Filter authors and titles

N00530:158

The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the…

Name: The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the…
Author: Cotton Mather

The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. : Accompanied with, I. Some accounts of the grievous molestations, by daemons and witchcrafts, which have lately annoyed the country; and the trials of some eminent malefactors executed upon occasion thereof: with several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. II. Some councils, directing a due improvement of the terrible things, lately done, by the unusual & amazing range of evil spirits, in our neighbourhood: & the methods to prevent the wrongs which those evil angels may intend against all sorts of people among us; especially in accusations of the innocent. III. Some conjectures upon the great events, likely to befall, the world in general, and New-England in particular; as also upon the advances of the time, when we shall see better days. IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland, very much resembling, and so far explaining, that under which our parts of America have laboured! V. The Devil discovered: in a brief discourse upon those temptations, which are the more ordinary devices of the Wicked One. / By Cotton Mather.

:155p. 83

Now, One of the Latest Printed Accounts, about a, Trial of Witches, is of what was before him; and it ran on this wise. [Printed in the Year 1682] And it is here the rather mentioned, because it was a Trial, much considered by the Judges of New-England.

:156p. 83–84¶1

I. Rose Cullender, and Amy Duny, were severally Indicted, for Bewitching Elizabeth Durent, Ann Durent, Jane Bocking, Susan Chandler, William Durent, ⟨p. 84⟩Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy. And the evidence, whereon they were Convicted, stood upon diverse particular Circumstances.

:157p. 84¶2

II. Ann Durent, Susan Chandler, and Elizabeth Pacy ▪ when they came into the Hall, to give Instructions for the drawing the Bills of Indictments, they fell into strange and violent Fits, so that they were unable to give in their Depositions, not only then but also During the whole Assizes. William Durent being an Infant, his Mother Swore, That Amy Duny looking after her Child one Day in her absence, did at her return confess, that she had given suc• to the Child: (tho' she were an Old Woman:) Whereat, when Durent expressed her displeasure, Duny went away with Discontents and Menaces.

II. Ann Durent, Susan Chandler, and Elizabeh Pacy ▪ when they came into the Hall, to give Instructions for the drawing the Bills of Indictments, they fell into strange and violent Fitts, so that they were unable to give in their Depositions, not only then but also During the whole Assizes. William Durent being an Infant, his Mother Swore, That Amy Duny looking after her Child one Day in her absence, did at her return confess, that she had given suc• to the Child: (tho' she were an Old Woman:) Whereat, when Durent expressed her displeasure, Duny went away with Discontents and Menaces.

:158p. 84–85

The Night after, the Child fell into strange and sad Fits, wherein it continued for Diverse Weeks. One Doctor Jacob advised her to hang up the Child's Blanket, in the Chimney Corner all Day, and at Night, when she went to put the Child into it, if she found any Thing in it then to throw it without fear into the Fire. Accordingly, at Night, there fell a great Toad out of the Blanket, which ran up & down the Hearth. A Boy, catched it, & held it in the Fire with the Tongs: where it made an horrible Noise, and Flashed like to Gun-Powder, with a report like that of a Pistol: Whereupon the Toad […] no more to be seen. The next Day a kinswoman of Duny's, told the Deponent, that ⟨p. 85⟩her Aunt was all grievously scorched with the Fire, and the Deponent going to her House, found her in such a Condition. Duny told her, she might thank her for it; but she should live to see some of her Children Dead, and her self upon Crutches. But after the Burning of the Toad, this Child Recovered.

