The Wonders of the Invisible World Part 13

_G.o.delmannus_[81] giveth an account of six notorious and clearly convicted Witches, that when they were brought to their _vulgar Probation_, sunk down under the Water like other Persons; _Althusius_ affirms the like concerning others; in the _Bohemian_ History[82] it is related, that _Uratslaus_ the King of _Bohemia_, extirpated Witches out of his Kingdom, some of which he delivered to the Ax, others of them to the Fire, and others of them he caused to be drowned: If Witches are immersible, how came they to die by drowning in _Bohemia_? Besides, it has sometimes been known that Persons who have floated on the Water when the Hangman has made the Experiment on them, have sunk down like a Stone, when others have made the tryal.

6. The Reasons commonly alledged for this Superst.i.tion are of no moment: It is said they hate the Water; whereas they have many times desired that they might be cast on the Water in order to their purgation: It is alledged, that Water is used in _Baptism_, therefore Witches swim: A weak Phansie; all the Water in the World is not consecrated Water.

Cannot Witches eat Bread or drink Wine, notwithstanding those Elements are made use of in the Blessed Sacrament: But (say some) the Devils by sucking of them make them so light that the Water bears them; whereas some Witches are twice as heavy as many an innocent Person: Well, but then they are possessed with the Devil: Suppose so; Is the Devil afraid if they should sink, that he should be drowned with them? But why then were the _Gadarens_ Hogs drowned when the Devil was in them.

These things being premised, I answer the Question affirmatively; _There are Proofs for the Conviction of Witches which Jurors may with a safe Conscience proceed upon, so as to bring them in guilty._ The Scripture which saith, _Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live_, clearly implies, that some in the World may be known and proved to be Witches: For until they be so, they may and must be suffered to live. Moreover we find in Scripture, that some have been convicted and executed for Witches: For _Saul cut off those that had familiar Spirits, and the Wizzards out of the Land_, _1 Sam. 28.9._

It may be wondered that _Saul_ who did like him that said, _Flectere si nequeo Superos Acheronta Movebo_, should cause the Wizzards in the Land to be put to death. The _Jewish Rabbies_ say, the reason was, because those Wizzards foretold that _David_ should be King. It is (as Mr.

_Gaul_ observes[83]) the Opinion of some learned Protestants, that _Saul_ in his Zeal did over do: And that under the Pretext[84] of Witches he slew the _Gibeonites_, for which that Judgment followed, _2 Sam. 21.1._ _Neither_ (saith Mr. _Gaule_) _want we the storied Examples of G.o.d's Judgments upon those that defamed, prosecuted and executed them for Witches, that indeed were none._ But we have in the Scripture the Example of a better Man than _Saul_ to encourage us to make enquiry after Wizzards and Witches in order to their Conviction and Execution.

This did the rarest King that ever lived caused to be done, _viz._ _Josiah_, _2 Kings 23.24._ _The Workers with familiar Spirits and the Wizzards, that were spied in the Land of +Judah+, did +Josiah+ put away, that he might perform the Words of the Law._ It seems there were some that sought to hide those Workers of Iniquity, but that incomparable King spied them out, and rid the Land and the World of them.

_Q._ But then the Enquiry is, _What is sufficient Proof?_

_A._ This Case has been with great Judgment answered by several Divines of our own, particularly by Mr. _Perkins_, and Mr. _Bernard_; also Mr.

_John Gaul_ a worthy Minister at _Staughton_, in the County of _Huntington_, has published a very Judicious Discourse, called, _Select Cases of Conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts_, Printed at _London_ A.D. 1646. wherein he does with great Prudence and Evidence of Scripture light handle this and other Cases: Such Jurors as can obtain those Books, I would advise them to read, and seriously as in the fear of G.o.d to consider them, and so far as they keep to the Law and to the Testimony, and speak according to that Word, receive the Light which is in them. But the Books being now rare to be had, let me express my Concurrence with them in these two particulars.

