SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. A IREPL-Y. BY CHARLES W. TPHA M, Mermber of the.Massachugettf.Hirtoricat Sooiety MORRISANIA, N. Y.: 1869. TO jfENRY J3. PAWSON. FSq., PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR OF THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, THIS REPRINT FROM ITS PAGES IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY ITS AUTHOR. SALEM, MASS., December 10, 1869. PREFATORY NOTE. The Editors of the NortJt American Review would, under the circustances, I have no reason to doubt, have opened its columns to a reply to the article that has led to the preparation of the following statement. But its length has forbidden my asking such a favor. All interested in the department of American literature to which the HISTORICAL MAGAZINE belongs, must appreciate the ability with which it is conducted, and the laborious and indefatigable zeal of its Editor, in collecting and placing on its pages, 1 eyond the reach of oblivion and loss, the scattered and perishing materials necessary to the elucidation of historical and biographical topics, whether relating to particular localities or the country at large; and it was as gratifying as unexpected to receive the proffer, without limitation, of the use of that publication for this occasion. The spirited discussion, by earnest scholars, of special questions, although occasionally assuming the aspect of controversy, will be not only tolerated but welcomed by liberal minds. Let champions arise, in all sections of the Republic. to defend their respective rightful claims to share in a common glorious inheritance and to inscribe their several records in our Annals. Feeling the deepest interest in the Historical, Antiquarian, and Genealogical Societies of Massachusetts, and yielding to none in keen sensibility to all that concerns the ancient honors of the Old Bay State and New England. generally, I rejoice to witness the spirit of a commemorative age kindling the public mind, every where, in the Middle, Western and Southern States. The courtesy extended to me is (vidence that wlbile, by a jealous scrutiny and. sometimes, perhaps, a sharp conflict. we are reciprocally imposing checks upon loose exaggerations and overweening pretensions, a comprehensive good feeling predominates over all; truth in its purity is getting eliminated; and characters and occurrences, in all parts of the country, brought under the clear light of justice, The aid I have received, in the following discussion, from the publications and depositories of historical associations and the contributions of individuals, like Mr. Goodell, Doctor Moore, and others, engaged in procuring fiom the mother country and preserving all original tracts and documents, whenever found, belonging to our Colonial period, denonstrate the importance of such efforts, whether of Societies or single persons. In this way, our history will stand on a solid foundation, and have the lineaments of complete and exact truth. Notwithstanding the distance from the place of printing, owing to the faithful and intelligent oversight of the superintendent of the press and the vigilant care of the compositors, but few errors, I trust, will be found, beyond what are merely literal, and every reader will unconsciously, or readily, correct for himself. C. W. U. SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Page. INTRODUCTION........................... 1 X. ii ICOTTON MATHER AND THE WITCHCRAFT TRIALS. THE EXECUTIONS.............. 38 THE CONNECTION OF THE MATHERS WITH THE SUPIRSTITIONS OF THEIR TIME......... XI. II. LLETTER OF STEPHEN SEWALL. "WONDERS " OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD." ITS ORIGIN THE GOODWIN CHILDREN. SOME GENERAL AND DESIGN. COTTON MATHER'S ACCOUNT REMARKS UPON THE CRITICISMS OF THE EI T 44 NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW THE T.................. 4 XII. III.''' WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD," CONCOTTON MATHER AND THE GOODWIN CHIL- TINUED. PASSAGES FROM IT. "CASES DREN. JOHN BAILY. JEHN HALE. JOHN "OF CONSCIENCE." INCREASE MATHER. 44 GOODWIN'S CERTIFICATES. COTTON MATHER'S IDEA OF WITCHCRAFT AS A WAR XIII. WITH THE DEVIL. HIS USE OF PRAYER. THE COURT 0F O YER AND TERMINER BROUGHT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CASE OF TO A SUDDEN END. SIR WILLIAM PHIPS. 54 THE GOODWIN CHILDREN AND SALEMX W ITCHCRAFT........................ 6 COTTON MATHER'S WRITINGS, SUBSEQUENT TO IV. THE WITCHCRAFT PROSECUTIONS....... 57 THE RELATION OF THE MATHERS TO THE AD- XV. MINISTRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1692. THE NEW CHARTER. THE GOv- HISTORY OF OPINION AS TO COTTON MATHERNMENT UNDER IT ARRANGED BY THEM. ER'S CONNECTION WITH SALEM WITCHARRIVAL OF SIR WILLIAM PHIPS....... 12. CRAFT. THOMAS BRATTLE. THE PEOPLE OF SALEM VILLAGE. JOHN HALE.'V. JOHN HIGGINSON. MICHAEL WIGGLESTHE SPECIAL COURT OF OYER AND TERlMINER. WORTH............................ 61 HOW IT WAS ESTABLISHED. WHO RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THE GOVERNMENT XVI. OF THE PROVINCE CONCENTRATED IN ITS HISTORY OF OPINION AS TO COTTON MATHER, CJHIEF-JUSTICE...................... 15 it CHIEF-JUSTICE.... l CONTINUED. FRANCIS HUTCHINSON. DANVI. IEL NEAL. ISAAC WATTS. THOMAS COTTON MATHER'S CONNECTION WITH THE UTCHINSON. WILLIAM BENTLEY. JOHN ELIOT. JOSIAH QUINCY............. 68 COURT. SPECTRAL EVIDENCE. LETTERY............. TO JOHN RICHARDS. ADVICE OF THE XVII. MINISTERS.......................... 1 THE EFFECT UPON THE POWER OF THE MATVII. ERS, IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF THE ADVICE OF THE MINISTERS, FURTER CONSID- ROVICE OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH ERIsD. COTTON MATHER'S PLAN FOR WITCHCRAFT....................... 70 DEALING WITH SPECTRAL TESTIMONY.... 23 XVIII. VIII. COTTON MATHER'S WRITINGS AND CHARACTER 74 COTTON MATHER, AND SPECTRAL EVIDENCE.. 30 XIX. IX. ROBERT CALBEF'S WRITINGS AND CHARACTER.. 77 COTTON MATHER, AND THE PRELIMINARY EX-XX. AMmATIONS. JOHN PROCTOR. GEORGE BURROUGHS......................... 32 MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. CONCLUSION.... 84 SALEMI W'ITCHCIAFT AND COTTON AilATHER. est felt in the subject; and avail myself of the INTRODUCTION. opportunity, tendered to me without solicitation and in a most liberal spirit, by the proprietor of An article in Tle North Ameivicac Review, for. aIn. I n *i i' T this Maogazine to meet the obligations which hisApril, 1869, is mostly devoted to a notice of the ti t m t work published by ne, in 1867, entitled Sal7em to ical titl chae ustce mpo is. Wit i ac t o7 The principal charg e, and it is repeated i Witchic t,' th an *account of,Saem V 7ilZag e, innumerable forms through the sixty odd pages and a history of olinzions on witchcraft and kin- rtile in the N tt I dred subjects. If the article had contained criti- e r he prt b e b *rs i th usa sy e mrlyafcigh have mislreilresenlted the part bolrne by Cotton cisms, in the usual style, merely affecting the er in t pocediugs connected with the character of that work, in a literary point of itccraft Delusion and -proecutios, in 1 2. other duty would have dWitChcraf Delusion and prosecutions, in 1692. view, no othe duty oul have devolved other co laints are made of inccucy me, than carefully to consid es q tion serf and unfairess, particularly in reference to the heed its suggestions. But it raises uestionsle coue of the ahis - toia nature tha..Bt set demande a re-position of Increase Mather and the course of the an historical nature that seem to demand a re- Ministers of that period, generally. A acknowledging the correctness of Boston Ministers of that peliocd, generally. Alspose, either acknoleding the cctess o though the discussion, to which I now ask attenits statements or vlllindcating my ow.n. its statements or tvinad icat ingm wn. c ia tiong, may appear, at first view, to relate to quesThe character of the iodical in which it ap- tions merely personal, it will be found, I think, penars; the manner in uhich it nwas heralded by to lead to an exploration of the literature and rumor, long before its ublication; its senments, elat to eligious and tion, since, in a separate pamphlet form; and the i plosopalen subjects, ofi that periosd; ad, also, extent to which, in certain quarters, its assamp- of an instructive passage in the public history of tions have been endorsed, make a reply impera- e roice of Massachusetts Bay. the Province of Massachusetts Bay. he ject to wi it relate is of a - I now propose to present the subject more fully The subject to which it relates is of acknowvl- e bee apprpi Th Witchrafthan was required, or would have been appropriedged interest and importance. The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692 has justly arrested a wider no- tice, and probably always will, than any other I. occurrence in the early colonial history of this country. It presents phenomena in the realm of THE CONNECTION OF THE MATTERS WITH TIlE our spiritual nature, belonging to that higher de- suPEERTITIONs oF THIERL TIME. partment of physiology, known as Psychology, In the first place, I venture to say that it can of the greatest moment; and illustrates the ope- admit of no doubt, that Increase Mather and his rations of the imagination upon the passions and son, Cotton Mather, did more than any other perfaculties in immediate connection with it, and the sons to aggravate the tendency of that age to the perils to which the soul and society are thereby result reached in the Witchcraft Delusion of 1692. exposed, in a manner more striking, startling and The latter, in the beginning of the Sixth Book instructive than is elsewhere to be found. For of the Mkagnalia Christi Americana, refers to an all reasons, truth and justice require of those attempt made, about the year 1658,,'among some who venture to explore and portray it, the ut-' divines of no little figure throughout England most efforts to elucidate its passages and delineate " and Ireland, for the faithful registering of recorrectly its actors. " markalle providences. But, alas," he says,''it With these views I hail with satisfaction the "c ame to nothing that was remarkable. The criticisms that may be offered upon my book, "like holy design," he continues, "s, was, by the without regard to their personal character or " Reverend Increase Malther, proposed among bearing, as continuing and heightening the inter- "the divines of New England, in the year 1681, 1 SALETI WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. "at a general Imeeting of tlem; who thereupon ing it, as the special duty of Ministers of the'desired him to blegin and publish an Essay; Gospel, to obtain and preserve knowledge of no"which he did in a little while; but there-withal table occurrences, described under the general "declared that he did it only as a specimen of a head of " Remarkcables," and classified as fol-'larger volume, in hopes that this work being lows: "set on foot, posterity would go on with it." "The things to be esteemed memorable are, Cotton Mather did go on with it, immediately "especially, all unusual accidents, in the heavupon hlis entrance to the ministry; and by their " en, or earth, or water; all wonderful depreaching, publications, correspondence at home "liverances of the distressed; mercies tO the and abroad, and the influence of their learning, "godly; judgments to the wicked; and more talents, industry, and zeal in the work, these two "glorious fulfilments of either the promises or men promloted the prevalence of a passion for the "the threatenings, in the Scriptures of truth; marvelous and monstrous, and what was deemed " with apparitions, possessions, inchantments, preternatural, infernal, and diabolical, through- " and all extraordinary things wherein the exisout the whole mass of the i)eople, in England as " tence and agency of the invisible world is more well as America. The public mind became in- "sensibly demonstrated."-~f~agnalia Christi fatuated and, drugged with credulity and super- Amei'icana. Edit. London, 1702. Book VI, p. 1. stition, was prepared to receive every impulse of All communications, in answer to this missive blind fanaticism. The stories, thus collected and were to be addressed to the " President and Felput everywhere in circulation, were of a nature "lows" of Harvard College. to terrify lhe imagination, fill the mlind with hor- The first article is as follows: "To observe rible apprehensions, degrade the general intelli- " and record the more illustrious discoveries of gence and taste, and dethrone the reason. They "the Divine Providence, in the government of darken and dishonor the literature of that period. "the world, is a design so holy, so useful, so. r(ehash of them can be fulnd in the Sixth Book' justly approved, that the too general neglect of of the Mcirgalia. The effects of such publica-' of it in the Churches of God, is as justly to be tions were naturally developed in wide-spread " lamented." It is important to consider this delusions and universal credulity. They pene- language in connection with that used by Cotton trated tlle whole body of society, and reached all Mather, in opening the Sixth Book of the Magnathe inhabitants and families of the land, in the lia: "To regard the illustrious displays of that towns and remotest settlements. In this way, the " Providence, wherewith our Lord Christ govMathers, particularly tLe younger, made them- " erns the world, is a work than which there is selves responsible for the diseased and bewvildered " none more needful or useful for a Christian; state of the public mmind, in reference to super- "to record them is a work than which nonenatural and diabolical agencies, which came to a "more proper for a Minister; and perhaps the head in the Witchcraft Delusion. I do not say " great Governor of the world will ordinarily do that they were culpable. Undoultedly they " the most notable things for those who are most thought they were doing God service. But the "ready to take a wise notice of what he does. influence they exercised, in this direction, remains "Unaccountable, therefore, and inexcusable, is none the less an historical fact. " the sleepiness, even upon the most of good Increase Mather applied himself, without de- "men throughout the world, which indisposes lay, to the prosecution of the design he had pro- " them to observe and, much more, to preserve, posed, by writing to persons in all parts of the "'the remarkable dispensations of Divine Provicountry, particularly clergymen, to procure, for " dence, towards themselves or others. Neverpublication, as many marvelous stories as could " tireless there have been raised up, now and then, be raked up. In t!e eighth volume ofthe Fourth "'tlose persons, who have rendered themselves Series of the Collections of the Massachusetts " worthy of everlasting remembrance, by their Eiistorical Society, consisting of The JMather Pr- "'':akeful zeal to have the memorable providences pets, the responses of several of his corlesliond- " o God remembered through all generations." ents may be seen. [Pp. 285, 360, 361. 367, 466, These passages from the Mathers, father and 475, 555, 612.] He pursued this business wirll an son, embrace, in their bearings, a period, eleven industrious and pertinacious zeal, which notlhing years before and two years after the Delusion of could slacken. After the rest of the world had 1692. They show that the Clergy, generally, been shocked out of such mischievous nonsense, were indifferent to the subject, and required to by the horrid results at Salem, on the fifth of be aroused from "neglect" and " sleepiness," March, 1694, asPresident of Harvard College, he touching the duty of flooding the public mind issued a Circular to " The Reverend Ministers of with stories of " wonders " and' remarkables;" "the Gospel, in the several Churches in New Eng- and that the agency of the Mathers, in giving'"land, "signed by himself and seven others, mem- currency, by means of their ministry and influhers of the Corporatien of that institution, urg- ence, to such ideas, was peculiar and preemin SALEiM WITCHCRAlr AND COTTON MATHER. 3 ent. However innocent and excusable their mo- ries about diabolical agency, possessions, apparitives may have been, the laws of cause and effect tions, and the like, he says, "Mr. Increase Mather remained unbroken; and the result of their ac-' hath already published many such histories of tions are, with truth and justice, attributable to' things done in New England; and this great inthem —not necessarily, I repeat, to impeach their "stance published by his son "-that is, the achonesty and integrity, but their wisdom, taste, count of the Goodwin children-'" comethwith judgment, and coinon sen. Human respon- "such full convincing evidence, that he must be a sibility is not -to be set aside, nor avoided, mere- " very obdurate Sadducee that will not believe it. ly and wholly bly good iilcent. It involves a sol- " And his two Sermons, adjoined, are excellently emn and fearful olligation to the use of reason, "fitted to the subject and this blinded generation, caution, cool deliberation, circumspection, and " and to the use of us all, that are not past our a most careful calcllation of consequences. Er- "warfare with Devils." One of the Sermons, ror, if innocent an t holnest, is not punishable by which Baxter commends, is on Thle Power and.divine, and ought not to be by human, law. It Malice of Devils, and opens with the declaration, is'covered by the mercy of God, and must not be that "there is a combination of Devils, which pursued by the animosity of men. But it is,' our air is filled withal:" the other is on nevertheless, a thing to be.dreaded and to be Witchccratft. Both are replete with the most exguarded against, with the utmost vigilance. citing and vehement enforcements of the superThrougcrlout the melancholy annals of the Church stitions of that age, relating to the Devil and his and the world, it has been the fountain of in- confederates. numerable woes, spreading baleful influences MIy first position, then, in contravention of that througho society, paralysing the energies of reason taken by the Reviewer in the Nolrth American, is and conscience, dimming, all but extinguishing, that, by stimulating the Clergy over the Awhole: the ligh t of religion, convulsing nations, and des- country, to collect and circulate all sorts of marolating the earth. It is the duty of historians to velous and supposed preternatural occurrences, traceittoitssource; and, by depicting faithfully the by giving this direction to the preaching and litcauses that have led to it, prevent its recurrence. erature of the times, these two active, zealous, With these views, I feel bound, distinctly, to state learned, and able Divines, Increase and Cotton that the impression given to the popular senti- MIather, considering the influence they naturally ments of the period, to which I am referring, by were able to exercise, are, particularly the latter, certain leading minds, led to, Awas the efficient justly charlgeable with, andl may be said to have cause of, and, in this sense, may be said to have brought about, tle extraordilnary outbreaks of originated, the awful superstitions long prevalent credulous fanaticism, exhibited in the cases of the in the old world and the new, and reaching a fi- Goodwin famlily and of "the afflicted children," nal catastrophe in 1692; and among these lead- at Salem Village. Robert Calef, writing to the ing minds, aggravating and intensifying, by their Ministers of the country, March 18, 1694, says: writings, this most baleful form of the superstition' I having had, not only occasion, but renewed of the age, Increase and Cotton IMather stand'"provocation, to take a view of the mysterious most conspicuous. "doctrines, which have of late been so much This opinion was entertained, at the time, by " contested among us, could not meet with any impartial observers. Francis Hutchinson, DD.. that had spoken more, or more plainly, the "Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, and "sense of thosedoctrines" ['relating to the Witch"Minister of St. James's Parish, in St. Ed- craft] "than the Reverend Mr. Cotton Mather, "mund's Bury," in the life-time of both the "but how clearly and consistent, either with Mathers, published, in Lobdon, an Historical " himself or the truth, I meddle not now to say, Essay co1ncerninZg Witchcr'cft, dedicated to the "' but cannot but suppose his strenuous and zeal-' Lord Chief-justice of England, the Lord Chief- "ous asserting his opinions has been one cause "justice of Common Pleas, and the Lord Chief " of the dismal convulsions, we have here lately "Baron of Exchequer." In a Chapter on The "fallen into." —More vWonders of the Invisible Witchccraft in Salem, Boston, cand Andover, in -;Worl'd, by Robert Calef, AMerchant of Boston, in New England, he attributes it, as will be seen in New England. Edit. London, 1700, p. 3S, the course of this article, to the influence of the The papers that remain, connected with the writings of the Mlathers. Witchcraft Examinations and Trials, at Salem, In the Preface to the London edition of Cot- show the extent to which currency had been ton Mather's Lnemorable Providences, written by given, in the popular mind, to such marvelous Richard Baxter, in 1690, he ascribes this same and prodigious things as the Mathers had been prominence to the works of the Mlathers. While so long endeavoring to collect and circulate; expressing the great value he attached to writings particularly in the interior, rural settlements. Tlhe about Witchcraft, and the importance, in his view, solemn solitudes of tile woods were filled with of that department of literature which relates sto- ghosts, hobgoblins, spectres, evil spirits, and the 4 SALEM WITCHCiRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. infernal Prince of them all. Every pathway was tion of this case, in my book [Salem Witchcraft, infested with their flitting shapes and footprints; i. 454-4601 was wholly drawn from the Memand around every hearth-stone, shuddering circles, orable Providences and the Magnalia. drawing closer together as the darkness of night thickened and their imaginations became ore II. awed and frightened, listened to tales of diahol- G C O E THE GOODWIN CEILDREN. SOME GENERAL REical operations: the smlne effects, in somewhat CRITICI TE NO *ARKS UPON THE CRITICISMS OF THE NORTH different forlms, pervaded the seaboard settlements AMERICAN REVIEW. and larger towns. Besides such frightful fancies, other most unhap- The Reviewer charges me with having wrongpy influences flowed from the prevalence of the ed Cotton Mather, by representing that he " got style of literatniie which the Mathers broughtinto " up " the whole affair of the Goodwin children. vogue. Suspicions and accusations of witchcraft He places the expression within quotation marks, were every-wherie prlevaalent; any unusual calami- and repeats it, over and over again. In the pasty or misadventure; every instance of real or af- sage to which he refers-p. 366 of the second fected singularity of deportment orbehavior- and, volume of my book-I say of Cotton Mather, in that cond(ition of perverted and distempered that he " repeatedly endeavored to get up cases ptullic opinion, there would be many such- "of the kind in Boston. There is some ground was attributed to the Devil. Every sufferer who "for suspicion that he was instrumental in originhad yielded his mind to wllat was taught in pul- " ating the fanlaticism in Salem." I am not aware pits or publications, lost sight of the Divine that the expression was used, except in this pasHand, and could see nothing but devils in his af- sage. But, wherever used, it was designed to fictions. Poor John Goodwin, whose trials we convey the meaning given to it, by both of our are presently to consider, while his children were great lexicographers. Worcester defines "'to get actilg, as the phrase-olriginating in those days, up,' to prepare, to make ready-to get up an and still lingering in the lower forms of vulgar "' entertainment;' to print and publish, as a speech-has it, " like all possessed," broke forth b'book.' " Webster defines it, "to prepare thus: "'I thought of what David said, 2 Samuel, " for coming before the public; to bring for" xxiv. 14. If he feared so to fall into the hands' ward." This is precisely what Mather did, in o'of men, oh! then to think of the horrors of the case of the Goodwin children, and what Calef "our condition, to be in tile hands of Devils and put a stop to his doing in the case of Margaret"Witches. Thus, our doleful condition moved Rule.' us to call to our f iends to have pity on us, for In 1831, I published a volume entitled Lectures " God's hand hath touched us. I was ready to on Witchcraft, comprising a history of the Delu-' say that no one's affliction was like mine. That sion, in Salem, in 1692. In 1867, I published " my little house, that s!ould be a little Bethel Salem Witchcraft, and an account of Salem Vil"for God to dwell in, slould be made a den for lage; and, in the Preface, stated that "the form-'"Devils; that those little Bodies, that should be er was prepared under circumstances which pre" Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, should " vented a thorough investigation of the subject.'" be thus harrassec and abused by the Devil and "Leisure and freedom from professional duties "his cursed brood. "-Late Memnorable Provi- "have now enabled me to prosecute the researchdences, relating to Witchcraft and Possessions. "es necessary to do justice to it. The Lectures By Cotton Mather. Edit. London, 1691. "on Witchcraft have long been out of print. No wonder that the country was full of the "Although frequently importuned to prepare a terromrs and horrors of diabolical imaginations, " new edition, I was unwilling to issue, again, when the Devil was kept before the minds of " vhat I had discovered to be an inadequate men, by what they constantly read and lheard, "' resentation of the subject." In the face of from their religious teachers! In the Sermons of this disclaimer of the authoriy of the original that day, he was the all-absorbing topic oif learnl- wotrk, the Reviewer says: "In this discussion, we ing and eloquence.' In soi(e of Cotton MVlaticr's, " shall treat Mr. Upham's Lectures and History the name, Devil, or its synonyms, is mentioned "in the same connection, as the latter is an exten times as often as that of the benign and bless- " pansion and defence of the views presented in ed God. " the former." No wonder that alleged witchcrafts were nu- I ask every person of candor and fairness, to merous! Drake, in his IHistory of Boston, says consider whether it is just to treat authors in this there were many cases there, about the year way? It is but poor encouragement to them to 1688. Only one of them seems to have attracted labor to improve their works, for the first critical the kind of notice requisite to preserve it from ob- journal in the country to bring discredit upon livion —that of the four children of John Good- their efforts, by still laying to their charge what win, the eldest, thirteen years of age. The rela- they havethemselves remedied or withdrawn. Yet SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON BIATHER. 5 it is avowedly done in the article which compels tion with its Postscript, fails to bring any readme to this vindication. er to a clear conception of them; and as its The Lectures, for instance, printed in 1831, whole matter was altogether immaterial to my contained the following sentence, referring to subject-1 did not think it worth while to encumCotton Mather's agency, in the Goodwin case, her my pages with it. So in respect to many in Boston. "An instance of witchcraft was other points, in treating which extended discus-' brought about, in that place, by his manage- sions might be dclmancled. If I had been gov" ment." So it appeared in a reprint of that vol- erned by such notions as the Reviewer seems to nine, in 1832. In my recent publication, while entertain, my book, which he complains of as transferring a long paragraph from the original too long, would have l)een lengthened to the diwork; I carefully omitted, from the body of it, mensions of a cyciopcelia of theology, biography, the above sentence, fearing that it might lead to and philosophy. For keeping to my subject, misapprehension. For, although I hold that and not diverting attention to writings of no inthe Mathers are pre-eminently answerable for the herent value, in any point of view, and which witchciaft proceedings in their day, and may'be would contribute nothling to the elucidation of said, justly, to have'caused them, of course I did my topics, I am charged by tlis Reviewer, in the not mean that, by personal instigation on the spot, baldest terms, with ignorance, on almost every they started every occurrence that ultimately was one of his sixty odd pages, and, often, several made to assume such a character. The Reviewer, times on the same page. with the fact well known to him, that I had sup- All that I say of Cotton Mather, mostly drawn pressed and discarded this clause, flings it against from his own words, does not cover a dozen me, repeatedly. He further quotes a portion of pages. Exception is taken to some unfavorable the paragraph, in the Lecturies, in which it oc- judgments, cursorily express(d. This is fair tind curs, omitting, without indicating the omission, legitimate, and would justify my being called certain clauses that would have explained my on to substantiate them. But to assume, and meaning, tacking ca-re, however, to include the sup- proclaim, that I had not read nor seen tracts or volpressed passage; and finishes the misreprescnta- umnes that would come under consideration in tion, by the following declaration, referring to such a discussion, is as rash as it is offensive; the paragraph in the Lectures' "The same state- and, besides, constitutes a charge against which " ments, in almost the same words, he repro- no person of any self respect or common sense "duces in his History." This he says, knowing can be expected to defend himself. I gave the that the particular statement to which he was opinion of Cotton Mather's agency in the Witchthen taking exception, was not reproduced in my craft of 1692, to which my judgment had been History. led-whether with sufficient grounds or not will It may be as well here, at this point, as else- be seen, as I proceed-but did noi lbrancl off where, once for all, to dispose of a large portion from my proper subject, into a detail of the of the matter centained in the long article in the sources from which that opinion was derived. North American Review, now under considera- If I had done so, in connection witlh allusions to tion. In preparing any work, particularly in the Mather, upon the same principle it would hlave department of history, it is to be presumed that been necessary to do it, whenever an opinion was the explorations of the writer extend far beyond expressed of others, such as Roger Williams, or what he may conclude to put into his book. He Hugh Peters, or Richard Baxter. It woul dlewill find mucl that is of no account whatever; stroy the interest, and stretch interminably the that would load down his narrative, swell it to dimensions, of any book, to break its narrative, inadmissable dimensions, and shed no addition- abandon its proper subject, and stray aside into al light. Collateral and incidental questions such endless collateral matter. But it must be cannot be pursued in details. A new law, how- done, if the article in the North Americarn Re ever, is now given out, that must be followed, view, is to be regarded as an authoritative anhereafter, by all writers that is, to give not a nouncement of a canon of criticism. Lecture s catalogue merely, but an account of the contents, and public speakers, or writers of any kind, must of every book and tract they have read. It is be on their guard. If they should chance, for tlus announced by our Reviewer: " We assume instance, to speak of Cotton Mather as a pedant, " Mr. Upham has not seen this tract, as he neith- they will have the reviewers after them, belabor" er mentioned it nor made use of its material." ing them with the charge of "a great lack of The document here spoken of was designed to "research," in not having " pored over" tile give Increase Mather's ideas on the subject of "'prdigious" manuscript of his unpublished witchcraft trials, written near the close of those work, in the Library of the Massachusetts Historin Salem, in 1692. As I had no peculiar interest ical Society, the whole of his three hundred and in determining what his views were-as a careful eighty-two printed works. and the huge mass of study of the tract, particularly taken in connec- Mather Papers, in the Library of the American B6 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. Antiquarian Society; and with never having Witchcraft prosecutions, look in the opposite di"read" the ezemn)rchle Providences, or "seen" rection. When John Proctor, in his extremity the Wonders of the Javisible World, or "heard" of danger, sought for help, Mr.v. Baily was one of of the MA ag.alia Ghristi Americacna. the Ministers from whom alone ie ha.d any ITii ~(T oground to indulge a hope for symlpathy; and his -nalne is among the fourteen who si(neld the paper COTTON MATHER AND THE GOODWIN CHILDREN. approving of Ihclease ather s ses f olcie JOHN