herein.^ I Jhall not mifs my Aim. 
 
 But if you find the contrary^ and that my belief herein is any way 
 Heterodox., I Jhall be thankful for the Information to any Learned 
 or Reverend Perfon., or others^ that Jhall take that pains to inform 
 
 1 Tn both the fecond and third The Inhabitants of ancient Benea 
 
 Editions this Name is printed Ba- were called Beraans. The prefent 
 
 rons. The Printer probably not Aleppo occupies the Site. For the 
 
 knowing what elfe to make of it. Point, fee Ails, xvii, 1 1 . 
 
 E
 
 4 The Preface, [i] 
 
 me better by Scripture^ or found Reafon^ which is what I have been 
 long fee king for in this Country in vain. 2 
 
 In a time when not only England in particular^ but almoji all 
 Europe had been labouring againji the Ufur pat ions of Tyranny 
 and Slavery. The Englifh, America has not been behind in a 
 Jhare in the Common calamities; more efpecially New-England, 
 has met not only with fuch calamities as are common to the rejl^ hut 
 with feveral aggravations enhanftng fuch Afflictions^ by the De- 
 vajiations and Cruelties of the Barbarous Indians in their Eaftern 
 borders^ &c. 
 
 But this is not all^ they have been harraji [on many accounts) by 
 a more dreadful Enemy^ as will herein appear to the confederate. 
 
 P. 66. Were it as we are told in Wonders of the Invifible 
 Worlds that the Devils were walking about our Streets with 
 lengthned Chains making a dreadful noife in our Ears, and Brim- 
 ftone, even without a Metaphor, was making a horrid and a 
 hellifh ftench in our Noftrils.-^ P. 49. 
 
 And That the Devil exhibiting himfelf ordinarily as a black- 
 Man, had decoy'd a fearful knot of Proud, Froward, Ignorant, 
 Envious and Malitious Creatures, to lift themfelves in his horrid 
 Service, by entring their Names in a Book tendered unto them ; 
 and that they have had their Meetings and Sacraments, and aflb- 
 ciated themfelves to deftroy the Kingdom of our Lord Jefus 
 
 2 This is the Remark that led me upon the Readers of his Poem the 
 to think the Author was not a Na- Horrors fpoken of in the Text : 
 tive of New England. An Extraft ^^^^ j^^^j^^ brought as they are taught, 
 by Dr. Belknap, noted m the ac- unto the Brink of Hell, 
 companying Memoir is corrobora- (That Difmal Place far from Chrifts Face, 
 tive of the Conjefture. Where Death and Darknefs dwell : 
 
 3 See Vol. I, Pages I 2 I -2. Co- Where Gods fierce Ire kindleth the Fire, 
 
 . , , ° . , r J And Veneeance reeds the Flame 
 
 temporary with the Author, we find ^.^^^ pjj^^ oi^ooA, and Brimftone Flood, 
 
 that emment Divine, Michael Wig- ^hat none can quench the fame, 
 
 glefworth, thus poetically impreffing Day of Doom, Stanza zo8.
 
 [2] The Preface. 5 
 
 Chrift, in thefe parts of the World ; having each of them their 
 Spectres, or Devils Commiflionated by them, and [2] repre- 
 fenting of them to be the Engines of their Malice, by thefe 
 wicked Spedlres, fiezing poor People about the Country, with 
 various and bloody Torments. And of thofe evidently preter- 
 natural Torments fome to have died. And that they have be- 
 witched fome even fo far, as to make them felf deftroyers, and 
 others in many Towns, here and there languifli'd under their evil 
 hands. The People, thus afflided, miferably fcratch'd and bit- 
 ten ; and that the fame Invifible Furies did flick Pins in them, 
 and fcal'd them, diftort and disjoint them, with a Thoufand other 
 Plagues ; and fometimes drag them out of their Chambers, and 
 carry them over Trees, and Hills Miles together, many of them 
 being tempted to fign the Devils Laws. 
 
 P. 7. Thofe furies whereof feveral have killed more People perhaps 
 than would ferve to make a Village, If this be the true ftate of 
 the AffliSfions of this Country^ it is very deplorable, and beyond 
 all other outward Calamities miferable. But if on the other fide, 
 the Matter be as others do underjland it. That the Devil has 
 been too hard for us by his Temptations, ftgns, and lying Won- 
 ders, with the help of pernicious notions, formerly imbibed and pro- 
 fe[fed', together with the Accufations of a parcel of pofjeffed, dif- 
 traSied, or lying Wenches, accufing their Innocent Neighbours, 
 pretending they fee their Spectres (i. e.) Devils in their likenefs 
 Afflicting of them, and that God in righteous Judgement, [after 
 Men had afcribed his Power to Witches, of commifflonating Devils 
 to do thefe things) may have given them over to firong delufions to 
 believe lyes, ^c And to let loofe the Devils of Envy, Hatred, Pride, 
 Cruelty and Malice againfi each other; yet fiill difguifed under the 
 Majk of Zeal for God, and left them to the branding one another, 
 with the odious Name of Witch ; and upon the Accufation of thofe
 
 6 TT^e Preface. [3] 
 
 , above mentioned^ Brother to Accufe and Profecute Brother^ Chtld- 
 \j ren their Parents^ Pajiors and Teachers their immediate Flock unto 
 death ; Shepherds becoming Wolves^ Wife Men Infatuated ; People 
 hauled to Prifons^ with a bloody noife purfuing to^ and infulting 
 over^ the [true] Sufferers at Execution^ while fome are fleeing from 
 that called Jujlice^ Juft^ce itf elf fleeing before fuch Accufations^ 
 when once it did but begin to refrain further proceedings ; and to 
 que/iion fuch PraSiifes^ fome making their Efcape out of Prifons^ 
 rather than by an objlinate Defence of their Innocency^ to run fo 
 apparent hazard of their Lives ; Efiates fei%ed^ Families of Child- 
 ren and others left to the Mercy of the Wildernefs {not to mention 
 here the Numbers prefcribed^ dead in Prifons^ or Executed^ &c.) 
 
 All which Tragedies^ tho begun in one Town^ or rather by one 
 Parijh^ has Plague-like fpread more than through that Country. 
 And by its Eccho giving a brand of Infamy to this whole Country^ 
 throughout the World. 
 
 If this were the Miferable cafe of this Country in the time 
 thereof and that the Devil had fo far prevailed upon us in our 
 Sentiments and ASfions^ as to draw us from fo much as looking into 
 the Scriptures for our guidance in thefe pretended Intricacies^ lead- 
 ing us to a trujiing in blind guides^ fuch as the corrupt practices of 
 fome other Countries or the bloody Experiments of Bodin^^ [3] and 
 fuch other Authors. Then tho our Cafe be moji miferable^ yet it 
 mujl be faid of New-England, Thou hafi dejiroyed thyfelf and 
 brought this greateji of Miferies upon thee. 
 
 4 John Bodin was a Frenchman des Sorciers, in 410. It is full of all 
 
 of great Learning, born at Angers thofe Superftitions for which the Age 
 
 1530, Some ofhisHiftorical Works in which the Author lived is cele- 
 
 were formerly in great Repute in brated. See Camerarius, Living 
 
 England as well as in France. His Library, Page 2, Edition 1625, Fol. 
 
 Work referred to above was pub- See alfo Mr. Fowler's interefting 
 
 lilhed at Paris in 1579, under the Note to the laft Salem Edition of 
 
 Title La Demonomaniet ou Traite Salem If^itchcraft, P. ix.
 
 [3I The Preface, 7 
 
 And now whether the Witches {fuch as have made a compaSf by ) / 
 Explicit Covenant with the Devil, having thereby obtained a power 
 to CommiJJionate him) have been the eaufe of our miferies. 
 
 Or whether a Zeal governed by blindnefs and pajjion, and led by 
 prefident, has not herein precipitated us into far greater wickednefs 
 {if not Witchcrafts) than any have been yet proved againfi thofe 
 that fuffered. 
 
 To be able to difiinguijh aright in this matter, to which of thefe 
 two to refer our Miferies is the prefent Work. As to the former, 
 I know of no fob er Man, much lefs Reverend Chriflian, that being 
 ajk'd dares affirm and abide by it, that Witches have that power ; 
 viz. to CommiJJionate Devils to kill and dejlroy. And as to the 
 latter, it were well if there were not too much of truth in it, which 
 remains to be demonfirated. 
 
 But here it will be f aid, what need of Raking in the Coals that 
 lay buried in oblivion. We cannot recal thofe to Life again that 
 have fujfered, fuppofing it were unjujily; it tends but to the expofng 
 the ASiors, as if they had proceeded irregularly. 
 
 Truly I take this to be juji as the Devil would have it, fa 
 much to fear difobliging men, as not to endeavour to detect his Wiles, 
 that fo he may the fooner, and with the greater Advantages fet the 
 fame on foot again {either here or elfewhere) fo dragging us through 
 the Pond twice by the fame Cat.^ And if Reports do not {herein) 
 deceive us, much the fame has been aSiing this prefent year in Scot- 
 land. And what Kingdom or Country is it, that has not had their 
 bloody fits and turns at it. And if this is fuch a catching difeafe, 
 andfo univerfal, I pre fume I need make no Apology for my Endeav- 
 ours to prevent, as far as in my power, any more fuch bloody Vi£iims or 
 
 5 That is by the fame Cord, or to the Head of a certain bow Tim - 
 
 Rope. In nautical Ufage, a Rope ber to which it was faftened by the 
 
 to do or perform a certain Service. Cat Rope ; hence the Timber is 
 
 The Anchor was formerly hoifted called the Cat-head.
 
 8 'The Preface [4] 
 
 Sacrifices ; tho indeed I had rather any other would have undertaken 
 fo offenfive^ tho necejjary a tajk ; yet all things weighed^ I had rather 
 thus Expofe rnyfelf to Cenfure^ than that it Jhould be wholly omitted. 
 Were the notions in quejiion^ innocent and harmlefs^ refpeSling the 
 glory of God^ and well being of Men^ I Jhould not have engaged in 
 them^ but finding them in my ejieem^fo intollerably deJlruSlive of both. 
 This together with my being by Warrant called before the Ju/iices^ 
 in my own fuji Vindication^ I took it to be a call from God^ to my 
 Power^ to Vindicate his Truths againji the Pagan and Popifh 
 Affertions., which are fo prevalent; for tho Chriflians in general do 
 own the Scriptures to be their only Rule of Faith and Doifrine^ yet 
 thefe Notions will tell us^ that the Scriptures have not fufficiently^ 
 nor at all defcribed the crime of Witchcraft., whereby the culpable 
 might be deteSfed^ tho it be pofitive in the Command to punijh it by 
 Death ; hence the World has been from time to time perplext in the 
 profecution of the feveral Diabolical mediums of Heathenijh and 
 Popijh Invention., to deteSf an Imaginary Crime {not but that there 
 are Witches., fuch as the Law of God [4] defcribesf which has 
 produced a deluge of Blood ; hereby rendering the Commands of God 
 not only void but dangerous. 
 
 So alfo they own Gods Providence and Government of the World., 
 and that Tempejis and Storms.^ JffliSiions and Difeafes are of his 
 fending ; yet thefe Notions tell us, that the Devil has the power of 
 all thefe., and can perform them when commijfion^d by a Witch 
 thereto., and that he has a power at the Witches call to a£i and do., 
 without and againji the courfe of Nature., and all natural caufes.^ 
 in ajffiiSiing and killing of Innocents ; and this is that fo many have 
 died for. 
 
 ^ It will elfewhere be feen that to argue that Witches never would 
 
 the Author makes it pretty clear, be difcovered by it. In other Words 
 
 that to difcover Witches by that where nothing is looked for nothing 
 
 Law, or who they are, has never will be found. This Subjeft will 
 
 been done. It was therefore eafy be found difcufled elfewhere.
 
 [4-] 7Z^ Preface, 9 
 
 Alfo it is generally believed^ that if any Man has Jlrength^ it is j , 
 from God the Almighty Being : but thefe notions will tell us, that I 
 the Devil can make one Man as Jirong as many, which was one of 
 the befi proofs, as it was counted, againji Mr. Burroughs the 
 Minijler ; tho his contemporaries in the Schools during his Minority 
 could have tejiified, that his Jirength was then as much fuperior to 
 theirs as ever'' [fetting afide incredible Romances) it was difcovered 
 to be fence. Thus rendering the power of God, and his providence 
 of none EffeSl. 
 
 Thefe are fome of the deflruSiive notions of this Age, and however 
 the afferters of them feem fometimes to value themfelves much upon 
 Jheltring their Neighbors from Spectral Accufations. They may 
 deferve as much thanks as that Tyrant, that having indujlrioufey 
 obtained an unintelligible charge againft his Subjects, in matters 
 wherein it was impojfible they Jhould be Guilty, having thereby their 
 lives in his power, yet fuffers them of his meer Grace to live, and 
 will be calfd gracious Lord. 
 
 It were too Icarian^ a tafk for one unfurnijh'd zuith neceffary 
 learning, and Library, to give any Juji account, from whence fo 
 great delufeons have fprung, and fo long continued. Tet as an 
 Effay from thofe fcraps of reading that I have had opportunity of; 
 it will be no great venture to fay, that Signs and Lying Wonders 
 have been one principal caufe. 
 
 ■''Samuel Webber, aged about 36, /em Witchcraft (by Woodward) ii, 
 
 teftified that fome feven or eight 113. See alfo fundry other Tefti- 
 
 Years ago he lived at Cafco Bay, monies about Mr, Burroughs's great 
 
 where Mr. B. was Minifter. Hav- Strength, ib., 123-5. ^'^o (Vol. 
 
 ing heard much ofhis great Strength, I, 153,) The Wonders of the In- 
 
 and coming to his Houfe, and in vifible World. 
 Difcourfe about it, he told the faid s The Author's claffical Learning 
 
 Webber that he had put his Fingers was probably not very extcnfive. 
 
 into the Bung of a Barrel of " Ma- The Ufe of this mythical Name 
 
 lafes " and hfted it up and carried however may have been according 
 
 it round him. See Records of Sa- to its Acceptation in his Time.
 
 lo The Preface. [5] 
 
 // is written o/'Juftin Martyr,^ w;/?'^ lived in the fecond Century^ 
 that he was before his converjion a great Philofopher ; firjl in the 
 way of the Stoicks, and after ^ of the Peripateticks, after that of 
 the Pythagorean, and after that of the Platoniftsy^^f?^; and after 
 all proved of Eminent ufe in the Church of Chriji ; yet a certain 
 Author fpeaking of one Apollonius Tyaneus^" has thefe words 
 [That the moft Orthodox themfelves began to deem him veiled 
 with power fufficient for a Deity ; which occafioned that fo 
 ftrange a doubt from Jujiin Martyr^ as cited by the learned 
 Gregory^ Fol. 37. Ei ©sog^tfi ^c. If God be the creator and 
 Lord of the World, how comes it to pafs that Apollonius his 
 Telijms^ have fo much over-ruled the courfe of things ! for we 
 fee that they alfo have ftilled the Waves of the Sea; and the 
 raging of the Winds, and prevailed againft the Noifome Flies, 
 and Incurfions of wild Beafts,] ^c. If fo Eminent and Early a 
 Chrijiian were by thefe falfe Jhews infuch doubt ^ it is the lefs won- 
 der in our depraved times^ to meet with what is Equivalent thereto : 
 Befides this a certain Author informs me^ that [Julian {afterwards 
 called the Apofiate) being inJiruSied in the Philofophy and Difciplines 
 of the Heathen^ by Libarius his Tutor ^ by this [5] means he came 
 to love Philofophy better than the Gofpel^ and fo by degrees turned 
 from Chrijiianity to Heathenifm.~\ 
 
 8 The Reader will not find, as he it' Apollonius Thyaneus, accord- 
 has a Right to expeft, this Name in ing to Lempriere. A Pythagorian 
 the common Biographical Works. Philofopher, well (killed in the Arts 
 In the largje Work of Chaudon et of Magic; who, " one Day harangu- 
 Delandine is a fatisfaftory Article ing the Populace at Ephefus, he 
 under the Head Justin; who was a fuddenly exclaimed: 'Strike the 
 Martyr of the fecond Century; yet Tyrant, ftrike him; the Blow is 
 we meet with the Name conftantly given, he is wounded and fallen !* 
 in Hiftory, as Jujiin Martyr; At that very Moment the Emperor 
 Martyr being added to his proper Domitian had been flabbed at 
 Name, to denote that he had fufFered Rome. The Magician acquired 
 Martyrdom. He is alfo ftyled St. much Reputation when the Circum- 
 Jujtin. ftance was known."
 
 [5] The Preface, ii 
 
 This fame Julian did^ when Apoftate, forbid that Chrijiians 
 Jhould be inJiruSied in the DifcipUne of the Gentiles, which {it 
 feems) Socrates a Writer of the Ecclefiajiical Hijiory^ does acknow- 
 ledge to be by the ftngular Providence of God; Chrijiians having 
 then begun to degenerate from the Gofpel, and to betake themfelves 
 to Heathenijh learning. And in the Mercury for the Month of 
 February, 1695, there is this Account [That the Chriftian Doc- 
 tors converfing much with the writings of the Heathen^ for the 
 gaining of Eloquence. A Counfel was held at Carthage^ which 
 forbad the reading of the Books of the Gentiles.'] 
 
 From all which it may be eafily perceived^ that in the Primitive 
 times of Chrijiianity^ when not only ?nany Heathen of the Vulgar; but 
 alfo many learned Men and Philofophers had imbraced the Chrijlian 
 Faith ; they Jlill retained a love to their Heathen-le<irning^ to which 
 as one obferves being tranfplanted into a Chrijiian foils^foon proved 
 productive of pernicious weeds^ which over-ran the face of the 
 Church,^ hence it was fo deformed as the Reformation found it. 
 
 Among other pernicious Weeds arifing from this Root^ the Doc- 
 trine of the power of Devils and Witchcraft as it is now^ and long 
 has been underjlood., is not the leajl; the Fables of Homer, Virgil, 
 Horace and Ovid, &c. being for the Elegancy of their Language 
 retained then {and fo are to this day) in the fchools ; have not 
 only introduced., but ejiablijhed fuch Doctrines to the poifoning the 
 Chrijiian World. " . A certain Author expreffes it thus [that as 
 the Chrijiian Schools at firji brought Men from Heathenifm to the 
 Gofpel^ fo thefe Schools carry Men from the Gofpel to Heathenif?n, 
 as to their great perfeSlion] and Mr. I. M. in his Remarkable 
 Providences, gives an account that {as he calls it) an old Counfel 
 
 11 Although the Stories and Fables Minds of Scholars, diey ought to 
 
 of former Ages may, and doubdefs have none in thefe Times. This, 
 
 did, at the Period under Confidera- however, will depend on the Intelli- 
 
 tion, have a bad Influence upon the gence of Teachers. 
 
 F
 
 12 'The Preface. [5] 
 
 did Jnathematize all thofe that believed fuch power of the Devils^ 
 accounting it a Damnable DoSirine.^'^ But as other Evils did 
 afterwards increafe in the Church {partly by fuch Education) fo 
 this infenftbly grew up with them^ tho not to that degree^ as that any 
 Counfel I have ever heard or Read of has to this day taken off 
 thofe Anathema's ; yet after this the Church fo far declined^ that 
 Witchcraft became a Principal^ Eccleftajiical Engine {as alfo that 
 of Herefy was) to root up all that Jiood in their way ; and befides 
 the ways of Tryal^ that we have Jiill in praSfice^ they invented fome.^ 
 which were peculiar to themfelves ; which whenever they were 
 minded to improve againji any Orthodox believer^ they could eafily 
 make EffeSiual : That Deluge of Bloody which that Scarlet Whore 
 has to anfwer for^ Jhed under this notion^ how amazing is it. 
 
 The firji m' England that I have read of of any note fince the 
 Reformation^ that afferts this Do6irine^ is the famous Mr. Perkins, 
 he {as alfo Mr. Gaul, and Mr. Bernard, hz.) feems all of them to 
 have undertaken one Tafk. They taking notice of the Multiplicity 
 of irregular ways to try them by^ invented by Heathen and Papifts^ 
 made it their bufmefs and main work herein to oppofe fuch as they 
 faw to be pernicious. And if they did not look more narrowly into it.^ 
 hut followed the firji^ viz. Mr. Perkins whofe Education {as theirs 
 alfo) had forefiaWd him into fuch belief whom they readily fol- 
 lowed., it cannot be wondered at : And that they were men liable to 
 Err., and fo not to be trujled to as perfect guides., will manifejily 
 appear to him that Jhall fee their fever al receits laid down to deteSi 
 them by their Prefumptive and Pofttive ones. And conftder how few 
 
 12 It is only neceflary to obferve Crown izmo or a i6mo. by John 
 
 that the Title of Dr. I. Mather's Ruffell Smith, London, 1856. This, 
 
 Work is An Effny for the Recording I think, is the firft Time the Work 
 
 of Ilhijlrious Providences, Sic.,-w\nch. was ever reprinted. It fhows the 
 
 was printed in a 1 2mo. 1684. This Author not lefs fuperftitious than 
 
 Work was elegantly reprinted in a his very credulous Son.
 
 [6] The Preface, 13 
 
 of either have any foundation in Scripture or Reafon; and how 
 vajily they differ from each other in both, each having his Art by 
 himfelf which Forty or an Hundred more may as well imitate, and 
 give theirs, ad infinitum, being without all manner of proof [6] 
 But tho this be their main deftgn to take off People from thofe Evil 
 and bloody ways of trial which they /peak fo much againji. Tet 
 this does not hinder to this day, but the fame evil ways or as bad are 
 Jiill ufed to deteSl them by, and that even among Protejiants ; and 
 is fo far jujiified, that a Reverend Perfon has /aid lately here, how 
 elfe Jhall we deteSi Witches ?^'^ And another being urged to prove 
 by Scripture fuch a fort of Witch as has power to fend Devils to- 
 kill men, replied that he did as firmly believe it as any article of his 
 Faith. And that he {the Inquirer) did not go to the Scripture ; to 
 learn the Myjieries of his trade or Art. What can be f aid more to 
 Ejiablijh there Heathenijh notions and to villifie the Scriptures, our 
 only Rule; and that after we have feen fuch dire effeSfs thereof, as 
 has threatned the utter Extirpation of this whole Country. 
 
 And as to moji of the ASlors in thefe Tragedies, tho they are fo 
 far from defending their Anions that they will readily own, that 
 undue Jleps have been taken, &c. yet it feems they choofe that the 
 fame Jhould be ASied over again, inforced by their Example, rather 
 than that it Jhould Remain as a Warning to Pojierity, as herein 
 they have miji it. So far are they from giving Glory to God, and 
 taking the due Jhame to themfelves. 
 
 And now to fum up all in a few words, we have feen a Biggot- 
 ted Zeal, Jiirring up a Blind, and moJi Bloody rage, not againji 
 Enemies, or Irreligious proffligate Perfons. But {in Judgment of 
 Charity, and to view) againji as Vertuous and Religious as any they 
 
 13 It would perhaps be fruitlefs to jority of the Community being of 
 attempt a Conjefture as to who were the fame Faith, 
 the Perfons referred to, the Ma-
 
 14. The Preface, [6] 
 
 : have left behind them in this Country^ which have fuffered as Evil 
 V^ doers {with the utmoji extent of rigour^ not that fo high a Charac- 
 ter is due to all that Suffered) and this by the Tejiimony of Vile 
 Varlets as not only were known before^ but have been further appa- 
 rent ftnce by their Manifefi Lives^ whordoms^ inceji^ l^c. The 
 accufations of thefe^from their Spectral Sight ^ being the chief Evi- 
 dence againji thofe that Suffered. In which Accufations they were 
 upheld by both Magijirates and Minijiers^ fo long as they Appre- 
 hended themfelves in no Danger A'^ 
 
 And then tho they could defend neither the DoSirine^ nor the 
 PraSfice^ yet none of them have in fuch a publick manner as the 
 cafe Requires^ tefiified against either ; tho at the fame time they 
 could not but be fenfible what a Stain and lajiing Infamy they have 
 brought upon the whole Country, to the indangering the future 
 w elf air not only of this but of other places, induced by their Exam- 
 ple ; if not, to an int ailing the Guilt of all the Righteous Blood 
 that has been by the fame means Shed, by Heathen or Papijis, &c. 
 upon themfelves, wh of e deeds they have fo far jujiified, occafioning 
 the great Dijhonour and Blafphemy of the Name of God, Scandal- 
 izing the Heathen, hardning of Enemies ; and as a Natural effeSt 
 thereof, to the great Increafe of Atheifm. 
 
 I Jhall conclude only with acquainting the Reader, that of thefe 
 ColleSlions, the firji containing more Wonders of the Inviftble 
 World, I received of a Gentleman, who had it of the Author, and 
 communicated it to ufe, with his exprefs confent, of which this is a 
 true Copy.^^ As to the letters, they are for Subfiance the fame I 
 
 14 It feems that for fome Time it received the Paper from Dr. Ma- 
 never occurred to the Rulers that ther does not appear. At the Time 
 they might be taken for Witches; it was obtained, the Author (Dr. 
 or " cried out upon," as the Phrafe Mather) probably had no Appre- 
 ufed to be. henfion that any Expofition was to 
 
 15 Who the Gentleman was that follow. The very vague Note in
 
 [6] 
 
 The Preface, 
 
 15 
 
 fent^ tho with fome fmall Variation or Addition. Touching the 
 two Letters from a Gentleman at his requeji^ I have forhorn 
 naming him. It is great Pity the matters of Faji, and indeed the 
 whole^ had not been done by fome abler hana better Accomplijhed 
 and Advantages with both natural and acquired Judgments^ but 
 others not Appearing^ I have inforc'd myfelf to do what is done^ 
 my other occafions Will not admit any further Scrutiny therein. 
 
 R. a 
 
 Boflon in New-England.^ Aug 11. 1697. 
 
 Proceedings Mafs. Hift. Society for 
 18(58, p. 288, enlightens the Reader 
 but little. It is faid in that Note — 
 "He [Mr. Calef] was furniflied 
 with Materials for his Work by 
 Mr. Brattle, of Cambridge ; and his 
 Brother of Bofton; and other Gen- 
 tlemen, who were oppofed to the 
 Sakm Proceedings." This Extraft 
 
 is figned E. P. ; but the Editor of 
 the Article referred to makes no 
 Conjefture as for whom the Initials 
 ftand. Perhaps they mean Ebene- 
 zer Pemberton, though that Gentle- 
 man was comparatively a young 
 Man in 1697; old enough, how- 
 ever, to have been interefted in 
 thefe Affairs. 
 
 CDcmzzzizix
 
 [7] The 
 INDEX. 
 
 A 
 
 PART I. 
 
 MOTHER Brand plucked out of the Burning^ or More 
 Wonders of the Invifihle World; written by Mr. CM. 
 relating to the Affliaions of Margaret Rule. Page i 
 
 PART II. 
 
 A Letter to Mr. C. M. containing a Narrative of two Vifits 
 given by him and others to Margaret Rule. p. 13 
 
 With a repetition of a former Letter fent to him, to offer a 
 Meeting with him. p. 10 
 
 As alfo the repetition of a former Letter, requeuing Informa- 
 tion in fame DoSlrinalls relating to Witchcraft. Ibid 
 A Letter of Mr. CM. wherein he declines fpeaking to thofe Doc- 
 trinalls ; Denying fome parts of the Narrative, and defending 
 others. The feeling the Imp owned. Sec. P- 19 
 The Copy of a Paper Subfcribed by fever al, tejlifying Margaret 
 Rule's being held up by Invifible Hands from the Bed. p. 22 
 A Letter to Mr. CM. relating to the Narrative, again Praying, 
 an Anfwer to the DoSirinalls P- ^3 
 The Copy of a Paper Jhewing what Senfe the Indians had of the 
 Anions here, and what ejieem they had thereby taken up of our 
 Minijiers. P* ^^
 
 1 8 The Index. [8] 
 
 A Litter to Mr. CM. again repeating feveral Fundamental Doc- 
 
 trinalls^ oppojite to the DoSfrine of Witchcraft^ as now under- 
 
 Jiood^ praying his Confirmation or Confutation thereof p. 26 
 
 A Letter to M^ CM. [after minding him of his promife^ viz. To 
 give an Anfwer about Do£irinalls) feveral Paffdges quoted in his^ 
 and his Relations Books^ that need explaining. p. 27 
 
 A Letter to M'' B. relating to the belief of Mr. C M. which 
 he forbad to be Coppyed. p. 30 
 
 [8] A Letter to the Minifters repeating thofe DoSfrinalls^ fent to 
 Mr. CM. for his Explanation.^ with the Summary of his Be- 
 lief contained in thofe Papers., forbidden to be Coppied ; as alfo 
 other DoSirinalls oppofite thereto., befeeching them to give their 
 Confirmation or Confutation thereof. p. 33 
 
 A Letter to M^ S. W. relating to a Dialogue Written by him 
 about Witchcraft., and to a Paper fet forth by the Prefident^ &c. 
 of the TJniverfity., about Poffejfions and Enchantments. p. 38 
 
 A Letter to Mr CM. relating to the DoSirinalls contained in a 
 Book of Mr. R. B. Printed in London 1691. Some of the 
 Heathen Poets Quoted as the Fountain or Original offuch Doc- 
 trinalls. p. 43 
 
 A Letter to the Minifters mentioning the DoSfrine of the Mani- 
 fhees, Demonjirating that the prefent Age is not free from that 
 Infection., repeating neceffary Articles of Faith oppofite thereto. 
 
 p. 48 
 
 A Letter to Mr. B. W. relating to the Witches Covenant, p. 52 
 
 PART III. 
 
 The Reafons given by fome of the People why they withdrew from 
 Communion^ iffc. with the Church at Salem-Village, and from 
 hearing Mr. Parris their Minijiery in whofe Houfe the Trage- 
 dies of Witchcraft begun. P- 55
 
 [9] 
 
 The Index, 19 
 
 Mr. Samuel Parrif's Acknowledgement. P- 57 
 
 The Advice and Determination of the Elders and Mejfengers^ met 
 
 at Salem-Village, to Compofe the Differences there. p. 59 
 
 A Letter from the People of the Village to those Elders and Mef- 
 
 fengers of the fever al Churches. p. 61 
 
 Ajlate of the Controverfie between Mr. Parris and his People, p. 62 
 
 A Remonfirance^ with further Re afons given in by the Attorneys for 
 
 the People of the Village to the Arbitrators., againji Mr. Parris. 
 
 P- 63 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 A Letter of a Gentleman endeavouring to prove the received 
 
 opinions about Witchcraft. p. 64 
 
 An Effay to the Anfwer thereof. ?• 71 
 
 A Second Letter of the Gentleman's further urging fuch Doc- 
 trines. P- 83 
 
 A Rejoinder to the former Anfwer. P* 87 
 
 « 
 
 PART V. 
 
 An Account of the matters of Fa6i at Salem-Village, ^c. p. 90 
 The Examination of Mrs. Gary. p. 95 
 
 The Examination of Mr John Aldin. p. 98 
 
 Bifhop alias Oliver Condemned. p. lOO 
 
 An AbfiraSi of the Minijiers Advice to the Governour. p. lOi 
 [9] Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurfe, Sus. Martin, Eliz. How and 
 
 Sarah Wildes Condemned. p. lOi 
 
 The Declaration of the Foreman of the fury., relating to words 
 
 fpoken by Rebecca Nurfe. p. 102 
 
 Rebecca Nurfes Interpretation of thefe words. p. 103 
 
 M'' George Burroughs, John Prober, Eliz. Prober, John Wil- 
 
 lard, George Jacobs and Martha Carryer Condemned. Ibid. 
 A Letter o/" John Procter to the Minijiers. p. 104 
 
 G
 
 20 The Index. [9] 
 
 A Letter o/" Margaret Jacobs to her Father. p. 105 
 
 Martha Gary, Mary Eafty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeater, Dorcas 
 Hore, Mary Bradbery, Margaret Scot, W. Red, Samuel 
 Wardwel, Mary Parker, Abigail Falkner, Rebecca Ernes, 
 Mary Lacy, Ann Fofter, «K(^ Abigail Hobs Condemned, p. 106 
 
 Giles Gary Prejl to Death. Ibid. 
 
 A Petition o/'Mary Eafty to the 'Judge. p. 107 
 
 A Declaration offome that had confeji themfelves Guilty (at Ando- 
 ver.) p. Ill 
 
 The Preface of Mr. G. M. in Wonders of the Invifihle World^ to 
 
 his Account of the Tryals of five of thofe that were Executed at 
 
 Salem. P- 113 
 
 The whole of his faid Account, with one Indidtment added 
 
 to each Tryal, viz. 
 
 The Tryal of Mr. Burroughs. p. 1 14 
 
 The Tryal of Bridget Bifliop. p. 120 
 
 The Tryal of Sufanm Martin. p. 126 
 
 The Tryal of EWzaheth How. • P- ^33 
 
 The Tryal of Mzrtha. Garryer. p. 136 
 
 The Tryal o/'Wardwes IVife at the firjl Superior Court in 
 Salem. p. 141 
 
 The Tryal of Sarah Dafton at Gharleftown. Ibid. 
 
 The Tryal of Mzry Watkins t7^ Bofton. p. 142 
 
 The Tryal of Mr. Bennom at Hartford, in the Collony of Con- 
 neSiicut. Ibid. 
 
 A Proclamation for a Faji in the Province o/'Maflachufet. p. 143 
 The Acknowledgement of fever al Jury-Men^ relating to the Con- 
 demning offomefor Witches. p. 144 
 
 A Pojifcript relating to a Book Intituled^ The Life of Sir W. 
 
 Phips. p. 145 
 
 Therein an ObjeSiion Anfwered^ viz. But what are there no 
 
 Witches? p. 155
 
 ^dbdbfl&^fLJj^J^Jiii^^i&^^iiii^ 
 
 I NOW lay before you a very Ejitertaining 
 Story y^^ a Story which relates yet more Won- 
 ders of the Invilible World, a Story which 
 tells the Remarkable AfliBions and Deliverance of 
 one that had been Prodigioujly handled by the Evil 
 Angels. / was myfelf a daily Eye Witnefs to a 
 large part of thefe Occurrences, and there ?nay be 
 produced Scores of Subjiantial WitnelTes to the 7noJi 
 of them ; yea, I know not of any one Pajfage of the 
 Story but what may be fuficiently attejied. I do not 
 Write it with a defign of throwing it prefently into 
 the Frefs, but only to preferve the Memory of fuch 
 Metnorable things, the forgetting whereof would 
 neither be pleafing to God, nor ufeful to Men ; as 
 alfo to give you, with fome others of peculiar and 
 obliging Friends, a fight of fome Curiofities, and I 
 hope this Apology will ferve to Excufe me, if I 
 mention, as perhaps I may, when I come to a tenth 
 Paragraph in t?iy Writing, fome things which I 
 would have omitted in a farther Publication. 
 
 Cotton Mather. 
 
 i"This fingular "Story" does Neither Farmer nor Savage have it 
 
 not appear to have been publiflied in their genealogical Works. Yet 
 
 by its Author, nor have I any other there was a Family living for fome 
 
 Hiflory of it than is found in thefe Time at the North End of the Name 
 
 Pages. Nor do I find anything of of Rule. They may not have been 
 
 a Family of the Name of Rule, long refident. See Note 30.
 
 [i] ANOTHER 
 
 BRAND 
 
 Pluckt out of the 
 
 BURNING, 
 
 Or, More Wonders of the Invilible World. 
 
 w 
 
 Part I. Sediion I. 
 The Affliaions of MARGARET RULE. 
 Ithin thefe few years there died in the 
 
 Southern Parts a Chriftian Indian, who 
 notwithftanding fome of his Indian Weaknefs, 
 had fomething of a better Character of vertue 
 and Goodnefs, than many of our People can allow 
 to moft of their Country-men, that profefs the 
 Chrijlian Religion^'' He had been a Zealous 
 
 i'' There were two noted Chrif- to one of thefe, probably, that the 
 
 tian Indians on Martha's Vine- Writer refers. See Book of the 
 
 yard a little previous to the Time Indians, B. ii, Ii8; or p. 182, Edi- 
 
 the Above was written ; viz., Hia- tion 1851. See alfo Appendix to 
 
 coomes and John Tokinojh. It is Ek^. Serm. of 1698, p. 90, et seq.
 
 24 -^^ Apparition [2] 
 
 Preacher of the Gofpel to his Neighbourhood, 
 and a fort of Overfeer, or Officer, to whofe Con- 
 dud: was owing very much of what good order 
 was maintained among thofe Profelited Savages. 
 This Man returning home from the Funeral of 
 his Son, was complemented by an EngliJhfJian, 
 expreffing Sorrow for his Lofs; now, tho' the 
 Indians ufe upon the Death of Relations, to be 
 the mofi; Paffionate and Outragious Creatures in 
 the World, yet this Converted Indian Handfomly 
 and ChearfuUy replid. Truly I a?n forry, and I am 
 not forry ; I am forry that I have Buried a dear 
 Son ; but I am not forry that the will of God is 
 done. I know that without the will of God my fon 
 could not have died, and I know that the will [2^ of 
 God is always juf and good, and fo I am fatisjied. 
 Immediately upon this, even within a few hours, 
 he fell himfelf Sick of a Difeafe that quickly 
 kill'd him ; in the time of which Difeafe he 
 called his Folks about him, earneftly perfwading 
 them to be Sincere in their Praying unto God, and 
 beware of the Drunkennefs, the Idlenefs, the Lying, 
 whereby fo many of that Nation difgrac'd their 
 Profeffion of Chriftianity ; adding, that he was 
 afhamed, when he thought how little Service he 
 had hitherto done for God ; and that if God 
 would prolong his Life he would Labour to do 
 better Service, but that he was fully fure he was 
 now going to the Lord fefus Chrijl, who had 
 bought him with his own Precious Blood; and for 
 his part, he long'd to Die that he might be with his
 
 [A 
 
 to An Indian, 25 
 
 Glorious Lord ; and in the mid'ft of fuch pafTages 
 he gave up the Ghoft, but in fuch repute, that 
 the Englijh People of good Fafliion did not think 
 much of Travelling a great way to his Interment. 
 Left my Reader do now wonder why I have re- 
 lated this piece of a Story, I will now haften to 
 abate that Wonder, by telling that whereto this 
 was intended, but for an IntroduBion : know then, 
 that this remarkable Indian being a little before 
 he Died at work in the Wood making of Tarr, 
 there appeared unto him a Black Man, of a Terri- 
 ble afpedt, and more than humane Dimenlions, 
 threatning bittterly to kill him if he would not 
 promife to leave off Preaching as he did to his 
 Countrey-Men, and promife particularly, that if 
 he preached any 7nore, he would fay nothing of Jefus 
 Chriji unto them ? The Indian amaz'd, yet had 
 the courage to anfwer, / will in fpite of you go on 
 to preach Chrift more than ever I did, and the God 
 whom I ferve will keep me that you Jhall never hurt 
 me. Hereupon the Apparition abating fomewhat 
 of his fiercenefs, offered to the Indian a Book of a 
 confiderable thicknefs and a Pen and Ink, and 
 faid, that if he would now fet his hand unto that 
 Book, he would require nothing further of him ; 
 but the Man refufed the motion with indignation, 
 and fell down upon his knees into a Fervent and 
 Pious Prayer unto God, for help againft the 
 Tempter, whereupon the Demon Vanifh't. 
 
 This is a Story which I would never have ten- 
 dered unto my Reader, if I had not Receiv'd it
 
 26 Margaret Rule [3] 
 
 from an honeft and ufeful Englijh MaUy^^ who is 
 at this time a Preacher of the Gofpel to the In- 
 dians ; nor would the probable Truth of it have 
 encouraged me to have tendered it, if this alfo 
 had not been a fit introduction unto yet a further 
 Narrative. 
 
 SeB. 2. 'Twas not much above a year or two, 
 after this Accident (of which no manner of Noife 
 has been made) that there was a Prodigious de- 
 fcent of Devils upon divers places near the Centre 
 of this Province ; wherein fome fcores of Mifera- 
 ble People were Troubled by horrible appearances 
 of a Black-Man^ accompanied with SpeBres, 
 wearing thefe and thofe Humane Shapes, who of- 
 fer'd them a Book to be by them lign'd, in token 
 of their being Lifted for the Service of the Devil, 
 and upon their [3] denying to do it, they were 
 dragooned with a thoufand Preternatural Torments, 
 which gave no little terror to the beholders of 
 thefe unhappy Energuments. There was one in 
 the North part of Bojion feized by the Evil An- 
 gels many Months after the General Storm of the 
 late Inchantments was over, and when the Coun- 
 trey had long lain pretty quiet, both as to Molef- 
 tations and Accufations from the INVISIBLE 
 WORLD, her Name was Margaret Rule, a 
 Young Woman, She was born of fober and honeft 
 Parents, yet Living, but what her own Character 
 was before her Vifitation, I can fpeak with the 
 
 1'5 Perhaps Capt. Thomas Tup- 1698, p. 95. There were alfo El- 
 per. See Noyes^s Ele£lmi Ser7noj2, dad and Samuel T. — Sewall's BISS.
 
 [3] AffliEied. 27 
 
 lefs confidence of exa6lnefs, becaufe I obferve that 
 wherever the Devils have been let loofe to worry 
 any Poor Creature amongft us, a great part of 
 the Neighbourhood prefently fet themfelves to in- 
 quire and relate all the little Vanities of their 
 Childhood, with fuch unequal exaggerations, as 
 to make them appear greater Sinners than any 
 whom the Pilate of Hell has not yet Preyed 
 upon : But it is affirm'd, that for about half a 
 year before her Vilitation, fhe was obfervably im- 
 proved in the hopeful fymptoms of a new Crea- 
 ture ; She was become furioully concern'd for the 
 everlafting Salvation of her Soul, and careful to 
 avoid the fnares of Evil Company. This Young 
 Woman had never feen the affliction of Mercy 
 Short^^"^ whereof a Narrative has been already 
 given, and yet about half a year after the glorious 
 and lignal deliverance of that poor Damfel, this 
 Margaret fell into an afflidion, marvellous, re- 
 fembling hers in almoft all the circumftances of 
 it, indeed the Afflictions were fo much alike, that 
 the relation I have given of the one, would almoft 
 ferve as the full Hiftory of the other, this was to 
 that, little 7nore than the fecond part to the fame 
 Tune ; indeed Margarets cafe was in feveral points 
 lefs remarkable than Mercies^ and in fome other 
 things the Entertainment did a little vary. 
 
 SeB. 3. 'twas upon the Lords Day the loth of 
 September, in the Year 1693. that Margaret Rule, 
 
 1" Nothing is learned of this Per- this Work. There were Perfons 
 fon beyond what is to be found in early at Newbury of the fame Name. 
 
 H
 
 28 The Black Man [4] 
 
 after fome hours of previous difturbance in the 
 Publick AfTembly, fell into odd Fits, which caufed 
 her Friends to carry her home, where her Fits 
 in a few hours grew into a Figure that fatisfied 
 the Spectators of their being preternatural ; fome 
 of the Neighbours were forward enough to fuf- 
 pe6t the rife of this Mifchief in an Houfe hard- 
 by, where lived a Miferable Woman, who had 
 been formerly Imprifoned on the fufpicion of 
 Witchcraft, and who had frequently Cured very 
 painfull Hurts by muttering over them certain 
 Charms, which I fhall not indanger the Poyfoning 
 of my Reader by repeating. This Woman had 
 the Evening before Margaret fell into her Ca- 
 lamities, very bitterly treated her, and threatn'd 
 her ; but the hazard of hurting a poor Woman 
 that might be innocent, notwithftanding Surmizes 
 that might have been more ftrongly grounded 
 than thofe, cauf 'd the pious People in the Vicinity 
 to try rather whether incelTant Supplication to 
 God [4] alone, might not procure a quicker and 
 fafer Eafe to the AffliBed, than hafty Profecution 
 of any fuppof'd Criminal, and accordingly that 
 unexceptionable courfe was all that was ever fol- 
 lowed ; yea, which I look'd on as a token for 
 good, the Afflidted Family was as averfe as any 
 of us all to entertain thoughts of any other 
 courfe. 
 
