A50139:124
Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and…
Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and surprising things that have befallen several bewitched and possessed person in New-England, particularly a narrative of the marvellous trouble and relief experienced by a pious family in Boston, very lately and sadly molested with evil spirits : whereunto is added a discourse delivered unto a congregation in Boston on the occasion of that illustrious providence : as also a discourse delivered unto the same congregation on the occasion of an horrible self-murder committed in the town : with an appendix in vindication of a chapter in a late book of remarkable providences from the calumnies of a Quaker at Pen-silvania / written by Cotton Mather ... and recommended by the ministers of Boston and Charleston.Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and surprising things that have befallen several bewitched and possesed person in New-England, particularly a narrative of the marvellous trouble and releef experienced by a pious family in Boston, very lately and sadly molested with evil spirits : whereunto is added a discourse delivered unto a congregation in Boston on the occasion of that illustrious providence : as also a discourse delivered unto the same congregation on the occasion of an horrible self-murder committed in the town : with an appendix in vindication of a chapter in a late book of remarkable providences from the calumnies of a Quaker at Pen-silvania / written by Cotton Mather ... and recommended by the ministers of Boston and Charleston.
Boston: printed by R.P., 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The near Affinity between Witchcraft & Possession, invites me to add unto the Foregoing Histories. One that the Reader, I believe, will count worthy to be Related. It is but a Fragment of what should have been a fuller Story; but I cannot without some Trouble or delay inconsistent with my present Designs put my self in a way to perfect it: and I was of the Opinion that, Let nothing be lost, was a Rule which I might very properly extend unto it. The thing happened many (perhaps Thirty) years ago, and was then much discoursed of. I don't Remember, ⟨p. 64⟩that I have heard what became of the Boy concerned in the Narrative, but what I now publish, I find among the Papers of my Grand-father, of Whom the World has had such a Character, that they cannot but judge, no Romance or Folly, nothing but what should be serious and weighty could be worthy of his Hands; and it is in his own Hand that I have the Manuscript, from whence I have caused it to be Transcribed. It runs in such Terms as these.
THe near Affinity between Witchcraft & Possession, invites me to add unto the Foregoing Histories. One that the Reader, I believe, will count worthy to be Related. It is but a Fragment of what should have been a fuller Story; but I cannot without some Trouble or delay inconsistent with my present Designs put my self in a way to perfect it: and I was of the Opinion that, Let nothing be lost, was a Rule which I might very properly extend unto it. The thing happened many (perhaps Thirty) years ago, and was then much discoursed of. I don't Remember, ⟨p. 64⟩that I have heard what became of the Boy concerned in the Narrative, but what I now publish, I find among the Papers of my Grand-father, of Whom the World has had such a Character, that they cannot but judge, no Romance or Folly, nothing but what should be seririous and weighty could be worthy of his Hands; and it is in his own Hand that I have the Manuscript, from whence I have caused it to be Transcribed. It runs in such Terms as these.