BAILY. JOHN HALE. GOOD'WI'S CERTIFI- The list comprises all the Ministers known as CATES. MAT-HElR S IDEA OF WITC.HCRAFT AS A laving shown any friendly feelings towards perWAR WITH THE DEVIL. HIS USE OF PRAYER. WAR WCITHI THE DEVIL. HEIS USE OF PTRAY]ER. sons charged with Witchciraft or who had sufferCONNECTION-BETWEEN THE CASE OF TIHE GOOD- c lO t' C1 l S Hubbard ACONNECTIoNBTwEN THE CASE OFA TIE GOOD- ed from the prosecutions, such as Hubbard, A1WIN CHILDREN AND SALEM WITCHCRAFT. len, Willard, Capen and Wise; but not one who The Reviewer complains of my manner of had taken an active part in hurrying on the protreating Cotton Mather's connection with the af- ceedings of 1692. fair of the Goodwin children. The facts in the If any surmise is justiliable, or -worth while, case are, that the family, to which they belong- as to the author of the advice to Goodwin-land ed, lived in the South part of Boston. The fath- )perhaps it is due to the memory of Baily, er, a mason by occupation, was, as Mather in- whose name has been thus introduced-l should forms us, "a sober and pious man." As his bte inclined to suoggest that it was John Hale, church relations were with the conogre(ation in of Beverly, who, like Baily, was deceased at Charlestown, of which Charles Morton was the Pas- the date of Goodwin's certificate. He was a tor, he probably had no particular acquaintance Chnarlestown man, originally of the same rewitl the Boston Ministers. From a statement ligious Society with Goodwin, and had kept made by Mr. Goodwin, some years subsequently, -Ip acquaintance with his formler townsmen. it seems that after one of 1his children had, for His course at Salem Village, a few year-s after"about a quarter of a year, b)een laboiino' un- warids, shows that he would lave been like-' der sad cilcumstancesfronm,he invisible world," ly to give such advice; and we may impute it to he called upon " the four Ministers of Boston, him without any wrong to his character or repu-' together with his own Pastor, to keep a day of tation. His noble conduct in daring, in the very "prayer at his house. If so deliverance migyht hour of tle extremest fuiry of the stonrm, whlen, as " be obtained." He says tlhat Cotton Mather, just before the break of day, the darkness was with whom he had no previous acquaintance, was deepest, to denounce the proceedings 1s wrong'; the last of the Ministers that'"he spoke to on and in doilng ail that lie could to repair that "that occasion." Mr. Mather did not attend wr1ong, by writing a book condemning the very the meeting, but visited the house in the lmorn — thinlgs in which he had himiself been a chief acting of the day, before the other Ministers came; or, gives to his niae a glory that cannot b)e spent a half hour there; and prayed with tle ditmmled by supposing' that, in the period of his family. About three months after, tle Ministers foriler delusion, le was the unfortunate adviser held another prayer-meeting there, MIt. MTather of Geo,)dwin. being present. He further stated thalt Ali. MTath- AiWhin Calef's )ook reached this country, in er never, in any way, suggested his prosecutiing' 1 700. a Coimittee of seven was raised, at a meetthe old Irish woman for bewitching his children, ing of the lmembers of the Parish of which the nor gave him any advice in reference to the leoal Malthers xwere Ministers, to protect them against proceedings against her; but that "the mlotion its effects. John Goodwin wvas a member of it, of going to the authority was made to hinm by and contributed the Certificate from wlich ex" a Minister of a neighboring town, now depart- tracts 1 ave just been made. It. was so worded -. "ed." as to,ive the impression that Cotton Mather did The Reviewer, in a note to the last item, given nott take a, leadilng piat in the case of Goodwin's above, of Goodwin's statement, says: "LProba- c!ildrl;en, in 1688. It states, as has )een seen, "bly Mr. John Baily." Unless he has some par- that hel " was the last of tihe Ministers" asked to ticular evidence, tending to fix this advice upon attend thle prayer-mieeting; but lets out the fact Baily, the conjecture is objectionable. The niame th:it lie was tle first to present himself, goihg to of such a man as Baily appears to have been, tile houlse and praying with the famnily before the ought not, unnecessarily, to be connected wih the rest arrivecd. Goodwin further states, as follows: transaction. It is true that, after the family lhad "'The Ministers would, now and then, come to become relieved of its "sad circumstances from "visit my distressed fiamily, and pray with and "the invisible world,' Mr. EBily took one of tle "for them, among which Mr. Cotton Mather children to his house, in Watertlownl; but tthat is "would, nown and then, come.'" The whole no indication, of his having given such advice. document is so framed as to present Mather as The only facts known of him, in connection with playing a secondary part. SALEMI WITC1CRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 7 In all account, however, of the affair, written and their awful consequences, to the meetings of by this same John Goodwin, and printed by Ministers called by him. If the girls, in either Mather,in London, ten years before, in The 31em- case, had been let alone, they would soon have orable Providences relating to Witchcriaft adc Pos- been weary of what one of tllhe called their sesions, a somewhat different position is assigned "sport;" and the whole thling would have been to Mather. After saying "the Ministers did of- swallowed, with countless stories of haunted "ten visit us," he mentions'"Mr. Matherparticu- houses and second silgt, in deep oblivion. " larly." H' He took much pains in this great ser- In considering Cotton Mather's connection with "vice, to pull this child and her brother and sis- the case of the Goodwin children, and that of the "ter, out of the hands of the Devil. Let us now accusing giils, at Salem Village, justice to him "admire and adore that fountain. the Lord Je- requires that the statements, in my book, of the "sus Christ, from whence those streams come. then prevalent notions, of th-e power and pend"The Lord himself will requite his labor of ing folrmidablencss of the Kingdom of Darkness, "love." In 1690, Mather was willing to have should be borne in mind. It was believed by Goodwin place him in the foreground of tile pic- Divines generally, and by peoplle at large, that ture, representing him as pulling the children out here, in the American w ildein ss, a mighty onof the hand of the Devil. In 1700, it was expe- slaught upon the Clhistialn settlemCents was s(!oll dient to withdraw him into the background: to be made, by the Devil and his infernal hosts; and Goodwin, accordingly, provided the Commit- and that, on this spot, the final battle between tee, of which he was a member, with a Certifi- Satan and the Churclh, was shortly to come off. cate of a somewhat different color and tenor. This belief had taken full possession of Malther's The execution of the woman, Glover, on the mind, and fired his imagination. In coiplaiison charge of having bewitched these Goodwill chil- with the approa.ching contest, all (other vwars, evel dren, is one of the most atrocious passages of our that for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, paled histolry. Hutchinson* says she was one of the their light. It was the great crusade, in which "wild Irish," and "'appeared to be disordered hostile powers, Moslem, Papal, and Paganr, of "in her senses." She was a Roman Catholic, every kind, on earth and from Hell. were to go unable to speak the English languge, and vi- down; and he aspired to be its St. Bernard. It dently knew not what to make of the proceedings was because he entertained these ideas, that he against her. In her dying hour, she was undeistood was on the watch to hear, and promlpt and glad by the interpreter to say, that taking away her life to meet. the first advances of the diaoolical lewould not have any effect in diminishing the gilns. This explainshis eagerness to take hold of sufferings of the children. The remark, showing every occurrence that indicated the cotling of more sense than any of the rest of them had, was the Arch Enemy..nmade to bear against the poor old creature, as a And it nust further be borne in mind thllat, up diabolical imprecatibn. to the time of the case of the Goodwin clil(tren, Between the time of her condemnation and he had entertained the idea that the Devil was to that of her execution, Cotton Mather took the be met and subdued by Prayer. That, adl tlat eldest Goodwin child into his family, and kept only, was the weapon with which he girddcl her there all winter. He has told the story of himself; and with that he hoped and believed to her extraordinary doings, in a style of blind alnd conquer. For this reason, he did n(ot advise absurd credulity that cannot be surpassed. "Elre Goodwin to go to the law. For this reason, lie' long," says he, "' I thought it convenient for labored in the distressed household in exercises "me to entertain my congregation with a Ser- of prayer, and took the eldest child into his own " mon on the memorable providence, wherein family, so as to bring the battery of prayer, witli " these children had been concerned, (afterwards a continuous bomlardment, upon the Devil by " publlished)." whom she was possessed. For this reason, he perIn this connection, it may be remarked that sisted in praying in the cell of the old Irish wonlhad it not been for the interference of the Minis- an, much against her will, for she was a stubboi ters, it is quite likely that "'the sad circumstan- Catholic. Of course, he could not pray with her, " ces from the invisible world," in the Goodwin fo he lhad no loubt sle was a confederate of the family, would never have been heard of, beyond vil; and he had no disposition to join in the immediate neighborhood. It is quite certain prayer with one whom, as a heretic, she regarded that similar "circumstances," in M. Pais better liht; but still he old pay, f family, in 1692, owed their general publicity which.he apologized, when referring to the mat_____________ter, afterward.'When, in (his article, I cite the name "Hutchinson," Cotton nther was always a man of player. without any distinguishing prefix, I mean THOMAiS HuTOH- For this, he deserves to be honored. P1ryer, when rsONso Chief-justice, Governor, and Historian of Massachu- offel ed in the spilit, and in accoldance with the setts: so a so when I cite the name I"Mather," I mean COT-tie TON MATHE, example, of the SaTio....not my will but thine 8 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. be done,"'' Your Father knoweth what things "as a mere delusion, and sometimes to self-de" ye.have need of beforeye ask hinm-" is the no- " struction itself. These, even these, do follow blest exercise and attitude of the soul. It lifts "thee, O miserable Mather, with astonishing fuit to the highest level to which our faculties can'' ry. But I fall down into the dust, on my study rise. It "floor, with tears, before the Lord, and then'iopens heaven; lets down a stream "they quickly vanish, and it is ffair weather' Of glory on the consecrated hour " again. Lord what wilt thou do with me? " " Of man, in audience with the Deity." His prayers and vigils, which often led to such It was the misfortune of Cotton Mather, that high wrought and intense experiences, were, not an original infirmity of judgment, which all the infrequentl y, brought down to the level of ordinainfluences of his life and peculiarities of his ry sublunary affairs. In his Diary, he says, on. mental character and habits tended to exagger- one occasion: "I set apart the day for fasting ate, led him to pervert the use and operation of " with prayer, and the special intention of the day prayer, until it became a mere implement, or dev- " was to obtain deliverance and protection from ice, to compass some personal end; to carry a " my enemies. I mentioned their names unto the point in whichl he was interested, whether relat- j-' Lord, who has promised to be my shield." ing to private and domestic affairs, or to move- iThe enemies, here referred to, were political opments in academical, political, or ecclesiastical ponents —Governor Dudley and the supporters of spheres. While accolding to him entire sincerity his administration.? in his devotional exercises, and, I trust, truly re- At another time, he fixed his heart upon some vering the character and nature of such expres- books offered for sale. Not having the means to sions of devout sensibility and aspirations to di- procure them in the ordinary way, he resorted to vine communion, it is quite apparen hat tlt they prayer: "I could not forbear mentioning my were practiced by him, in modes and to an extent "wishes in my prayers, before the Lord, that, that cannot be commended, leading o to. much'in case it might be of service to his interests, self-delusion and to extravagances near akin to "lie would enable me, in his good Providence, distraction of judgment, and a disordered mental " to purchase the treasure now b)efore me. But and moral frame. He would abstain from food- "I left the matter before him, with the profoundon one occasion, it is said, for three days togeth- " est resignation." er-and spend the time, as he expresses it "in The following entry is of a similar characknocking at the door of heaven." Leaving Iis ter:' This evening, I met with an experience, bed at the dead hours of the night: and retiring' which it may not be unprofitable fori me to reto his study, he would cast himself on the floor, " member. I had been, for about a fortnight, and "wrestle with the Lord." He kept, usu- "vexed with an extraordinary heart-burn; and ally, one day of each week in such fasting,' none of all the common medicines would resometimes two. In his vigils, very prl(tralcted,' move it, though for the present some of them he would, in this prostrate position, be bathled in " would a little relieve it. At last, it grew so tears. By such exhausting r)ocesses, continued " much upon me, that I was ready to faint unthrough days and nights, without food or rest,' der it. But, undcer my fainting pain, this iehis nature failed; he grew faint; physical weak- " Ilection camne into my mind. There was this ness laid him open.to delusions of the ililagina- "amaong tile sufferings and complaints of my tion; and his nervous systeml becamie deranged.'Lord Jesus Christ. My heart was like wax Sometimes, heaven seemed to approach himl, and "melted in the middle of my bowels. Hereuphe was hardly able to bear the ecstasies of di-'on, I beggrecl of the Lord, that, for the sake of vine love: at other times, his soul would be tossed "tihe heart-burn undergone by my Saviour, I in the opposite direction: and often, tlhe two " might be delivered from the other and lesser states would follow each other in the sa.me exci- " lhclt iburn wherewith I was now incolmmoded. cise, as described by him in his Diary:*''-" Was " Immediatetly it was darted into my mind, that "ever man more tempted than the miseab)le "I had Sir Philip Paris's pIlaster in my house, " Mather? Should I tell in how many forms tlie " which was good for infiammaltions; and laying "'Devil has assaulted me, and with what subtlety'the pla)ster on, I was cured of my malady." "and energy his assaults have been carried on, it These passages indicate a use of prayer, whicll, would strike my friends with horror. Some- to the ext lt Mather carried it, would hardly be "times, temptations to vice, to blasphemy, and practised or alpproved by enlightened Christians "atheism, and the abandonment of all religion of this or any age; although our Reviewer fully endorses it. In reference to Mather's belief in * The passages from Cotton Mather's Diary, used in this tile power of prayer, he expresses himself wilh a article, are mostly taken from the Ciristian Examiner, bald simplicity, never equalled even by that Dixi. 249; Proceedings of Massachusetts Historical Society, vine. After stating that the Almighty Sovereign i. 289., and iv. 404; and Life of Cotton- Jlather, by Willim. Afte statin that te Almighty Svereign B. 0. Peabody, in Sparks's Americarn Biography, vi. 162. was his Father, and had promised to hear and SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 9 answer his petitions, he goes on to say: "He This language, published by Doctor Hutchin" had often tested this promise, and had found son, in England, during the life-time of the "it faithful and sure." One would think, in Mathers, shows how strong was the opinion, at hearing such a phraseology, he was listening to that tine, that the writings of those two Divines an agent, vending a patent medicine as an infal- were designed and used to promote the prevalible cure, or trying to bring into use a labor-sav- lence of the Witchcraft superstition, and especiing machine. ly that such was the effect, as well as the purThe Reviewier calls me to account for represent- pose, of Cotton Mather's publication of the case ing " the Goodwin affair " as having had " a of the Goodwin children, put into such circulavery important relation to the Salem troubles," tion, as it was, by him and Baxter, in both Old and attempts to controvert that position. and New England. In the same connection, On this point, Francis Hutchinson, before Francis Hutchinson says: " Observe the time of referred to, gives his views, very decidedly, "tle publication of that book, and of Mr. Baxin the following passages: [Pp. 95, 96, 101.] "'ter's. Mr. MIather's came out in 1690, and "Mr. Cotton Mather, no longer since than "Mr. Baxter's the year after: and Mr. Mather's " 1690, published the case of one Goodwin's clil- " father's Remarcrable Providences had been out "dren. * * * The book was sent hither to be "beforethat; and, in theyear 1692, the frights and "printed amongst us, and Mr. Baxter recom-' fits of the afflicted, and the imprisonment and "mended it to our people by a Preface, where- "execution of Witches in New England, made "in he says:'That man must be a very obdur- "as sad a calamity as a plague or a war. I "'ate Sadducee that will not believe it.' The " know that Mr. Mather, in his late Folio, im"year after, Mr. Baxter, perhaps encouragedl "putes it to the Indian Pawawv s sending their " by Mr. Mather's book, published his own C6er-' spirits amongst them; but I attribute it to Mr. "tainty of the World of Spirits, with anotlel "' Baxter's book, and his, and his father's, and the "testimony,'That Mr. Mather'sbook would Si- " false principles, and frightful stories, that filled "'lence any incredulity that pretended to be' the people's minds with great fears and dan"' rational.' And Mr. Mather dispersed IMr. "gerous notions." "Baxter's book in New England, with the Our own Hiutchinson, in his HIistory of fMasscharacter of it, as a book that was ungainsaya- ach'7lsetts, [If. 25-27.] alludes to the excitement " ble." of the public mind, occas;oned by tlhe case of Speaking of Mather's book, Doctor Hutehin- the Goodwin children.''I have often," le says, son proceeds: "The judgment I made of it was, "'heard persons who were of the neighborhood, "that the poor cld woman, being ani Irish Pa-''speak of the great consternation it occasioned." " pist, and not ready in the signification of Eng- In citing this author, in the present discussion, "lish words, had entangled herself by a super- certain facts are always to be borne in mind. "stitious belief, and doubtful answers about One of his sisters was the wife,f Cotton Mather's Saints and Charms; and seeing what advanta- son, towards whom Hutclhinson cherished senti"ges Mr. Mather madle of it, I was afraid I saw ments appropriate to such a near connection, and "part of the reasons that carried the cause of which Samuel Mather was, there is no reason "against her. And first it is manifest that Mr. to doubt, worthy. In the Preface to his first vol-' Mather is magnified, as having great power une he spea.ks thus:' I am obliged t o ooth"over evil spirits. A young man in his family''er person more than to my friend and brother,,'is represented so holy, that the place of his de-' tle Reverend Mr. Mlather, whose library has " votions was a certain cure of tile young virgin's " been open to me, as it had been before to the "fits. Then his grand-father's and father's books "Reverend Mr. Prince, who has taken from "have gained a testimony, that, upon occasion, " thence the greatest and most valuable part of " may be improved one knows not how far. For " what he had collected." amongst the miany experiments that were made, Moreover, this very library was, it can hardly'' Mr. Malther would bring to this young maid, the.be questioned, that of Cotton Matther; of which, "Bible, the A.semnbly's Catechism, his grand- in his Diary, he speaks as' very great." In an "father Cotton's Mitilk/ for Babes, his father's intelesting article, to which I may refer again, " Remarlcable P/'ovidences, and a book to prove in tile Collections of the Massachusetts Ilistori"that there were Witches; and when any of these cal Society, [IV. ii. 128], we are told tlhat, in the "were offered for her to read in. she would be inventory of tile estate of Cotton Matlher, filed struck dead, and fall into convulsions.' These by his Admlinistrator, " not a single book is "'good books,' he says,'were mortal to her'; "mentioned among the assets of tllis eccentric'and lest the world should be so dull as not to "scholar." lie had, it is to be presumed, given " take him righlt, lie adds,'I hope I have not them all, in his life-time, to his son, who sue"'spoiled thle credit of tlme books, by telling ceeded to his ministry in the North Church, in'' how much the Devii heated them.' " 1732. 10 SALEM i-WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. When the delicacy of his relation to the Math- lem, in his book, entitled, A modest Enquiry into cr family and the benefit he was deriving from the nature of Witchcraft, written in 1697, but that library are considered, the avoidance, by not printed until 1702, after mentioning the fact Hutchinson, of any unpleasant reference to Cot- that Cotton Mather had published an account of ton Mather, l)y name, is honorable to his feel- the conduct of the Goodwin children, and briefings. But he maintained, nevertheless, a faith- ly describing the manifestations and actions of the ful allegiance to the truth of history, as the fol- Salem girls, says: [p. 24] " I will not enlarge in lowing, as well as many other passages, in his "thle description of their cruel sufferings, beinvaluable work, strikingly show. They prove' cause they were, in all things, afflicted as bad that he regarded Mather's "printed account" of' as John Goodwin's children at Boston, in the the case of the Goodwin children, as having a "year 168!, as lie, that will read Mr. Mather's very imlportant relation to the immediately subse- " book on Rem1ark-able Providences, p. 3. &c., quent delusion in Salem.' The eldest was taken," " may read part of what these children, and afhe says, "'into a Minister's family, where at first " terwards sundry grown persons, suffered by the " she behaved orderly, but after some time sud- " hand of Satan, at Salem Villago, and parts ad"dently fell into her fits." "Theaccountof her "jacent, Anno 1691-2, yet there was more in "sufferings is in print; some things are men- " their sufferings than in those at Boston, by " tioned as extraordinary, which tumblers are "pins invisibly stuck into their flesh, pricking every day taught to perform; others seem more "with irons (as, in part, published in a book "than natural; but it was a time of great cred- " rinted 1693, viz: The Wonders of the Invis"ulity. * * * The printed account was pub- "ible World.)" This is proof of the highest "lisled with a Preface by Mr,. Baxter. * * * authority, that, with the exceptions mentioned, "It obtained credit sufficient, together with oth- there was a perfect similarity in the details of er preparatives, to dispose tile whole country the two cases. Mr. Hale's book had not the ben"to be easily imposed upon, by the more exten- efit of his revision, as it did not pass through the " sive and more tragical scene, which was pres- press until two years after his death; and we thus " ently after acted at Salem and other parts of account for the error as to the date of the Goodthle county of Essex." After mentioning sever- win affair. al works publishedin England, containing L"witch- In making up his MIJgnalia, Mather had the "stories," witch-trials, etc., he l)roceeds: "All use of Hale's manuscript and transferred from it' these books were in New England, and the con- nearly all that he says, in that work, about Salem' formity between the behavior of Goodwin's chil- Witchcraft. He copies the passage above quoted. "dren, and most of the supposed be-witched at The fact, therefore, is sufficiently attested by "Salem, and the behavior of those in England, Mather as well as Hale, that, with the exceptions is so exact, as to leave no room to ctout the stated, there was,'in all things," an entire simil"stories had been read by the New England arity between the cases of 1688 and 1692. -'"-ersons themselves, or had been told to them Nay, fnrther, in this same way we have tle ev"by others who had read them. Indeed this idence of Cotton Mather himself, that his "print"conformity, instead of giving suspicion, was " ed account," of the case of the Goodwin chil"urged in confirmation of the truth of both. dren, was actually used, as an anthority, by the' The Old England demons and the New being Court, in the trials at Salem —so that it is clear "so much alike." that the said " account," contributed not only, It thus appears that the opinion was entertain- by its circulation among the people, to bring olred, in England and this country, that the notorie- the prosecutions of 1692, but to carry them ty given to the case of the Goodwin children, es- through to their fatal results —Mr. Hale says: [p. pecially by Mather's printed account of it, had 27.] "that thle Justices, Judges and others conan efficient influence in bringing on the "trag-;'ce:ned,"consultedthepreccdentsofformertimes, " ical scene," shortly afterwards exhibited at Sa and precepts laid down by learned writers about lelm. This opinion is shown to have been correct, Witchcraft. He goes on to enumerate them, by the extraordinary similarity between them mentioning Keeble, Sir Matthew HIale, Glanvil, -the one being patterned after the other. The Bernard, Baxter and Burton, concluding the list Salem case, in 1692, was, in fact, a substantial rep- with " Cotton Mather's Memorable Providences, etition of the Boston case, in 1688. On this " relatihngto Witchcraft, printed, anno 1689."Mapoint, we have the evidence of Cotton Mather ther transcribes this also into the Magnalia. The himself. Alemorable Providences is referred to by Hale, in The Rev. John Hale of Beverly, who was as another place, as containing the case of the Goodwell qualified as any one to compare them, hav-'vin children, consisting, in fact mainly of it. ing lived in Charlestown, which place had been [p. 23]. Mather, having Hale's book before the residence of the Goodwin family, and been him, must, therefore be considered as endorsing active participator in the prosecutions at Sa- the opinion for which the Reviewer calls me to SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON -MATHER. 11 account, namely, that "the Goodwin affair had a "them in the methods prescribed by our Lord "very important relation to the Salem troubles." "Jesus Christ. Accordingly, the Lord being What is sustained touching this point, by both "besought thrice, in three days of prayer, with the Hutchinsons, Hale, and Cotton Mather him- fasting on this occasion, the fanily then saw self, cannot be disturbed in its position, as a''their deliverance perfected." truth of History. It is worthy of reflection, whether it was not The reader will, I trust, excuse me for going the fasting, that seems to have been especially into such minute processes of investigation and enforced' on this occasion," and for " three reasoning, in such comparatively unimportant "days," that cured the girl. A similar applipoints. But, as the long-received opinions, in cation had lefore operated as a temporary remreference to this chapter of our history, have been e(y. Mather tells us, in his Memorable Provibrought into question in the colunns of a journal, dences, [p. 31,] referring to a date previous to justly commanding the public confidence, it is the " three days " fasting, " Mr. Morton, of'necessary to re-examine the grounds on which " Charlestown, and Mr. Allen, Mr. Moody, Mr. they rest. This I propose to do, without regard " Willard, and myself, of Boston, with some deto labor or space. I shall not rely upon general " vout neighbors, kept another day of' prayer at considerations, but endeavor, in the course of " John Goodwin's house; and we had all the this discussion, to sift every topic on which the " children present with us there. The childReviewer has struck at the truth of history, fair- "ren w(ere miserably tortured, whlile we labored ly and thorougohly. On this particular point, (f "in our prayers; 1but our good God was nigh the relation of these two instances of alleged "unto us, in what we called upon him for. Witchcraft, in localities so near as Boston and " From this day, the power of the enemy was Salem, and with'so short an interval of time, gener- " broken; and the children, though assaults after al considerations would ordinarily be regarded "this were made upon them, yet were not so as sufficient. From the nature of things, the " cruelly handled as before." former must have served to bring about the ]at- It must have been a hard day for all conter. The intercollmmunication between the places cerned. Five Ministers and any number of was, even then, so constant, that no important " good praying people," as Goodwin calls them, event could happen in one without being known' together with his whole family, could not but in the other. By the thousand channels of con- have crowded his small house. The children, versation and rumor. and by Mather's printed ac- on such occa ions, often proved very troublecount, endorsed by Baxter, and put into circula- some, as stated above. Goodwin says, " the two tion throughout the country, the details of the al- " biggest, lying on the bed, one of them iwould leged sufferings and extraordinary doings of the " fain have kicked the good men, while they Goodwin children, musthave become well known, "were wrestling with God for tlhem, had I not in Salem Village. Such a conclusion would be "held him with all my power, and might." formed, if no particular evidence in suppoit of Fasting was added to the prayers, that were it could be adduced; but when corroborated by kept up during the whole time, tle Ministers the two Hutchinsons, Mr. Hale, and, in effect, relieving each other. If the fasting had been by Mather himself, it cannot 1)e shaken. continued three days, it is not unlikely that the As has been stalted, Cotton Mather, previous to cure of the children would, then, have proved his experience with those "pests," as the Re- effectual and lasting. The account given in the viewer happily calls "the Goodwin children," Memorcbles and tle Mcagnalica, of the conduct of probably believed in the efficacy of pray- these children, under the treatment of Mather er, and in that alone, to combat and beat clown and the orher Ministers, is, indeed, most ludievil spirits and their infernal Prince; and John crous; and no one can be expected to look at it Goodwin's declaration, that it was not by his in any other light. He was forewarned that, in advice that he went to the law, is, therefore, en- printing it, he would expose him'self to ridicule. tirely credible in itself. The protractted trial, I-e tells us that the mischievous, but bright and however, patiently persevered in for several long wonderfully gifted, girl, the eldest of the chilmonths, when he had every advantage, in his dren, getting, at one time, possession of his own house, to piray the devil out of the eldest manuscript, pretended to be, for the moment, of the children, resulting in her becoming more incapacitated, by the Devil, for reading it; and and more "saucy," insolent, and outrageous, may he further informs us, "She'd hector me at a have undermined his faith to an extent of which " strange rate for the work I was at, and threathe mightnot havebeen whollyconscious. Hesays, " en me with I know not wlhat mischief for it. in concluding his story in the Magnalia, [Bookc "She got a History I was writing of this Witchvi.?,. 