Chapter XXIV

Cotton and Increase Mather--The Case of Goodwin’s Daughter--That of
Mr. Philip Smith--The Story of the Salem Witchcrafts--List of
Victims--Release of Suspects--Reversal of Attainder, and Compensation.

We now come to the time of Cotton Mather, whose name is a ‘household word’ in connection with witchcraft in Massachusetts. He was the son of Increase Mather, D.D., one of the early presidents of Harvard College, was born in 1633, studied at Harvard, and at the age of twenty was appointed co-pastor with his father at Boston. He begins his first witch story thus: ‘There dwells at this time, in the _south_ part of _Boston_, a sober and pious man, whose name is _John Goodwin_, whose _Trade_ is that of a _Mason_, and whose _Wife_ (to which a _Good Report_ gives a share with him in all the Characters of _Virtue_) has made him the Father of _six_ (now living) _Children_. Of these Children, all but the _Eldest_, who works with his Father at his Calling, and the _Youngest_, who lives yet upon the Breast of its mother, have laboured under the direful effects of a no less _palpable_ than stupendous WITCHCRAFT.’[128]

As the reader will see that it is impossible to quote Cotton Mather very much at length, on account of his excessively rotund style, I must tell the story as briefly as possible. Sometimes these unhappy children would be by turns either deaf, dumb, or blind, or all three at once, their jaws be dislocated, and then close sharply with a loud snap. ‘They would bark at one another like _Dogs_, and again purr like so many _Cats_.... Yea they would _fly_ like _Geese_; and be carried with an incredible _Swiftness_ thro’ the _air_, having but just their _Toes_ now and then upon the ground, and their _Arms_ waved like the Wings of a _Bird_. One of them, in the House of a Kind Neighbour, _flew_ the length of the Room, about 20 foot, and flew into an Infant’s high armed Chair; none seeing her feet all the way touch the floor.’

Cotton Mather took the eldest daughter home to live with them, in order that he ‘might be furnished with _Evidence_ and _Argument_ as a Critical Eye Witness, to confute the Saducism of this debauched Age.’ For some days all went well, but on November 20 she was once more possessed. She tried to fly, to dive, her eyes sunk into her head, so that they thought they would never return to their normal position, and she complained that Goody Glover, a poor crazy Irish woman, had put an invisible but very potent chain round her leg. She could not read the Bible, but a Quaker book she was able to read, with the exception of the names of God and Christ. Queer books, like the ‘Oxford Jests’ and ‘Cambridge Jests,’ she could read well enough, but could only pronounce the words ‘Devils’ or ‘Witches’ with extreme difficulty.

‘Every now and then an _Invisible Horse_ would be brought unto her by those whom she only called _them_, and, _Her Company_: upon the Approach of Which, her eyes would be still closed up; for, (said she) _They say I am a_ Tell-Tale, _and, therefore, they will not let me see them_. Upon this would she give a Spring as one mounting an _Horse_, and Settling her self in a _Riding Posture_, she would, in her Chair be agitated as one sometimes _Amble-ing_ sometimes _Trotting_, and sometimes _Galloping_ very furiously.’

This state of things would not do, so divers ministers and devout friends fell to a-praying, but all to no purpose, her invisible adversaries on one occasion dragging her to an oven which was heating, and another time choking her, till she was black in the face, with an invisible rope and noose; she even began to torment good Mr. Mather. ‘When I had begun to study my Sermon, her _Tormentors_ again seized upon her; and all _Fryday_ and _Saturday_ did _they_ manage her with a special Design, as was plain, to disturb me in what I was about. In the worst of her extravagancies, formerly, she was more dutiful to myself than I had reason to Expect, but, _now_, her _whole_ carriage to me, was with a Sauciness that I had not been us’d to be treated with. She would knock at my Study _Door_, affirming _That some below would be glad to see me_; when there was none that ask’t for me. She would call to me with multiplyed Impertinences, and throw small things at me, wherewith she could not give me any hurt. Shee’d Hector me at a strange rate for the _work_ I was at, and threaten me with _I know not what_ mischief for it.’

By dint of energetic prayer she began to amend, but she had one more very bad breakout. ‘Moreover, Both she at my house, and her Sister _at home_, at the time which they call _Christmas_, were by the _Dæmons_, made very _drunk_, though they had no _strong_ Drink (as we are fully sure) to make them so. When she began to feel herself thus _drunk_, she complain’d, _O, they say they will have me to keep Christmas with them! They will disgrace me when they can do nothing else!_ And, immediately the Ridiculous Behaviour of one _drunk_, were with a wonderful exactness represented in her Speaking, and Reeling, and Spewing, and anon Sleeping, till she was well again.’

