to Transforme himself to an Angel of Light and to make his Kingdom and Administrations to resemble those of our Lord Jesus Christ 7. Satan Rages Principally amongst the Visible Subjects of Christ's Kingdom and makes use at least in appearance of some of them to Afflict others that Christ's Kingdom may be divided against it self and so be weakened 8. Several things used in England at Tryal of Witches to the Number of 14 or 15 which are wont to pass instead of or in Concurrence with VVitnesses at least 6 or 7 of them are found in these accused see Keebles Statutes 9. Some of the most solid Afflicted Persons do affirme the same things concerning seeing the accused out of their Fitts as well as in them 10. The Witches had a Fast and told one of the Afflicted Girles she must not Eat because it was Fast Day she said she would they told her they would Choake her then which when she did eat was endeavoured A Further Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches sent in a Letter from thence to a Gentleman in London HEre were in Salem June 10. 1692. about 40 persons that were afflicted with horrible torments by Evil Spirits and the afflicted have accused 60 or 70 as Witches for that they have Spectral appearances of them tho the Persons are absent when they are tormented When these Witches were Tryed several of them confessed a contract with the Devil by signing his Book and did express much sorrow for the same delareing also thir Confederate Witches and said the Tempters of them desired 'em to sign the Devils Book who tormented them till they did it There were at the time of Examination before many hundreds of Witnesses strange Pranks play'd such as the taking Pins out of the Clothes of the afflicted and thrusting them into their flesh many of which were taken out again by the Judges own hands Thorns also in like kind were thrust into their flesh the accusers were sometimes struck dumb deaf blind and sometimes lay as if they were dead for a while and all foreseen and declared by the afflicted just before 't was done Of the afflicted there were two Girls about 12 or 13 years of age who saw all that was done and were therefore called the Visionary Girls they would say Now he or she or they are going to bite or pinch the Indian and all there present in Court saw the visible marks on the Indians arms they would also cry out Now look look they are going to bind such an ones Legs and all present saw the same person spoken of fall with her Legs twisted in an extraordinary manner Now say they we shall all fall and immediately 7 or 8 of the afflicted fell down with terrible shrieks and Out-crys at the time when one of the Witches was sentenc'd and pinnim'd with a Cord at the same time was the afflicted Indian Servant going home being about 2 or 3 miles out of town and had both his Wrists at the same instant bound about with a like Cord in the same manner as she was when she was sentenc'd but with that violence that the Cord entred into his flesh not to be untied nor hardly cut Many Murders are suppos'd to be in this way committed for these Girls and others of the afflicted say they see Coffins and bodies in Shrowds rising up and looking on the accused crying Vengeance Vengeance on the Murderers Many other strange things were transacted before the Court in the time of their Examination and especially one thing which I had like to have forgot which is this One of the accus'd whilst the rest were under Examination was drawn up by a Rope to the Roof of the house where he was and would have been choak'd in all probability had not the Rope been presently cut the Rope hung at the Roof by some invisibletye for there was no hole where it went up but after it was cut the remainder of it was found in the Chamber just above lying by the very place where it hung down In December 1692 the Court sate again at Salem in New-England and cleared about 40 persons suspected for Witches and Condemned three The Evidence against these three was the same as formerly so the Warrant for their Execution was sent and the Graves digged for the said three and for about five more that had been Condemned at Salem formerly but were Repreived by the Governour In the beginning of February 1693. the Court sate at Charles-Town where the Judge exprest himself to this effect That who it was that obstructed the Execution of Justice or hindred those good proceedings they had made he knew not but thereby the Kingdom of Satan was advanc'd c and the Lord have mercy on this Country and so declined coming any more into Court In his absence Mr. D sate as Chief Judge 3 several days in which time 5 or 6 were clear'd by Proclamation and almost as many by Trial so that all are acquitted The most remarkable was an Old Woman named Dayton of whom it was said If any in the World were a Witch she was one and had been so accounted 30 years I had the Curiosity to see her tried she was a decrepid Woman of about 80 years of age and did not use many words in her own defence She was accused by about 30 Witnesses but the matter alledged against her was such as needed little apology on her part not one passionate word or immoral action or evil was then objected against her for 20 years past only strange accidents falling out after some Christian admonition given by her as saying God would not prosper them if they wrong'd the Widow Upon the whole there was not prov'd against her any thing worthy of Reproof or just admonition much less so heinous a Charge So that by the Goodness of God we are once more out of present danger of this Hobgoblin Monster the standing Evidence used at Salem were called but did not appear There were others also at