The Wonders of the Invisible World Part 6

_Magistrate._ Their Master? who do you think is their Master?

_Martin._ If they be dealing in the Black Art, you may know as well as I.

_Magistrate._ Well, what have you done towards this?

_Martin._ Nothing at all.

_Magistrate._ Why, 'tis you or your Appearance.

_Martin._ I cannot help it.

_Magistrate._ Is it not _your_ Master? How comes your Appearance to hurt these?

_Martin._ How do I know? He that appeared in the Shape of _Samuel_, a glorified Saint, may appear in any ones Shape.

It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if the Afflicted went to approach her, they were flung down to the Ground. And, when she was asked the reason of it, she said, _I cannot tell; it may be, the Devil bears me more Malice than another._

III. The Court accounted themselves, alarum'd by these Things, to enquire further into the Conversation of the Prisoner; and see what there might occur, to render these Accusations further credible.

Whereupon, _John Allen_ of _Salisbury_, testify'd, That he refusing, because of the weakness of his Oxen, to Cart some Staves at the request of this _Martin_, she was displeased at it; and said, _It had been as good that he had; for his Oxen should never do him much more Service._ Whereupon, this Deponent said, _Dost thou threaten me, thou old Witch?

I'l throw thee into the Brook:_ Which to avoid, she flew over the Bridge, and escaped. But, as he was going home, one of his Oxen tired, so that he was forced to Unyoke him, that he might get him home. He then put his Oxen, with many more, upon _Salisbury_ Beach, where Cattle did use to get _Flesh_. In a few days, all the Oxen upon the Beach were found by their Tracks, to have run unto the Mouth of _Merrimack-River_, and not returned; but the next day they were found come ash.o.r.e upon _Plum-Island_. They that sought them, used all imaginable gentleness, but they would still run away with a violence, that seemed wholly Diabolical, till they came near the mouth of _Merrimack-River_; when they ran right into the Sea, swimming as far as they could be seen. One of them then swam back again, with a swiftness, amazing to the Beholders, who stood ready to receive him, and help up his tired Carca.s.s: But the Beast ran furiously up into the Island, and from thence, thorough the Marshes, up into _Newbury_ Town, and so up into the Woods; and there after a while found near _Amesbury_. So that, of fourteen good Oxen, there was only this saved: The rest were all cast up, some in one place, and some in another, Drowned.

IV. _John Atkinson_ testifi'd, That he exchanged a Cow with a Son of _Susanna Martin's_, whereat she muttered, and was unwilling he should have it. Going to receive this Cow, tho he Hamstring'd her, and Halter'd her, she, of a Tame Creature, grew so mad, that they could scarce get her along. She broke all the Ropes that were fastned unto her, and though she were ty'd fast unto a Tree, yet she made her escape, and gave them such further trouble, as they could ascribe to no cause but Witchcraft.

V. _Bernard Peache_ testifi'd, That being in Bed, on the Lord's-day Night, he heard a scrabbling at the Window, whereat he then saw _Susanna Martin_ come in, and jump down upon the Floor. She took hold of this Deponent's Feet, and drawing his Body up into an Heap, she lay upon him near Two Hours; in all which time he could neither speak nor stir. At length, when he could begin to move, he laid hold on her Hand, and pulling it up to his Mouth, he bit three of her Fingers, as he judged, unto the Bone. Whereupon she went from the Chamber, down the Stairs, out at the Door. This Deponent thereupon called unto the People of the House, to advise them of what pa.s.sed; and he himself did follow her.

The People saw her not; but there being a Bucket at the Left-hand of the Door, there was a drop of Blood found upon it; and several more drops of Blood upon the Snow newly fallen abroad: There was likewise the print of her 2 Feet just without the Threshold; but no more sign of any Footing further off.

At another time this Deponent was desired by the Prisoner, to come unto an Husking of Corn, at her House; and she said, _If he did not come, it were better that he did!_ He went not; but the Night following, _Susanna Martin_, as he judged, and another came towards him. One of them said, _Here he is!_ but he having a Quarter-staff, made a Blow at them. The Roof of the Barn, broke his Blow; but following them to the Window, he made another Blow at them, and struck them down; yet they got up, and got out, and he saw no more of them.

About this time, there was a Rumour about the Town, that _Martin_ had a Broken Head; but the Deponent could say nothing to that.

The said _Peache_ also testifi'd the Bewitching the Cattle to Death, upon Martin's Discontents.