75.] that, after all other methods had fail- " craft; and though she had, before this, read it ed, "one particular Minister, taking particular " over and over, yet now she could not read (I' compassion on the family, set himself to serve "believe) one entire sentence of it; but she 12 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. "made of it the most ridiculous Travesty in the the establishment of the Province under the " world, with such a patness and excess of tan- second Charter. Circumstances had conspired cy, to supply the sense that she put upon it, to give him great influence in organizing the "as I was amazed at. And she particularly Government provided for in the new Charter. " told me, That I should quickly come to dis- His son describes him as " one that, besides a " grace by that History." " station in the Church of God, as considerable as It is noticable that the Goodwin children, " any that his own country can afford, hath for like their imitators at Salein Village, the' af- "'divers years come off vvith honor, in his appli"flicted," as they were called, were car:ful, ex- "cation to three crowned heads and the chiefcept in certain cases of emergence, not to have "est nobility of three kingdoms." their night's sleep disturbed, and never lost an Being satisfied that a restoration of the old appetite for their regular meals. I cannot but Charter could not be obtained, Increase Mather tliink that if the Village girls had, once in a acquiesced in what he deemed a necessity, and while, like the Goodwin children, been compell- bent his efforts to have as favorable terms as ed to go for a day or two upon very short al- possible secured in the new. His colleagues in lowance, it would have soon brought their the agency, Elisha Cooke and Thomas Oaks, op"sport " to an end. posed his course-the former, with great deterNothing is more true than that, in estimating mrination, taking the ground of the " old Charter the conduct and character of men, allowance "or none." This threw them out of all commumust be made for the natural, and almost neces- nication with the Home Government, on the subsary, influence of the opinions and customs of ject, and gave to Mr. Mather controlling influtheir times. But this excuse will not wholly ence. He was requested by the Ministers of the shelter the Matheirs. They are answerable, as I Crown to name the officers of the new Governhave shown, Imore than ahllost any other men ment; and, in fact, had the free and sole selec-have been, for the opinions of their time. tion of them all. Sir William Phips was apIt was, indeed, a superstitious age; but pointed Governor, at his solicitation,; and, in made much more so by their operations, accordance with earnest recomendations, in a influence, and writings, beginning with In- letter from Cotton Mather, William Stoughton crease Mather's movement, at the assembly of was appointed Deputy-governor, thereby superthe Ministers, in 1681, and ending with Cotton ceding Danforth, one of the ablest men in Mather's dealings with the Goodwin children, the Province..In fact, every member of the and the account thereof which he printed and Council owed his seat to the Mathers, and, pocirculated, far and wide. For this reason, then, litically, was their creature. Great was the exin the first place, I hold those two men responsi- ultation of Cotton Mather, when the intelligence ble for what is called " S ilem Witchcraft." reached him, thus expressed in his Diary: " The I have admitted and shown that Cotton Math- "time for favor is now come, yea, the set-time er originally relied only upon prayer in his corn- "is come. I am now to receive the answers of bat with Satanic powers. But the time was at "so many prayers, as have been employed for my hand, when other weapons than the sword of "absent parent, and the deliverance and settlethe Spirit were to be drawn in that warfare. "ment of my poor country. We have not the "former Charter, but we have a better in the IV. " room of it; one which much better suits our THE RELATION OF THE MATHERS TO THE ADMIN- " ccumstances. And, instead of my being ISTRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1692. THE made a sacrifice to wicked rulers, a1l the NEW CHARTER. THE GOVERNMAENT UNDER IT " Councillors of the Province are of my father's ARRANGED BY THEM. ARRIVAL OF SIIR WIL- "onomination; and my father-in-law, with severLIAM PHIPPS.. R al related to me, and several brethren of my " own Church, are among them. The Governor No instance of the responsibility of particular " of the Province is not rmy enemy, but one persons for the acts of a Government, in the " whom I baptized, namely, Sir William Phips, whole range of history, is more decisive or un- " and one of my flock, and one of my dearest questionable, than that of the Mathers, father " frliends." and son, for the trials andl executions, for the al- The whole number of Councillors was twentyleged crime of Witchcraft, at S.lem, in 1692. eight, three of them, at least, being of the MathIncrease Mllther had been in England, as one er Church. John Phillips was Cotton Mathof the Agents of the Colony of Massachusetts, er's father-in-law. Two years before, Sir Willfor several years, in the last part of the reign it m Phips hadi been baptized by Cotton Mathof James II. and the beginning of that of Will- er, in the presence of the congregation, andc reiam and Mary, covering much of the period be- ceived into the Church. tween the abrogation of the first Charter and The "set time," so long prayed for, was of brief SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHEB. 13 duration. The influence of the Mathers over " vened at Boston. I did then exhort them to the politics of the Province was limited to the " make an Address of thanks to their Majesfirst part of Phips's short administration. At "ties; which, I am since informed, the Assemthe very next election, in May, 1693, ten of the " bly have unanimously agreed to do, as in duty Councillors were left out; and Elisha Cooke, " they are bound. I have also acquainted the their great opponent, was chosen to that body, " whole Assembly, how much, not myself only, although negatived by Phips, in the exercise of " but they, and all this Province, are obliged to his prerogative, under the Charter. " your Lordship in particular, which they have Increase Mather came over in thesameslshipwith "a grateful sense of, as by letters from themthe Governor, the Nonsuch, fiigate. As Phips was " selves your Lordship will perceive. If I may, his parishioner, owed to him his office, and was " in any thing, serve their Majesties interest necessarily thrown into close intimacy, during "here, I shall, on that account, think myself the long voyage, he fell naturally under his in- " happy, and shall always study to approve myfluence, which, all things considered, could not " self, My Lord, have failed to be controlling. The Governor "Your most humble, thankful I was an illiterate person, but of generous, con- " BOSTON, N. E. and obedient Servant, fiding, and susceptible impulses; and the elder " June 23, 1692. INCREASE MATEER. Mather was precisely fitted to acquire an as- " To the Rt. Honble the EARL OF NOTTINGHAM cendency over such a character. He had been " his 3Mjtie Principal Secretary of State twice abroad, in his early manhood and in his " at Whitehall." later years, had knowledge of' the world, been conversant with learned men in Colleges and While they could thus address the General among distinguished Divines and Statesmen, and Assembly, and the inisters of State, in London, seen much of Courts and the operations of Gov- the Government here was, as Hutchinson eviernments. With a more extended experience entl regarded it, [. 365; i. 69.] "a MATHER and observation than his son, his deportment " ADMINISTATIO. It was'i slhort, sharp, and was more dignified, and his judgment infi- "decisive." It opened in great power; its nitely better; while his talents and acquirements course was marked with terror and havoc; it were not far, if at all, inferior. When Phips ended with mysterioussuddenness; and itsonly landed in Boston, it could not, therefore, have monument is Salem Witchcraft-the "Judicial been otherwise than that he should pass under " murder," as the Reviewer calls it, of twenty the control of the Mathers, the one accompany- men ald women, as innocent in their lives as ing, the.other meeting him on the shore. They ey were heroic in tleir deaths. were his religious teachers and guides; by their The Nonsuch arivec in Boston harbor, to-.efficient patronage and exertions lie had been wards the evening of the fourteenth of May, 1692. placed in his high office. They, his Deputy, Juge Sesaall's Dia y, now in the possession of Stoughton, and the whole class of persone un- the Massacusetts Histoicl Soty,as this der their influence, at once gathered about him, et, t the above date." Candles are lighted gave him his first impressions, and directed "beore he gets into Town House, 8 companies his movements. By their talents and position, " wait on him to iis house, and then on Mr. the Mathers controlled the people, and kept "Mther to his, made no vollies, because'twas open a channel through which they could reach SAturday night." the ear of Royalty. The Government of the The next day, the Governor attended, we may Province was nominally in Phips and his Coun- be sure, public worship with the congregation cil, but the Mathers were a power behind the to whlih he belonged; and the occasion was throne greater so long an lowing letter, never before pullished, for which absence, Increase Mather could not have failed I am indebted to Abner C. Goodell, Esq., Vice- to address his people, the son also taking part president of the Essex Institute, shows how in the interesting seivice. Tile presence, in his they bore themselves before the Legislature, and pew, of the man who, a siort timne before, had communicated wilth the Home Government. been regenerated by thmeir preaching, and now re-appeared among them with tihe title and " MY LORD: commission of Governor of New England, "I have only to assure your Lordship, that added to the previous honors of Knightlood, at " the generality of their Majesties subjects (so once suggested to all, and particularly impress"far as I can understand) do, with all thank- ed upon him, an appreciating conviction of the " fulness, receive the favors, which, by the new political triumph, as well as clerical achieve"Charter, are granted to them. The last week, ment, of the associate Ministers of the North "the General Assembly (which, your Lordship Boston Church. From what we know of the "knows, is our New England Parliament) con- state of the public mind at that time, as em 4 SAtEM WITCHCRAFT AND dOTTON MATHER. phatically described in a document I am pres- "persons of the best prudence and figure that ently to produce, there can be no question as to "could then be pitched upon. When the Court one class of topics and exhortationls, where-' came to sit at Sdlem, in the County of Essex, withal his Excellency and the crowded con- "they convicted more than twenty persons begregation were, that day, entertained. "ing guilty of witchcraft, some of the conMonday, the sixteenth, was devoted to the "victed confessed their guilt; the Court, as I ceremonies of the public induction of the new " understand, began tleir proceedingl s with tle Government. There was a procession to the " accusations of afflicted persons; and then went Town-house, where the Commissions of the "upon other humane evidences to strengthen Governor and Deputy-governor, with the Char- "that. I was, almost the whole time of the ter under which they were appointed, were sev- "proceeding, abroad in the service of their erally read aloud to the people. A public' Majesties, in the Eastern part of the country, dinner followed; and, at its close, Sir William "and depended upon thejudgment ot tlhe Court, was escorted to his residence. At the meeting'as to a method of proceeding in cases of of the Council, the next day, the seventeenth, " witchcraft; but when I came home I found the oaths of office having been administered, all " many persons in a strange ferment of dissatround, it was voted "that there be a general "isfaction, which was increased I)y some h-ot "meeting ot the Council upon Tuesday next, "spirits that blew up the flame; but on inquir" the twenty-fourth of May current, in Boston, "in into the matter I found that the Devil "at two o'clock, post-meridian, to nominate and "had taken upon him the name and shape of " appoint Julges, Justices, and other officers ot "several persons wAho were doubtless innocent,' the Council and Courts of Justice within this " and, to my certain knowledge, of good reputa" their Majestie's Province belonging, and that " tion; for which cause I have now forbidden " notice thereof, or summons, be forthwith issued " the committing of any more that shall be ac" unto the members of the Council now ab- " cused, wittout unavoidable necessity, and " sent." " those that have been committed I would shelThe following letter from Sir William Phips, " ter fiom any proceedings against them whereto the Government at home, recently procured " in there may be the least suspicion of any fiom England by Mr. Goodell, was published " wrong to be done unto the innocent. I would in the last volume of the Collections of the Essex " also wait for any particular directions or comInstitute-Volume IX., Part II. I print it, en- "mands, if their Majesties please to give me tire, and request the reader to examine it, care- "any, for the fuller ordering this perplexed fully, and to refer to it as occasion arises in "affair. this d scussio', as it is a key to the whole trans- "I have also put a stop to the printing of any action of the Witchcraft trials. Its opening "discourses one way or other, that may increase sentence demonstrates the impression mlade by "the needless disputes of people upon this occathose who first met and surrounded him, on his " sion, because I saw a likelihood of kindling an excitable nature: inextinguishable flame if I should admit any " When I first arrived, I found this Province " public and open contests; and I have grieved "miserably harassed with a most horrible "to see that some, who should have cone their " witchcraft or possession of devils, which had "Majesties, and thisProvince, betterservice, have " broke in upon several towns, some scores of " so far taken council of passion as to desire the "poor people were taken with preternatural "precipitancy of these matters; these things "torments, some scalded with brimstone, some "have been improved by some to give me many "had pins stuck in their flesh, others hurried "interruptolns in tlleir Majesties service [which] " into the fire and water, and some dragged out "has been ler blTy unllappily clogged, and the " of their houses and carried over the tops of " persons, who have made so ill improvement of " trees and hills for many miles together; it " these matters here, are seeking to turn it upon "hath been represented to mei much like that "me, but I hereby declare, that as soon as I came of Sweden about thirty years ago; and there " from fighting against their Majesties enemies, "were many committed to prison upon suspi- "and understood whCt danger some of their " cion of Witchcraft before my arrival. The " innocent subjects might be exposed to, if the " loud cries and clamours of the friends of the " evidence of the afflicted persons only did pre" afflicted people, with the advice of the Dep- " vail, either to the committing, or trying any of "uty-governor and many others, prevailed with "them, I did, before any application was made me to give a Commission of Oyer and Termi- " unto me about it, put a stop to the proceed" ner for discovering what Witchcraft might be "ings of the Court and they are now stopped' at the bottom, or whether it were not a pos- " till their Majesties pleasure be known. Sir, I "session. The chief Judge in this Commission " beg pardon for giving you all this trouble; "was the Deputy-governor, and the rest were SALiEM WITCHORAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 1S " the reason is because I know my enemies are On Tuesday, the twenty-fourth of May, the " seeking to turn it all upon me. Sir, Council met to consider the matter specially as" I am signed to that day, namely, the nomination and " Your most humble Servt appointment of Judicial officers. " WILLIAM PlIPS. The Governor gave notice that he had issued Writs for the election of Representatives to con"Dated at BOSToN IN NEW ENGLAND, " the a1ttll of OcIt 1692G. vene in a General Court, to be held on the eighth "the 14th of Octr' 1692. of June of June. " EMDM Hle also laid before the Council, the assigned "That my Lord President be pleased to ac- business, which was " accordingly attended, and "quaint his Majesty in Council with the ac-''divers persons, in the respective Counties were "count received fiom New England, from Sir "named, and left for further consideration." "Wm- Phips, the Governor there, touching pro- On the twenty-fifth of May, the Council being "ceedings against several persons for Witch- again in session, the record says:' a further "craft, as appears by the Governor's letter con- " discourse was had about persons, in the sever"cerning those matters." " al Counties, for Justices and other officers, and The foregoing document, I repeat, indicates''it was judged advisable to defer the considerathe kind of talk with which Phips was accosted, "tion of fit persons for Judges, until there be when stepping ashore. Exaggerated rep)resenta- " an establishment of Courts of Justice." tions of the astonishing occurrences at Salem Vil- t te next meeting, on the twenty-seventh of lace burst upon him from all, whom he would May, it was ordered t thtthe members of the have boen likely to meet. The manner in which Council, severally, and their Secretary, should be _the Mathers, thriough him, had got exclusive pos- Justices of the Peace and Quorum, in the respecsession of the Government of the Province, prob- tive Counties where they reside: a long list, beably kept him from mingling freely among, or h'lv- sides, was adopted, appointing the persons named ing much opportunity to meet, any leading men, in it Justices, as also Sheriffs and Coroners; and outside of his Council and the party represented. a SPECIAL COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER was estherein. Writing in the ensuing Octoher, at the tablished for the Counties of Suffolk, Essex, and moment when he had made up his mind to break Middlesex, consisting of William Stoughton, loose from those who had led him to tile hasty Chief-justice, John lRichards, Nathaniel Saltonappointment of tlhe Special Court, there is signif- stall, Wait Winthrop. Bartholomew Gecney, Samicance in his language. "I have grieved to see uel Sewall, John Hathorne, Jonathan Corwin, " that some, who should have done their Majes- and Peter Sargent, any five of them to be a quo" ties, and the Province, better service, have so'rum (Stoughton, Richards, or Gedney to be one of far taken counsel of passion, as to desire the the five). "precipitancy of these matters." This refers to, Wen we consider that the subject ald been and amounts to a condemnation of, the advisers specially assigned on the seventeenth, and diswho had influenced him to the rash measures cussed for two days, on the twenty-fourth and adopted on his arrival. How rash and precipi- twenty-fifth, to the conclusion that the appointtate those mIeasures were I now proceed to show. meut of Judges ought to be deferred, "until' there be an establish ment of Courts of Justice, "V. which, by the Charter, could only be done by the General Court which was to meet, as the Governor TIE SPECIAL COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER. 1ad notified them, in less than a fortnight-the HOW IT WAS ESTABLISHED. WHO RESPONSIBLE establishment of the Court of Oyer and TerminFOR IT. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE, on the twety-seventh. mustbe regarded as very CONCENTRATED IN ITS CatEF-JUSTICE. extraordinary. It was acknowledged to be an un — So great was the pressure made upon Sir authorized proceedure; the deliberate judgment'William Phips, by the wild panic to which the of the Council had been expressed against it; community had been wrought, that he ordered and there was no occasion for such hurry, as the the persons who had been committed to prison Legislature was so soon to assemble. There must' by the Salem Magistrates, to be put in irons; have been a strong outside pressure, from sonme but hIis natural kindness of heart and common quarter, to produce such a change of front. sense led him to relax the unjustifiable severity. From Wednesday to Friday, some persons of Professor Bowen, in his Life of Phips, embraced great influence must have been hard at work. The in Sparks's American Biography, [vii, 81.1 says: reasons assigned, in the record, for this sudden re"Sir' William seems not to have been in earnest versal, by the Council, of its deliberate decision, "in the proceeding; for the officers were permit- are the great number of criminals waiting trial, ted to evade the order, by putting on the irons the thronged condition of the jails, and "this hot "indeed, but takingthem off again, immediately." " season oftheyear," on the twenty-seventh of Mayl 16 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. It is further stated, " there being no judicatures "about thirty years ago." This Swedish case " or Courts of Justice yet established," that, there- was Cotton Mather's special topic. In his Wonfore, such an extraordinary step was necessary. ders qf the Invisible World, he says that "other It is, indeed, remarkable, that, in the face of their "good people have in this way been harassed, own recorded convictions of -expediency and but none in circumstances more like to ours pro)riety, and in disregard of the provisions "than the people of God in Swcedland." He of the Charter which, a few days before, introduces, into the Wonders, a separate account they had been sworn to obey, the Council could of it; and reproduces it in his Life of Phips, inhave been led to so far "take counsel of passion," corporated subsequently into the Mlagnalica. The as to rush over every barrier to this precipitate first point he makes, in presenting this case, is as measure. follows: "The inhabitants had earnestly sought No specific reference is anywhere made, in the "God in prayer, and yet their affliction conJournals, to Witchcraft; but the Court was to act "tinned. Whereupon Judges had a Special upon all cases of felony and other crimes. The " Commission to find, and root out the hellish "Council Records " were not obtained from Eng- " crew; and the rather, because another County land, until 1846. Writers have generally spoken''in the Kingdom, which had been so molested, of the Court as consisting of seven Judges. Salt- " was delivered upon the execution of the Witchonstall's resignation does not appear to have led "es."-The Wonders of the Invisible World. to a new aplpointment; and, perhaps, Hathorne, Edit. London, 1693, p. 48. who generally acted as an Examining Magistrate, The importance attached by Cotton Mather to and signed most of the Commitments of the the affair in Sweden, especially viewed in conprisoners, did not often, if ever, sit as a Judge. nection with the foregoing extract, indicates that In this way, the Court may have been reduced to the change, I have conjectured, had come over seven. Stephen Sewall was appointed Clerk, him, as to the way to deal with Witches; and and George Corwin, High Sheriff. that he had reached the conclusion that prayer Thus established and organized, on the twenty- would not, and nothing but the gallows could, seventh of May, the Court sat, on the second of answer the emergency. In the Swedish case, was June, for the trial of Bridget Bishop. Her Death- found the precedent for a " Special Commission warrant was signed, on the eighth of June, the " of Oyer and Terminer." very day the Legislature convened; and she was Well might the Governor have felt the imporexecuted on the tenth. This was, indeed, "pre- tance of relieving himself, as far as possible, from' cipitancy." Before the General Court had the responsibility of having organized such a Court, time, possibly, to make "an establishment of and of throwing it upon his advisers. The tri" Courts of Justice" in the exercise of the pow- bunal consisted of the Deputy-governor, as Chiefers bestowed upon it by the Charter, this Special justice, and eight other persons, all members of Court-suddenly sprung upon the country, against the Council, and each, as has been shown, owing the deliberate first judgment of the Council it- his seat, at that Board, to the Mathers. self, and not called for by any emergency of the The recent publication of this letter of Govmoment which the General Court, just coming on ernor Phips enables us now to explain certain cirthe stage, could not legally, constitutionally, and cumstances, before hardly intelligible, and to adequately, have met-dipped its hands in blood; appreciate the extent of the outrages committed and an infatuated and appalled people and their by those who controlled the administration of representatives allowed the wheels of the Jug- the Province, during the Witchcraft trials. gernaut to roll on. In 1767, Andrew Oliver, then Secretary of the The question, wllo are responsible for the crea- Province, was directed to search the Records of tion, in such hot haste, of this Court, and for its the Government to ascertain precedents, touching instant entrance upon its ruthless work, may not a point of much interest at that time. From his be fully and specifically answered, with absolute Report, part of which is given in Drake's invaldemonstration, but we may approach a satisfac uable Htistory of Boston, [p. 728. ] it appears that:tory solution of it. We know that a word from the Deputy-governor, Stoughton, by the appointeither of the Mathers would have stopped it. Their ment of the Governor, attended by the Secretary, relations to the Government were, then, control- administered the oaths to the members of the ling. Further, if, at that time, either of the oth- House of Representatives, convened on the eighth er leading Ministers-VWillard or Allen-had de- of June, 1692; that, as Deputy-governor, he sat manded delay, it would have been necessary to in Council, generally, during that year, and was, pause; but none appear to have made open oppo- besides, annually elected to the Council, until his sition; and all must share in the responsibility death, in 1701. All that time, he was sitting, in Jor subsequent events. the double capacity of an ex-oficio and an electPhips says that the affair at Salem Village was ed member; and for much the greater part of it, represented to him as "much like that of Sweden, in the absence of Phips, as acting Governor. The SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 1i Records show that he sat in Council when Sir Legislature adjourned. Phips went to the eastWilliam Phips was present, and presided over it, ward, immediately after the eighth of July. Again, when he was not present, and ever after Phips's on the first of August, he embarked from Boston decease, until a new Governor came over in 1699. with a force of four hundred and fifty men, for His annual election, by the House of Representa- the mouth of the Kennebec. In the Archives of tives, as one of the twenty-eight Councillors, MIassachusetts, Secretary's office, State House, Vol. while, as Deputy or acting Governor, he was enti- LI, p. 9, is the original document, signed by Phips, tied to a seat, is quite remlarkable. It gave him dated on the first of August, 1692, turning over a distinct legislative character, and a right, as an the Government to Stoughton, during his absence. elected member of the body, to vote and act, di- It appears by Church's Eastern Expeditions, Part rectly, in all cases, without restraint or emblarras- It. p. 82, edited by H. M. Dexter, and published ment, in debate and on Committees, in the mak- by Wiggin & Lunt, Boston, 1867, that, during a ing, as well as administering, the law. considerable part of the month of August, the In the letter now under consideration, Gov- Governor must have been absent, engaged in imernor Phips says:'I was almost the whole time portant operations on the coast of Maine. About "of the proceeding abroad, in the Service of the middle of September, he went again to the "their Majesties in the Eastern part of the coun- Kennebec, not returning until a short time before "try." the twelfth of October. In the course of the year, The whole tenor of the letter leaves an impres- he also was absent for a while in Rhode Island. sion that, being so much away from the scene, in Although anl energetic and active man, he had as frequent and long absences, he was not cognizant much on his hands, arising out of questions as to of what was going on, He depended "upon the extent of his authority over Connecticut and "' the judgment of the Court," as to its methods of Rhode Island and the management of affairs at proceeding; and was surprised when those the eastward, as he could well attend to. His methods were brought to his attention. Feeling Instructions, too, from the Crown, made it his his own incapacity to handle such a business, lie chief duty to protect the eastern portions of his waswilling to leave it to those who ought to Government. The state of things there, in connechave been more competent. Indeed, he passed tion with Indian assaults and outrages upon the the whole matter over to the Deputy-governor. In outskirt settlements, under French instigation, a letter, for which I am indebted to IMr. Goodell, was represented as urgently demanding his attendated the twentieth of February, 1693, to the Earl tion. Besides all this, his utmost exertions were of Nottingham, transmitting copies of laws pass- needed to protect the sea-coast against buccaed by the General Court, Governor Phils says: neers. In addition to the public necessities, thus " Not being versed in law, I have depended up- calling him to the eastward, it was, undoubtedly, " on the Lieut Gov", who is appointed Judge of more agreeable to his feelings, to revisit his na-'the Courts, to see that they be exactly agr'eea- tive region and the home of his early years, where, "- "ble to the laws of England, and not repugnant starting from the humblest spheres of mechanical "in any part. If there be any error, I know labor and maritime adventure, as a ship-carpen"it will not escape your observation, and de- ter and sailor, he had acquired the manly energy "sire a check may be given for what may be and enterprise that had conducted him to for-' amniss." tune, knightly honor, and the Commission of The closing sentence looks somewhat like a Governor of New England. All the reminiswant of confidence in the legal capacity and cences and best affections of his nature made him judgment of Stoughton, owing perhaps, to the prompt to defend the region thus endeared to bad work he had made at the Salem trials, the him. It was much more congenial to his feelSummer before; but the whole passage shows ings than to remain under the ceremonial and puthat Phips, conscious of his own ignorance of ritanic restraints of the seat of Govelnment, and such things, left them wholly to the Chief-jus- involved in perplexities with which he had no tice. ability. and probably no taste, to grapple. He The Records show that he sat in Council to the was glad to take himself out of the way; and as close of the Legislature, on the second of July. But his impetuous and impulsive nature rendered the main business was, evidently, under the man- those under him liable to find him troubleagement of Stoughton, who was Chairman of a some, they were not sorry to have him called elselarge Joint Committee, charged with adjusting the where. whole body of the laws to the transition of the I have mentioned these things as justifyng the Colony, from an independent Government, under impression, conveyed by his letter, that he knew the first Charter, to the condition of a subject butlittle of what was going on until his return Province. in the earlier half of October. Actual absence One person had been tried and executed; and at a distance, the larger part of the time, and enthe Court was holding its second Session when the grossing cares in getting up expeditions and sup2 18 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATtER. plies for them while he was at home -particular- military powers were concentrated in his person ly as, from the beginning, he had passed over the and wielded.by his hand. No more shameful business of the Court entirely to his Deputy, tyranny or shocking despotism was ever endured Stoughton-it is not difficult to suppose, had pre- in America, than, in "the dark and awful vented his mind being much, if at all, turned to- " day," as it was called, while the Special Conwards it. We may, therefore, consider that the mission of Oyer and Terminer was scattering dewitchcraft prosecutions were wholly under the struction, ruin, t'.rror, misery and death, over the control of Stoughton and those who, having given country. It is a disgrace to that generation, that him power, would naturally have influence over his it was so long suffered; and, instead of trying to exercise of it. invent excuses, it becomes all subsequent generaCalling in question the legality of the Court, tions to feel-as was deeply felt by enlightened Hutchinson expresses a deep sense of the irreg-u- and candid men, as soon as the storm had blown larity of its proceedings; although, as he says, over and a prostrate people again stood erect, in'the most important Court to the life of the sub- possession of their senses-that all ought, by hum"ject which ever was held in the Province," it ble and heart-felt prayer, to implore the divine meets his unqualified censure, in many points. forgiveness, as one of the Judges, fully as misin reference to the instance of the Jury's brininging guided at the time as the rest, did, to the end in a verdict of " Not guilty," in the case of Re- of his days. becca Nurse, and being induced, by the dissatis- As