Charles-town brought upon their Tryals who had formerly confess'd themselves to be Witches but upon their tryals deny'd it and were all clear'd So that at present there is no further prosecution of any CASES of CONSCIENCE Concerning Evil Spirits Personating MEN WITCHCRAFTS Infallible Proofs of Guilt in such as are Accused with that CRIME All Considered according to the Scriptures History Experience and the Judgment of many Learned MEN. By Increase Mather President of Harvard Colledge at Cambridge and Teacher of a Church at Boston in New England PROV xxii xxi That thou mightest Answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee Efficiunt Daemones ut quae non sunt sic tamen quaâ—â— sint conspicienda hominibus exhibeant Lactantlus Lib. 2. Instit Cap. 15. Diabolus Consulitur cum iis mediis utimur aliquid Cognoscendi quae a Diabolo sunt introducta Ames Cas Cons L. 4. Cap. 23. Printed at Boston and Re-printed at London for Iohn Dunton at the
and some Christian Doctors and many late Popish Authors amongst whom Cornel a Lapide is most elaborate But that it was a Daemon representing Samuel has been evinced by learned and Orthodox Writers especially Peter Martyr Balduinus Lavater and our incomparable John Rainolde I shall not here insist on the clearing of that especially considering that elsewhere I have done it only let me add that the Witch said to Saul I see Elohim i. e. A God for the whole Context shows that a single Person is intended Ascending out of the Earth 1 Sam. 28. 13. The Devil would be Worshipped as a God and Saul now that he was become a Necrâ—mancer must bow himself to him Moreover had it been the true Samuel from Heaven reprehending Saul there is great Reason to believe that he would not only have reproved him for his sin in not executing Judgment on the Amalekites as in Ver. 18. But for his Wickedness in consulting with Familiar Spirits For which Sin it was in special that he died 2 Chron. 10. 13. But in as much as there is not one word to testify against that Abominaon we may conclude that it was not real Samuel that appeared to Saul and if it were the Devil in his likeness the Argument seems very strong that if the Devil may appear in the form of a Saint in Glory much more is it possible for him to put on the likeness of the most Pious and Innocent Saint on Earth There are who acknowledge that a Daemon may appear in the shape of a Godly Person But not as doing Evil. Whereas the Devil in Samuel's likeness told a pernicious Lye when he said Thou hast disquieted me It was not in the Power of Saul nor of all the Devils in Hell to disquiet a Soul in Heaven where Samuel had been for Two years before this Apparition Nor did the Spectre speak true when he said Thou and thy Sons shall be with me Tho' Saul himself at his Death went to be with the Devil his Son Jonathan did not so Besides which suits with the matter in hand the Devil in Samuels shape confirmed Necromancy and Cursed Witchery He that can in the likeness of Saints encourage Witches to Familiarity with Hell may possibly in the likeness of a Saint afflict a Bewitched Person But this we see from Scripture Satan may be permitted to do And whereas it is objected that the Devil may appear indeed in the form of Dead Persons but that he cannot represent such as are living The contrary is manifest No Question had Saul said to the Witch bring me David who was then living she could as easily have shown living David as dead Samuel as easily as that great Conjurer of whom Wierus speaks brought the appearance of Hector and Achilles and after that of David before the Emperour Maximilian And that evil Angels have sometimes appeared in the likeness of living absent persons is a thing abundantly confirmed by History Austin tells us of one that went for resolution in some intricate Questions to a Philosopher of whom he could get no Answer but in the Night the Philosopher comes to him and resolves all his Doubts Not long after he demanded the reason why he could not answer him in the Day as well as in the Night The Philosopher professed he was not with him in the Night only acknowledged that he dreamed of his having such conversation of his Friend but he was all the time at home and asleep Paulus and Palladius did both of them profess to Austin that one in his shape had divers times and in divers places appeared to them Thyreus mentions several Apparitions of absent living persons which happened in his time and which he had the certain knowledge of A Man that is in one place cannot Autoprosopos at the same time be in another It remains then that such Spectres are Prodigious and Supernatural and not without Diabolical Operation It has been Controverted among Learned Men whether innocent Persons may not by the malice and deluding Power of the Devil be represented as present amongst Witches at their dark Assemblies The mentioned Thyreus says that the Devil may and often does represent the forms of Innocent Persons out of those Conventions and that there is no Question to be made of it but as to his natural Power and Art he is able to make their shapes appear amongst his own Servants but he supposeth the Providence of God will not suffer such an Injury to be done to an Innocent Person With him Delrio and Spineus concur But Cumanus in his Lucerna Inquisitorum a Book which I have not yet seen defends the Affirmative in this Question Bins Fieldius in his Treatise concerning the Confession of Witches inclines to the Negative only he acknowledges Dei extraordinaria Permissione posse Innocentes sic representari And he that shall assert that Great and Holy God never did nor ever will permit the Devil thus far to abuse an Innocent Person affirms more than he is able to prove The story of Germanus his discovering a Diabolical illusion of this nature concerning a great number of Persons that seemed to be at a Feast when they were really at home and asleep is mentioned by many Authors But the particulars insisted on do sufficiently evince the Truth of what we assert viz. That the Devil may by Divine Permission appear in the shape of Innocent and Pious Persons Nevertheless It is evident from another Scripture viz. that in 2 Cor. 11. 