 Se5l. 4. The Young Woman was alfaulted by 
 Fight cruel JpeBres, whereof flie imagin'd that 
 fhe knew three or four, but the reft came ftill
 
 [4.] Defcrihed, 29 
 
 with their Faces cover d, fo that fhe could never 
 have a diftinguilhing view of the countenance of 
 thofe whom llie thought Ihe knew ; fhe was very 
 careful of my reitterated charges to forbear blazing 
 the names, left any good Perfon fhould come_ to 
 fuffer any blaft of Reputation thro' the cunnmg 
 Malice of the great Accufer ; neverthelefs having 
 fince privately named them to myfelf, I will ven- 
 ture to fay this of them, that they are a fort of 
 Wretches, who for thefe many years have gone 
 under as Violent Prefumptions of Witchcraft, as 
 perhaps any creatures yet living upon earth ; al- 
 tho' I am farr from thinking that the Vifions 
 of this Young Woman were Evidence enough 
 to prove them fo. Thefe curfed SpeBres now 
 brought unto her a Book about a Cubet long, a 
 Book Red and thic^, but not very broad, and they 
 demanded of her that fhe would fet her Hand to 
 that Book, or touch it at leaft with her Hand, as 
 a Sign of her becoming a Servant of the Devtl, 
 upon her peremptory refufal to do what they 
 afked, they did not after renew the profers of the 
 Book unto her, but inftead thereof, they fell to 
 Tormenting of her in a manner too Hellifh to 
 be fufhciently defcrihed, in thofe Torments con- 
 fining her to her Bed, for juft Six weeks together. 
 SeB. 5. Sometimes, but not always together 
 with the SpeBres, there looke't in upon the Young 
 Woman (according to her account) a port and a 
 Black Man, whom they call'd their Mafter — 
 a Wight exactly of the fame Dimenfions and
 
 30 Margaret Rule, [5] 
 
 Complexion and voice, with the Divel that has 
 exhibited himfelf unto other infefted People, not 
 only in other parts of this Country but alfo in 
 other Countrys, even of the European World, as 
 the relation of the Enchantments there inform 
 us, they all profeft themfelves Vaffals of this 
 Devil, and in obedience unto him they addrefs 
 themfelves unto various w^ays of Torturing her ; 
 accordingly ihe w^as cruelly pinch' d with Invifibk 
 hands, very often in a Day, and the black and 
 blew marks of the pinches became immediately 
 vifible unto the ftanders by. Belides this, when 
 her attendants had left her without fo much as 
 one pin about her, that fo they might prevent 
 fome fear'd inconveniencies ; yet fhe would ever 
 now and then be miferably hurt with Pins which 
 were found ftuck into her Neck, Back and Arms, 
 however the Wounds made by the Pins would in 
 a few minutes ordinarily be cured ; fhe would 
 alfo be ftrangely diftorted in her Joynts, and 
 thrown into fuch exorbitant Convulfions as [5] 
 were aftonifhing unto the Spedlators in General ; 
 They that could behold the doleful condition of 
 the poor Family without fenfible compaffions, 
 might have Intrals indeed, but I am fure they 
 could have no true Bowels in them. 
 
 Se5i. 6. It were a moft Unchriftian and uncivil, 
 yea a moft unreafonable thing to imagine that 
 the Fitt's of the Young Woman were but meer 
 Impojiures : And I believe fcarce any, but Peo- 
 ple of a particular Dirtinefs, will harbour fuch an
 
 [5] Nine Days Fajl, 31 
 
 Uncharitable Cenfure/° however, becaufe I know 
 not how far the Devil may drive the Imagination 
 of poor Creatures when he has polTeflion of them, 
 that at another time when they are thefjifehes 
 would fcorn to Dijfembk any thing. I fhall now 
 confine my Narrative unto pafTages, wherein there 
 could be no room left for any Diffimulation. Of 
 thefe the iirft that I'll mention fhall be this; 
 From the time that Margaret Rule firft found 
 herfelf to be formally befieged by the SpeBres 
 untill the Ninth Day following, namely from 
 the Tenth of September to the Eighteenth, fhe 
 kept an entire Faft, and yet fhe was unto all ap- 
 pearance as Frefh, as Lively, as Hearty, at the Nine 
 Days End, as before they began ; in all this time, 
 tho' fhe had a very eager Hunger upon her Sto- 
 mach, yet if any refrefhment were brought unto 
 her, her Teeth would be fet, and fhe would be 
 thrown into many Miferies, Indeed once or twice 
 or fo in all this time, her Tormentors permitted 
 her to fwallow a Mouthful of fomewhat that 
 might increafe her Miferies, whereof a Spoonful 
 of Rum was the mofl confiderable ; but other- 
 wife, as I faid, her Faji unto the Ninth day was 
 very extream and rigid : However, afterwards 
 there fcarce palled a day wherein fhe had not 
 liberty to take fomething or other for her Sujlten- 
 tation. And I mufl add this further, that this 
 
 2^ If the learned Author were his own Matter, as being a more 
 living at this Day he would doubt- dirty Work than any he then com- 
 lefs gladly blot out many Pages of plained of.
 
 32 Margaret Rule. [6] 
 
 bufinefs of her Faji was carried fo, that it was 
 impoffible to be dilTembled without a Combination 
 of Multitudes of People unacquainted with one 
 another to fupport the Juggle, but he that can 
 imagine fuch a thing of a Neighbourhood, fo 
 fill'd with Vertuous People is a bafe man, I cannot 
 call him any other. 
 
 SeB. J. But if the Sufferings of this Young 
 Woman were not Impojiure, yet might they not 
 be pure Diftemper ? I will not here inquire 
 of our Saducees what fort of Diftemper 'tis' fhall 
 ftick the Body full of Pins, without any Hand 
 that could be ieen to ftick them ; or whether all 
 the Pin-makers in the World would be willing 
 to be Evaporated into certain ill habits of Body 
 producing a Dijiemper, but of the Dijiemper my 
 Reader ftiall be Judge when I have told him 
 fomething further of thofe unufual Sufferings. I 
 do believe that the Evil Angels do often take 
 Advantage from Natural Dijiempers in the Chil- 
 dren of Men to annoy them with fuch further 
 Mifchiefs as we call preternatural. The Malig- 
 nant Vapours and Humours of our Difeafed Bodies 
 may be ufed by Devils thereinto infinu[6]ating as 
 engine of the Execution of their Malice upon 
 thofe Bodies ; and perhaps for this reafon one 
 Sex may fuffer more Troubles of fome kinds 
 from the Invijible World than the other, as well as 
 for that reafon for which the Old Serpent made 
 where he did his Jirjl Adddrefs. But I Pray 
 what will you fay to this, Margaret Pule would
 
 [6] Invifihle Powder, 33 
 
 fometimes have her Jaws forcibly' pulled open, 
 whereupon foniething hivijible would be poured 
 down her throat ; we all faw her fwallow, and 
 yet we faw her try all fhe could by Spitting, 
 Coughing and Shriking, that flie might not 
 fwalow, but one time the ftanders by plainly faw 
 fomething of that odd Liquor itfelf on the outlide 
 of her Neck ; She cried out of it as of Scalding 
 Brimjione poured into her, and the whole Houfe 
 would Immediately fcent fo hot of Brimjione that 
 we were fcarce able to endure it, whereof there 
 are fcores of WitneiTes ; but the Young Woman 
 herfelf would be fo monftroully Injlanid that it 
 would have broke a Heart of Stone to have feen 
 her Agonies, this was a thing that feveral times 
 happen'd and feveral times when her Mouth was 
 thus pull'd open, the ftanders by clapping their 
 Hands clofe thereupon the diflreffes that other- 
 wife followed would be diverted. Moreover there 
 was a whitijlo powder to us Invifible fomtimes caft 
 upon the Eyes of this Young Woman, whereby 
 her Eyes would be extreamly incommoded, but 
 one time fome of this Powder was fallen actually 
 Vifible upon her Cheek, from whence the People 
 in the Room wiped it with their Handkerchiefs, 
 and "fomtimes the Young Woman would alfo be 
 fo bitterly fcorched with the unfeen Sulphur 
 thrown upon her, that very fenfible Blijlers would 
 be raifed upon her Skin, whereto her Friends 
 found it necelfary to apply the OyVs proper for 
 common Burnings but the moft of thefe Hurts
 
 34 Margaret Rule. [7] 
 
 would be cured in two or three days at fartheft : 
 I think I may without Vanity pretend to have 
 read not a few of the beft Syftem's of Phyjick^^ 
 that have been yet feen in thefe American Regions, 
 but I muft confefs that I have never yet learned 
 the Name of the Natural Diflemper, whereto 
 thefe odd fymptoms do belong : However I might 
 fuggeft perhaps many a Natural Medicine^ which 
 would be of fingular ufe againft many of them. 
 
 Se5i. 8. But there fell out fome other matters 
 far beyond the reach of Natural Dijie??iper : This 
 Margaret Rule once in the middle of the Night 
 Lamented fadly that the SpeBres threat'ned the 
 Drowning of a Young Man in the Neighbour- 
 hood, whom fhe named unto the Company : well 
 it was afterwards found that at that very time this 
 Young Man, having been preft on Board a Man 
 of War then in the Harbour, was out of fome 
 diffatisfacStion attempting to fwim afhoar, and he 
 had been Drowned in the attempt, if a Boat had 
 not feafonably taken him up ; it was by compu- 
 tation a minute or two after the Young Womans 
 difcourfe of the Drowning, that the Young Man 
 took the Water; At another time flie told us 
 that [7] the SpeBres bragg'd and laughed in her 
 hearing about an exploit they had lately done, by 
 ftealing from a Gentleman his Will foon after he 
 had written it : and within a few hours after flie 
 
 21 Jt would be curious, if not ad- poflefs at that Time. Doubtlefs 
 mirable, at this Day could we know Galen and Paracelfus were confpi- 
 what medical Books the Dodtor did cuous on his Shelves.
 
 [7] Mar gaf^et lifted up. 35 
 
 had fpoken this there came to me a Gentleman 
 with a private complaint, that having written his 
 Willy it was unaccountably gone out of the way, 
 how or where he could not Imagine ; and belides 
 all this, there were wonderful Noifes every now 
 and then made about the Room, which our Peo- 
 ple could Afcribe to no other Authors but the 
 SpeBreSy yea, the Watchers affirm that they heard 
 thofe fiends clapping of their hands together with 
 an Audiblenefsy wherein they could not be Im- 
 pofed upon : And once her Tormentors pull'd 
 her up to the Cieling of the Chamber, and held 
 her there before a very Numerous Company of 
 SpeBatorSy who found it as much as they could 
 all do to pull her down again. ^^ There was alfo 
 another very furprifing circumftance about her, 
 agreeable to what we have not only read in feve- 
 ral Hifhories concerning the Lnps that have been 
 Imployed in Witchcraft ; but alfo known in fome 
 of our own afflidted : We once thought we per- 
 ceived fomething Jiir upon her pillow at a' little dif- 
 tance from her, whereupon one prefent laying his 
 hand there , he to his horror apprehended that he 
 felty tho' none could fee it, a living Creature, not 
 altogether unlike a Rat, which nimbly efcaf d from 
 him : and there were diverfe other Perfons who 
 were thrown into a great confternation by feeling, 
 as they Judg'd, at other times the fame Invifble 
 Animal. 
 
 22 Mr. Calef has not commented as it merited, and as he might have 
 fo feverely on this Part of the Story done with propriety, 
 
 I
 
 36 A White Spirit. [8] 
 
 SeB. 9. As it has been with a Thoufand other 
 Inchanted People, fo it was with Margaret Rule 
 in this particular, that there were feveral words 
 which her Tormentors would not let her hear, 
 efpecially the words Pray or Prayer, and yet fhe 
 could fo hear the letters of thofe words diftindly 
 mentioned as to know what they ment. The 
 ftanders by were forced fometimes thus in dif- 
 courfe to fpell a word to her, but becaufe there 
 were fome fo ridiculous as to count it a fort of 
 Spell or a Charm for any thus to accommodate 
 themfelves to the capacity of the Sufferer, little 
 of this kind was done. But that which was more 
 fingular in this matter, was that fhe could not ufe 
 thefe words in thofe penetrating difcourfes, where- 
 with fhe would fometimes addrefs the SpeBres 
 that were about her. She would fometimes for 
 a long while together apply herfelf to the Spec- 
 tres^ whom fhe fuppofed the Witches, with fuch 
 Exortations to Repentance as would have melted 
 an Heart of Adamant to have heard them ; her 
 ftrains of Expreffion and Argument were truly 
 Extraordinary ; A perfon perhaps of the beft 
 Education and Experience and of Attainmejits 
 much beyond hers could not have exceeded them : 
 neverthelefs when iTie came to thefe Words God, 
 Lord, Chrijl, Good, Repent, and fome other fuch, 
 her Mouth could not utter them, whereupon flie 
 would fometimes in an Angry Parenthejis com- 
 plain of their Wickednefs in ftopping that Word, 
 but fhe would then go [8] on with fome other
 
 [8] A White Spirit, 37 
 
 Terjns that would ferve to tell what fhe ment. 
 And I believe that if the moft fufpicious Perfon 
 in the world had beheld all the Circumftances of 
 this matter, he would have faid it could not have 
 been diffembled. 
 
 SeB. 10. Not only in the Swedijh, but alfo in 
 the Salem Witchcraft the Inchanted People have 
 talked much of a White Spirit from whence they 
 received marvellous Affiftances in their Miferies ; 
 what lately befel Mercy Short "-^ from the Com- 
 munications of fuch a Spirit, hath been the juft 
 Wonder of us all, but by fuch a Spirit was Mar- 
 garet Rule now alfo vifited. She fays that fhe 
 could never fee his Face ; but that fhe had a fre- 
 quent view of his bright, Shining and glorious 
 Garments; he flood by her Bed-Jide continually 
 heartning and comforting of her and counfelling 
 her to maintain her Faith and hope in God, and 
 never comply with the temptations of her Adver- 
 faries ; fhe fays he told her, that God had permit- 
 ted her affliBions to befall her for the everlajiing and 
 unfpeakahle good of her own foul, and for the good 
 of many others, and for his own Iminortal Glory, 
 and that Jhe fliould therefore he of good Chear, and 
 be ajfured of a fpeedy deliverance ; and the won- 
 derful refolution of mind wherewith flie encoun- 
 tered her Affliaions were but agreeable to fuch 
 expedations. Moreover a Minifter having one 
 Day with fome Importunity Prayed for the de- 
 
 ••^3 Mr. Savage has found quite a us no Mercy with them. See his 
 Number of Short Famihes, but gives Genealogical Diaiunary.
 
 38 The Black Man [8] 
 
 liverance of this ''Young Woman, and pleaded 
 that fhe belong'd to his Flock and charge ; he 
 had fo far a right unto her as that he was to do 
 the part of a Minifter of our Lord for the 
 bringing of her home unto God ; only now the 
 Devil hindred him in doing that which he had a 
 right thus to do, and whereas He had a better 
 Title unto her to bring her home to God than the 
 Divel could have unto her to carry her away 
 from the Lord, he therefore humbly applied him- 
 felf unto God, who alone could right this matter, 
 with a fuit that fhe might be refcued out of 
 Satans Hands ; Immediately upon this, tho' fhe 
 heard nothing of this tranfadtion fhe began to 
 call that Minifter her Father, and that was the 
 Name whereby fhe every day before all forts of 
 People diftinguifhed him : the occafion of it fhe 
 fays was this, the white Spirit prefently upon this 
 tranfad:ion did after this manner fpeak to her, 
 Margaret, .you now are to take notice that (fuch a 
 Man) is your Father, God has given you to him, do 
 you from this time look upon him as your Father, 
 obey him, regard him as your Father, follow his 
 Counfels and you fh all do well ; And tho' there was 
 one pafTage more, which I do as little know what 
 to make of as any of the reft, I am now going 
 to relate it ; more than three times have I feen it 
 fulfilled in the Deliverance of Inchanted and 
 PolTeft Perfons, whom the Providence of God 
 has cafl into my way, that their Deliverance 
 could not be obtained before the third Faji kept
 
 [9] beats the SpeSires. 39 
 
 for them, and the third day ftill obtain'd the 
 DeHverance, altho' I have thought of befeeching 
 of the Lord thrice, when buffered by Sa[g]tan, yet 
 I muft earneftly Intreat all my Readers to beware 
 of any fuperftitious conceits upon the Number 
 Three, if our God will hear us upon once Praying 
 and Falling before him 'tis well, and if he will 
 not vouchfafe his Mercy upon our thrice doing fo, 
 yet we muft not be fo difcouraged as to throw by 
 our Devotion but if the Soveraign Grace of our 
 God will in any particular Instances count our 
 Patience enough tryed when we have Solemnly 
 waited upon him for any determinate Number of 
 times, who fhall fay to him, what doeft thou, and 
 if there fliall be any Number of Inftances, where- 
 in this Grace of our God has exadlly holden the 
 fame courfe, it may have a room in our humble 
 Obfervations, I hope, without any Superftition ; 
 I fay then that after Margaret Rule had been 
 more than five weeks in her Miferies, this White 
 Spirit faid unto her, Well this day fuch a Man 
 (whom he named) has kept a third day for your 
 deliverance, now be of good cheer you Jhall fpeedily 
 be delivered. I inquired whether what had been 
 faid of that Man were true, and I gained exadt 
 and certain information that it was precifely io, 
 but I doubt left in relating this PalTage that I 
 have ufed more opennefs than a Friend ftiould be 
 treated with, and for that caufe I have concealed 
 feveral of the moft memorable things that have 
 occurred not only in this but in fome former
 
 40 An Evidence of the [9] 
 
 Hiftories, altho indeed I am not fo well fatisfied 
 about the true nature of this white Spirit, as to 
 count that I can do a Friend much Honour by 
 reporting what notice this white Spirit may have 
 thus taken of him. 
 
 SeB. II. On the laft day of the Week her 
 Tormentors as fhe thought and faid, approaching 
 towards her, would be forced ftill to recoil and 
 retire as unaccountably unable to meddle with 
 her, and they would retire to the Fire fide with 
 their Poppets ; but going to ftick Pins into thofe 
 Poppets, they could not (according to their vifions) 
 make the Pins to enter, fhe infulted over them 
 with a very Proper derilion, daring them now to 
 do their worft, whilft fhe had the fatisfad:ion to 
 fee their Black Mafier flrike them and kick them, 
 like an Overfeer of fo many Negro's, to make 
 them to do their work, and renew the marks of 
 his vengeance on them, when they failed of doing 
 of it.^'^ At laft being as it were tired with their 
 ineffediual Attempts to mortifie her they furioufly 
 faid. Well you pant be the laji. And after a paufe 
 they added. Go, and the Devil go with you, we can 
 do no more; whereupon they flew out of the Room, 
 and fhe returning perfectly to herfelf moft affec- 
 tionately gave thanks to God for her deliverance ; 
 her Tormentors left her extream weak and faint, 
 and overwhelmed with Vapours, which would 
 not only caufe her fometimes to Swoon away, but 
 
 24 This Relation is pretty neai'ly Witches by Dr. Horneck. This 
 equal to anything told of the Swedilh Author will be further noticed.
 
 [lo] being of a God, 41 
 
 alfo now and then for a little while difcompofe 
 the reafonablenefs of her Thoughts ; Neverthe- 
 lefs her former troubles returned not, but we are 
 now waiting to fee the good effects of thofe 
 troubles upon the Souls of all concern'd, And 
 now I fuppofe that fome of our Learned wit-\^io\ 
 lings of the Coffee-Houfe, for fear left thefe proofs 
 of an Invijible-world fhould fpoil fome of their 
 fport, will endeavour to turn them all into fport, 
 for which Buffoonary their only pretence will be, 
 they cant underjiand how fuch things as thefe could 
 be done whereas indeed he that is but Philofopher 
 enough to have read but one Little Treatife, Pub- 
 lifhed in the Year 1656, by no other Man than 
 the Chyrurgion of an Arfjiy, or but one Chap, 
 of Helmont,'^^ which I will not quote at this time 
 too particularly, may give a far more intelligible 
 account of thefe Appearances than moft of thefe 
 Blades can give why and how their Tobacco makes 
 'em Spit ; or which way the flame of their Can- 
 dle becomes illuminating, as for that cavil, the 
 world would be undone if the Devils could have fuch 
 power as they feem to have in fever al of our Jio- 
 ries,^^ it may be Anfwered that as to many things 
 
 25 Jean-Baptifte Van-Helmont, a us how much Power the Devil has. 
 Refident of Bruflels, bom in 1577. By fome of his AiTertions it feems 
 He was fo noted a Phyfician and that it is unlimited. Indeed he (Dr. 
 Naturahft, that he was reputed a Mather) has told us that this Con- 
 Magician, for which he was thrown tinent in reality belonged to the 
 into Prifon. He made his Efcape Devil. Ifthat was aftually the Cafe, 
 and fled into Holland, where he died it certainly was an infringement on 
 in 1644. h's Rights for Europeans to intrude 
 
 26 The Writer nowhere informs themfelves here at all.
 
 4-2 An Evidence of the [^^1 
 
 the Lying Devils have only known them to be 
 done, and then pretended unto the doing of thofe 
 things, but the true and beft Anfwer is, that by 
 thefe things we only fee what the Devils could 
 have powers to do, if the great God fhould give 
 them thofe powers, whereas now our Hiftories 
 affords a Glorious Evidence for the being of a God, 
 the World would indeed be undone, and horribly 
 undone, if thefe Devils, who now and then get 
 liberty to play fome very mifchievous pranks, 
 were not under a daily reftraint of fome Almighty 
 Superior from doing more of fuch Mifchiefs. 
 Wherefore inflead of all Apifh fouts and jeers at 
 Hiftories, which have fuch undoubted confirma- 
 tion, as that no Man that has breeding enough 
 to regard the Common Laws of Humane Society, 
 will offer to doubt of 'em, it becomes us rather 
 to adore the goodnefs of God, who does not 
 permit fuch things every day to befall us all, as 
 he fometimes did permit to befall fome few of 
 our miferable Neighbours. 
 
 SeB. 12. And what after all my unwearied 
 Cares and Pains, to refcue the Miferable from the 
 Lions and Bears of Hell, which had fiezed them, 
 and after all my Studies to difappoint the Devils 
 in their defigns to confound my Neighbourhood, 
 muft I be driven to the neceffity of an Apology? 
 Truly the hard reprefentations wherewith y^wd" /// 
 Men have reviled my conduB, and the Countenance 
 which other Men have given to thefe reprefenta- 
 tions, oblige me to give Mankind fome account
 
 [ii] being of a God. 43 
 
 of my Behaviour ; No Chriftian can, I fay none 
 but evil w^orkers can criminate my vifiting fuch 
 of my poor flock as have at any time fallen under 
 the terrible and fenfible moleftations of Evil An- 
 gels ; let their Afflidtions have been what they 
 vs^ill, I could not have anfwered it unto my 
 Glorious Lord, if I had withheld my juft Counfels 
 and Comforts from them ; and if I have alfo 
 with fome exacftnefs obferv'd the methods of the 
 Invijible World, when they have thus become 
 obfervable, I have been but a Servant of Mankind 
 in doing fo ; yea no lefs a Perfon than the Vener- 
 able Baxter, has more than once or twice in the 
 moft Publick manner invited Mankind to thank 
 11] me for that Service. I have not been infen- 
 ible of a greater danger attending me in this 
 fulfilment of my Miniftry, than if I had been to 
 take Ten Thoufand fteps over a Rocky Mountain 
 fill'd with Rattle-Snakes ; but I have confider'd, 
 he that is wife will obferve things, and the Sur- 
 prijing Explication and confirmation of the biggeji 
 part of the Bible, which I have feen given in 
 thefe things, has abundantly paid me for obferving 
 them. Now in my vifiting of the Miferable, I 
 was always of this opinion, that we were Igno- 
 rant of what Powers the Devils might have to 
 do their mifchiefs in the fhapes of fome that had 
 never been explicitly engaged in Diabolical Con- 
 federacies, and that therefore tho' many Witch- \ 
 crafts had been fairly detedted on Enquiries pro- 
 voked and begun by SpeBeral Exhibitions, yet we 
 K
 
 44 Glorious Advantages, [^^] 
 
 could not eafily be too jealous of the Snares laid 
 for us in the devices of Satan ; the World knows 
 how many Pages I have Compofed and Publifhed, 
 and particular gentlement in the Government 
 know how many Letters I have written to pre- 
 vent the exceffive Credit of SpeBeral Accufations, 
 wherefore I have ftill charged the AfliBed that 
 they fhould Cry out of no body for Afflidiing of 
 'em. But that if this might be any Advantage 
 they might privately tell their minds to fome one 
 Perfon of difcretion enough to make no /// life of 
 their communications, accordingly there has been 
 this efFed: of it, that the Name of No one good 
 Perfon in the World ever came under any blemifh 
 by means of any AfliBed^ Perfon that fell under 
 my particular cognizance, yea no one Man, Woman 
 or Child ever came into any troube for the fake of 
 any that were AfliBed after I had once begun to 
 look after 'em ; how often have I had this thrown 
 into my difh, that many years ago I had an oppor- 
 tunity to have brought forth fuch People as have 
 in the late ftorm of Witchcraft been complain'd 
 of, but that I fmother'd all, and after that ftorm 
 was raif'd at Salem, I did myfelf offer to provide 
 Meat, Drink and Lodging for no lefs than Six of 
 the Afflidled, that fo an Experiment might be 
 made, whether Prayer with Fafling upon the 
 removal of the diftreffed might not put a Period 
 to the trouble then riling, without giving the Civil 
 Authority the trouble of profecuting thofe things 
 which nothing but a Confcientious regard unto
 
 [i2] Oppofers Complained of . 45 
 
 the cries of Miferable Families, could have over- 
 come the Relud:ancies of the Honourable Judges 
 to meddle w^ith ; ^^ In fhort I do humbly but freely 
 affirm it, there is not that Man living in this 
 World who has been more defirous than the poor 
 Man I to jhelter my Neighbours from the Incon- 
 veniences of SpeBeral Outcries, yea I am very 
 jealous I have done fo much that way as to Sin 
 in what I have done, fuch have been the Cow- 
 ardize and Fearfulnefs whereunto my regard unto 
 the diffatisfadlions of other People has precipi- 
 tated me. I know a Man in the World, who 
 has thought he has been able to Convid: fome 
 fuch Witches as ought to Dye, but his refped: unto 
 the Fublick Peace has caufed him rather to try 
 whether He [12] could not renew thetn by repent- 
 ance : and as I have been Studious to defeat the 
 Devils of their expectations to fet people together 
 by the Ears, thus, I have alfo checked and quell'd 
 thofe forbidden curiofities, which would have 
 given the Devil an invitation to have tarried 
 amongft us, when I have feen wonderful Snares 
 laid for Curious People, by the fecret and future 
 things difcovered from the Mouths of Damfels 
 pojfeji with a Spirit of divination ; Indeed I can 
 
 27 This will be found remarked " When it was reprinted at London, 
 
 upon hereafter. The Author makes the famous Mr. Baxter prefixed a 
 
 a large Handle of Mr. Baxter's Preface unto it, wherein he fays. 
 
 Commendations of his Story of the ' This great Injlance comes with fuch 
 
 Goodwin Children ; which Story convincing Evidence, that he mujl be 
 
 he afterwards printed in the Mag- a very obdurate Sadducee, that wiU 
 
 nalia, Book vi, 71, &c.; and adds: not believe it. ^^^ — Ibid.,-]^.
 
 46 Oppofers Complained of . [12] 
 
 recoiled: but one thing wherein there could be 
 given fo much as a Shadow of Reafon for Excep- 
 tions, and that is my allowing of fo many to come 
 and fee thofe that were AffliBed;-^ now for that I 
 have this to fay, that I have almoft a Thoujand 
 times intreated the Friends of the Miferable, that 
 they would not permit the Intruiion of any Com- 
 pany, but fuch as by Prayers or other ways might 
 be helpful to them ; Neverthelefs I have not ab- 
 folutely forbid all Company from coming to your 
 Haunted Chambers, partly becaufe the Calamities 
 of the Families were fuch as required the AfTift- 
 ance of many friends ; partly becaufe I have been 
 willing that there fliould be dijinterejled Witnejfes 
 of all forts, to confute the Calumnies of fuch as 
 would fay all was but Impojlure ; and partly be- 
 caufe I faw God had Sandified the Spedacle of 
 the Miferies on the Afflided unto the Souls of 
 many that were Spedators, and it is a very Glo- 
 rious thing that I have now to mention — The 
 Devils have with moft horrendous operations broke 
 in upon our Neighbourhood, and God has at fuch 
 a rate over-ruled all the Fury and Malice of thofe 
 Devils, that all the Afflided have not only been 
 Delivered, but I hope alfo favingly brought home 
 unto God, and the Reputation of no one good 
 Perfon in the World, has been damaged, but 
 
 28 It was befides hinted that there tempt of the Sadducees to imphcate 
 
 were Times when the Numbers ad- fome one who might be rather zeal- 
 
 mitted to the Afflidled were not ous to deteft Witchcraft when alone 
 
 above the /z?g-a/^r Number. But with the Affliaed. TheDodorwas 
 
 this was doubtlefs a mifchievous At- very indignant at this, as will appear.
 
 [13] Oppofers Complained of. 47 
 
 inftead thereof the Souls of many, efpecially of 
 the rifing Generation, have been thereby awa- 
 ken'd unto fome acquaintance with Religion, our 
 young People who belonged unto the Praying 
 Meetings of both Sexes, a part would ordinarily 
 fpend whole Nights by whole Weeks together in 
 Prayers and Pfalms upon thefe occafions, in 
 which Devotions the Devils could get nothing 
 but like Fools a Scourge for their own Backs, and 
 fome fcores of other young People who were 
 ftrangers to real Piety, were now ftruck with the 
 lively demonftrations of Hell evidently fet forth 
 before their Eyes, when they faw Perfons cruelly 
 Frighted, wounded and Starved by Devils and 
 Scalded with burning Brimjlone, and yet fo pre- 
 ferved in this tortured eftate as that at the end of 
 one Months wretchednefs they were as able ftill 
 to undergo another, fo that of thefe alfo it might 
 now be faid. Behold they Pray in the whole — 
 the Devil got juft nothing ; but God got praifes, 
 Chrift got Subjedls, the Holy Spirit got Temples, 
 the Church got Addition, and the Souls of Men 
 got everlafling Benefits ; I am not fo vain as to fay 
 that any Wifdome or Vertue of mine did contri- 
 bute unto this good order of things : But I am 
 fo juft, as to fay I did not hinder this Good. [13] 
 When therefore there have been thofe that pickt 
 up little incoherent fcraps and bits of my Dif- 
 courfes in this fruitful difcharge of my Miniftry, 
 and fo traverfted 'em in their abufive Pamphlets, 
 as to perfwade the Town that I was their cofftmon
 
 4-8 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [13] 
 
 'Enemy in thofe very points, wherein, if in any one 
 thing whatfoever I have fenfibly approved myfelf 
 as true a Servant unto 'em as poffibly I could, 
 tho my Life and Soul had been at Stake for it. 
 Yea to do like Satan himfelf, by fly, bafe, unpre- 
 tending Injinuations, as if I wore not the Modefty 
 and Gravity which became a Minifter of the 
 Gofpel, I could not but think myfelf unkindly 
 dealt withal, and the negled:s of others to do me 
 jujlice in this affair has caufed me to conclude 
 this Narrative with complaints in another hearing 
 of fuch Monftrous Injuries.^9 
 
 PART II. 
 
 A Letter to Mr, C. M. 
 
 Bojion, Jan. wth^ 1693. 
 
 Mr. Cotton Mather, 
 
 REverend Sir, I finding it needful on many 
 accounts, I here prefent you with the Copy 
 of that Paper, which has been fo much Mifrep- 
 refented, to the End that what Ihall be found 
 defedive or not fairly Reprefented, if any fuch 
 fhall appear, they may be fet right, which Runs 
 thus. 
 
 29 It would have been highly gra- negleft of others." The " another 
 tifying had the Author informed his hearing'^ will be found explained by 
 Readers what he meant by " the and by.
 
 [t4-] a Letter to Mr, CM. 49 
 
 September the I'^th^ ^^92- 
 
 IN the Evening when the Sun was withdrawn, 
 giving place to Darknefs to fucceed, I with foi7ie 
 others were drawn by curiojity to fee Margaret Rule, 
 andfo much the rather becaufe it was reported Mr. 
 
 M would be there that Night : Being co??ie to 
 
 her Fathers Houfe^° into the Cha?nber wherein fie 
 was in Bed, found her of a healthy countenance of 
 about feventeen Tears Old, lying very Jlill, and 
 f peaking very little, what Jhe did fay feenzd as if 
 Jhe were Light-headed. Then Mr. M — Father 
 and Son 3' ca?7ie up and others with them, in the whole 
 were about 30 or 40 Perfons, they being fat, the 
 Father on a Stool, and the Son upon the Bedfde by 
 her, the Son began to quejiion her, Margaret Rule, 
 how do you do ? then a paufe without any anfwer. 
 Queftion. What do there a great many Witches ft 
 upon you? Anfwer. Yes. Q. T)o you not know 
 that there is a hard Ma/ier? Then fhe was in a 
 Fit ; He laid his hand upon her Face and Nofe, 
 but, as he faid, without perceiving Breath ; then he 
 brujl^d her on the Face with his Glove, and rubbed 
 her Stomach [her breaf not covered with the 
 Bedcloaths) and bid others do fo too, and faid [i^^ 
 it eafed her, then Jhe revived. Q. Dont you know 
 there is a hard Mafter? A. Tes. Reply; Dont 
 
 30 The Family of Rule appear tranfient Sojourners here. Mr. Ma- 
 te have refided at the North End thcr fays Margaret's Parents were 
 of the Town. Where they came fober and honeft, and living at the 
 from, or what became of them does Time in Bofton. See ante. 
 not appear. They were, perhaps, 3' Increafe and Cotton Mather.
 
 50 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [14] 
 
 ferve that hard Majier, you know who. Q. Do 
 you believe ? Then again Jhe was in a Fit, and he 
 again rub'd her Bre^, &c. {about this time Mar- 
 garet Perd 3^ an attendant ajfifted him in rubbing of 
 her. The AffliBed fpake angerely to her faying 
 dont you meddle with me, and haftily put away her 
 hand) he wrought his Fingers before her Eyes and 
 afied her if Jhe f aw the Witches? A. No.^ Q. 
 Do you believe ? A. Tes. Q. Do you believe in you 
 know who ? A. Tes. Q. Would you have other 
 people do fo too, to believe in you know who ? A. 
 Tes. Q. Who is it that AffliBs you ? A. / know 
 not, there is a great many of them [about this time 
 the Father queftiond if Jhe knew the SpeBres ? An 
 atteftdant faid, if Jhe did Jhe would not tell; The 
 Son proceeded.) Q. Tou have feen the Black-man, 
 hant you? A. No, Reply, / hope you never Jhall. 
 Q. Tou have had a Book offered you, hant you? 
 A. No. Q. The brujhing of you gives you eafe, 
 don't it? A. Tes., She turn d herf elf e and a little 
 Groan d. Q. Now the Witches Scratch you and 
 Pinch you, and Bite you, dont they ? A. Tes, then 
 he put his hand upon her Breaji and Belly, viz. on 
 the Cloaths over her, and felt a Living thing, as he 
 faid, which moved the Father alfo to feel, andjlme 
 others. Q. Dont you feel the Live thing in the 
 Bed? A. No. Reply, that is only Fancie. Q. 
 the great company of People increafe your Torment, 
 don't they ? A. Tes. The People about were de- 
 fired to withdraw. One Woman faid, I am fur e I 
 
 3' A Name not met with beyond this Affair.
 
 [I+] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. CM. 51 
 
 am no Witch, I will not go ; Jo others, fo none with- 
 drew. Q. Shall we go to Prayers, Then fhe lay in 
 a Fit as before. But this tifne to revive her, they 
 waved a Hat and brujhed her Head and Pillow 
 therewith. Q. Shall we go to PRAT, &c. Spell- 
 ing the Word. A. Tes. The Father went to 
 Pray er for perhaps half an Hour,^^ chiefly againfl 
 the Power of the Devil and Witchcraft, and that 
 God would bring out the AffliBers : during Prayer- 
 tif?ie, the Son flood by, and when they thought fhe 
 was 'in a Fit, rub'd her and bruflid her as before, 
 and beckned to others to do the like, after Prayer 
 he proceeded ; Q. Tou did not hear when we were 
 at Prayer, did you ? A. Tes. Tou dont hear 
 always, you dont hear fometimes pafl a Word or 
 two, do you '^ A. No. Then turning him about 
 faid, this is jufl another Mercy Short : Mar- 
 garet Perd reply' d, Jhe was not like her in her 
 Fits. Q. What does Jhe eat or drink ? A. Not 
 eat at all ; but drink Rum. Then he adinonijhed 
 the young People to take warning, &c. Saying it 
 was a fad thing to be fo Tormented by the Devil 
 and his Inflruments : A Toung-?nan prefent in the 
 habit of a Seaman, reply d this is the Devil all 
 over. Than the Minijiers withdrew. Soon after 
 they were gone the AjJliBed deflred the Women to 
 be gone, faying, that the Company of the Men was 
 not ofl^enflve to her, and having hold of the hand of 
 
 33 The Doftor was greatly difturb- of the Prayer; averring that it was 
 ed at this Statement of the Length not above a quarter of an Hour. 
 
 L
 
 52 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [15] 
 
 a Toung-man, faid to have been her Sweetheart 
 
 formerly, who was withdrawing ; Jhe pulfd him 
 
 again into his Seat, faying he Jhould not go to Night. 
 
 [15] September the igth, 1693. 
 
 THIS Night I renewed my Vifit, and found her 
 rather of a frejher Countenance than before, 
 about eight Perfons prefent with her, Jhe was in a 
 Fit Screeming and making a Noife : Three or four 
 Perfons rub'd and brufii'd her with their hands, 
 they faid that the brujhing did put them away, if 
 they bruJFd or rub'd in the right place ; therefore 
 they bruJJjed and rubbed in fever al places, and faid 
 that when they did it in the right place Jhe could 
 fetch her Breath, and by that they knew. She 
 being come to herfelf was foon in a merry talking 
 Pit. A Young-man came in and ajk'd her how Jhe 
 did? She anfwered very bad, but at prefent a little 
 better ; he joon told her he muji be gone and bid her 
 good Night, at which Jhe J^eeni d troubled, faying that 
 Jhe liked his Company ; and faid Jhe would not have 
 hitn go till Jhe was well ; adding, for I Jhall Die 
 when you are gone. Then Jloe co77iplained they did 
 not put her on a clean Cap, but let her ly fo like a 
 BeaJi,Jaying Jhe Jhould lofe her Fellows. She faid 
 Jhe wondered any People Jhould be fo Wicked as to 
 think Jhe was not AJliSied, but to think Jloe DiJfem- 
 bled, A Toung-woman anfwered Tes, if they were 
 to fee you in this merry Fit, they would fay you P>if- 
 fe?nbled indeed ; She reply' d, Mr. M — faid this 
 was her laughing tiine, Jhe mujt laugh now : She faid
 
 [i5] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 53 
 
 l^f^ M — had been there this Evening, and jhe en- 
 quired, how long he had been gon ? She faid he 
 jlay'd alone with her in the room half an Hour, and 
 faid that he told her there were fome that came for 
 Spies, and to report about Town that Jhe was not 
 AffiiBed. That during the faid time Jhe had no 
 Fit, that he ajked her if Jhe knew how many times 
 he had Prayed for her to day? And that Jhe an- 
 fwered that Jhe could not tell; and that he replfd 
 he had Prayed for her Nine times to Day; the At- 
 tendants faid that Jhe was Jometimes in a Fit that 
 none could open her foints,'^'^ and that there came an 
 Old Iron-jaw' d Woman and try'd, but could not do 
 it ; they likewife faid, that her Head could not be 
 moved from the Pillow ; I trfd to move her head, 
 and found no more difficulty than another Bodies 
 [andfo did others) but was not willing to offend by 
 lifting it up, one being reproved for endeavouring it, 
 they Jay ing Angrily you will break her Neck. The 
 Attendants faid Mr. M — would not go to Prayer 
 with her when People were in the Room, as they 
 did one Night that Night he felt the Live-Creature. 
 Margaret Perd and another, faid they J melt brim- 
 Jione;^^ I and others faid we did not J me II any ; 
 then they faid they did not know what it was : This 
 Margaret faid, Jhe wiJJfd Jhe had been here when 
 Mr. M — was here, another Attendant faid, if you 
 
 -■1 The general Inference would of his Dominions would not have 
 
 naturally be that the Doftor's Pray- been perceptible. It may be that 
 
 ers were not very efFeftive. he did not make his Appearance, 
 
 35 His Satanic Majefty was fup- owing to the Prefence of fome ob- 
 
 pofed to be very near, or the Scent durate Unbelievers, See Note 3.
 
 54 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [i6] 
 
 had been here you might not have been permitted in, 
 for her own Mother was not puffer ed to be prefent. 
 
 Sir, after the foreft Afflidiion and greateft blem- 
 ifli to Religion that ever befel this Countrey, and 
 after moft Men began to Fear that fome undue 
 fteps had been taken, and after His Excellency 
 (with their Majeftyes Approbation as is faid) had 
 put a Hop to Executions, and Men began [i6] to 
 hope there would never be a return of the like ; 
 finding thefe Accounts to contain in them fome- 
 thing extraordinary, I writ them down the fame 
 Nights in order to attain the certainty of them, 
 and foon found them fo confirmed that I have 
 (befides other Demonftrations) the whole, under 
 the Hands of two Perfons are ready to atteft 
 the Truth of it, but not fatisfied herewith; I 
 fhewed them to fome of your particular Friends, 
 that fo I might have the greater certainty : But 
 was much furprifed with the MefTage you fent 
 me, that I fhould be Arrefted for Slander, and at 
 your calling me one of the worfl of Lyars, making 
 it Pulpit-news with the Name of Pernicious Li- 
 bels, &c. This occafion'd my firft Letter. 
 
 September the 2()th, 1693. 
 
 Reverend SIR, 
 
 I Having written from the Mouths of fever al 
 Perfons, who affrm they were prefent with 
 Margaret Rule, the i 3 th Infant, her Anfwers and 
 Behaviour, &c. And having Jhewed it to feveral 
 of my Friends, as alfo yours, and underjianding you
 
 [i6] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. CM. 55 
 
 are offended at it ; This is to acquaint you that if 
 you and any one particular Friend^ will pleaje to 
 meet me and fome other Indifferent P erf on with me, 
 at Mr. Wilkinfs, or at Ben Harrifs,3'^j)/d?z^ intimatiiig 
 the time, I jhall be ready there to read it to you, as 
 alfo a further Account of proceedings the 1 9th 
 Infant, which may be needful to prevent Groundlefs 
 prejudices, and let deferved blame be caji where it 
 ought ; From, 
 
 Sir, yours in what I may, R. C. 
 