all the official dignities of the Province faction of the Court, to go out again, and bring were combined in Stoughton, he seems hardly to her in "Guilty," he condemns the procedure. have known in what capacity he was acting, as Spealing of a wife or husband being allowed to different occasions arose. He signed the Deathaccuse one the other, he breaks out: " I shudder warrant of Briidget Bishop, without giving him-' while I am relating it;" and giving the results at self any distinctive title, with his bare name the last trial, he sas: " This Court of Oyer and and his private seal. It is easy to imagine how "Terminer, happy for the country, sat no more." this lodging of the whole power of the State Its proceedings were arbitrary, harsh, and rash. in one man, destroyed all safeguards and closed The ordinary forms of caution and fairness were every door of refuge. When the express messendisregarded. The Judges made no concealmlent getl of the p)oor young wife of John Willard, or of a foregone conclusion against the Prisoners at the heroic daughter of Elizabeth I-ow, or the the Bar. No Counsel was allowed themn. The agents of the people of the village, of all classes, proceedings were summlary; and execution fol- combined in supplication in behalf of Rebecca lowed close upon conviction. While it was de- Nurse, rushing to Boston to lay petitions for parstroying the lives of men and women, of respect- don before the Governor, upon being admitted able position in the community, of unblemished to his presence, found themselves confronted by and eminent Christian standing, heads of fami- the st.:rn countenance of the same pelson, who, lies, aged men and venerable matrons, all the or- as Chief-justice, bad closed his ears to mercy dinary securities of society, outside of the tribu- and frowned the Jury into Conviction; their nal, were swept away. In the absence of Sir hearts sunk within tlhem, and all realized that William Phips, the Chief-justice absolutely even hope lad taken flight from the land. absorbed into his own person the whole Such was the political and public administraGovernment. His rulings swayed the Court, in tion of the Province of Massachusetts, during which he acted the part of prosecutor of the Pi-is- the Summer of 1692, under which the Witcllraft oners, and overbore the Jury. lIe sat in judg- prosecutions were carried on. It was conducted ment upon the sentences of his own Court; and by men whom the Mathers had brought into ofheard and refused. applications and supplications fice, and who were wholly in their counsels. Iffor paidon or reprieve. The three grand divis- there is, I repeat, an instance in history where ions of all constitutional or well-ordered Govern- particular persons are responsille for the doings ments were, for the time, obliterated in Mass:l- of a Government, this is one. I conclude these chusetts. In the absence of Phips, the Execu- general views of the influence of Increase and tive functions were exercised by Stoughton. Cotton Mather upon the ideas of the people and While presiding over the Council, he also held a the operations of the Government, eventuating in seat as an elected ordinary member, thus partic- the Witchcraft tragedy, by restating a proposiipating in, as well as directing, its proceedings, tion, which, under all the circumstances, cannot, sharing, as a leader, in legislation, acting on I think, be disputed, that, if they had been really Committees, and framing laws. As Chief-jus- and earnestly opposed to the p oceedings, at any tice, he was the. head of the Judicial depaltment. stage, they could and would have stopped them. He was Commander-in-chief of the military and I now turn to a more specific consideration of naval forces and forts within the Province plop- the subject of Cotton Mather's connection with the er. All administrative, legislative, judicial, and Witchcraft delusion of 1692. SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHlER. 19 VI. evidence, as it was called, bearing against an COTON MATRERS CONNECTION WITH THE COURT. accused party, was wholly unreliable and must COTTON MATHER'S CONNECTION WITH THE COURT. ot etry i a s SPECTRAL EVIDENCE. LETTER TO JOrN RICH- be thown out, eptilrely, in all cases. SPECTRAL EVIDENCE. LETTER TO The Reviewer says the "Clergy of New EngARDS. ADVICE OF THE MINISTERS. "'land" adopted the views of the writers just I am charged with having misrepresented the alluded to, and held that spectral evidence was part Cotton Mather, in particular, bore in this unreliable and unsafe, and ought to be utterly passage of our history. As nearly the whole rejected; and particularly maintains that such community had been deluded at the time, and was the opinion of Cotton Mather. It is true there was a general concurrence in aiding obliv- that they professed to have great regard'for those ion to cover it, it is difficult to bring it back, in writers; but it is also true, that neither Mather all its parts, within the realm of absolute knowl- nor the other Ministers in 1692, adopted the conedge. Records-municipal, ecclesiastical, judic- elusion which the Reviewer allows to be inevitaial, and provincial-were willingly suffered to blydemanded )y sound reason and common sense, perish; and silence, by general consent, pervadled namely, that " no spectral evidence must be adcorrespondence and conversation. Notices of it "mlitted." On the contrary, they did authorize' are brief, even in the most private Diaries. It the'i admission" of spectral evidence. This I would have been well, perhaps, if the memory propose to prove; and if I succeed in doing it, of that day could have been utterly extinguished; the whole fabric of the article in the North Amerbut it has not. On the contrary, as, in all man- ican Review falls to the ground. ner of false and incorrect represeltations, it has It is necessary, at this point, to say a word as gone into the literature of the country and the to the JMolther Papers. They were published by world and become mixed with the permanent a Committee of the Massachusetts Historical Soileas of mankind, it is right and necessary to ciety, in 1868. My work was published in 1867. present the whole transaction, so far as possible, The Reviewer, and certain journals that have comin the light of truth. Every right-minded man mitted themselves to his support, charge me with must rejoice to have wrong, done to the reputa- great negligence in not having consulted those tion of the dead or living, repaired; and I can papers, not then ie print. Upon inquiry, while truly say that no one would rejoice more than making my researches, I was informed, by those I should, if the view presented of Cotton Math- having them in hand preparatory to their going er. in the North oAmerican Review, of April, 1869, to press, that they contained nothing at all essencould be shown to be correct. In this spirit, I tial to my work; and the information was corproceed to present the evidence that belongs to rect. Upon examining the printed volume, I the question. cannot find a single item that would require an The belief of the existence of a personal Devil alteration, addition, or omission to be made in was then all but universally entertained. So was my work. But they are quite serviceable in the the belief of ghosts, apparitions, and spectres. discussion to which the article in the North AmerThere was no more reluctance to think or speak ican Review compels me. of them than of what we call natural objects To return to the issue framed by the Reviewer. and phenomena. Great power was ascribed to He makes a certain absolute assertion, repeats it the Devil over terrestrial affairs; but it had been in various forms, and confidently assumes it, all the prevalent opinion, that he could not operate the way through, as in these passages:''Stoughupon human beings in any other way than' ton admitted spectral evidence; Mather, in his through the instrumentality of othel human be- " writings on the subject, denounced it, as illeings, in voluntary confederacy with him; and that,' gal, uncharitable, and cruel. " "He ever testiby means of their spectres, he could work any "fied against it, both publicly and privately; amount of mischief. While this opinion prevail- "and, particularly in his Letter to the Judges, ed, the testimony of a witness, that lie had seen "he besought them that they would by no means the spectre of a particular person afflicting him- "admit it; and when a considerable assembly self or any one else, was regarded as proof' of Ministers gave intheir Advice about the matpositive that the person, thus spectrally represent- "ter, he not only concurred with the advice, but ed, was in league with the Devil, or, in other " he drew it up." "The Advice was very spewords, a Witch. This idea had been aban-'cific in excluding spectral testimony." doned by some writers, who held that tile Devil He relies, in the first place, and I may say could make use of the spectre of an innocent chiefly, in maintaining this position —amely, person, to do mischief; and that, therefore, it was that Mather denounced the admission of spectral not positive or conclusive proof that any one was testimony and demanded its exclusion-upon a a Witch because his spectre had been seen tor- sentence in a letter from Cotton Mather to John menting others. The logical conclusion, from Richards, called by the Reviewer " his Letter to the views of these later writers, was that spectral "the Judges," among the Mather Papers, p. 891. 20 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. Hutchinson informs us that Richards came into "that the people so represented are witches to the country in low circumstances, but became an " be immediately exterminated. It is very ceropulent merchant, in Boston. He was a member tain that the Devils have sometimes represented of Mather's Church, and one of the Special Court "the Shapes of persons not only innocent, but to try the witches. Its Session was to commence''also very virtuous. Though I believe that the in the first week, probably on Thursday, the second "just God then ordinarily provides a way for the day of June. Tie letter, dated on Tuesday, the "speedy vindication of the persons thus abused. thirty-first of May, is addressed to John Rich- "Moreover, I do suspect that persons, who ards alone; and commences with a strong expres-'have too much indulged themselves in maligsion of regret that quite a severe indisposition "nant, envious, malicious ebullitions of their will prevent his accompanying him to the trials. "souls, may unhappily expose themselves to the " Excuse me," he says, "fromr waiting upon you, "judgment of being represented by Devils, of " with the utmost of my-little skill and care, to " whom they never had any vision, and with " assist the noble service, whereto you are called " whom they have, much less, written any cove" of God this week, the service of encountering "'nant. I would say this; if upon the bare sup-' the wicked spirits in the high places of our air,''posal of a poor creature being represented by a'and of detecting and confounding of their "spectre, too great a progress be made by the "confederates." He hopes, before the Court " authority in ruining a poor neighbor so repre"gets far into the mysterious affair," to be able "sented, it may be that a door may be thereby to " attend the desires" of Richards, which, to " opened for the Devils to obtain from the Courts him, "always are commands." He writes the "in the invisible world a license to proceed unto letter, " for the strengthening of your honorable' most hideous desolations upon the repute and "hands in that work of God whereto, (I thank " repose of such as have yet been kept from the "him) he hath so well fitted you." After some " reat transgression. If mankind have thus far other complimentary language, and assurances "once consented unto the credit of diabolical repthat God's " people have been fasting and pray- "resentations, the door is opened! Perhaps there " ing before him for your direction," he proceeds "are wise and good men, that may be ready to to urge upon him his favorite Swedish case, "style him that shall advance this caution, a wherein the " endeavours of the Judges to dis-" Witch-advocate, but in the winding up, this "cover and extirpate the authors of that execra-" caution will certainly be wished for." " le witchcraft," were " ilnmediately followed This passage, strikingly illustrative, as it is, of "with a remarkable smile of God." Then comes Mather's characteristic style of appearing, to a the paragraph, which the Reviewer defiantly cursory, careless reader, to say one thing, when cites, to prove that Cotton Mather agreed with he is really aiming to enforce another, while it him, in the opinion that spectre evidence ought has deceived the Reviewer, and led him to his not to be " admitted." quixotic attempt to revolutionize history, cannot Before quoting the paragraph, I desire the be so misunderstood by a critical interpreter. reader to note the mlanner in which the affair in In its general drift, it appears, at first sight, to Sweden is brought to the attention of Richards, disparage spectral evidence. The question is: in the clauses just cited, in connection with what Does it forbid, denounce, or dissuade, its introI have said in this article, page 16. Cotton Math- duction? By no means. It supposes and allows er was in possession cf a book on this subject. its introduction, but says, lay not more stress "'It comes to speak English," he says, " by the upon it than it will bear. Further, it affirms that "acute pen of the excellent and renowned Dr. it may afford " presumption" of guilt, though "Horneck." Who so likely as Mather to have not sufficient for conviction, and removes objecbrought the case to the notice of Phips, pp. 14. tion to its introduction, by holding out the idea It was urged upon Richards at about the same that, if admitted by the Court and it bears time that it was upon Phips; and as an argument against innocent persons, " the just God, then, in favor of " extirpatiing" witches, by the action " ordinarily provides a way for their speedy vinof a Court of Oyer and Terminer. "dication." It is plain that the paragraph reThe paragraph is as follows: "And yet I must fers, not to the admission of " diabolical repre" most humbly beg you that in the management " sentations," but to the manner in which they "of the affair in your most worthy hands, you are to be received, in the " man igement " of the "do not lay more stress, upon pure Spectre testi- trials, as will more fully appear, as we proceed. " mony than it will bear. When you are satis- The suggestion, to reconcile Richards to the use "fled, and have good plain legal evidence, that of spectral evidence, that something would " orthe Demons which molest our poor neighbors " dinarily " providentially turn up to rescue in"do indeed represent such and such people to nocent persons, against whom it was b)orne, was' the sufferers, though this be a presumption, yet altogether delusive. It was an opinion of tile "I suppose you will not reckon it a conviction day, that one of the most signal marks of the SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 21 Devil's descent with power, would be the seduc- This alludes to a particular form of spectral.tion, to his service, of persons of the most eminent evidence. One of the "afflicted children" character, even, if possible, of the very elect; would testify that she saw and felt the spectre of and, hence, no amount of virtue or holiness of the accused, tormenting her, and struck at it. A life or conversation, could be urged in defence of corresponding wound or bruise was found on the any one. The records of the world present no body, or a rent in the garments, of the accused. more conspicuous instances of Christian and saint- Mather commended this species of evidence, writlike excellence than were exhibited by Rebecca ing to one of the Judges, on the eve of the trials. Nurse and Elizabeth How; but spectral testimony He not only commends, but urges it as concluwas allowed to destroy them. Indeed, it was sive of guilt. Referring to what constituted the impossible for a Court to put any restrictions on bulk of the evidence of the accusing girls, and this kind of evidence, if once received. If the which was wholly spectral in its nature-namely, accusing girls exclaimed-all of them concur- that they were "hurt" by an "unseen hand "-ie ring, at the moment, in the declaration and in its charges Richards, if he finds such " hurt" to be details-that they saw, at that very instant, in inflicted by the persons accused, " Hold them, for the Court-room, before Judges and Jury, the spec- "you have catched a witch." He recommends tre of the Prisoner assailing one of their number, putting the Prisoners upon repeating the " Lord's and that one showing signs of suffering, what "prayer" or certain "other Systems of Chriscould be done to rebut their testimony? The "tianity." He endorses the evidence derived character of the accused was of no avail. An from "poppits," "witch-marks," and even the alibi could not touch the case. The distance "water ordeal." He advised a Judge, just profrom the Prisoner to the party professing to be ceeding to sit in cases of life and death, to make tormented, was of no account. The whole pro- use of " cross and swift questions," as the means ceeding was on the assumption that, however re- of bringing the accused " into confusion, likely mote the body of the Prisoner, his or her spectre " to lead them into confession." was colmmitting the assault. No limitation of Whoever examines, carefully, this letter to Richspace or time could be imposed on the spectral ards, cannot, I think, but conclude that, instead presence.'Good, plain, legal evidence" was of exonerating Mather, it fixes upon him the reout of the question, where the Judges assumed, sponsibility for the worst features of the Witchas Mather did, that " the molestations" then suf- craft Trials. fered by the people of the neighborhood, were The next document on which the Reviewer rethe work of Demons, and fully believed that the lies is the Return of the Ministers cbnsulted by tortures and convulsions of the accusers, before his Excellency and the honorable (Jouncil, upon their eyes, were, as alleged, caused by the spec- the present Witchcraft in Salem Village. It is tres of the accused. necessary to give it entire, as follows: To cut the matter short. The considerations ["I. The afflicted state of our poor neighbours, Mather presents of the "inconvenience," as he "that are now suffering by molestations from calls it, of the spectral testimony, it might be sup- "the invisible world, we apprehend so deploraposed, would have led him to counsel-not as he " ble, that we think their condition calls for the did, against making "too great a progress" in " utmost help of all persons in their several caits use-but its abandonment altogether. Why "pacities. did he not, as the Reviewer says ought always "11. We cannot but, with all thankfulness, have been done, protest utterly against its admis- "acknowledge the success which the merciful sion at all? The truth is, that neither in this let- " God has given to the sedulous and assiduous ter. nor in any way, at any time, did he ever rec- "endeavours of our honorable rulers, to defeat the omnmend caution against its use, but in its use.\ "abominable witchcrafts which have been cornIt may be asked, what did ho mean by " not "mitted in the country, humbly praying, that "laying more stress upon spectre testimony than "the discovery of those mystelious and mischiev"it will bear," and the general strain of the par- " ous wickednesses may be perfected.] agraph? A solution of this last question may be "III. We judge that, in the prosecution of reached as we continue the scrutiny of his lan- "these and all such witchcrafts, there is need of guage and actions. "a very critical and exquisite caution, lest by In this same letter, Mather says:'I look upon "too much credulity for things received only "wounds that have been given unto spectres, "upon the Devil's authority, there be a door' and received by witches, as intimations, broad "opened for a long train of miserable conse-'enough, in concurrence with other tlings, to " quences, and Sitan get an advantage over us; "bring out the guilty. Though I am not fond " for we should not be ignorant of his devices. of assaying to give such wounds, yet, the proof "IV. As in complaints upon witchcrafts " [o/'] such, when given, carries with it what is " there may be matters of enquiry which do not " veiy palpable." amount unto matters of presumption, and there 22 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. "may be matters of presumption which yct may evidence; on the contrary, the second Section "not be reckoned matters of conviction, so it is applauds what had been done; and prays that "'necessary, that all proceedings thereabout be the work entered upon may ble perfected. The managed with an exceeding tenderness towards first clauses in tlhefourth Section sanction its ad"'those that may be complained of, especially if mission, as affording ground of " presumption," "'they have been persons formerly of an unblem- although " it may not l)e matter of conviction." "ished reputation. The sixth Section, while it appears to convey the." V. When the first inquiry is made into the idea that spectral evidence alone ought not to be "circumstances of such as may lie under any just regarded as sufficient, contains, at the same time, "suspicion of witchcrafts, we could wish that a form of expression, that not only requires its "there may be admitted as little as possible of reception, but places its claims on the highest "such noise, company, and openness, as may possible grounds. " A Demon may, by GoD's "too hastily expose them that are examined; and' PERMISSrON, appear, even to ill purposes, in the "that there may nothing be used as a test for' shape of an innocent, yea, and a virtuous man." " the trial of the suspected, the lawfulness It is sufficiently shocking to think that anything, " whereof may be doubted among the people of to ill pur'poses, can be done by Divine permis"God; but that the directions given by such sion- but horrible, indeed, to intimate that the' judicious writers as Perkins and Bernard may Devil can have that permission to malign and "be consulted in such a case. murder an innocent person. If the spectre ap" VI. Presumptions whereupon persons may pears by God's permission, the effect produced "be committed, and, much more, convictions has his sanction. The blasphemous supposition "whereupon persons may be condemned as guil- that God permits the Devil thus to bear false'ty of wvitchcrafts, ought certainly to be more witness, to the destruction of the righteous, over"considerable than barely the accused )peisons turns all the sentiments and instincts of our moralbeing represented by a spectre unto tie afflict- and religious nature. In using this language, ed; [inasmuch as it is an undoubted and a no- the Ministers did not have a rational apprehen" torious thing, that a Demon may, by God's per- sion of what tlhey were saying, which is the only "mission, appear, even to ill purposes, in the apology for much of the theological phraseology " shape of an innocent, yea, and a virtuous man.] of that day. This phrase, " God's permission," " Nor can we esteem alterations mcade in the suf- had quite a currency. at the time; and if it did " ferers, by a look or touchl of the accused, to be not reconcile the mind, subdued it to wondering an infallible evidence of guilt, but frequently and reverent silence. It will be seen that Mather, "liable to be atbused by the Devil's legerdemain. on other occasions, repeated this idea, in various "VII. We know not whether some remarka- and sometimes stronger terms. The third, fifth, " ble affront, given the Devil, by our disbelieving seventh, and last clauses of the fourth Sections, "of those testimonies, whiose whole force and contain phrases wlich will become intelligible, "strength is from him alone, lmay not put a pea as we advance in the examination of Mather's "riod unto the progress of the dreadful clamn- writings, relating to the subject of witchcraft. "ity begun upon us, in the accusation of so Here it may, again, be safely said, that if In" many persons, whereof some, we hopee, are yet crease and Cotton Mather had really, as the Re" clear from the great transgression laid to their viewer affirms, been opposed to the admission of " charge. spectral testimony, this was the time for them to l " VIII. Nevertheless, we cannot but lumibly have said so. If. at this crisis, they had " dei"recoin mendcunto the Government, thesp;eedy and " nounced it, as illegal, uncharitable and cruel," "vigorous prosecutionis of such as have rendered no more blood would have been shled. If the "tliemselves olnoxious, according to the direc- Advise lad even recommended, in the most "tions given in the l:aws of God, and tle whole- moderate terms, its absolute exclusion from every "some Statutes of the English nation, for tile stage of tlhe proceedings, they would have come' detection of Witchcrafts."] to an end. But it assumes its introduction, and I have enclosed the first, secod and eighth Sec- only suggests'' disbelief" of it, in avoiding to tions, and a part of the Sixth, in blra)ckets. for pur- act upon it, in "some " instances. oses tliattwill appear, in a subseqient p)art of this Hutchinson states the conclusion of the matter, discussion. The Advice of the Minivters was writ- aftel quoting the nwhole document.'The Judges ten by Cotton Mather. As in his letter to Rich- "seem to have paid more regard to the last arards, he does not caution against ttle use, but in " tide of this Retu n, than to several which iprethe use, of spectral evidence. Not a word is said " cede it; for tlle prosecutions were carried on denouncing its introduction or advising its en- " with all possil)le vig)or, and without that extire rejection. We look in vain for a line or a "quisite caution wlich is proposed." — istory, syllable disapproving the trial and execution just ii, 54, had, resting as they did, entirely upon spectral The Advice was skilfully —it is not unchar SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 23 itable to say-artfully drawn up. It has deceiv- borhooc scandals, and in exaggerated forms of ed the Reviewer into his statement that it was parish or personal animosities. "very specific in excluding spectral testimony." A careless reader, or one whose eyes are blinded VII. by a partisan purpose, may not see its real import. FURTER CONSIDERED. The paper is so worded as to mislead persons not COTTON MATHER S PLAN FOR DEALING WITH conversant with the ideas and phraseology of SPECTRAL TESTIMONY. that period. But it was considered by - 11 the Judges, and the people in general, fully to en- The Advice of the Ministers is a document dorse the iproceedings in the trial of Bridget Bish- that holds a prominent llace in our public hisop, and to advise their speedy and vigorous con- tory; and its relation to events needs to be elucitinuance. It was spectral testimony that over- dated. whelmed lher. It was the fatal element that In his Life of Sir William Phips, Cotton Mathwrought the conviction of every person put on er has this paragraph: "And Sir William Phips trial, from first to last; as was fully proved, five'arriving to his Government, after this ensnaring months afterwards, when Sir William Phips, un- "horrible storm was begun, did consult the der circumstances I shall describe, bravely and "neighboring Ministers of the Province, who peremptorily forbid, as the Ministers failed to do, " made unto his Excellency and the Council, athe "trying, " or even'" committing, " of any " Return (drawn up, at their desire, by Mr. Mathone, on the evidence of "the afflicted per- " er, the younger, as I have been informed) where"sons," which was wholly spectral. When thus, "in they declared.'-Magnalid, Book II, page by his orders, it was utterly thrown out, the life 63. of the prosecutions became, at once, extinct; and, He then gives, without intimating that any esas Mather says, the accused were cleared as sential or substantial part of the declaration, or fast as they were tried. —lcagnalia, Book II, Advice, was withheld, the Sections not included page 64. in brackets.- Tide, pages 21, 22, ante. The suggestion that caution was to be used in It is to be observed that Phips is represented handling this species of evidence. and that it as having asked the 3inisters for their advice, and. was to be received as affording grounds of'' pre- theih answer as having been made to his " Excel" sumption,' to be corroborated or re-inforced "lency and the Council." There is no mention by other evidence, practically was of no avail. of this transaction in the Records of the Council. If received, at all, in any stage, or under any Phips makes no reference to it in his letter of the name, it necessarily controlled every case. No fourteenth of October, which is remarkable, as amount of evidence, of other kinds, could coun- it would have been'to his purpose, in explaining terbalance or stand against it: nothing was need- the grounds of his procedure, in organizing, ed to give it full and fatal effect. It struck and putting into operation, the judicial tribunal Court, Jury, and people, nay, even the Prisoners at Salem. It many le concluded, from all tlat I themselves, in many instances. with awe. It dis- shall present,-Sir WTilliaml, having given over pensed, as has been mentioned, with the presence the whole business to Ils Deputy and Chief-jusof the accused, on the spot, where and when the tice, withl an undlestanding tha.t he was authorcrime was alleged to have been committed, or izecttomnlnaoeit, in all particulars, —thatthistranswithin miles or hundreds of miles of it. No action with the Ministers ma- never hlave been reputation for virtue or piety could be pleaded brought to the notice of the Govelno, at all: his against it. The doctrine whlich Cotton Mather official clharacter andt title were, perhaps, referred proclaimed, on another occasion, that the Devil to, as a matter of form. The Council, as such, might alppear as an Angel of Light, completed the had nothiing to do v ith it; but the Deputy-govdemuolition of the securities of innocence. There ernor and celtain individual dmembers of the was no difficulty in getting' (,ther testimony " Council, that is, those who, with him,,s Chiefto give it effect. In the tlen state of tile public justice, constituted the Special Court, asked and mind, indiscriminately crediting every tale of received the Advice. slander and credulity, looking at every tiliing Again: the paragraph, as constructed by Maththrough the refracting and magnifying atlos- er, just quoted, certainly leaves the impression phere of the blindest and wildest lpassions, it on a reader, that Phips applied forl the Advice was easy to collect materials to add to the spec- of the Mii^sters, at or soon after his arrival. The tral evidence, therelby, according to the doctrine evidence, I think, is conclusive, that the Advice of the Ministers, to raise the " presumnptici," to wxas not asked, until after the first Session of the the "'conviction" of guilt. Eveni our Reviewer Court had been held. This is inferrible from the finds evidence to "substantialte" that, given answer of the Ministers, which is dated thirteen against George Burroughs, resting on spectres, in days after the first trial, and five days after the his feats of strength, in somle malignant neigh- execution of a sentence then passed. It alludes 24 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. to the succesb which had been given to the pros- " Esq., who was one of the Judges, has left tte ecutions. If the Government had asked counsel " Court,'and is very much dissatisfied with the of the Ministers before the trials commenced, it "proceedings of t."-iMassaclusetts Historical is inexplicable and incredible, besices being in- Collections, I, v., 75. excusable, that the Ministers should have delayed The questions arise; rWhen and why did he their reply until after the first act of tle awful leave the Court? The Records of the Council tragedy had passed, and blood begun to be slled. show that hle was constant in his attendance at Hutchinson expressly says: "The furtiler trials that Board, his name always appearing at the "were put off to the adjournment, the thirtieth head of the roll of those present, until the six"of June. The Governor and Council thoughlt teenth of June, fromr which date it does not ap"'proper in the mean time, to take the opinion )p ar again until the middle of February, 1693. of several of the principal Ministers, upon the Tlhe Legislature, in the exercise of its powers, "state of things, as they then stood. This was under the Charter, had, near the close of 1692. "an old Charter practice."