1. _That a free and voluntary Confession of the Crime made by the Person suspected and accused after Examination, is a sufficient Ground of Conviction._

Indeed, If Persons are Distracted, or under the Power of _Phrenetick Melancholy_, that alters the Case; but the Jurors that examine them, and their Neighbours that know them, may easily determine that Case; or if Confession be extorted,[85] the Evidence is not so clear and convictive; but if any Persons out of Remorse of Conscience, or from a Touch of G.o.d in their Spirits, confess and shew their Deeds, as the Converted Magicians in _Ephesus_ did, _Acts 19.18, 19._ nothing can be more clear.

Suppose a Man to be suspected for Murder, or for committing a Rape, or the like nefandous Wickedness, if he does freely confess the Accusation, that's ground enough to Condemn him. The Scripture approveth of Judging the wicked Servant out of his own Mouth, _Luke 19.22._ It is by some objected, that Persons in Discontent may falsly accuse themselves. I say, if they do so, and it cannot be proved that they are false Accusers of themselves, they ought to dye for their Wickedness, and their Blood will be upon their own Heads; the Jury, the Judges, and the Land is Clear: I have read a very sad and amazing, and yet a true Story to this purpose.

There was in the Year 1649, in a Town called _Lauder_ in _Scotland_, a certain woman accused and imprisoned on suspicion of Witchcraft, when others in the same Prison with her were Convicted, and their Execution ordered to be on the Monday following, she desired to speak with a Minister, to whom she declared freely that she was guilty of Witchcraft, acknowledging also many other Crimes committed by her, desiring that she might die with the rest: She said particularly that she had Covenanted with the Devil, and was become his Servant about twenty years before, and that he kissed her and gave her a Name, but that since he had never owned her. Several Ministers who were jealous that she accused herself untruly, charged it on her Conscience, telling her that they doubted she was under a Temptation of the Devil to destroy her own Body and Soul, and adjuring her in the Name of G.o.d to declare the Truth: Notwithstanding all this, she stifly adhered to what she had said, and was on Monday morning Condemned, and ordered to be Executed that day.