VI. _Robert Downer_ testified, That this Prisoner being some Years ago prosecuted at Court for a Witch, he then said unto her, _He believed she was a Witch._ Whereat she being dissatisfied, said, _That some She-Devil would shortly fetch him away!_ Which words were heard by others, as well as himself. The Night following, as he lay in his Bed, there came in at the Window, the likeness of a _Cat_, which flew upon him, took fast hold of his Throat, lay on him a considerable while, and almost killed him.

At length he remembred what _Susanna Martin_ had threatned the Day before; and with much striving he cried out, _Avoid, thou She-Devil! In the Name of G.o.d the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Avoid!_ Whereupon it left him, leap'd on the Floor, and flew out at the Window.

And there also came in several Testimonies, that before ever _Downer_ spoke a word of this Accident, _Susanna Martin_ and her Family had related, _How this +Downer+ had been handled_!

VII. _John Kembal_ testified, that _Susanna Martin_, upon a Causeless Disgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his, _That she should never do him any more Good:_ and it came to pa.s.s accordingly. For soon after the Cow was found stark dead on the dry Ground, without any Distemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he was followed with a strange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he lost in one Spring to the Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said _John Kembal_ had a further Testimony to give in against the Prisoner which was truly admirable.

Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy one of this _Martin_, who had a b.i.t.c.h with Whelps in her House. But she not letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself then at one _Blezdels_. Having mark'd a Puppy, which he lik'd at _Blezdels_, he met _George Martin_, the Husband of the Prisoner, going by, who asked him, _Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies?_ and he answered, _No._ The same Day, one _Edmond Eliot_, being at _Martin's_ House, heard _George Martin_ relate, where this _Kembal_ had been, and what he had said. Whereupon _Susanna Martin_ replied, _If I live, I'll give him Puppies enough!_ Within a few days after, this _Kembal_, coming out of the Woods, there arose a little Black Cloud in the N. W.

and _Kembal_ immediately felt a force upon him, which made him not able to avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were before him, albeit he had a broad, plain Cart-way, before him; but tho' he had his Ax also on his Shoulder to endanger him in his Falls, he could not forbear going out of his way to tumble over them. When he came below the Meeting House, there appeared unto him, a little thing like a _Puppy_, of a Darkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards between his Legs. He had the Courage to use all possible Endeavours of Cutting it with his Ax; but he could not Hit it: the Puppy gave a jump from him, and went, as to him it seem'd into the Ground. Going a little further, there appeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger than the first, but as Black as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than those of his Ax; it flew at his Belly, and away; then at his Throat; so, over his Shoulder one way, and then over his Shoulder another way. His Heart now began to fail him, and he thought the Dog would have tore his Throat out. But he recovered himself, and called upon G.o.d in his Distress; and naming the Name of JESUS CHRIST, it vanished away at once. The Deponent spoke not one Word of these Accidents, for fear of affrighting his Wife. But the next Morning, _Edmond Eliot_, going into _Martin's_ House, this Woman asked him where Kembal was? He replied, _At home, a Bed, for ought he knew._ She returned, _They say, he was frighted last Night._ Eliot asked, _With what?_ She answered, _With Puppies._ _Eliot_ asked, _Where she heard of it, for he had heard nothing of it?_ She rejoined, _About the Town._ Altho' _Kembal_ had mentioned the Matter to no Creature living.

VIII. _William Brown_ testifi'd, That Heaven having blessed him with a most Pious and Prudent Wife, this Wife of his, one day met with _Susanna Martin_; but when she approach'd just unto her, _Martin_ vanished out of sight, and left her extreamly affrighted. After which time, the said _Martin_ often appear'd unto her, giving her no little trouble; and when she did come, she was visited with Birds, that sorely peck'd and p.r.i.c.k'd her; and sometimes, a Bunch, like a Pullet's Egg, would rise in her Throat, ready to choak her, till she cry'd out, _Witch, you shan't choak me!_ While this good Woman was in this extremity, the Church appointed a Day of Prayer, on her behalf; whereupon her Trouble ceas'd; she saw not _Martin_ as formerly; and the Church, instead of their Fast, gave Thanks for her Deliverance. But a considerable while after, she being Summoned to give in some Evidence at the Court, against this _Martin_, quickly thereupon, this _Martin_ came behind her, while she was milking her Cow, and said unto her, _For thy defaming her at Court, I'll make thee the miserablest Creature in the World._ Soon after which, she fell into a strange kind of distemper, and became horribly frantick, and uncapable of any reasonable Action; the Physicians declaring, that her Distemper was preternatural, and that some Devil had certainly bewitched her; and in that condition she now remained.