-HlIistory, ii, 52. established a regular Superior Court, consisting It has been regarded as a singular circum- of Stoughton, Danforthll-who had( disapproved stance, that after such pains had been taken, of the proceedings of the Special Court-Richand so great a stretch of power practised, to ards, Wait Winthrop, and Sewall. It continued, put a Court so suddenly in operation to try per- in January, 1693, witchcraft trials; but spectral sons accused of witchcraft, on the pretence, evidence being wholly rejected, the prosecutions too, recorded in the Journal of the Council, of all broke down; and Stoughton, in consequence, the " thronged" condition of ihe jails, at that left the Court in disgust. After all had been "hot season," and after trying one person o1nly, abandoned, and his own course, thereby, vindiit should have adjourned for four weeks. Per- cated, Major Saltionstall re-appeared at the haps, by a collation of pass:ges and dates, we Council Board; and was re-elected by the. next may reach a probable explanation. In his let- House of Representatives. His conduct, thereter to "the Ministers in and near Boston," fore, was very narked and significant. In the written in January, 1696, after considering only way in which he, a country member, could briefly, and in forcible language, the fearful er- express his convictions, as there were no such rors from which the Delusion of 1692 had risen, facilities, in the press or otherwise, for public and solemnly reminding tihemn of what they discussions, as we now have, he niade them emought to have done to lead their people out of phatically known; and is worthy of the credit such errors, Calef brin s their failure to do it of being the only public man of his day whlo home to them, in these pungent words: "If; had t.!:e sense or courage to condemn the pro-' instead of this, you have, somie by wo'T d andl ceediings, at the start. He was a person of amia" writing propagated, an I otIher- reconllmended, ble and genial deportment; and, from the County " such doctrines, and a;:etted the fa.lse notions Corl t files, in which his action, as a Iagistrate, " which ire so prevalent in this apostate age, it is e1xhibit(d in several cases, it is evident that "is high time to consider it. If, when authlor- he was methodical and careful in official busi" ity found themselves almost nonplust in such ness, but susceptible of strong' impressions and " prosecutions, and sent to you fir dyour advice convictions, and had, on a previous occasion,' what they ought to do, and you have then manifested an utter want. of confidence.in cer"thanked them for what they had already done tain parties, who, it became apparent at the first (and thereby encouraged them to plrceedl in Session of the Court, were to figure largely in " those very by-paths already fallen into) it so bearing spectral testimnony, in most of the cases. much the more ne irly concerns you. EzeZ. He had no faith in those persons, and was thus, "xxxiii, 2 to 8."- Calef, 92. we may suppose, led to discredit, wholly, that Looking at this passage, in connectioln with species of testimony. that quoted just before fiom Hutcllinson, we From hins attendance at the Council Board, gather that something had occurred that' non- up to the sixteentl of June, the clay when the plust " the Court-some serious emlbairrassment, Advice of the Ministers was probably received, that led to its sudden adjournment-after the it may be aassumed that he attended also, to that condemnation of Bridget Bishop, while ianyi time. the sittings of the Court; and that when other cases had been fully prepared for trial Iby lie withdrew from the former, he did also f om the then Attorney-general, Newton, and the the latter. Th date indicates that his action, parties to be tried had, the day before, been in witlhdcrawing, was determined by the import brought to Salem from the jail in Boston, anld iof tile Advice. were ready to be put to the Bar. What was the \ If a, gentleman of his po-ition and family, a difficulty? The following may be the solution. grandson of an original Patentee, Sir Richard Bratt e informs us, and he was able to speak Saltonstall. and sitting as a Judge at the first with confidence, that "lMajor N. Saltonstall, trial, had t ie independance and manly spirit to SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 25 express, without reserve, his disapprobation of and the proceedings at the trials were swift, the proceedings, the expression of Calef is ex- summary, and conclusive. plained; and the Court felt th-o obstacle that It may be proper, at this point, to inquire was in their way. Hence the immediate ad- whalt was meant by the peculiar phraseology of journment, and the resort to some extraordinary the third, ffth, seve)ith, and latter part of the expedient, to remove it. fourth, Sections. It is difficult, writing as CotThis may account for the appeal to the Min- ton Mather often did, and had great skill in isters. Greiat interest must have been felt in loing, in what Calef calls " the anbidexter" their reply, by al c.g-nizalnt of the unexpected style, to ascertain his ideas. After the reaction dcifliculty thlllt hllad occ.ulred. Thle document lhad taken effect in the public mind, a ld he was was admniriiably adapted to tlhrow dust into the p)t pon the defensive, he had much to say eyes ot those who had expressed doubts and about some diffeence between him and the nisgivins; Iut it d<( not dceceive Saltonstall. Judges. It clearly had nothing to do with the IHe saw that it wouldl le regairded by the other " admission" of spectral evidence; for that was Judges, ancl tlie public in general, as an en- the point in which the opinion of the Ministers courao'ement to continue the trials; and that, I cora'elentt to contilue tlhe trials; and thlit, vas asked, and on which he volunt;arily prof under the lphraiseology of whart hlad thle aspect ^fered remarks in his letter to one of the Judges, of caution, justification would be fund for the Richads. If he had been opposed to its e" adintroduction. to an extent that would control "mission," nothing would have been easioi, the trials, of spectr.l evidence. The day aftcr safer, or more demanded by the truth and his its date, ]le left Iis seat at the Council Board, own honor, thn for him to have said so. Inwithdrewx fioom the Court, and washed his hanc deed, is writings everywlere Sbow that he wa. of the whole matter. almost a onee idea man, on the subject of spectres; The course of events demonstirates that the and, ii some way or folm, deemed theii eviAdvice was interpreted, by all concernedispsi as dee lia ibe. e, evidenta.pplauding what liad been done at the first, d sone favorite plan or schele, a. to the trial, and earnestly urging that the work, thus methd in which tlat kind of evidence was to begun, shcould ) speedlily anid vigorously prose- be hanidled; and it was because lhe could not get cuted. Upon the Ministers, therefore, rests the it carried into effect, anld f this reason alone, stigma folr all that followed. so far as we can discover, that he disapproved There,ay hve it tt te as eof the methods actually pursued by the Court. wTase;e Itio l1] 1eel, iw^^QG civilized world: stigmatized with the charge of SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 41 witchcraft, they would have met with the halter cured to invalidate it. Consisting of specificaor the fagot; and scarcely have fared better, if tions, in detail, if there had been in it the micast upon any savage shore. nutest item that could have admitted contraWe have seen how our Reviewer makes, let diction, it would have been seized upon, and us now see how he unmakes, history. used with the utmost eagerness to break the Robert Calef, in his book (ntitled JMore Won- force of the statement. It was printed at Londers of the Invisible World, Part V., under the don, in 1700, in a volume accredited there, and head of "An impartial account of the most immediately put into circulation here, twenty"memorable matters of fact, touching the sup- eight years before the death of Mather. He had "posed Witchcraft in New England," [p. 103,] a copy of it, now in possession of the Massasays: "Mr. Burroughs was carried in a cart, chusetts Historical Society, and wrote on the "with the others, through the streets of Salem inside of the front cover, "My desire is, that "to execution. When he was upon the ladder, " mine adversary had written a hook," etc. His "he made a speech for the clearing of his inno- father, the President of Harvard University, had "cency, with such solemn and serious expres- a copy; for the book was burned in the College"sions, as were to the admiration of all present; square. Everything contributed to call univer"his prayer (which he concluded by repeating sal attention to it. Its author was known, "the Lord's prayer) was so well worded, and avowed, and his name printed on the title page; "uttered with sucti composedness, and such (at he lived in the same town with Mather; and "least seeming) fervency of spirit,as was very was in all respects a responsible man. " affecting, and drew tears from many, so that No attempt was made, at the time, nor at any " it seemed to some that the spectators would time, until now, to overthrow the statement or "hinder the execution. The accusers said the disprove any of its specifications. "black man stood and dictated to him. As Let us see how the Reviewer undertakes to "soon as he was turned off, Mr. Cotton Mather, controvert it. As to Mather's being on horse-'being mounted upon a horse, addressed himself back, the argument seems to be, that it was "to the people, partly to declare that he (Bur- customary, then, for people to travel in that way! roughs) was no ordained Minister, and partly The harangue to the people to prevail upon "to possess the people of his guilt, saying that them to pay no heed to the composed, de"the Devil has often been transformed into an vout, and forgiving deportment of the suffer" Angel of Light; and this somewhat appeased ers, because the Devil often appeared as an "the people; and the executions went on. Angel of Light, sounded strangely from one who "When he was cut down, he was dragged by had attended the prisoners as their "spirit"the halter to a hole, or grave, between the "ual comforter and friend." It was a queer "rocks, about two feet deep, his shirt and conclusion of his services of consolation and "breeches being pulled off, and an old pair of pastoral offices, to proclaim to the crowd, that "trowsers of one executed, put on his lower the truly Christian expressions of the persons in "parts; he was so put in, together with Will- his charge were all a diabolical sham. One " ard and Carrier, that one of his hands and his would have thought, if he accompanied them "chin, and a foot of one of them, were left un- in the capacity alleged, he would have dis" covered." mounted before ascending the hill, and tenderly The Reviewer undertakes to set aside this waited upon them, side by side, holding them statement; to erase it altogether from the record; by the hand and sustaining them by his arm, as and to throw it from the belief and memory of they approached the fatal ladder; and that his mankind. But this cannot be (lone, but by an last benedictions, upon their departing souls, arbitrary process, that would wipe out all the would have been in somewhat different lanfacts of all history, and leave the whole Past an guage. That language was entirely natural, utter blank. If any record has passed the final however, believing, as he did, that they were ordeal, this has. It is beyond the reach of de- all guilty of the unpardonable sin, in its blacknial; and no power on earth can start the solid est dye; that, obstinately refusing to confess, foundation on which it stands. It consists of they were reprobates, sunk far below the ordidistinct, plainly stated, averments, which, as a nary level of human crime, beyond the pale of whole, or severally, if not true, and known to be sympathy or prayer, enemies of God, in covenant true, might have been denied, or questioned, at with the Devil, and firebrands of Hell. All this the time. Not disputed, nor controverted, then, he believed. Of course, he could not pray wit7i, it never can be. If not true to the letter, so far and could hardly be expected to pray for, them. as Cotton Mather is concerned, hundreds, nly The language ascribed to him by Calef, expressed thousands, were at hand, who would have con- his honest convictions; bears the stamp of creditradicted it. Certificates without number, like bility; was not denied or disavowed, then; and that of John Goodwin, would have been pro- cannot be discredited, now. 42 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. If those sufferers, wearing the resplendent Another tradition, brought down through a aspect of faith, forgiveness, and piety, in their family, ever since residing on the same spot, in dying hour, were, in reality, " the Devil appear- the neighborhood, and from the longevity of its "ing as the Angel of Light," nobody but the successive heads, passing through but few memoReviewer is to blame for charging Mather with ries, and for that reason highly deserving of being his "spiritual adviser and counsellor." credit, is, that its representative, at that time, lent The Reviewer says that the horse Mather rode his aid in the removal of the bodies of the vicon that occasion, "has been tramping through tims, in the night, and secretly, across the river, in "history, for nearly two centuries. It is time aboat. The recollections of the transaction are "that he be reined up." Not having heen preserved in considerable detail. From the localreined up by Mather, it is in vain for the Re- ity, it is quite certain that the bodies were brought viewer to attempt it. Mazeppa, on his wild steed, to it from the southern end of Witch-hill. From was not more powerless. The "lman on horse- a recently-discovered letter of Dr. Holyoke, "back," described by Calef, will go tramping mentioned in my book [ii, 377], it appears on through all the centuries to come, as through that the executions must have taken place there. the " nearly two centuries" that have passed. The earth is so thin, scattered between projecting To discredit another part of the statement of ledges of roc:, which, indeed, cover much of the Calef, the Reviewer cites the Description and surface, that few trees probably ever grew there; History of Salem, by the Rev. William Bentley, and a bare, elevated platform afforded a conspicin the Sixth Volume of the First Series of the uous site, and room for the purpose. These conMassachusetts Historical Collections, printed in elusions, to which recent discoveries and explora1800, quoting the following passage: "It was tions have led, remarkably confirm Calef's state"said that the bodies were not properly buried; ments. From Sheriff Corwin's Return, we know "but, upon an examination of the ground, the that the first victim was buried " in the place" "graves were found of the usual depth, and re- where she was executed; and it may be supposed "mains of the bodies, and of the wood in all the rest were. The soil is shallow, near the "which they were interred." brow of the precipice and between the clefts of At the time when this was written, there was the rock. a tradition to that effect. But it is understood The Reviewer desires to know my authority for that, early in this century, an examination was saying that the ground, where Burroughs was made of the spot, pointed out by the tradition buried, "was trampled down by the mob." I upon which Bentley had relied, and nothing was presume that when, less than five weeks afterfound to sustain it. It is apparent that this tra- wards, eight more persons were hanged there, bedition was, to some extent, incorrect, because it longing to respectable families in what are now is quite certain that three, and probably most, of Peabody, Marblehead, Topsfield, Rowley and Anthe bodies were recovered by their friends, at the dover, as well as Salem, and a spectacle again time; but chiefly because it is believed, on suffi- presented to which crowds flocked from all quarcient grounds, that the locality, indicated in the ters, and to which many particularly interested tradition that had reached Doctor Bentley, was, must have been drawn, besides those from the in 1692, covered by the original forest. Of course, populous neighborhood, especially if men "on a passage through woods, to a spot, even now, " horseback" mingled in the throng, the ground after the trees have been wholly removed from must have been considerably trampled upon. the hill and all its sides, so very difficult of access, Poor Burroughs had been suddenly torn from his would not have been encountered; neither can it family and home, more than a hundred miles be supposed that an open area would have been away; there were no immediate connections, here, elaborately prepared for the place of execution, who would have been likely to recover his rein the midst of a forest, entirely shut in from ob- mains; and, it is therefore probable, they had servation, by surrounding trees, with their thick been left where they were thrown, near the foot foliage, in that season of the year. If seclu. of the gallows. sion had been the object, a wooded spot might There is one point upon which the Reviewer is have been found, near at hand, on level areas, certain he has " demolished" Calef. The latter anywhere in the neighborhood of the town. But speaks of the victims, as having been hanged, it was not a secluded, but a conspicuous, place one after another. The Reviewer says, the mode that was sought; not only an elevated, but an of execution was to have them "swung off at open, theatre for the awe-inspiring spectacle, dis- once;" and further uses this argument: "Calef playing to the whole people and world-to use "himself furnishes us with evidence that such the language employed by Mather, in the Advice "was the practice in Salem, where eight persons of the Ministers and in one of his letters to Rich- "were hanged thirty-six days later. He says, ards-the " Success" of the Court, in "extin-"'After the execution, Mr. Noyes, turning him " guihing that horrible witchcraft."' to the bodies, said-What a sad thing it is to SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 43 "' see eight firebrands of Hell hanging there.' "lieve there never was a poor plantation more The argument is, eight were hanging there to-'pursued by the wrath of the Devil than our gether, after the execution; therefore, they must " poor New England."' We may truly say, Tis have been swung off at the same moment! " the hour and power of darkness. But, though This is a kind of reasoning with which-to " the wrath be so great, the time is but short: adopt Mather's expression in describing diabolical " when we are perplexed with the wrath of the horrors, capital trials, and condemnations to "Devil, the word of our God, at the same time, death-we are " entertained" throughout by the "unto us, is that in Roam. vi. 20.' The God of Reviewer. The truth is, we have no particular "'Peace shall bruise Satan under yourfeet shortknowledge of the machinery, or its operations, at "' ly.' Shortly, didst thou say, dearest Lord? 0 these executions. A "halter," a I'ladder," a "gladsome word! Amen, even so, come Lord! " gallows," a "' hangman," are spoken of. The "Lord Jesus, come quickly! We shall never be expression used for the final act is, "turned off." "rid of this troublesome Devil, till thou do come There is no shadow of evidence to contradict'to chain him up."- Wonders, etc. Calef. The probabilities seem to be against the There is much in the Sermon that relates to the supposition of a structure, on a scale so large, as sins of the people, generally, and some allusions to allow room for eight persons to be turned off to the difficulties that encompass the subject of at once. The outstretching branches from large diabolical appearances; but the. witchcraft in Satrees, on the borders of the clearing, would have lem is portrayed in colors, which none but a thorserved the purpose, and a ladder, connected with ough believer in all that was there brought Iora simple frame, might have been passed from tree ward, could apply; the whole train of ideas and to tree. exhortations is calculated to inflame the imaginaThe Regicides, thirty years before, had been ex- tions and passions of the people; and it is closed ecuted in England, in the method Calef under- by "An hortatory and necessary Address to a stood to have been used here. Hugh Peters was "country now extraordinarily alarum'd by the carried to execution with Judge Cook. The lat- "Wrath of the Devil." In this Address, he goes, ter suffered first; and when Peters ascended the at length, into the horrible witchcraft at Salem ladder, turning to the officer of the law, he ut- Village.' Such," says he, "is the descent of tered these memorable words, exhibiting a state "the Devil, at this day, upon ourselves, that I of the faculties, a grandeur of bearing, and a "may truly tell you, the walls of the whole world force and felicity of language and illustration, all " are broken down. He enumerates, as undoubtthe circumstances considered, not surpassed in edly true, in detail, all that was said by the " afthe records of Christian heroism or true elo- "flicted children" and "confessing witches." quence: " Sir, you have slain one of the servants He says of the reputed witches: " They each of "of God, before mine eyes, and have made me " them have their spectres or devils, commissioned "to behold it, on purpose to terrify and dis- " by them, and representing of them, to be the "courage me; but God hath made it an ordi- "engines of their malice." Such expressions as "nance unto me, for my strengthening and en- these are scattered over the pages, " wicked spec"couragement." tres," "diabolical spectres," "owners of specWhile the trials were going on, Mather made'tres," "spectre's hands."" "sectral book," etc. use of his pulpit to influence the public mind, al- And yet it is stated, by the Reviewer, that ready wrought up to frenzy, to greater heights of Mather was opposed to spectral evidence, and defanaticism, by portraying, in his own peculiar nounced it! H-e gave currency to it, in the popustyle, the out-breaking battle between the Church lar faith, during the whole period, while the and the Devil. On the day before Burroughs, trials ar.d executions were going on, more than who was regarded as the head of the Church, and any other man. General of the forces, of Satan, was brought to He preached another Sermon, of the same kind, the Bar, Mather preached a Sermon from the text, entitled, The Devil Discovered. Rev. xii., 12. "'Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, After the trials by the Special Court were over, " and of the Sea! for the Devil is come down and that body had been forbidden to meet on the "unto you, having great wrath, because he day to which it had adjourned, lhe addressed an" knoweth he hath but a short time." Itis thick- other letter to John Richards, one of its members, ly interspersed with such passages as these: dated "Dec. 14th, 1692," to be foundinthe Math"Now, at last, the Devils are, (if I may so er Papers, p. S97. It is a characteristic doc" speak), in Person come down upon us, with ument, and, in some points of view, commend"such a wrath, as is most justly much, and will able. Its purpose was to induce Richards to con"quickly be more, the astonishment of the world." sent to a measure he was desirous of introducing " There is little room for hope, that the great into his pastoral administration, to w^hich Rich" wrath of the Devil will not prove the ruin of ards and one other member of his Church had "our poor New England, in particular. I be- manifested repugnance. Cotton Mather was in 44 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. advance of his times, in liberality of views, relat- "ed narrative by way of letter to me, or at least, ing to denominational matters. He desired to " let it not come without a letter, wherein you open the door to the Ordinances, particularly Bap- "shall, if you can, intimate over again, what you tism, wider than was the prevalent practice. He "have sometimes told me, of the awe, which is urges his sentiments upon Richards in earnest and "upon the hearts of your Juries, with * * unto fitting tones; but resorts, also, to flattering, and "the validity of the spectral evidences. what may be called coaxing, tones. He calls him. " Please also to * * * some of your observations "My ever-honored Richards," "Dearest Sir," "about the confessors, and the credibility of " my dear Major," and reminds him of the public "what they assert; or about things evidently preand constant support he had given to his official " ternatural in the witchcrafts, and whatever else conduct: "I have signalized my perpetual re- "you may account an entertainment, for an in"spects before the whole world." In this letter, "quisitive person, that entirely loves you, and he refers to the Salem witchcraft prosecutions, "Salem. Nay, though I will never lay aside the and pronounces unqualified approval and high character which I mentioned in my last words, encomiums upon Richards's share in the proceed- "yet, I am willing that, when you write, you ings, as one of the Judges. "God has made "should imagine me as obstinate a Sadducee "more than an ordinary use of your honorable "and witch-advocate, as any among us: address "hand," in " the extinguishing" of "that horri- " me as one that believed nothing reasonable; " ble witchchraft," into which "the Devils have and when you have so knocked me down, in a "been baptizing so many of our miserable neigh- "spectre so unlike me, you will enable me to " bors." This language is hardly consistent with " box it about, among my neighbors, till it come, a serious, substantial, considerable, or indeed "I know not where at last. with any, disapprobation of the proceedings of "But assure yourself, as I shall not wittingly the Court. " make what you write prejudicial to any worthy XI. " design, which those two excellent persons, Mr. LETTER TO STEPHEN SEWALL. "WONDERS OF THE "Hale and Mr. Noyes, may have in hand, so' INVISIBLE WORLD. " ITS ORIGIN AND DESIGN. you shall fin.l that I shall be, COTTON MATHER'S ACCOUNT OF THIa TRIALS. "Sir, your grateful friend, C. MATHER." I corn. now to the examination of matters of interest and importance, not only as illustrating the'"P S. That which very much strengthens the part acted by Mather in the witchcraft affair, but "charms of the request, which this letter makes as bearing upon the public history of the Prov-' "you, is that his Excellency, the Governor, laid ince of Massachusetts Bay, at that time. his positive commands upon me to desire this The reader is requested carefully to examine "favor of you; and the truth is, there are some the following letter, addressed by Cotton Mather "of his circumstances with reference to this afto Stephen Sewall, Clerk of the Court at Salem. "fair, which I need not mention, that call for "R BosT, Sept. 20. 1692. " the expediting of your kindness, kindness, I DEAR AND MY VERY OBLIGING STEPHEN, "say, for such it will be esteemed, as well by MY DEAR AND MY VERY OBLIGING STEPHEN, 4 "It is my hap, to bee continually * with all "him, as by your servant,. MATHE " sorts of objections, and objectors against the * * The point, on which the Reviewer raises an ob" work now doing at Salem, and it is my further jection to the statement in my book, in reference " good hap, to do some little Service for God and to this letter, is, as to the antecedent of it," in "you, in my encounters. the expression, "box it about." The opinion I "But, that I may be the more capable to assist, gave was that it referred to the ddcument re"in lifting up a standard against the infernal en- quested to be sent by Sewall. The Reviewer says "emy, I must renew my most IMPORTUNATE RE- it refers to " a Spectre," in the preceding line, or "QUEST, that would please quickly to perform, as he expresses it, "the fallen Spectre of Saddu"what you kindly prIomised, of giving me a nar- " ceeism." Every one can judge for himself on' rative of the evidence given in at the trials of inspection of the passage. After all, it is a mere "half a dozen, or if you please, a dozen, of the quibbling about words, for the meaning remains "principal witches, that have been condemned. substantially the same. Inldeed, that which he "I know'twill cost you some time; but when gives is more to my purpose. Let it go, that "you are sensible of the benefit that will follow, Mather desired the document, and intended to "I know you will not think much of thlat use it, to break down all objectors to the work "cost, and my own willingness to expose myself then doing in Salem. Whoever disapproved of " unto the utmost for the defence of my friends such proceedings, or intimated any doubt con"with you, makes me presume to plead some- cerning the popular notions about witchcraft, "thing of merit, to be considered. were called " Sadducees and witch-advocates." "I shall be content, if you draw up the desir- These terms were used by Mather, on all occa SALEM WITCICRAPT AND COTTON MATIMER. 