The Night after, the Child fell into strange and sad Fitts, wherein it continued for Diverse Weeks. One Doctor Jacob advised her to hang up the Childs Blanket, in the Chimney Corner all Day, and at Night, when she went to put the Child into it, if she found any Thing in it then to throw it without fear into the Fire. Accordingly, at Night, there fell a great Toad out of the Blanket, which ran up & down the Hearth. A Boy, catch't it, & held it in the Fire with the Tongs: where it made an horrible Noise, and Flash'd like to Gun-Powder, with a report like that of a Pistol: Whereupon the Toad 〈…〉 no more to be seen. The next Day a kinswoman of Duny's, told the Deponent, that ⟨p. 85⟩her Aunt was all grievously scorch'd with the Fire, and the Deponent going to her House, found her in such a Condition. Duny told her, she might thank her for it; but she should live to see some of her Children Dead, and her self upon Crutches. But after the Burning of the Toad, this Child Recovered.

:159p. 85

This Deponent further Testified, That Her Daughter Elizabeth, being about the Age of Ten Years, was taken in like manner, as her first Child was, and in her Fits complained much of Amy Duny, and said, that she did appear to Her, and afflict her in such manner as the former. One Day she found Amy Duny in her House, and thrusting her out of Doors, Duny said, You need not be so Angry, your Child wont live long. And within three Days the Child Dyed. The Deponent added, that she was Her self, not long after taken with such a Lameness, in both her Legs, that she was forced to go upon Crutches; and she was now in Court upon them. [It was Remarkable, that immediately upon the Juries bringing in Duny Guilty, Durent was restored unto the use of her Limbs, and went Home without Her Crutches.]

This Deponent further Testify'd, That Her Daughter Elizabeth, being about the Age of Ten Years, was taken in like manner, as her first Child was, and in her Fitts complained much of Amy Duny, and said, that she did appear to Her, and afflict her in such manner as the former. One Day she found Amy Duny in her House, and thrusting her out of Doors, Duny said, You need not be so Angry, your Child wont live long. And within three Days the Child Dyed. The Deponent added, that she was Her self, not long after taken with such a Lameness, in both her Leggs, that she was forced to go upon Crutches; and she was now in Court upon them. [It was Remarkable, that immediately upon the Juries bringing in Duny Guilty, Durent was restored unto the use of her Limbs, and went Home without Her Crutches.]

:160p. 85–86¶3

III. As for Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy, one Aged Eleven years, the other Nine; the •lder, being in Court, was made utterly senseless, during all the time of the Trial: or at least speechless. By the direction of the Judge, Duny was privately brought to Elizabeth ⟨p. 86⟩Pacy, and she touched her Hand: whereupon the child, without, so much as seeing her, suddenly leaped up and flew upon the prisoner; the younger was too ill, to be brought unto the Assizes. But Samuel Pacy, their Father, testified, that his Daughter Deborah, was taken with a sudden lameness; and upon the grumbling of Amy Duny, for being denied something, where this child was then sitting, the child was taken with an extreme pain in her stomach,, like the pricking of pins; and shrieking at a dreadful manner, like a Whelp, rather then a Rational creature. The Physicians could not conjecture the cause of the Distemper; but Amy Duny being a woman of Ill Fame, and the child in fits crying out of Amy Duny, as affrighting her with the Apparition of her person, the deponent suspected her, and procured her to be set in the stocks. While she was there, she said in the hearing of two Witnesses, Mr Pacy keeps a great stir about his child, but let him stay till he has done as much by his Children, as I have done by mine: and being asked, What she had done to her Children, she answered, She had been fain to open her Child's mouth with a Tap to give it Victuals. The Deponent added, that within two Days, the Fits of his Daughters were such, that they could not preserve either Life or Breath, without the help of a Tap. And that the Children cried out of Amy Duny, and of Rose Cullender, as afflicting them, with their Apparitions.