IX. _Sarah Atkinson_ testify'd, That _Susanna Martin_ came from _Amesbury_ to their House at _Newbury_, in an extraordinary Season, when it was not fit for any to Travel. She came (as she said, unto _Atkinson_) all that long way on Foot. She brag'd and shew'd how dry she was; nor could it be perceived that so much as the Soles of her Shoes were wet. _Atkinson_ was amazed at it; and professed, that she should her self have been wet up to the knees, if she had then came so far; but _Martin_ reply'd, _She scorn'd to be Drabbled!_ It was noted, that this Testimony upon her Trial, cast her in a very singular Confusion.

X. _John Pressy_ testify'd, That being one Evening very unaccountably Bewildred, near a Field of _Martins_, and several times, as one under an Enchantment, returning to the place he had left, at length he saw a marvellous Light, about the bigness of an Half-bushel, near two Rod, out of the way. He went, and struck at it with a Stick, and laid it on with all his might. He gave it near forty blows; and felt it a palpable substance. But going from it, his Heels were struck up, and he was laid with his Back on the Ground, sliding, as he thought, into a Pit; from whence he recover'd by taking hold on the Bush; altho' afterwards he could find no such Pit in the place. Having, after his Recovery, gone five or six Rod, he saw _Susanna Martin_ standing on his Left-hand, as the Light had done before; but they changed no words with one another.

He could scarce find his House in his Return; but at length he got home extreamly affrighted. The next day, it was upon Enquiry understood, that _Martin_ was in a miserable condition by pains and hurts that were upon her.

It was further testify'd by this Deponent, That after he had given in some Evidence against _Susanna Martin_, many years ago, she gave him foul words about it; and said, _He should never prosper more;_ particularly, _That he should never have more than two Cows; that tho'

he was never so likely to have more, yet he should never have them._ And that from that very day to this, namely for twenty years together, he could never exceed that number; but some strange thing or other still prevented his having any more.

XI. _Jervis Ring_ testify'd, That about seven years ago, he was oftentimes and grievously oppressed in the Night, but saw not who troubled him; until at last he Lying perfectly Awake, plainly saw _Susanna Martin_ approach him. She came to him, and forceably bit him by the Finger; so that the Print of the bite is now, so long after, to be seen upon him.

XII. But besides all of these Evidences, there was a most wonderful Account of one _Joseph Ring_, produced on this occasion.

This Man has been strangely carried about by _Daemons_, from one _Witch-meeting_ to another, for near two years together; and for one quarter of this time, they have made him, and keep him Dumb, tho' he is now again able to speak. There was one _T. H._ who having, as 'tis judged, a design of engaging this _Joseph Ring_ in a snare of Devillism, contrived a while, to bring this _Ring_ two Shillings in Debt unto him.

Afterwards, this poor Man would be visited with unknown shapes, and this _T. H._ sometimes among them; which would force him away with them, unto unknown Places, where he saw Meetings, Feastings, Dancings; and after his return, wherein they hurried him along through the Air, he gave Demonstrations to the Neighbours, that he had indeed been so transported. When he was brought unto these h.e.l.lish Meetings, one of the first Things they still did unto him, was to give him a knock on the Back, whereupon he was ever as if bound with Chains, uncapable of stirring out of the place, till they should release him. He related, that there often came to him a Man, who presented him a _Book_, whereto he would have him set his Hand; promising to him, that he should then have even what he would; and presenting him with all the delectable Things, Persons, and Places, that he could imagin. But he refusing to subscribe, the business would end with dreadful Shapes, Noises and Screeches, which almost scared him out of his Wits. Once with the Book, there was a Pen offered him, and an Ink-horn with Liquor in it, that seemed like Blood: But he never toucht it.

This Man did now affirm, That he saw the Prisoner at several of those h.e.l.lish Randezvouzes.

Note, this Woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked Creatures in the World; and she did now throughout her whole Tryal, discover her self to be such an one. Yet when she was asked, what she had to say for her self? Her chief Plea was, _That she had lead a most virtuous and holy Life._

IV.

THE TRYAL OF ELIZABETH HOW, AT THE

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT

AT SALEM, JUNE 30. 1692.

I.