45 sions, as marks of opprobium, to stigmatize and fourteenth of October. From his habitual make odious such persons. If they could once be promptness, and the pressing exigency of affairs silenced, witchcraft demonstrations and prosecu- in the neighborhood of the Kennebec, it is to be tions might be continued, without impediment or presumed that he left immediately; and, as it was restraint, until they should;' come," no one could expected to be a longer absence than usual, it can tell "where, at last." "The fallen Spectre of hardly be doubted that, as on the first of August, " Sadduceeism" was to be the trophy of Mather's he formally, by a written instrument, passed the victory; and Sewall's letter was to be the weapon Government over to Stoughton. At any rate, to lay it low. while he was away from his Province proper, the Each of the paragraphs of this letter demon- Deputy necessarily acceded to the Executive funcstrates the position Mather occupied, and the part tions. he had taken, in the transactions at Salem. Mr. In the Sewall Diary we find the following: Hale had acted, up to this time, earnestly with "SEPT. 21. A petition is sent to Town, in behalf Noyes and Parris; and the letter shows that Math- of Dorcas Hoar, who now confesses. Accorder had the sympathies and the interests of a co-'ingly, an order is sent to the Sheriff to forbear operator with them, and in their " designs." "her execution, notwithstanding her being in the Every person of honorable feelings can judge for Warrant to die to-morrow. This is the first conhimself of the suggestion to Sewall, to be a part- " demned person who has confessed." ner in a false representation to the public, by ad- The granting of this reprieve was an executive dressing Mather " in a spectre so unlike" him- act, that would seem to have belonged to the that is, in a character which he, Sewall, knew, as functions of the person filling the office of Govwell as Mather, to be wholly contrary to tie ernor; and Phips being absent, it could only have truth. Blinded, active, and vehement, as the been performed by Stoughton, and shows, thereClerk of the Court had been, in carrying on the fore, that he, at that time, acted as Governor. prosecutions, it is gratifying to find reason to con- As such, he was, by custom and etiquette, adelude that he was not so utterly lost to self-respect dressed-" His Excellency." The next day, eight as to comply with the jesuitical request, or lend were executed, four of them having been senhimself to any such false connivance. tenced on the ninth of September, and four on The letter was written at the height of the fury the seventeenth, which was on Saturday. The of the delusion, immediately upon a Session of whole eight were included, as is to be inferred the Court, at which all tried had been condemn- from the foregoing entry, and is otherwise known, ed, eight of whom suffered two days after its in the same Warrant, which could not, therefore, date. Any number of others were under sentence have been made out before the nineteenth. The of death. The letter was a renewal of "a most next day, Mather wrote the letter to Sewall; and "importunate request." the language, in its Postscript, may have referred I cite it, here, at this stage of the examination to Stoughton; particularly this clause: "There of the subject, particularly on account of the post- " are some of his circumstances, with reference script. Every one has been led to suppose that "to this affair." As Phips had, from the first, "His Excellency, the Governor," who had laid left all the proceedings with the Chief-justice, such "positive commands" upon Mather to obtain who had presided at all the trials, and was, by the desired document from Sewall, was Sir William universal acknowledgment, especially responsible Phips. The avowed purpose of MIather, in seek- for all the proceedings and results, the words of ing it, was to put it into circulation-to " box it Mather are much more applicable to Stoughton "about" —thereby to produce an effect, to the than to Phips. putting down of Sadduceeism, or all further op- Upon receiving these " importunate requests" position to witchcraft prosecutions. He, undoubt- from Mather, proposing such a form of reply, to edly, contemplated making it a part of his book, be used in such a way, Sewall thought it best to the Wonders of the Invisible World, printed, adopt the course indicated in the following entry, the next year, in London. The statement made in the Diary of his brother, the Judge: " THURsby him always was, that he wrote that book in "DAY, SEPT. 22, 1692. William Stoughton, Esq., compliance with orders laid upon him to that ef- " John Hathorne, Esq., Mr. Cotton Mather, and feet by " His Excellency, the Governor." The "Capt. John Higginson, with my brother St. imprimatur, in conspicuous type, in front of one " were at our house, speaking about publishing of the editions of the book, is "Published by the " some trials of the witches." "special command of his Excellency, the Gov- It appears that Stephen Sewall, instead of an"ernor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay swering Mather's letter in writing, went directly "in New England." to Boston, accompanied by Hathorne and HigOn the sixteenth of September, Sir William ginson, and met Mather and Stoughton at the Phips had notified the Council of his going to the house of the Judge. No other Minister was eastward; and that body was adjourned to the present; and Judge Sewall was not Mather's pa 46 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. rishioner. The whole matter was there talked After further prefacing his account, by relatover. The project Mather had been contem- ing, A modern instance of Witches, discovered plating was matured; and arrangements made and condemned, in a trial before that celebrated with Stephen Sewall, who had them in his cus- Judge, Sir Matthew Hale, he comes to the trial tody, to send to Mather the Records of the of George Burroughs. He spreads out, without trials; and, thus provided, he proceeded, with- reserve, the spectral evidence, given in this as in out further delay, in obedience to the commands all the cases, and without the least intimation of laid upon him by " his Excellency," to prepare objection from himself, or any one else, to its befor the press, The Wonders of the Invisible World, ing admitted, as, " with other things to render it which was designed to send to the shades, "Sad- "credible " enough for the purpose of conviction. "uceeism," to extirpate "witch-advocates," and to Any one reading his account, and at the same leave the course clear for the indefinite continu- time examining the documents on file, will be ance of the prosecutions, until, as Stoughton ex- able to appreciate how far lie was justified in pressed it, "the lbad was cleared" of all witches. saying, that he reported it in the spirit of an hisThe presence of the Deputy-governor, at this torian rather than an advocate. private conference, shows the prominent part he Let, us, first, see what the " Court papers, put bore in the movement, and corroborates, what is " into his hands," amounted to; as we find them inferrible from the dates, that he was "His Ex- in the files.' cellency, the Governor," referred to in the doc- "The Deposition of Simon Willard, aged about uments connected with this transaction. It is "42 years, saith: I being at Saco, in the year 1689, observable, by the way, that the references are "some in Capt. Ed. Sargent's garrison were speakalways to the official character and title, and not "ing of Mr. George Burroughs his great strength, to the name of the person, whether Phips or "saying he could take a barrel of molasses out of Stoughton. "a canoe or boat, alone; and that he could take it I now proceed to examine the book, written "in his hands, or arms, out of the canoe or boat, and brought forward, under these circumstances "and carry it, and set it on the shore; and Mr. and for this purpose. It contains much of which "Burroughs being there, said that he had carried I shall avail myself, to illustrate the position and "one barrel of molasses or cider out of a canoe, the views of Mather, at the time. The length "that had like to have done him a displeasure; to which this article is extended, by the method I "said Mr. Burroughs intimated, as if he did not have adopted of quoting documents so fully, is "want strength to do it, but the disadvantage of regretted; but it seems necessary, in order to "the shore was such, that, his foot slipping meet the interest that has been awakened in the "in the sand, he had liked to have strained his subject, by the article in the North American Re-'leg." view, to make the enquiry as thorough as possible. Willard was uncertain whether Burroughs had Only a part of the work is devoted to the main stated it to be molasses or cider. John Brown purpose for which it was ostensibly and avowedly testified about a " barrel of cider." Burroughs designed. That I shall first notice. It is intro denied the statement, as to the molasses, thereby duced as follows: " I shall no longer detain my impliedly admitting that he had so carried a bar"reader from his expected entertainment, in a rel of cider. "brief account of the Trials which have passed Samuel Webber testified that, seven or eight "upon some of the Malefactors lately executed years before, Burroughs told him that, by put"at Salem, for the witchcrafts whereof they stood ting his fingers into the bung of a barrel of convicted. For my own part, I was not pres- molasses, he had lifted it up, and "carried it "ent at any of them; nor ever had I any per- "round him, and set it down again." "sonal prejudice at the persons thus brought Paris, in his notes of this trial, not in the files, "upon the Stage; much less, at the surviving re- says that " Capt. Wormwood testified about the "lations of those persons, with and for whom I " gun and the molasses." But the papers on file " would be as hearty a mourner, as any man liv- give the name as " Capt. Wm Wormall," and rep"ing in the world: The Lord comfort them! resents that he, referring to the gun, " swore" "But having received a command so to do, I can that he, "saw George Burroughs raise it from "do no other than shortly relate the chief Mat- " the ground." His testimony, with this excep"ters of Fact, which occurred in the trials of tion, was merely confirmatory, in general terms, "some' that were executed; in an abridgement of another deposition of Simon Willard, to the " collected out of the Court Papers, on this oc- effect, that Burroughs, in explanation of one of " casion put into my hands. You are to take the the stories about his great strength, showed him "Truth, just as it was."- Wonders of the in- how he held a gun of "about sevenfoot barrel," visible World, p. 54. by taking it "in his hand behind the lock," He singles out five cases and declares: "I report and holding it out; Willard further stating that " matters, notas an Advocate, butas an Historian. " he did not see him " hold it out then, "and that SALEM WrlTCtCRAPT AND COTTON MATHER. 47 he, Willard, so taking the gun with both hands, " a great meeting of the witches, nigh Sargeant could not hold it out long enough to take sight. " Chandlers, that Mr. Burroughs was there, and The testimony, throughout, was thus loose and " they had the sacrament, and after they had conflicting, almost wholly mere hearsay, of no'done, he took leave, and bid them stand to value, logically or legally. All that was really "their faith, and not own any thing. Martha proved being what Burroughs admitted, that is, "Tyler saith the same with Sarah Wilson, and as to the cider. "several others." But, in the statement made by him to Willard, The testimony of these two confessing witches, at Saco, as deposed by the latter, he mentioned a " and several others," relating, as it did, to what circumstance, namely, the straining of his leg, was alleged to have happened " the night before which, if not true, could easily have been dis- "Mr. Burroughs was executed," could not have proved, that demonstrated the effort to have been been given at his trial, nor until after his death. made, and the feat accomplished, by the natural Yet, as but three other confessing witches are menexercise of muscular power. If preternatural tioned in the files of this case, Mather must have force had aided him, it would have been sup- relied upon this Memorandum to make up the plied in sufficient quantity to have prevented such " eight" sid, by him, to have testified, "in the a mishap. To convey the impression that the'prosecution of the charge" against Burroughs. exhibitions of strength ascribed to Burroughs Hale, misled, perhaps, by the Memorandum, uses were proofs of diabolical assistance, and demon- the indefinite expression "seven or eight." strations that he was guilty of the crime of We know that one of the confessing witches, witchcraft, Mather says "he was a very puny who had given evidence against Burroughs, " man, yet he had often done things beyond the retracted it before the Court, previous to his ex-' strength of a giant."'There is nothing to jus- ecution; but Mather makes no mention of that tify the application of the word " puny " to him, fact. except that he was of small stature. Such per- To go back to the barrel Mr. Burroughs lifted. sons are often very strong. Burroughs had, from I have stated the substance of the whole testihis college days, been noted for gymnastic exer- mony relating to the point. Mather characterizes cises. There is nothing, I repeat, to justify the it, thus, in his report of the trial: " There was use of the word, by Mather, in the sense he de- "evidence likewise brought in, that he made signed to convey, of bodily weakness. " nothing of taking up whole barrels, filled with The truth is, that his extraordinary muscular " molasses or cider, in very disadvantageous popower, as exhibited in such feats as lifting "sitions, and carrying them off, through the most the barrel of cider, was the topic of neighbor- "difficult places, out of a canoe to the shore." hood talk; and there was much variation, as is He made up this statement, as its substance usual in such cases, some having it a barrel of and phraseology show, from Willard's deposition, cider, and some, of molasses. There is, among then lying before him. In his use of that part of the Court papers, a Memorandnin, in Mr. the evidence, in particular, as of the whole eviGeorge Burroughs trial, besides the written dence, generally, the reader can judge whether evidences. One item is the testimony of he exhibited the spirit of an historian or of an Thomas Evans, "that he carried out barrels of advocate; and whether there was any thing to " molasses, meat, &c., out of a canoe, whilst his justify his expression,' made nothing of."'mate went to the fort for hands to help out Any one scrutinizing the evidence, which, "with." Here we see another variation of the strange to say, was allowed to come in on a trial story. The amount of it is, that, while the mate for witchcraft, relating to alleged misunderstandthought assistance needed, and went to get it, ings between Burroughs and his two wives, inBurroughs concluded to do the work himself. If volved in an alienation between him and some of the Prisoner had been allowed Counsel; or any the relations of the last, will see that it amounts discernment been left in the Judges, the whole of to nothing more than the scandals incident to imthis evidence would have been thrown out of bittered parish quarrels, and inevitably engenderaccount, as without foundation and frivolous ed in such a state of credulity and malevolence, in its character; yet Increase Mather, who was as the witchcraft prosecutions produced. Yet present, was entirely carried away with it, and our "historian," in his report of the case, says: declared that, upon it alone, if on the Bench or "Now G. B. had been infamous, for the barin the jury-box, he would have convicted the "barous usage of his two successive wives, all Prisoner. " the country over." It is quite doubtful, however, whether the In my book, in connection with another piece above testimony of Evans was given in, at the of evidence in the papers, given, like that of the trial; for the next clause, in the same paragraph, confessing witches just referred to, long after is Sarah Wilson's confession, that:' The night Burroughs's execution, I expressed surprise that "before Mr. Burroughs was executed, there was the irregularity of putting such testimony among 48 SALEIM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHEI. the documents belonging to the trial, escaped the ceive the impression from the opening words, notice of Hutchinson, eminent jurist as he was, " there were two testimo.nies," that they were givand also of Calef. The Reviewer represents this en at the trial, and to run the luck of having it remark as one of my" very grave and unsupported removed by the latter part of the paragraph.' charges against the honesty of Cotton Mather." The whole tling is so stated as to mystify and I said nothing about Mather in connection with obscure. There were " two" testimonies; "one" that point, but expressed strong disapprobation is said not to have been presented; and then, that of the condulct of the official persons who pro- neither was presented. The reader, not knowing cured the deposition to be made, and of those what to make of it, is liable to carry off nothing having the custody of the papers. The Review- distinctly, except that, somehow, " there were teser, imagining that my censure was levelled at " timonies" brought to bear against Burroughs; Mather, and resolved to defend him, through whereas not a syllable of it came before the Court. thick and thin, denies that the document in ques Never going out of my way to criticise Cotton tion was " surreptitiously foisted in." But there Mather, nor breaking the thread of my story for it was, when Mather had the papers, and there that purpose, I did not, in my book, call attention it now is,-its date a month after Burroughs was to this paragraph, as to its bearing upon him, but in his rocky grave. The Reviewer says that if I the strange use the Reviewer has made of it had looked to the end of Mather's notice of the against me, compels its examination, in detail. document, or observed the brackets in whi'lh it What right had Mather to insert this paragraph, was enclosed, I would have seen that Mather says at all, in his report of the trial of George Burthat the paper was not used at the trial. I stated roughs? It refers to extra-judicial and gratuitous the fact, expressly, and gave Mather's explanation statements that had nothing to do with the trial, " that the man was overpersuaded by others to be made a month after Burroughs had passed out of "out of the way upon George Burroughs's trial " Court and out of the world, beyond the reach of [ii. 300, 303.] I found no fault with Mather, in all tribunals and all Magistrates. It was not true connection with the paper; and am not answera- that "there were two testimonies" to the facts ble, at all, for the snarl in which the Reviewer's alleged, at the trial, which, and which alone, mind has become entangled, in his eagerness to Mather was professing to report. It is not a sufassail my book. ficient justification, that he contradicted, in the I ask a little further attention to this matter, last clause, what he said in the first. This was because it affords an illustration of Mather's sin- one of Mather's artifices, as a writer, protecting gular but characteristic, method of putting himself from responsibility, while leaving an imtlings, often deceiving others, and sometimes, pression. perhaps, himself. I quote the paragraph from Mather says there were " two" witnesses of the his report of the trial of Borroughs, in the Won- facts alleged in the paragraph. Upon a careful ders of the vluisible World. p. 64:'There re-examination of the papers on file, there ap" were two testimonies, that G. B. with only pears to have been only one, in support of it. It'" putting the fore-finger of his right hand into stands solely on the single deposition of Thomas "' the muzzle of an heavy gun, a fowling-piece of Greenslitt, of the fifteenth of September, 1692. "about six or seven foot barrel, did lift up the The deponent mentions two other persons, by " gun, and hold it out at arms end; a gun which name, " and some others that are dead," who wit" the deponents, though strong men, could not, nessed the exploit. But no evidence was given " with both hands, lift up, and hold out, at the by them; and the mnuzzle story, according to the " butt end, as is usual. Indeed, one of thesu wit- papers on file, stands uponthedeposition of Greens" nesses was overpersuaded by some persons to litt alone. The paragraph gives the idea that " be out of the way, upon G. B's. trial; but he Greenslitt put himself out of the way, at the time " came afterwards, with sorrow for his withdraw; of the trial of Burroughs; but there is reason to " and. gave in his testimony; nor were either of believe that he lived far down in the eastern " these witnesses made use of as evidences in the country, and subsequently came voluntarily to Sa"trial." lem, from his distant home, to be present at the The Reviewer says that Mather included the trial of his mother. The deposition was obtained above paragarph in " brackets," to apprise the from him in the period between her condemnareader that the evidence, to which it relates, was tion and execution. The motives that may have not given at the trial. It is true that the brack- lel the prosecutors to think it important to proets are found in the Boston edition; but they cure, and the probable inducement that led him are omitted, in the London edition, of the same to give, the deposition are explained in my book year, 1693. If it was thought expedient to pre- [ii. 298]. Greenslitt states that " the gun was of vent misunderstanding, or preserve the appear- "six-foot barrel or thereabouts." Mather reports ance of fairness, here, the precaution was not pro- him as saying " about six or seven foot barrel." vided for the English reader, He was left to re- The account of the trial of Burroughs, through SALEM WITCHOttAT AND COTTON MATiHEA. 49 out, is charged with extreme prejudice against able families. She was nearly connected with the Prisoner; and the character of the evidence the venerable Minister of Andover, Francis Dane, is exaggerated. and belonged to the family of Jacksons. One of the witnesses, in the trial of Bridget There was, and is, among the papers, a large Bishop, related a variety of mishaps, such as the body of evidence in her favor, most weighty and stumping of the off-wheel of his cart, the break- decisive, yet Mather makes no allusion to it whating of the gears, and a general coming to pieces ever; although he must have known of it, from of the harness and vehicle, on one occasion; and outside information as well as the documents behis not being ably, on another, to lift a bag of foie him. Two of the most respectable Ministers corn as easily as usual; and he ascribed it all to in the country, Phillips and Payson of Rowley, the witchery of the Prisoner. Mather gives his many of her neighbors, mlen and women, and the statement, concluding thus: " Many other pranks father of her husband, ninety-four years of age, " of this Bishop this deponent was ready to tcs- testified to her eminent Christian graces, and por"tify." He endorses every thing, however absurd, trayed a picture of female gentleness, loveliness, especially if resting on spectral evidence, as abso- and purity, not surpassed in the annals of her lute, unquestionable, and demonstrated facts. sex. The two Clergymen exposed and denouncNothing was proved against the moral character ed the wickedness of the means that had been of Susannah hMartin; and nothing was brought to employed to bring the stigma of witchcraft upon bear upon her, but the most ridiculous and shame- her good name. Mather not only withholds all ful tales of blind superstition and malignant this evidence, but speaks with special bitterness credulity. The extraordinary acumen and force of this excellent woman, calling her, over and of mind, however, exhibited in her defence, to over again, throughout his whole account, "This the discomfiture of the examining Magistrates " How." and Judges, excited their wrath and that of all There is reason to apprehend that much cruelty concerned in the prosecution. Mather finishes was practised upon the Prisoners, especially to the account of her trial in these words: " NOTE. force them to confess. The statements made by " This woman was one of the most impudent, John Proctor, in his letter to the Ministers, are "scurrilous, wicked creatures in the world; and fully entitled to credit, from his unimpeached "she did now, throughout her whole trial, dis- honesty of character, as well as from the position "cover herself to be such an one. Yet when she of the persons addressed. It is not to be imagin"was asked what she had to say for herself, her ed, that, at its date, on the twenty-third of July, "chief plea was,' that she had led a most vinu- twelve days before his trial, he would have made, "'ous and holy life.' "-Wonders, ect. 126. in writing, such declarations to them, had they Well might he, and all who acted in bringing not been true. He says that brutal violence was this remarkable woman to her death, have been used upon his son to induce him to confess. He exasperated against her. She will be remembered, also states that two of the children of Martha Carin perpetual history, as having risen superior to rier were "tied neck and heels, till the blood them all, in intellectual capacity, and as having " was ready to come out of their noses." The utterly refuted the whole system of spectral doc- outrages, thus perpetrated, with all the affrighttrine, upon which her life and the lives of all the ing influences brought to bear, prevailed over others were sacrificed. Looking towards "the Carrier's children. Some of them were used as " afflicted children," who had sworn that her witnesses against her. A little girl, not eight spectre tortured them, the Magistrate asked, years old, was made to swear that she was a "How comes your appearance to hurt these?" Her witch; that her mother, when she was six years answer was, " How do I know? He that appeared old, made her so, baptizing her, and compelling " in the shape of Samuel, a glorified Saint, may her' to set her hand to a book," and carried her, " appear in any one's shape."' in her spirit," to afflict people; that her mother It is truly astonishing that Mather should have after she was in prison, came to her in the shape selected the name of Elizabeth How, to be held of " a black cat; " and that the cat told her it up to abhorrence and classed amon: the " Male- was her mother. Another of her children testifi"factors." It shows how utterly blinded and ed that he, and still another, a brother, were perverted he was by the horrible delusion that witches, and had been present, in spectre, at "possessed" him. If her piety and virtue were Witch-sacraments, telling who were there, and of no avail in leading him to pause in aspersing where they procured their wine. All this her memory, by selecting her case to be included the mother had to hear. in the "black list" of those reported by Thomas Carrier, her husband, had, a year or him in his Wonders, one would have thought two before, been involved in a controversy about he would have paid some regard to the tes- the boundaries of his lands, in which hard words timony of his clerical brethren and to the feel- had passed. The energy of character, so strikings of her relatives, embracing many most estim- ingly displayed by his wife, at her Examination, 4 50 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATIHEI. rendered her liable to incur animosities, in the testimony, as what they would have sworn to if course of a neighborhood feud. The wholeforce called upon; and says they were not put upon the of angry superstition had been arrayed against stand, because there was evidence " enough" her; and she became the object of scandal, in the without them. form it then was made to assume, the imputation Such were the reports of those of the trials, of being a witch. Her Minister, Mr. Dane, in a which had then taken place, selected by Mather strong cand bold letter, in defence of his parish- to be put into the Wonders of the Invisible ioners, many of whom had been accused, says: World, and thus to be "boxed about," —to " There was a suspicion of Goodwife Carrier adopt the Reviewer's interpretation —to strike " among some of us, before she was apprehend- down the' Spectre of Sadduceeism," that is, to "ed, I know." He avers that he had lived above extirpate and bring to an end all doubts about forty years in Andover, and had been much con- witchcraft and all attempts to stop the prosecuversant with the people, "at their habitations;" tions. that, hearing that some of his people were inclin- This book was written while the proceedings ed to indulge in superstitious stories, and give at Salem were at their height, during the very heed to tales of the kind, he preached a Sermon month in which sixteen persons had been sentencagainst all such things; and that, since that time, ed to death and eight executed, evidently, from he knew of no person that countenanced practices its whole tenor, and as the Reviewer admits, for of the kind; concluding his statement in these the purpose of silencing objectors and doubters, words: "So far as I had the understanding of Sadducees and Witch-advocates, before the meet"any thing amongst us, do declare, that I be- ing of the Court, by adjournment, in the first "lieve the reports have been scandalous and un- week of November, to continue-as the Ministers, "just, neither will bear the light." in their Advice, expressed it-their "sedulous and Atrocious as were the outrages connected with "assiduous endeavours to defeat the abominable the prosecutions, in 1692, none, it appears to me, "witchcrafts which have been committed in the equalled those committed in the case of Martha "country." Carrier. The Magistrates who sat and listened, Little did those concerned, in keeping up the with wondering awe, to such evidence from a lit- delusion and prolonging the scenes in the Salem tie child against her mother, in the presence of Court-house and on Witch-hill, dream that the that mother, must have been bereft, by the bale- curtain was so soon to fall upon the horrid trageful superstitions of the hour, of all natural sensi- dy and confound him who combined, in his own bility. They countenanced a violation of reason, person, the functions of Governor, Commander-in common sense, and the instincts of humanity, too chief, President of the Council, Legislative leadhorrible to be thought of. er of the General Court, and Chief-justice of the The unhappy mother felt it in the deep recesses Special Court, and all his aiders and abettors, lay of her strong nature. That trait, in the female and clerical. and maternal heart, which, when developed, as- XII. sumes a heroic aspect, was brought out in terrific power. She looked to the Magistrates, after the WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD CONTIN accusing girls had charged her with having UED. PASSAGES FROM THE "CASES OF CON"killed thirteen at Andover," with a stern brav- "CIENCE." INCREASE MATHER. ery to which those dignitaries had not been ac- In addition to the reports of the trials of the customed, and rebuked them: " I is a shameful five "Malefactors," as Mather calls them, the "thing, that you should mind those folks that Wonders of the Invisible World contains much "are out of their wits;" and then, turning to the matter that helps us to ascertain the real opinaccusers, said, " You lie, and I am wronged." ions, at the time, of its author, to which justice This woman, like all the rest, met her fate with to him, and to all, requires me to ask attention. a demeanor that left no room for malice to utter The passages, to be quoted, will occupy some a word of disparagement, protesting her inno- room; but they will repay the reading, in the cence. Mather witnessed her execution; and in light they shed upon the manner in which such a memorandum to the report, written in the pro- subjects were treated in the most accredited literfessed character of an historian, having great ature, and infused into the public mind, at that compassion for "surviving relatives," calls her a day. The style of Cotton Mather, while open to "rampant hag." the criticisms generally made, is lively and atBringing young children to swear away the tractive; and, for its ingenuity of expression and life of their mother, was probably felt by the frequent felicity of illustration, often quite reJudges to be too great a shock upon natural sens- freshing. ibilities to be risked again, and they were not pro- The work was written under a sense of the neduced at the trial; but Mather, notwithstanding, cessity of maintaining the position into which had no reluctance to publish the substance of their the Government of the Province had been led, by SAtEM WITCTHCRAFT AND COTTON MATRtER. 51 so suddenly and rashly organizing the Special to persevere in the witchcraft prosecutions. C;urt and putting it upon its bloody work, at "We are to unite in our enceavours to deliver Salem; and this could only be done by renew- "our distressed neighbors from the horrible aning and fortifying the popular conviction, that "noyances and molestations wherewith a dreadsuch proceedings were necessary, and ought to be'ful witchcraft is now persecuting of them. vigorously prosecuted, and all Sadduceeism, or "To have an hand in any thing that may stifle opposition to them, put down. It was especially "or obstruct a regular detection of that witchnecessary to reconcile, or obscure into indistinct- craft, is what we may well with an holy fear ness, certain conflicting theories that had more "avoid. Their Majesties good subjects must not or less currency. "I do not believe," says Math- "every day be torn to pieces by hLorrid witches, er, "that the progress of Witchcraft among us, "and those bloody felons be left wholly unpros" is all the plot which the Devil is managing in " ecuted. The witchcraft is a business that will "the Witchcraft now upon us. It is judged that "not be shammed, without plunging us into sore "the Devil raised the storm, whereof we read in "plagues, and of long continuance. But then ~" the eighth Chapter of Matthew, on purpose to " we are to unite in such methods for this deliv-' overset the little vessel wherein the disciples of "erance, as may be unquestionably safe, lest the o ur Lord were embarked with him. And it "latter end be worse than the beginning. And "may be feared that, in the Horrible Tempest "here, what shall I say? I will venture to say "which is now upon ourselves, the design of the "thus much. That we are safe, when we make " Devil is to sink that happy Settlement of Gov- "just as much use of all advice from the invisi"ernment, wherewith Almighty Godhasgracious- "bie world, as God sends it for. It is a safe "ly inclined their Majesties to favor us."- Won- "principle, that when God Almighty permits de}rs, p. 10. "any spirits, from the unseen regions, to visit us He then proceeds to compliment Sir William "with surprising informations, thereis then somePhips, alluding to his "continually venturing "'thing to be enquired after; we are then to en"his all," that is, in looking after affairs and'quire of one another, what cause there is for fighting Indians in the eastern parts; to applaud "such things? The peculiar government of God, Stoughton as " admirably accomplished " for his "over the unbodied Intelligences, is a sufficient place; and continues as follows:' Our Councel- foundation for this principle. When there has "lours are some of our most eminent persons, and "been a murder committed, an apparition of the "as loyal to the Crown, as hearty lovers of their "slain party accusing of any man, although "country. Our Constitution also is attended "such apparitions have oftener spoke true than " with singular privileges. All which things are "false, is not enough to convict the man as guil-' by the Devil exceedingly envied unto us. And' ty of that murder; but yet it is a sufficient oc"the Devil will doubtless take this occasion for "casion for Magistrates to make a particular en"the raising of such complaints and clamors, as "quiry whether such a man have afforded any "may be of pernicious consequence unto some "ground for such an accusation."-Page 13. "part of our present Settlement, if he can so far He goes on to apply this principle to the spec"impose. But that, which most of all threat- tres of accused persons, seen by the "afflicted," " ens us, in our present circumstances, is the mlis- as constituting sufficient ground to institute pro" understandings, and so, the animosities, where- ceedings against the persons thus accused. Af"into the Witchcraft, now raging, has enchant- ter modifying, apparently, this position, although "ed us. The embroiling, first, of our Spirits, in language so obscure as to leave his meaning " and then, of our affairs." "I am sure, we quite uncertain, he says: "I was going to make " shall be worse than brutes, if we fly upon one "one venture more; that is, to offer some safe " another, at a time when the floods of Belial "rules, for the finding out of the witches, which " are upon us." " The Devil has made us like " are to this day our accursed troublers: but this "a troubled sea, and the mire and imud begins "were a venture too presumptuous and Icarian "now also to heave up apace. Even good and "for me to make. I leave that unto those Ex"wise men suffer themselves to fall into their "cellent and Judicious persons with whom I "' paroxysms, and the shake which the Devil is "am not worthy to be numbered: All that I shall "now giving us, fetches up the dirt which be- "do, shall be to lay before my readers, a brief' fore lay still at the bottom of our sinful hearts. "synopsis of what has been written on that subI'f we allow the mad dogs of Hell to poison "ject, by a Triumvirate of as eminent persons as "us by biting us, we shall imagine that we see "have ever handled it."