 The effects of which. Sir, (not to mention 
 that long Letter only once read to me) was, you 
 fent me word you would meet me at Mr. Wil- 
 kins's but before that Anfwer, at yours and your 
 Fathers complaint, I was brought before their 
 Majeflies Juftice, by Warrant, as for Scandalous 
 Libels againft yourfelf, and was bound over to 
 Anfwer at Seffions ; I do not remember you then 
 objecfled againft the Truth of what I had wrote, 
 but afferted it was wronged by omiffions, which 
 if it were fo was paft any Power of mine to 
 remedy, having given a faithful account of all 
 that came to my knowledge ; And Sir, that you 
 might not be without fome Cognizance of the 
 reafons why I took fo much pains in it, as alfo 
 for my own Information, if it might have been, 
 I wrote to you my fecond Letter to this.effed:. 
 
 Sf* Richard Wilkins and Benja- of Dunton's Life and Errors. Har- 
 
 min Harris were Bookfellcrs and ris printed The Wonders of the In- 
 
 Publifhers in Bofton at this Period, v'lftble World, as will be feen on 
 
 They arc duly noticed in the Hif- reference to the Title-page. See 
 
 tor-i and Antiquities of Dojion, out Thomas's Iliji. Printing, ii, 412.
 
 56 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [17] 
 
 November the 24M, 1693. 
 
 Reverend SIR, 
 
 HAVING expeSied fome Weeks, your meeting me 
 at Mr. Wilkins according to what you inti- 
 mated to me, J. M — and the time drawing near 
 for our meeting elfewhere, I thought it not amifs to 
 give you a Summary of my thoughts in the great 
 concern, which as you fay has been agitated with fo 
 much [17] heat. That there are Witches is not the 
 doubt, the Scriptures efe were in vain, which afjign 
 their Puni/hment to be by death; But what this 
 Witchcraft is, or wherein it does confft,feems to be 
 the whole dificulty : And as it may be eafly demon- 
 f rated, that all that bear that Name cannot be 
 jujily fo accounted, fo that fome things and ABions 
 not fo efeemed by the mofl, yet upon due examination 
 will be found to merit no better CharaBer. 
 
 In your late Book you lay down a brief Synopfis 
 of what has been written on that SubjeB, by a Tri- 
 umvirate of as Eminent Men as ever handled it 37 
 [as you are pleafd to call them) viz. Mr. Perkins, 
 Gaule, and Bernard conf fling of about 30 Tokens 
 to know them by, many of them diflinB from, if not 
 thwarting each other : Among all of which I can 
 find hut one decifive. Viz. That of Mr. Gaule, 
 Head I V. and runs thus ; Among the mofl unhappy 
 Circumflances to conviB a Witch, one is a maligning 
 and oppugning the Word, Work, or Worfljip of God, 
 and by any extraordinary Sign fee king to f educe any 
 
 ^^ See Vol. i. Page 37. ,
 
 [ly] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 57 
 
 from it, fee Deu. 13. i, 2. Mat. 24. 24. Ads. 13. 
 8, 10. 2. Tim. 3. 8. Bo but mark well the places, 
 and for this very property of thus oppofing and per- 
 verting, they are all there concluded Arrant and 
 abfolute Witches. 
 
 This Head as here laid down and infer ted by you, 
 either is a Truth or not, if not, why is it here in- 
 
 fertedfrom one of the Triumvirate if it be a Truth, 
 as the Scriptures quoted will abundantly ^ tejlifie, 
 whence is it that it is fo little regarded, tho it be the 
 only Head well proved by Scripture, or that the reft 
 of the Tvi\xmYU2itQ Jliould fo far forget their Work 
 as not to mention it. It were to be unjuft to the 
 Memory of thofe otherwife Wife Men, to fuppofe 
 them to have any Sinifter defign ; But perhaps the 
 
 force of a prevailing opinion, together with an Edu- 
 cation thereto Suited, might overjhadow their ^ Judg- 
 ments, as being wont to be but too prevalent in many 
 other cafes. But if the above be Truth, then the 
 Scripture is full and plain. What is Witchcraft ? 
 And iffo, what need of his next Head of Hanging 
 of People without as full and clear Evidence as in 
 other Cafes? Or what fieed of the reft of the Re- 
 ceipts of the Triumvirate.^ what need of Praying 
 that the AffliBed may be able to difcover who 'tis 
 that Apsis them ? or what need of Searching for 
 Tefsfor the Devil to Suck in his Old Age, or the 
 Experiment of faying the Lord's Prayer, &c. Which 
 a multitude mvre praBifed in fome places Superjh- 
 tioufty inclind. Other ABions have been praBifed 
 for eafing the AffliBed, lefts juftifiable, if not ftrongly
 
 58 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [i8] 
 
 favouring of Witchcraft itfef^ viz. Fondly Ima- 
 gining by the Hand, &c. to drive off Spedires, or to 
 knock off Invifble Chains, or by Jiriking in the Air 
 to Wound either the AffliBed or others, &c. / write 
 not this to accufe any, but that all 7nay beware be- 
 lieving. That the Devil's bounds are fet, which he 
 cannot pafs. That the Devils are fo full of Malice, 
 That it can?iot be added to by Mankind, That where 
 he hath Power he neither can nor will omit Exe- 
 cuting it. That 'tis only the Almighty that fet s [i8] 
 bounds to his rage, and that only can Commiffonate 
 him to hurt or dejiroy any. 
 
 Thefe laji. Sir, are fuch Foundations of Truth, 
 in my efieem, that I cannot but own it to be my duty 
 to afcert them, when called, thd with the hazard of 
 my AIL^^ And confequently to deteB fuch as thefe. 
 That a Witch can Commiffonate Devils to AffiSi 
 Mortals, That he can at his or the Witches pleafure 
 Affume any Shape, That Hanging or Drawing of 
 Witches can leffen his Power of AffiBing, or refore 
 thofe that were at a dijiance Tormented, with fnany 
 others depending on thefe ; all tending, in my efteem, 
 highly to the Dishonour of God, and the Indangering 
 the well-being of a People, and do further add, that 
 as the Scriptures are full that there is Witchcraft, 
 (ut fup.)yo 'tis as plain that there are Poffeffons, 
 and that the Bodies of the Poffef have hence been 
 not only AffiBed, but ft range ly agitated, if not their 
 
 •'-' The Author feemed to be fully a means of his ruin, as to any con- 
 aware of the Danger of aflerting liderable Fortune. See Introduc- 
 the plain Truth. It probably was tery Memoir.
 
 [i8] A Letter to Mr. C. M. 59 
 
 tongues improved to foretell futurities^ &c. and why 
 not to accufe the Innocent, as bewitching them; 
 having pretence to Divination to gain credence. 
 This being reafonable to be expeBed^from him who 
 is the Father of Lies, to the end he tnay thereby in- 
 volve a Countrey in Blood, Mallice, and Evilyfur- 
 mifng which he greedily feeks after, and fo finally 
 lead them from their fear and dependance upon God 
 to fear him, and a fuppofed Witch thereby attaining 
 his end upon Mankind; and not only fo, but Natural 
 Difiemper, as has been frequently obferved by the 
 Judicious, have fo operated as to deceive, more than 
 the Vulgar, as is teflified by many Fajnous Phyfi- 
 cians, and others. And as for that proof of Mul- 
 titudes of ConfeJJions, this Countrey may be by this 
 time thought Competent fudges, what credence we 
 ought to give them, having had fuch numerous In- 
 fiances, as alfo how obtain d. 
 
 And now Sir, if herein be any thing in your 
 efleem valuable, let me intreat you, not to account it 
 the worfe for coming frotn fo mean a hand ; which 
 however y ou may have received Prejudices, &c. A??i 
 ready to ferve you to my Power ; but if you fudge 
 other wife hereof you may take your own Methods for 
 my better Information. Who am. Sir, yours to 
 com?nand, in what I may, P. C.^^ 
 
 In Anfwer to this lafl, Sir, you replyed to the 
 Gentleman that prefented it, that you had nothing 
 
 39 A mifprint. R. C. was in- in the Salem Editions, 
 tended. The Corredlion is made 
 
 M
 
 6o A Letter to Mr. C. M. [19] 
 
 to Profecute againft me ; and faid as to your Sen- 
 timents in your Books, you did not bind any to 
 believe them, and then again renew'd your pro- 
 mife of meeting me, as before, tho' not yet per- 
 formed. Accordingly, tho' I waited at Seffions, 
 there was none to obje6t ought againfl: me, upon 
 which I was difmiffed. This gave me fome reafon 
 to believe that you intended all (hould have been 
 forgotten ; But inftead of that, I find the Coals 
 are frefh blown up, I being fuppofed to be repre- 
 fented, in a late Manufcript, More Wonders of the, 
 &c. as traverfing your Difcourfe in your Faithful 
 difcharge of your Duty, &c. And fuch as fee not 
 with the Authors Eyes, rendred Saducees and 
 Witiins,'^° &c. and the Arguments that fquare not 
 with the Sentiments [19] therein contain'd, Buf- 
 foonary ; rarely no doubt, agreeing with the Spirit 
 of Chrift, and his dealings with an unbelieving 
 Thomas, yet whofe infidelity was without compare 
 lefs excufable, but the Author having refolved 
 long fince, to have no more than one fingle Grain 
 of Patience, with them that deny, ^c the Won- 
 der is the lefs. It mufl needs be that offences 
 come, but wo to him by whom they come. To 
 vindicate myfelf therefore from fuch falfe Impu- 
 tations, of Satan-like infinuations, and mifrepre- 
 fenting your Adiions, &c. and to vindicate your- 
 felf. Sir, as much as is in my power from thofe 
 fuggeftions, faid to be infinuated, as if you wore 
 
 ■10 Epithets applied by Mr. Mather " Flaihy and fleeting Witlings." — 
 to thofe who diflented from him. Remarka/>/esofDr. I. M., 164.
 
 [19] A Letter 'to Mr. C. M. 61 
 
 not the Modefly, and Gravity, that becomes a 
 Minifter of the Go/pel ; which it feems, fome that 
 never faw the faid Narratives, report them to 
 contain ; I fay, Sir, for thefe reafons, I here pre- 
 fent you w^ith the firfl: Coppy that ever was taken, 
 &c. And purpofe for a Weeks time to be ready, 
 if you fhall intimate your pleafure to wait upon 
 you, either at the place formerly appointed, or 
 any other that is indifferent to the End ; that if 
 there fhall appear any defeats in that Narrative, 
 they may be amended. 
 
 Thus, Sir, I have given you a genuine account 
 of my Sentiments and Actions in this Affair ; and 
 do requefl and pray, that if I err, I may be 
 fhewed it from Scripture, or found Reafon, and 
 not by quotations out of Virgil, nor Spanijh 
 'Rhetoricky For I find the Witlings mentioned, 
 are fo far from anfwering your profound queflions, 
 that they cannot fo much as pretend to fhew a 
 diftincStion between Witchcraft in the Common 
 notion of it, and Poffeflion ; Nor fo much as to 
 demonftrate that ever the "Jews or primitive 
 Chrijiians did believe, that a Witch could fend a 
 Devil to Afflid: her Neighbours ; but to all thefe. 
 Sir, (ye being the Salt of the Earth, &c.^ I have 
 reafon to hope for a Satisfactory Anfwer to him, 
 who is one that reverences your Perfon and Of- 
 
 4 1 Whittier had, no doubt, been reading Calef recently, when he wrote : 
 
 "To garnifh the Story, with hear a ftreak 
 Of Latin, and there another of Greek : 
 And the Tales he heard and the Notes he took 
 Behold are they not in his Wonder- Book ?"
 
 62 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [20] 
 
 fice ; And am. Sir, yours to Command in what I 
 may, R. C. 
 
 Bojion, "January the \^th, 169 1. 
 Mr. R. C. 
 
 WHEREAS you intimate your deiires, that 
 what's not fairly (I take it for granted you 
 mean truly alfo,) reprefented in a Paper you lately 
 fent me, containing a pretended Narrative of a 
 Vilit by my Father and felf to an Afflicted Young 
 woman, whom we apprehended to be under a 
 Diabolical PoJfeJJion, might be rediified : I have 
 this to fay, as I have often already faid, that do I 
 fcarcely find any one thing in the whole Paper, 
 whether refped:ing my Father or felf, either fairly 
 or truly reprefented. Nor can I think that any 
 that know my Parents Circumftances, but mufl 
 think him deferving a better Character by far, 
 than this Narrative can be thought to give him. 
 When the main defign we managed in [20] Vifit- 
 ing the poor Afflidied Creature, was to prevent 
 the Accufations of the Neighbourhood; can it 
 be fairly reprefented that our defign was to draw 
 out fuch Accufations, which is the reprefentation 
 of the Paper. We have Tefl:imonies of the beft 
 Witnefi^es and in Number not a few. That when 
 we afked Rule whether fhe thought fhe knew 
 who Tormented her ? the Quefi:ion was but an 
 Introduction to the Solemn charges which we 
 then largely gave, that fhe fhould rather Dye than 
 tell the Names of any whom fhe might Imagine
 
 [2o] A Letter of Mr. C. M. 63 
 
 that fhe knew. Your Informers have reported 
 the Queftion, and report nothing of what fol- 
 lows, as eflential to the giving of that Queftion : 
 And can this be termed a piece of fairnefs ? Fair 
 it cannot be, that when Minifters Faithfully and 
 Carefully difcharge their Duty to the Miferable 
 in their Flock, little bits, fcraps and fhreds of 
 their Difcourfes, fhould be tackt together to make 
 them contemtible, when there fhall be no notice 
 of all the Neceftary, Seafonable, and Profitable 
 things that occurr'd, in thofe Difcourfes ; And 
 without which, the occafion of the lefler PalTages 
 cannot be underftood ; and yet I am furnifhed 
 with abundant Evidences, ready to be Sworn, that 
 will poffitively prove this part of unfairnefs, by 
 the above mention'd Narrative, to be done both 
 to my Father and felf. Again, it feems not fair 
 or reafonable that I fhould be expof'd, for which 
 your felf (not to fay fome others) might have 
 expof'd me for, if I had not done, viz. for dif- 
 couraging fo much Company from flocking about 
 the Pofl^eft Maid, and yet, as I perfwade myfelf, 
 you cannot but think it to be good advice, to 
 keep much Company from fuch haunted Cham- 
 bers ; befides the unfairnefs doth more appear, in 
 that I find nothing repeated of what I faid about 
 the advantage, which the Devil takes from too 
 much Obfervation and Curiofity.'^^ 
 
 4'^ With this View of the Devil, Way of becoming one of his de- 
 the Author was certainly, according luded Followers than any other : 
 to his own Account, more in the " Tis a moft commendable Cau-
 
 64 A Letter of Mr. CM. [21] 
 
 In that feveral of the Queftions in the Paper 
 are fo Worded, as to carry in them a prefuppofal 
 of the things inquired after, to fay the befl of it 
 is very unfair : But this is not all, the Narrative 
 contains a number of Miftakes and Falihoods ; 
 w^hich were they wilful and defign'd, might juftly 
 be termed grofs Lies. The reprefentations are 
 far from true, when 'tis affirm'd my Father and 
 felf being come into the Room, I began the Dif- 
 courfe ; I hope I underftand breeding a little 
 better than fo : For proof of this, did occalion 
 ferve, fundry can depofe the contrary. 
 
 'Tis no lefs untrue, that either my Father or 
 felf put the Queftion, how many Witches lit 
 upon you ? We always cautioully avoided that 
 expreflion ; It being contrary to our inward be- 
 lief: All the ftanders by will (I believe) fwear 
 they did not hear us ufe it (your WitnefTes ex- 
 cepted) and I tremble to think how hardy thofe 
 woful Creatures muft be, to call the Almighty by 
 an Oath, to fo falfe a thing. As falfe a repre- 
 fentation 'tis, that I rub'd Rules Stomach, her 
 Breaft not being covered. The Oath of the 
 neareft Sped:ators, giving a true account of that 
 matter [21] will prove this to be little lefs than a 
 grofs (if not a doubled) Lie ; and to be fomewhat 
 plainer, it carries the Face of a Lie contrived on 
 purpofe (by them at leaft, to whom you are be- 
 
 tioufnefs," he tells us elfewhere, " to tells us, we come al length to be- 
 
 be very fhy left the Devil get fo far lieve any Lies, wherewith he may 
 
 into our Faith, as that for the fake abufe us ! " Faith can hardly re- 
 
 of many Truths which we find he move fuch a Mountain.
 
 [2i] A Letter of Mr, C. M. 65 
 
 holden for the Narrative) Wickedly and Bafely to 
 expofe me. For you cannot but know how- 
 much this reprefentation hath contributed, to 
 make People believe a Smutty thing of me ; I 
 am far from thinking, but that in your own Con- 
 fcience you believe, that no indecent A6tion of 
 that Nature could then be done by me before 
 fuch obfervers, had I been fo Wicked as to have 
 been inclin'd to what is Bafe. It looks next to 
 impoffible that a reparation flioud be made me 
 for the wrong done to, I hope, as to any Scandal 
 an unblemifh'd, tho' weak and fmall Servant of 
 the Church of God. Nor is what follows a lefs 
 untruth, that 'twas an Attendant and not myfelf 
 who faid, if Rule knows who Afflifts her, yet fhe 
 wont tell. I therefore fpoke it that I might en- 
 courage her to continue in that concealment of 
 all Names whatfoever ; to this I am able to fur- 
 nifh myfelf with the Atteftation of Sufficient 
 Oaths. 'Tis as far from true, that my apprehen- 
 fion of the Imp, about Rule, was on her Belly, 
 for the Oaths of the Spectators, and even of thofe 
 that thought they felt it, can teftify that 'twas 
 upon the Pillow, at a diftance from her Body. 
 As untrue a Reprefentation is that which follows. 
 Viz. That it was faid unto her, that her not 
 Apprehending of that odd palpable tho' not vifi- 
 ble. Mover was from her Fancy, for I endeavoured 
 to perfwade her that it might be but Fancy in 
 others, that there was any fuch thing at all. 
 Witnefles every way fufficient can be produced
 
 66 A Letter of Mr. C. M. [22] 
 
 for this alfo. 'tis falfely reprefented that my 
 Father felt on the Young-woman after the ap- 
 pearance mentioned, for his hand was never near 
 her; Oath can fufficiently vindicate him. 'Tis 
 very untrue, that my Father Prayed for perhaps 
 half an Hour, againft the power of the Devil 
 and Witchcraft, and that God would bring out 
 the Afflid:ors. WitnelTes of the beft Credit, can 
 depofe, that his Prayer was not a quarter of an 
 Hour, and that there was no more than about one 
 claufe towards the clofe of the Prayer, which was 
 of this import ; and this claufe alfo was guarded 
 with a fingular warinefs and modefty, viz. ' If 
 there were any evil Inftruments in this matter 
 God would pleafe to difcover them : And that 
 there was more than common reafon for that 
 petition I can fatisfie any one that will pleafe to 
 Inquire of me. And flrange it is, that a Gentle- 
 man that from 18 to 54 hath been an Exemplary 
 Minifter of the Gofpel ; and that befides a ftation 
 in the Church of God, as confiderable as any that 
 his own Country can afford, hath for divers years 
 come off with honour, in his Application to three 
 Crown'd Heads, and the chiefefl Nobility of three 
 Kingdoms, knows not yet how to make one fhort 
 Prayer of a quarter of an hour, but in New- 
 England he muft be Libell'd for it. There are 
 divers other down-right miftakes, which you [22] 
 have permitted yourfelf, I would hope, not know- 
 ingly, and with a Malicious defign, to be receiver 
 or Compiler of, which I fhall now forbear to
 
 [22] A Letter of Mr, C. M. 67 
 
 Animadvert upon. As for the Appendix of the 
 Narrative I do find myfelf therein Injurioufly 
 treated, for the utmoft of your proof for what 
 you fay of me, amounts to Httle more than, viz. 
 Some People told you, that others told them, that 
 fuch and fuch things did pafs, but you may affure 
 yourfelf, that I am not unfurnifh'd with WitnefTes, 
 that can convi6t the fame. Whereas you would 
 give me to believe the bottom of thefe your 
 Methods, to be fome difratisfad:ion about the 
 commonly receiv'd Power of Devils and Witches ; 
 I do not only with all freedom offer you the ufe 
 of any part of my Library, which you may fee 
 caufe to perufe on that Subjed;, but alfo if you 
 and any elfe, whom you pleafe, will vifit me 
 at my Study, yea, or meet me at any other place, 
 lefs inconvenient than thofe by you propof'd ; I 
 will with all the fairnefs and calmnefs in the 
 World difpute the point. I beg of God that he 
 would beflow as many Blefhngs on you, as ever 
 on myfelf, and out of a fincere wifh, that you 
 may be made yet more capable of thefe Blefhngs, 
 I take this occafion to lay before you the faults 
 (not few nor fmall ones neither) which the Paper 
 contained, you lately fent me, in order to be Ex- 
 amined by me. In cafe you want a true and full 
 Narrative of my Vifit, whereof fuch an indecent 
 Traverfly (to fay the beft) hath been made, I am 
 not unwilling to communicate it, in mean time 
 muft take liberty to fay, 'Tis fcarcely confifl- 
 ent with Common Civility, much lefs Chriflian 
 N
 
 68 Tejiimonials, [22] 
 
 Charity, to offer the Narrative, now with you, 
 for a true one, till you have a truer, or for a full 
 one, till you have a fuller. Your Sincere (tho' 
 Injur'd) Friend and Servant, 
 
 C. MATHER. 
 
 'The Copy of a Paper Receivd with the above 
 
 Letter, 
 
 I DO Teftifie that I have feen Margaret Rule 
 in her Afflid:ions from the Invilible World, 
 lifted up from her Bed, wholly by an Invifible 
 force, a great way towards the top of the Room 
 where fhe lay ; in her being fo lifted, fhe had no 
 Affiflance from any ufe of her own Arms or 
 Hands, or any other part of her Body, not fo 
 much as her Heels touching her Bed, or refting 
 on any fupport whatfoever. And I have feen her 
 thus lifted, when not only a flrong Perfon hath 
 thrown his whole weight a crofs her to pull her 
 down ; but feveral other Perfons have endea- 
 voured, with all their might, to hinder her from 
 being fo raifed up, which I fuppofe that feveral 
 others will teftifie as well as myfelf, when call'd 
 unto it. Witnefs my Hand, 
 
 SAMUEL AFES.^^ 
 
 43 A Family of this Name is fup- Savage had never read of Samuel 
 
 pofed to have lived at the Corner Aves. Whether he was of the Fam- 
 
 of Lynn Street and Henchman's ily of John Aves, banifhed for at- 
 
 Lane, as that Corner for a long tempting to burn the Town in 1679, 
 
 Period was known as Aves's Corner, is not known. — Hiji. Bojlon, 43 1.
 
 [23] Tejlimonials. 69 
 
 WE can alfo Teftifie to the fubftance of what 
 is above Written, and have feveral times feen 
 [23] Margaret Rule fo lifted up from her Bed, as 
 that fhe had no ufe of her own Lims to help her 
 up, but it was the declared apprehenfion of us, as 
 well as others that faw it, impoffible for any 
 hands, but fome of the Invifible World to lift 
 her. 
 
 ROBERT EARLE.^ 
 Copia JOHN WILKIN S. 
 
 DAN. WILLIAMS. 
 
 WE, whofe Names are under- writted do tefti- 
 iie. That one Evening when we were in 
 the Chamber where Margaret Rule then lay, in 
 her late Afflidiion, we obferved her to be, by an 
 Invifible Force, lifted up from the Bed whereon 
 file lay, fo as to touch the Garret Floor, while yet 
 neither her Feet, nor any other part of her Body 
 refled either on the Bed, or any other fupport, 
 but were alfo by the fame force, lifted up from 
 all that was under her, and all this for a confider- 
 able while, we judg'd it feveral Minutes ; and it 
 was as much as feveral of us could do, with all 
 our ftrength to pull her down. All which hap- 
 pened when there was not only we two in the 
 
 *• ' Robert Earl was the Prifon- Of Williams, no certain Trace is 
 keeper or Jailor of the Town at an found. Their Obfcurity will pro- 
 early Period. John Wilkins was bably fhield them from further Ex- 
 probably the Freeman of 1673. pofure.
 
 70 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [23] 
 
 Chamber, but we fuppofe ten or a dozen more, 
 whofe Names we have forgotten, 
 
 Copia THOMAS THORNTON.^^ 
 
 WilHam Hudfon'^^ Tejiifies to the fubjiance of 
 Thorntons Tejiimony, to which he alfo hath fet his 
 Hand. 
 
 Bofion, January 18, 1693. 
 Mr. Cotton Mather, 
 Reverend SIR, 
 
 YOURS of the I ^th Inftant, I receiv'd yefter- 
 day ; and foon found I had promifed myfelf 
 too much by it, viz. Either concurrence with, or 
 a denial of thofe Fundamentals mentioned in 
 mine, of Novemb. the 24/-^. finding this waved 
 by an Invitation to your Library, &c. I thank 
 God I have the Bible, and do Judge that fufficient 
 to demonftrate that cited Head of Mr, Gaule, to 
 be a Truth, as alfo thofe other Heads mentioned, 
 as the Foundations of Religion. And in my ap- 
 prehenfion, if it be afked any Chriftian, whether 
 God governs the World, and whether it be he 
 only can Commiffionate Devils, and fuch other 
 Fundamentals, He ought to be as ready as in the 
 Queftion, who made him ? (a little Writing cer- 
 tainly might be of more ufe, to clear up the con- 
 troverted points, than either looking over many 
 
 45 Son of Timothy Thornton. ^6 Perhaps Son of the firft Wil- 
 His Occupation was that of a Pa- liam Hudfon, one of the firft Set- 
 ver, tiers of Bofton,
 
 [2+] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, CM. 71 
 
 Books in a well furnifh'd Library, or than a dif- 
 pute, if I were qualified for it ; the Inconvenien- 
 cies of Paffion being this way befl avoided) And 
 am not without hopes that you will yet oblige 
 me fo far, as to confider that Letter, and if I Err, 
 to let me fee it by Scripture, <£?<:. 
 
 Yours, almoft the whole of it, is concerning 
 the Narrative I fent to you, and you feem to inti- 
 mate as if I were giving Characters, Refle6li-[24 
 ons, and Libell's, &c. concerning yourfelf anc. 
 Relations ; all which 'were as far from my 
 thoughts, as ever they were in writing after either 
 yourfelf, or any other Minifter. In the front you 
 declare your apprehenfion to be, that the Afflicted 
 was under a Diabolical Poffeffion, and if fo, I fee 
 not how it fhould be occafion'd by any Witch- 
 craft (unlefs we afcribe that Power to a Witch, 
 which is only the Prerogative of the Almighty, 
 of Sending or Commiffionating the Devils to 
 Affli6t her.) But to your particular Objections 
 againft the Narrative ; and to the firfl my intel- 
 ligence not giving me any further, I could not 
 infert that I knew not. And it feems improbable 
 that a Queftion fliould be put, whether fhe knew 
 (or rather who they were) and at the fame time 
 to charge her, and that upon her Life, not to tell, 
 and if you had done fo, I fee but little good you 
 could promife yourfelf or others by it, fhe being 
 Polfeft, as alfo having it inculcated fo much to 
 her of Witchcraft. And as to the next Objedtion 
 about company flocking, ^c. I do profefs my
 
 72 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [24] 
 
 Ignorance, not knowing what you mean by it. 
 And Sir, that moil of the Queflions did carry 
 with them a prefuppofing the things inquired 
 after, is evident, if there were fuch as thofe 
 relating to the Black-man and a Book, and about 
 her hearing the Prayer, &c. (related in the faid 
 Narrative, which I find no Obje6lion againft.) 
 As to that which is faid of mentioning yourfelf 
 firft difcourfings and your hopes that your breed- 
 ing was better (I doubt it not) nor do I doubt 
 your Father might firfi: • apply himfelf to others ; 
 but my intelligence is, that you firft fpake to the 
 Afflidted or Pofi^effed, for which you had the ad- 
 vantage of a nearer approach. The next two 
 Objections are founded upon miftakes : I find 
 not in the Narrative any fuch Queftion, as 
 how many Witches fit upon you ? and that her 
 Breafi: was not covered, in which thofe material 
 words, (with the Bed-Cloaths) are wholly omit- 
 ted ; I am not willing to retort here your own 
 Language upon you ; but can tell you, that your 
 own difcourfe of it publickly, at Sir W. P's Table, 
 has much more contributed to, ^c. As to the 
 Reply, if fhe could fhe would not tell, whether 
 either or both fpake it it matters not much. 
 Neither does the Narrative fay you felt the live 
 thing on her Belly ; tho I omit now to fay what 
 further demonfi:rations there are of it. As to 
 that Reply, that is only her fancy, I find the 
 word (her) added. And as to your Fathers feel- 
 ing for the live Creature after you had felt it, if
 
 bs] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. C. M. 73 
 
 it were on the Bed it was not fo very far from 
 her. And for the length of his Prayer, poflibly 
 your Witnelfes might keep a more exadl account 
 of the time than thofe others, and I fland not for 
 a few Minutes. For the reft of the Objections 
 I fuppofe them of lefs moment, if lefs can be 
 (however fhall be ready to receive them, thofe 
 matters of greateft concern I find no Objections 
 againft) thefe being all that yet appear, it may be 
 thought that if the Narrative be not [25] fully 
 exaCt, it was as near as Memory could bear away ; 
 but fhould be glad to fee one more perfed: (which 
 yet is not to be expedied, feeing none writ at the 
 time.) You mention the appendix, by which I 
 underftand the Second Vifit, and if you be by the 
 polfelTed belyed (as being half an hour with her 
 alone (excluding her own Mother) and as telling 
 her you had Prayed for her Nine times that day, 
 and that now was her Laughing time, ftie muft 
 Laugh now) I can fee no Wonder in it ; what 
 can be expedied lefs from the Father of Lies, by 
 whom, you Judge, fhe was pofTeft. 
 
 And befides the above Letter, you were pleafed 
 to fend me another Paper containing feveral Tef- 
 timonies of the Poflefied being lifted up, and 
 held a fpace of feveral Minutes to the Garret 
 floor, &c. but they omit giving the account, 
 whether after fhe was down they bound her 
 down : or kept holding her : And relate not 
 how many were to pull her down, which hinders 
 the knowledge what number they muft be to be
 
 74 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [25] 
 
 ftronger than an Invilible Force. Upon the 
 whole, I fuppofe you exped: I fhould believe it ; 
 and if fo, the only advantage gain'd, is that w^hich 
 has been fo long controverted between Protectants 
 and Papifts, whether miracles are ceaft, will 
 hereby feem to be decided for the latter; it 
 being, for ought I can fee, if fo, as true a Miracle 
 as for Iron to fwim, and that the Devil can work 
 fuch Miracles. 
 
 But Sir, leaving thefe little difputable things, I 
 do again pray that you would let me have the 
 happinefs of your approbation or confutation of 
 that Letter before referred to. 
 
 And now. Sir, that the God of all Grace may 
 enable us Zealoully to own his Truths, and to 
 follow thofe things that tend to Peace, and that 
 yourfelf may be as an ufeful Inftrument in his 
 hand, effedtually to ruin the remainders of 
 Heathenifh and Popifh Superftitions, is the 
 earneft delire and prayer of yours to command, 
 in what I may. R. C. 
 
 Pojifcript — Sir, I here fend you the Coppy of 
 a paper that lately came to my Hands, which tho' 
 it contains no Wonders, yet is remarkable, and 
 Runs thus.
 
 [26] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, C. M. 75 
 
 An account of what an Indian told Cap- 
 tain Hill^^'^ at Saco-Fort, 
 
 THE Indian told him that the French Minijiers 
 were better than the Englijh^ for before the 
 French cajfie among them there were a great many 
 Witches among the Indians, but now there were 
 none^ and there were much Witches among the 
 EngUfh Minijiers, as Burroughs, who was Hangd 
 for it. 
 
 Were I difpofed to make refledtions upon it, I 
 fuppofe you will Judge the Field large, enough, 
 but I forbear, as above. R. C. 
 
 [26] Bojion Feb. the \<^th, 1693. 
 Mr. Cotton Mather, 
 
 Reverend Sir, Having received as yet no 
 Anfwer to mine of Novemb. the 24th. except 
 an offer to perufe Books, &c. relating to the Doc- 
 trinals therein contain'd : Nor to my laft of fan- 
 
 '^1 Captain John Hill, of whom God in Chrift, have, with much 
 
 Dr. Ufher Parfons has given an in- Sorrow of Heart, declared how 
 
 terefting and ample Account in the they had, whilft in their Heathen- 
 
 N. E. Hift. and Gen. Reg. for ifm by the Hands of Evil Angels 
 
 April and July, 1858. Murdered their Neighbors." — Dr. 
 
 As a Contraft to the next Sen- I. Mather, to the Reader in Angelo- 
 
 tence of the Text take this : "Some graphia. In the valuable Collec- 
 
 of the Indian Pawawes (/. e., Wiz^ tion of Dr. J. S. H. Fogg, of S. 
 
 zards) in this Country, have re- Bofton, are many of the Papers 
 
 ceived the Gofpel, and given Good of Capt. Hill, of much Intereft on 
 
 Evidence of a True Converfion to the Period referred to. 
 
 o
 
 76 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [26] 
 
 uary the i8th. In which I did again pray that if 
 I err'd I might be fhewed it by Scripture, Viz. in 
 beUeving that the Devils bounds are fett, which 
 he cannot pafs ; that the Devils are fo full of 
 Malice that it cant be added to by Mankind : 
 That where he hath power he neither can nor 
 will omit Executing it ; That it's only the Al- 
 mighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only 
 can commiffionate him to hurt or deftroy any ; 
 And confequently to deteft as erroneous and dan- 
 gerous, the belief that a Witch can Commiffionate 
 Devils to Afflid; Mortals ; That he can at his or 
 the Witches pleafure affiime any fliape : That 
 Hanging or Chaining of Witches can leiTen his 
 Power of Afflidiing, and reftore thofe that were, 
 at a diftance. Tormented by him. And whether 
 Witchcraft ought to be underflood now in this 
 Age, to be the fame that it was when the Divine 
 Oracles were given forth, particularly, thofe quoted 
 by Mr. Gaiile in that cited Head [tVojiders of the 
 Invijible World ;^^ Mr. Gauks IV. Head, to dif- 
 cover Witches) which do fo plainly ffiew a Witch, 
 in Scripture-fenfe to be one that maligne, &c. 
 And that pretend to give a Sign in order to fe- 
 duce, &c. For I have never underftood in my 
 time, any fuch have Suffered as Witches, tho' 
 fufficiently known ; But the only Witch now 
 inquired after, is one that is faid to become fo by 
 making an Explicit Covenant with the Devil, /'. e. 
 the Devil appearing to them, and making a com- 
 
 ■^^ See Vol. I, Page 37, of thefe Volumes.
 
 [27] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, C. M. 77 
 
 pad: mutually, promifing each to other, teftified 
 by their iigning his Book, a material Book, which 
 he is faid to keep and that thereby they are Inti- 
 tuled to a power, not only to Afflidt others, but 
 fuch as is truly exorbitant, if not highly intrench- 
 ing upon the prerogative of him, who is the 
 Soveraign being ; For who is he that faith, and 
 it cometh to pafs, when the Lord commandeth 
 it not. 
 
 Such explicit Covenant being as is faid in this 
 Age reckoned elfential to compleat a Witch : Yet 
 I finding nothing of fuch covenant (or power 
 thereby obtain'd) in Scripture, and yet a Witch 
 therein fo fully defcrib'd, do pray that if there be 
 any fuch Scriptures I may be directed to them, 
 for as to the many Legends in this cafe I make 
 no account of them ; I Read indeed of a Cove- 
 nant with Death and with Hell, but fuppofe that 
 to be in the Heart (or Mental) only, and fee not 
 what ufe fuch explicit one can be of between 
 Spirits, any further than as 'tis a Copy of that 
 Mental which is in the Heart. The dire effeds 
 and confequences of fuch notion may be found 
 written in indelible Koman Characters of Blood 
 in all Countryes where they have prevail'd, and 
 what can lefs be [27] expedied when Men are 
 Indicted for that, which, as 'tis impoffible to 
 prove fo, for any to clear himfelf of. Viz, Such 
 explicit Covenant with the Devil, and then for 
 want of better Evidence, mufl: take up with fuch as 
 the Nature of fuch fecret Covenant can bear, as Mr.
 
 78 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [27] 
 
 Gaule hath it, /. e. Diftra6ted Stories, and ftrange 
 and Foreign Events, ^c. Thereby endeavouring 
 to find it, though by it's but fuppofed efFedls ; 
 By the fame Rules that one is put to purge 
 himfelf of fuch Compad:, by the fame may all 
 Mankind.+9 
 
 This then being fo Important a cafe, it con- 
 cerns all to know what Foundations in Scripture 
 is laid for fuch a Structure ; For if they are defi- 
 cient of that Warrant, the more Eminent the 
 Architedis are the more dangerous are they 
 thereby rendered, ^c. Thefe are fuch confidera- 
 tions as I think will vindicate me in the efteem 
 of all Lovers of Humanity, in my endeavours to 
 get them cleared. And to that End, do once 
 more pray, that you would fo farr oblige me as to 
 give your Approbation or Confutation of the 
 above Dodlrinals ; But if you think filence a 
 Vertue in this cafe, I fhall (I fuppofe) fo far 
 comply with it as not to loofe you any more 
 time to look over my papers. And if any others 
 will fo far oblige me, I Ihall not be ungrateful to 
 them ; Praying God to guide and profper you, I 
 am. Sir, yours to my power, 
 
 R. C. 
 
 (He that doth Truths comet h to the Light.) 
 
 40 The Abfurdity of the Praftice Days. The Praftice of infulting 
 
 of the Courts then in Ufe, in their and browbeating thofe on Trial was 
 
 fliocking Abufes of accufed Perfons, according to the Cuftom of the 
 
 will be found in all its Deformity, Englifh Courts of thofe Days, and 
 
 on perufing the Trials of thofe for a long Time after.
 
 [27] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. C. M. 79 
 
 Bofton April the \t>th, 1694. 
 
 Mr. Cotton Mather. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 HAVING as yet Received no Anfwer to my 
 laft, touching the Doftrinals therein refer- 
 red to, tho' at the deHvery of it, you were pleafed 
 to promife the Gentleman that prefented it, that 
 I fhould have it, and after that you acqainted the 
 fame Gentleman that you were about it. The 
 length of time iince thofe promifes, makes me 
 fuppofe you are preparing fomething for the Prefs 
 (for I would not queftion your veracity) do think 
 it may not be amifs, when you do any thing of that 
 Nature for the publick view, that you alfo explain 
 fome paiTages of fome late Books of yours and 
 your Relations, which are hard to be underftood, 
 to Inftance in a few of many Wonders of the 
 Invifible Worlds pag. 17. [Plagues are fo7ne of thefe 
 woes with which the Devil caufes our Trouble^ pag. 
 1 8 . Hence cotne fuch Plagues as that befom of de- 
 fruSlion which within our Memory fwept away fuch 
 a throng of People from one Englifh city, in one 
 Viftation. Wars are fome of thofe woes with which 
 the Devil caufes our Trouble, pag. 16. Hence 'tis 
 that the Devil like a Dragon keeping a Guard upon 
 fuch Fruits as would refrejh a Languijlnng World, 
 has hindered Mankind for many Ages from hitting 
 upon thofe ufefull Inventions. The benighted World 
 muf Jogg on for thoufands of Tears, without the
 
 8o A Letter to Mr, C. M. [28] 
 
 knowledge of the Load-Jlone, Printing and SpeBa- 
 cles, pag. 10, It is [28] not likely that every Devil 
 does know every Language. ' Tis pojjible the Expe- 
 rience, or if I may call it fo, the Education of all 
 Devils is not alike ; Cafes of confcience, page 63. 
 'The Devil has itzfiBed on many the Difeafe call'd 
 Lycanthropia.5° 
 
 Memor. provid. Relat. to Witch. Difc. on 
 Wit. pag. 24. / a?n alfo apt to think that the Devils 
 are feldom able to hurt us in any of our exteriour 
 concerns, without a ComtniJ/ion fro?n fojne of our 
 fellow Worms. When foul Mouth' d Men Jliall wijh 
 harm to their Neighbours, they give a Commijfon to 
 the Devil to perform what they defre, and if God 
 Jljould not Mercifully prevent, they would go thro 
 with it ; Hear this you that in wilde PaJ/iojt will 
 give every thing to the Devil; Hear it you that be- 
 fpeak a Rot, a Pox, or a Plague, on all that Jlo all 
 provoke you ; I here IndiB you as Guilty of Hellifli 
 Witchcraft in the Sight of God. More Wonders 
 of the Invifible World, pag. 49. They each of 
 them have their SpeBres or Devils Comtnifponed by 
 them and reprefenting of them, pag. 14. But fuch 
 a permijjion from God for the Devil to conie down 
 and break in upon Mankind ?nuf often times be ac- 
 companied with a Cnmmijpon frofu fo?ne of Mankind 
 itfelf Inchantments Encountered. Thefe Witches 
 
 •5^ Nothing was more common in thofe Sliapes they attended Witch 
 
 among thofe who imagined them- Meetings. At fuch Meetings the 
 
 felves bewitched, than the Notion Devil was always prefent, and adled 
 
 that they were transformed into as Mailer of Ceremonies. A very 
 
 Cats, and other Animals; and that fure Evidence of Infanity.
 
 [28] A Letter to Mr. C. M. 8i 
 
 ha've driven a "Trade of CoiJimiffionating their con- 
 federate Spirits, to do all forts of Mif chiefs to their 
 Neighbours, pag. 50. They have bewitched fome 
 even fo far r, as to make them Self dejir oyer s, pag. 
 144. As I a?n abundantly fatisfedy that many of 
 the Self-murders comniitted here, have been the ef- 
 fects of a cruel and Bloody Witchcraft, letting fy 
 Daemons upon the Miferable Seneca's, pag. 5 1 . We 
 have feen fome of their Children fo Dedicated to the 
 Devil, that in their Infancy the hnps have fucked 
 the?n. Cafes of confcience, pag. 24. They be- 
 queath their Daemons to their Children as a Legacy, 
 by whom they are often aj/ijled to fee and do things 
 beyond the Power of Nature, pag. 2 1 . There are 
 in Spain a fort of People calFd Zahurs,^' that can 
 fee into the Bowels of the Earth. [On Tuefdays 
 and Fridays,] (and to add) that in pag. 49. The 
 words are [For the Law of God allows of no Reve- 
 lation fro?n any other Spirit but himfelf If a. viii. 
 19. It is a Sin againji God to ?nake ufe of the 
 Devils help, to know that which cannot be otherways 
 known ; and I tefify againfl it as a great traiif- I 
 grej/ion, which may Jujlly provoke the Holy one of \ 
 Ifrael, to let loofe Devils on the whole Land?\ Al- ' 
 tho the Devils Accufation may be fo far regarded, 
 as to caufe an inquiry into the Truth of things, 
 fob. i. II, 12, and ii, 5, 6. Tet not fo as to be an 
 
 51 Called in Captain John Ste- or into a Man's Body ; a Cheat put 
 
 vens's Spanijh and Englijh DiSiion- upon the Ignorant." There is fome- 
 
 tfrj, CtfW/, which is defined, "one thing very fimilar in our Times, 
 
 that pretends to fee into the Bowels even leaving out the Founder of" the 
 
 of the Earth, through Stone Walls, Mormon Seft.
 