When she came to the place of Execution, she was silent until the Prayers were ended, then going to the Stake where she was to be Burnt, she thus expressed herself, _All you that see me this day! Know ye that I am to die as a Witch, by my own Confession! and I free all Men, especially the Ministers and Magistrates, from the guilt of my Blood, I take it wholly on my self, and as I must make answer to the G.o.d of Heaven, I declare I am as free from Witchcraft as any Child, but being accused by a Malicious Woman, and Imprisoned under the Name of a Witch, my Husband and Friends disowned me, and seeing no hope of ever being in Credit again, through the Temptation of the Devil, I made that Confession to destroy my own Life, being weary of it, and chusing rather to Die than to Live._ This her lamentable Speech did astonish all the Spectators, few of whom could restrain from Tears. The Truth of this Relation (saith my Author[86]) is certainly attested by a worthy Divine now living, who was an Eye and an Ear-Witness of the whole matter; but thus did that miserable Creature suffer Death, and this was a just Execution. When the _Amalekite_ confessed that he killed _Saul_, whom he had no legal Authority to meddle with, although 'tis probable that he belyed himself, _David_ gave order for his Execution, and said to him, _Thy Blood be upon thy Head, for thy Mouth hath Testified against thee_, _2 Sam. 1.16._ But as for the Testimony of Confessing Witches against others, the case is not so clear as against themselves, they are not such credible Witnesses, as in a Case of Life and Death is to be desired: It is beyond dispute, that the Devil makes his Witches to dream strange things of themselves and others which are not so. There was (as Authors beyond Exception relate) in appearance a sumptuous Feast prepared, the Wine and Meat set forth in Vessels of Gold; a certain Person whom an amorous young Man had fallen in Love with, was represented and supposed to be really there; but _Apollonius Tyanaeus_[87] discovered the Witchery of the Business, and in an instant all vanished, and nothing but dirty Coals were to be seen: The like to this is mentioned in the _Arausican_ Council. There were certain Women that imagined they rode upon Beasts in the Night, and that they had _Diana_ and _Herodius_ in company with them, besides a Troop of other Persons; the Council giveth this Sentence on it; _Satanas qui se transfigurat in Angelum Lucis, transformat se in diversarum personarum species, & mentem quam captivam tenet, in somnis deludit._ Satan transforms himself into the likeness of divers Persons, and deludes the Souls that are his Captives with Dreams and Fancies; see Dr. _Willet_ on _1 Sam. 28._ _p. 165_. What Credit can be given to those that say they can turn Men into Horses? If so, they can as well turn Horses into Men; but all the Witches on Earth in Conjunction with all the Devils in h.e.l.l, can never make or unmake a rational Soul, and then they cannot transform a Bruit into a Man, nor a Man into a Bruit; so that this Trans.m.u.tation is fantastical. The Devil may and often does impose on the Imaginations of his Witches and Va.s.sals, that they believe themselves to be Converted into Beasts, and reverted into Men again; as _Nebuchadnezzar_ whilst under the Power of a Daemon really imagined himself to be an Ox, and would lye out of Doors and eat Gra.s.s: The Devil has inflicted on many a Man the Disease called _Lycanthropia_, from whence they have made lamentable Complaints of their being Wolves: In a word, there is no more Reality in what many Witches confess of strange things seen or done by them, whilst Satan had them in his full Power, than there is in _Lucian's_ ridiculous Fable of his being Bewitched into an _a.s.se_, and what strange Feats he then played; so that what such persons relate concerning Persons and Things at Witch-meetings, ought not to be received with too much Credulity.

I could mention dismal Instances of Innocent Blood which has been shed by means of the Lies of some Confessing Witches; there is a very sad Story mentioned in the Preface to the Relation of the Witchcrafts in _Sweedland_, how that in the Year 1676, at _Stockholm_, a young Woman accused her own Mother (who had indeed been a very bad Woman, but not guilty of Witchcraft,) and Swore that she had carried her to the Nocturnal Meetings of Witches, upon which the Mother was burnt to Death.

Soon after the Daughter came crying and howling before the Judges in open Court, declaring, that to be revenged on her Mother for an Offence received, she had falsely accused her with a Crime which she was not guilty of; for which she also was justly Executed. A most wicked Man in _France_ freely confessed himself to be a Magician, and accused many others, whose Lives were thereupon taken from them; and a whole Province had like to have been ruined thereby, but the Impostor was discovered: The Confessing pretended Wizzard was burnt at _Paris_ in the year 1668.

I shall only take notice further of an awful Example mentioned by A. B.

_Spotswood_ in his History of _Scotland_, p. 449. His words are these, 'This Summer (_viz._ Anno 1597.) there was a great business for the Tryal of Witches, amongst others, one _Margaret Atkin_ being apprehended on suspicion, and threatned with Torture, did confess herself Guilty; being examined touching her a.s.sociates in that Trade, she named a few, and perceiving her Delations find Credit, made offer to detect all of that sort, and to purge the Country of them; so she might have her Life granted: For the reason of her Knowledge, she said, _That they had a secret mark all of that sort in their Eyes, whereby she could surely tell, how soon she looked upon any, whether they were Witches or not;_ and in this she was so readily believed, that for the s.p.a.ce of 3 or 4 Months she was carried from Town to Town to make Discoveries in that kind; many were brought in question by her Delations, especially at _Glasgow_, where _diverse Innocent Women, through the Credulity of the Minister Mr. +John Cowper+, were condemned and put to Death_; in the end she was found to be a meer deceiver, and sent back to _Fife_, where she was first apprehended: At her Tryal she affirmed all to be false that she had confessed of herself or others, and persisted in this to her Death, which made many fore-think their too great forwardness that way, and moved the King to recall his Commission given out against such Persons, discharging all Proceedings against them, except in case of a voluntary Confession, till a solid Order should be taken by the Estates touching the form that should be kept in their Tryal.' Thus that famous Historian.