The next example Cotton Mather gives us is that of ‘_Mr. Philip Smith_, aged about Fifty years, a Son of eminently vertuous Parents, a _Deacon_ of the Church at _Hadley_, a _Member_ of our General Court, an _Associate_ in their County Court, a _Select-man_ for the affairs of the Town, a _Lieutenant_ in the Troop; and, which crowns all, a man for _Devotion_ and _Gravity_, and all that was _Honest_, exceeding exemplary. _Such_ a man, in the Winter of the year 1684 was murdered with an hideous _Witchcraft_, which filled all those parts with a just astonishment.

‘He was concerned about Relieving the Indigencies of a wretched woman in the Town; who, being dissatisfied at some of his _just cares_ about her, expressed her self unto him in such a manner, that he declared himself apprehensive of receiving _mischief_ at her hands; he said he doubted she would attempt his Hurt.’

In the beginning of the following January he fell sick, and took to his bed; but he could not rest, he was delirious and spoke in sundry voices and languages, and felt hundreds of pins pricking him all over. Sometimes there was a strange smell of musk about the place. As, in his agony, he called upon the supposed witch, his kind friends ‘did three or four times in one Night go and give _Disturbance_ to the Woman that we have spoken of: all the while they were doing of it, the good man was at ease, and slept as a weary man; and these were all the times they perceived him to take any sleep at all.’

Sometimes fire was seen on the bed, but when attention was called to it, it vanished. Something as big as a cat moved in the bed, but no one could catch it; and ‘a discreet and sober Woman, resting on the Bed’s Feet, felt as it were, a _Hand_, the _Thumb_ and the _Finger_ of it, taking her by the side and giving her a Pinch; but turning to see What it might be, nothing was to be seen.’ Many more marvels occurred, and at last the poor man died, yet even then his bed moved of itself more than once, and at night, when they were preparing for his funeral, noises were heard in the room ‘as though there had been a great _Removing_ and _Clattering_ of _stools_ and chairs.’ I cannot find that the witch was punished.

He next gives an instance of a boy at Tocutt, who held a great deal of communication with the Devil without absolutely resigning his soul to him, and who must have lived a very uncomfortable existence. ‘He speaks of men coming to him before they come in Sight; and, once, _two_ being with him, their _Backs_ turned, the Devil carried him away, they knew not how, and after _search_, they found him in a _Cellar_, as _dead_, but, after a little space, he came to Life again. And another time, threw him up into a _Chamber_, stopped him up into a _Hole_ where they after found him. Another time, he carried him about a _Bowshot_, and threw him into a _Hog-Stye_ amongst _Swine_, which ran away with a terrible noise.’

He gives two more instances of possession by the Devil; but they are mild cases which yielded to prayer. There are other minor cases of witchcraft which I have omitted, because I would fain have space to tell of the works of the Devil at Salem in 1692.

Salem was then a small village, about sixteen miles north-east of Boston, and its minister was the Rev. Samuel Parris, born in London in 1653. He entered Harvard College, but could not take a degree, went to Barbados, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and finally turned religious, and was ordained minister of Salem congregation in 1689, naturally taking a leading part in the little community.

At his house, during the winter of 1691-92, a society of girls met, curiously enough, for the purpose of practising palmistry, fortune-telling, necromancy, magic, and spiritualism; and they soon became so far advanced in these arts as to be seized with unnatural spasms, falling insensible on the floor, writhing in agony, and uttering piercing cries. As this conduct was decidedly abnormal, as was their amusement, it was settled that they were bewitched, and they were sympathized with as being ‘afflicted Children.’ Fasting and prayer were tried, but with no good result. On being questioned as to who had bewitched them, they answered ‘Good,’ ‘Osborn,’ and ‘Tituba.’ Sarah Good was a woman generally disliked, Sarah Osborn was a bed-ridden woman who did not bear a very good character, and Tituba was an Indian woman in Mr. Parris’ service.