14. For Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light He seems to be what he is not and makes others seem to be what they they are not He represents evil men as good and good men as evil The Angels of Heaven who are the Angels of Light love Truth and Righteousness the Devil will seem to do so to and does therefore sometimes lay before men excellent good Principles and exhort them as he did Theodore Maillit to practise many things which by the Law of Righteousness they are obliged unto and hereby he does more effectually deceive Is it not strange that he has sometimes intimated to his most devoted servants that if they would have familiar Conversation with him they must be careful to keep themselves from enormous Sins and pray constantly for Divine Protection But so has he transformed himself into an Angel of Light as Boissardus sheweth He has frequently appeared to Men pretending to be a good Angel so to Anatolius of old and the late instances of Dâ— d ee and Kellet are famously known How many deluded Enthusiasts both in former and latter times have been imposed on by Satans appearing visibly to them pretending to be a good Angel And moreover he may be said to transform himself into an Angel of Light because of his appearing in the Form of Holy Men who are the Children of Light yea in the shape and habit of Eminent Ministers of God
instructed him only he would not attend his Instructions how to make a Magical Glass which should represent any Person or thing according as he should desire If a Magician by an Inchanted Glass can do this he may as well by the help of a Daemon cause false Idaeas of Persons and Things to be impressed on the Imaginations of bewitched Persons the Blood and Spirits of a Man that is bitten with a Mad-Dog are so envenomed as that strange Impressions are thereby made on his Imagination let him be brought into a Room where there is a Looking-Glass and he will if put upon it not only say but swear that he sees a Dog tho' in truth there is no Dog it may be within 20 Miles of him and is it not then possible for the Dogs of Hell to poyson the Imaginations of miserable Creatures so as that they shall believe and swear that such Persons hurt them as never did so I have heard of an Inchanted Pin that has caused the Condemnation and Death of many scores of innocent Persons There was a notorious Witchfinder in Scotland that undertook by a Pin to make an infallible Discovery of suspected Persons whether they were Witches or not if when the Pin was run an Inch or two into the Body of the accused Party no Blood appeared nor any sense of Pain then he declared them to be Witches by means hereof my Author tells me no less then 300 persons were Condemned for Witches in that Kingdom This Bloody Jugler after he had done enough in Scotland came to the Town of Berwick upon Tweed an honest Man now living in New-England assureth me that he saw the Man thrust a great Brass Pin two Inches into the Body of one that some would in that way try whether there was Witchcraft in the Case or no the accused Party was not in the least sensible of what was done and therefore in danger of receiving the Punishment justly due for Witchcraft only it so happened that Collonel Fâ—nwick that worthy Gentleman who many years since lived in New-England was then the Military Governour in that Town he sent for the Mayor and Magistrates advising them to be careful and cautious in their proceedings for he told them it might be an Inchanted Pin which the Witch-finder made use of Whereupon the Magistrates of the place ordered that he should make his Experiment with some other Pin as they should appoint But that he would by no means be induced unto which was a sufficient Discovery of the Knavery and Witchery of the Witch-finder There is a strange Diabolical Energy goeth along with Incantations If Balak had not known that he would not have sent for Balaam to see whether he could inchant the Children of Israel The Scripture intimates that Inchantments will keep a Serpent from biting Eccles 10. 11. A Witch in Sweedland confessed that the Devil gave her a wooden Knife and that if she did but touch any living thing with that Knife it would die immediately And that there is a wonderful Power of the Devil attending things inchanted we have confirmed by a prodigious Instance in Major Wein a Scotch Man That wretched Man was a perfect Prodigy a Man of great Parts esteemed a Saint yet lived in secret Uncleanness with his own Sister for thirty four Years together After his wickedness was discovered he did not seem to be troubled at any of his Crimes excepting that he had caused a poor Woman to be publickly whipped because she reported that she had seen him committing Bestiality which thing was true only the Woman could not prove it This horrid Creature if he had his Inchanted Staff in his Hand could pray to admiration and do extraordinary things as is more amply related in the Postscript to Mr. Sinclares his Book before mentioned But if he had not his Inchanted Rod to lean upon he could not transform himself into an Angel of Light But by all these things we may conclude that it is not impossible but that a