 82 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [29] 
 
 'Evidence or Ground of ConviBion, for the Devils 
 Tejiimony ought not to be taken in JVHOLE Nor 
 In PART.^ It is a known Truth, that fome 
 unwary expreffions of the primative Fathers, were 
 afterwards improved for the Introducing and ef- 
 tabUfhing of Error, as their calHng the Virgin 
 Mary^ the Mother of God, &c. Hence occafion 
 and Advantage was taken to propagate the Idol- 
 izing of her (the Hke might be faid of the Eu- 
 cha[^Z()\riJi, thefe affertions, above rehearfed, being 
 apparently liable to a like Male Conftrudiion, and 
 no lefs dangerous, are therefore as I faid highly- 
 needful to be explain'd, and that in a moft pub- 
 lick manner. For were they to be underftood 
 Litterally and as they are fpoken, it muft feem as 
 if the Authors were Introducing among Chriftians 
 very dangerous Doctrines, fuch, as were they af- 
 ferted by the beft of Men, yet ought to be 
 rejected by all, &c. Viz. That 'tis the Devil that 
 brings the mofl of Evils upon Mankind, by way 
 of Infliction, that do befall theln ; And that the 
 Witch can commiffionate him to the performance 
 of thefe, with many others as dangerous Doc- 
 trines, and fuch as feem in their tendency to look 
 favourably upon the Antient Pagan Docflrine of 
 this countrey, who did believe that God did hurt 
 to none, but Good to all, but that the Devil muft 
 be pleaf'd by Worfhipping, &c. From whom 
 came all their Miferies, as they believed. For 
 what were all this but to Rob God of his Glory 
 in the higheft manner, and giving it to a Devil
 
 [29] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 83 
 
 and a Witch ; Is it not he that has faid fhall there 
 be Evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it ? 
 But if any are fond of their own notions becaufe 
 fome Eminent Men have before now aflerted 
 them ; they may do well to compare them with 
 that excellent faying, Wonders of the Invijtble 
 World, pag. 7. \^About this Devil there are many 
 things, whereof we may reafonably and profitably 
 be inquifitive, fuch things I mean as are in our Bi- 
 bles reveal' d to us ; according to which if we do not 
 fpeak on fo dark a SubjeB, but according to our 
 own uncertain and perhaps Humourfom ConjeBures, 
 there is no Light in us. Or that other, pag. y^. 
 At every other Weapon the Devil will be too hard 
 for «j-,] For 'tis moil certain that other Notions, 
 Weapons and Practices have been taken up with ; 
 And that the event has been anfwerable, the 
 Devil has been too hard for fuch as have fo done. 
 I Ihall forbear to inftance from the Dogmatical 
 part, and fhall mention fome praftices that as 
 much need explaining. Mem. provid. Relat. to 
 Witch, pag. 29, 30, 31.5^ Where account is given 
 that it was Pray'd for that the afflicfled might be 
 able to declare, whom fhe apprehended herfelf 
 Afflidted by, together with the Immediate anfwer 
 of fuch Prayer. To this you once Reply'd when 
 it was mentioned to you, that you did not then 
 underftand the wiles of Satan. 
 
 52 This Work, here often refer- Providences relating to Witchcraft 
 red to, was printed in 1689. Its aytd PoOeJJions, in a i6mo. But 
 more extended Title is. Memorable few Copies are known to exift.
 
 84 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [30] 
 
 To which I have nothing to objedt, but it 
 might be a good Acknowledgment ; But con- 
 fidering that the Book is gone forth into all the 
 World, cannot but think the Salve ought to be 
 proportion'd to the Sore, and the notice of the 
 Devils wiles as Univerfal, as the means recom- 
 mending them. Another Praftice \% pag. 20, 21. 
 [ 'There was one Jingular pajpon that frequently at- 
 tended her, an Invijibk Chain would be clapt about 
 her, and Jhe in much pain and fear cry out when 
 they began to put it on, once I did with my own hand 
 knock it off as it began to be fajiened about her.^ [30] 
 If this were done by the power or Vertue of any 
 ord'nance of Divine Inftitution, it is well, but 
 would have been much better if the Inftitution 
 had been demonftrated, or was there any Phyfical 
 Vertue in that particular Hand. But fuppofing 
 that neither of thefe will be alTerted by the Au- 
 thor, I do think it very requifite, that the World 
 may be acquainted with the Operation, and to 
 what Art or Craft to refer their Power of Knock- 
 ing off Invifble Chains. 
 
 And thus. Sir, I have Faithfully difcharged 
 (what in this I took to be my Duty) and am fo 
 far from doing it to gain applaufe, or from a 
 Spirit of Contradidlion, that I exped: to procure 
 me many Enemies thereby, (but as in cafe of a 
 Fire) where the Glory of God, and the Good 
 and Wellfare of Mankind are fo nearly concern'd, 
 I thought it my duty to be no longer an Idle 
 Spediator ; And can, and do fay, to the Glory of
 
 [30] A Letter to Mr, B. 85 
 
 God, in this whole Affair, I have endeavoured a 
 Confcience voide of offence, both tow^ards God 
 and towards Man ; And therein at the leaft have 
 the advantage of fuch as are very Jealous they 
 have done fo much herein, as to Sin in what they 
 have done, viz. In fheltring the Accufed, fuch 
 have been the Cowardice and Fearfulnefs, where- 
 unto the regard to the Diffatisfadlion of other 
 People have precipitated them ; Which by the 
 way muff needs acquaint all, that for the future 
 other meafures are refolved upon (by fuch) which 
 how Bloody they may prove when opportunity 
 fhall offer, is with him who orders all things, 
 according to the counfel of his own Will : And 
 now that the Song of Angels may be the Emula- 
 tion of Men, is the earnefl Delire, and Prayer, of 
 Sir, Yours to Command in what I may, 
 
 R. C. 
 Glory to God in the Higheji, and on Earth 
 Peace and good Will towards Men. 
 
 Bojlon, March the iji. 1694. 
 Mr. B.53 Worthy Sir, 
 
 AFTER more than a Years waiting for the 
 performance of a reiterated promife from 
 one under lingular obligations, and a multitude 
 
 53 1 fuppofe Mr. Thomas Brattle, an Account of the Witchcraft of 
 
 the then Treafurer of Harvard Col- 1692, which laid in Manufcript 
 
 lege. He was a principal Founder about one hundred Years, when 
 
 of the Church in Brattle Square, Dr. Belknap caufed it to be printed 
 
 known by his Name. He wrote in Part, in the Colls. Ms. H. So-
 
 86 A Letter to Mr, B. [31] 
 
 of advantages to have done* it fooner. The utmoft 
 compliance I have mett with, is (by your Hands) 
 the fight of four Sheets of recinded Papers, but I 
 muft firft be obliged to return them in a Fort- 
 night, and not Copied, which I have now com- 
 plied with : And having read them am not at all 
 Surprized at the Authors Caution in it, not to 
 admit of fuch crude matter and impertinent ab- 
 furdities, as are to be found in it to fpread. He 
 feems concern'd that I take no notice of his 
 feveral Books, wherein, as he faith, he has unan- 
 fwerably proved things to which I might reply, 
 that I have fent him letters of quotations out of 
 thofe Books, to know how much of them he will 
 abide by, for I thought it hard to affix their [31] 
 Natural confequences till he had opportunity to 
 explain them. And faith that he had fent me 
 (Mr. Baxters World of Spirits) an ungainfayable 
 Book, &c. (tho I know no ungainfayable Book, 
 but the Bible) which Book I think no Man that 
 has read it, will give fuch a Title to but the Au- 
 thor, he fpeaks of my reproaching his publick 
 Sermons, of which I am not confcious to myfelf, 
 unlefs it be about his interpretation of a Thunder 
 Storm (that broke into his Houfe) which favoured 
 fo much of Enthuliafm.54^ 
 
 ciety, V, 61-80. Mr. Brattle was a It is poffible that the Initial (Mr. 
 Scholar, a Graduate of Harvard B — ) may ftand for Gov. Brad- 
 College, and, like Mr. Calef, a ftreet; but I prefume Mr. Brattle is 
 Merchant of Bofton. His Com- meant, 
 
 munications to the Royal Society of ^4 jj muft have been difficult for 
 
 London procured him the Title of a common-fenfe Man, as Mr. Calef 
 
 F. R. S. was, to hear fuch Matters treated
 
 [31] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, B. 87 
 
 As to thofe papers, I have (as I read them) 
 noted in the Margin where, in a hafly reading, I 
 thought it needful, of which it were unreafonable 
 for him to complain ; feeing I might not take a 
 Copy, thereby to have been inabled, more at lea- 
 fure to digefl what were needfull to be faid on fo 
 many Heads ; and as I have not flatter'd him, fo 
 for telling what was fo needful, with the hazard 
 of making fo many Enemies by it, I have ap- 
 proved myfelf one of his beft Friends : And 
 befides his own fenfe of the weaknefs of his An- 
 fwer, teftified by the prohibition above, he has 
 wholly declined anfwering to moft of thofe things 
 that I had his promife for, and what he pretends 
 to fpeak to, after mentioning, without the needful 
 Anfwer or Proof drops it. 
 
 His firft main Work is after his definition of a 
 Witch, which he never proves (without faying 
 any thing to Mr. Gauls Scriptural defcription, 
 tho' fo often urged to it, and tho' himfelf has in 
 his Book recommended and quoted it) is to mag- 
 nifie the Devils Power, and that as I think beyond 
 
 ferioufly in the Pulpit, and keep his ftruck with a Clap of Thunder; on 
 Rifibility under complete Control!, being taken up, his dead Body was 
 If Thunder and Lightning were the found exceeding hot, and withall 
 Work of the Devil, as it feems Mr. fmelling ftrong of Sulphur, info- 
 Mather believed, it is not very much that they were forced to drop 
 ftrange that he fhould difcoverfome him, and let him ly a confiderable 
 very odd Pranks in their Operations. Time ere he could be removed. 
 The Father (Dr. I. Mather) re- It is reported that fometimes Thun- 
 lates, among his PhiloJ'ophical Medi- der and Lightning has been gene- 
 tations, that as " a Man was walk- rated out of the fulphurous and 
 ing, in Auguft, 1682, in the Field, bituminous Matter which the firey 
 near Darking in England, he was Mountain ^tna hath caft forth."
 
 88 A Letter to Mr. B. [32] 
 
 and againft the Scripture, this takes him up about 
 1 1 Pages, and yet in Page 22 again returns to it, 
 and as I underftand it, takes part with the P hart- 
 fees againft our Saviour in the Argument, for 
 they charge him that he caft out Devils thro' 
 Beelzebub, Our Saviours Anfwer is. Mat. xii, 25. 
 Every Kingdom divided againji itfelf is brought to 
 defolation ; and every City or Houfe divided againji 
 itfelf, Jhall not ft and, and if Satan caft out Satan, 
 he is divided againft himfelf how Jhall then his King- 
 dom ft and: And yet notwithftanding this Anfwer 
 together with what follows, for further Illuftra- 
 tion, our Author is it feems refolved to aftert that 
 our Saviour did not in this Anfwer deny that 
 many did fo, {viz.) caft out Devils by Beelzebub, 
 ■ and Page 23 grants that the Devils have a Mira- 
 culous Power, but yet muft not be call'd miracles, 
 and yet can be diftinguiftied, as he intimates, only 
 by the Confcience or Light within, to the no 
 fmall fcandal of the Chriftian Religion. 
 
 Tho' our Saviour and his Apoftles accounts this 
 the chief or principal proof of his Godhead, 
 John XX. 30, 31. John x. 37, 38. Jolin v. 30. 
 Mark xvi. 17, 18. ^Bs ii. 22. and iv. 30. with 
 many others and that Miracles belong only to 
 God, who alfo Governs the World, Pfal. cxxxvi. 
 4. Jer. xiv. 22. Ifa. xxxviii. 8. Pfal. Ixii. 11. , 
 Lam. iii. 37. udmos iii. 6. [32] But to forbear 
 quoting that which the Scripture is moft full in, 
 do only fay that he that dares affert the Devil to 
 have fuch a Miraculous Power had need have
 
 [32] A Letter to Mr, B. 89 
 
 other Scriptures than ever I have feen. In Page 
 12. our Author proceeds and ftates a queftion to 
 this efFed:, If the Devil has fuch Pow^ers, and cant 
 exert them without permiffion from God, what 
 can the Witch contribute thereunto ? Inftead of 
 an Anfwer, to this weighty objed:ion, our Author 
 firft concedes that the Devil's do ordinarily exert 
 their Powers, without the Witches contributing 
 to it, but yet that to the end to increafe their 
 guilt he may cheat a Witch, by making her be- 
 lieve herfelf the Author of them.^s His next 
 is, if Witchcraft be, as I fuppofe it is, the £kill of 
 applying the Plaftic Spirit of the World, &c. then 
 the confent of the Witch doth naturally contri- 
 bute to that mifchiefs that the Devil does. And 
 his laft anfwer runs to this effect. Is it not the 
 Ordination of God, that where the Devil can get 
 the confent of a Witch for the hurting of others, 
 the hurt fhall as certainly be as if they had fet 
 MaflifF Dogs upon them, or had given them 
 Poyfon into their Bowels; and Gods Providence 
 muft be as great in delivering from one as from 
 the other, and this it feems is not only his Belief, 
 but the moft Orthodox and moft learned anfwer 
 that our Author could pitch upon. If Witch- 
 craft be as I fuppofe it is, ^c. and is it not the 
 
 •''5 There feems always to have fure us that the Devil commiffions 
 
 been great Confufion, and no the Witch, and fometimes that the 
 
 lels Perplexity, among Believers in Witch governs the Devil. Hence, 
 
 Witchcraft refpefting the Parts to be even Believers are very much puz- 
 
 affigned to the Devil and the Witch zled to know what to believe. See 
 
 refpedively. Sometimes they af- Vol. I, Introd., Pages xviii, xix.
 
 90 A Letter to Mr. B. [32] 
 
 Ordination of God, that, ^c. What is all this 
 but precarious, and begging the queftion, and a 
 plain dropping the Argument he cannot manage ; 
 however, to amufe the Ignorant, and to confound 
 the Learned, he hooks in a cramp word, if not a 
 nonentity, (yiz.) Plajiic Spirit of the World, for 
 who is it either knows that there is a Plajiic Spirit, 
 or what it is, or how this can any way ferve his 
 purpofe.5^ 
 
 He then proceeds to Scripture Inftances of 
 Witches, &c. and where I thought it needful, I 
 have, as I faid, fhewed my diffent from his Judg- 
 ment : He accounts it unreaionable to be held 
 to the proof of his definition of a Witch, which 
 he makes to confift in a Covenant with the Devil, 
 and chufes rather a tedious procefs about a Piftol 
 to defend him from it, which indeed is one par- 
 ticular way whereby Murder has been Committed, 
 and fo the Dore becomes Culpable ; But his defi- 
 nition of a Witch, which as I faid, ftill remains 
 to be proved, is to this effed:. That a Witch is one 
 that Covenants with, and Commiffions Devils to 
 
 ^'^' It would no doubt puzzle the the World. It is faid, Ifa. 65, 20. 
 
 Devil himfelf to explain that Term, That the Sinner of an hundred Tears 
 
 Plajiic Spirit. It appears to have Jhall be accurfed. But then what 
 
 been made ufe of for the fame (hall the Sinner be that is more than 
 
 Reafcn that a certain Fifh difcolors 5000 Years old ? The Devil and 
 
 the Water when purfued by an all the Angels that finned with him. 
 
 Enemy. are Sinners of above 5000 Years 
 
 The following Ideas refpcfting old, and will therefore become the 
 
 the Devil then entertained may not moil accurfed and damned Crea- 
 
 be out of Place in this Connexion : tures in the whole Univerfe at the 
 
 (( ' 
 
 The Devil is the oldeft Sinner, Great Day." — Dr. I. Mather, An- 
 and the moft curfed Creature in all gelographia, 120.
 
 [33] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. B. 91 
 
 do mifchiefs, that fhe is one in Covenant, or that 
 by Vertue of fuch Covenant fhe can Commiffion- , 
 ate him tD Kill. The not bringing Scripture to 
 prove thefe tv^o, is a fufficient demonflration there 
 is none ; and fo that our Author leaves off jufl 
 vv^here he began, ^2;. in a bare Affertion, together 
 with his own Biggoted experiences, hinting alfo 
 at multitudes of Hiftories to confirm him in the 
 belief of his definition. Here being all that I 
 take notice of to be confiderable. 
 
 [33] And now. Sir, if you think fit to improve 
 your Friendfhip with the Author for the Glory 
 of God, the Sovereign Being, the good and wel- 
 fare of Mankind^ and for his real and true Intereft, 
 as you fee it convenient, put him in mind. That 
 the Glory of God is the end why Mankind was 
 made, and why He hath fo many Advantages to 
 it. That the Flames we have feen threatning 
 the utter extirpation of the Country, muft own 
 their Original to thefe dangerous Errors (if not 
 herefies) which if they remain Unextinguifhed, 
 may and moft likely will be ad:ed over again. 
 
 That 'tis more Honour to own an Error in 
 time, than tenacioufly after full Conviction to re- 
 tain it. But if our Author will again Vindicate 
 fuch matters, pleafe to acquaint him, that I fhall 
 not any more receive his Papers, if I may not 
 Copy and ufe them ; and that when he does, 
 inftead of fuch abftruife matters, I ftill pray his 
 determination in thofe things I have his promife 
 
 Q
 
 92 A Letter to the Minijiers, [33] 
 
 for. And thus begging Pardon for thus long 
 detaining of you, I am. Sir, your to Command, 
 
 . R. C. 
 
 Bofton, March 18, 1694. 
 
 To the Minijiers J whether Englifh, French, 
 
 or Dutch, 
 
 I Having had not only occafion, but renewed 
 provocation to take a view of the Myfterious 
 Doctrines, which have of late been fo much con- 
 tefted among us, could not meet with any that 
 had fpoken more, or more plainly the fenfe of 
 thofe Doctrines (relating to the Witchcraft) than 
 the Reverend Mr. C. M. but how clearly and 
 confiftent, either with himfelf or the truth, I 
 medle not now to fay, but cannot but fuppofe his 
 ftrenuous and Zealous alTerting his opinions, has 
 been one caufe of the difmal Convulfions we have 
 here lately fallen into ; Suppoiing that his Books 
 of Memorable Providences, relating to Witchcraft, 
 as alfo his Wonders of the Invifble World, did 
 contain in them things not warrantable, and very 
 dangerous, I fent to him a Letter of Quotations 
 out of thofe Books, <£?<;. 
 
 That fo, if it might have been, I might under- 
 ftand what tollerable Senfe he would put upon 
 his own words, which I took to be a better 
 way of Proceeding, than to have affixed what I 
 thought to be their natural confequences, and left 
 I might be Judged a Sceptic I gave him a full
 
 [34] A Letter to the Minijlers. 93 
 
 and free account of my belief relating to thofe 
 Dodrines, together with the grounds thereof; 
 And prayed him that if I err'd I might be fhewed 
 it by Scripture, and this I had his reiterated promife 
 for. But after more than a Years waiting for the 
 performance thereof, all that is done in compli- 
 ance therewith, is that in Feb. laft, he fent me 
 four fheets of his writing as his behef, but before 
 I might receive it I muft engage to deliver it back 
 in a Fortnight and not Copy'd.57 A Summary 
 account [34] of which I Ihall give you, when I 
 have firft acquainted you what the Dodirines were 
 which I fent to him for his concurrence with, or 
 confutation of, and to which I had his promife, 
 
 as above. 
 
 Thefe by way of Queftion, {Fiz.) whether that 
 fourth Head cited and recommended by himfelf 
 (In Wonders of the Invifible World, of Mr. Gauls) 
 ought to be believed as a truth, which runs thus ; 
 Among the moft unhappy circumftances to Con- 
 vidt a Witch, one is a MaHgning and Oppugning 
 the Word, Work, and Worihip of God, and 
 feeking by any Extraordinary fign to feduce any 
 from it, Beut. xiii. i, 2. Mat. xxiv. 24. ABs 
 xiii. 8, 10. 2 Tim. iii. 8. do but mark well the 
 
 57 In Anfwer to this, the Dr. fays : fwer which every impartial Reader 
 
 " The Reafon that made me unwil- will decide, redounds entirely to the 
 
 ling to truft any of my Writings in Credit of Mr. Calcf, and that Cz- 
 
 the Hands of this Man, was becaufe vilit^j is alfo altogether on his bide. 
 
 I faw the Weaver (though he pre- Yet, in an Air of Triumph the Doc- 
 
 fumes to call himfelf a Merchant) tor adds: '^Th^ Antifcriptural Doc- 
 
 was a Stranger to all the Rules of trines cfpoufed by this Man^do alio 
 
 Civility." This is the Kind of An- call for no further Anfwer.'
 
 94- A hetter to the Minijiers. [34] 
 
 places, and for this very property of thus op- 
 pugning and perverting, they are all there con- 
 cluded arrant and abfolute Witches. 
 
 And if in Witchcraft the Devil by means of a 
 Witch does the Mifchief, how 'tis poffible to 
 diftinguifh it from PolTeffion, both being faid to 
 be performed by the Devil, and yet without an 
 Infallible difl:ind;ion there can be no certainty in 
 Judgment. And whether it can be proved that 
 the Jewi/h Church in any Age before, or in our 
 Saviours time, even in the time of their greateft 
 Apoftacy did believe that a Witch had power to 
 Commiffionate Devils to do Mifchief. 
 
 So much to the Queftions. Thefe were fent 
 as my belief : That the devils bounds are fett, 
 that he cant pafs ; That the devils are fo full of 
 Malice, that it cant be added to by Mankind ; 
 That where he hath power he neither can nor 
 will omit executing it ; That 'tis only the Al- 
 mighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only 
 can Commiffionate him to hurt or deftroy. And 
 now I fhall give you the Summary account of his 
 four fheets above mentioned, as near as memory 
 could recoiled:, in Ten Particulars. 
 
 I. That the Devils have in their Natures a 
 power to work Wonders and Miracles ; particu- 
 larly that the Pharifees were not miftaken in 
 alTerting that the Devils might be caft out by 
 Beelzebub ; and that our Saviours Anfwer does not 
 oppofe that affertion ; and that he hath the Power 
 of Death, that he can make the mofl Solid things
 
 [34] A Letter to the Minijlers, 95 
 
 Invifible; and can Invifibly bring poyfon and 
 force it. down Peoples Throats. s^ 
 
 2. That to alTert this Natural, wonderful Power 
 of the Devil, makes moft for the Glory of God, 
 in preferving Man from its effefts, 
 
 3. Yet this Power is reftrained by the Al- 
 mighty, as pleafeth him. 
 
 4. That a Witch is one that makes a Covenant 
 with the Devil. 
 
 5. That by vertue of fuch a Covenant, fhe ar- 
 rives at a Power to Commiffionate him. 
 
 6. That God has ordain'd, that when the Devil 
 is call'd upon by the Witch, tho' he were before 
 reftrained by the Almighty, the defired mifchiefs 
 
 ■5S In this Connexion it may be 
 interefting to have the Views of Dr. 
 Increafe Mather refpe£ling the At- 
 tributes of the Devil. 
 
 " There were many of them [the 
 Devils Angels] that were concerned 
 in that firft Tranfgreffion and Re- 
 bellion againft the Lord. It is faid, 
 Ephef. 2. 3. That the Devil is the 
 Prince of the Power of the Air. 
 So that there is a Power, an Hojl, 
 a vaft Army of thofe Evil Spirits, 
 that did joyn with the Devil, in fet- 
 ting themfelves againft the Great 
 God. How many, is not for us to 
 fay, the Written Word of God not 
 fpeaking anything as to the Quantity 
 of their Number; only it is mani- 
 feft from the Scripture, that there 
 are far more Angels that have fin- 
 ned, far more Devils than there are 
 Men in all the World. There is 
 not a Man in the whole World but 
 
 there are Devils to tempt him con- 
 tinually. And if fo, they muft needs 
 be more in Number than Men are. 
 We read in the Gofpel of no lefs 
 than a Legion of Devils in one poor 
 miferable Man. Luk. 8, 30. You 
 read there of a pofTefed Man, and 
 Chrift demanded of the Evil Spirit 
 what his Name was : The chief 
 Devil among them made Anfwer, 
 // is Legion for we are many. A 
 Legion is fix Thoufand fix Hundred 
 and Sixty-fix. Now then, if the 
 Devil has fuch vaft Numbers of In- 
 fernal Spirits under him ; if he has 
 fuch Troops of them, as that he can 
 fpare no lefs than a Legion to afflid, 
 and as it were to keep Garrifon in 
 one poor miferable Man : what 
 prodigious Numbers of Evil Angels 
 muft there needs be." — Angelo- 
 graphia, iii-iiz. See alfo The 
 Devil Difcovered, Vol. I, 217-247.
 
 96 A Letter to the Minijlers, [35] 
 
 ordinarily fhall as certainly be performed, as if 
 the Witch had [35] lodged poyfon in the Bowels 
 of her Neighbour, or had fet MaflifF Dogs on 
 them. 
 
 7. That the Witche's Art of applying the 
 Plajiic Spirit of the World to unlawful purpofes, 
 does Naturally contribute to the mifchiefs done 
 by the Devil. 
 
 8. That that God which reftrain'd an Abime- 
 lich and a Laban from hurting, does alfo reftrain 
 the Witch from Calling upon or Improving the 
 Devil, when he will not have his Power io ex- 
 erted. 
 
 9. That to have a Familiar Spirit, is to be able 
 to caufe a Devil to take bodily (hapes, whereby 
 either to give refponfes, or to receive orders for 
 doing mifchief. 
 
 10. That this is the Judgment of mofi: of the 
 Divines in the Countrey, whether Englijh, Dutch 
 or French.^^ 
 
 ^^ Dr. Mather's Animadverfions tuous and fenfible Man, but let 
 
 on thefe " Ten Articles " fhould be their Opinions about the Salem 
 
 read in Connexion : " When he Troubles be what they will, they 
 
 fent about unto all the Minifters deteft it, as, a File Book ; as being 
 
 a Libellous Letter againft myfelf, an intire Libel upon the whole 
 
 falfely charging me with writing in Government and Minijiry in the 
 
 a Manufcript of mine Ten Articles Land ; yea, they think it beneath a 
 
 (which are of his own drawing up) Minifter of the Gofpel to beftow 
 
 whereof the chief are of his own the Pains of an Anfwer upon it. 
 
 pure Invention, there was not one The Book ferves but as an Engine 
 
 of all thofe reverend Perfons, who to difcover (by their approbation 
 
 thought him worthy of an Anfwer. of it) a few Perfons in the Land 
 
 And now his Book is come abroad, that will diftinguilh themfelves by 
 
 I cannot hear (and many obferve an exalted Malignity^ Some Few 
 
 the Like) of fo much as one ver- Remarks on a Scandalous Book,'^^-'^.
 
 [35] A Letter to the Minifters, 97 
 
 This as I faid, I took to be moft material in 
 the four {heets fent to me as his belief, and is alfo 
 all the performance he has yet made of his feve- 
 ral promifes ; which ten Articles being done only 
 by memory, left thro' miftake or want of the 
 Original, I might have committed any errors, I 
 fent them to him that, if there were any, they 
 might be rectified : But inftead of fuch an An- 
 fwer, as might be expected from a Minifter and 
 a learn'd Gentleman, one Mr. W — fhewed me a 
 Letter writ by Mr. C. M — to himfelf, which I 
 might read, but neither borrow nor Copy, and 
 fo, if I were minded, could give but a fhort ac- 
 count of it. 
 
 And paffing over his hard Language, which, 
 as I am confcious to myfelf ; I never deferv'd, 
 (relating to my writing in the margin of the 
 four fheets ; and to thefe ten Articles) fo I hope 
 I underftand my Duty, better than to imitate 
 him in retorting the like. Among his many 
 words in his faid Letters, I meet with two fmall 
 Objediions ; one is againft the word [Miracle) in 
 the firft Article, the word, I fay, not the matter, 
 for the works he attributes to the Devil are the 
 fame in their being above or againft the Courfe 
 of Nature and all Natural caufes, yet he will not 
 admit of thefe to be call'd Miracles. And hence 
 he reckon's it the greateft difficulty he meets 
 with in this whole affair, to diftinguifti the works 
 of the Devil from Miracles. And hence alfo he 
 concedes to the Devil the Power to make the
 
 98 A Letter to the Minijiers. [36] 
 
 moft Solid things Invifible, and Invifibly to bring 
 Poyfon and force it down Peoples Throats, ^c. 
 Which I look upon to be as true Miracles as 
 that. 2 Kings vi. 18. and this is the fenfe I 
 underftand the word in, and in this fenfe, he 
 himfelf in the four fheets admits it ; for he has 
 an objection to this effed:. Viz. [If the Devils 
 have fuch power, &c. then miracles are not 
 ceaf 'd ; and where are we then ? (his Anfwer is) 
 Where ! even jufi: where we were before, fay I] 
 fo that it feems the only offence here is at my 
 ufing his words. His fecond objection (for 
 weight) is againft the whole ninth Article, and 
 wonders [36] how 'tis poffible for one Man fo 
 much to mifunderftand another ; Yet as I re- 
 member, he fpeaking of the Witch of Endor in 
 the faid four fheets fays, fhe had a familiar Spirit, 
 and that [a Spirit belonging to the Invifible 
 World, upon her calling appear'd to Saul^ &c. 
 and if fo 'tis certain he gave refponfes, he alfo 
 tells of Balaam, that it was known that he could 
 fet Devils on People to deftroy them, and there- 
 fore how this objection fhould bear any Force I 
 fee not; The reft of the objedlions are of fo 
 fmall weight that once reading may be fufficient 
 to clear them up, and if this be not fo, he can, 
 when he pleafes, by making it Publick together 
 with the Margins I writ. Convince all People of 
 the truth of what he afferts ; But here 'tis to be 
 noted, that the 2d. ^^rd. \th. and ^th Articles he 
 concedes to, as having nothing to objed: againft
 
 [36] A Letter to the Minijiers, 99 
 
 them, but that they are his belief; and that the 
 6th. and jth. he puts for Anfwer to an objeaion 
 which he thus frames. Viz. If the Devil have 
 fuch powers but cannot exert them but by per- 
 miffion from God, what can the Witch con- 
 tribute thereto. And thus I have faithfully 
 performed what I undertook, and do folemnly 
 declare, I have not intentionally in the leaft 
 wronged the Gentleman concerned, nor defign'd 
 the leaft blemifh to his Reputation; but if it 
 ftands in competition with the Glory of God, 
 the only Almighty Being, his truths and his 
 Peoples welfare, I fuppofe thefe too valuable to 
 be trampled on for his fake, tho' in other things 
 I am ready to my power (tho' with denying fome 
 part of my own intereft) to ferve him. Had 
 this Gentleman declined or detraded his four 
 fheets, I fee not but he might have done it, and 
 which I think there was caufe enough for him 
 to have done, but to own the four fheets, and at 
 the fame time to difown the Doftrine contain'd 
 in them, and this knowing that I have no Copy, 
 renders the whole of the worfe afpedt. 
 
 And now I fhall give you a further account of 
 my Belief, when I have firft premifed, that 'tis a 
 prevailing Belief in this Countrey, and elfewhere, 
 that the Scriptures are not full in the Defcription 
 of, and in the way and means how to detect a 
 Witch, tho' pofitive in their Punifhment to be 
 by Death; and that hence they have thought 
 themfelves under a neceffity of taking up with 
 R 
 
 >
 
 lOO A Letter to the Minijiers, [37] 
 
 the Sentiments of fuch Men or Places that are 
 thought worthy to give rules to detedl them by : 
 And have accordingly pra6tifed, viz. In fearching 
 for Tets for the Devil to fuck ; Trying whether 
 the fufpedted can fay the Lords Prayer ; And 
 whether the Afflicted falls at the fight, and rifes 
 at the touch of the fuppofed Witch ; As alfo by 
 the Affli6ted or PoiTefled giving account who is 
 the Witch. 
 
 Touching thefe my belief is, that 'tis highly 
 Derogatory to the wifdom of the Wife Lawgiver, 
 to afcert. That he has given a Law by Mofes, the 
 Penalty whereof is Death ; and yet no direction to 
 his People, whereby to know and deted: the cul- 
 pable, till our Triumvirate Mr. [37] Per kins ^ Gaul 
 and Bernard, had given us their receits, and that 
 that fourth Head of Mr. Gauls, being fo well 
 prov'd by Scripture is a truth, and contains a full 
 and clear Teftimony, who are Witches culpable 
 of Death, and that plainly and from Scripture, 
 yet not excluding any other branch, when as 
 well proved by that infallible rule. And that 
 the going to the Afflicted or PoffeiTed, to have 
 them Divine who are Witches by their Spedteral 
 fight, is a great wickednefs, even the Sin of Saul 
 (for which he alfo Died) but with this difference, 
 the one did it for Augury, or to know future 
 Events, the other in order to take away Life; 
 and that the fearching for Tets, the experiment 
 of their faying the Lords Prayer ; the falling at 
 the fight and rifing at the touch of the fuppofed
 
 [37] A Letter to the Minijters, 10 1 
 
 Criminal, being all of them foreign from Scrip- 
 ture, as well as reafon, are abominations to be 
 abhor'd and repented of. And that our Salem 
 Witchcraft, either refpedling the Judges and Ju- 
 ries, their tendernefs of Life, or the Multitude 
 and pertinency of witnefTes, both Affli6ted and 
 Confeflbrs, or the Integrity of the Hiftorians, 
 are as Authentic, and made as certain as any ever 
 of that kind in the World ; and yet who is it 
 that now fees not through it, and that thefe were 
 the Sentiments that have procured the forefl 
 Afflidiion, and moft lafting infamy that ever 
 befel this Country, and moft like fo to do again, 
 if the fame notions be ftill entertain'd and finally 
 that thefe are thofe laft times, of which the Spirit 
 fpeaks expreflly, Tim. iv. i. And now ye that 
 are Fathers in the Churches, Guides to the People, 
 and the Salt of the Earth. 
 
 I befeech you confider thefe things ; and if you 
 find the Glory of God diminifht by afcribing 
 fuch power to Witches and Devils ; His truths 
 oppof'd by thefe notions ; and his People afperfed 
 in their Doctrines and Reputations, and indan- 
 gered in their Lives ; I dare not dictate to you, 
 you know your duty as Watchmen, and the Lord 
 be with you. 
 
 But if you find my belief contrary to found 
 Dodirine, I intreat you to fhew it me by the 
 Scripture ; And in the mean time blame me not 
 if I cannot believe that there are feveral Al- 
 mighties ; for to do all forts of wonders, beyond
 
 I02 A Letter to Mr. S. W. [38] 
 
 and above the Courfe of Nature, is certainly the 
 work of Omnipotency . So alfo, he that fhall 
 Commiffionate or Impower to thefe, muft alfo 
 be Almighty ; and I think it not a fufficient 
 faho, to fay they may be reftrain'd by the moft 
 High ; and hope you will not put any hard Con- 
 itrudtion on thefe my Endeavours to get informa- 
 tion (all other ways failing) in things fo needful 
 to be known; praying the Almightys Guidance 
 and protection, I am 
 
 Yours to the utmoft of my Power, 
 
 R. C. 
 
 [38] Bofton, Sept. the 20th, 1695. 
 Mr. Samuel Willard. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 MY former of March the i8th. directed to 
 the Minifters (and which was lodg'd with 
 yourfelf) containing feveral Articles, which I 
 fent as my belief, praying them if I erred to 
 fhew it me by Scripture, I have as yet had no 
 Anfwer to, either by word or writing, which 
 makes me gather that they are approved of as 
 Orthodox, or at leaft that they have fuch Founda- 
 tions, as that none are willing to manifefl: any 
 oppolition to them : And therefore with fubmif- 
 lion, &c. I think that that late feafonable and 
 well-delign'd Dialogue intituled, Some mifcella- 
 ny Obfervations,^° &c. of which yourfelf is the 
 
 60 The Suppofition was correft. referred to, printed in Philadelphia in 
 There was an Edition of the Work 1692, in a fmall Quarto of 16 Pages.
 
 [38] A Letter to Mr. S. W. 103 
 
 fuppof'd Author (and which was fo ferviceable in 
 the time of it) is yet liable to a male conftrudtion^ 
 even to the endangering to revive what it moll 
 oppofes, and to bring thofe praftices agam on 
 Foot, which in the day thereof were fo terrible 
 to this whole Countrey : The words which 1 
 fuppofe fo liable to Mifconftrudtion, are^^^. 14. 
 -^ Who informed them f S. the SpeBre. B. very 
 g'ood, and thafs the Devil turned Informer How 
 are good Men like to fare againjl whom he hath 
 particular Malice ! 
 
 It is but a Prefumption, and Wife Men will weigh 
 Prefumptions againji Prefumptions, There ts to be 
 no Examination without grounds of Sufpicton Some 
 Perfons Credit ought to be accounted too good to be 
 undermined fo far as to be fufpeBed on fo flight a 
 ground: and it is an Injury done them to bring 
 them upon Examination, which renders them openly 
 SufpeSed. I will not deny but for Perfons already 
 fufpeBed and of III fame, it may occafion thetr 
 
 Upon this Letter and the Work of '-"^^'If^^tnlTna^^^^ 
 
 Mr Willard Dr. Mather remarks, only faid Go tell hm I hat the An 
 
 !v[deXunder great Excitement fv^er to him and hs Letter ts m the 
 
 and Indignation as'refpeas the For- ^^enty Sixth of the Proverbs, and 
 
 mer • " I remember that when this the Fourth. 
 
 mLble Man fent unto an eminent Mr. Willard's Silence was un- 
 
 Minfte in the Town, a Libellous doubtedly owing to a very different 
 
 Tmer^ reflefting both on a Judi- Caufe than that given by D. Ma- 
 
 cious bifcourfe written by him, and ther It i» fairly inferabk that Mr 
 
 on the Holy Propofals made by the Willard was too good a Logician 
 
 Pr^fident and Fellows of Harvard- not to fee that Mr Calef ^^J^^ 
 
 Colleze about recording of Remark- ment did not admit of Refutation 
 
 M^Cidences, and then he de- and that ^s own Reputation would 
 
 manded and expefted an Anfwer be beft conferved by Silence.
 
 104- A Letter to Mr, S. W. [39] 
 
 being examined. In which thefe words ('tis but a 
 prefumption, &c.) (and fome Perfons credit, &c.) 
 (and I will not deny but for Perfons already fuf- 
 pecSted, &c.) this I take to be waving to difcufs 
 thofe points, the fpeaking to which might at that 
 time have hindered the ufefulnefs and fuccefs of 
 that Book, rather than any declaring the Senti- 
 ments of the Author. But notwithftanding many 
 Perfons will be ready to underftand this, as if the 
 Author did wholly leave it with the Juftice, to 
 Judge who are 111 Perfons, fuch as the Devils 
 Accufations may faften upon ; And that the Devils 
 Accufation of a Perfon, is a Prefumption againft 
 them of their guilt ; and that upon fuch prefump- 
 tions, they may be had to Examination, if the 
 Juftice counts them Perfons of ill fame (for the 
 Author I fuppofe knows that the bear Examina- 
 tion will leave fuch a ftain upon them, and well 
 if their Pofterity efcape it !) as the length of a 
 Holy and unblameable Life will be found too 
 fhort to Extirpate. And if the Juftice may go 
 thus far with the Devils Evidence, then the addi- 
 tion of a ftory or two of fome Cart overfet, or 
 perfon taken Sick after a quarrel, might as well 
 be thought fufficient for their Commitment, in 
 order to [39] their Tryal as 'tis call'd (tho' this 
 too often has been more like a Stage Play, or a 
 Tragicomical Scene) and fo that other ways ufeful 
 Book, may prove the greateft Snare to revive the 
 fame prad:ices again. 
 
 Thefe things being fo liable, as I faid, to fuch
 
 [39] A Letter to Mr, S. W. 105 
 
 male-confl:ru6tion, it were needful that Men 
 might be undeceiv'd, and the matter more fully 
 demonstrated, (Viz.) That the Devils Accufation 
 is not fo much as any prefumption againft the 
 Life or Reputation of any perfon, for how are 
 good Men like to fare, if his malicious accufa- 
 tions may be taken as a prefumption of their 
 Guilt ; and that his accufations as they are no 
 prefumption againft perfons of unfpotted Fame, 
 fo neither are to be heard, or any ways regarded 
 againft perfons tho' otherways of ill Life, much 
 lefs for their having long fince had their Names 
 abufed by his outcries, or by the Malice of 111 
 Neighbours ; and that Juftice knows no difference 
 of Perfons ; that if this Evidence be fuliicient to 
 bring one perfon 'tis fo to bring any other to 
 Examination, and confequently to the utmoft 
 extent of odium, which fuch Examination will 
 certainly expofe them to, for who can know any 
 other, but that as the one may be Malicioufly 
 accufed by Devils and a Devilifh report gone be- 
 fore it; fo that another who has not been fo 
 much as accufed before, being more Cunning or 
 more feeming Religious, might yet be more 
 guilty ; the whole depending upon Invifible Evi- 
 dence, of which Invifible ftuff, tho' we have had 
 more than fufficient, yet I find (among other 
 Reverend Perfons) your Names to a certain Printed 
 Paper, which runs thus. 
 
 . ■*
 
 io6 Propofals to the Prefident, [40] 
 
 Certain Propofals^ ^ made by the Prejtdent 
 and Fellows of Harvard College^ to the 
 Reverend Minijiers of the Gofpel^ in the 
 
 .. feveral Churches of New-England. 
 
 Firji, To obferve and record the more Illujirious 
 Difcoveries of the Divine Providence in the 
 Government of the World, is a defign fo holy, fo 
 ufeful, fo jujily approved, that the too general negleB 
 of it in the Churches of God, is as jujily to be La- 
 mented. 
 
 2. For the redrefs of that negleB, alt ho" all 
 Chrijiians have a Duty incumbent on them, yet it is 
 in a peculiar manner to be recommended unto the 
 Minijiers of the Gofpel, to improve the fpecial ad- 
 vantages which are in their Hands, to obtain and 
 preferve the knowledge of fuch notable occurrences 
 as are fought out by all that have pleafure in the 
 great Works of the Lord. 
 
 3. 'The things to be ejieemed Memorable, are fpe- 
 cially all unufual accidents in the Heaven, or Earth, 
 
 61 Concerning this curious Paper, the Field for the Purpofe of giving 
 
 Quincy, in Hijl. Harvard College, Countenance to that Belief, and 
 
 remarks: "As the Belief in the of fuftaining this decaying Faith." 
 
 Agency of the Jnvifible World be- This was " prepared by both the 
 
 gan to lelTen, and fome of thofe, Mathers, and figned by the whole 
 
 who were the chief Aftors in the Board, and circulated throughout 
 
 Tragedy, to feel the Weight of New England." — Vol. I, Page 62. 
 
 pubhc Indignation preffing upon The Signers will all be found duly 
 
 them, they being Members of the noticed in Dr. Allen's Biographical 
 
 Corporation, brought this Body into DiSlionary.
 
 [40] Propofals to the Prejident. 107 
 
 or Water, All wonderful Deliverances of the Dif- 
 trejfed. Mercies to the Godly, Judgments on the 
 Wicked, and more Glorious fulfihnents of either the 
 Promifes or Threatnings in the Scriptures of Truth, 
 with Apparitions, PoJJeJ/ions, Enchant??ients, and all 
 extraordinary things, wherein the Exijlence and 
 Agency of the Invifble World is more fenfbly de- 
 monjirated. 
 
 [40] 4. // is therefore Propofed, That the Min- 
 ijiers throughout this Land, would manifeft their 
 regards unto the Works of the Lord, and the Oppe- 
 ration of his hands, by reviving their cares to take 
 Written Accounts of fuch Remarkables : But fill 
 well Attefied with credibled and fuficient Witnefs. 
 
 5. // is defred that the Accounts, thus taken of 
 thefe Remarkables, may hefent in unto the Prelident/^ 
 or the Fellows of the Colledge, by whome they fh all be 
 carefully referved for fuch a ufe to be made of them, 
 as ?nay by fome fit AJfembly of Miniflers be Judged 
 moft conducing to the Glory of God, and the Service 
 of his People. 
 