_Elizabeth How_ pleading _Not Guilty_ to the Indictment of Witchcrafts, then charged upon her; the Court, according to the usual Proceedings of the Courts in _England_, in such Cases, began with hearing the Depositions of several afflicted People, who were grievously tortured by sensible and evident _Witchcrafts_, and all complained of the Prisoner, as the cause of their Trouble. It was also found that the Sufferers were not able to bear her _Look_, as likewise, that in their greatest Swoons, they distinguished her _Touch_ from other Peoples, being thereby raised out of them.

And there was other Testimony of People to whom the shape of this _How_, gave trouble nine or ten years ago.

II. It has been a most usual thing for the bewitched Persons, at the same time that the _Spectres_, representing the _Witches_, troubled them, to be visited with Apparitions of _Ghosts_, pretending to have been Murdered by the _Witches_ then represented. And sometimes the Confessions of the Witches afterwards acknowledged those very Murders, which these _Apparitions_ charged upon them; altho' they had never heard what Informations had been given by the Sufferers.

There were such Apparitions of Ghosts testified by some of the present Sufferers; and the Ghosts affirmed, that this _How_ had Murdered them: Which things were _fear'd_ but not _prov'd_.

III. This _How_ had made some Attempts of joyning to the Church at _Ipswich_, several years ago; but she was denyed an admission into that Holy Society, partly through a suspicion of Witchcraft, then urged against her. And there now came in Testimony, of preternatural Mischiefs, presently befalling some that had been Instrumental to debar her from the Communion whereupon she was intruding.

IV. There was a particular Deposition of _Joseph Stafford_, That his Wife had conceived an extream Aversion to this _How_, on the Reports of her Witchcrafts: But _How_ one day, taking her by the Hand, and saying, _I believe you are not ignorant of the great Scandal that I lye under, by an evil Report raised upon me._ She immediately, unreasonably and unperswadeably, even like one Enchanted, began to take this Woman's part. _How_ being soon after propounded, as desiring an Admission to the Table of the Lord, some of the pious Brethren were unsatisfy'd about her. The Elders appointed a Meeting to hear Matters objected against her; and no Arguments in the World could hinder this Goodwife _Stafford_ from going to the Lecture. She did indeed promise, with much ado, that she would not go to the Church-meeting, yet she could not refrain going thither also. _How's_ Affairs there were so canvased, that she came off rather _Guilty_ than _Cleared_; nevertheless Goodwife _Stafford_ could not forbear taking her by the Hand, and saying, _Tho' you are Condemned before Men, you are Justify'd before G.o.d._ She was quickly taken in a very strange manner, Ranting, Raving, Raging and crying out, _Goody +How+ must come into the Church; she is a precious Saint; and tho' she be condemned before Men, she is Justify'd before G.o.d._ So she continued for the s.p.a.ce of two or three Hours; and then fell into a Trance. But coming to her self, she cry'd out, _Ha! I was mistaken;_ and afterwards again repeated, _Ha! I was mistaken!_ Being asked by a stander by, _Wherein?_ she replyed, _I thought Goody +How+ had been a precious Saint of G.o.d, but now I see she is a Witch: She has bewitched me, and my Child, and we shall never be well, till there be a Testimony for her, that she may be taken into the Church._ And _How_ said afterwards, that she was very sorry to see _Stafford_ at the Church-meeting mentioned.

_Stafford_, after this, declared herself to be afflicted by the Shape of _How_; and from that Shape she endured many Miseries.

V. _John How_, Brother to the Husband of the Prisoner testified, that he refusing to accompany the Prisoner unto her Examination, as was by her desired, immediately some of his Cattle were Bewitched to Death, leaping three or four foot high, turning about, speaking, falling, and dying at once; and going to cut off an Ear, for an use, that might as well perhaps have been omitted, the Hand wherein he held his Knife was taken very numb, and so it remained, and full of Pain, for several Days, being not well at this very Time. And he suspected the Prisoner for the Author of it.

VI. _Nehemiah Abbot_ testify'd, that unusual and mischievous Accidents would befal his Cattle, whenever he had any Difference with this Prisoner. Once, particularly, she wished his Ox choaked; and within a little while that Ox was choaked with a Turnep in his Throat. At another Time, refusing to lend his Horse, at the Request of her Daughter, the Horse was in a preternatural manner abused. And several other odd things of that kind were testified.

VII. There came in Testimony, that one Good-wife _Sherwin_, upon some Difference with _How_, was Bewitched; and that she dyed, charging this _How_ with having an Hand in her Death. And that other People had their Barrels of Drink unaccountably mischieved, spoil'd and spilt, upon their displeasing of her.

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