guilty Conjurer that so he may render himself the less suspected may by his Magical Art and Inchantment cause innocent Persons to be represented as afflicting those whom the Devil and himself are the Tormentors of Arg. 5. The Truth we affirm is so evident as that many Learned and Judicious Men have freely subscribed unto it The memorable Relation of the Devils assuming the shape of an innocent Citizen in Zurick is in the Judgment of that great Divine Lud Levater of weighty Consideration And he declares that he does therefore mention it that so Judges might be cautelous in their Proceedings in Cases of this nature inasmuch as the Devil does often in that way intangle innocent Persons and bring them into great Troubles His Words are Hanc Historiam ideo recito ut Judices in hujusmodi Casibus cauti sint Diabolus enim hac via sape innocentibus insidiatur He confirms what he saith by reciting a Passage out of Alertus Granzius who writes that the Devil was seen in the shape of a Nobleman to come out of the Empress's Chamber But to clear her Innocency she according to the superstitious Ordeals then in fashion walked blinfold over a great many of glowing hot Irons without touching any of them Voetius in his Disputation of Spectres proposeth that Question whether the Devil may not untruly personate a Godly Man and answers in the Affirmative And withal adds that it is a sufficient Argument ad hominem to answer the Papists with their own Histories which give Instances of Satan's appearing in the Figure of Saints nay of Christ himself And in his Discourse concerning the Operations of Daemons he has the like Problem whether the Devil may not possibly put on the shape of a true Believer a real Saint not only of such as are dead but still living and answers Quidni Why not It is true Popish Casuists do generally incline to the Negative in this Question Nevertheless the Instance of Germanus who saw a Company of honest People represented by the Devil as if they had been feasting together when they were really asleep in their Beds does a little puzzle them so as that they are necessitated to take up with this Conclusion That by an extraordinary Permission of God innocent Persons may be represented by Satan in the Noctural Conventicles of Witches And if so much more as afflicting bewitched Persons Delrio giveth an account of an innocent Monk whose Reputation was indangered by a Daemon's appearing in his shape He writes more like a Divine than Jesuits use to do when he saith that It is not absolutely to be denied but that the Devils may exhibite the Forms of innocent Persons if God permit it who when he does permit it usually by some Providence discovers the Fraud of the Devils that so the Innocent may be vindicated or if not it is to bring them to repentance for some Sin or to try their Patience It is rare
to see such Words dropping from the Pen of a Jesuit As for Protestant Writers I cannot call to mind one of any Note that does deny the Possibility of the Affirmative in the Question before us Dr. Henkelius has lately published a learned and elaborate Discourse concerning the right Method of curing such as are obsessed with Cacodaemons in which he asserts that Satan may possibly assume the Form of innocent and pious Persons that so he might thereby destroy their Reputations and expose them to undue Punishments As for our English Divines there are not many greater Casuists than Mr. Perkins nor do I know any one that has written on the Case of Witchcraft with more Judgment and Clearness of Understanding He has these Words If a Man being dangerously sick and like to die upon suspicion will take it on his death that such an one has betwitched him it is an allegation which may move the Judge to examine the Party but it is of no moment for Conviction The like is asserted by Mr. Cooper Mr. Bernard once a famous Minister at Batcomb in Somerset his Book called A Guide to Grand Jury-men in Cases of Witchcraft is a solid and wise Treatise What his Judgment was in the Case now under debate we may see pag. 209 210. where his Words are these An Apparition of the Party suspected whom the Afflicted in their Fits seem to see is a great suspicion yet this is but a Presumption tho' a strong one because these Apparitions are wrought by the Devil who can represent to the Phansie such as the Parties use to fear in which his Representation he may well lye as in his other Witness For if the Devil can represent to as the Witch seeming Samuel saying I see God's ascending out of the Earth to beguile Saul may we not think he can represent a common ordinary Person Man or Woman unregenerate tho' no Witch to the Phansie of vain Persons to deceive them and others that will give Credit to the Devil Thus Mr. Bernard As for the Judgment of the Elders in New-England so far as I can learn they do generally concur with Mr. Perkins and Mr. Bernard This I know that at a Meeting of Ministers at Cambridge August 1. 1692. where were present seven Elders besides the President of the Colledge the Question then discoursed on was Whether the Devil may not sometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person as tormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations The Answer which they all concurred in was in these words viz. That the Devil may sometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person as tormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations but that such things are rare and extraordinary especially when such Matters come before Civil Judicatures And that some of the most eminent Ministers in the Land who were not at that Meeting are of the same Judgment I am assured And I am also sure that in Cases of this nature the Priest's Lips should keep Knowledge and they should seek the Law at his Mouth Mal. 2. 