 6. Thd we doubt not, that love to the Name of 
 God will be motive enough unto all good Men, to 
 Contribute what AJJiJiance they can unto this Under - 
 taking; yet for further Incouragement, fome fngu- 
 lar Marks of RefpeBs Jhall be ftudied for fuch good 
 Men, as will aBually ajfft it, by taking pains to 
 
 "~ It will be remembered that the dences, which, doubtlefs, met with 
 Prefident (Mather) had publifhed a ready Sale, and induced a Defire 
 a Volume of Remarkable Provi- for another.
 
 io8 A Letter to Mr, S. W. [40] 
 
 Communicate any Important Pajfages proper to be 
 infer ted in this ColleBion. 
 
 Increafe Mather, Prefident. 
 
 James Allen, 
 
 Char. Morton, 
 
 Sam. Willard, 
 
 Cotton Mather, ) Fellows. 
 
 yohn Leverett, 
 
 Will. Brattle, 
 
 Neh. Walter, 
 Cambr. March 5, 169I 
 
 Here being an Encouragement to all good 
 Men, to fend in fuch remarkables as are therein 
 exprelTed, I have fent the following, not that I 
 think them a more fenfible demonftration of the 
 being of a future State (with Rewards and Pun- 
 ifhments) or of Angels good and bad, ^c. than 
 the Scriptures of truth hold forth, &c. Or than 
 any of thofe other demonftrations God hath given 
 ue ; for this were Treacheroufly and Perfidioully 
 to quit the Poft to the Enemy, the Sadducee, Deiji, 
 and Atheiji would hereby be put in a condition 
 fo Triumphantly to deny the Exiftence and 
 Agency thereof. As that a few Stories told 
 (which at beft muft be owned to be fallible and 
 liable to mifreprefentations) could not be thought 
 Infallibly fufficient to demonftrate the truth 
 againft them. I have heard that in Logick a 
 falfe Argument is reckon'd much worfe than 
 none : Yet fuppoling that a Collection of In-
 
 [4i] A Letter to Mr. S. W. 109 
 
 fiances may be many ways ufeful, not only to the 
 prefent but fucceeding Ages, I have fent you the 
 following femarkables,which have lately occurred, 
 the certainty of which, if any fcruple it, will be 
 found no hard matter to get fatisfaction therein : 
 But here, not to infift on thofe lefs occurrents, as 
 the fudden Death of one of our late Juftices,^^ 
 and a like Mortallity that fell upon the two Sons 
 of another of them, with the Fall of a Man that 
 was making provifion to raife the New Northern 
 Bell, which, when it was up, the firft perfon, 
 whofe death it was to fignifie, was faid to be a 
 Child of him, who by Printing and fpeaking, 
 had had as great hand in procur[4i]ing the late 
 Aaions as any, if not the greateft ; and the Split- 
 ting the Gun at Salem, where that furious Mar- 
 •ihal, and his Father, ^c. was rent to pieces,^^ ^c. 
 As to all thefe it muft be owned, that no rnan 
 knows love or hatred by all that is before him, 
 much lefs can they be more fenfible demonftra- 
 tions of the Exiftence or Agency of the Invijible 
 World, than the fcriptures of Truth afford, &c. 
 
 fis To which of the Juftices the Cafes of Witchcraft."— Felt, An- 
 
 Author refers is not certain, as Mr. nals of Salem, ii, 480. The Death 
 
 Danforth and Mr. Sakonftall, two of George Herrick is noticed _ in 
 
 of them, were dead when he wrote, the Herrick Genealogy, as having 
 
 The Latter died in 1694, and the occurred in 1695, but nothing is 
 
 Former in 1699. faid of any Cafualty. Mr. Savage 
 
 61 " That furious Marfhal " was fuppofes Him to be the fame who 
 
 George Herrick, who, in Odober, came over in 1685, in the Ship 
 
 1692, ftated, that "for nine Months with John Dunton, who, John fays 
 
 his whole Time had been confumed faved his Life at Sea. — Life and 
 
 as Marfhal and Deputy Sheriff, in Errors, 1 26-7.
 
 no A Letter to Mr, S. W. [4.1] 
 
 tho' the Rich Man in the Parable might think 
 otherwife, ^c. who was feeking to fend fome 
 more fenfible Demonftrations thereof to his 
 Brethren, ^c. In that Tremendous Judgment 
 of God upon this Countrey, by the late amazing 
 Profecution of the People here, under the Notion 
 of Witches ; whereby 20 Suffered as Evil doers 
 (belides thofe that died in Prifon) about ten more 
 Condemned, and a hundred Imprifoned, and 
 about two hundred more Accufed, and the Coun- 
 trey generally in fears, when it would come to 
 their turn to be Accufed ; and the Profecution and 
 manner of Tryal fuch, that moil would have cho- 
 fen to have fallen into the hands of the Barba- 
 rous Enemy, rather than (under that notion) into 
 the hands of their Brethren in Church Fellow- 
 fhip ; and in fhort, was fuch an Affliction as far 
 exceeded all that ever this Countrey hath laboured 
 under. 
 
 Yet in this Mount, God is feen ; when it was 
 thus bad with this diflrelTed People, a full and a 
 fudden flop is put, not only without, but againfl 
 the Inclination of many, for out of the Eater 
 came forth Meat : Thofe very Accufers which 
 had been improved as Witneffes againft fo many, 
 by the Providence of the mofl High, and perhaps 
 1 blinded with Malice, are left to accufe thofe in 
 '. moft High efleem, both Magiftrates and Minif- 
 ters, as guilty of Witchcraft, which fhewed our 
 Rulers, that necefflty lay upon them, to confound 
 that which had fo long confounded the Countrey,
 
 [+2] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, S. W. 1 1 1 
 
 as being unwilling themfelves to run the fame 
 Rifque, this that was in the Event of it to this 
 Countrey, as Life from the Dead, is moil eafie 
 with him, in whofe Hands are the Hearts of all 
 Men, and was a very lignal deliverance to this 
 whole Countrey. No lefs Obfervable was it, that 
 tho' at the time when the Devils Teftimony, by 
 the Afflicted, was firft laid alide, there were great 
 Numbers of (real or pretended) Afflicted : Yet 
 when this was once not Judged of Validity 
 enough to be any longer brought into the Court 
 againft the Accufed as Evidence, the Affliction 
 generally ceafed, and only fome remainders of it 
 in fuch places, where more Encouragement was 
 given to the Actors, God feeming thereby plainly 
 to Decipher that Sin of going to the Devil, &c, 
 as the rife and foundation of thofe Punifhments. 
 And thus, Reverend Sir, I have, as I under- 
 fland it, performed my Duty herein, for the 
 Glory of God, and the well-being of Men. 
 And for my Freedome ufed in this, and former 
 Writings, relating to the A6tors in this Tragedy, 
 I fhall not Apologize, but give you the words 
 of one to [42] whom fome can afford the 
 title of Venerable (when he is arguing for that 
 which they have undertaken to afcert, tho' at 
 other times, more Diminutive Epithete, muft 
 serve) it is the Reverend Mr. R. Baxter in his 
 Book, the Cure of Church Divijtons, p. 257, 258. 
 But (I pray you mark it) the way of God is to 
 Jhame the Sinner ^ how good foever in other refpeBs^
 
 112 A Letter to Mr, S. W. [42] 
 
 T^hat the Jin may have the greater Jhame, and Reti- 
 gion may not be Jhamed, as if it allowed ??ten to Jin; 
 Nor God the Author of Religion he Dijhonoured ; 
 Nor others be without the Warning ; But the 'Way 
 of the Devil is, to hide or jujlifie the fn, as if it 
 were for fear of Difpar aging the goodnefs of the 
 Perfons that committed it ; that fo he may hereby 
 Dijhonour Religion and Godlinefs it f elf and make 
 men helieve it is but a Cover for any Wickednefs, 
 and as confjient with it, as a loofer Life is, and 
 that he may keep the Sinner from Repenting, and 
 blot out the Memory of that warning, which Jhould 
 have preferved After -Ages from the like falls. 
 Scripture Jhameth the Profejfors, [thd a David, a 
 Solomon, Peter, Noah, or Lot) that the Religion 
 profejl ?nay not be Jhamed but vindicated: Satan 
 would preferve the Honour of Profejfors, that the 
 Religion profejfed may bear the Jhame ; andfo it may 
 fall on God himfelf 
 
 And now that all that have had a hand in any 
 horrid and bloody practices may be brought to 
 give glory to God, and take the due fhame to 
 themfelves ; and that our Watchmen may no 
 longer feek to palliate (much lefs give thanks for) 
 fuch, &c. (thereby making them their own) and 
 that the people may no longer perifh for want of 
 knowledge in the midft of fuch means of light ; 
 Nor God be any longer di(honoured by falfe fen- 
 timents in thefe matters, is the earneft delire and 
 prayer of, Sir, yours to my power. 
 
 R. C.
 
 [+3] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. C. M. 113 
 
 Mr. Cotton Mather. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 HAVING long fince fent you fome do6lrinals 
 as to my belief, together with my requeft 
 to you, that if I erred you would be pleafed to 
 fhew it me by fcripture, viz. That the Devils 
 bounds are fet which he cannot pafs ; That the 
 Devils are fo full of malice that it cannot be add- 
 ed to by mankind ; That wher-e he hath power he 
 neither can nor will omit executing it ; That 'tis 
 only the Almighty that fets bounds to his rage, 
 and that only can commiffionate him to hurt and 
 deftroy, &c. But inftead of fuch an Anfwer as 
 was promifed, and juftly expelled, you were 
 pleafed to fend me a Book, which you lince call'd 
 an ungainfayable one ; which Book till lately I 
 have not had opportunity fo fully to confider. 
 And to the end you may fee I have now done it, 
 I have fent to you fome of the remarkables con- 
 tained in' the faid Book, Intituled, 
 
 [43] The Certainty of the World of Spirits^ 
 written by Mr, R. B.^5 London, Printed, 
 1 69 1. 
 
 IT is therein conceded (Preface) That to fee Devils 
 and Spirits ordinarily would not be enough to 
 convince Atheifts. Page 88. Atheifts are not to 
 
 ^5 Richard Baxter. William Sermon on the Death of the great 
 Bates, D.D., preached an excellent Divine, and gives an Account of
 
 1 14 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [43] ^ 
 
 be convinced by ftories, their own fenfes are not 
 enough to convince them any more than fenfe 
 will convince a Papift from Tranfubftantiation. 
 (D. Laderd.) P. 4. No Spirit can do any thing 
 but by God's will and permiffion. [Preface) 'Tis 
 the free will of Man that gives the Devils their 
 hurting power : And without our own confent 
 they cannot hurt us. [It is ajferted. P. 222, 223,) 
 That it is a perverfe oppolition of Popery which 
 caufes many Proteflants not to regard the benefits 
 we receive by Angels. And Minifters are faulty, 
 that do not pray and give thanks to God for their 
 Miniftry ; and that negled: to teach Believers, 
 what love and what thanks they owe to Angels. 
 P. 225. Moft good people look fo much to God 
 and to Minifters, that they take little notice of 
 Angels, which are God's great Minifters. P. 234. 
 The Author dares not, as fome have done, judge 
 the Catholick Church to become Anti-Chriftian 
 Idolaters, as foon as they gave too much Worfhip 
 to Saints and Angels. P. 7. The BlelTed Souls 
 fhall be like the Angels, therefore may appear 
 
 his Books, but fays nothing of that land, the Day before he died; and, 
 whofe Title is given above; doubt- fpeaking fome comforting Words to 
 lefs for the fame Reafon mentioned him, he replied, *I have Pain; 
 by our Author, namely: that it there is no arguing againft Senfe; 
 was written or aflented to by him but 1 have Peace.' To Mr. Ma- 
 in his Dotage. Dr. Bates was a ther, he faid, *I blefs God that you 
 Friend and Acquaintance of Dr. have accomplifht your Bufinefs, the 
 Increafe Mather. In his Sermon, Lord prolong your Life.' " — Page 
 above cited, he fays : " I went to 1 29-30. See Page 1 1 of this Vol- 
 Mr. Baxter with a very worthy ume for the Author's fenfible Re- 
 Friend, Mr. Mather, of New Eng- marks on Mr. Baxter's Book.
 
 [43] ^ I^^/^^^ to Mr, CM. 115 
 
 here, P. 3, 4. 'Tis hard to know whether it be 
 a Devil or a human Soul that appears, or whether 
 the Soul of a good or a bad perfon. P. 61. or the 
 Soul of fome dead friend that fuffers, and yet 
 retains love, ^c P. 222. No doubt the Souls of 
 the wicked carry with them their former mcli- 
 nations of Covetoufnefs, Revenge, ^c. P. 7. When 
 Revengeful things are done, as on Murderers, De- 
 frauders, &c. it feems to be from the revengeful 
 wrath of fome bad Soul, if it be about Money or 
 Lands, then from a Worldly minded one ; fome 
 fiP-nifications of God's mercy to wicked Souls 
 after this Life. P. 4- 'Tis a doubt whether be- 
 fides the Angels (good and bad) and the Souls ot 
 men, there is not a third fort, call'd Fanes and 
 Goblins. It is unfearchable to us how far God 
 leaves Spirits to freewill in fmall things, fufpend- 
 inff his predetermining motion. 
 
 P. 246. The Devils have a Marvellous power, 
 if but a filly wretched Witch confent. P. 10. 
 202. The ftories of Witches and Spirits are many 
 ways ufeful, particularly to convince Atheifts, and 
 confirm BeUevers, and to prove the Operation of 
 Spirits. P. 232. To help men to underftand that 
 Devils make no fmall number of Laws, and Rulers 
 in the World, and are Authors of moft of the 
 Wars, and of many Sermons, and of Books that 
 adorn the Liberaries of learned men. P. 6. 102. 
 The Devil's lying with the Witch is not to be 
 denied, and is more to Exercife the Luft of the 
 Witch than of the Devil, who can alfo bring in 
 T
 
 ii6 A Letter to Mr. C. M. [44] 
 
 another Witch with[44]out opening the door, 
 and fo perform it by one Witch with another. 
 P. 105. Witches can raife Storms, fell Winds, ^c. 
 as is commonly affirmed. P. 107. In America 
 'tis a common thing to fee Spirits day and night. 
 P. 95, 96, 97, no. Stories of a Child that could 
 not be cured of Witchcraft, becaufe the Emher^^- 
 weeks were paft. Vomited a Knife a fpan long. 
 Cart Nails, &c. neither eat nor drank fifteen days 
 and nights together ; a long piece of Wood, four 
 Knives, and two 'fharp pieces of Iron, ev'ry one 
 above a fpan long, taken out of the Stomach, &c. 
 Hair, Stones, Bones, Vomited, &c. 1000 1. of 
 Blood loft by one perfon in a years time. 
 
 P. 250. A ftory that makes the Author think 
 it poffible that fuch great things (as he mentions) 
 fliould be gotten down and up Peoples Throats. 
 
 P. 164. Partial credibility fpoils many a good 
 ftory. 
 
 P. 125. The Devil's fubftance enters into the 
 pofTelTed. 
 
 P. 174. Diftrad:ed are pofTelTed. 
 
 ^^ The Days of certain Weeks Ember-weeks. " Ember-days were 
 
 fet apart by the Roman Catholic fo called, from the Word Ember, 
 
 Church for Fafting and Prayer, in /. e., Afhes; becaufe in old Times 
 
 the four Seafons of the Year, the Fathers uf'd to fprinkle them- 
 
 Wednefday, Friday and Saturday felves with Afhes; or from the Cuf- 
 
 after the firft Sunday in Lent, the torn of eating nothing on thofe 
 
 Feaft of Whitfuntide, the 14th of Days till Night, and then only a 
 
 September, and the 13 th of De- Cake, baked under the Embers, 
 
 cember, are the Ember-days ; and which was thence called Ember- 
 
 the Weeks in which they occur are bread." — Phillips and Kerfey.
 
 [4-4] A Letter to Mr, CM.. 117 
 
 P. 149. A fick Woman while ihe lay in bed 
 went to fee her Children. 
 
 P. 153. A Dog appeared like a Fly or a Flea. 
 P*. 165. Some knowing Agents direfts Thunder 
 ftorms, tho' the Author knows not who, and that 
 they fo often fall on Churches he knows not why. 
 P. 2, 80. Mr. J. M. and Mr. C. M. Recom- 
 mended together with Bodin, &c. 
 
 P. 237. A Crifpian, if through Ignorance he 
 believes not what he faith, may be a Chriftian. 
 
 In this. Sir, I fuppofe that if I have not wronged 
 the fenfe of the Author in the places quoted 
 (which I truft you fhall not find I have done) I 
 can't be thought accountable for the Errors or 
 Contradiaions to himfelf or to the truth, if any 
 fuch be found, particularly what he grants m the 
 Preface (of the freewill of Man, giving the Devil 
 his hurting power.) This being not only more 
 than thofe call'd Witch-Advocates would defire to 
 be conceded to them : But is a palpable and man- 
 ifeft overturning the Authors defign in all his 
 Witch ftories. For who would confent to have 
 the Devil afflia himfelf? As alfo his conceffion 
 [that no Spirit can do any thing but by God's 
 will and permiffion,] I cannot perfwade myfelf 
 but you muft be fenfible of their apparent con- 
 tradidorinefs to the reft. Others there are of a 
 very ill afpedl, as p. 234. the Catholicks are much 
 encouraged in their Adoration of Angels and 
 Saints. If that were fo Innocent as not to render 
 them Anti-chriftian Idolaters; and that />. 4. if
 
 1 1 8 A Letter of Mr, C. M. [4.5] 
 
 admitted, will feem to lay an ungainfayable found- 
 ation for the Fagan, Indian, and DiaholiJIs Faith ; 
 by telling us it is beyond our fearch to know how 
 far God leaves the Devils to free-will, to do what 
 they pleafe, in this World, with a fufpenlion of 
 God's Predetermination ; which if it [45] were 
 a truth, what were more rational than to oblige 
 %: him that has fuch power over us. The Atheifts 
 alfo would take encouragement if it were granted 
 that we cannot know how far God fufpends his 
 predetermining motion, he would thence affirm, 
 we as little know that there is a predetermining 
 motion, and confequently whether there be a 
 God, and p. 165. would abundantly ftrengthen 
 them, when fuch a Learned, experienced, and 
 highly efteemed Chriftian fhall own that he 
 knows not who 'tis that governs the Thunder- 
 ftorms ; for it might as well difcover ignorance, 
 who 'tis that difpofes of Earthquakes, Gun-fhot, 
 and afflictions that befall any, with the reft of 
 Mundane Events. I delign not to remark all that 
 in the Book* is remarkable, fuch as the departed 
 Souls wandering again hither to put men upon 
 revenge, &c. favouring fo much of Pithagoras 
 his Tranfmigration of Souls, and the Separation 
 of the Soul from the Body without death, as in 
 the cafe of her that went to fee her Children, 
 while yet fhe did not ftir out of her Bed, which 
 feems to be a new fpeculation ; unlefs it determins 
 in favour of Tranfubftantiation, that a Body may 
 be at the fame time in feveral places. Upon the
 
 [45] 
 
 A Letter to Mr, C. M. 119 
 
 whole it is ungainfayable, That that Book, though 
 fo highly extol'd, may be juftly expected to occa- 
 lion the ftaggering of the weak, and the harden- 
 ing of unbelievers in their Infidelity. And it 
 feems amazing, that you (hould not only give it 
 fuch a recommend, but that you fhould fend it to 
 me, in order (as I take it) to pervert me from the 
 belief of thofe fundamental Dodlrinals (above re- 
 cited) Though I account them more firm than 
 Heaven and Earth. But that which is yet more 
 flrange to me, is that Mr. B his Friends did not 
 advife him better, than in his declined Age to 
 emit fuch crude matter to the public. As to the 
 fometime Reverend Author, let his works praife 
 the Remembrance of him ; but for fuch as are 
 either Erroneous and foifted upon him, or the 
 effed; of an aged Imbecillity, let them be detected 
 that they may proceed no further.^^ 
 
 I am not ignorant that the manner of Educa- 
 tion of Youth in, I think, almoft all Chriftian 
 Schools hath a natural tendency to propagate 
 thofe Doctrines of Devils heretofore (folely) pro- 
 feft among Ethnicks,^^ and particularly in matters 
 of Witchcraft, &c. For notwithflanding the 
 Council of Carthage their taking notice that the 
 Chriflian Doctors did converfe much with the 
 writings of the Heathens for the gaining of Elo- 
 quence, forbad the reading of the Books of the 
 
 ^■^ See Note 6i. denominated Ethnics. All Unbe- 
 
 ^^^^\iz Ethnics ox Ethnicks. The lievers in the Religion of the Jews 
 Gentiles of ancient Times were and Chriftians.
 
 I20 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [46] 
 
 Gentiles ; yet it feems this was only a Bill without 
 a penalty, which their fucceffors did not look 
 upon to be binding. He that fhould in this age 
 take a view of the Schools, might be induced to 
 believe that the ages lince have thought, that 
 without fuch Heathen Learning a man cannot be 
 fo accomplifli'd, as to have any pretence to Aca- 
 demick Literature : and that the vulgar might 
 not be without the benefit of fuch Learning, 
 fome of their Dif[46]ciples have taught them to 
 fpeak Rnglifh, which has given me the opportu- 
 nity to fend you thefe following Verfes. 
 
 Virg. Buco- Sure love is not the cauje their bones appear. 
 licks. Some eyes bewitch my tender Lambs I fear. 
 
 Eclog. 13. — For me thefe Herbs in Pontus Maris chofe. 
 
 Eclog. 8. — There ev'ry powerful Drug in plenty grows ; 
 Transform' d to a Wolf I often Maeris/72c, 
 Then into jhady Woods him f elf withdraw : 
 Oft he from deepejl Sepulchers would Charm 
 Departed Souls. And from anothers Farm, 
 Into his own ground Corn yet Jlanding take. 
 Now from the Town my Char 7ns bring Daphnis back. 
 Vanquijht with charms from Heaven the Moon Defends. 
 Circe with charms transformed \J\ySts friends : 
 Charms in the Field will bur ft a Poyfonous Snake, 
 Now from the Town, &c. 
 
 Ovid's Meta- Her Arms thrice turns about, thrice wets her crown 
 morpholis. With gathered dew, thrice yawns, and kneeling down ; 
 Lib. 7. Oh Night/ thou friend to fecrets you clear fires, 
 
 That with the Moonfucceed when day retires. 
 
 Great Hecate, thou know^ft and aid Imparts,
 
 [47] A Letter to Mr. C. M. 121 
 
 To our defign, your Charms and Magick Arts : 
 And thou, oh Earth, that to Magicians yields 
 Thy powerful Jimples: Airs, Winds, Mountains, Fields, 
 Soft murmuring Springs, Jlill Lakes and Rivers clear. 
 You Gods of Woods, you Gods of night appear ; 
 By you at will, I make fwift Streams retire. 
 To their firft Fountain, while their Banks admire. 
 Seas tofs andfmooth ; clear Clouds with Clouds deform. 
 Storms turn to Calms, and make a Calm a Storm. 
 With Spells and Charms, I break the Vipers Jaws, 
 Cleave folid Rocks, Oaks from their fifures draw ; 
 Whole Woods remove, the Airy Mountains pake ; 
 Earth forced to groan, and Ghofts from Graves awake. 
 — her Journey takes. 
 
 Lib. 14. To Rhegium oppofte to Zanle's /-or^. 
 
 And treads the troubled Waves, that loudly roar; 
 Running with unwet Feet on that profound. 
 As ifSV had trod upon the folid ground. 
 [47] This with portentous poyfon fl;e pollutes, 
 
 Befprinkled with the juice of wicked roots. 
 In words dark, and perplext nine times thrice, 
 Inchantments mutters with her wicked voice, i^c. 
 
 Thefe Fables of the Heathens (tho' in them- 
 felves of no more vaUdity than the idle Tales of 
 an Indian, or the Difcourfes of a known Roman- 
 cer) are become the School-learning, not to fay 
 the Faith of Chriftians, and are the Scriptures 
 brought (inftead of that moft fure Word) if not 
 to prove Dodtrine, yet as illuftrations thereof. 
 Cafes of Confcience concerning Witch pag. 25. 
 Remarkable Providences pag. 250. (This per-
 
 122 A Letter to Mr, C. M. [47] 
 
 haps might be the caufe that in England 2l people 
 otherways fober and ReHgious) have for fome Ages 
 (in a manner wholly) refufed admitting thofe fo 
 educated to the work of the Miniftry. Such 
 education and practice, have fo far prevailed that 
 it has been a means of corrupting the Chriftian 
 world, almoft to that degree as to be ungainfay- 
 able ; for tho' there is Reafon to hope that thefe 
 Diabolical principles have not fo prevail'd (with 
 multitudes of Chriflians) as that they afcribe to a 
 Witch and a Devil the Attributes peculiar to the 
 Almighty ; yet how few are willing to be found 
 oppofing fuch a torrent, as knowing that in fo 
 doing they fhall be fure to meet with oppolition 
 to the utmofl, from the many, both of Magif- 
 trates, Miniflers and People ; and the name of 
 Sadducee, Atheiji, and perhaps Witch too caft 
 upon them moft liberally, by men of the higheft 
 profeffion in Godlinefs. And if not fo learned 
 as fome of themfelves, then accounted only fit to 
 be trampled on, and their Arguments (tho both 
 Rational and Scriptural) as fit only for contempt. 
 But tho this be the deplorable Dilemma ; yet 
 fome have dared from time to time (for the glory 
 of God, and the good and fafety of Mens lives, 
 ^f.) to run all thefe Rifques. And that God 
 who has faid. My glory I will not give to another, 
 is able to protect thofe that are found doing their 
 duty herein againft all oppofers ; and however 
 other ways contemptible can make them ufeful 
 in his own hand, who has fometimes chofen the
 
 [48] A Letter to Mr, C. M. 123 
 
 weakeft Inftruments, that his power may be the 
 more Illuftrious. 
 
 And now. Reverend Sir, if you are confcious to 
 y ourfelf, that you have in your principles, or praBi- 
 ces been abetting tofuch grand Errors, I cannot fee 
 how it can confifl with Jincerity to be fo convinced in 
 matters fo nearly relating to the glory of God, and 
 lives of Innocents ; and at the fatne time fo much to 
 fear difparagement among Men, as to JUfle Con- 
 fcience, and dijfemble an approving of former fenti- 
 ments ; you know that word, he that honoureth me 
 I will honour, and he that defpifeth me Ihall be 
 lightly efteemed. But if you think that in thefe 
 matters you have done your duty, and taught people 
 theirs ; and that the DoBrines cited from the men- 
 tioned [48] Book are ungainfayable : I Jhall con- 
 clude in almofl his words. He that teaches fuck Doc- 
 trine, if through Ignorance he believes not what he 
 faith, may be a Chrifian : But if he believes them, he 
 is in the broad path to Ueathentfm, Devilifm, Popery 
 or Atheifm. It is afolemn caution. Gal. i. 8. But 
 tho we or an Angel from Heaven preach any 
 other Gofpel unto you than that which we have 
 preached unto you, let him be accurfed. / hope 
 you will not mifconflrue my Intentions herein, who 
 am, Reverend Sir, Tours to command, in what I 
 may, R. C. 
 
 V
 
 124- A Letter to the Minijlers, [4.8] 
 
 To the Minifters in and near Bojion^ J^^- 
 
 uary 12, 1696. 
 
 f^ HRISTIANITY had been but a jhort time 
 \^ in the World, when there was raifed againji 
 it, not only open profeji Enefnies ; but fecret and 
 imbred underminers, who fought thereby to effeB 
 that which open force had been so often bajped in. 
 
 And notwithflanding that primitive purity and 
 fncerity, which in some good meafure was fill re- 
 tained; yet the cunning deceivers and Apofate Here- 
 tic ks found opportunity to beguile the unwary, and 
 this in fundamentals. 
 
 Among others which then fprung up, with but too 
 ?nuch advantage in the third Century , the Mani- 
 che^^ did fpread his Pefiferous fentiments, and 
 taught the Exifence of two Bei?2gs, or Caufes of all 
 things, viz. a good and a bad : but thefe were foon 
 flenced by the more Orthodox DoBors, and Anathe- 
 matized by General Councels. And at this day the 
 American Indians, another fort o/' Maniche, enter- 
 taining [thus far) the fame belief, hold it their pru- 
 dence and interef to pleafe that evil Being, as well 
 by perpetrating other Murders, as by their Bloody 
 Sacrifices, that fo he may not harm them. The Iron 
 teeth of time have now almoft devoured the name of 
 
 '"^ ASeftofPhilofopherswho took Arabia, Egypt and Africa. He 
 
 their Name from a Perfon named taught that Light was the Origin of 
 
 Manichaus, or Manes. Manes flou- all Good, and that in Darknefs ori- 
 
 rifhedabout A.D. 277, and hisDoc- ginated all Evil. Maniche is not 
 
 rine or Philofophy fpread chiefly in unlike God among the Indians.
 
 [4.9] A Letter to the Mintjlers, 125 
 
 the former, and as to the latter, it is to he hoped that 
 as ChrijUanity prevails among them, they will abhor 
 fuch abominable belief f") 
 
 And as thofe primitive times, were not priviledged 
 againft the fpreading of dangerous Herefe, fo nei-^ 
 ther can any now pretend to any fuch Immunity, thd 
 profejjing the enjoyment of a primitive purity. 
 
 Might a Judgment be made from the Books of 
 the fnodern learned Divines, or from the praBice of 
 Courts, or from the Faith of many, who call the7n- 
 f elves Chriftians, it might be modejily, thd fadly con- 
 cluded, that the DoBrine of the Maniche, at leaf 
 great part of it, is fo far from being forgotten that 
 'tis almoft every where prof eft. We in thefe ends of 
 the Earth need not feek far for Inftances, in each , 
 refpeB to demonftrate this'. The Books here Pri?ited, \ 
 and recommended not only by the refpeBive Authors, i 
 but by many of their Brethren, do fet forth that the s 
 Devil infliBs Plagues,^ Wars,^ Difeafes,^ Tempeftsd 
 and can render the moft folid things invifible,^ 
 and can do things above and againft the courfe 
 of Nature, and all natural caufes. 
 
 [49] Are thefe the Expreffions of Orthodox be- ■ 
 lievers ? or are they not rather exprejpons becoming \ 
 a Maniche, or a Heathen, as agreeing far better \ 
 
 (-•!) Had the Author lived to this " It might do for White ^ People, 
 
 Time he would have feen that his but it did not suit Indians." 
 Hopes were much further from be- => Wonders of the Invifible World 
 
 ing realized than he could have anti- p. 17.18. '' P- '8. '' Caics ot 
 
 cipated. Many Years ago, a noted Confcience, p. 63. d Remarkable 
 
 Indian Chief, on being importuned providences, p. 124. '-Wonders 
 
 refpeaingChriftianity, and urged to of the Invihble World, p. 141-— 
 
 adopt it in his Tribe, replied that Notes in the Original.
 
 126 J1 luetter to the Minijiers. [49] 
 
 with thefe than with the facred Oracles our only 
 rule ; the whole current whereof is fo T)iametric ally 
 oppojite thereto, that it were almoji endlefs to mention 
 all the Divine cautions againji fuch abominable be- 
 lief; he that runs may read, Pfal. lxii„ 11, and 
 cxxxvi. 4. Lam. iii. 37. Amos iii. 6. Jer. iv. 
 22. Pfal. Ixxviii. 26, and clxviii. 6. 8. Job 
 xxxviii. 22. to the 34 v. 
 
 T^ he fe places with a multitude more, do abundantly 
 tejlife that the Affertors of fuch power to be in the 
 evil Being, do fpeak in a dialect different from the 
 fcriptures, (laying a frm foundation for the Indians 
 adorations, which agrees well with what A. Rofs^^ 
 fets forth, in his Miftag. Poetic, p. 116, that their 
 ancients did Ufurp the furies and their God Aver- 
 inci, that they might forbear to hurt them.) 
 
 And have not the Courts in fome parts of the 
 World by their praBice teflified their concurrence 
 with fuch belief, profecuting to Death many people 
 upon that notion, of their improving fuch power of 
 the Evil one, to the raifng of Storms ; affiBing and 
 
 ■^0 Alexander Rofs, a Scotchman, icus, or the Mufe's Interpreter : Ex- 
 
 a very voluminous Author, though plaining the Hiftorical Myftteries, 
 
 a Prelate and poflefled of much and and Myftical Hiftories of the An- 
 
 varied Learning, is meagrely noticed cient Greek and Latin Poets," &c. 
 
 in Biographical Works. He con- a fifth Edition of which was pub- 
 
 tinued Sir Walter Ralegh's Hiftory lilhed in 1672. Notwithftanding 
 
 of the World, in a large folio ; wrote his immenfe literary Labours, he is 
 
 " a View of the Religions of the unknown to Thoufands of the pre- 
 
 World ;" " Virgilii Evangelifantis fent Day, beyond thofe anachronif- 
 
 Chriftiados, Librii xiii," &c. little mical Lines in Hudibras : 
 
 known. The Work referred toin the .< There was an ancient fage Philofopher 
 Text is entitled " MyftagOgUS Poet- That had read Alexander Rofs over."
 
 [4-9] ^ Letter to the Minijiers, 127 
 
 killing of others, tho at great diftance from them ; 
 doing things in their own perfons above humane 
 Jirength, deftroying of Cattle, flying in the Air, 
 turning themfehes into Cats or Dogs, &c. Which 
 by the way muft needs imply forne thing of goodnefs 
 to be in that evil Being, who, tho he has fuch power, 
 would not exert it, were it not for this people, or elje 
 that they can fome way add to this mighty power f"- 
 
 And are the people a whit behind in their belief s^ ? 
 is there any thing [abovementioned,) their flrong Faith 
 looks upon to be too hard for this evil Being to effeB ? 
 
 Here it will be anfwered, God permits it. Which 
 anfwer is fo far an owning the DoBrine, that the 
 Devil has in his nature a power to do all thefe 
 things, and can exert this power, except when he is 
 refrained, which is in effeB to fay that God has 
 made Nature to fight againft itfelf That he has 
 made a Creature, who has it in the power of his 
 Nature to overthrow Nature, and to aB above and 
 
 71 Some Perfon once put into the work, which commonly are called 
 Hands of the fmce famous James Witches; I fay again, that he who 
 Howell a Manufcript, attempting denies there are fuch Spirits,_ Ihews 
 to difprove the Exiftence of Witch- that he himfelf hath a Spirit ot 
 es In writing to his Friend, Sir Contradiftion in him, oppofing the 
 Edward Spencer, foon after, Howell current and confentient Opmion of 
 faid • " I will not fay that this Gen- all Antiquity." James wrote this 
 tleman is fo perverfe; but to deny Nonfenfe in 1647. Moft certainly 
 there are any Witches, to deny that if our Affairs are to be meafured 
 there are not ill Spirits which fe- by the Laws and Ufages of Anti- 
 duce, tamper and converfe in divers quity, all Advancement in Know- 
 Shapes with human Creatures, and ledge is a Crime; and inftcad of 
 impel them to Adions of Mahce, I being tolerated, fliould be prevented 
 fay that he who denies there are by the fame fanguinary Laws then 
 fuch bufy Spirits, and fuch poor in ufe. Fortunately fome Improve- 
 paflive Creatures upon whom they ment is difcerniblc. ^
 
 128 A Letter to the Minijlers, [50] 
 
 againji it. Which he that can believe may as well 
 believe the greatejl contradiBion. That Being which 
 can do this in the f?nallejl thing, can do it in the 
 greateji. If Mofes with a bare perfnij/ion might 
 Jlr etch forth his Rod, yet he was not able to bring 
 Plagues upon the Egyptians, or to divide the Waters, 
 without a Co?nmiJfon fro?n the mofl high ; fo neither 
 can that evil Being perform any of this without a 
 Commijfion from the fame power. The Scripture 
 recites more Miracles wrought by Men than by 
 Angels good and bad; Tho this DoBrine be fo dif- 
 honourable to the only Almighty Being, as to afcribe 
 fuch Attributes to the Evil one, as are the Incom- 
 municahle prerogative of him, who is the alone 
 Sovereign Being; yet here is not all: But as he 
 that Steers by a falfe Compafs, the further he Sails 
 the more he is out of his way ; fo though there is in 
 fome things a variation [^o^from, there is in others 
 a further progrejfion in, or building upon the faid 
 DoBrine of the Maniche. 
 
 Men in this Age are not content barely to believe 
 fuch an exorbitant power to be in the nature of this 
 evil Being ; but have imagined that he prevails with 
 many to fign a Book, or make a contraB with him, 
 whereby they are inabled to perform all the things 
 abovementioned. Another Account is given hereof, 
 viz. that by vertue of fuch a Covenant they attain 
 power to Commiffionate him. And though the two 
 parties are not agreed which to put it upon, whether 
 the Devil impowers the Witch, or the Witch 
 commifjionate him; yet both parties are agreed in
 
 [50] A Letter to the Minijlers. 129 
 
 this. That one way or other the mi/chief is effeBed, 
 andfo the Criminal becomes culpable of Death. In 
 the fear ch after fuch a fort of Criminals, how many 
 Countries have fallen into fuch Convulfions. That 
 the Devafations made by a Conquering Enemy, nor 
 the Plague itfelf has not been fo formidable. 
 
 That not only good perfons have thus been 
 blemifh'd in their Reputations, but much inno- 
 cent Blood hath been flied, is teftified even by 
 thofe very Books, Cafes of Confcience, p. 33. 
 Remarkable provid. p. 179. Memor. provid. 
 
 /. 28. , 1 - ■ 
 
 And (to add) v^hat lefs can be expected, v^hen ^ 
 Men having taken up fuch a belief, of a cove- \ 
 nanting, affliaing and killing Witch ; and com- \ 
 paring it with the Scripture, finding no footfteps 
 therein of fuch a fort of Witch, have thereupon 
 defperately concluded ; that tho the Scripture is 
 full in it, that a Witch fhould not live ; yet that 
 it has not at all defcribed the crime, nor means 
 whereby the culpable might be detefted. 
 
 And hence they are fallen io far as to reckon 
 it necelTary to make ufe of thofe Diabolical and 
 Bloody ways, always heretofore practiced for their 
 Difcovery. As finding that the Rules given to 
 deted: other crimes, are wholly ufelefs for the 
 Difcovery of fuch. 
 
 This is that which has produced that deluge of 
 Blood mentioned, and muft certainly do fo again, 
 the fame belief remaining. 
 
 And who can wonder, if Chriflians that are fo
 
 130 A Letter to the Minijiers. [51] 
 
 eafily prevailed with to lay afide their Swords as 
 ufelefs, and (o have loft their Strength (if with 
 Samfon) they are led blindfold into an Idol Tem- 
 ple, to make fport for Enemies and Infidels, and 
 to do abominable actions, not only not Chriftian, 
 but againft even the light of Nature and Reafon. 
 And now Reverend Fathers, you who are ap- 
 pointed as Guides to the People, and whofe Lips 
 fhould preferve Knowledge ; who are fet as Shep- 
 herds, and as Watchmen, this matter appertains 
 to. you. I did write to you formerly upon this 
 head, and acquainted you with my Sentiments, 
 requefting that, if I erred, you would be pleafed 
 to fhew it me by Scripture ; but from your 
 filence, I gather that you approve thereof. For 
 I may reafonably prefume, that you would have 
 feen it your duty to have in[5i]formed me better, 
 if you had been fenfible of any Error. But if in 
 this matter you have acquitted yourfelves, becom- 
 ing the Titles you are dignified with, you have 
 caufe of rejoicing in the midft of the calamities 
 that afflidl a finning world. 
 
 Particularly, if you have taught the People to 
 
 fear God, and truft in him, and not to fear a 
 
 Witch or a Devil. That the Devil has no power 
 
 to afflid; any with Difeafes, or lofs of Cattle, &c. 
 
 : without a Commiffion from the moft high. That 
 
 \ he is fo filled with malice, that whatever Com- 
 
 \ miflion he may have againft any, he will not fail 
 
 to execute it. That no mortal ever was, or can 
 
 be able to Commifiionate him, or to lengthen his
 
 [51] A Letter to the Minijlers, 131 
 
 Chain in the leaft, and that he who can Commif- 
 fionate him is God ; and that the Scriptures of 
 truth not only affign the punifliment of a Witch ; 
 but give fufficient Rules to deted: them by, and 
 that (according to Mr. Gauls fourth head,) a 
 Witch is one that hates and oppofes the word, 
 work, and worfhip of God, and feeks by a fign to 
 feduce therefrom. That they who are guilty 
 according to that head, are guilty of Witchcraft, 
 and by the Law given by Mofes, were to be put 
 to Death. If you have taught the People the 
 neceffity of Charity, and the evil of entertaining 
 fo much as a jealoufie againft their Neighbours 
 for fuch crimes upon the Devils fuggeftions to a 
 perfon pretending to a Spedral (or Diabolical) 
 fight ; who utter their Oracles from Malice, fren- 
 fie, or a Satanical Delufion ; that to be inquifitive 
 ofVuch, whofe Speftres they fee, or who it is that 
 afBidis ? In order to put the accufed perfons life 
 in queftion, is a wickednefs beyond what Saul \ 
 was guilty of in going to the Witch. That to 
 confult with the dead, by the help of fuch as j 
 pretend to this Spediral fight, and fo to get Infor- 
 mation againft the life of any perfon, is the worft 
 fort of Necromancy. That the pretending to 
 drive away Spedres, /. e. Devils, with the hand, 
 or by ftriking thefe to wound a perfon at a dif- 
 tance, cannot be without Witchcraft, as pretending 
 to affign in order to deceive in matters of fo 
 high a Nature. That 'tis Ridiculous to think by 
 making laws againft feeding, imploying, or re- 
 
 W
 
 132 A Lietter to the Minijiers, [52] 
 
 warding of evil Spirits, thereby to get rid of 
 them. That their natures require not fucking to 
 fupport it. 
 
 That it is a horrid Injury and Barbarity to 
 fearch thofe parts, which even Nature itfelf 
 commands the concealing of, to find fome Ex- 
 crefcence to be called a Tet for thofe to fuck ; 
 which yet is faid fometimes to appear as a Flea- 
 bite. Finally if you have taught the People 
 what to believe and practice, as to the probation 
 of the Accufed, by their faying, or not faying the 
 Lord's Prayer ; and as to praying that the Af- 
 flicted may be able to accufe ; And have not 
 fhunned in thefe matters to declare the whole 
 mind of God ; you have then well acquitted 
 yourfelves (in time of General Defedlion) as 
 faithful Watchmen. But if inftead [52] of this, 
 you have fome by word and writing propagated ; 
 others recommended fuch writings, and abetted 
 the falfe Notions, which are fo prevalent in this 
 Apoftate Age, it is high time to confider it. If 
 when Authority found themfelves almoft non- 
 pluft in fuch profecutions, and fent to you for 
 your Advice what they ought to do. 
 Cafes of confcience, ^j^^j y^^ hdiWQ theu thanked them 
 
 for what they had already done (and 
 
 thereby encouraged them to proceed 
 
 in thofe very by Paths already fallen into) it fo 
 
 much the [more] nearly concerns you, Ezek. 
 
 xxxiii. 2, to 8. 
 