-Page 14. "nothing but such things about us, and like such From neither of them, Perkins, Gaule and "things, fly upon all that we see." Bernard, as he cites them, can specific authority After deprecating the animosities and clamors be obtained for the admission of spectral testithat were threatening to drive himself and his mony, as offered by accusing witnesses, not themfriends from power, he makes a strenuous appeal selves confessing witches. The third Rule, attrib 52 SBALEM WITCHCRAFT AN) COTTON MATlERt. uted to Perkins, and the fifth of Bernard, apply the evidence, authorized by Bernard's book, was; to persons confessing the crime of witchcraft, and,- and it also proves how unjust, to the Judges and after confession, giving evidence affecting an- Magistrates, is the charge made upon them by the other person-the former considering such evi- Reviewer, that they disregarded and violated the dence "not sufficient for condemnation, but a advice of the Ministers. In admitting a species " fit presumption to cause a strait examination; " of evidence, wholly spectral, which was fatal, the latter treating it as sufficient to convict a more than any other, to the Prisoners, they folfellow -witch, that is, another person also accused lowed a rule laid down by the very authors of being in "league with the Devil." Bernard whose " directions" the Ministers, in their Adspecifies, as the kind of evidence, sufficient for vice, written by " Mr. Mather the younger," conviction, such witnesses might give: " If they enjoined upon them to follow. It is noticable,' can make good the truth of their witness and by the way, that, in that document, they left "give sufficient proof of it; as that they have Gaule out of the "triumvirate;" Mather finding "seen them with their Spirits, or that they have nothing in his book to justify the admission of "received Spirits from them, or that they can tell spectral testimony. "when they used witchery-tricks to do harm, or He urges the force of the evidence, from con"that they told them what harm they had done, fessions, with all possible earnestness. " or that they can show the mark upon them, or "One would think all the rules of under" that they have been togetherin theirmeetings, or " standing human affairs are at an end, if after such like." "so many most voluntary harmonious confesMather remarks, in connection with his synop- " sions, made by intelligent persons, of all ages, sis of these Rules:' They are considerable things,' in sundry towns, at several times, we must not " which I have thus related." Those I have par- " believe the main strokes, wherein those confesticularly noticed were enough to let in a large "sions all agree."-Page 8. part of the evidence given at the Salem trials — le continues to press the point thus: "If in many respects, the most effective and formida- " the Devils now can strike the minds of men ble part-striking the Jury and Court, as well as " with any poisons of so fine a composition and the people, with an'' awe," which rendered no "operation, that scores of innocent people shall other evidence necessary to overwhelm the mind "unite, in confessions of a crime, which we see and secure conviction. The Prisoners themselves "atctually committed, it is a thing prodigious, were amazed and astounded by it. Mr. Hale, in "beyond the wonders of the former ages; and it his account of the proceedings, says: " When "threatens no less than a sort of a dissolution a' George Burroughs was tried, seven or eight of " upon the world. Now, by these confessions, "' the confessors, severally called, said, they knew "it is agreed, that the Devil has made a dreadful " the said Burroughs; and saw him at a Witch- "knot of witches in the country, and by the''meeting at the Village; and heard him exhort "help of witches has dreadfully increased that "the company to pull down the Kingdom of "knot; that these witches have driven a trade of "God and set up the Kingdom of the Devil. "commissioning their confederate spirits, to do' He denied all, yet said he justified the Judges " all sorts of mischiefs to the neighbors, wherea' and Jury in condemning him; because there''upon there have ensued such mischievous con" were so many positive witnesses against him;' sequences upon the bodies and estates of the " but said he died by false witnesses." Mir. Hale''neighborhood, as could not otherwise be acproceeds to mention this fact: "I seriously spake "counted for; yea, that at prodigious Witch"to one that witnessed (of his exhorting at the "meetings the wretches have proceeded so far "Witch-meeting at the Village) saying to her; "as to concert and consult the methods of root"' You are one that bring this man to death: if " ing out the Christian religion from this coun-' you have charged any thing upon him that is''try, and setting up, instead of it, perhaps a more "'not true, recall it before it be too late, while he gross Diabolism, than ever the world saw be"' is alive.' She answered me, she hadnothingto'"fore. And yet it will be a thing little short of " charge herself with, upon that account." "miracle, if, in so spread a business as this, the Mather omits this circumstance in copying Mr.''Devil should not get in some of his juggles, to Hale's narrative. It has always been a mystery, "confound the discovery of all the rest." what led the "accusing girls" to cry out, as In the last sentence of the foregoing passage, they afterwards did, against Mr. Hale's wife. we see an idea, which Mather expressed in several Perhaps this expostulation with one of their wit instances. It amounts to this. Suppose the Devil nesses, awakened their suspicions. They always does " sometimes " make use of the spectre of an' struck at every one who appeared to be waver- innocent person-he does it for the purpose of ing, or in the least disposed to question the cor- destroying our faith in that kind of evidence, rectness of what was going on. The statement and leading us to throw it all out, thereby "conof Mr. Hale shows how effectual and destructive "founding the discovery" of those cases in SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 53 which, as ordinarily, he makes use of the spectres parties; and he applauds the Court, testifying to of his guilty confederates, and, in effect, shelter- the successful and beneficial issue of its proceeding "all the rest," that is, the whole body of ings. "Our honorable Judges have used, as those who are the willing and covenanted sub- "Judges have heretofore done, the spectral evijects of his diabolical kingdom, from detection. "dence, to introduce their further enquiries into IEe says: "The witches have not only intimated, "the lives of the persons accused; and they " but some of them acknowledged, that they have''have, thereupon, by the wonderful Providence plotted the representations of innocent persons' of God, been so strengthened vwith other evi"to cover and shelter themselves in their witch- " dences, that some of the Witch-gang have been "crafts." "' fairly executed. "-Pages 41, /3. He further suggests-for no other purpose, it The language of Cotton Mather, as applied to would seem, than to reconcile us to the use of those who had suffered, as witches, "a fearful such evidence, even though it may, in''rare and "knot of proud, froward, ignorant, envious and "extraordinary " instances, bear against innocent'malicious creatures-a Witch-gang,"- -is rather persons, scarcely, however, to be apprehended, hard, as coming from a Minister who, as the Re"when matters come before civil judicature " viewer asserts, had officiated in their death scenes, that it may be the divine will. that, occasionally, witnessed their devout and Christian expressions an innocent person may be cut off: " Who of us and deportment, and been their comforter, coi"can exactly state how far our God may, for our soler, counsellor and friend. "chastisement, permit the Devil to proceed in The dissatisfaction that pervaded the public''such an abuse?" He then alludes to the meet- mind, about the time of the last executions at ing of Ministers, under his father's auspices, at Salem, which Phips describes, was so serious, Cambridge, on the first of August; quotes with that both the Mathers were called in to allay it. approval, the result of the "Discourse," then The father also, at the request of the Ministers, held; and immediately proceeds:' It is rare and wrote a book, entitled, Cases of Conscience, con-''extraordinary, for an honest Naboth to have cerning Evil Spirits, personati7ng men, WitC71crqcfts, "'his life itself sworn away by two children of &c., the general drift of which is against spectral''Belial, and yet no infringement hereby made evidence. He says:' Spectres are Devils, in the "on the Rectoral Righteousness of our eternal "shape of persons, either living or dead." " Sovereign, whose judgments are a great deep, Speaking of bewitched persons, ihe says: " What "'and wlho gives none account of his matters."'they affirm, concerning others, is not to be ta-Page 9.' "ken for evidence. Whence had tihe this soThe amount of all this is, that it is so rare and "pernatural sight? It must needs be either from extraordinary for the Devil to assume the spectral "Heaven or fron Hell. If frolm Heaven (as shape of an innocent person, that it is best,''Elisha's servant and Balaam's ass could discern "when," as his explession is, in another place, "'Angels) let their testimony be received. But "the public safety makes an exigency," to re- "if they had this knowledge from Hell, though ceive and act upon such evidence, even if it "there may possibly be trutl in what they a-fshould lead to the conviction of an innocent per- ".firm, they are not legal witnesses: for the son-a thing so seldom liable to occur, and, in- " Law of God allows of no revelation from any deed, barely possible. The procedure would be " other Spirit but himself. Isa. viii. 19. It is a but carrying out the divine "' permission," and a "'sin against God, to make use of the Devil's fulfilment of "the Rectoral Righteousness" of'help toknow that which cannot be otherwise Him, whose councils are a great deep, not to le "known; and I testify against it, as a great accounted for to, or by, us. "transgression, which may justly provoke the In summing up what the witches had been do- " Holy One of Israel, to let loose Devils on the ing at Salem Village, during the preceding Sum- " whole land. Luke, iv. 38." mer, Mather says: "The Devil, exhibiting lim- After referring to a couple of writers on the "self ordinarily as a small black man, has decoy- subject, the very next sentence is this: " Al"ed a fearful knot of proud, froward, ignorant, " though the Devil's accusations may be so far'envious and malicious creatures to list them- " regarded as to cause an enquiry into the truth "selves in his horrid service, by entering their' of things, Job, i. 11, 12, and ii. 5, 6; yet not'names in a book, by him tendered unto them." "so as to be an evidence or ground of convic"That they, each of them, have their spectres "tion." "or Devils, commissioned by them, and repre- It appears, therefore, that Increase Mather, "senting them, to be the engines of their mal- while writing with much force and apparent ve"ice." He enumerates, as facts, all the state- hemence against spectral evidence, still in reality ments of the "'afflicted" x itnesses and confess- countenanced its introduction, as a basis of "eliing witches, as to the horrible and monstrous "quiry into the truth of things," preliminary things perpetrated by the spectres of the accused to other evidence. This was, after all, to use the 84 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. form of thought of these writers, letting the noticed a difference in their judgments and exDevil into the case; and that was enough, from pressions, relating to the witchcraft affair, of the nature of things, in the then state of wild which no knowledge has come to us, except the superstition and the blind delusions of the pop- fact, that it was so understood at the time. ular mind, to give to spectral evidence the con- Cotton Mather brought all his ability to bear trolling sway it had in the Salem trials, and in preparing the Wonders of the hnvisible World. would necessarily have, every where, when intro- It is marked throughout by his peculiar genius, duced at all. and constructed with great ingenuity and elabIn a Postscript to Catses of Conscience, Increase oration; but it was " water spilt on the ground." Mather says that he hears that " some have taken So far as the end, for which it was designed, is "up a notion," that there was something contra- regarded, it died before it saw the light. dictory between his views and those of his son, set forth in the Wonders of the Invisible XIII. World. "Tis strange that such imaginations THE COUT OF O AND T BOU "should enter into the minds of men." He goes TO SUDEN E AND TERMINEI BROUGHT on to say he had read and approved of his son's HS. book, before it was printed; and falls back, as When Sir William Phips went to the eastward, both of them always did, when pressed, upon it was expected that his absence would be prothe Advice of the Ministers, of the fifteenth of longed to the twelfth of October. We cannot June, in which, he says, they concurred. tell exactly when he returned; probably some There can be no manner of doubt that the days before the twelfth. Writing on the four" strange " opinion did prevail, at the time, and teenth, he says, that before any application was has ever since, that the father and son did enter- made to him for the purpose, he had put a stop tain very different sentiments about the Salem to the proceedings of the Court. He probably proceedings. The precise form of that differ- signified, informally, to the Judges, that they ence is not easily ascertained. The feelings, so must not meet on the day to which they had adnatural and proper, on both sides, belonging to jcurned. Brattle, writing on the eighth, had not the relation they sustained to each other, led them heard any thing of the kind. But the Rev. Samto preserve an appearance of harmony, especially uel Torrey of Weymouth, who was in full sympain whatever was committed to the press. Then, thy with the prosecutors, had heard of it on the again, the views they each entertained were in seventh, as appears by this entry in Sewall's themselves so inconsistent, that it was not diffi- Diary: "OCT. 7th, 1692. Mr. Torrey seems to be cult to persuade themselves that they were sub- "of opinion, that the Court of Oyer and Terminstantially simlilar. There was much in the fath- " e should go on, regulating any thing that may er, for tile son to revere: there was much in the "'have been amiss, when certainly found to be so." son, for the father to admire. Besides, the hab- Sewall and Stoughton were among the princiitual style in which they and the Ministers of pal friends of Torrey; and he, probably, had that day indulged, of saying and unsaying, on learned from them, Phips's avowed purpose to the same page-putting a proposition and then stop the proceedings of the Court, in the witchlinking to it a countervailing one-covered their craft matter. The Court, however, was allowed tracks to each other and to themselves. This is to sit, in other cases, as it held a trial in Boston, their apology; and none of them needs it more on the tenth, in a capital case of the ordinary than Cotton Mather. ife cxas singularly blind kind. The purpose of the Governor gradually to logical sequence. With wonderful power over became known. Danforth, in a conversation language, he often seems not to appreciate the with Sewall, at Cambridge, on the fifteenth, eximport of what he is saying; and to this defect, pressed the opinion that the witchcraft trials ought it is agreeable to think, much, if not all, that not to proceed any further. has the aspect of a want of fairness and even It is not unlikely that Phips, while at the easttruthfulness, in his writings, may be attributed. ward, had received some commiunication that As associate Ministers of the same congrega- hastened his return. He describes the condition tion, it was desirable for the Mathers to avoid be- of things, as he found it. We know that the ing drawn into a conflicting attitude, on any mat- lives of twenty people had been taken away, one ter of importance. Drake, however, in his History of them a Minister of the Gaospel. Two Ministers of Boston, (p. 545.) says that there was supposed, had been accused, one of them the Pastor of the at the formation of the New North Church, in Old South Church; the name of the other is not that place, in 1712, to have been a jealousy be- known. A hundred were in prison; about two tween them. There were, indeed, many points of hundred more were under accusation, including dissimilarity, as well as of similarity, in their cul- some men of great estates in Boston, the motherture, experience, manners, and ways; and men in-law of one of the Judges, Corwin, and a memconversant with them, at the time, may have ber of the family of Increase Mather, although, as BALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 55 he says, in no way related to him. A Magis- "Convocation of Ministers, that may be led in the trate, who was a member of the House of Assern- "right way, as to the Witchcrafts. The season, bly, had fled for his life; and Phips's trusted na and manner of doing it, is suci, that the Court val commander, a man of high standing in the "of Oyer and Terminer count themselves thereby Church and in society, as well as in the service, "dismissed. 29 nos & 33 yeas to the Bill. after having been committed to Jail, had escaped "Capt. Bradstreet, and Lieut. True, Wm. Hutchto parts unknown. More than all, the Govern- "ins, and several other interested persons, in the or's wife had been cried out upon. We can eas- "affirmative." ily imagine his state of mind. Sir William Phips The course of Nathaniel Saltonstall, of Havwas noted for the sudden violence of his temper. erhill, and the action in the Legislature of the Mather says that lie sometimes " showed choler persons here named, entitle the Merrimac towns "enough." Hutchinson says that''he was of a of Essex-county to the credit of having made'benevolent, friendly disposition; at the same the first public and effectual resistance to the' time quick and passionate; " and, in illustration fanaticism and persecutions of 1692. of the latter qualities, hle relates that he got into The passage of this Bill, in the House of Repa fisticuff fight with the Collector of the Port, on resentatives, shows how the public mind had the wharf, handling him severely; and that, hav- been changed, since the June Session. Dudley ing high words, in the street, with a Captain of Bradstreet was a Magistrate and member from the Royal Navy, " the Governor made use of his Andover, son of the old Governor, and, with his " cane and broke Short's head." When his La- wife, had found safety from prosecution by flight; dy told her story to him, and pictured the whole Henry True, a member from Salisbury, was sonscene of the "strange ferment" in the domestic in-law of Mary Bradbury, who had beeen conand social circles of Boston and throughout the demned to death; Samuel Hutchins, (inadvertcountry, it was well for the Chief-justice, the ently called "Win.," by Sewall) was a member Judges, and perhaps his own Ministers, that they from Haverhill, and connected by marriage with were not within the reach of those "blows," a family, three of whom were tried for their lives. with which, as Mather informs us, in the Life of Sewall says there were "several other" members of Phips, the rough sailor was wont, when the gusts the House, interested in like manner. This shows of passion were prevailing, to "chastise incivili- into what high circles the accusers had struck.' ties," without reference to time or place, rank It appears, by the same Diary, that on the or station. twenty-seventh, Cotton Mather preached the But, as was his wont, the storm of wrath soon Thursday Lecture, from Javmes i. 4. The day of subsided; his purpose, however, under the cir- trial was then upon him and his fellow-actors; cumstances, as brave as it was wise and just, was, and patience wasinculcated as theduty of the hour. as the result showed, unalterable. He conmuni- The Diary relates that at a meeting of the cated to the Judges, personally, that they must Council, on the twenty-eighth, in the afternoon, sit no more, at Salem or elsewhere, to try cases of Sewall, " desired to have the advice of the Govwitchcraft; and that no more arrests must be "einor and Council, as to the sitting of the Court made, on that charge. "of Oyer and Terminer, next we(ek; said, should Mather's book, all ready as it was f:.jr the "move it no more; great silence prevailed, as if press, thus became labor thrown away. It was'should say, Do not go." not only rendered useless for the purpose design- The entry does not state whether Phips was ed, but a most serious difficulty obstructed its present; as, however, the time fixed for his republication. Phips forbade the "printing of cent brief absence had expired, probably he was "any discourses, one way or another; " and the in his seat. The following mishap, desceibed 1)y Wonders had incorporated in it some Sermons, Sewall, as occurring that day, perhaps detained impregnated, through and through, with corn- the Deputy-governor: " OCT, 28. Lt. Govr, combustible matter, in Phips's view, likely to kindle "ing over the causey, is, by reason of the high an inextinguishable flame. tide, so wet, that is fain to go to bed, till sends All that could be done was to keep still, in the " for dry clothes to Dorchester." hope that lie would become more malleable. In The "great silence" was significant of the emlthe meanwhile, public business called him away, barrassment in which they were placed, and their pelhaps to Rhode Island or Connecticut, from awe of the "choler" of the Governor. the eighteenth to the twenty-seventh of October. The Diary gives the following account of the In his absence, whether in consequence of move- Session the next day, at which, (as Sewell informs ments he had put in train, or solely from what us,) the Lieutenant-governor was not present: had become known of his views, the circumstance " OCT. 29. Mr. Russel asked, whether the Court occurred which is thus related in Sewall's Diary- "of Oyer and Terminer should sit, expressing the Legislature was then in Session: "OCT. 26, "some fear of inconvenience by its fall. Gover" 1692. A Bill is sent in about calling a Fast and nor said, it must fall." 56 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. Thus died the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Its with the prosecutions, was received, and never friends cherished, to the last, the hope that Sir appeared again until that Advice was abandoned William might be placated, and possibly again and repudiated: and Sir WfILImIAM PHIPS, who brought under control; but it vanished, when stamped it out beneath his feet. the emphatic and resolute words, reported by But how with Cotton Mather'sBook, the WonSewall, were uttered. ders of the ~Invisible World? On the eleventh of The firmness and force of character of the October, Stoughton and Sewall signed a paper, Governor are worthy of all praise. Indeed, the printed in the book, [p. 88.] endorsingits contents, illiterate and impulsive sailor has placed him- especially as to "matters of fact and evidence" self, in history, far in front of all the honored and the "methods of conviction used in the proJudges and learned Divines, of his day. Not " ceedings of the Court at Salem." The certifione of them penetrated the. whole matter as he cate repeats the form of words, so often used in did, when his attention was fully turned to it, and. connection with the book, that it was written " at his feelings enlisted, to decide, courageously and "the direction of His Excellency the Governor," righteously, the question before him. He saw without, as in all cases, specifying who, whether that no life was safe while the evidence of the Phips or Stoughton, was the Governor referred to. "afflicted persons" was received, " either to the As all the Judges were near at hand, and as the "committing or trying" of any persons. I-e certificate related to the proceedings before them, thus broke through the meshes which had bound is is quite observable that only the two mentionJudges and Ministers, the writers of books and ed signed it. As they were present, in the prithe makers of laws; and swept the whole fabric vate conference, with Cotton Mather, at the hocse of " spectral testimony" away, whether as mat- of one of them, on the twenty-second of Septer of "enquiry " and "lpresumption," or of tember, when its prepalation for publication "conviction." The ship-carpenter of the Ken- was finally arranged, they could not well avoid nebec laid the axe to the root of the tree. signing it. The times were critical; and the The following extract from a letter of Sir rest of the Judges, knowing the Governor's feelWilliam Phips, just put into my hands, and for igs, thought best not to appear. Of the three which I am indebted to Mr. Goodell, substan- other persons, at that conference, i athorne, it is tiates the conclusions to which I have been led. true, was a Judge of that Court, but it is doubto Phips to the Lrd o th furl whether he often, or ever, took his seat as a o8orPot ~ z tshe s n ll; besides, he was too experienced and "tee of Trade and Plantations, 3 Apiril, 1693. such; besides, he was too experienced and MAY IT PLEASE Yvasour, LORDSHIP Sp: cautious a pulblic man, unnecessarily to put his'C" MAvY IT PLEASE TOUR LOR.DSHIPS: hand to such a paper, when it was known, as it "I have intlealted iMrB[lathwayte to lay was probably to him, that Sir William Phips had "before your Lordships several letters, wherein forbidden publications of the kind.' I have given a particular account of my stop- There is another curious document in the Won-'ping a supposed witchcraft, which had proved ders-a letter froml Stoughton to Mather, high"fatall to many of their MajtS good subjects, ly applauding the book, in which he acknowl"had there not been a speedy end putt thereto; edges his particular obligations to him for writ"for a stop putt to the proceedings against such ing it, as more nearly and highly concerned" "'as were accused, hath caused the thing itself than others, considering his place in the Court, "' to cease." expressing in detail his sense of the great value This shows that, addressing officially his Home of the work," at this juncture of timle," and conGovernment, he assumed the responsibility of eluding thus: " I do therefore make it my parhaving "stopped and put a speedy end to the "ticular and earnest Request unto you, that, as "proceedings; " that he had no great faith in " sooi as may be, you will commit the same unthe doctrines then received touching the reality " to the press, accordingly." It is signed, withof witchcraft; and that he was fully convinced out any official title of distinction, simply "WILLthat, if he had allowed the trials to go on, and "'IAM STOUGHTON," and is without date. the inflammation of the public mind to be kept It is singular, if Phips was the person who up by "discourses," the bloody tragedy would requested it to be written and was the "Exhave been prolonged, and " proved fatal to many " cellency " who authorized its publication, that good" people. it was left to William Stoughton to "request" There are two men-neither of them belong- its being put to press. ing to the class of scholars or Divines; both of The foregoing examination of dates and facts them guided by common sense, good feeling, and seems, almost, to compel the conclusion, to be a courageous and resolute spirit-who stand drawn also from lis letter, that Sir William Phips alone, in the scenes of the witchcraft delusions. really had nothing whatever to do with procurNATHANIELSALTONSTALL, wholeft theCounciland ing the preparation or sanctioning the publicathe Court, the day the Ministers' Advice, to go on tion of the Wonders of the Invisible World. SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 57 The same is true as to the request to the Minis- ence at an Examination before Magistrates, of ters, for their Advice, dated the fifteenth of June. whom he was one, on the eleventh of April, 1692, It was "laid before the Judges;" and was, un- at Salem, is the interjection, thrice repeated, doubtedly, a response to anapplication from them. " Vae, Vae, Vae." At the opening of the year Having, very improperly, it must be confessed, 1692, he inserted, at a subsequent period, this given the whole matter of the trials over to passage: " Attontius tamen est, ingens discrimStoughton, and being engrossed in other affairs, "ine pa'vo committi potuisse Nefas."* it is quite likely that he knew but little of what Xv. had been going on, until his return from the eastward, in October. And his frequent and COTTON MATHER'S WRITINGS SUBSEQUENT TO THE long absences, leaving Stoughton, so much of the WITCHCRAFT PROSECUTIONS. time, with all the functions and titles of Gov- I propose, now, to enquire into the position ernor devolved upon him, led to speaking of the C occupied, nd the vies he exlatter s "His Excellency." When bearing this o latter as His Excelleny. When bearig this pressed, touching the matter, after the witchcraft title and acting as Governor, for the time being prsecutions had ceased and the delusion been the Chief-justice, with the side Judges-all of dispelle fo t minds of other men. them members of the Council, and in number Du-ing the Wintel of 1692 and 1693, between meeting the requirement in the Charter for a one two hundred prisoners, including conquorum, seven-may have been considered, as quoruni syven-"may heave been considiled, as fessing witches, remained in Jail, at Salem, I-ssubstantially, " lThe Govelrnor tlnci Council ". eubstant: II e Gover~nor and Council." *Tnwich, and other places. A considerable numl)er Thinking it more than probable that, in this w a o pc A c number Theainkingit moe thas pbolnable that, m on thrs were in the Boston Jail. It seems, from the letway, great wrong has been done to the memoly ter to Secretary Allyn of Connecticut, that, during of an honest and noble-hearted man, I have en- that time, th athes were in communication deavored to set things in their true light. Thee n.wi wth them, and receiving froml tllem thle names perplexities, party entanglements, personalcollis- of sos ose spectes, they declared, they ions, and engrossing cares that absorbed the at- f eployeinth tention of Sir William Phips, during the brief Devis w. Aftei that had hlppened, and Devil's work. Aftel all that had laappened, and remainder of his life, and the little interest le the ode of Si Willia Phip fobiding atfelt in such things, prevented his noticing the felt in such thigs ievented his noticing tem pts to renew the excitement, it is wonderful false position in which lie had been placed by that th MIthes should continue such practices. the undistinguishing use of titular phrases. the latte art of the Summer of 16S3, they Judge Sewall's Diary contains an entry that, conce in the affi of, were both concerneCd in the affair of Margaret also, sheds light upon the position of the Ma ule; and Cottn ther lrelpared, and put into It will be borne in mind, that Elisha Cook was cirlculation, an elal)orate account of it, some -,xthe colleague of Increase Mather, as Colonial tlacts from wlich have been presented, and which Agents in London. Cook refused assent to the ed, in ot conection. Z 5.. n. will be further noticed, in another connection. new Charter, and became the leader of the anti- Hisnextwork, in theorder oftime, whichIshall Mather party. He was considered an opptnent con sider, is his Life of Sir Willian Phips, printof the witchcraft prosecutions, although out of ed in London, in 167, and afterwards included the country at the time. " TUESDAY, NOV. 15. in the MIagnalia, also publisled in London, a "1692. M~ Coofk keeps a Day of Thanlksgiv-, 92. M Cook keeps a Day of Thanksgiv- few years afterwards, constitutino the last part "ing for his safe arrival." * * [ _I~aTymezn-''ing for his safe ar7rival." * * _[May fllsfl of thle Second Book. Thle Licf, of Phip)s is, tioned as there avwmneg the'm J W' llilad.] t f tioed as there, amog them r. Will.] perihaps, the most elaborate and finished of all Mr. Allen preached f rom Jacob's going to Beth- te odutins; ad ne as uncle "el * >'9 = M1. Mcatl-eX not thele n ol W~Matler'sproductioIs; and'd adorned," as his uncle'el, * Mr. Matlher not there, nor M. Nathnniel Mather says, in a commlendatory note, C"otton Matlier. The good Lolrd unite us in with a very grateful variety of learning." In his fear, and remove our animosites.! it Sir William, who had died, at London, three The manner in which Sewall distinguished the two Matliers confirms the views presented on years before, is painted in glowing colors, as one two Mathlers confirms the views presentedc on of te getest f conquerols and Irlels, " drolof the greatest of conquerors and rulers, " droppage8s 7, 38. I )ed, as it were, from the Machine of Heaven;" It may be remarked, that, up to this time, Se- fohis exterior he was one tall, eyond the wall seems to have been in full sympathly with stall shtoi ative bteen in full sympathy,r, ith b common lot of men; and thick, as well as tall, Stoughton and Mather. He was, however, beginning to indulsge in conversations thbt indicnte a ningl to induclig.e in onver sations thea~t inodicte a * For the privilege of inspecting and useing Judge Sewall's desire to feel rhe ground he was treading. Af- Diary I am indebted to the kindness of the Massachusetts ter a while, he became thol oughlv convinced of his Historical Society; and I would also express my thanks, eml l'-or; and~ tlhlemle at.