7. Arg. 6. Our own Experience has confirmed the Truth of what we affirm I have in another Book given an account concerning Elizabeth Knap of Groton who complained that a Woman as eminent for Piety as any in that Town did appear to her and afflict her But afterwards she was satisfied that that Person never did her any harm but that the Devil abused them both About two Years ago a bewitched Person in Chelmsford in her Fits complained that a worthy good Man a near Relation of hers did afflict her So did she likewise complain of another Person in that Town of known Integrity and Piety I have my self known several of whom I ought to think that they are now in Heaven considering that they were of good Conversation and reputed Pious by those that had the greatest Intimacy with them of whom nevertheless some complained that their Shapes appeared to them and threatned them Nor is this answered by saying we do not know but those Persons might be Witches We are bound by the Rule of Charity to think otherwise And they that censure any meerly because such a sad Affliction as their being falsly represented by Satan has befallen them do not do as they would be done by I bless the Lord it was never the Portion allotted to me nor to any Relation of mine to be thus abused But no Man knoweth what may happen to him since there be just Men unto whom it happeneth according to the Work of the Wicked Eccles 8. 14. But what needs more to be said since there is one amongst our selves whom no Man that knows him can think him to be a Wizzard whom yet some bewitched Persons complained of that they are in his Shape tormented And the Devils have of late accused some eminent Persons It is an awful thing which the Lord has done to convince some amongst us of their Error This then I declare and testifie that to take away the Life of any one meerly because a Spectre or Devil in a bewitched or possessed Person does accuse them will bring the Guilt of innocent Blood on the Land where such a thing shall be done Mercy forbid that it should and I trust that as it has not it never will be so in New-England What does such an Evidence amount unto more than this Either such an one did afflict such an one or the Devil in his likeness or his Eyes were bewitched The things which have been mentioned make way for and bring us unto the second Case which is to come under our Consideration viz. If one bewitched is struck down at the Look or cast of the Eye of another and after that recovered again by a Touch from the same Person Is not this an infallible Proof that the Person suspected and complained of is in League with the Devil Answer It must be owned that by such things as these Witchcrafts and Witches have been discovered more than once or twice And that an ill Fame or other Circumstances attending the suspected Party this may be a Ground for Examination but this alone does not afford sufficient Matter for Conviction As Spectres or Devils appearing in the Shapes of Men that have been murdered declaring that they were murdered by such Persons and in such a place may give just occasion to the Magistrate for Enquiry into the Matter One great Witch-Advocate confesseth that by this means Murders have been brought to light yet that alone if other Circumstances did not concur would not by the Law of God take away the Life of any Man If my Reader pleaseth he shall hear what old Mr. Bernard of Batcomb saith to a Case not unlike to this and the former His Words are these The naming of the suspected in their Fits and also where they have been and what they have done here or there as Mr. Throgmorton's Children could do and that often and ever found
that way of Purgation evinced by six Reasons p. 29 to 30 That there are proofs for the Conviction of Witches which Jurors may with a safe Conscience proceed upon proved from Scripture p. 33. That a free and voluntary Confession is a sufficient ground of Conviction p. 34. That the Testimony of confessing Witches against others is not so clear an Evidence as against themselves p. 35. That if two Credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have seen the Person accused doing things which none but such as have familiarity with the Devil ever did or can do that 's a sufficient ground of Conviction And that this has often happened p. 38. Mr. Perkins his Solemn Caution to Jurors p. 39. 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 God 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 then 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 Circumstances of their Hellish Obligations and Abominations Nor is there designed any Reflection on those worthy Persons who have been concerned in the late Proceedings at Salam 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 my self 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 Subtilty 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 practiced 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 Hell upon it This I take to be not only wicked Superstition 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 Passages 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 have 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 Cambridgeshire the next County and then he was well but as soon as he brought him home he was afflicted as before The Poy 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 Superstitions 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 'T is 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 any thing in its 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