III. As for Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy, one Aged Eleven years, the other Nine; the •lder, being in Court, was made utterly senseless, during all the time of the Triall: or at least speechless. By the direction of the Judge, Duny was privately brought to Elizabeth ⟨p. 86⟩Pacy, and she touched her Hand: whereupon the child, without, so much as seeing her, suddenly leap'd up and flew upon the prisoner; the younger was too ill, to be brought unto the Assizes. But Samuel Pacy, their Father, testify'd, that his Daughter Deborah, was taken with a sudden lameness; and upon the grumbling of Amy Duny, for being denyed something, where this child was then sitting, the child was taken with an extreeme pain in her stomach,, like the pricking of pins; and shricking at a dreadful manner, like a Whelp, rather then a Rational creature. The Physicians could not conjecture the cause of the Distemper; but Amy Duny being a woman of Ill Fame, and the child in fitts crying out of Amy Duny, as affrighting her with the Apparition of her person, the deponent suspected her, and procured her to be set in the stocks. While she was there, she said in the hearing of two Witnesses, Mr Pacy keeps a great stir about his child, but let him stay till he has done as much by his Children, as I have done by mine: and being asked, What she had done to her Children, she answered, She had been fain to open her Childs mouth with a Tap to give it Victuals. The Deponent added, that within two Days, the Fits of his Daughters were such, that they could not preserve either Life or Breath, without the help of a Tap. And that the Children cry'd out of Amy Duny, and of Rose Cullender, as afflicting them, with their Apparitions.

:161p. 86–87¶4

IV. The Fits of the Children, were various. ⟨p. 87⟩They would sometimes be Lame on one side▪ sometimes on t'other. Sometimes very sore; sometimes restored unto their Limbs, and then Deaf, or Blind, or Dumb, for a long while together. Upon the Recovery of their Speech, they would Cough extremely; and with much Flegm, they would bring up Crooked Pins; & one time, a Two-penny Nail, with a very broad Head. Commonly at the end of every Fit, they would cast up a Pin. When the Children Read, they could not pronounce the Name of, Lord, or Jesus or Christ, but would fall into Fits; and say, Amy Duny says, I must not use that Name. When they came to the Name of Satan, or Devil, they would clap their Fingers on the Book, crying out, This bites, but it makes me speak right well! The Children in their Fits, would often cry out, There stands Amy Duny, or, Rose Cullender; and they would afterwards relate, That these Witches appearing before them, threatened them, that if they told what they saw or heard, they would Torment them ten times more than ever they did before.

IV. The Fits of the Children, were various. ⟨p. 87⟩They would sometimes be Lame on one side▪ sometimes on t'other. Sometimes very sore; sometimes restored unto their Limbs, and then Deaf, or Blind, or Dumb, for a long while together. Upon the Recovery of their Speech, they would Cough extreamly; and with much Flegm, they would bring up Crooked Pins; & one time, a Two-penny Nail, with a very broad Head. Commonly at the end of every Fit, they would cast up a Pin. When the Children Read, they could not pronounce the Name of, Lord, or Jesus or Christ, but would fall into Fitts; and say, Amy Duny says, I must not use that Name. When they came to the Name of Satan, or Devil, they would clap their Fingers on the Book, crying out, This bites, but it makes me speak right well! The Children in their Fitts, would often cry out, There stands Amy Duny, or, Rose Cullender; and they would afterwards relate, That these Witches appearing before them, threatned them, that if they told what they saw or heard, they would Torment them ten times more than ever they did before.

:162p. 87–88¶5

V. Margaret Arnold, the Sister of Mr. Pacy, testified unto the like Sufferings being upon the Children, at her House, whither her Brother had Removed them. And that sometimes, the Children (only) would see things like Mice, run about the House; and one of them suddenly snapped one with the Tongs, and threw it into ⟨p. 88⟩the Fire, where it screeched out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee, flew at the Face of the younger Child; the Child fell into a Fit; and at last Vomited up a, Two-penny Nail, with a Broad Head; affirming, That the Bee brought this Nail, and forced it into her mouth. The Child would in like manner be assaulted with Flies, which brought Crooked Pins, unto her, and made her first swallow them, and then Vomit them. She one Day caught, an Invisible Mouse, and throwing it into the Fire, it Flashed like to Gun-Powder. None besides the Child saw the Mouse, but every one saw the Flash. She also declared, out of her Fits, that in them, Amy Duny, much tempted her to Destroy Her self.

