A50139:50
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.
SECT. XVII. My Employments were such, that I could not visit this afflicted Family so often as I would; Wherefore that I might show them what kindness I could, as also that I might have a full opportunity to observe the ex traordinary Circumstances of the Children, and that I might be furnished with Evidence and Argument as a Critical Eye-Witness to confute the Sadducism of this debauched Age; I took the Eldest of them home to my House. The young Woman continued well at our house, for diverse days, and applied her self to such Actions not only of Industry, but of Piety, as she had been no stranger to. But on the Twentieth of November in the Fore-noon, she cried out, An [They] have found me out! I thought it would be so! and immediately she fell into her fits again. I shall now confine my Story chiefly to Her, from whose Case the Reader may shape some Conjecture at the Accidents of the Rest.
SECT. XVII. My Employments were such, that I could not visit this afflicted Family so often as I would; Wherefore that I might show them what kindness I could, as also that I might have a full opportunity to observe the ex traordinary Circumstances of the Children, and that I might be furnished with Evidence and Argument as a Critical Eye-Witness to confute the Saducism of this debauched Age; I took the Eldest of them home to my House. The young Woman continued well at our house, for diverse dayes, and apply'd her self to such Actions not only of Industry, but of Piety, as she had been no stranger to. But on the Twentieth of November in the Fore-noon, she cry'd out, An [They] have found me out! I thought it would be so! and immediately she fell into her fits again. I shall now confine my Story cheefly to Her, from whose Case the Reader may shape some Conjecture at the Accidents of the Rest.
SECT XVIII. Variety of Tortures now ⟨p. 19⟩seized upon the Girl; in which besides the forementioned Ails returning upon her, she often would cough up a Ball as big as a small Egg into the side of her Wind-pipe, that would near choke her, till by Stroking and by Drinking it was carried down again. At the beginning of her Fits, usually she kept oddly Looking up the Chimney, but could not say what she saw. When I had her Cry to the Lord Jesus for Help her Teeth were instantly set; upon which I adued. Yet, child, Look into Him, and then her Ees were presently pulled into her head, so far that one might have feared she should never have used them more. When I prayed in the Room, fist, her Arms were with a strong, tho not seen Force clapped upon her ears; and when her hands were with violence pulled away, she cried out, [They] make such a noise, I cannot hear a word! She likewise complained, that Goody Glover's, Chain was upon her Leg, and when she essayed to go, her postures were exactly such as the chained Witch had before she died. But the manner still was, that her Tortures in a small while would pass over, and Frolics succeed; in which she would continue many hours, nay, whole days, talking perhaps never wickedly, but always, […]ly beyond her self; and at certain provocations, her Tortures would renew upon her, till we had left off to give them. But she frequently told us, that if she might but steal, or be drunk,