2. _If two credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have seen the party accused speaking such words, or doing things which none but such as have Familiarity with the Devil ever did or can do, that's a sufficient Ground for Conviction._

Some are ready to say, that Wizzards are not so unwise as to do such things in the sight or hearing of others, but it is certain that they have very often been known to do so: How often have they been seen by others using Inchantments? Conjuring to raise Storms? And have been heard calling upon their Familiar Spirits? And have been known to use Spells and Charms? And to shew in a Gla.s.s or in a Shew-stone persons absent? And to reveal Secrets which could not be discovered but by the Devil? And have not men been seen to do things which are above humane Strength, that no man living could do without Diabolical a.s.sistances?

_Claudia_ was seen by Witnesses enough, to draw a s.h.i.+p which no humane Strength could move. _Tuccia_ a Vestal Virgin was seen to carry Water in a Sieve: The Devil never a.s.sists men to do supernatural things undesired. When therefore such like things shall be testified against the accused Party not by _Spectres_ which are Devils in the Shape of Persons either living or dead, but by real men or women who may be credited; it is proof enough that such an one has that Conversation and Correspondence with the Devil, as that he or she, whoever they be, ought to be exterminated from amongst men. This notwithstanding I will add; It were better that ten suspected Witches should escape, than that one innocent Person should be Condemned; that is an old saying, and true, _Prestat reum nocentem absolvi, quam ex prohibitis Indiciis & illegitima probatione condemnari._ It is better that a Guilty Person should be Absolved, than that he should without sufficient ground of Conviction be condemned. I had rather judge a Witch to be an honest woman, than judge an honest woman as a Witch. The Word of G.o.d directs men not to proceed to the execution of the most capital offenders, until such time as upon searching diligently, the matter is _found to be a Truth, and the thing certain_, _Deut. 13.14, 15._

An Acquaintance[88] of mine at _London_, in his description of _New-England_ declares, that as to their Religion, the people there are like Mr. _Perkins_; it is no dishonour to us, if that be found true: I am sorry that any amongst us begin to slight so great a Man, whom the most Learned[89] in Foreign Lands, speak of with Admiration, on the account of his polite and acute Judgment: It is a grave and good Advice which he giveth in his Discourse of Witchcrafts (Chap. 7. Sect. 2.) wherewith I conclude; 'I would therefore wish and advise all Jurors who give the Verdict upon Life and Death in the Court of a.s.sizes, to take good heed, that as they be diligent in zeal of G.o.d's glory, and the good of his Church, in detecting of Witches, by all sufficient and lawful means, so likewise they would be careful what they do, and not to condemn any party suspected upon bare Presumptions, without sound and sufficient Proofs that they be not guilty through their own Rashness of shedding Innocent Blood.'

_Boston, New-England, Octob. 3. 1692._

POSTSCRIPT.

The Design of the preceding _Dissertation_, is not to plead for Witchcrafts, or to appear as an Advocate for Witches: I have therefore written another Discourse, proving that there are such horrid Creatures as Witches in the World; and that they are to be extirpated and cut off from amongst the People of G.o.d, which I have Thoughts and Inclinations in due time to publish; and I am abundantly satisfied that there have been, and are still most cursed Witches in the Land. More than one or two of those now in Prison, have freely and credibly acknowledged their Communion and Familiarity with the Spirits of Darkness; and have also declared unto me the Time and Occasion, with the particular Circ.u.mstances of their h.e.l.lish Obligations and Abominations.