V. Margaret Arnold, the Sister of Mr. Pacy, testify'd unto the like Sufferings being upon the Children, at her House, whither her Brother had Removed them. And that sometimes, the Children (only) would see things like Mice, run about the House; and one of them suddenly snap't one with the Tongs, and threw it into ⟨p. 88⟩the Fire, where it screeched out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee, flew at the Face of the younger Child; the Child fell into a Fitt; and at last Vomited up a, Two-penny Nail, with a Broad Head; affirming, That the Bee brought this Nail, and forced it into her mouth. The Child would in like manner be assaulted with Flies, which brought Crooked Pins, unto her, and made her first swallow them, and then Vomit them. She one Day caught, an Invisible Mouse, and throwing it into the Fire, it Flash'd like to Gun-Powder. None besides the Child saw the Mouse, but every one saw the Flash. She also declared, out of her Fitts, that in them, Amy Duny, much tempted her to Destroy Her self.

:163p. 88¶6

VI. As for Ann Durent, her Father Testified That upon a Discontent of Rose Cull•nder, His Daughter was taken with much Illness in her Stomach and great and sore Pains, like the pricking of pins: and then Swooning Fits, from which Recovering she declared, She had seen the Apparition of Rose Cullender, Threatening to Torment her. She likewise Vomited up diverse Pins. The Maid was Present at Court, but when Cullender looked upon her, she fell into such Fits, as made her utterly unable to declare any thing.

VI. As for Ann Durent, her Father Testifyed That upon a Discontent of Rose Cull•nder, His Daughter was taken with much Illness in her Stomach and great and sore Pains, like the pricking of pins: and then Swooning Fitts, from which Recovering she declared, She had s•en the Apparition of Rose Cullender, Threatning to Torment her. She likewise Vomited up diverse Pins. The Maid was Present at Court, but when Cullender look'd upon her, she fell into such Fitts, as made her utterly unable to declare any thing.

:164p. 88

Ann Baldwin, deposed the same.

:165p. 88–79¶7

VII. Jane Bocking, was too weak, to be at ⟨p. 79⟩the Assizes. But her Mother Testified, that Her Daughter having formerly been Afflicted with Swooning Fits, and Recovered of them; was now taken with a great Pain in her Stomach; and New Swooning Fits. That she took little Food, but every Day Vomited Crooked Pins. In her first Fits, she would Extend her Arms, and use Postures, as if she catched at something, and when her Clutched Hands were forced open, they would find several Pins diversely Crooked, unaccountably lodged there. She would also maintain a Discourse with some that were Invisibly present, when casting abroad her Arms, she would often say, I will not have it! but at last say, Then I will have it! and closing her Hand, which when they presently after opened, a Lath-Nail was found in it. But Her great complaints were of being Visited by the shapes of Amy Duny, and Rose Cullender.

VII. Jane Bocking, was too weak, to be at ⟨p. 79⟩the Assizes. But her Mother Testify'd, that Her Daughter having formerly been Afflicted with Swooning Fitts, and Recovered of them; was now taken with a great Pain in her Stomach; and New Swooning Fitts. That she took little Food, but every Day Vomited Crooked Pins. In her first Fitts, she would Extend her Arms, and use Postures, as if she catched at something, and when her Clutched Hands were forced open, they would find several Pins diversely Crooked, unaccountably lodged there. She would also maintain a Discourse with some that were Invisibly present, when casting abroad her Arms, she would often say, I will not have it! but at last say, Then I will have it! and closing her Hand, which when they presently after opened, a Lath-Nail was found in it. But Her great complaints were of being Visited by the shapes of Amy Duny, and Rose Cullender.