On March 1, 1692, they were brought before the court charged with bewitching the children. One indictment must serve as a specimen for all:

‘The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary Doe present: That Sarah Good, ye wife of William Good of Salem Village, In the County of Essex, husbandman, upon y{e} first day of March in y{e} fourth year of y{e} Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady W{m} & Mary, by y{e} Grace of God, of England, Scotland, ffrance & Ireland King & Queen, defend{rs} of y{e} faith etc & Divers other days & times as well before as after, Certaine Detestable Arts, Called Witchcrafts & Sorceries, wickedly & ffeloniously hath used, practised & Exercised at & within y{e} Township of Salem aforesaid, In, upon & against An Puttman, Single woman of Salem Village, by which said Wicked arts, the said An Puttman y{e} said first day of March, in y{e} fourth year abovesaid & divers other other days & times, as well before as after, was & is hurt, Tortured, afflicted, Pined, Consumed, wasted & Tormented, & also for Sundry acts of Witchcraft by said Good Committed & done before & since that time against y{e} peace of our Soveraigne Lord & Lady y{e} King & Queen Their Crowne & dignity & against y{e} forme of Statues In that Case made & provided.

‘Witness. Ann Putman. Jurat. Eliz. Hubbard. Abigail Williams. Jurat.’

On examination, Good and Osborn denied the accusation _in toto_, but Tituba, the Indian woman, gave damning evidence against them, and it is worthy of being given _in extenso_:

‘THE EXAMINATION OF TITIBE.

‘Titibe what evil Spirit have you familiarity with?--None.

‘Why do you hurt these children?--I do not hurt them.

‘Who is it then?--The Devil for ought I know.

‘Did you never see the Devil?--The Devil came to me and bid me serve him.

‘Who have you seen?--Four women sometimes hurt the children.

‘Who were they?--Goode Osburn and Sarah Good, and I doe not know who the other were. Sarah Good and Osburne would have me hurt the children, but I would not. She further saith there was a tall man of Boston that she did see.

‘When did you see them?--Last night at Boston.

‘What did they say to you?--They said, hurt the children.

‘And did you hurt them?--No, there is 4 women and one man. They hurt the children, and they lay all upon me, and they tell me if I will not hurt the children, they will hurt me.

‘But you did not hurt them?--Yes, but I will hurt them no more.

‘Are you not sorry you did hurt them?--Yes.

‘And why then doe you hurt them?--They say hurt children or wee will doe worse to you.

‘What have you seen?--An man come to me and say serve me.

‘What service?--Hurt the children; and, last night, there was an appearance that said kill the children; and if I would not go on hurting the children, they would do worse to me.

‘What is this appearance you see?--Sometimes it is like a hog, and sometimes like a great dog; this appearance shee saith shee did see 4 times.

‘What did it say to you?--It, the black dog said, serve me, but I said, I am afraid. He said, if I did not, he would doe worse to me.

‘What did you say to it?--I will serve you no longer; then he said he would hurt me; and then he looked like a man, and threatened to hurt me. Shee said that this man had a yellow bird that kept with him, and he told me he had more pretty things that he would give me if I would serve him.

‘What were those pretty things?--He did not show me them.

‘What, also, have you seen?--Two rats--a red rat and a black rat.

‘What did they say to you?--They said, serve me.

‘When did you see them?--Last night, and they said, serve me, but I would not.

‘What service?--Shee said, hurt the children.

‘Why did you goe to Thomas Putnams last night, and hurt his child?--They pull and hall me, and make me goe.

‘And what would they have you doe?--Kill her with a knife.

‘Left. Fuller and others said at this time when the child saw these persons, and was tormented by them, that she did complayn of a knife, that they would have her cut her head off with a knife.

‘How did you go?--We ride upon stickes, and are there presently.

‘Do you goe through the trees, or over them?--We see nothing, but are there presently.

‘Why did you not tell your Master?--I was afraid they would cut off my head if I told.

‘Would you have hurt others if you could?--They said they would hurt others, but they could not.

‘What attendants hath Sarah Good?--A yellow bird, and she would have given me one.

‘What meate did she give it?--It did suck between her fingers.

‘Did you not hurt Mr. Currin’s child?--Goode Good and Goode Osborn told [me] that they did hurt Mr. Curren’s child, and would have me hurt him too, but I did not.

‘What hath Sarah Osburn?--Yellow dog. Shee had a thing with a head like a woman, with 2 legges, and wings. Abigail Williams that lives with her Uncle Parris said that she did see the same creature, and it turned into the shape of Goode Osburn.