Nor is there designed any Reflection on those worthy Persons who have been concerned in the late Proceedings at _Salem_: They are wise and good Men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, and have out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in our own Judgments they were satisfied about: Having therefore so arduous a Case before them, Pitty and Prayers rather than Censures are their due; on which account I am glad that there is published to the World (by my Son) a _Breviate of the Tryals_ of some who were lately executed, whereby I hope the thinking part of Mankind will be satisfied, that there was more than that which is called _Spectre Evidence_ for the Conviction of the Persons condemned. I was not myself present at any of the Tryals, excepting one, _viz._ that of _George Burroughs_; had I been one of his Judges, I could not have acquitted him: For several Persons did upon Oath testifie, that they saw him do such things as no Man that has not a Devil to be his Familiar could perform: And the Judges affirm, that they have not convicted any one meerly on the account of what _Spectres_ have said, or of what has been represented to the Eyes or Imaginations of the sick bewitched Persons. If what is here exposed to publick view, may be a means to prevent it for the future, I shall not repent of my Labour in this Undertaking. I have been prevailed with so far as I am able to discern the Truth in these dark Cases, to declare my Sentiments, with the Arguments which are of weight with me, hoping that what is written may be of some use to discover the _Depths of Satan_; and to prevent innocent ones having their Lives endangered, or their Reputations ruined, by being through the Subtility and Power of the Devils, in consideration with the Ignorance and Weakness of Men, involved amongst the Guilty. It becomes those of my Profession to be very tender in Cases of Blood, and to imitate our Lord and Master, _Who came not to destroy the Lives of Men, but to save them_.

I likewise design in what I have written, to give my testimony against these unjustifiable ways of discovering Witchcrafts, which some among us have practised. I hear that of late there was a _Witch-cake_ made with the Urine of bewitched Creatures, as one Ingredient by several Persons in a place, which has suffered much by the Attack of h.e.l.l upon it: This I take to be not only wicked Superst.i.tion, but great Folly: For tho' the Devil does sometimes operate with the _Experiments_, yet not always, especially if a _Magical Faith_ be wanting. I shall here take occasion to recite some Pa.s.sages in a Letter, which I received from that Eminent pious and learned Man, Mr. _Samuel Cradock_; during my abode in _London_; the Letter bears date _Febr. 26. 1690_. Then take it in his own Words, which are these; 'We have at this present one in our next Town, who has a Son who has strange Fits, and such as they impute to Witchcraft: He come to consult with me about it, but before he came, he had used a means which I should never had directed him unto, _viz._ He took the Nails of his Son's Hands and Feet, and some of his Hair, and mixed them in Rye-Paste with his Water, and so set it all by the Fire till it was consumed, and his Son (as he says) was well after, and free from his Fits for a whole Month, but then they came again, and _He tried that means a second time, and then it would not do;_ He removed his Son into _Cambridges.h.i.+re_ the next County, and then he was well, but as soon as he brought him home he was afflicted as before. The Boy says, He saw a thing like a Mole following of him, which once spoke to him, and told him he came to do the Office he was to do: I advised his Father to make use of the Medicine prescribed by our Saviour, _viz._ Fasting and Prayer. Here have been others in this Town, that though they were under _Ill-handling_ as they call it: One Family had their Milk so affected, that they could not possibly make any Cheese, but it hov'd and swelled, and was good for nothing: They are now rid of that trouble, but how they got rid of it I do not know': Thus my Letter. By which it is evident that Towns in _England_ as well as _New-England_ are molested with _Daemons_, only I wish that the Superst.i.tions practiced in other places to get rid of such troublesome Guests had never been known, much less used amongst us or them.

Some I hear have taken up a Notion, that the Book newly published by my Son, is contradictory to this of mine: 'Tis strange that such Imaginations should enter into the Minds of Men: I perused and approved of that Book before it was printed; and nothing but my Relation to him hindred me from recommending it to the World: But my self and Son agreed unto the humble Advice which twelve Ministers concurringly presented before his Excellency and Council, respecting the present Difficulties, which let the World judge, whether there be anything in it dissentany from what is attested by either of us.