:166p. 79–90¶8

VIII. As for Susan Chandler, Her Mother Testified, That being at the search of Rose Cullender, they found on her Belly a thing like a Teat, of an Inch long; which the said Rose ascribed to a •••ain. But near her Privy parts, they found Three mo•e, that were smaller than the former. At the end of the long Teat, there was a little Hole, which appeared, is if newly Sucked; and upon straining it, a white milky matter issued out. The Deponent further said, That her Daughter being one day concerned at Rose Colanders taking her by the Hand, she fell very sick, and at Night cried out, ⟨p. 90⟩That Rose Cullendet would come to Bed unto her ▪ Her Fits grew violent, and in the Intervals of them, she declared, That she saw Rose Cullender in them, and once having of a great Dog with her. She also vomited up crooked Pins; and when she was brought into Court, she fell into her Fits. She Recovered her self in some Time, and was asked by the Court, whether she was in a Condition to take an Oath, and give Evidence. She said, she could; but having been Sworn, she fell into her Fits again, and, Burn her! Burn her! were all the words that she could obtain power to speak. Her Father likewise gave the same Testimony with her Mother; as to all but the Search.

VIII. As for Susan Chandler, Her Mother Testifyed, That being at the search of Rose Cullender, they found on her Belly a thing like a Teat, of an Inch long; which the said Rose ascribed to a •••ain. But near her Privy parts, they found Three mo•e, that were smaller than the former. At the end of the long Teat, there was a little Hole, which appeared, is if newly Sucked; and upon straining it, a white milky matter issued out. The Deponent further said, That her Daughter being one day concerned at Rose Cullenders taking her by the Hand, she fell very sick, and at Night cry'd out, ⟨p. 90⟩That Rose Cullendet woald come to Bed unto her ▪ Her Fitts grew violent, and in the Intervals of them, she declared, That she saw Rose Cullender in them, and once having of a great Dog with her. She also vomited up crooked Pins; and when she was brought into Court, she fell into her Fitts. She Recovered her self in some Time, and was asked by the Court, whether she was in a Condition to take an Oath, and give Evidence. She said, she could; but having been Sworn, she fell into her Fitts again, and, Burn her! Burn her! were all the words that she could obtain power to speak. Her Father likewise gave the same Testimony with her Mother; as to all but the Search.

:167p. 90¶9

IX. Here was the Sum of the Evidence: which Mr. Serjeant Keeling, thought not sufficient to Convict the Prisoners. For admitting the Children were Bewitched, yet, said he, it can never be Applied unto the ••isoners, upon the Imagination only of the Parties Afflicted; inasmuch as no person whatsoever could then be in Safety.

IX. Here was the Sum of the Evidence: which Mr. Serjeant Keeling, thought not sufficient to Convict the Prisoners. For admitting the Children were Bewitched, yet, said he, it can never be Apply'd unto the ••isoners, upon the Imagination only of the Parties Afflicted; inasmuch as no person whatsoever could then be in Safety.

:168p. 90–91

Dr. Brown, a very Learned Person then present, gave his Opinion, that these persons were Bewitched. He added, That in Denmark, there had been lately a great Discovery of Witches; who used the very same way of Afflicting people, by Conveying Pins and Nails into them. His Opinion was, that the Devil in Witchcrafts, did Work upon the Bodies of Men and Women, upon a Natural Foundation; and that he did Extraordinarily afflict ⟨p. 91⟩them, with such Distempers as their Bodies were most subject unto.

:169p. 91¶10

X. The Experiment about the Usefulness, yea, or Lawfulness whereof Good Men have sometimes disputed, was divers Times made, That though the Afflicted were utterly deprived of all sense in their Fits, yet upon the Touch of the Accused, they would so screech out, and Fly up, as not upon any other persons. And yet it was also found that once upon the touch of an innocent person, the like effect followed, which put the whole Court unto a stand: altho' a small Reason was at length attempted to be given for it.

X. The Experiment about the Usefulness, yea, or Lawfulness whereof Good Men have sometimes disputed, was divers Times made, That though the Afflicted were utterly deprived of all sense in their Fitts, yet upon the Touch of the Accused, they would so screech out, and Fly up, as not upon any other persons. And yet it was also found that once upon the touch of an innocent person, the like effect follow'd, which put the whole Court unto a stand: altho' a small Reason was at length attempted to be given for it.