 To conclude, this whole People are invited
 
 [52] A Letter to the Minijiers, 133 
 
 and commanded to humble their Souls before 
 God, as for other caufes, fo for the 
 vid. The Procia- Errors that may have been fallen into 
 motion for a Faji, iu thcfe profccutions on either hand, 
 tobcthc i^inji.as and to pray that God would teach 
 fct forth by Autho- US what wc know not, and help us 
 rity. wherein we have done amifs, that 
 
 we may do fo no more. 
 This more immediately concerns yourfelves, 
 for 'tis not fuppofed to be intended, that God 
 would fhew us thefe things by Infpiration. But 
 that fuch who are called to it, fhould fhew the 
 mind of God in thefe things on both hands ; 
 /'. e. whether there has been any Error in Excefs 
 or Deficiency, or neither in the one nor the other. 
 And if you do not thus far ferve the publick you 
 need not complain of great Sufferings and un- 
 righteous Difcouragements ; if Peo- 
 vid. The Dcciara- plc do uot applaude your conduct, as 
 tion, as Jra-wn by jou might othcrways have expected. 
 the Deputies -with But if you altogether hold your peace 
 the Ajfiftance f the at fuch 2l tlmc as this is ; your filence 
 Minifters; but re- at Icaft fccmlngly will fpeak this 
 cei-v'd a Noncon- Lauguagc ; that you are not con- 
 currence. cemcd tho' Mcu afcribc the power 
 
 and providence of the Almighty to 
 the worft of his Creatures. That if other Ages 
 or Countries improve the Dodlrines and Exam- 
 ples given them, either to the taking away of the 
 Life or Reputations of Innocents you are well 
 fatisfied. Which that there may be no fhadow
 
 134 A Letter to Mr, B. W. [53] 
 
 of a Reafon to believe but that your conduct 
 herein may remove all fuch Jealouiies ; and that 
 God be w^ith you in declaring his whole mind to 
 the People, is the earneft defire and prayer of. 
 Reverend Sirs, 
 
 Yours to my utmoft, 
 
 R. C. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin WadfworthJ'^ 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 AFTER that dreadful and fevere Perfecution 
 of fuch a Multitude of People, under the 
 notion of Witches, which in the day thereof, was 
 the foreft tryal and affliction that ever befel this 
 Country. And after [53] many of the principal 
 Ad:ors had declared their fears and jealoufies, that 
 they had greatly erred in thofe Profecutions. 
 And after a Solemn day of Failing had been 
 kept, with Prayers that God would fliew us what 
 
 73 Mr. Wadfworth was Minifter See N. E. Hit. and Gen. Reg. for 
 
 of the Firft Church in Bofton from 1853, p. 221, where the Caufe of 
 
 1696 to 1725, when he became the Error is explained. There has 
 
 Prcfidentof Harvard College. He been a feeble i^ttempt to maintain 
 
 was Son of Capt. Samuel Wadf- the old Date, becaufe it happened 
 
 worth of Milton, who fell in the ignorandy to be placed upon a new 
 
 bloody Fight at Sudbury, April the Monument which replaced the old 
 
 2 1 ft, 1676. And here it may be One in 1852. This Attempt has 
 
 noted that PreJident Wadfworth, been admitted into the Regifter for 
 
 praifeworthily and in filial Duty, 1866, page 135-141, as unaccount- 
 
 erefled a Monument to his father's ably as the Date on the New 
 
 Memory, at Sudbury, on the Site Monument. 
 
 of the fierce Gonflift, in which he Prefident Wadfworth, though a 
 
 ended his Life; but from fome Caufe BeHever in Witchcraft, did not en- 
 
 eafily explained, fixed the Date of courage the Proceedings and Profe- 
 
 his father's Death on April i8th; cutions.
 
 [53] 
 
 A Letter to Mr. B. W. 135 
 
 we knew not ; viz. what errors might therein 
 have been fallen into, &c. And after moft Peo- 
 ple were convinc'd of the Evil of fome, if not 
 of moll of thofe Actions. At fuch a time as this 
 it might have been juftly expedted that the Min- 
 ifters would make it their work to Explain the 
 Scriptures to the People"; and from thence to 
 have (hown them, the evil and danger of thofe 
 falfe Notions, which not only gave fome occalion ; 
 but in a blind Zeal hurried them into thofe un- 
 warrantable practices, fo to prevent a falling into ' 
 the like for the future. 
 
 But inftead of this, for a Minifter of the Gof- 
 pel (Paftor of the old Meeting 74) to abet fuch 
 Notions ; and to ftir up the Magiftrates to fuch 
 Profecutions, and this without any cautions given, 
 is what is truly amazing, and of moil dangerous 
 confequence. 
 
 It is a truth. Witchcraft is, in the Text then 
 infifted on, reckon'd up as a manifefl work of the 
 Flefh. Viz. Gal. v. 19. But it is as true, that in 
 recounting thofe other Works (which are indeed 
 Manifefl Flefhly Works) the Magiftrate was not 
 flirred up againfl thofe others ; but as if the reft 
 were either not to be taken notice of by him, or 
 as if all Zeal againft Murder, Adulteries, &c. was 
 fwallowed up, and over- fliado wed by this againft 
 Witchcraft. 
 
 74 The Author undoubtedly re- be fuppofed to mean that of the 
 
 fers to Dr. Mather the Younger, oldefl; Church; but of that, Mr. 
 
 though his Meaning is left rather Wadfworth himfelf was the Min- 
 
 obfcure. The Old Meeting may ifter.
 
 136 A Letter to Mr, B. W. [54] 
 
 The defcription that was then given, was that 
 they were fuch as made a Covenant with the 
 Devil, and fold themfelves to the evil Angels. It 
 feems faulty, that when fuch Minifter is inquired 
 of, and requefted to give the Reafons, or Grounds 
 in Scripture of fuch Defcription ; for fuch Min- 
 ifter to alTert that it is the Inquirers work to 
 difprove it. And his faying further, in anfwer 
 that there are many things true, that are not 
 afferted in Scripture ; feems to fpeak this Lan- 
 guage, viz. that the Law of God is imperfect, in 
 not defcribing this Crime of Witchcraft, though 
 it be therein made Capital. 
 
 Thefe perfect Oracles inform us, concerning 
 Ahab^ that he fold himfelf to work Wickednefs ; 
 which may fignifie to us, that great height of 
 Wickednefs he had arrived at ; which yet might 
 be, without his being properly, or juftly accounted 
 a Witch ; any more than thofe that are faid to 
 have made a Covenant with Death, and with 
 Hell, ^c. Can it be thought that all thofe, or 
 fuch as are there fpoken of, are Witches, and 
 ought to fuffer as Witches .^ 
 
 As the Servants and People of God, have made 
 a Solemn explicit Covenant with him, 'JoJIo. xxiv. 
 25. Nehem. ix. 38. &c. So no doubt a Covenant 
 has been made by Heathen Indian Nations to ferve, 
 and adore the Devil ; yet even for this, it were 
 very hard to affix the Character of [54] a Witch 
 upon each of thofe Heathen that fo do : And 
 accordingly to Execute them as fuch. It is
 
 [54] ^ Letter to M?\ B. W. 137 
 
 alfo poffible, that fome that have been called 
 Chriftians, have fealed a Writing, fign'd with their 
 own Blood, or otherways, thereby Covenanting 
 to be the Devil's Servants, &c. but from far other 
 grounds, or inducements than what fways with 
 the Indians ; thefe Heathen hoping to pleafe him, 
 that fo he may not harm them. But thefe having 
 been Educated and Confirmed in the Belief, that 
 by vertue of fuch Covenant, they fhall have a 
 Knowledge and Power more than Humane, af- 
 fifting of them ; this may have prevail'd with 
 fome to fo horrible a wickednefs ; for none can 
 feek Evil for Evils fake ; but as the Serpent in 
 his firfi: tempting Man, made ufe of the know- 
 ledge of Good and Evil ; fo to teach Men that 
 fuch efted:s do ufually follow fuch Covenant, is 
 properly the work of the Serpent ; for without 
 this, what inducement, or temptation could they 
 have to make fuch a Covenant ? 
 
 Thefe having thus chofen a falfe God, may well 
 be accounted the worft fort of Idolaters. Yet it 
 does not hence follow that in a Scripture fenfe, 
 they are thereby become Witches, till they have, 
 or rather till they pretend to have affiftances an- 
 fwerable ; and do thereby endeavour to deceive 
 others, which endeavours to deceive, by a fign 
 may be without any previous Covenant. 
 
 But fuppofing none of all thofe feveral forts of 
 Covenants was intended, it remains that the Cove- 
 nant, that was underftood to be intended, in that 
 Difcourfe at Old Meeting, is agreeable to the late
 
 138 A Letter to Mr, B. W. [55] 
 
 dangerous Notion that has fo much prevailed, 
 ijiz. That the Devil appears to the perfons, that 
 they and the Devil make mutual engagements 
 each to other, confirmed by figning to the Devil's 
 Book ; and are from hence inabled, not only to 
 know futurities, and things done at diftance ; but 
 are alfo thereby impowered to do harm to the 
 Neighbours, to raife Storms, and do things above 
 and againft a courfe of Nature : This being the 
 notion that has occafioned the fhedding fo much 
 Blood in the World, it may be thought to need 
 explaining. 
 
 For as Reafon knows nothing of an Afflicting, 
 Covenanting Witch ; fo it feems as Forreign from 
 Scripture in general, as it is from the Text then 
 inlifted on ; which fpeaks of fuch wickedneffes 
 as are manifeftly the works of the flefh : but fuch 
 Communication with Spirits, the flefh doth man- 
 ifeftly dread even as death itfelf. Therefore the 
 ufual Salvation of the Holy Angels to the beft 
 of Men was, fear not ; and experience fhews, that 
 the moft wicked, are moft afrighted at the appre- 
 henlions of the appearances of Devils ; therefore 
 fuch an explicit Covenanting cannot be a manfeft 
 work of the Flefh. 
 
 \^S\ Yet this is manifefl, that the belief of the 
 Witches power to do the things above mentioned, 
 is an ancient belief of the Heathen. And that 
 from them it was received by the Papifls, as a 
 part of their Faith, who have fince improved 
 upon it, and brought in the notion of a Covenant.
 
 [55] 
 
 A Letter' to Mr. B. W. 139 
 
 But it feems yet a further improvement lately- 
 made by Proteftants, that fuch Witches can Com- 
 miffionate Devils to do thofe mifchiefs, thereby 
 fetting the Witch in the place of God ; for tho 
 few of the Papifts are known to be thus abfurd ; 
 yet when fuch Do6trines have been Preached, and 
 Printed in New England^ they have met with 
 none to oppofe ; but many to incourage them. 75 
 Other considerable additions or new improvements 
 have been made here ; as the art to knock off 
 invilible chains with the hand, to drive away 
 Spedlres (/. e. Devils) by brufliing, fpelling words 
 to the Afflid:ed, &c. What has followed upon 
 thefe notions, and upon fuch improvements, is 
 needlefs here to repeat, it were unaccountable to 
 recount the effufion of Blood that has been hereby 
 occalioned, fuch remaining Scars, and fuch yet 
 bleeding wounds as are to be found ; which none 
 can wholly pretend ignorance of. 
 
 75 The Defenders of Dr. Ma- Bottom of the Matter,) and for 
 
 the r's TT'tf/r^^rj-, &c., remark : "Af- him to fpeak as he does of the 
 
 ter that thofe our Honourable Judges Hononrable Pcrfons, as Me/i objli- 
 
 (fearing leaft wrong Steps might nate in an Error, and involved in 
 
 have been taken) had thus fet apart the Guilt of the Blood Jhed by Pa- 
 
 a Day for folemn Humiliation be- gans and Papifts before them : what 
 
 fore the Lord, humbly Imploring fhall we think of it, but that 'tis in- 
 
 His Pardon for what might have humane, and fit for none but a Ser- 
 
 becn done amifs; for him to repeat vant of the worft Mafler? One 
 
 that Matter, and fct it out with im- would have thought, that the Fear 
 
 perfeft Relations and odious Ag- ^ Gc;^ (if he has any) fhould have 
 
 gravations, thereby intending to ren- darted that Scripture into his Mind, 
 
 der the Land, and the Judges ob- Exod. 22. 28. Thou fhalt not /peak 
 
 noxious (tho all the Learning that Evil of the Ruler of thy People.'' — 
 
 he and wifer Men than he, pretend Anfwer to', a Scandalous Book, &c. 
 
 unto, is infufficient to dive to the Paternity of Extraft unmillakablc. 
 
 X
 
 140 Reafon of Withdrawing. [55] 
 
 And if Blood fhall be required of that Watch- 
 man that feeth the Sword a coming, and gives 
 not the needful warning ; how much more of 
 fuch as join with the Enemy, to bring in the 
 Sword to deftroy them, over whom he was placed 
 a Watchman. 
 
 And if the law of God be perfect, and exceed- 
 ing broad, as being given forth by the Omnicient 
 Law-giver ; it is exceeding high prefumption and 
 arrogance, and highly deftrudiive to the lives of 
 Innocents, for any to pretend to give another, and 
 a pretended better defcription of a crime made 
 thereby Capital, with new rules to try fuch of- 
 fenders by. 
 
 Reverend Sir, the matter being of fuch high con- 
 cern requires [and it is again prayed) that you would 
 be pleafed to confder, and give the grounds from 
 Scripture, or Reafon of fuch Definition, or elfe that 
 you would explode it, as inconffient with both. 
 From, Reverend Sir, Tours to my utmofl. 
 
 R. C. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 An Account of the Differences in SALEM 
 
 Village. 
 
 THE Reafons why we withdraw from Com- 
 munion with the Church of Saletn Village, 
 both as to hearing the word Preached, and from
 
 [56] Reafon of Withdrawing, 141 
 
 partaking with them at the Lord's Table, are as 
 followeth. 
 
 Why we attend not on pubUck Prayer, and 
 preaching the word, there are, 
 
 I 56] /. The DiJiraBing, and Dijiurbing tumults, 
 and noifes made by the perfons under Diabolical 
 Power and delujions : preventing fomefimes our 
 hearing, under Jianding, and profiting by the word 
 preached. We having after many Trials, and Ex- 
 periences found no redrefo in this ?natter, accountea 
 ourfolves u?ider a necejjity to go where we might hear 
 the word in quiet. 
 
 2. The apprehenfion of danger of ourf elves, being 
 accufed as the Devil's Inflruinents, to ofliB the per- 
 fons complaining, we feeing thofe that we have reafon 
 
 to efieem better than ourf elves thus accufed, blemifhed, 
 and of their lives bereaved: for feeing this, thought 
 it our prudence to withdraw. 
 
 3. We found fo frequent and poftive preaching 
 up fome Principles and PraBices by Mr. Parris,^^ 
 referring to the dark and difnal myflery of Iniquity 
 working among us, was not profitable, but offenfive. 
 
 4. Neither could we in Confidence join with Mr. 
 Parris, in many of the Requefis which he 7nade in 
 Prayer, referring to the trouble then among us and 
 upon us ; therefore thought it our mofi fafe and 
 peaceable way to withdraw. 
 
 ^'' A brief Article on this deluded be found further noticed in thefe 
 Man will be feen in Dr. Allen's Pages. He polTefled confidcrable 
 Amer. Biog. Di^ionary, He will Ability, but was very weak minded.
 
 142 Reafons for Withdrawing. [56] 
 
 T^he Reafons why we hold not Communion with them 
 at the Lord's Table, are becaufe we find ourf elves 
 jufily aggrieved, and offended with the Offcer, 
 who does adminifier,for the Reafons following. 
 
 1. From his declared and publijhed Principles, re- 
 ferring to our moleflations from the Invifible World: 
 
 Differing from the Opinion of the generality of the 
 Orthodox Miniflers of the Country. 
 
 2. His eafie and firong Faith and Belief of the 
 before-mentioned Accufations, made by thofe called 
 the AffliBed. 
 
 3. His laying afde that grace (which above all 
 we are to put on,) viz. Charity towards his Neigh- 
 bours, and efpecially thofe of his Church, when there 
 is no apparent reafon, but for the contrary. 
 
 4. His approving and practicing unwarrantable 
 and ungrounded methods, for difcovering what he was 
 defrous to know, referring to the bewitched, or pof- 
 
 feffed perfons, as in bringing fome to others, and by 
 them pretending to inform himfelf and others, who 
 were the Devil's infiruments to affiB the fick and 
 maifned. 
 
 5. His unfafe unaccountable Oath, given by him 
 againfi fundry of the accufed. 
 
 6. His not rendering to the World fo fair (if fo 
 true) account of what he wrote on Fxamination of 
 the affiBed. 
 
 7. Sundry unfafe (if found points of DoBrine de- 
 livered in his Preaching) which we find not war- 
 rantable (if Chrifiian.)
 
 \^S7^ Mr.FsLvns's y4cknow/edgement, 14.3 
 
 8. His perjyiing in thefe Principles ^ and jujii- 
 fying his PraBice ; not rendering any fatisfaBion 
 to us, when regularly dejired, but rather offending, 
 and diffatisfying ourf elves. 
 
 \_Sl\ ^^ whofe Names are under written, 
 heard this Paper read to our Paftor, Mr. Samuel 
 P arris, the 21// of April, 1693. 
 
 Peter Cloyce, Seniour. 
 
 Nathaniel 'Jigarfon,''^ 
 Edward Pulman, 
 Aaron Way, 
 William Way, 
 
 Samuel Nurce, 
 John 'Jarboll, 
 Tho??ias Wilkins. 
 
 Mr. Parris's Acknowledgment. 
 
 FOR as much as it is the undoubted duty of all 
 Chriftians to purfue Peace, PfaL xxxiv. 14. 
 even to a reaching of it, if it be pollible, Amos 
 xii. 18, 19. And whereas through the righteous. 
 Sovereign, and awful Providence of God, the 
 grand Enemy to all Chriftian Peace, has been of 
 late tremendoufly let loofe in divers places herea- 
 bout, and more efpecially among our finful felves, 
 not only to interrupt that partial peace which we 
 did fometimes enjoy, but alfo through his wiles 
 and temptations, and our weaknefs, and corrup- 
 tions, to make wider breaches, and raife more 
 bitter Animolities between too many of us. In 
 which dark and difficult difpenfations, we have 
 
 ■''6 Perhaps a typographical Er- Pulman is Edward Putman ; Nurce 
 ror. Nathaniel Ingerfon or Inger- is (ince Neur/e ; Jarboll is Tar- 
 /o//\s undoubtedly meant. Edward M/.
 
 144- Mr, Y2iXX\^\ Acknowledgement, \si'\ 
 
 been all or moft of us of one mind for a time ; and 
 afterwards of differing apprehenfions. And at 
 laft we are but in the dark, upon ferious thoughts 
 of all ; and after many Prayers, I have been moved 
 to prefent to you (my beloved Flock) the follow- 
 ing particulars, in way of Contribution towards a 
 regaining of Chriftian Concord ; if fo be we be 
 not altogether unappeafeable, irreconcileable, and 
 fo deititute of that good Spirit, which is firft pure, 
 then peaceable, gentle, and eafy to be intreated, 
 'James iii. 17. viz. 
 
 1. In that the Lord ordered the late horrid 
 calamity77 (which afterward plague-like fpread 
 in many other places) to break out iirft in my 
 Family, I cannot but look upon as a very fore 
 rebuke, and humbling providence, both to my- 
 felf and mine, and defire fome may improve it. 
 
 2. In that alfo in my Family were fome of 
 both parties, njix. Accufers and Accufed, I look 
 alfo upon as an aggravation of that rebuke, as an 
 addition of Wormwood to the Gall. 
 
 3. In the means which were ufed in my Fam- 
 ily, though totally unknown to me or mine (ex- 
 cept Servants) till afterwards, to raife Spirits and 
 Apparitions in no better than a Diabolical way, 
 I do alfo look upon as a further rebuke of Divine 
 Providence. And by all, I do humbly own this 
 day before the Lord and his People, that God 
 has been righteoufly fpitting in my face, Nwnb. 
 
 "^ This flatly contradidls thofe who have charged all to the Devil.
 
 [58] Mr. V^rrh's Acknowledgement. 145 
 
 xii. 14. And I defire to lye low under all this 
 reproach, and to lay my hand on my mouth. 
 
 [58] 4. As to the management of thefe Myf- 
 teries, as far as concerns myfelf, I am very defi- 
 rous upon further light to own any errors I have 
 therein fallen into, and can come to a difcerning 
 of; in the mean while I do acknowledge upon 
 after-confiderations, that were the fame troubles 
 again, (which the Lord of his rich mercy fore- 
 ver prevent) I fhould not agree with my former 
 apprehenfions in all points. As for Inftance, 
 
 1. I queftion not but God fometimes fuffers 
 the Devil, as of late, to afflicft in fhape of not 
 only Innocent, but Pious perfons, or fo to delude 
 the Senfes of the afflicted, that they flrongly con- 
 ceit their hurt is from fuch perfons, when indeed 
 it is not. 
 
 2. The improving of one afflid:ed to inquire 
 by who afflicts the other, I fear may be, and has 
 been unlawfully ufed to Satan's great Advantage. 
 
 3. As to my writing, it was put upon me by 
 Authority, and therein I have been very careful 
 to avoid the wronging of any. 
 
 4. As to my Oath I never meant it, nor do I 
 know how it can be otherwife conftrued, than as 
 vulgarly, and every one underftood, yea, and 
 upon inquiry it may be found fo worded alfo. 
 
 5. As to any palTage in preaching, or praying 
 in the fore hour of diftrefs and darknefs, I always 
 intended but due Juftice on each hand, and that 
 not according to Men but God ; who knows all
 
 146 Mr. Parris's Acknowledgment. [5 81 
 
 things moft perfedly ; however through weak- 
 nefs, or fore exercife, I might fometimes, yea and 
 poffibly fundry times unadvifedly exprefs myfelf. 
 
 6. As to feveral that have confefTed againft 
 themfelves, they being v^holly ftrangers to me, 
 but yet of good account with better Men than 
 myfelf, to whom alfo they are well known, I do 
 not pafs fo much as a fecret condemnation upon 
 them. But rather feeing God hath fo amazingly 
 lengthened out Satan's Chain, in this moft for- 
 midable outrage, I much more incline to fide 
 with the Opinion of thofe that have grounds to 
 hope better of them. 
 
 7. As to all that have unduly fufFered in thefe 
 matters, either in their Perfons or Relations, 
 through the clouds of human weaknefs, and Sa- 
 tan's wiles and fophiftry, I do truly fympathize 
 with them, taking it for granted, that fuch as 
 know themfelves clear of this great tranfgreffion, 
 or that have fufficient grounds io to look upon 
 their dear Friends, have hereby been under thofe 
 fore tryals and temptations, that not an ordinary 
 meafure of true grace would be fufficient to pre- 
 vent a bewraying of remaining corruption. 
 
 8. I am very much in the mind, and abund- 
 antly perfwaded that God for holy ends (though 
 
 ; for what in particular, is beft known to himfelf ) 
 : has fuffered the Evil Angels to delude us on both 
 .' hands ; but how far on the one fide, or the other, 
 / is much above me to fay, and if we cannot recon- 
 cile till we come to a full difcerning of thefe
 
 [59] Mr, Parris's Acknowledgment, i^y 
 
 things, I fear we fhall never come to an agree- 
 ment, or at fooneft not in this World. 
 
 [59] Therefore in fine, the matter being fo 
 dark and perplexed, as that there is no prefent 
 appearance, that all God's Servants fhould be alto- 
 gether of one mind in all circumftances, touching 
 the fame ; I do moft heartily, fervently, and hum- 
 bly befeech pardon of the merciful God, through 
 the Blood of Chrift for all my- miftakes and tref- 
 pafTes in fo weighty a matter. And alfo all your 
 forgivenefs of every offence, in this or other 
 affairs, wherein you fee or conceived that I have 
 erred and offended, profefling in the prefence of 
 the Almighty God, that what I have done has 
 been as for fubftance as I apprehended was [my] 
 duty, however thro' weaknefs. Ignorance, &c. I 
 may have been miflaken. I alfo thro' grace 
 promifing each of you the like of me ; fo again 
 I beg, intreat, and befeech you, that Satan, the 
 Devil, the roaring Lion, the old Dragon, the 
 Enemy of all Righteoufnefs, may no longer be 
 ferved by us, by our Envy and Strifes, where every 
 evil work prevails whilft thefe bear fway, "James 
 iii. 14, 15, 16, But that all from this day for- 
 ward may be covered with the mantle of love, 
 and we may on all hands forgive each other 
 heartily, fincerely and thoroughly, as we do hope 
 and pray, that God for Chrift's fake would forgive 
 each of ourfelves. Mat. xviii. 21. to the end. 
 Colof. iii. 12, 13. Put on therefore [as the eleB of 
 God J holy and beloved) bowels of ?jierciesy kindnefs, 
 Y
 
 14-8 T'he Councils at Salem. [59] 
 
 humblenefs of mind, meeknefs, long-fuffering ; For- 
 bearing one another, and forgiving one another, f 
 any man have a quarrel againji any, even as Chriji 
 forgave you, fo alfo do ye. Eph. iv. 31, 32. Let 
 all bitter nefs, and anger, and clamour, and evil- 
 fpeaking be put away from you with all malice. 
 And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, for- 
 giving one another, even as God for Chrif s fake, 
 hath forgiven you. Amen. Amen. 
 
 Samuel Parris. 
 
 Given to the DifTenting Brethren, for their con- 
 fideration of, at their requeft. Nov. 26, 1694. 
 
 T^he Elders and Me[fe7tgers of the churches 
 met at Salem Village^ April 3, 1695, /^ 
 confider and deter 7nine what is to be done^ 
 for the compofure of the prefent unhappy 
 differences in that place. After fole^nn 
 invocation of God in Chrifi for his di- 
 reEiion^ do unanimoufy declare^ as fol- 
 low eth^ viz. 
 
 I. ^^^E judge that all be it in the late and dark 
 V ▼ time of the confufions, wherein Satan 
 had obtained a more than ordinary liberty, to 
 be fifting of this Plantation, there were fundry un- 
 warrantable, and uncomfortable fteps, taken by 
 Mr. Samuel Parris, the Paftor of the Church in 
 Salem Village, then under the hurrying difl:ra(5tions
 
 [6o] 
 
 The Couficih at Salem. 149 
 
 of amazing Afflictions ; yet the faid Mr. F arris, . 
 by the good hand of God brought unto a better Xy 
 fenfe of things, hath fo fully expreft it, that a 
 Chriflian charity may and fhould receive fatisfac- 
 tion therewith. 
 
 [60] 2. Inafmuch as diverfe Chriftian Breth- 
 ren, in the Church of Sale?n Village, have been 
 offended at Mr. Parris, for his condud; in the 
 time of their difficulties, which have diftrelTed 
 them ; we now advife them Charitably to accept 
 the fatisfadtion which he hath tendered in his 
 Chriftian acknowledgment of the Errors therein 
 committed ; yea to endeavour, as far as it is poffi- 
 ble, the fulleft reconciliation of their minds unto 
 Communion with him, in the whole Exercife of 
 his Miniftry, and with the reft of the Church, 
 Matt. vi. 12, 14. Luke xvii. 3. James v. 16. 
 
 3. Conlidering the extream tryals and troubles, \ 
 which the dilTatisfied Brethren in the Church of v 
 Salem Village have undergone, in the day of fore 
 temptation, which hath been upon them ; we 
 cannot but advife the Church to treat them with 
 bowels of much compaffion, inftead of all more 
 critical, or rigorous proceedings againft them for 
 the Infirmities difcovered by them, in fuch an 
 heart-breaking day ; and if after a patient waiting 
 for it, the faid Brethren cannot fo far overcome 
 the uneafinefs of their Spirits, in the remembrance 
 of the difafters that have hapned, as to lit under 
 his Miniftry ; we advife the Church with all 
 tendernefs to grant them admiffion to any other
 
 150 The Councils at Salem. [61] 
 
 Society of the Faithful, whereunto they may be 
 defired to be difmift. Gal. vi. i, 2. Pfal. ciii. 13, 
 14. yob xix. 21. 
 
 4. Mr. Parris having (as we underftand) with 
 J' much fidelity and integrity acquitted himfelf, in 
 
 the main courfe of his Miniftry, fince he hath 
 been Paftor of the Church of Sale??2 Village; 
 about his firft call whereunto, we look upon all 
 conteftations now to be both unreafonable and 
 unfeafonable : And our Lord having made him a 
 bleffing to the Souls of not a few, both old and 
 young in this place, we advife that he be accord- 
 ingly refpedted, honour'd and fupported, with all 
 the regards that are due to a painful Minifter of 
 the gofpel. I The/, v. 12, 13. i Tim. v. 17. 
 
 5. Having obferved that there is in Salem Vil- 
 lage, a Spirit full of contention and animofity, too 
 fadly verifying the blemifh which hath heretofore 
 lain upon them : And that fome complaints 
 againft Mr. Parris have been either caufelefs, or 
 groundlefs, or unduly aggravated ; we do in th-e 
 name and fear of the Lord folemnly warn them 
 to confider, whether if they continue to devour 
 one another it will not be bitternefs in the latter 
 end, and beware left the Lord be provoked thereby 
 utterly to deprive them of thofe (which they 
 fhould count) their precious and pleafant things, 
 and abandon them to all the defolations of a Peo- 
 ple that fin away the Mercies of the Gofpel. 
 James iii. 16. Gal. v. 15. 2 Sam. ii. 26. If a. 
 V. 45. Mat. xxi. 43.
 
 [6i] The Councils at SdX^m. 151 
 
 6. If the Diftempers in Salem Village fhould 
 be (which God forbid) fo incurable, that Mr. 
 Parris after all find that he cannot with any 
 comfort and fervice continue in his prefent Sta- 
 tion, his removal from thence will [61] not expofe 
 him to any hard Charadler with us ; nor we hope 
 with the reft of the People of God, among whom 
 we live. Matt. x. 14. ABs xxii. 18. All which 
 advice we follow, with our Prayers that the God 
 of Peace would bruife Satan under our Feet ; now 
 the Lord of Peace himfelf give you Peace always 
 by all means. 
 
 John Walley^ 
 Jer. Dummer, 
 Neh. Jewitt, 
 Ephr. Hunt, 
 Nath. Williams, 
 Incr. Mather, 
 
 Jof. Bridgham,"'^ 
 Samuel Chickley, 
 William Tory, 
 Jof. Boynton, 
 Richard Middle- 
 cutt. 
 
 Samuel Phillips, 
 James Allen, 
 Samuel Tory, 
 Samuel Willard, 
 Edward Paifon, 
 Cotton Mather. 
 
 79 Jofeph Bridgham was probably 
 the Son of Henry, of Dorchefter, 
 and afterwards of Bofton, born in 
 1651. He was a Member of the 
 Artillery Company, Reprefentative, 
 and in other Walks a prominent 
 Man. He died about 1709. Sam- 
 uel Checkley was the Minifter of 
 the New South Church, Bofton. 
 Jeremiah Dummer was the well 
 known Author, the Defence of the 
 New England Charters. Nehe- 
 miah Jewett, I fuppofe, was of Ipf- 
 wich, a Reprefentative, and, at 
 one Time, Speaker of the Houfe, 
 and died about 1720. James Al- 
 len was Minifter of the Firft Church, 
 
 Bofton. Samuel T'iirr-fy was Min- 
 ifter of Weymouth, and died in 
 1707. William Torrey was alfo 
 of Weymouth, and Brother of the 
 Rev. Samuel. Jofeph Boynton was 
 of Rowley. Richard Uiddlecott 
 was of Bofton. John Walley was 
 probably the Major Walley who 
 Ihared the Difgrace of the ill ad- 
 vifed and iller executed Expedition 
 againft Canada, under Sir William 
 Phips. Hunt was another of 
 Phips's Colonels, &c., was of Wey- 
 mouth, and died 1713. Wil- 
 liams was probably the Nathaniel 
 Williams, of Bofton, a Commiflary 
 in Philip's War. '?,amuel Phillips
 
 1^2 A Letter to the Riders, [6 1 ] 
 
 To the Reverend Elders of the Three 
 Churches of Chrift, at Bojlon^ with 
 others the Elders and Brethren of other 
 Churches, late of a Council at Salem 
 Village. 
 
 WE whofe Names are hereunto Subfcribed, are 
 bold once more to trouble y ou with our hum- 
 ble Propofals. That whereas there has been long 
 and uncomfortable differences among us, chiefly relat- 
 ing to Mr. Parris ; and we having, as we apprehend, 
 attended all probable means for a compofure of our 
 troubles ; and whereas we had hopes of an happy 
 Iffue, by your endeavors among us, but now are ut- 
 terly fruftrated of our ExpeBations, and that injiead 
 of uniting, our rent is made worfe, and our breach 
 made wider. 
 
 We humbly ^ery. Whether yourfelves being 
 jlreightned of time, might not omit Juch fatisfaBory 
 liberty of debating the whole of our Controverfie ; 
 whereby yourfelves had not fo large an opportunity 
 of underftanding the Cafe ; nor the offended fo much 
 reafon to be fatisfied in your advice : We therefore 
 humbly prop of e, and give full liberty of proving and 
 defending of what may be charged on either hand, 
 
 was the Minifter of Rowley, per- dent of Harvard College, &c. ; he 
 
 haps, who died in 1696. Samuel died in 1707. See Note ante. 
 
 Willard, of the Old South, Au- Edward Payfon was Minifter of 
 
 thor of A Body of Divinity, and Rowley, and was Father of feven- 
 
 other theological Work, Vice-Prefi- teen Children, and died 1732.
 
 [62] 
 
 A l^etter to the Elders. 153 
 
 leaving it to yourfehes to appoint both time and 
 place. 
 
 1 . 'That if y our f elves pleafe to take the trouble 
 with patience once more to hear the whole Cafe. 
 
 2. Or that you will more plainly advife Mr. Par- 
 ris, [th^ Cafe being fo circumjlanced, that he cannot 
 with comfort or profit^ to himfelf or others, abide in 
 the Work of the Miniflry amojig us) to ceafe his 
 labours, and feek to difpofe himfelf elfewhere, as God 
 in his Providence may direB : and that yourf elves 
 would pleafe to help us in advifng to fuch a choice, 
 wherein we may be more unanimous ; which we hope 
 would tend much to a compofure of our differences. 
 
 3. Or, that we may without any offence take the 
 liberty of calling fo??ie other proved Minifer of the 
 Gofpel, to Preach the Word of God to us and ours : 
 [62] and that we may not be denied our proportion- 
 able privilege, in our publick difburfments in the 
 place. 
 
 So leaving the whole case with the Lord and 
 yourfelves, we Subfcribe our Names. Signed by 
 16 young Men, from 16 upwards; and 52 Houf- 
 holders, and 18 Church Members. This was 
 delivered to the Miniflers, May 3, 1695.^° 
 
 ^0 Whether the Original manu- at this Time, and the Hiftorian of 
 
 fcript of this Paper is in exiftence I Salem Ihould not ceafe his Labours 
 
 have not learned. The Names of the until it is found, if anywhere pre- 
 
 Signers would be of much intereft ferved.
 
 154 A hetter to the Elders, [62] 
 
 The Copy of a Paper that was handed about 
 touching thofe Differences, 
 
 AS to the conteft between Mr. Parris and his 
 Hearers, &c. it may be compofed by a Sat- 
 isfadlory Anfwer, to Levit. xx. 6. And the Soul 
 that turneth after fuch as have familiar Spirits^ 
 and after Wizzards, to go a whoring after them, 
 I will even fet my face againft that Soul ; and will 
 cut him ojf from among his People, i Chron. x. 
 13, 14. So Saul died for his tranfgrefpon, which he 
 committed againfl the Lord, even againft the word of 
 the Lord, which he kept not, and alfo for afking 
 Counfl of one that had afatniliar Spirit to inquire 
 of it. And inquired not of the Lord, therefore he 
 Jlew him, &c.^^ 
 
 SI One who was as firm a Be- rations, when they were involved 
 
 liever as Dr. Mather in Witch Mys- in fuch a Dark and Difmal scene of 
 
 teries, remarks in Juftification of Providence, in which Satan did 
 
 what was done — " That I may fat- feem to Spin a finer Thred of Spi- 
 
 isfy fuch as are not refolved to the ritual Wickednefs than in the ordi- 
 
 Contrary; that there may be (and nary methods of Witchcraft; hence 
 
 are) fuch Operations of the Powers the Judges defiring to bear due Tef- 
 
 of Darknefs on the Bodies and timony, againfl fuch Diabolical Prac- 
 
 Minds of Mankind ; by Divine tices, were inclined to admit the 
 
 Permiffion ; and that thofe who fate validity of fuch a fort of Evidence, 
 
 Judges in thofe Cafes, may by the as was not fo clearly and direftly 
 
 ferious Confideration of the formi- demonftrable to Human Senfes, as 
 
 dable Afpeft and perplexed Cir- in other Cafes is required or elfe 
 
 cumftances, of that Afflidlive Pro- they could not difcover the Myfte- 
 
 vidence ; be in fome meafure ex- ries of Witchcraft ; I prefume not 
 
 cufed ; or at leaft be lefs cenfured, to impofe upon my Chrijlian or 
 
 for pafling Sentence on feveral Learned Reader ; any opinion of 
 
 Perfons, as being the Inftruments mine, how far Satan was an Inftru- 
 
 of Satan in thofe Diabolical Ope- ment in God's Hand, in thofe
 
 [62] Controverjie Stated. 155 
 
 Some part of the Determination of the 
 Elders and Meffengers of the Churches, 
 met at Salem Village, April 3, 1695, 
 relating to the Differences there. 
 
 IF the Dijiemper in Salem Village Jhould be (which 
 God forbid) fo incurable that Mr. Parris after 
 all, find that he cannot with any cofnfort and fervice 
 continue in this prefent fiation, his removal from 
 thence will not expofe him to any hard CharaBer 
 with us (nor we hope) with the refl of the People of 
 God, among whom we live. Mat. x. 14. And whofo- 
 ever fhall not receive you, nor hear your words ; 
 when you depart out of that houfe, or city, {hake 
 off the duft of your feet, ^c. Acts xxii. 18. 
 All which Advice we follow with our Prayers, 
 that the God of Peace would bruife Satan under our 
 feet. Now the Lord of Peace give you Peace al- 
 ways, by all fneans, &c. 
 
 ^ueji. Whether Mr. Parris his going to Abi- 
 
 amazing Affliftions, which were on not at all ftrange that fome among 
 
 many Perfons there, [at Salemj the very Confcientious people in- 
 
 about that time ; but I am certainly quired as to the DiiFerence between 
 
 convinced, that the Great God was the Malignant and Supreme Power; 
 
 pleafed to lengthen his Chain to a that is, if the Supreme controlled 
 
 very great Degree, for the hurting the Malignant, there was no quef- 
 
 of 5e;/V^ and reproaching of 0/^/frj', tion "to whom the Ccnfequences 
 
 as far as he was permitted to do were to be charged ; and hence 
 
 fo." — Lawfon, />/2^i?j- 93-4. it is in no wife to be wondered 
 
 From this Author's uncertain at that fome in their Simplicity 
 
 view of the Operations of the could not underftand what ufe there 
 
 Devil (which was the View of a was for any Devil at all, mutch lefs 
 
 great majority of the World), it is for Witches. 
 
 z
 
 156 Contr over fie Stated.^ [63] 
 
 gail Williams '^'^ (and others) whom he fuppofed to 
 have a Spectral fight (to be informed who were 
 Witches and who afflidted thofe pretended fufFer- 
 ers by Witchcraft) in order to their being quef- 
 tioned upon their lives for it, were not a turning 
 after fuch as had famiHar Spirits ; and a greater 
 wickednefs than Saul was guilty of (in that he 
 did not intend thereby bodily hurt to any others.) 
 
 And whether in a crime of fuch a high nature, 
 the making a llender and general confeffion, with- 
 out any propofals of reparations, or due time of 
 probation, ought fo far to be accounted fufficient, 
 from fuch a Paftor to his People. 
 
 [63] And whether fuch as were accufed, or 
 the furviving Friends and Relations of thofe that 
 were any ways fufferers, by Accufations fo by him 
 proved, are in duty and confcience bound to con- 
 tinue their refped;, honour and fupport to him, in 
 the Miniftry, after fuch known departures from 
 the Rule of Gods word, and 'after fuch dire ef- 
 fed:s as followed thereupon, under the penalty of 
 the duft jhaken from his feet^ teftifying againfl 
 them, even fo as to render them in a worfe cafe 
 than thofe of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 
 ^- Mr. Lawfon lays Ihc was Brief and True Nar., P. 3. Much 
 " about twelve Years of Age."— more concerning her will be found.
 
 [63] 
 
 To the Arbitrators, 157 
 
 To the Honourable Wait Winthrop,^^ Elifha 
 Cook,^^ and Samuel Sewall, EfquireSy 
 Arbitrators indifferently chofen^ between 
 Mr. Samuel Parris, and the inhabitants 
 (?/^ Salem Village, 
 
 THE Remonftrances of feveral aggrieved per- 
 fons in the faid Village, with further reafons 
 why they conceive they ought not to hear Mr. 
 Parris, nor to own him as a Minifter of the 
 Gofpel, nor to contribute any fupport to him as 
 fuch, for feveral Years paft ; humbly offered as fit 
 for confideration. 
 
 We humbly conceive that having in April 1 693, 
 given our Reafons why we could not join with 
 Mr. Parris in Prayer, Preaching, or Sacraments. 
 If thefe Reafons are found fufficient for our with- 
 drawing, (and we cannot yet find but they are) 
 Then we conceive ourfelves virtually difcharged, 
 not only in Confcience, but alfo in Law ; which 
 requires maintenance to be given to fuch as are 
 Orthodox, and blamelefs. The faid Mr. Parris 1 
 having been teaching fuch dangerous Errors, and j 
 preached fuch fcandalous Immoralities, as ought 
 
 83 Wait Sti//v/a.s his full Name, under Notice. He wrote his Name 
 He was Son of Gov. John Win- Cooke. I need only refer to Al- 
 throp, ofConnefticut; diedinBof- len's Biographical Dictionary and 
 ton about 1717. the Hijl. and Antiq's of Bojlon for 
 
 84 Mr. Cook was one of the very an Account of him. He agreed with 
 diftinguifhed Men of the Period Mr. Calef about the New Charter. 
 
 /
 
 1^8 To the Arbitrators. [64] 
 
 to difcharge any (tho ever fo gifted otherways) 
 from the work of the Miniflry. 
 
 Particularly in his Oath againll the lives of 
 feveral, wherein he fwears that the Prifoners with 
 their looks knock down thofe pretended fufferers. 
 
 , We humbly conceive, that he that Swears to 
 more than he is certain of, is equally guilty of 
 
 \ Perjury, with him that Swears to what is falfe. 
 And tho they did fall at fuch a time, yet it could 
 not be known that they did it, much lefs could 
 they be certain of it ; yet did Swear politively 
 againft the lives of fuch, as he could not have any 
 knowledge but they might be Innocent. 
 
 His believing; the Devil's Accufations, and read- 
 ily departing from all Charity to perfons, tho of 
 
 ; blamelefs and godly lives, upon fuch fuggeftions, 
 
 I his promoting fuch Accufations, as alfb his par- 
 tiality therein, in flifling the Accufations of fome, 
 and the fame time vigilantly promoting others ; 
 as we conceive are juft caufes for our refufal, &c. 
 That Mr. Parris's going to Mary Walcut^^ or 
 Abigail Williams, and dire6ting others to them, to 
 know who afHidted the Feon»le in their illnefies ; 
 [64J v/e underfland this to be a dealing with 
 them that have a familiar fpirit, and an implicit 
 denying the providence of God, which alone, as 
 we believe, can fend Afflictions, or caufe Devils 
 to Affli(5t any ; this we alfo conceive fufiicient to 
 juftifie fuch refufal. 
 
 ^■' She was a Daughter, I iuppofc, was an early Sale.u Family, fome of 
 of Jonathan Walcut, by Wife Mar)-, whom went to Rhode Ifland, where 
 Daughter of John Sibley. Walcut Defcendants are yet found.
 
