A50139:60
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.
Once I said, Child, if you can't tell their Names, pray tell me what Clothes they have on; and the Words were no sooner out of my mouth, but she was laid for dead upon the Floor.
SECT. XXIII. One of the Spectators once asked her, Whether she could nor ride up stairs; unto which her Answer was, That she believed she could, for her Horse could do very not able things. Accordingly, when her Horse came to her again, to our Admiration she Ends (that is, was tossed as one that rode up the stairs: there then stood open the Study of one belonging to the Family, into which entering, she stood immediately upon her Feet, and cried out, They are gone; they are gone! They say, that they cannot,—God won't let 'em come here! She also added a Reason for it, which the Owner of the Study thought more kind than true. And she presently and perfectly came to her self, so that her whole Discourse & Carriage was altered unto the greatest measure of Sobriety, and she sat Reading of the Bible and Good Books, for a good part of the Afternoon. Her Affairs calling her anon to go down again, the Daemons were in a quarter of a minute as bad ⟨p. 28⟩upon her as before, and her Horse was Waiting for her. I understanding of it, immediately would have her up to the study of the young man where she had been at ease before; merely to try Whether there had not been a Fallacy in what had newly happened: but she was now so twisted, and iprithen, that it gave me much trouble to get her into my Arms, and much more to drag her up the stairs. She was pulled out of my hands, and when I recovered my Hold, she was thrust so hard upon me, that I had almost fallen backwards, and her own breast was sore afterwards, by their Compressions to detain her; she seemed heavier indeed that three of her self. With incredible Forcing (tho she kept Screaming, They say I must not go in!) at length we pulled her in; where she was no sooner come, but she could stand on her Feet, and with an altered tone, could thank me, saying, now I am well. At first she'd be somewhat faint, and say, She felt something go out of her; but in a minute or two, she could attend any Devotion, or Business as well as ever in her Life; and both spoke and did as became a person of good Discretion.