It was in the Words following:--

The Return of several Ministers consulted by his Excellency, and the Honourable Council, upon the present Witchcrafts in _Salem_ Village.

Boston, _June 15, 1692_.

I. _The afflicted State of our poor Neighbours, that are now suffering by Molestations from the Invisible World, we apprehend so deplorable, that we think their Condition calls for the utmost help of all Persons in their several Capacities._ II. _We cannot but with all Thankfulness acknowledge, the Success which the merciful G.o.d has given unto the sedulous and a.s.siduous Endeavors of our honourable Rulers, to detect the abominable Witchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; humbly praying that the discovery of these mysterious and mischievous Wickednesses, may be perfected._ III. _We judge that in the prosecution of these, and all such Witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical and exquisite Caution, lest by too much Credulity for things received only upon the Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train of miserable Consequences, and Satan get an advantage over us, for we should not be ignorant of his Devices._ IV. _As in Complaints upon Witchcrafts, there may be Matters of Enquiry, which do not amount unto Matters of Presumption, and there may be Matters of Presumption which yet may not be reckoned Matters of +Conviction+; so 'tis necessary that all Proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tenderness towards those that may be complained of; especially if they have been Persons formerly of an unblemished Reputation._ V. _When the first Enquiry is made into the Circ.u.mstances of such as may lie under any just Suspicion of Witchcrafts, we could wish that there may be admitted as little as is possible, of such Noise, Company, and Openness, as may too hastily expose them that are examined: and that there may nothing be used as a Test, for the Trial of the suspected, the Lawfulness whereof may be doubted among the People of G.o.d; but that the Directions given by such judicious Writers as +Perkins+ and +Bernard+, be consulted in such a Case._ VI. _Presumptions whereupon Persons may be committed, and much more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be condemned as guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable, than barely the accused Person being represented by a Spectre unto the Afflicted; inasmuch as 'tis an undoubted and a notorious thing, that a Daemon may, by G.o.d's Permission, appear even to ill purposes, in the Shape of an innocent, yea, and a vertuous Man: Nor can we esteem Alterations made in the Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused to be an infallible Evidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by the Devil's Legerdemains._ VII. _We know not, whether some remarkable Affronts given to the Devils, by our disbelieving of those Testimonies, whose whole force and strength is from them alone, may not put a Period, unto the Progress of the dreadful Calamity begun upon us, in the Accusation of so many Persons, whereof we hope, some are yet clear from the great Transgression laid unto their Charge._ VIII. _Nevertheless, We cannot but humbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorous Prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according to the Direction given in the Laws of G.o.d, and the wholesome Statutes of the +English+ Nation, for the Detection of Witchcrafts._

FOOTNOTES:

[1] R. Sactias. R. Eleazer Athias. Lyra.n.u.s. _Sic &_ Josephus.

[2] Ambrose, Hierom, Basil, n.a.z.ianzen.

[3] Thomas, Tostatus, Suarez. _Cajetan_, _In Ecclesia_, _Chap. 46. 22, 23_.

[4] _In Loc.u.m._

[5] _In 2 Cor. 11, 14, Pag. 555._

[6] _De Spectris_, _Cap. 7_.

[7] _Praestig. Daemon._ Lib. 1. C. 16.

[8] De C. D. l. 18.

[9] _De Appar. Spirituum_, Lib. 2. Cap. 7.

[10] _Misq. Magicar._ Lib. 2. C. 12.

[11] _De Confes. Sag._ pag. 191.

[12] _De secretis mag._ p. 31. see also _Lavater de Spect._ Lib. 2. Cap.

18.

[13] _Dr. Casaubon_: of Spirits.

[14] _Sulpitius Severus in vita Martini._

[15] _Guaccius_, _compend. malefic._ p. 342.

[16] _Binsfield_, _de Confess. Sag._ p. 187.