 [6+] 
 
 To the Arbitrators. 159 
 
 That Mr. Parris by thefe Pra(5tices and Prin- 
 ciples, has been the beginner and procurer of the 
 forell Afflidiions, not to this Village only, but to 
 this whole Country, that did ever befal them. 
 
 We the Subfcribers, in behalf of ourfelves, and 
 of feveral others of the fame mind with us 
 (touching thefe things) having fome of us had 
 our Relations by thefe practices taken off by an 
 untimely Death ; others have been imprifoned, 
 and fuffered in our Perfons, Reputations, and Ef- 
 tates ; fubmit the whole to your Honours decifion, 
 to determine whether we are or ought to be any 
 ways obliged to honour, refpe6t and fupport fuch 
 an Inftrument of our miferies ; praying God to 
 guide your Honours, to ad: herein, as may be for 
 his Glory, and the future fettlement of our Vil- 
 lage, in Amity and Unity. 
 
 John Tarball,^^ \ 
 
 Samuel Nurse, ' Attornies for the people 
 Jos. Putnam, . of the Village. 
 Dan. Andrew, / 
 
 Bofton, July 21, 1697. 
 
 According to the order of the aforefaid arbitra- 
 tors, the faid Mr. Parris^ had fome of his arrears 
 paid him, as alfo a fum of money for his repairs 
 of the minifterial houfe of the faid Village, and 
 is difmiffed therefrom. 
 
 ^'' Tarball and Nurfe are the others will be noticed onward, in the 
 fame mentioned at Note jj. The Account of the Trials.
 
 i6o A hetter about Witchcraft. [65] 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 A Letter of a Gentleman ^7 endeavouring to 
 prove the received Opinions about Witch- 
 craft. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I Told you, I had fome thoughts concerning 
 Witchcraft, and an Intention of conferring with 
 the Gentleman,^^ who has pubhfhed feveral Trea- 
 tifes about Witchcraft, and perfons afflifted by 
 them, lately here in New- England; but fince you 
 have put thofe three Books into my hands, I find 
 myfelf engaged in a very hard Province, to give 
 you my opinion of them. I plainly forefee, that 
 fhould this fcribhng of mine come to [65] pub- 
 lick view, it would difpleafe all Parties, but that 
 
 «' The only Mention of the Au- Stuart" was, perhaps. Chaplain on 
 
 thor of thefe Letters I have met board the Man-of-war. The Doc- 
 
 with is contained in the Anfwer to tor thinks Mr. Calef was very filly 
 
 the More Wonders, by Dr. Mather, to print the Letters, becaufe they 
 
 and is in this Paffage : " The Anti- were, in his Judgment, a complete 
 
 /criptural Doarinesd^o\ikA.hy this Vindication of Witchcraft. Mr. 
 
 Man [Calef] do alfo call for no fur- Calef was willing all fhould be faid 
 
 ther Anfwer ; for a certain Scotch- on that fide that could be faid. He 
 
 man (one Stuart) of no very great felt fully convinced that, 
 
 Circumftances, aboard one of our " Falfehoods which we fpurn To-day 
 
 Frigates then in our Harbour, fent , ^^"^^ ?'7r^l°r ,f°"^"^° ' 
 
 ,.°_, , i-i_iL Let the dead Bough fall away, 
 
 him Two Letters, which he has Frefher fhall the living grow." 
 
 been fo filly as to infert in his Whittwr. 
 
 wretched Volume." This " one 88 Doftor Mather.
 
 [65] A Letter about Witchcraft. 161 
 
 is the leaft ; moreover it is fo far out of my Road 
 to fet my thoughts to conlider a matter on every 
 fide, which in itfelf is fo abftruce, and every ftep 
 I advance therein, if I mifs truth (which is a 
 narrow and undivided line) I muft tumble down 
 headlong into the Gulph of dangerous error ; yet 
 notwithftanding I have forced myfelf to fend 
 thefe few lines, if fo be I may clear to you a 
 truth, you now feem to be offended at, becaufe 
 of the ill confequences, which (you think) lately 
 have and again may be drawn from it, by the ill 
 condud; of fome Men. I am not ignorant that 
 the pious frauds of the Ancient, and the inbred 
 fire (I do not call it pride) of many of our 
 Modern Divines have precipitated them to propa- 
 gate, and maintain truth as well as falfehood, in 
 fuch an unfair manner, as has given advantage to 
 the Enemy, to fufped: the whole Dod:rine, thefe 
 Men have profefl to be nothing but a meer trick. 
 But it is certain, that as no lover of truth will 
 juftifie an Illegitimate Corollary, tho drawn from 
 a true Propofition ; fo neither will he rejed: a 
 truth, becaufe fome or many Men take unfair 
 mediums to prove it, or draw falfe confequences 
 from it : The many Herefies among Chriftians, 
 muft not give a mortal wound to the Cffence of 
 the Chriftian Religion ; neither muft any one 
 Chriftian Do6trine be exterminated, becaufe Evil 
 Men make ufe of it, as a Cloak to cover their 
 own felf-ends ; particularly, becaufe fome men 
 perhaps among all forts of Chriftians, have under
 
 1 62 A Letter about Witchcraft. [66] 
 
 pretence of Witchcraft coloured their own Mal- 
 ice, Pride and Popularity ; we muil: not therefore 
 conclude (firft) that there are no Witches (2.) or 
 that Witches cannot be Convided by fuch clear 
 and undeniable proof, as the Law of God requires 
 in the cafe of Death (3.) Or that a Witch fo 
 Convidled ought not to be put to death, i . That 
 there are Witches is manfell from the precept of 
 Mofes, Thoufialt not fuffer a Witch to live. Exod. 
 xxii. 18. for it is certain God would not have 
 given a vain and unintelligible Law, as this muft 
 be of putting Witches to death, if there are no 
 Witches. But you objed: that this doth not 
 anfwer our Cafe, for we have formed another 
 Idea of Witches than what can be gathered from 
 Scriptures ; you quote four places, viz. Deut. xiii. 
 \ Mat. xxiv. ABs xiii. 2. Tim. iii. from all v/hich 
 you infer that Witchcraft is a maligning and 
 oppugning the Word, Works and Worfhip of 
 God ; and by an extraordinary fign, feeking to 
 feduce any from it, and this you readily grant. 
 But then you fay, What is this to Witches now a 
 days ? who are faid to have made an explicit 
 Covenant with the Devil, and to be impowered 
 by him, to the doing of things ftrange in them- 
 felves, and beiides their natural courfe. This you 
 fay does not follow, and herein indeed confifts the 
 whole Controverlie. Therefore it is necelTary, 
 that firft of all we clear this point, laying afide 
 thofe prejudices we may have from the fatal ap- 
 plication of this Dodlrine, [66] to fome (who
 
 [66] A Letter about Witchcraft, 163 
 
 were in your judgment) really at leaft in Law, 
 and before Men Innocent. In a word, we are 
 feeking after truth, and truth fhall and will be 
 truth, in fpite of Men and Devils. I do not 
 repeat this caution to foreftall you, to believe the 
 Doctrine of Witchcraft, as it is above defined, 
 without inquiring into the reafon and truth of it ; 
 only I defire you to enquire into it, as a thing 
 doubtful. For no Man can be certain of a Ne- 
 gative, unlefs either the Affirmative imply a con- 
 tradidiion, or he can prove it by certain teftimony, 
 to neither of which you pretend ; only you al- 
 ledge it cannot be proved by Scripture, /. e. you 
 cannot prove it, nor have feen it proved by any 
 other you have read on that Subje6l. I am not 
 fo vain as to think I can do better than the learned 
 Authors you have confulted with (though I know 
 not what they have done, for I had no other 
 Book but the Bible, to make ufe of on this occa- 
 iion;) but becaufe I am fatisfied myfelf, I am 
 willing to communicate my Reafons, which I 
 divide into Three heads, i. The appearance of 
 Angels. 2. The nature of PofTeffion. 3 and the 
 fcripture notion of Witchcraft, i. Good Angels 
 did appear to Abraham^ and did eat. Gen. xv. it 
 feems he wafh'd their Feet, it is certain he faw 
 and heard them, therefore there is no impoffibility 
 in Angels being converfant with men. God is 
 true, and whatever is contained in Sacred Writ is 
 true ; if we poor jfhallow Mortals do not com- 
 prehend the manner how, that argues only our 
 Aa
 
 164 A hetter about Witchcraft. [66] 
 
 weaknefs and ignorance in this dark Prifon of 
 Flefh, wherein we are inclofed, during our abode 
 in this vale of mifery, but doth not in the leaft 
 infringe the verity of the Scripture ; it is fufficient 
 that we undoubtedly know they have appeared 
 unto Men in bodily fhape, and done their Errand 
 they were fent on from God. Now if good An- 
 gels have appeared, why may not bad ? Surely 
 the Devils, becaufe fallen and Evil, have not 
 therefore loft the Nature of Angels, neither is 
 there any contradidion in their appearing in a 
 bodily fliape, now after any more than before 
 their Fall. But you will fay you muft allow of 
 the appearances of Good Angels, becaufe of the 
 Scripture teftimony ; but not of bad, feeing there 
 is no place of Scripture that clearly proves it. 
 Mat. 4. The words in the Gofpel do as plainly 
 lignifie the Devils outward appearance to our 
 Saviour, when he was tempted, as can be ex- 
 prefs'd, and when the tempter came to him he f aid — 
 but he anfwered — the fame form St. Luke ufeth 
 to fignifie the appearance of Mofes and Elias^ in 
 the transfiguration. And behold there talked with 
 him two men : for what follows, ver. 3 1 , who ap- 
 peared is ufed to fignifie (not their appearance, 
 but) the manner of their appearance- in great 
 Glory. But you'l urge that 'tis very eafie to be 
 underftood, that Mofes and Elias did appear, be- 
 caufe they had human bodies ; but that it is unin- 
 telligible to you, how the Devil being a Spirit 
 can appear, a Spirit, /. e. a fubftance void of all
 
 [67] A Letter about Witchcraft. 165 
 
 dimenfions; therefore the words in [67] the 
 Hiftory muft not be taken in a hteral Senle. 
 Do not miftake; tho fome Philofophers are of 
 opinion (which whether true or falfe, is all one 
 to our prefent Argument) that a Spirits fubftance 
 is extended, and hath befides length, breadth and 
 depth, a fourth dimenfion, vix. effential fpiffitude ; 
 yet the fame do not fay, that pure fubftance is 
 perceptible by our bodily fenfes ; on the contrary, 
 they tell us, that Spirits are cloathed with vehi- 
 cles, /. e. they are united to certain portions of 
 matter, which they inform, move and aftuate. 
 Now this we muft not rejed as impoffible, be- 
 caufe we cannot comprehend the formal reafon, 
 how a Spirit afts upon matter : For who can give 
 the Reafon, that upon the VoUtion of the human 
 Soul, the Hand fhould be lifted up, or any ways 
 moved ? for to fay the Contradtion of the Muf- 
 cles is the Mechanick caufe of voluntary motion, 
 is not to folve the Queftion which recurs, why 
 upon Volition fhould that Contradion enfue 
 which caufes that motion ? all that I know the 
 wifeft Man ever faid upon this head, is, that it is 
 the will of the Creator ; who hath ordered fuch a 
 fpecies of thinking Creatures, by a Catholick Law 
 to be united to fuch portions of matter, fo and 
 fo difpofed, or, if you will in the vulgar Phrafe, 
 to Organiz'd bodies, and that there fhould be 
 between them and the feveral bodies, they are 
 united to, a mutual re-a6tion and pafTion : Now 
 you fee how little we know of the reafon, of that
 
 1 66 A Letter about Witchcraft, [67] 
 
 which is mofl near to us, and moft certain, i;/2;. 
 The Souls informing the Body, yet you would 
 think it a bad Argument, if one fhould, as fome 
 have done, include from this our Ignorance, that 
 there was nothing in us but matter, it is no other- 
 ways to deny a Spirits acting a Vehicle. The 
 plaineft and moft certain things when denied are 
 hardeft to be proved, therefore the Axiom faith 
 well, contra principa, &c. There are fome cer- 
 tain truths which are rather to be explained to 
 young beginners than proved, upon which yet all 
 Science is built, as every whole is more than his 
 part, and of this fort I take thefe two following. 
 I . That there are two fubftances, Corpus & Mens, 
 Body and Spirit, altogether different, for the Ideas 
 we have of them are quite diftindt. 2. That a 
 Spirit can Actuate, Animate, or inform a certain 
 portion of matter, and be united to it : from 
 whence it is very evident, that the Devil united 
 to a portion of matter (which hereafter I'll call a 
 Vehicle) may fall under the cognizance of our 
 .Senfes, and be converfant with us in a bodily 
 fhape. Where then is the reafon or need to run 
 to a Metaphorical, and forced Interpretation, 
 when the words are fo plain, and the literal fenfe 
 implieth no contradid:ion, nor any greater diffi- 
 culty than (as has been faid) what arifeth from 
 the Union of the Soul and Body, which is moft 
 certain. Now after all to fay, God wi/I not per- 
 mit the Devil fo to appear, is to beg the queftion 
 without faying any thing to the preceeding Ar-
 
 [68] A Letter about Witchcraft. 167 
 
 gument, and it is againft the fenfe of almoft all 
 mankind; [68] for in all Ages, and all places 
 there have been many WitnelTes of the appear- 
 ances of Dcemons^ all of whom that taught any 
 thing contrary to the right Worfhip of the true 
 God, were certainly evil ones : and it were moft 
 prefumptuous, barely to alTert that all thefe wit- 
 nelTes were always deceived, and it is impofTible 
 they could all agree to deceive. 2. We come to 
 confider the nature of PolTeffion. The Man 
 polTeft, Luk. viii. 27. had a Power more than 
 Natural, for he break the bands, which he could 
 not have done by his own ftrength : Now from 
 whom had he this Power ? The Scripture faith, 
 he had Devils along time, and oftentimes it had 
 caught him, &c. he was kept bound with Chains 
 and in Fetters, and he break the bands, and was 
 driven of the Devil into the Wildernefs ; this 
 Power then was immediately from the Devil, 
 and whatfoever poiTelTed perfons does, or fuflers 
 things beyond his natural power ; he is inabled 
 by the Dcemon fo to do : or to fpeak more pro- 
 perly, it is the Daemon who a6teth the fame, as is 
 plain from St. Mark's Relation of this paiTage, v. 
 
 5. 2. A Man with an unclean Spirit, v. 3. 2. 
 and no Man could bind him, no, not with Chains, 
 
 6. V. but when he faw Jefus afar off he ran and 
 worfhiped him, and the fame He. v. 7. faid I 
 adjure thee by God that thou torment me not, 
 and V. 10. My name is Legion, for we are many, 
 1;. 1 1 . and he befought him much, that he would
 
 1 68 A Letter about Witchcraft. [68] 
 
 not fend them away out of the Countrey : it is 
 manifeft from hence, that it was not the poor 
 Man who was pofTeft, but the Devils who pof- 
 feffed him, by whom the Chains had been pluck'd 
 afunder, and the Fetters broken in pieces ; now 
 here is Divine teftimony, that the Devils have 
 actuated a Humane body to the doing of things 
 beyond the Natural ftrength of that Body, as it 
 was fimply united to its humane Soul ; how much 
 more then can the Devil actuate any other pro- 
 portion of fimple Matter, Earth, Air, Fire or 
 Water ; and make it a lit organ for himfelf to 
 
 adt in. 
 
 But enough of this already, let us rather enquire 
 how the Devil enters into the body of the pojfejit, to 
 move it at his pleafure ; this I think he cannot do 
 as a meer Spirit, or by any never fo JiriB Union 
 with the Humane Soul, for in that cafe he is only a 
 tempter or feducer ; and nothing above humane 
 Jirength can be done : But here there being fofne- 
 thing performed [the bonds broken) by a force which 
 could not proceed fro?n humane Jirength, it necejfarily 
 follows that the Devils entered into the pojfejl, other- 
 ways qualified than as a meer Spirit, he did not enter 
 without fome portion of matter, to which he was 
 united by the Intermedium whereof he aBed upon 
 and actuated the humane body. Again if it is f aid 
 that the Devil entered as a meer Spirit, and if?ime- 
 diately aBed upon and moved that body ; it follows 
 the Devil hath a Vehicle, a certain portion of 7nat- 
 ter (that Body) to aBuate and difpofe of at will;
 
 [69] A Letter about Witchcraft. 169 
 
 which is abfurd. i. Becaufe it offer ts what it 
 feems to deny, viz. the Devils having a Vehicle to 
 a£i immediately upon, and to be united to a portion 
 of matter [as [69] has been f aid before) is the fame 
 thing. 2. It fights againft the Cat ho lick Law of 
 the Union of Soul and Body, by which the Omnipo- 
 tent hath ordained the voluntary f?iotion of a humane 
 body to depend upon the Will of its humane Soul, and 
 thofe that are not voluntary to proceed either from 
 its own Mechanifon, or from material force, hence 
 we may certainly conclude, that it is by the Inter- 
 vening of the Devils Vehicle, that he enters into the 
 Body of the poffefi. But what if you and I cannot 
 agree about this Notion of Pojfeffion, muft we there- 
 fore rejeB the truth it f elf, and run to a far fetched 
 and intolerable fenfe of the words: No, our opinions 
 do not alter the Nature of things, it is certain there 
 were perfons pojfefl, and it is as certain that the 
 Devil enteed itito them, either with or without a 
 Vehicle, it is all one which part of the contradiBion 
 you take, the confequence is the fame, viz. 
 
 That the Devil doth aB imtnediately upon matter, 
 there is another acceptation of the word pojfeffion in 
 Scripture, ABs xvi. 16, where one is faid to be 
 pofiefi with a Spirit of Divination, [nvsv^a Hv'^qvoc,) 
 the word cotnmonly ufed to the Priefiefs of Apollo, 
 who gave refponfes ; and it feems this Damfel was 
 fuch an one, for Jlie brought her Mafiers much Mo- 
 ney, or gain by foothfaying. Now if the Hifiory of 
 chem be true that they were demented, and k?iew 
 not themfelves what they uttered, donee erant Deo
 
 lyo A Letter about Witchcraft, [69] 
 
 plenae, [as they word if) their cafe is not different^ 
 but the fame with the foregoing ; but if they under - 
 food what they f poke, then had they familiar Spirits, 
 whereof there is frequent mention made in the Old 
 Tefamenty and one good King is commended for hav- 
 ing cut off them that had fuch, therefore I think 
 the meaning of the word was very obvious in his 
 time, neither was it ever controverted, being joyned 
 with any other name than fpirit Familiar, one of our 
 own Family, that is oft, every day converfant with 
 us, and almof ever ready upon call to attend us. 
 But the confderation of them, who have familiar 
 Spirits falleth under the head of Witchcraft, 
 which we are to 'confder in the third place. 3. 
 Witchcraft, to inquire into the Scripture Notion of 
 it, and compare whether it be the fame with that 
 above defined; the Cabaliflick learning would be' of 
 great ufe in this fearch, and afford us jnuch light ; 
 there is little doubt but that there are ma?iy great 
 truths not commonly known. (Non eft Religio ubi 
 omnia patent.) And our Saviour expreffy cautiofis 
 his Difciples that they do not throw their Pearl be- 
 fore Swine ; therefore it is no wonder that fo?7ie 
 DoBrines, tho' unquejlionahly true are not fo fully 
 defcribed, becaife the Authors who treat of them 
 are afraid, left evil Men jhould be the jnore. depraved 
 by being informed; but I am in no fuch fear ; nor 
 can I give you any other thoughts but what are ob- 
 vious to any Man, from the plain feiife of the Scrip 
 ture. Our defnitiofi we' I divide into two Propofi- 
 tions, and handle them fever ally. 1. Propofition.
 
 [70] A Letter about Witchcraft, i^^ji 
 
 The Witch is impower'd by the Devil to do things 
 Jirange in them/elves, and bejide their natural courfe. 
 2. Prop. The ?nanner how the Witch is impowered 
 to do thofe Jirange things, is by Explicit Com-\yo\ 
 paB, or Covenant with the Devil. For clearing of 
 the fir Ji, we will confider the four places above cited, 
 wherein .a Witch is called a falfe Prophet, afalfe 
 Chrifi, a Sorcerer, a reffler of the truth, and is 
 faid to fhew figns to f educe the People to feek after 
 other Gods : whence let us note, 3 things, i . That 
 thofe terms Witch, falfe Chrift, falfe Prophet, and 
 Sorcerer, are all Synonimous ; i. e.Jignifie the fame 
 thing. 2. That a Witch doth do things fir ange in 
 themf elves, and beyond their Natural courfe : for it 
 were mofi ridiculous, to alledge that our blejfed 
 Saviour, when he faid, there fhall arife falfe Chrifts, 
 and fhall fhew great figns and wonders, in fo 
 much that (if it were pofRble) they fhould de- 
 ceive the very Eled; meant that cunning cheats 
 Jhould arife andjhew Legerdemain tricks ; the words 
 will in no wife bear it, and I believe you are from 
 interpreting them, fo it is manifefl, they fgnifie not 
 a feign d, but a real doing of things, bey ond their 
 Natural courfe ; therefore the Sorceries of Elimas^^ 
 and Simon were not fmple delufions, but real effeBs 
 that could not have been produced by Phyfcal caufes 
 in the ordinary courfe of nature. 3. That the end 
 of the Witches Jhewing t he fe figns, is to f educe the 
 People to feek after other Gods, from which premifes 
 
 89 See Remarkable Providences, 128, by Dr. I. Mather. 
 
 Bb
 
 172 A Letter about Witchcraft. [70] 
 
 / infer, that the Witches have the power of doing 
 thofe wonders, or f range things immediately from 
 the Devil: they are without the reach of Nature, 
 and therefore above humane power, and no meer Man 
 can effeB them ; the Witch then who does them muji 
 have the power of doiftg the?n from another ; but 
 who is the other ? God will not give his tejiimony 
 to a lye, and to fay God did at any time impower a 
 Witch to work wonders to gain belief to the Doc- 
 trine of Devils were with one breath to dejiroy root 
 and branch of all revealed Religiofi ; no, it cannot 
 be, it is only God's permijjion, who proveth his Peo- 
 ple, whether they love him with all their heart, and 
 with all their Soul. Therefore the Witch has a 
 power of doing Wonders, or Jirange things immedi- 
 ately fro?7i the Devil. 2. Propoft. we'll fubdivide 
 into thefe two. i . That there is an exprefs Cove- 
 nant between the Witch and the Devil. 2. That 
 ^tis not reafonable to fuppofe this Covenant to be 
 tranfaBed mentally, i . The Devil cannot commu- 
 nicate this power, by never fo JiriB a XJtiion with 
 the Soul of the Witch ; for in that cafe he is only a 
 tempter, and nothing above humane power can be 
 done, as has been already proved; therefore the Devil 
 who improves the Witch to do things above humane 
 power, muji either appear in an Exterfial fiape, and 
 inftruB him how, and upon what terms he will ifiable 
 him to do thofe Wonders ; or elfe he muJl enter into 
 the body of the Witch a?idpoJ/efs it. The Demoniacs 
 in the Gofpel are fuch whom the Devils invade, by 
 main force, their Soul having no further conwiand
 
 [71] A Letter about Witchcraft. 173 
 
 of their bodies , which are fiibjeBed to the Will of the 
 Devils; whofe end is to wound and torment thofe 
 miferable Creatures, to throw them into the fire, and 
 into the water ; but the Witch, i^ho likewife is pof- 
 feffedf is not treated in fuch an outrageous fna?iner, 
 his Daemon is tame and familiar unto him, andfuf- 
 fers him for \j\\ a time to live quietly, without any 
 further moleftation, then prompting him to do his 
 utjjioji endeavour to withdraw Men from God ; he is 
 not bereaved of his Senfes as the poor lunatick, but is 
 confcious of all he does, and willeth ail his crimes, he 
 receiveth power from the Devil to do wonders, and 
 doth them to ferve the Devils turn, 'Therefore there 
 mufl be a Covenant, an exprefs Covenant between the 
 Devil and him, viz. that he fliall obey the Devil and 
 ferve him, and that the Devil Jhall both enable him 
 fo to do, and alfo reward him for fo doing ; for if 
 there is no contraB between them. How comes the 
 Witch to know he has afupernatural power? or how 
 can he fo peremptorily pretend to do that which is fo 
 much above his natural power, not knowing he has a 
 fupernatural one inabling him to do the fame : There 
 can be no doubt but there was a very intimate com- 
 merce between Satan and him ; who is calPd by St, 
 Paul thou child of the Devil {not as other unholy 
 men) but in an efpecial manner, as being the Enemy 
 of all righteoufnefs, who would not ceafe to pervert 
 the right ways of the Lord, it is not to be fuppofed 
 that he enter* d into this fo near a "Relation with Sa- 
 tan, with which he is Jiigmatized, that others may 
 beware of him, without his own knowledge and con-
 
 174 A Letter about Witchcraft. [71] 
 
 fent ; and is not this a Covenant, an exprefs Cove- 
 nant on his part to ferve the Devil incejfantly, and 
 on the Devils to impower him to aB his Sorceries 
 wherewith he bewitched the People ; now I think, I 
 have from Scripture fully fatisjied you of the truth 
 
 of what I offered, in a Dtfcourfe at but f nee 
 
 you have told me an Explicit Covenant with the 
 Devil, fignifying the Devil's appearing in a bodily 
 Jhape to the Witch, and their fgning an exprefs 
 Covenant, which you fay cannot be proved from 
 Scripture. It were moft unreafonable to imagine 
 that the ceremonies of this hellijh myflery are parti- 
 cularly fet down in the word of God; therefore we 
 mujl gather by Analogy and Reafon the manner how 
 this exprefs Covenant is tranfaBed : and to that 
 end Tie fet down thefe following Conf derations. 
 
 I. Under the Law God did ordain his People 
 in all their matters to have recourfe immediately 
 to himfelf, and depend upon him for Counlil, 
 which they were ready to obey, with full alTur- 
 ance of aid and proteftion from him againft their 
 Enemies ; this the Devil imitateth by setting up 
 of Oracles among the Heathen, to which all 
 the Kings, Nations, and mighty Conquerors, 
 upon Earth did come, and paid their humbleft 
 adoration to the God (as the Devil blafphemoufly 
 call'd himfelf) of the Temple, in which they 
 were imploring his direction and affiftance in 
 their doubtful and profperous affairs. Again, 
 God inftituted Sacrifices to put Men in mind of 
 their duty to their Creator, to whom they owe
 
 [72] A Letter about Witchcraft, 175 
 
 all things, even themfelves ; but the Devil is not 
 contented with the bare imitation hereof; the 
 acknowledgment and worfhip he receiveth from 
 the deluded World is not enough, tho' they offer 
 up unto him innumerable Hecatombs, unlefs they 
 caufe their Children to pafs through the [72] fire 
 unto him, to whom no Sacrifice is fo well pleafing 
 as that of humane blood. And there is no reafon 
 to think, that now under the CEconomy of the 
 Gofpel, the Devil hath left off to vie with God, 
 and thereby to enfnare Men. No, it is rather to 
 be feared that his Kingdom doth now more pre- 
 vail, for by how much the light is greater ; fo 
 much greater is their condemnation, who do not 
 receive it : it is reafonable to fuppofe that (seeing 
 the Son of God, when he came to tranfad: with 
 Men, the wonderful Covenant of their Redemp- 
 tion, took upon him their Nature, and was per- 
 fect Man) the Devil likewife doth counterfeit 
 the fame, in appearing in an humane fhape to 
 them, who receive him, and confederate them- 
 felves with him, and become his VafTals. 
 
 2. Confider, It is not probable that thofe falfe 
 Apoflles mention'd, 2 Cor. xi. 13. erred only in 
 Ceremonies or Circumflances, or that their Er- 
 rors, tho' great, did proceed rather from their 
 Ignorance, than from the perverfenefs of their 
 minds, i Cor. iii. 15. For, for fuch we may 
 have charity and hope, that God will be merci- 
 ful unto them, if they fincerely do the beft they 
 know, tho' they diffent in fome, nay many things,
 
 176 A Letter about Witchcraft, [72] 
 
 from the praftices and belief of the Chriftian 
 Church ; but thofe St. Paid threatens with a 
 heavy curfe, that their end fhall be according to 
 their works ; therefore it feems they immediately 
 ftruck at the very root and being of the Chriftian 
 Religion, and were the fame with them fpoken 
 of, 2 Tim. iii. 6. but with this difference, that 
 they did not refift, but beholding the Miracles 
 and Signs which were done by the true Apoftle 
 of our Lord, wondered and believed alfo, and 
 were Baptized ; yet being Sorcerers they were 
 unwilling to lofe that great efteem they had ob- 
 tained ; as "it is related of aS//;?(?;2, who had be- 
 witched the People of Samaria, giving out that 
 he himfelf was fome great one, to whom they all 
 gave heed, from the leaft to the greateft, faying, 
 this Man is the great Power of God, therefore 
 he could not brook that Peter or yohji fhouid 
 have a greater Power than himfelf; but offered 
 them Money, that on whomfoever he laid hands, 
 he (that perfon) fhouid receive the Holy Ghoft ; 
 which fhews him, who thus defigned to make 
 Merchandize of the B. Spirit, tho' Baptized, to 
 have been no true believer, but ftill a Sorcerer in 
 the Gall of bitternefs, and in the bond of Ini- 
 quity ; fuch were thofe deceitful workers, who 
 not being able barefaced to relift, did put on 
 Chriftianity as a Mafk, that they might under- 
 mine the truth, and introduce the Dodlrines of 
 Devils. Samaria and Paphos, were not the only 
 two places where the Devil had fuch Agents,
 
 [73] A Letter about IFitchcraft. 177 
 
 there was no part of the Earth where his King- 
 dom was not Eftablifhed, and where he had not 
 his EmilTaries before the preaching of the Gof- 
 pel ; and fmce the Text telleth us he hath his 
 Minifters, who do imitate their Mailer, by being 
 transformed into the Apoftles of Chrift, as he 
 himfelf is transformed into an [73] Angel of 
 light : whofe defign in being thus transformed, 
 cannot be to impofe upon the Almighty ; for 
 whatever fhape he appears in, he cannot hide his 
 uglinefs from the Eyes of him who is Omnif- 
 cent, therefore he appeareth thus in the (hape of 
 an Angel of light, either to tempt and feduce the 
 bleffed Spirits to rebel againft God, or to enfnare 
 wicked Men, who by their hainous crimes (being 
 lovers of themfelves, covetous, boafters, proud 
 blafphemers) were before dilpofed to be fit In- 
 ftrumets to ferve him and to enter into league 
 with him. Surely I, who am ignorant of the 
 Laws by which the Intelledtual World is gov- 
 ernM, dare not affirm that it is impoffible for Sa- 
 tan fo to appear, as to hide his deformities from 
 the good Angels, and under that vail to tempt 
 them : But certain I am that it is more confonant 
 to Reafon, to think that the Apoftles intention 
 here was to teach that the Devil appear'd as a 
 glorified Angel unto Men to gain Minifters, 
 whom he might imbue with the Poyfon of his 
 Black- Art, and fwhen he had gotten full poiTef- 
 fion of them) inftrudt them by his own Example 
 to transform themfelves into the Apoftles of
 
 178 A Letter about Witchcraft, [73] 
 
 Chrift, that under that Vizard they might with 
 the greater Advantage promote his ends, and 
 join with him in doing the utmoft defpite to the 
 Spirit of Grace. 
 
 3. Confideration, It is againft the Nature of 
 this Covenant, that it fhould be confummated by 
 a mental Colloquy, between the Devil and the 
 Witch. I know not how many Articles it con- 
 fifts of, but it is certain from what has been al- 
 ready proved, that the renouncing of Chrift to 
 be the Son of God, and owning the Devil to be, 
 and worfhipping him as God, are the two chief, 
 to which our Saviour who was accufed of cafting 
 out Devils by Beelzebub (/. e.) of being confed- 
 erated with Beelzebub, was tempted to confent : 
 If thou be the Son of God command that thefe Jlones 
 be made bread: And again, throw thyfef down 
 from hence, for it is written, he will give his Angels 
 charge over thee ; and again all thefe things will I 
 give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worjhip me : 
 Whence it is evident that here the Devil La- 
 boured to inlinuate into our Lord, either to do 
 things rafh and unwarrantable, or to fufped: his 
 Sonfhip, revolt from God his father, and worfhip 
 Satan, that he might obtain the glory of the 
 World. Now it has been already faid, that when 
 Jefus was tempted, the Devil appeared unto him 
 in a bodily fhape ; therefore it is agreeable to 
 Reafon, that he doth appear in the fame manner 
 to all them, whom he alfo tempteth to worfhip 
 him ; moreover the form- of renouncing a Cove-
 
 [74-] A Letter about Witchcraft, 179 
 
 nant ought to bear refemblance to the form of 
 entring into the fame Covenant ; therefore Men 
 who are received into the Myftical Body of Chrift 
 by God's Minifter, who in God's ftead expreflly 
 covenanteth with and then Adminiflereth the 
 Sacrament of Baptifm unto them, muft in the 
 like manner go out of, or renounce the faid Co- 
 venant ; and of them there are [74] two forts, 
 one who through the perverfenefs of their own 
 hearts, the lucre of the world, the fear of Men 
 more than of God, abjure their Saviour, turn 
 Apoftates, Turks, or Pagans ; The other fort is 
 of them who do contract with the Devil to be 
 his Subjedis, in the imitation of whom, it is not 
 to be fuppofed that the Devil will omit any ma- 
 terial Circumftances, which tend both to bring 
 them into and confirm them in his Service. To 
 effecft which his outv/ard appearance, when he 
 receives his Catechumens is of greater force than 
 any mental contract, for many wicked men who 
 have denied God and Chrift not only in their 
 pracftice, but alfo blafphemoully in profeffion, yet 
 have repented, and at lafl obtained fome hope of 
 mercy ; I dare not fay it is impoffible for a Witch 
 to repent and find mercy, the fecrets of the Al- 
 mighty are too high for me ; but it is certain, 
 thefe wretches are ftrangely hardned, by what 
 palTes between them and the Devil, in a bodily 
 fhape, particularly their worlhipping him, which 
 necelTarily implies his outward appearance unto 
 them ; for no man can apete Evil as Evil, becaufe 
 Cc
 
 i8o A hetter about Witchcraft, [74] 
 
 the Law of felf-prefervation deeply rooted in all 
 men, determineth their wills to purfue that which 
 feems good, and fly from that which feems evil 
 unto them, but the inbred notions that every man 
 has of the Devil, is that he is an Enemy and deftroyer 
 of mankind, therefore every man" hath a Natural 
 averfion from him, and confequently cannot for- 
 mally worfhip him as fuch, becaufe the object 
 of worfhip muft be efteemed to be propitious 
 and placable by the worfhippers, otherwife if fear 
 alone be the adequate caufe of Adoration, it fol- 
 lows that the Devils and damned in Hell do 
 worfhip God, which is contrary to Scripture, 
 which faith they blafphemed, becaufe of their 
 pains, whence it follows that they who worfhip 
 the Devil muft have changed the innate Idea that 
 they had of him, viz. that he is an implacable 
 Worrier of Men, and take him to be benign at leafl 
 to his own ; but this change cannot be wrought 
 by any fuggeftion of Satan unto the minds of 
 Men, whom indeed he mentally tempteth to 
 Lufl, Pride and Malice ; but it is his greatefl 
 Artifice to caufe his Infinuations to arife in the 
 hearts of Men, as their own natural thoughts, 
 and if confcience difcovers their Author and op- 
 pofes them, then he varnifhes them over with 
 the fpecious colours of pleafure, honour and 
 glory ; and fo reprefents them as really good, to 
 be willed and defired by the Soul, which judgeth 
 of all things without according to the Ideas flie 
 hath of them ; but becaufe mofl obje6ts have
 
 [75] A Letter about Witchcraft, 181 
 
 two, and fome many faces, and flie not always 
 attends, therefore fhe often errs in her choice, 
 neverthelefs it is impoffible for her to apete an 
 objed:, whofe limple Idea is Evil ; but the Idea 
 we have of the Devil is fuch, for we cannot rep- 
 refent him in our minds any otherwife than the 
 great' deftroyer of Men, therefore no mental 
 temptation can make us believe this our grand 
 Enemy to be [75] ever Exorable by, or in any 
 meafure favourable to us, whence it evidently 
 follows, that the Devil to work this change of 
 opinion his worfhippers have of him, muft ap- 
 pear unto them in a bodily fhape, and impofe 
 upon them, whom becaufe of their great Corrup- 
 tion and Sinfulnefs, God hath wholly left and 
 given up [to] ftrong delufions that they (hould 
 believe a lye, and the Father of lyes ; who now 
 appearing in a humane fhape, telleth them that 
 he is no fuch Monfter, as he has been reprefented 
 to them by his Enemy, who calls himfelf God, 
 which Title of right belongs to him, and that 
 he (if they contrad; to be his Servants) will both 
 amply reward them by giving them power to do 
 many things very fuitable to their abominable de- 
 praved Nature, that the Chriftians, whatever opin- 
 ion they may pretend to have of their God, cannot 
 fo much as pretend to, and alfo that he will proted; 
 and defend them againft him, whom heretofore 
 they have miftaken for the Almighty, and his pre- 
 tended Son Chrift, whom they muft abjure ere 
 they can be received by or exped any benefit from
 
 1 82 A Letter about Witchcraft. [75] 
 
 him. Upon no other conlideration is it poffible 
 for any man to worfhip the Devil ; for the Athe- 
 ifts, who deny the being of a God, do likewife 
 deny the exiftence of any Spirit good or bad ; 
 therefore their drinking the Devils health, even 
 upon their knees (tho' a moft horrid Crime) can- 
 not be conftrued any part of worfhip paid to him, 
 whom they afTert to be a Chimera, a meer figment 
 of Statefmen to keep the vulgar in awe. Now I 
 have evinced to you that there are Witches, that 
 the Witch receiveth power from the Devil to do 
 flrange things, that there is an exprefs Covenant 
 between the Devil and the Witch, that this Cov- 
 enant cannot be tranfadled mentally, but that the 
 Devil muft appear in a bodily fhape to the Witch ; 
 therefor^ I conclude, that a Witch in the Scrip- 
 ture is fuch, who has made an Explicit Covenant 
 with the Devil, and is impowered by him to do 
 things ftrange in themfelves, and befide their 
 natural courfe. 
 
 2. I perfwade myfelf you do not expert from 
 me any Eflay concerning the methods, how 
 Witches may or ought to be convinced ; I wifh 
 that thofe Gentlemen, whofe Eminent ftation 
 both inables them to perform it, and likewife 
 makes it their duty fo to do, may take this Pro- 
 vince upon them, and handle it fo fully as to fat- 
 isfie you herein. I once intended to have provided 
 fome materials for this Work, by defining four 
 principal things relating to Witchcraft, viz. i. 
 Witch-fits. 2. The Imps that are faid to attend
 
 [76] A Letter about Witchcraft, 183 
 
 on the Witch. 3. The tranfportation of the 
 Witch through the Air. 4. Laftly, the invifibi- 
 lity of the Witch; but upon fecond thoughts 
 that it was foreign from my purpofe, who am not 
 concerned to compofe a juft Treatife of Witch- 
 craft, which would require more vacant time, 
 than my prefent Circumftances will allow, only I 
 did promife you to give you my Opinion pri- 
 vately ; therefore Fie [76] venture to make ufe 
 of an Argument, which fheweth neither Art nor 
 Learning in the Author, and it is this, that feeing 
 there are Witches, and that the Law of God 
 doth command them to be put to death ; there- 
 fore there mull be means to convid them, by 
 clear and certain Proof, otherwife the Law were 
 in vain ; for no Man can be juftly condemned, 
 who is not fairly convicted by full and certain 
 Evidence. 
 
 in. In the laft place we are to inquire whether 
 a Witch ought to be put to death or no ? you 
 Anfwer in the Negative ; becaufe you fay that that 
 Law, thou fhalt not fuffer a Witch to live, is Ju- 
 dicial, and extendeth only to the People of the 
 Jews ; but our Saviour, or his Apoflles have not 
 delivered any where any fuch command, therefore 
 they ought to be fuffer ed to live, this indeed 
 feems fomewhat plaufible at firfl view, but upon 
 through Examination hath no weight in it at all 
 for thefe Reafons, i. All Penal Laws receive 
 their Sandtion from him or them, who have the 
 Sovereign -Power in any ftate, as thou ihalt not
 
 184 A Letter about Witchcraft. [76] 
 
 commit Adultery, is a Moral-law, and obligatory 
 ofver the Confciences of Men in all places and 
 Ages ; but the Adulterers fhall be put to death is 
 a judicial law, and in force only in that ftate, 
 where it is enadted by the Sovereign. 2. The 
 Government of the Jews was a Theocracy, and 
 God himfelf did condefcend to be their King, 
 not only as he is King of Kings ; for in that 
 fenfe he is, always was, and ever will be fupreme 
 Lord, and Governour of all his Creatures ; but in 
 an efpecial manner to give them Laws for the 
 Government of their State, and to prote6l them 
 againft their Enemies ; in one word to be imme- 
 diately their Sovereign. 3. Our Saviour's King- 
 dom was not of this World, he was no Judge to 
 divide fo much as an Inheritance between two 
 Brethren ; nay, he himfelf fubmitted patiently to 
 the unjuft Sentence of the Governour of the 
 Country in which he lived ; therefore both the 
 rewards and punifhments annexed to his Laws are 
 Spiritual, and then fhall have their full accom- 
 plifhment, when the Son of Man at the lafl day 
 fhall pronounce. Come unto me ye blejfed, and depart 
 ye curfed into Ever lajiingjire. 4. That Soveraigns, 
 who have received the Gofpel of our Lord, have 
 not therefore lofl their Power of enad;ing Laws 
 for the ruling and preferving their People, and 
 punifhing Malefactors even with Death ; fo that 
 the Criminal is as juflly condemned to die by our 
 Municipal, as he was heretofore by the Judicial 
 Law among the Jews : How much more then
 
 \jy'] A hetter about Witchcraft. 185 
 
 ought our Law to advert againft the higheft of 
 all Criminals, thofe execrable Men and Women, 
 who tho yet alive, have lifted themfelves under 
 Satan's banner, and explicitly Sworn Allegiance 
 to him, to fight againft God and Chrift ; indeed 
 all unholy Men afford great matter to the Devils 
 of Blafpheming, but thefe wretches have confed- 
 erated themfelves with the Devils, to blafpheme 
 and deftroy all they can ; and do you think that 
 thefe common YlJ^ Enemies of God and Man- 
 kind ought to be fuffered to live in a Chriftian 
 Common wealth, efpecially confidering that we 
 have a Prefident of putting them to death from 
 God himfelf, when he adied as King over his 
 own peculiar People. But methinks I hear you 
 faying, all this doth not fatisfie me, for I am fure 
 nothing can be added to the Devils malice, and if 
 he could, he certainly would appear and frighten 
 all Men out of their wits. I anfwer, i. We 
 muft not reject a truth, becaufe we cannot refolve 
 all the Queftions that may be propofed about it ; 
 otherwife all our Science muft be turned into 
 Scepticifm, for we have not a comprehenfive 
 knowledge of any one thing. 2. When you fay, 
 that if the Devil could, he would appear and 
 frighten all Men ; the Lawful confequence is not 
 that he cannot appear at all, for we have un- 
 doubtedly proved the contrary ; but that we are 
 Ignorant of the bounds that the Almighty hath 
 fet to him, whofe malice indeed, if he were not 
 reftrain'd, is fo great as to deftroy all Men ; but
 
 1 86 A Reply to the [77] 
 
 the goodnefs of our God is greater, who hath 
 given us means to efcape his fury, if we will give 
 earneft heed to the Gofpel of our Saviour, which 
 only is able to comfort us againft the fad and 
 miserable condition of our prefent Hate, for not 
 only the Devils, but likewife all do confpire 
 againft us to work our ruine. The deluge came 
 and fwept away all the race (fave eight perfons) 
 of mankind : the Fire will in time devour what 
 the Water has left, and all this cometh to pafs 
 becaufe of Sin; but we who have received the 
 Lord Jefus, look for new Heavens, and a new 
 Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteoufnefs. There- 
 fore he, if we purifie ourfelves as he is pure, will 
 fave us (for when he appears we fhall be made 
 like unto him ; to whom be Glory for ever. Amen) 
 from the great deftrudtion that muft come upon 
 all the World, and the Inhabitants thereof. Fare- 
 well. 
 