:170p. 91–92¶11

XI. However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been already produced against the Prisoners. One John Soam testified, That bringing home his Hay in three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of Rose Colanders House whereupon she flew out, with violent Threat•••ings against the Deponent. The other two Ca••s, passed by twice, Loaded, that Day afterwards; but the Cart which touched Colanders House, was twice or thrice that Day overturned. Having again Loaded it, as they brought it thro' the Gate which Leads out of the Field▪ the Cart stuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could not possibly get it thro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate, to make the Cart pass thro', altho' they could ⟨p. 92⟩not perceive that the Cart did of either side touch the Gate-Post. They afterwards, did with much Difficulty get it home to the yard; but could not for their Lives get the Cart near the place, where they should unload. They were fain to unload at a great Distance; and when they were Tired, the Noses of them that came to Assist them, would burst forth a Bleeding; so they were fain to give over till next m••ning; and then they unloaded without any Difficulty.

XI. However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been already produced against the Prisoners. One John Soam testify'd, That bringing home his Hay in three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of Rose Cullenders Hous• whereupon she flew out, with violent Threat•••ings against the Deponent. The other two Ca••s, passed by twice, Loaded, that Day afterwards; but the Cart which touched Cullenders House, was twice or thrice that Day overturned. Having again Loaded it, as they brought it thro' the Gate which Leads out of the Field▪ the Cart stuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could not possibly get it thro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate, to make the Cart pass thro', altho' they could ⟨p. 92⟩

Position

Cited: :158
On this page: :155–170
Section: :152–177
Whole work: 363 passages

Cite

Cotton Mather, The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the… (Boston, 1692), pp. 84–85. Evans-TCP N00530.

Or select words in any passage to make an image of them.

The book

Title as printed: The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. : Accompanied with, I. Some accounts of the grievous molestations, by daemons and witchcrafts, which have lately annoyed the country; and the trials of some eminent malefactors executed upon occasion thereof: with several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. II. Some councils, directing a due improvement of the terrible things, lately done, by the unusual & amazing range of evil spirits, in our neighbourhood: & the methods to prevent the wrongs which those evil angels may intend against all sorts of people among us; especially in accusations of the innocent. III. Some conjectures upon the great events, likely to befall, the world in general, and New-England in particular; as also upon the advances of the time, when we shall see better days. IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland, very much resembling, and so far explaining, that under which our parts of America have laboured! V. The Devil discovered: in a brief discourse upon those temptations, which are the more ordinary devices of the Wicked One. / By Cotton Mather.The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. : Accompany'd with, I. Some accounts of the grievous molestations, by daemons and witchcrafts, which have lately annoy'd the countrey; and the trials of some eminent malefactors executed upon occasion thereof: with several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. II. Some councils, directing a due improvement of the terrible things, lately done, by the unusual & amazing range of evil spirits, in our neighbourhood: & the methods to prevent the wrongs which those evil angels may intend against all sorts of people among us; especially in accusations of the innocent. III. Some conjectures upon the great events, likely to befall, the world in general, and New-England in particular; as also upon the advances of the time, when we shall see better dayes. IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland, very much resembling, and so far explaining, that under which our parts of America have laboured! V. The Devil discovered: in a brief discourse upon those temptations, which are the more ordinary devices of the Wicked One. / By Cotton Mather.
Author: Cotton Mather 1663–1728
Place: Boston
Year: 1692
Imprint: Boston : printed, and sold by Benjamin Harris, 1693 [i.e., 1692].
Size: [32], 151, [1], 32 [i.e., 24] p. ; 16 cm. (8vo)
Words: 56,409
Catalogue: Evans 657 · Wing M1173
Text: Evans-TCP N00530

Passages: 363
Sections: 36

Title page

The author

Cotton Mather 1663–1728

PuritansNew England

Minister of the Second Church in Boston.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36