‘What else have you seen with Osburn?--Another thing, hairy; it goes upright like a man; it hath only 2 legges.

‘Did you not see Sarah Good upon Elizabeth Hubbard, last Satterday?--I did see her set a wolfe upon her to afflict her. The persons with this maid did say that she did complain of a wolfe. Shee further saith that she saw a cat with Good, at another time.

‘What cloathes doth the man go in?--He goes in black cloathes, a tal man with white hair, I think.

‘How doth the woman go?--In a white whood, and a black whood with a top knot.

‘Doe you see who it is that torments these children now?--Yes, it is Goode Good, shee hurts them in her own shape.

‘And who is it that hurts them now?--I am blind now, I cannot see.’

In the end, all three were sent to gaol. Mrs. Osburn died in gaol on May 16. Sarah Good was hanged, and Tituba lay in prison for thirteen months, and was then sold to pay her gaol fees.

Evidently the taste for notoriety in the ‘afflicted children’ was developing. One of them, Ann Putnam, denounced one Martha Corey for pricking and tormenting her. Mrs. Corey seems to have been a harmless church-member, and denied all the imputations of witchcraft cast on her; but even her husband bore testimony against her anent an ox which he thought had been bewitched. She was hanged. Her husband was afterward arrested on a similar charge, and his was a most singular case. By law, if found guilty, his goods, etc., were forfeited. He had the singular courage to defeat the law by the law itself. He caused a deed to be drawn up, duly witnessed, etc., by which he left his property to two out of his four sons-in-law, who befriended his wife (the other two gave witness against her). He then refused to plead either guilty or not guilty. He was had up the legal three times before the judge, but as he continued dumb he was sentenced to the _Peine forte et dure_, that of ‘pressing’ until he pleaded or died. If he died under the punishment his goods were not forfeited.

The punishment was that he was stretched out upon his back, his arms and legs drawn out by cords and fastened to the four corners of his dungeon. A board, or plate of iron, was laid upon his stomach, and upon this was placed a certain weight. Next day he was given, at three different times, three little morsels of barley bread, and nothing to drink. The next day, three little glasses of water, and nothing to eat, and if he continued obstinate and dumb, he was left uncared for till he died. Corey begged them to add weights until they killed him, and they mercifully did so. Verily, he expiated his testimony against his wife.

It would be impossible to give, within the limits of this volume, an account of all the trials of the Salem witches. Suffice it to say that the little clique who met at the house of the Rev. S. Parris continued to accuse their neighbours all round. The following is a list taken from the ‘Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original Documents. Privately printed for W. Elliot Woodward, Roxbury;’ Massachusetts, 1864. Those in italics were hanged; the fate of the others except in two or three instances I know not:

_Sarah Good_,* Sarah Osburn (died in gaol), Tituba, Indian (sold), _Martha Corey_,* _John Procter_,* Dorcas Good, _Rebecca Nurse_,* Elizabeth Procter,* (pleaded she was _enceinte_), Mary Warren, Bridget Bishop, _Abigail Hobbs_,* _Sarah Wilds_,* Philip English, _Susannah Martin_, Elizabeth Hart, _Dorcas Hoar_,* _George Jacobs_,* _John Willard_,* _Ann Pudeater_, Rebecca Jacobs, Roger Toothaker, _Mary Eastey_,* Sarah Procter, Susannah Roots, Benjamin Procter, _Martha Carrier_,* _Elizabeth How_,* William Procter, _Wilmott Reed_, Elizabeth Fosdick, Elizabeth Paine, Mary Ireson, _George Burroughs_,* _Abigail Faulkner_,* _Ann Foster_,* _Mary Lacey_,* _Rebecca Eames_,* _Samuel Wardwell_,* _Mary Parker_,* _Mary Bradbury_,* Giles Corey,* (pressed to death), _Alice Parker_, _Margaret Scot_.

Who can say, after reading the above list, that, if the Devil were in anyone at Salem, he was not in that precious lot of ‘afflicted children’? In fact, people began to fight shy of them; they even accused a member of Increase Mather’s family, and made charges against Mrs. Hale, wife of the Minister of the First Church in Beverley, so that their testimony at last received no credence. After the Sessions of September 22, no one was hanged, even if convicted; and in April, 1693, the Governor-General, by proclamation, gave freedom to all suspects that were in confinement, and in 1711 a reversal of attainder was granted in those cases marked with an asterisk, and compensation made to their representatives to the amount of £578 12s.