 March, %th 169!. 
 
 Bofton, March 20, 1693. 
 Worthy Sir, 
 
 THE great pains you have taken for my Infor- 
 mation and SatisfaBion in thofe controverted 
 points relating to Witchcraft, whether it attain the 
 end or not, cannot require lefs than fuitable acknow- 
 ledgments and gratitude, efpecially confidering you 
 had no particular obligation of ofice to it, and when 
 others, whofe proper Province it was had declined it. 
 It is a great truth, [that the many Herefes amofig
 
 [78] Letter about Witchcraft, 187 
 
 the Chrijiians (nor the lying Miracles^ or Witch- 
 crafts ufed by fome to induce to the worjhip of 
 Images, &c.) muft not give a Mortal wound to 
 Chriftianity or Truth ;] but the great queftion in 
 thefe con[yS]troverted points fill is, what is truth. 
 And in this fearch being agreed in the fudge or 
 Rule, there is great hopes of the IJfue. That there 
 are Witches is plain from that Rule of Truth, the 
 Scriptures, which commands their punifhment by 
 Death. But what that Witchcraft is, or wherein 
 it does confji is the whole difficulty. That head cited 
 from Mr. Gaule,9° and fo well proved thereby [not 
 denied by any) makes the work yet Jhorter ; fo that it 
 is agreed to conffl in a Malignity, &c. and fee king 
 by afgn to f educe, &c. not excluding any other forts 
 or branches, when as well proved by that infallible 
 Rule. That good Angels have appeared, is certain, 
 tho that inflance of thofe to Abraham may admit of 
 a various confruBion ; fome Divines fuppofng them 
 to be the Trinity, others that they were Men-mef- 
 fengers, as Judges ii. i . and others that they were 
 Angels; but tho this as I faid might admit of a 
 debate, yet I fee no quefion of the Angel Gabriel's 
 appearance, particularly to the B. Virgin ; for tho 
 the Angels are Spirits, and fo not perceptible by our 
 bodily Eyes without the appointment of the mof high, 
 yet he who made all things by his word in the Crea- 
 tion, can with a word f peak things into Being. And 
 whether the Angels did affume matter (or a Vehicle) 
 
 80 See Volume I, Pages 39-41. 
 
 Dd
 
 i88 A Reply to the [78] 
 
 and by that appear to the bodily Eye ; or whether 
 by the fame word there were an Idea franid in the 
 mind, which needed no Vehicle to reprefent them to 
 the IntelleBsy is with the All-wife^ and not for me 
 to difpute. If we poor Jhallow Mortals do not com- 
 prehend the manner how, that argues only our weak- 
 nefs. Two other times did this glorious Angel appear. 
 Dan. viii. 16. Dan. ix. 21. The firji of thefe 
 times was in Vifon, as by the text and context will 
 appear. The fecond was the fame as at the fir f ; 
 which being confdered, as it will afcertain that 
 Angels have appear d; fo that 'tis at the will of 
 the Sender how they Jhall appear, whether to the 
 bodily Eye, or IntelleB only. Mat. i. 20. The 
 appearance of the Angel to fofeph was in a Dream, 
 and yet a real appearance ; fo was there a real ap- 
 pearance to the Apoftle, but whether in the body or 
 out of the body he could not tell; and that they are 
 fent and come not of their own motion. Luke i. 26. 
 And in the fixth Month the Angel Gabriel was fent 
 from God. Dan. ix. 23. At the beginning of thy 
 fupplication the commandment came forth, and I am 
 come, V. 21. Being caufed to fly fwiftly, &c. but 
 frotn thefe places may be fet down as u?idoubted 
 truths or conclufions, 
 
 1 . That the glorious Angels have their Mif/ion and 
 Commifflon from the mofl high. 
 
 2. That without this they cannot appear to man- 
 kind. And from thefe two will 7ieceffarily flow a 
 third. 
 
 3. That if the glorious Angels have not that
 
 [79] Letter about Witchcraft. 189 
 
 power to go till commiJIioned^ or to appear to Mortals, 
 theti not the fallen Angels ; who are held in Chains 
 of darknefsy to the Judgment of the great day. 
 Therefore to argue, that becaufe the good Angels 
 have appeared, the evil may or can, is to me as if — 
 [79] becaufe the dead have been raifed to life by Holy 
 Prophets, therefore Men, wicked Men can raife the 
 dead. As the fufferings, fo the temptations of our 
 Saviour were {in degree) beyond thofe common to 
 Man ; he being the fecond Adam, or publick head, 
 the frongejl ajfaults were now improved ; and we 
 read that he was tempted, that he might be able to 
 fuccour thofe that are tempted, as alfo that he was 
 led of the Spirit into the Wilder nefs, that he might be 
 tempted, &c. But how the tempter appeared to him 
 who was God Omnifcient ; whether to the bodily Eye 
 or to the Intellect, is as far beyond tny cognizance as 
 for a blind Man to judge of Colours. But from the 
 whole fet down this fourth conclufon, 
 
 4. That when the Almighty free Agent has a 
 work to bring about for his own glory , or Man^s 
 good', he can Imploy not only Blejfed Angels, but the 
 evil ones in it, as 2 Cor. xii. 7. And left I fhould be 
 exalted above meafure, there was given to me a 
 thorn in the flefh, the MefTenger of Satan to 
 buffet me. i. Sam. 10. xiv, xv, xxiii. An evil 
 Spirit from the Lord troubled him. It is a great truth, 
 we underjiand little, very little, and that in common 
 things, how much lefs then in fpirituals,fuch as are 
 above humane cognizance. But thd upon the Jlridieji 
 Scrutiny infome natural things, we can only dif cover
 
 igo A Reply to the [79] 
 
 our own Ignorance, yet we muji not hence deny what we 
 do know, or fuffer a 'Rape to be committed upon our 
 Reafon and Senfes in the Dark ; arid fay that the 
 Devil by his ordinary Power can a5i a Vehicle (/. ^.) 
 fome matter diJlinSl from himfelf who is wholly a 
 Spirit, and yet this matter not to be felt nor heard, 
 and at the fame time to befeen ; or may be felt, and 
 not heard nor feen, &c. feems to me to be a Chimera, 
 invented at firfi to puzzle the belief of reafonable 
 Creatures, and f nee Calculated to a Roman Latitude, 
 to uphold the DoBrine of Tranfubjiantiation ; who 
 teach, that under the Accidents of Bread, is contained 
 the Body of our Saviour, his humane Body, as long, and 
 as broad, &c. for here the Power of the Almighty 
 mufi not be confined to be lefs than the Devil's, and 
 'tis he that has faid, hoc eft meum Corpus. As to 
 the confent of almofi all Ages, I meddle not now with 
 it, but come to the fifth Conclufion. 
 
 5. That when the Divine Being will imploy the 
 Agency of Evil Spirits for any fervice, 'tis with him 
 the manner how they fh all exhibit themf elves, whe- 
 ther to the bodily Eye, or IntelleB only ; and whether 
 it Jhall be more or lefs formidable — To deny thefe 
 three lafi were to make the Devil an Independent 
 Power and confequently a God. As to the nature 
 of poffeffions by Evil Spirits, for the better under- 
 fianding of it, it may be needful to co?npare it with 
 its contraries ; and to infiance in Samfon, of whom 
 it was foretold, that he Jhould begin to deliver Ifrael, 
 and how was he inabled to this work ? fudges xiii. 
 25. The Spirit of the Lord began to move him
 
 [8o] Letter about Witchcraft. 191 
 
 at times in the Camp, &c. ch, xv. 13, 14. v. and 
 they bound him with two new cords, and brought 
 him up from the rock, and when they came to 
 Lehi, [80] the Philiftines fhouted againft him, 
 and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon 
 him, and the cords that were upon his Arnis 
 became as Flax, that was burnt with fire, and his 
 bands loofed from his hands, &c. I might in- 
 Jiance further, but this may fuffice to Jhow that he 
 had more than a natural fir ength, as alfo whence his 
 firength was, viz. he was i?npowered by the Spirit 
 from God. And now will any fay, that it was not 
 Samfon, but the Spirit that did thefe things, or that 
 there being things done, bonds broken, &c. by a force 
 that could not proceed from human firength, and that 
 therefore the Spirit entered into him otherwife quali- 
 fied than as meer Spirit ; or that the Spirit entered 
 not without fome Portion of Matter, and by the In- 
 ter tnediation thereof aBed Samfon's body. If any 
 fay this and more too, this doth not alter the truth, 
 which remains, viz. that the Spirit of God did ina- 
 ble Samfon to the doing of things beyond his Natu- 
 ral firength. And now what remains but upon 
 parity of Reafon, to apply this to the cafe of Pof- 
 fefiion, which may be fumm'd up in this fixth Con- 
 
 clufion. 
 
 6. That God for wife ends, only^ known to htm- 
 felf may and has impowered Devils to Poffefs and i 
 firangely to a£l humane Bodies, even to the doing 
 
 of things beyond the Natural firength of that body. 
 
 And for any to tell of a Vehicle, or matter ifed in
 
 192 A Reply to the [80] 
 
 />, / muji obferve that General Rule, Colos. ii. 8. 
 Beware lell: any fpoil you through Philofophy and 
 vain deceit, after the tradition of Men, after the 
 Rudiments of the World, and not after Chrift. 
 'To come next to that of Witchcraft, and here taking 
 that cited head of Mr. Gaul, to be uncontroverted, 
 fet it as a f event h Conclufon. 
 
 7. That Witchcraft conffts in a maligning and 
 oppugning the Word, Work and Worjhip of God, 
 and feeking by any extraordinary fgn to f educe any 
 
 from it. Deut. xiii. 1 2. Matt. xxiv. 24. ABs xiii. 
 8. 10. 2 Tim. iii. 8. Do but mark well the places, 
 and for this very property of thus oppofng and pervert- 
 ing, they are all there concluded arrant and abfolute 
 Witches ; and it will be eafily granted, that the fa?ne 
 that is caird Witch, is calVd a falfe Chriji, afalfe 
 Prophet, and a Sorcerer, and that the terms are 
 Synonimous ; and that what the Witches aim at is, to 
 
 feduce the People to feek after other Gods. But 
 here the ^ejiion will be, whether the Witch do really 
 do things ftrange in themfelves, and beyond their 
 natural courfe, and all this by a Power itnmediately 
 
 from the Devil. In this inquiry, as we have noth- 
 ing to do with unwritten verities, fo but little with 
 Cabalifick Learning, which might perhaps but lead 
 us more ajiray, as in the Injiance of their charging 
 our Saviour with cajling out Devils by Beelzebub, his 
 Anfwer is, if Satan be divided againft hi77ifelf, his 
 Kingdom hath an end: But feeing all are agreed, 
 
 fet this eighth Conclufon. 
 
 8. That God will not give his teJli??iony to a lye.
 
 [8i] Letter about Witchcraft, 193 
 
 To fay that God did at any time impower a Witch 
 to work Wonders, to gain belief to the DoBrine of 
 Devils, were with one breath to defray root and 
 branch of all revealed Re[Si]ligion. And hence 
 'tis clear the Witch has no fuck wonder-working 
 power from God; and muf we then conclude ft)e has 
 fuch a Miraculous Power from the Devil; if fo, 1 
 then it follows that either God gives the Devil leave 
 to iffipower the Witch to make ufe of this Seal, in 
 order to deceive, or elfe that the Devil has this 
 Power independent of himfelf;^^ to ajfert the fir f of 
 thefe were in effeB to fay, that tho God will not give 
 his teftimony to a lye, yet that he may impower' the 
 Devil to fet to God's own Seal, in order to deceive ; 
 and what were this but to overthrow all revealed 
 Religion. The lafi if afferted ?nufi be to own the 
 Devil to be an unconquered Enemy, and confequently 
 a Sovereign Deity, and deferving inuch thanks, that 
 he exerts his Power no more. Therefore in this 
 Dilemi7ia it is Wifdom for fhallow Mortals to have 
 recourfe to their only guide, and impartially to in- 
 quire, whether the Witches really have fuch a Mi- 
 raculous or Wonder-working Power ? And 'tis 
 remarkable that the Apoftle, Gal. v. 20. reckons up 
 Wit her aft among the Works of the fiefh, which were 
 it indeed a Wonder-working Power, received ifnfne- 
 diately from the Devil, and wholly beyond the Power 
 of Nature ; it were very improper to place it with 
 Drunkennnefs, Murthers, Adulteries, &c. allmani- 
 
 ^1 See concluding Part of Note 8i.
 
 194 ^ Reply to the [8i] 
 
 fell Jiejhly works. ' Tis alfo remarkable, that Witch- 
 craft is generally in Scripture joined with fpiritual 
 Whordom, i. e. Idolatry. This thence will plainly 
 appear to be the fame, only pretending to a Jign, in 
 order to deceive, feems to be yet a further degree, and 
 in this fenfe ManalTah and Jezebel, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 
 6. 2 Kings ix. 22. ufed Witchcraft and Whore- 
 doms, Nahum iii. 4. The Idolatrous City is called 
 Miftrefs of Witchcrafts. But to inflance in one place 
 inftead of many, that 2 Thef. ii. fro?n the 3 to the 1 2 
 V. particularly 9 and i o v. Even him whofe coming 
 is after the working of Satan, with all power and 
 ligns, and lying wonders, and with all deceivable- 
 nefs. And for this caufe God fhall fend them 
 ftrong delufions that they fhould believe a lye, 
 that they all might be damned, who believe not 
 the truth, ^c. This, that then was fpoken in the 
 Prophefie of that man of Sin, that was to appear, 
 how abundantly does Hijlory teflifie the fulfilment of 
 it ; particularly to feduce to the Worjhip of hnages : 
 Have not the Images been made to move '^ to fnile, 
 &c. too tedious were it to 7nention the hundredth 
 part of what undoubted Hifory doth abundantly 
 teflifie. And hence do fet down this nineth Conclu- 
 fon. 
 
 I 9. That the Man of Sin, or Seducer, &c. makes 
 ' ufe of lying wonders to the end to deceive, and that 
 God in Righteous Judgment, may fend ftrong de- 
 lufions that they fhould believe a lye, that they 
 j might be damn'd, who believe not the truth, &c. 
 ' 'Tis certain that the Devil is a proud Being,
 
 [82] Letter about Witchcraft, 195 
 
 and would be thought to have a Power equal to the 
 Ahnighty ; and it cannot but be very grateful to 
 him to fee Mortals charging one another of doing 
 fuch Wdrks by the Devil's Power ^ as in truth is the 
 proper prerogative of the Almighty, Omnipotent Be- 
 ing. The [82] next head Jhould have been about an 
 Explicit Covenant, between the Witch and the Devil, 
 &c. But in this, the whole of it, I cannot per- 
 fwade myfelf but you muft be fenfible of an appa- 
 rent leaning to Education [or tradition) the Scrip- 
 tures being wholly f lent in it ; andfuppofing this to 
 fall in as a dependent on what went before Jhall fay 
 the lefs to it ; for if the Devil has no fuch Power 
 to communicate, upon fuch compaB, then the whole is 
 a fiBion ; tho I catinot but acknowledge you have 
 faid fo much to uphold that 'DoBrine, that I know 
 not how any could have done more ; however, as I 
 faid, I find not myfelf i?igaged [unlefs Scripture 
 proof were offered) to meddle with it. For as you 
 have in fuch cafes your Re af on for your guide, fo I 
 muft be allowed to ufe that little that I have, do only 
 fay that as God is a Spirit, fo he muft be worjhip'd 
 in fpirit and truth. So alfo that the Devil is a 
 Spirit, arid that his rule is in the hearts of the Chil- ' 
 dren of Difobedience, and that an Explicit Cove- 
 nant of one Nature or another can have little force, 
 any further than as the heart is engaged in it. And 
 fo I pafs to the laft, viz. Whether a Witch ought 
 to be put to death. And without accumulation of 
 the offence do Judge, that where the Law of any 
 Countrey is to punijh by death fuch as feduce and 
 Ee
 
 196 " A Reply to the [82] 
 
 tempt to the worfhtp of Ji range Gods [or idols, or 
 Statues) by as good Authority may they (no doubt) 
 punijh thefe as Capital Offenders, who are dijlin- 
 guijhed by that one remove, viz. to their feducing is 
 added a Jign, i. e. they pretend to a Jign in order to 
 f educe. And thus worthy Sir, I have freely given 
 you 7ny thoughts upon yours, which you fo much 
 obliged me with the fght of and upon the whole, tho 
 I cannot in the general but commend your Caution tn 
 not afferting many things contended for by others; 
 yet muji fay, that in my efteem there is retain d fo 
 much as will fe cure all the rejl ; [to injiance) if a 
 Spirit has a Vehicle, i. e. fome portion of matter 
 which it a6is, &c. hence as neceffarily may be infer- 
 red that DoBrine of Incubus and Succubus, and 
 why not alfo that of Procreation by Spirits both 
 good and bad? Thus was Alexander the Great, the 
 Brittifh Merlin,^^ and Martin Luther, and many 
 others f aid to be begotten. Again if the Witch has 
 fuch a Wonder-working Power, why not to affiB? 
 will not the Devil thus far gratifie her ? And 
 have none this Miraculous Power, but the Cove- 
 nanting Witch ? then the offence lyes in the Cove- 
 
 ^^ If not a mythical Charafter, Incredible, reported to have an In- 
 he is furrounded with much Myf- cubus to his Father, pretending to 
 tery. There, however, feems to a Pedigree older than Adam, even 
 have been, at fome remote Period, from the Serpent himfelf. But a 
 a Man named Ambroje Merlin, learned Pen demonftrateth the Im- 
 livinginCarmarthenfhire,inWales; pofTibility of fuch Conjunftions. 
 and it will pay the Reader well to And let us not load Satan with 
 turn to Thomas Fuller, and fee what groundlefs Sins, whom I believe the 
 he fays about him in his Worthies, Father of Lies, but no Father of Baf- 
 Vol. Ill, 524. Among other things tards." A witty Conceit, but ruin- 
 he fays: "His Extraftion is very ous to the Theory of Witchcraft.
 
 [S^'\ Letter about Witchcraft. 197 
 
 nant^ then 'tis not only hardy but ImpoJ/ible to find a 
 Witch by fuch Evidence as the Law of God re- 
 quires ; for it will not be fuppofed that they call 
 Witnefs to this Covenant ; therefore it will here be 
 necejfary to admit of fuch as the nature of fuch 
 Covenant will bear (as Mr. Gaul hath it in his ^th 
 heady i. e.) the tefiimony of the aJfliBedy with their 
 SpeBral Jighty to tell who aJliBs themf elves or 
 others ; the experiment of faying the Lords Prayer, 
 falling at the fight, and rifing at the touchy fe arch- 
 ing for Tets (i. e. Excrefcencies of Nature) fir ange 
 and foreign fiories of the Death of fome Cattle, or 
 overfettingfome Cart; and what can furies have 
 better to guide them to find out this Covenant by. 
 
 [83] 'Tis matter of latitentationy and let it be for 
 
 a la??tentation, to confider how thefe things have 
 
 opend the Floodgates of Malice, Revenge, Unchar- 
 
 itablenefs, and Bloodfied, what Multitudes have been 
 
 fwept away by this Torrent. 
 
 In Germany, Countries depopulated ; In Scotland 
 no lefs than 4000 have faid to have fufi-'ered by Fire 
 and Halter at one heat."^^ 
 
 Thus we may fay with the Prophet, Ifa. lix. 10. 
 We grope for the Wall like the blind, and we 
 grope as if we had no Eyes : we ftumble at 
 Noon-day as in the Night, we are in defolate 
 places as dead Men : and this by fee king to be wife 
 above what is written, in framing to ourfe Ives fuch 
 crimes and fuch Or dels {or ways of Tryal) as are 
 
 ^3 See Vol. I, IntroduSlion, Page were but few Years before thofe in 
 XV. The Executions in Scotland New England.
 
 198 A Second Letter [83] 
 
 wholly foreign from the direBion of our only guide ^ 
 which Jhould he a light to our feet, and a L ant horn 
 to our paths ; but injiead of this, if we have not 
 followed the direBion we have followed the Example 
 of Pagan and Papal Rome, thereby rendering us 
 contemptable, and bafe before all People, according 
 as we have not kept his ways, but have been partial 
 in his Law. 
 
 And now that we may in all our fentiments 
 and ways, have regard to his teftimonies, and give 
 to the Almighty the glory due to his Name, is 
 the earneft delire and Prayer of. Sir, 
 
 Yours to Command, R. C. 
 
 A fecond Letter of a Gentleman ^"^^ endea- 
 vouring to prove the received Opinions 
 about Witchcraft. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 SINCE your defign of giving Copies of our 
 Papers (if not to the publick at leaft) out of 
 your hands, I find myfelf obliged to make a Re- 
 ply to your Anfwer, left filence fhould be con- 
 ftrued an Aftent to the pofitions whereby (I 
 think) truth would be fcandaliz'd. I remember 
 that fome have taught that it is not certain there 
 is any fuch thing really in being as matter ; be- 
 caufe the Ideas which we have of our own, and 
 all other bodies, may be caufed to arife in us by 
 
 ^^ The fame Gentleman mentioned in Note 83, Fage 64.
 
 [84] about Witchcraft, 199 
 
 God, without the real exiftence of the objects 
 they reprefent. But this opinion is not only ab- 
 furd and falfe, but likewife Atheiftical, deftroy- 
 ing the veracity of the Almighty, whom it afTerts 
 to have determin'd us by a fatal neceffity to be- 
 lieve things to be, which are not ; and I wonder 
 that you fhould allude unto it, becaufe that An- 
 gels have appeared in a Dream, in a vifion ; for 
 we dream alfo of Trees, Birds, Gfc. are there 
 therefore no fuch things in nature, becaufe we 
 fometimes Dream to fee and hear them, when we 
 are. afleep ? St. Paul in his Vilion was fo far 
 from believing the Objed:s that were reprefented 
 to him, to come by the intermedium of his 
 Senfes, that he declares, he [84] does not know 
 whether he was in the body, or out of the body; 
 therefore the Inftance is in no wife proper. For 
 Abraham and the B. Virgin did fee and hear ; and 
 if there were not fuch things really, as were rep- 
 refented to them by their Senfes, they were de- 
 luded, by being made to believe they faw and 
 heard what was not. There is none who denieth 
 God caufing thoughts to arife in Mens minds : 
 but thence to infer he maketh Objedts which are 
 not, by forming their Ideas in our minds, to 
 appear to us through the Miniftry of our Senfes 
 as though they were, is a piece not only of vain, 
 but very dangerous Philofophy. It is true, the 
 good Angels will not appear without the appoint- 
 ment of God, they will not do any one Action, 
 but accordiug to the^ laws he has prefcribed to
 
 200 A Second Letter [84] 
 
 them. But you fay they cannot (which does not 
 follow from your premifes) fuppofing their not 
 appearing to proceed from the defedt of their 
 power, and not the redtitude of their will, which 
 fallacy has deceived you into a third Conclufion. 
 For the fallen Angels are not fo held under 
 Chains of darknefs ; but that they can and do go 
 to [and] fro on the earth feeking whom they may 
 devour. Before their fall they could have ap- 
 peared if fent, and would not then do any thing 
 without a Divine Command But now they have 
 rebeird againft God, and do all they can to de- 
 fpife him, therefore their not appearing now (if 
 it were true they never did, they never fhall ap- 
 pear) muft proceed from a reftraint they are 
 under, which is accidental, not EfTential to their 
 nature ; fo that the true Conclulion is, the fallen 
 Angels, while they are under forcible reftraint 
 from God to the contrary cannot appear. But 
 what this (being cleared from the Ambiguity 
 you exprefs it in) maketh to the purpofe I know 
 not, unlefs God had promifed for a determinate 
 time to detain them under this reftraint. I do 
 not underftand what you intend by the dead 
 being raifed by Holy Men ; the moft natural 
 inference is, that in imitation of them wicked 
 men by their Inchantments calling on a Dcemon 
 to appear in the ftiape of the dead, will pretend 
 that they alfo can raife the dead. The Rofnan- 
 ijis are much obliged to you for making Tranfub- 
 ftantiation (fo much contended for by them) to be
 
 [85] about Witchcraft, 201 
 
 of as old a date as the appearance of Devils, and 
 that the one implieth no more contradiction than 
 the other : If fo we do well to think ferioufly 
 whether we are not guilty of great fin in fepa- 
 rating from them ; for certainly whatever private 
 Mens Notions in this Age may be, yet it is 
 matter of great moment, that all Antiquity (the 
 Sadticees the Elder Brethren of our Hobbifts^^- 
 excepted) hath believed the appearance of Evil 
 Spirits and their Illulions. I fhould be too offi- 
 cious if I offered to explain, how matter, real 
 matter may fall under the cognifance of one of 
 our fenfes, and not the reft. It is for you to fhew 
 the impoffibility thereof, if you will build any 
 thing upon your Affertion, to prove which your 
 firfl Argument is (it feems to me) a Chimera, 
 which [85] is not enough, when there are many 
 to whom it feems to be a truth : Your fecond is 
 very dangerous, and highly derogatory of the 
 honour of God, between whom and the Devil 
 you make comparifon more than once as the 
 power of the Almighty mufl not be confined to 
 be lefs than the Devils. And again, to deny 
 thefe three lafl were to make the Devil an Inde- 
 pendent Power and confequently a God. Thefe 
 expreffions (which cannot but be very pleafing to 
 the Devil, who vainly boafts himfelf to be a Be- 
 
 95 Thomas Hobbes, a Native of liever in Divine Revelation ; was a 
 Malmfbury in Wiltfhire, England, Man of cxtenfive learning, pub- 
 born in 1588, and died in 1679. liflied Works on Philofophy, and 
 He has been Iligmatized as an Unbe- tranflated Homer.
 
 202 A Second Letter [85] 
 
 ing without dependance) are altogether ground- 
 lefs, and very unmeet to proceed from a Chriftian : 
 Confider what you are a doing, to eftablifh a Doc- 
 trine (the contrary whereof the greateft part of 
 mankind does believe) you run upon fuch preci- 
 pices, as if you are miftaken, and that is not 
 impoffible, muft totally deftroy all Religion, 
 Natural and Revealed ; for fuppofe it were gene- 
 rally believed according to you, that the Devil 
 cannot appear, becaufe if he could he muft be a 
 God, independent, an unconquer'd enemy, and 
 he doth appear to us as we hear he hath to mul- 
 titudes, both of the paft and prefent ages : In 
 fuch a cafe what remains for us to do ; but to fall 
 down and worlhip him. Upon the head of 
 polTeffion, you have recourfe to that inftance of 
 Samfon, who was impowered by God, to the 
 doing of things beyond the Natural ftrength of 
 common Men, and thence you fay, we may leaft 
 learn the Nature of PoiTeffion by evil Spirits, 
 this comparifon is indeed very odious, and I had 
 rather think you have fallen into it unawares ; 
 for what greater Blafphemy than that God and 
 the Devil do ad: the bodies, which the one and 
 the other do polTefs in the fame manner ; if the 
 hypothelis I laid down had not pleafed you, yet 
 you ought not (for fear of being deceiv'd by vain 
 Philofophy, to have run fo horrible an extream, 
 as to affimulate God's manner of working to the 
 Devils, which, neceffarily implies, that either 
 their Powers are equal, or at leaft that they do
 
 [86] about Witchcraft, 203 
 
 not differ in kind but in degree only ; than which 
 nothing can be more impious or abfurd ; for the 
 moft poflibly perfed: Creature, is infinitely diflant 
 from the Creator, and there can be no Compari- 
 fon between them. On the head of Witchcraft, 
 you acknowledge the Witch has not his Won- 
 der-working Power from God; but then you 
 fay, the Devil has no fuch power to give ; for if 
 
 he had, he mufl be This way of reafoning 
 
 as I noted before, is very dangerous, and I think 
 ought not to be ufed ; befides there is a great 
 fallacy in your Dilemma ; which becaufe I per- 
 ceive, you lay the whole weight of the matter 
 upon it, I will evince unto you. The Devil tho 
 fuperlatively Arrogant and Proud, neverthelefs 
 depends on the firfl caufe for his being, and all 
 his Powers, without whofe Influx he or any 
 other Creature cannot fubfifl a moment, but 
 muft either return to their primitive Nothing, or 
 be continually preferved by the fame Power, by 
 the which they were at firfl produced ; therefore 
 the [86] Beings and Powers of all Creatures 
 (becaufe they immediately flow from God) are 
 good, and confequently the fimple Anions, as 
 they proceed from thofe Powers, are in their own 
 nature likewife good, the Evil proceeding only 
 from the Rebellious will of the Creature, where- 
 fore 'tis no Paradox, but a certain truth, that the 
 fame adiion in refped to the firft caufe is good, 
 but in refpea of the fecond is Evil ; for inftance, 
 the ad of Copulation is in itfelf good, inftituted 
 Ff
 
 204- ^ Second Letter [86] 
 
 by God, and may be willed and defired by the 
 Soul, which iinneth not for exerting the fimple 
 ad;; but for exerting it contrary to the Laws 
 prefcribe'd by God : as in Wedlock and Adul- 
 tery there is the fame fpecial natural Adion, 
 which confider'd limply, as flowing from a 
 Power given to Man by God is certainly good ; 
 but confidered with relation to the rebellious 
 will of the Adulterer (who lieth with his Neigh- 
 bours Wife, w^hom he is forbad to touch) is a 
 very great Evil. We may fay the fame of all 
 humane Actions, the Executioner and the Mur- 
 therer do the fame natural A<51 of ftriking and 
 killing : The difference confifts in the reditude 
 of the ones and depravation of the others will. 
 Thefe things premifed, what more reafon have 
 we to conclude that the Devil (becaufe he fhews 
 figns and wonders to gain belief to lyes, which is 
 very contrary to the will of God) mufl be therefore 
 an Independent Power ; than that the Adulterer, 
 the Murtherer, or any other linner (becaufe their 
 Actions being Evil, of which God cannot be the 
 caufe) mufl: be Independent beings : The deceit 
 of the lafl is very palpable, and I doubt not you 
 will readily acknowledge it, for it is obvious 
 from what has been faid to the meanefl: Capa- 
 city, to diflinguifli between the Adtion itfelf, 
 which is good, and flows from God, and the 
 Circumfl:ances of the Adion, the choice whereof 
 proceeds from the Iniquity of the Will, wherein 
 doth folely confifl: the Sin ; the parallel is fo ex-
 
 [87] about Witchcraft, 205 
 
 a6t, that I cannot fee the leaft fhadow of reafon, 
 why we ought not in like manner to diftinguifh 
 whatever effed; is produced by the Devil; to 
 whom (as to Man) God having given Powers, 
 and a Will to Rule them Powers, is truly and 
 properly the caufe of all the Actions (in a Natu- 
 ral, but not Moral Senfe) that flow from the 
 Powers he has given. Therefore the Wonder- 
 working Power of the Devil, and the eifed:s 
 thereof, confidered as Ad:s of one of God's Crea- 
 tures, are not Evil but Good ; the ufing that 
 Power (which proceeds from the Rebellion of 
 Satan) to bear testimony to a lye, is that one, 
 which conftitutes the Evil thereof. 
 
 And now I have done with your Argument, 
 wherein you have indeed fliewn great fkill and 
 dexterity in turning to your Advantage, what 
 being fairly ftated makes againft you, as the Ap- 
 pearance of Angels, ^c. obferving nicely the rules 
 of Art, and particularly that grand " one of con- 
 cealing, nay diflembling the fame Art, as when 
 you quote that Scripture [87] concerning vain 
 Philofophy (of which tho altogether foreign from 
 the matter in hand yet)- you intend to ferve your- 
 felf with the Unthinking, who meafure the Senfe 
 of words by their Jingle, not knowing how to 
 weigh the things they fignifie, and truly herein 
 your end is very Artificial ; for you intend both 
 to throw dirt at them that differ from you, and 
 at the fame time to cover yourfelf with fuch 
 a fubtle web, through which you may fee, and
 
 2o6 A Second Letter^ &^c, [87] 
 
 not be feen. What follows, is rather a Rhetorical 
 Lecture, fuch as the Patriots of Secfts (who com- 
 monly Explain the Holy Scriptures according to 
 their own Dogma's, and fo obtrude humane In- 
 vention for the pure word of God) ufe with their 
 Auditors, to recommend any Principle they have 
 a mind to eftablifh, than an Impartial and through 
 difquifition of a controverted point; wherefore I 
 do not think myfelf obliged to take any further 
 notice of it ; elpecially feeing truth, which for 
 the moft part is little regarded in fuch florid Dif- 
 courfes, and not any prejudice of Education, In- 
 tereft, or Party, did fet me about this fubjed:. I 
 have never been ufed to Complement in points of 
 Controverfy, therefore I hope you'l not be angry, 
 becaufe I have given you my thoughts naked and 
 plain. I have not the leaft motion in my mind 
 of accufing you of any formal delign to injure 
 Religion ; I only obferve unto you, that your 
 over eager contention to maintain your Principle, 
 has hurried you to afl^ert many things of much 
 greater danger, both in themfelves and their con- 
 fequences, than thofe you would feem to avoid ; 
 which do amount to no more than that. Men 
 being (in the ordinary courfe of Providence) the 
 Depofitories of both Divine and Humane Laws, 
 may (inftead of ufing them to preferve) pervert 
 them to deilroy ; which indeed is very lament- 
 able. 
 
 But it is the inevitable confequent of our de- 
 praved nature, and cannot be wholly remedied.
 
 [88] Rejoinder. 207 
 
 till Sin, and the grand Author of Sin, the Devil, ' 
 be entirely conquered, and God be all in all ; to 
 whom, with the Son, and Holy Ghoft, be glory 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
 Sir, your AfFecStionate Friend to ferve you. 
 Bopn, July 25, 1694. 
 
 Bojion, Augufi 17, 1694. 
 Worthy Sir, 
 
 YOURS of July 25, being in fome fort fur- 
 priiing to me, I could do no lefs than fay 
 fomewhat, as well to vindicate myfelf from thofe 
 many Reflections, millakes and hard cenfures 
 therein ; as alfo to vindicate what I conceive to 
 be Important truth, and to that end find it needful 
 to repeat fome part of mine. Viz. Conclufion. 
 
 [88] I. That the glorious Angels have their 
 Miffion and Commiffion from the moft High. 
 
 2. That without this they cannot appear to 
 mankind. 
 
 3. That if the glorious Angels have not that 
 power to go till commiffion'd, or to appear to 
 Mortals, then not the fallen Angels, who are held 
 in Chains of Darknefs to the Judgment of the 
 great Day. 
 
 4. That when the Almighty free Agent has a 
 work to bring about for his own glory, or Mans 
 good, he can employ not only the BlefTed Angels, 
 but evil ones in it. 
 
 5. That when the Divine Being will imploy 
 the Agency of Evil Spirits for any fervice, 'tis
 
 2o8 Rejoinder. [88] 
 
 with him the manner how they fhall exhibit 
 themfelves, whether to the bodily Eye, or Intel- 
 led: only, or whether it fhall be more or lefs for- 
 midable. 
 
 To deny thefe three laft, were to make the 
 Devil an Independent Power, and confequently a 
 God. 
 
 The bare recital of thefe is fufficient to vindi- 
 cate me from that reitterated charge, of denying 
 all appearances of Angels or Devils. 
 
 That the good Angels cannot appear without 
 Miffion and Commiffion from the moft high, is 
 you fay more than follows from the premifes ; 
 but if you like not fuch Negative dedu6tion, 
 though fo natural, it concerns you (if you will 
 affert this Power to be in their Natures, and their 
 non appearance only to proceed from the recti- 
 tude of their wills, and that without fuch Com- 
 miffion they have a Power to appear to Mortals, 
 and upon this to build fo prodigious a Strudiure, 
 ^c.) very clearly to prove it by Scripture, for 
 Chriftians have good reafon to take the Apoftles 
 warning (if fome Philofophers have taught that 
 Man is nothing but matter. And others that 'tis 
 not certain there is any Matter at all) fo take heed 
 leaji they Jhould be fpoiled through vain Philofophy, 
 &c. but that this fhould be alluded to by fuch as 
 never heard of either. Notion, or that it was af- 
 ferted that thofe real appearances to Jofeph, arid 
 to the Apoftle, was through the Miniilry of the 
 Senfes, is as vain as fuch Philofophy. As to the
 
 < 
 
 [89] Rejoinder, 209 
 
 Dead being- raifed, had I ufed Art or Rhetorick 
 enough to explain my meaning to you, I needed 
 not now to rejoin. That 'tis as good an Argu- 
 ment to fay, that becaufe Holy Prophets have 
 raifed the dead, therefore wicked Men have a 
 Power to raife the dead : As 'tis to fay, becaufe 
 good Angels have appeared, therefore the Evil 
 have a Power to appear ; for who can doubt, but 
 if the Almighty fhall Commiffionate a wicked 
 Man to it, he alfo fhall raife the dead, as is inti- 
 mated. Mat. vii. 22. And in thy name done many 
 wonderful Works. As to comparifons being odi- 
 ous, particularly that concerning Samfon, I think 
 it needful here to add thefe Scriptures further to 
 confirm the fourth Conclufion. 2 Sa?n. xxiv. i. 
 compared with i Chron. xxi. i. In one 'tis God 
 7noved, &c. and in the o[Sg]thr Satan provoked 
 David to number the People. 2 Chron. xviii. 21. 
 And the Lordfaid, thou Jhalt intice hitJi, and thou 
 Jhalt alfo prevail, go out and do even fo ; all which, 
 with many more that might be produc'd, as they 
 will fhew the truth of the Conclufion ; fo that 
 'tis no odious comparifon to fay, that as the Al- 
 mighty can make ufe of Good, fo alfo of Evil 
 Spirits, for the accomplifhing of his own wife 
 ends, and can impower either without the help 
 of a Vehicle. For pofi^efiions muft be numbred 
 among Gods afflictive difpenfations, who alfo or- 
 ders all the Circumfiiances thereof. But if any 
 objed: God is not the Author of Evil, &c. you 
 have furnifh'd me with a very learned Anfwer, by
 
 2 1 o Rejoinder, [^ 9 ] 
 
 diftinguifhing between the A61 and- the Evil of 
 the Ad;, and to which 'tis adapt, but will no wife 
 fute where it is placed, till it be firft proved that 
 the Devil hath of himfelf fuch Power not only 
 of appearing at pleafure, but of working Mira- 
 cles, and to the Almighty referved only the power 
 of refiiraining ; for till this be proved the Dilem- 
 ma muft remain ftable. He that alTerts that — 
 Becaufe good Angels have appeared, that there- 
 fore the fallen Angels have a Power of themfelves 
 to appear to Mortals ; And that they cannot be 
 employed by the Almighty ; nor that he does not 
 order the manner and Circumftances of fuch 
 appearance, what doth he lefs than make the 
 Devil an Independent Power, and confequently a 
 God ! So he that alferts that the Devil hath a 
 Power of himfelf, and Independent to work 
 Wonders, and Miracles, and to impower Witches 
 to do like in order to deceive, ^c. What doth 
 he lefs than own him to be an unconquered 
 Enemy, and confequently a Sovereign Deity ! 9^ and 
 who is it that is culpable ^ he that afcribes fuch 
 Attributes to the Evil one, or he that alferts that 
 the fo doing gives him (or afcribes to him) fuch 
 Power as is the prerogative of him only who is 
 Almighty ? and here Sir, it highly concerns you 
 to conlider your foundations, what proof from 
 
 ^^ Finding themfelves in this Di- muft have been fadly puzzled. Nor 
 
 lemma (many of the Believers in is it eafy to fee how, by turning to 
 
 Witchcraft never having thought Locke, Le Clerc, or Cudvv'orth, they 
 
 of it, it would feem,) the Advocates are helped at all.
 
 [qo] Rejoinder, 211 
 
 Scripture is to be found for your AfTertions, and 
 who it is you are contending for. For hitherto 
 nothing like a proof hath been ofFer'd from 
 Scripture, which abounds fo with the contrary, 
 that he that runs may read. As Jhall there be evil 
 in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? who is 
 he that faith, and it cameth to pafs when the Lord 
 commandeth it not. Who among the Gods of the 
 Heathen (of which the Devil is one) can give 
 Rain, &c. 
 
 But I fhall not be tedious in multiplying proofs, 
 to that which all feem to own. For as to that 
 ftale plea of Univerfality, do fay that I have read 
 of one, if not feveral, general Councels, that have 
 not only disapproved, but Anathematiz'd them 
 that have afcribed fuch Power to the Devils. 
 And feveral National Proteftant Churches at this 
 day in their Exhortation before the Sacrament 
 (among other Enormous Crimes) admonifh all 
 that believe any fuch Power in the Witch, &c. to 
 withdraw as unmeet to partake at the Lord's 
 Table. 
 
 [90] And I believe Chriftians in general, if 
 they were afked, would own that what Powers 
 the Devil may at any time have to appear, to 
 afflid:, deftroy, or caufe tempefts, (^c. muft be by 
 Power or Commiffion from the Sovereign Being. 
 And that having fuch a Commiffion, not only 
 Hail, but Frogs, Lice, or Flies (hall be impowered 
 to plague a great King and Kingdom. And if 
 fo, this Sandy Structure of the Devils appearance, 
 
 Gg
 
 212 Rejoinder, [90] 
 
 and working Wonders at pleafure, and of Im- 
 powering Witches to afflid:, &c. (for to this 
 narrow Crilis is that whole Dodirine reduc'd) the 
 whole difappears at the firft fhaking.97 
 
 Thus worthy Sir, I have given you my fenti- 
 ments, and the grounds thereof, as plainly and as 
 concife as I was able, tho 'tis indeed a fubjed: that 
 calls for the ableft Pens to difcufs, acknowledging 
 myfelf to be infufficient for thefe things; how- 
 ever I think I have done but my duty for the 
 glory of God, the Sovereign Being; and have 
 purpofely avoided fuch a reply as fome parts of 
 yours required. 
 
 And pray that not only you and I, but all man- 
 kind may give to the Almighty the glory due 
 unto his name. From, Sir, Yours to Command, 
 
 R. C. 
 
 Witchcraft is manifejily a Work of the Flejh. 
 
 ^"^ Le Clerc has one fenfible Re- though it is obfervable thofe Dif- 
 
 mark, among many weak ones, cafes are more frequent amongft the 
 
 about the Exiftence of Witches. Inhabitants of Mountains and foli- 
 
 He fays : *' Thofe Opinions or tary Places, than amongft thofe that 
 
 Difeafes of the Brain which Witches hve in Cities/' It muft occur to 
 
 have, who think they go to Feafts the judicious Reader, that Mons. 
 
 and Dancings, upon their talking Le Clerc took a roundabout Way 
 
 of it to others, that are of a timor- to tell him that Witchcraft flourifhed 
 
 ous Difpofition and weak Brains, beft among ignorant People. See 
 
 bring others into the fame Fits of A Compleat Hijiory of Magick, 
 
 Fury, and, like a Contagion, fpread Sorcery, and Witchcraft, London, 
 
 far and near, infefting many Heads; 171 5, 2 Vols. i2mo. 
 
 [End of Vol. II.]