N00392:77
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 persons in New-England. Particularly, a narrative of the marvellous trouble and relief [sic] 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 that 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 [sic]. / Written by Cotton Mather, Minister of the Gospel. ; 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 possessed persons in New-England. Particularly, a narrative of the marvellous trouble and releef [sic] 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 that 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 [sic]. / Written by Cotton Mather, Minister of the Gospel. ; And recommended by the Ministers of Boston and Charleston.
Boston: printed by R.P. i.e, 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.
POSTSCRIPT.
YOU have seen the Trouble and the Relief of John Goodwins Children. After which the Demons were let loose to make a fresh Attack upon them, tho not in a manner altogether so terrible & afflictive as what they had before sustained. All the Three Children were visited with some Return of their Calamities; but the Boy was the Child which endured most in this New Assault. He had been for some While kindly entertained, with Mr. Baily at Watertown where he had enjoyed a long time of ease; the Devils having given him but little Disturbance, expect what was for a short while after his first coming there. He no sooner came Home, but he began to be ill again, with diverse peculiar Circumstances attending of him. There was this particularly remarkable; That the Boy dreamed he had a Bone within his skin growing cross his Ribs; and when he awaked, he felt and found a thing there which was esteemed a Bone by them that handled it; only every one wondered how it should be lodged there An expert Chirurgeon, Dr. John Clark, being advised with about it, very dexterously t••k it out; and it proved not the imagined Bone, but a considerable Pin; a brass Pin which could not possibly have come to lie there as it ⟨p. 43⟩did without the Prestigious Conveyance of a Mysterious Witchcraft. Another time, ••on a Lord's Day his Father would have taken him to Meeting with him; and when his Father spoke of going to some of the Assemblies in the Town (particularly both the North and the South) the Boy would be cast into such Tortures and Postures, that he would sooner Die than go out of doors; but if his Father spoke of going to others of the Assemblies in the Town, particularly the Quakers, the boy in a moment would be as well as could be. The trial of that was more than five times repeated, and we•e it fully related, would be more than ten times Admired.
YOU have seen the Trouble and the Relief of John Goodwins Children. After which the Damons were let loose to make a fresh Attacque upon them, tho not in a manner altogether so terrible & affictive as what they had before susteined. All the Three Children were visited with some Return of their Calamities; but the Boy was the Child which endured most in this New Assault. He had been for some While kindly entertained, with Mr. Baily at Watertown where he had enjoyed a long time of ease; the Devils having given him but little Disturbance, expect what was for a short while after his first coming there. He no sooner came Home, but he began to be ill again, with diverse peculiar Circumstances attending of him. There was this particularly remarkable; That the Boy dream't he had a Bone within his skin growing cross his Ribs; and when he awaked, he felt and found a thing there which was esteem'd a Bone by them that handled it; only every one wondered how it should be lodged there An expert Chirurgeon, Dr. John Clark, being advis'd with about it, very dexterously tk it out; and it prov'd not the imagined Bone, but a considerable Pin; a brass Pin which could not possibly have come to ly there as it