-c scatter~ed,~ in t~he mim-gins of c for similar favors and civilities, to the officers in chargSe of error; and there are scattered, in the margins of z the Records and Archives in the iMassachusett s State House, his Diary, expressions of much sensibility at the the Librarian of Harvard University the Essex Institute, extent to which he had been misled. Over a- and many individuals, not mentioned in the text, especially extent to wic he ad ben m. those devoted collectors and lovers of our old New JEnggainst an entry, giving an account of his pres- land literature, Samuel G. Prake and John K. Wiggin, 858 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. " and strong as well as thick. He was, in all re- was a fair statement of what the Ministers " de" spects, exceedingly robust, and able to conquer " clared." " such difficulties of diet and of travel, as would The paragraphs he selected, appear, on their " have killed most menJ alive;" "he was well set, face, to urge caution and even delay, in the pro"and he was therewithall of a very comely, ceedings. They leave this impression on the "though a very manly, countenance." Heis de- general reader, and have been so regarded from scribed as of " a most incomparable generosity," that day to this. The artifice, by which the re"of a forgiving spirit." His faults are tender- sponsibility for what followed was shifted, from ly touched; " upon certain affronts, he has made the Ministers, upon Phips and the Court, has, in "sudden returns, that have shewed choler enough; a great measure, succeeded. I trust that I have " and he has, by blow, as well as by word, chas- shown that the clauses and words that seem to tised incivilities." indicate caution, had very little force, in that diIt is remarkable that Mather should have laid rection; but that, when the disguising veil of an himself out, to such an extent of preparation artful phraseology is removed, they give substantial and to such heights of eulogy, as this work ex- countenance to the proceedings of the Court, hibits. It is dedicated to the Earl of Bellamont, throughout. just about to come over, as Phips's successor. I desire, at this point, to ask the further attenMather held in his hand a talisman of favor, in- tion of the reader to Mather's manner of referring fluence, and power. In the Elegy which con- to the Advice of the Mini,.sters. In his Wonders, cludes the L'fe, are lines like these: he quotes the eighth and Seci(d Articles of it (Pages ohip, ur great friend, our wonder, and our 12, 55), in one instance, ascribing the Advice to "Phips, our great friend, our wonder and our P ip\ s 7, " Reverend p)ersons.'" nmen of God," "gracious " The terror of our foes, the world's rare story, " en, an, in e otllel, cr l it a terro (if our"foes, the world's rare story,''gracious words." Hle also, in the same work, " Or but name Phips, more needs not be express- ios w s. He als the saie wok r ed, quotes the sixth Article, omitting the words I Both Enlads and next ges tell the rest. have placed in brackets, without any indication Both Englands, and next ages, tell the rest." "'.' oqf an omission. Writing, in 1692, when the The writer of this Life had conferred the gift delusion was at its height, and for the purof an immortal name upon one Governor of New pose of keeping the public mind up to the work England, and might upon another. of the prosecutions, lie glolied chiefly in the But with all this panegyric, he does not seem first, second, and eighth Articles, and brought to have been careful to be just to the memory of them alone forward, in full. The others he his hero. The reader is requested, at this point, passed over, with the exception of the sixth, to turn back to pages 23, 24, of this article, from which he struck out the central sentenceand examine the pagragraph, quoted from the that having the appearance of endorsing the Life of Phips, introducing the return of Advice views of those opposed to spectral testimony. from the Ministers. I have shown, in that con- But, in 1697, when the Life of Phips was written, nection, how deceptive the expression "arriving circumstances had changed. It was apparent, "to his Government is." In relporting the Ad- then, to all, even those most unwilling to realize vice of the Ministers, in the Li.fe of Phips, Math- the fact, that the whole transaction of the witcher omits the paragraphs I have placed within craft prosecutions in Salem was doomed to perbrackets [p. 21, 22] —the first, second and eighth. petual condemnation; and it became expedient The omission of these paragraphs renders the to drop out of sight, forever, if possible, the document, as given by Mather, an absolute mis- second and eighth articles, and reproduce the representation of the transaction, and places sixth, entire. Phips in the attitude of having disregarded the Considering the unfair view of the import of advice of the Ministers, in suffering the trials to the Advice, in the Life of Phips, and embodied proceed as they did; throwing upon his memory in the Magnalia-a work, which, with all its deaload of infamy, outweighing all the florid and fects, inaccuracies, and absurdities, is sure of ocextravagant eulogies showered upon him, in the cupying a conspicuous place in our Colonial Life: verifying and fulfilling the apprehensions literature-I said:' unfortunately for the reputalie expressed in his letter of the fourteenth of Oc- 4 tion of Cotton Mather, Hutchinson has pretober. 1652: "I know my enemies are seeking to "served the Address of the.Viisters, entire." " turn it all upon me." Regarding the document published by Mather The Reviewer says that " Mr. MAther did not in the light of a historical imposture, I expressed " profess to quote the whole Advice, but simply satisfaction, that its exposure was provided in a " made extracts flrom it." He professed to give work, sure of circulation and preservation, equalwhat the Ministers'"declared." I submit to every ly, to say the least, with the Life of Phips or the honorable mind, whether what Mather printed, Magnalia. The Reviewer, availing himself of omitting the first, second and eighth Sections, the opportunity, hereupon pronounces me igno SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 59 rant of thefact that the "Advice, entire," was pub- "sponse of the reverend gentlemen, while urglished by Increase Mather at the end of his Cases "ing in general terms the importance of caution of Conscience; and, in his usual style-not, I "and circumspection in the methods of examinthink, usual, in the North American Review — "ation, decidedly and earnestly recommended speaks thus-it is a specimen of what is strown " that the proceedings should be vigorously carthrough the article: "Mr. Upham should have "ried on." "been familiar enough with the original sources It is a summary, in general and brief terms, in "of information on the subject, to have found my own language, of the import of the whole "this Advice in print, seventy-four years before document, covering both sets of its articles. "Hutclinson's History appeared." Hutchinson condenses it in similar terms, as do Of course, neither I, nor any one else, can be Calef and Douglas. I repeat, and beg it to be imagined to suppose that Hutchinson invented marked, that I do not quote it, in whole or in the document. It was pre-existent, and at his part, but only give its import in my own words. hand. It was not to the purpose to say where I claim the judgment of the reader, whether I do he found it. I wonder this Reviewer did not not give the import of the articles Mather printed tell the public, that I had never seen, read, or in the Life of Phips-those pretending to urge heard of Calef; for, to adopt his habit of reason- caution- as fairly as of the articles he omitted, ing, if I had been acquainted with that writer, applauding the Court, and encouraging it to go my ignorance would have been enlightened, as on. Calef would have informed me that " the whole Now, this writer in the Nortth American Re"of the Minister's advice and answer is printed view represents to the readers of that journal and "in Cases of Conscience, the last pages." to the public, that I have quoted the Advice of That only which finds a place in works worthy the llinisters, and, in valiety of phrase, rings the to endure, and of standard value, is sure of per- charge of unfair and false quotation, against me. petual preservation. Hutchinson's.History of He uses this language: " If it were such a heinous Massachusetts is a work of this description. "crime for Cotton Mather, in writing the Life of Whatever is committed to its custody will stand " Sir William Phips, to omit three Sections, how the test of time. This cannot be expected of'"will Mr. Upham vindicate his own omissions, that class of tracts or books to which Cases of "when, writing the history of these very transacConscience belongs, copies of which can hardly "tions, and bringing the gravest charges against be found, and not likely to justify a separate re- " the characters of the persons concerned, lie publication. It has. inde(d, not many years ago, "leaves out seven Sections? " I quoted no Secbeen reprinted in England, in a series of Old tion, and made no omissions; and it is therefore Authors, tacked cn to thle Wonders of the Invis- utterly unjustifiable to say that I left out any ible World. But few copies have reached this thing. I gave the substance of the Sections Cotcountry; and only persons of peculiar, it may ton Mather left out, in language nearly identical almost be said, eccentric, tastes, would care to with that used by Hutchinson and all others. In procure it. It will be impossible to awaken an the same way, I gave the substance of the Secinterest in the general reading public for such tions Mather published, in the very sense he alworks. They are forbidding in their matter, ways claimed for them. What I said did not unintelligible in their style, obscure in their ill- bear the form, nor profess the character, of a quoport and drift, and pervaded by superstitions tation. and absurdities that have happily passed away, I n the Wonders of the Invisible World, written never, it is to be hoped, again to enter the realm in 1692, when the prosecutions were in full blast of theology, philosophy, or popular belief; and and Mather was glorying in them, and for the will perish by the hand of time, and sink into ob- purpose of prolonging them, the only Section he livion. If this present discussion had not arisen, saw fit, in a particular connection, to quote, was and the " Advice, entire," had not been given by the SECOND. He prefaced it thus: "They were Hutchinson, the suppressio veri, perpetrated by "some of the Gracious Words inserted in the Cotton Mather, would, perhaps, have become'"Advice, which man\ of the neighboring Minispermanent history.'ters did this Sunmmer humbly lay before our In reference to the Advice of the Ministers, the " Honorable Judges." Let it be noted, by the Reviewer, in one part of his article, seems to way, that when lie thus praised the document, complain thus: " Mr. Upham has never seen fit its authorship had not been avowed. Let it fur" to print this paper: " in other parts, he assails ther be noted, tlhat it is here let slip that the pame from the opposite direction, and in a manner per was laid bef ore the Judges, not Phipls; showtoo serious, in the character of the assault, to be ing that it was a response to them, not him. Let passed over. In my book, (ii. 267) I thus speak it be still further noted, that the Section which of the Advice of the Ministers, referring to it, in he thus cited, in 1692, is one of those, which, a note to p. 367, in similar terms: "The re- when the tide had turned, he left out, in 1697. 6ti- SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. The Reviewer, referring to Mather's quotation 1692, inserted in the Magnalia, Book VI.Page 79. of the second Section of the Advice, in the Won- He adopts the narrative part of the w6rk, subders, says: " le printed it in full, which Mr. Up- stantially, avoiding much discussion of the top"ham has never done; " and following out the ics upon which Mr. Hale had laid himself out. strange misrepresentation, he says: "Mr. Upham He cites, indeed, some passages from the argu-''does not print any part of the eighth Section, mentativepart,containing marvellous statements, "as the Ministers adopted it. HIe suppresses the but does not mention that Mr. Hale labored, "essential portions, changes words, and, by in- throughout, to show that those and other like " terpolation, states that the Ministers' decided- matters, which had been introduced at the Trials,'ly,' earnestly,' and'vehemently,' recom- as proofs of spectral agency, were easily resolva"mended that the'proceedings' should be vig- ble into the visions and vagaries of a "deluded "orously carried on. HT-e who quotes in this "imagination," " a phantasy in the brain," "manner needs other evidence than that produc- " phantasma before the eyes." ed by Mr. Upham to entitle him to impeach Mr. Hale limits the definition of a witch to the "Mr. Mather's integrity," In another place he following: "Who is to be esteemed a capital says, pursuing the charge of quoting falsely, as "witch among Christians? viz: Those that beto my using the word "proceedings," "the "ing brought up under the means of the knowl"word is not to be found in the Advice." " edge of the true God, yet, being in their right The eighth Section recommends "the speedy " mind or free use of their reason, do knowing" and vigorous prosecutions of such as have ren- " ly and wittingly depart fiom the true God, so "dered themselves obnoxious." In a brief ref- "as to devote themselves unto, and seek for erence to the subject, I use the words "speedily "their help from, another God, or the Devil, as and vigorously," marking them as quoted, al- " did the Devil's Priests and Prophets of old, though their form was changed by the structure "that were magicians."-Page 127. of the sentence of my own in which they appear. As he had refuted, and utterly discarded, the Beyond this, I have made no quotations, in my whole system of evidence connected with specbook, of tle Advice-not a Section, nor sen- tres of the living or ghosts of the dead, the tence, nor clause, nor line, is a quotation, nor pre- above definition rescued all but openly profane, tends to be. Without characterising what the abandoned, and God-defying people fiom being Reviewer has done, in charging me with sup- prosecuted for witchcraft. Mather transcribes, pression of essential portions, interpolation, and as a quotation, what seems to be the foregoing not printingi in full, or correctly, what the Minis- definition, but puts it thus: "A person that, ters or any body else said, my duty is discharged, "hlaving the free use of reason, doth knowingly / by showing that there is no truth in the charge — and willingly seek and:obtain of the Devil, no foundation or ap)ology for it. " or of any other Go-, besides the true God JehoThe last of the works of Cotton Mather I shall " vah, an ability to do or know strange things, examine, in this scrutiny of his retrospective opin- " or things which he cannot by his own humane ions and position, relating to the witchcraft pros-' abilities arrive unto. This person is a witch." ecutions, is the Magnalia, printed at London, in The latter part of the definition thus trans1702. HIe had become wise enough, at that time, cribed, has no justification in Hale's language, not to commitf himself more than lie could help. but is in conflict with the positions in his book. The Rev. John Hale, of Beverly, died in May, Mather says, " the author spends whole Chapters 1700. He llhad takei an active part in the )pro- " to prove that there vet is a witch." He omits ceeclings at Sa-lem, in 1692, having, as he says, to state, that he spends twice as many Chapters from his youth, been " trained up in the knowl- to prove that the evidence in the Salem cases "edge and belief of most of the principles" up- was not suffi-ient for that purpose. Upon the on which the prosecutions were conducted, and whole it can hardly be considered a fair tranhad held them "'with a kind of implicit faith." script of Mr. Hale's account. He dismisses the Towards the close of the Trials, his views under- subject, once for all, in a curt and almost disrewent a change; and, after the lapse of five years, spectful style-" But thus much for this mannhe prepared a treatise on the subject. It is a "script." candid, able, learned, and every-way commend- Whoever examines the manner in which he, able performance, adhering to the general le- in this way, gets rid of the subject, in the Mag — lie' in witCchcraft, but pointing out the errors in nalia, must be convinced, I think, that he felt the methods of procecdu e in the Trials at Salem, no satisfaction in Mr. Hale's book, nor in the showing thllat the principles there acted upon state of things tlat made it necessary for him were fallacious. Thle book was not printed un- to give the whole matter the go-l)y. If the til 1702. Cotton Mather, having accessto Mr. public mind had retained its fanatical creduliHale's manuscript, professedly made up from it ty, or if Mather's own share in the delusion of his account of the witchcraft transactions of 1692 had been agreeable in the retrospect, it SALEM WIrCHCRAFT ANb COTTON MATEtI. 61 cannot be doubted that it would have afforded on the prosecutions. His deportment and haTHE GREAT THEME, of his great book. All the rangue at Witch-hill, at the execution of Burstrange learning, passionate eloquence, and ex- roughs and Proctor; his confident and eager travagant painting, of its author, would have endorsement, as related by Sewall, of the senbeen lavished upon it; and we should have had tences of the Court, at the moment when all another separate Book, with a Hebrew, Greek, others were impressed with silent solemnity, by or Latin motto or title, which, interpreted, would the spectacle of five persons, professing their inread Most Wonde2ful lf Wonders. In 1692, his nocency, just launched into eternity; his efforts language was:' Witchcraft is a business that to prolong the prosecutions, in I reparing the " will not be shammed.' In 1700, it was shoved book containing the trials of the "Malefactors" off upon the memory of Mr. Hale, as a busi- who had suffered; and his zeal, on all occasions, ness not safe for him, Mather, to meddle with, to " vindicate the Court" and applaud the any longer. It was dropped, as if it burned Judges; all conspired in making it the belief of his fingers. the whole people that he was, premeinently, anX. swerable for the "hard things that were done " in the prosecutions of the witchcraft." HISTORY OF OPINION AS TO COTTON MATH- That it was the general opinion, at home and ER'S CONNECTION WITH SALEM WITCHCRAFT. abroad, can be abundantly proved. THOMAS BRATTLE. THE PEOPLE OF SALEM It must be borne in mind, as is explained in VILLAGE. JOHN HALL. JOHN HIGGINSON. MI- my book, that a general feeling prevailed, immeCHAEL WJITGLESWORTH. ~ diately, and for some years, after the witchcraft Such passages as the following are found in "judicial murders," that tIe whole subject was the article of the North American Review: too horrible to be thought of, or ever mention"These views, respecting Mr. Mather's connec- ed; and as nearly the whole community, either " ion with the Salem Trials, are to be found in by acting in favor of the proceedings or failing "no publication of a date prior to 1831, when to act against them, had become more or less "Mr. Upham's Lectureswerepublished." "These responsible for them, there was an almost uni" charges have been repeated by Mr. Quincy, in versal understanding to avoid crimination or "his History of Harvard IUiversity, by Mr, recrimination. Besides, so far as Cotton Math"Peabody, in his Life of Cotton Mather, by Mr. er was concerned, his professional and social "Bancroft, and by nearly all historical writers, position, great talents and learning, and capacisince that date." "An examination of the his- ty with a disposition for usefulness, joindcl to' torical text-books, used in our schools, will the reverence then felt for Ministers prevented " show when these ideas originated." his being assailed even by those who most disThe position taken by the Reviewer, let it be approved his course. Increase Mather was Pres-. noticed, is, that the idea of Cotton Mather's ident of the College and head of the Clergy. taking a leading part in the witchcraft prosecu- The prevalent impression that he had, to some tions of 1692, "origiznated" with me, in a work extent, disapproved of the proceedings, made printed in 1831; and that I have given "the men unwilling to wouid his feelings by severe " cue" to all subsequent writers on the subject. criticisms upon his son; for, whatever differencNow what are the facts? es might be supposed to exist between them, all Cotton Mather himself is a witness that the well-minded persons respected their natural and idea was entertained at the time. In his Diary, honorable sensitiveness to each otherl's reputaafter endeavoring to explain away the admitted tion. Reasons like these prevented open demfact that lie \was t e eulogist 1and champion of onstrations against both of them. Nevertheless, the Judges, while the Trials were pending, he it is easy to gather sufficient evidence to prove says: " Merely, as far as I can learn, for this rea- my point. "son, the mad people through the country, Thomas Brattle was a Boston merchant of "under a fascination on their spirit; equal to great munificence and eminent talents and at" that which energumens had on their bodies, tainments. His name is perpetuated by " Brat" reviled me as if I had been the doer of all the " tie-street Church," of which he was the chief "hard things that were done in the prosecu- founder. Dr. John Eliot, in his Biograp2hlical " tion of the witchcraft." He repeats the com- Dictionary, speaks of him thus-referring to his plaint, over and over again, in various forms and letter on the witchcraft of 1692, dated October different writings. Indeed, it could not have 8, of that year: "Mr. Brattle wrote an account been otherwise, than that such should have "of those transactions, which was too plain and been the popular impression and conviction. "just to be published in those unhappy times, He was, at that time, bringing before the "but has been printed since; and which cannot people, most conspicuously, the second and "be read without feeling sentiments of esteem eighth Articles of the Ministers' Advice, urging "for a man, who indulged a freedom of thought 62 BALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATIER. i' becoming a Christian and philosopher. He, ed to allow the sentence to take effect, for these "from the beginning, opposed the prejudices of reasons: that "a spectre doing mischief in "the people, the proceedings of the Court, and " her likeness, should not be imputed to her " the perverse zeal of those Ministers of the Gos- "person, as a ground of guilt; and that one'" pel, who, by their preaching and conduct, "s'ngle witness to one fact and another single " caused such real distress to the community. " witness to another fact" were not to be es"They, who called him an infidel, were obliged teemed "two witnesses in a matter capital." "to acknowledge that his wisdom shone with No Executive Magistrate has left a record more " uncommon lustre." honorable to his name, than that of Bradstreet, His brother, William Brattle, with whom he on this occasion. If his principles had been seems to have been in entire harmony of opin- heeded, not a conviction could have been obion, on all subjects, was long an honored in- tained, in 1692. It was because of his known structor and Fellow of H-irvard College, and opposition, that his two sons were cried out Minister of the First Church, at Cambridge. upon and had to fly for their lives. That BratHe was ce!ebrated here and in England, for his tle was justified in naming Danforth, in this learning, and endeared to all men by his vir- connection, the conversation of t at person with tues. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sewall, on the fifteenth of October, proves. It London. Jeremiah Dummier, as well qualified is understood, by many indications, that, alto pronounce such an opinion as any man of his though, in former years, inclined to the popular time, places him as a preacher above all his delusions of the day, touching witchcraft, Wilcontemporaries, in either Old or New England. lard was an opponent of the prosecutions; and The Brattles were both politically opposed Brattle must be regarded as having had means to the Mathers. But, as matters then stood, in of judging of Increase Malher's views and feelview of the prevailing infatuation-particu- ings, on the eighth of October. larly as the course upon which Phips had de- This singling out of the father, thereby distermined was not then known-caution and pru- tinguishing him from the son, must, I think, be deuce were deemed necessary; and the letter was conclusive evidence, to every man who candidco^fidential. Indeed, all expressions of criti- ly considers the circumstances of the case and cism, on the conduct of the Government, were the purport of the document, that Brattle did required to be so. It is a valuable document, not consider Cotton Mather entitled to be namjustifying the reputation the writer had estab- ed in the honored list. lished in life and has borne ever since. Con- Brattle further says: "Excepting Mr. Hale, demning the methods pursued in the Salem "Mr. Noyes, and Mr. Parris, the Rev. Elders, Trials, he says: after stating that " several men, " almost throughout the whole country, are very "for understanding, judgment, and piety, infe- " much dissatisfied." The word "almost," rior to few, if any, utterly condemn the pro- leaves room for others to be placed in the same ceedings'" at Salem, "I shall nominate some category with Hale, Noyes, and Parris. The "of these to you, viz.: the Hon. Simon Brad- Reviewer argues that because Cotton Mather is "street, Esq., our late Governor; the Hon. not named at all, in either list, therefore he must' Thomas Danforth, our late Deputy-governor; be counted in the first! "the Rev. Mr. Increase Mather; and the Rev. The father and son were associate Ministers "Mr. Samuel Willard." of the same Church; they sha ed together a Bradstreet was ninety years of age, but in the great name, fame, and position; both men of the full possession of his mental faculties. In this highest note, here and abroad, conspicuous besense, "his eye was not dim, nor his natural fore all eyes, standing, hand in hand, in all the "force abated." Thirteen years before, when associations and sentiments of the people, unitGovernor of the Colony, he had refused to ed by domestic ties, similar pursuits, and every order to execution a woman who had been con- form of public action and observation-why did victed of witchcraft, in a series of trials that Brattle, in so marked a manner, separate them, had gone throughll all the Courts, with concur- holding the one up, in an honorable point of ring verdicts, confirmed at an adjudication by view, and passing over the other, not ever menthe Board of Assistants-as President of which tioning his name, as the Reviewer observes? body, it had been his official duty to pass upon If he really disapproved of the prosecutions her the final sentence of death. Juries, Judges, at Salem —if, as the Reviewer posit vely states, both branches of the Legislature, and the people, he' denounced" them —is it not unaccountable clamored for her execution; but the brave old that Brattle did rot; name him with his father? Governor withstood them all, resolutely and in- These questions press with especial'orce exorably: an innocent and good woman and upon the Reviewer, under the interpretation he the honor of the Colony, at that time, were sav- crowds upon the passage fiomt Brattle, I am now ed. Mr. Hale informs us that Bradstreet retus- to cite. If that interpretation can be allowed, SALEM WtTCHCRArT AND COTTON MATHER. 63 it willill i the face of all that has come to us, put beyond question by his appearing, on the make Brattle out to have had a most exalted fifteenth of November, at Elisha Cook's Thanksopinion of Cotton Mather, and render it unac- giving; and that was the same occupied by countable indeed that he did not mention him, Brattle. But the question is settled lby the "act in honor, as he did his father and Mr. Willard. that three of the Judges belonged to Willard's The passage is this: "I cannot but highly ap- Congregation and Church, whereas only one be"plaud, and think it o:r duty to be very thank- longed to the Church of the Mathers. The Rc"ful for, the endeavours of several Elders, whose viewer says: " We do not assert that this inerlips, I think, should preserve knowledge, and " ence:is not the correct one." But, in spite of "whose counsel should, I think, have been more this substantial admission, with that stra nge " regarded, in a case of this nature, than as yet propensity to overturn all the conclusions cf "it has been: in particular, I cannot but think history to glorify Cotton Mather, at the expense "very honorably of the endeavours of a Rev. of others, and even, in this instance, against his "person in Boston, whose good affections to his own better judgment, he labors to make us becountry, in general, and spiritual relation to lieve-what he himself does not venture to "three of the Judges, in particular, has made "assert "-that the "spiritual relation" in which "lhim very solicitous and industrious in this Mather stood to three of the Judges, was not, "matter; and I am fully persuaded, that had what, in those days and ever since, it has been "his notions and proposals been hearkened to understood to mean, that of a Pastor -with his "and followed, when these troubles were in flock, but nothing more than intimate friend"their birth, in an ordinary way, they would sh p. If this was what Brattle meant, he would " never have grown unto that height which now have said at least four of the Judges, for, at "they have. He has, as yet, met with little that time, Sewall was in full accord with Math" but unkindness, abuse, and reproach, from er. Tley took counsel together. It was at the "many men; but, I trust, that in after times, house of Sewall that the preparation of the "his wisdom and service will find a more uni- Wonders of the Invisible World was finally ar"versal acknowledgment; and if not, his re- ranged with Mather; and he, alone, of all the " ward is with the Lord." side Judges, united with Stoughton, some days The learned Editor of the Fifth Volume of after the date of Brattle's letter, in endorsing the Massachusetts Historical Oollections, First and commending that work. Series, in a note to this passage (p. 76), says: If the expression, "spiritual relations," is di"' Supposed to be Mr. Willard." Such has al- vorced from its proper sense, and made to mean ways been the supposition. The Reviewer has sympathy of opinion or agreement in counsels, undertaken to make it out that Cotton Mather it ill becomes the Reviewer to try to make it out is the person referred to by Brattle. These two that Mather held that relation with any of the men were opposed to each other, in the politics Judges. He represents him, throughout his artiof that period. The course of the Mathelis, in cle, as at sword's points with the Court. He says connection with the loss of the old, and the es- that he "denounced" its course, "as illegal, tablishment of the new, Charter, gave rise to "uncharitable, and cruel." There is, indeed, much dissatisfaction; and party divisions were not a shadow of foundation for this statement, quite acrimonious. Tile language used by Brat- as to Mather's relation to the Court; but it absotie, applauding the public course of the person lutely precludes the Reviewer from such an interof whom he was speaking, would he utterly in- pretation as he attempts, of the expression of explicable, if applied to Mather. The "en- Brattle. dleavours, counsels, notions and proposals," to The Reviewer says:'If Mr. Mather is not which he alludes, could not have referred to " alluded to, in this paragraph, he is omitted Mather's plans, which I have attempted to ex- "altogether from the narrative, except as spiritual plain, because described by Brattle as being in " adviser of the persons condemned." an ordinary way." " Unkindness, abuse, and This is an instance of the way in which this "reproach" find an explanation in the fact, writer establishes history. Without any and that Willard was "cried out upon " and brought against all evidence, in the license of his imagiinto peril of reputation and life, by the creatures nation alone, he had thrown out the suggestion of the prosecution. The monstrousness of the that Mather attended the executions, as the minissupposition that Mather was referred to, would terial comforter and counsellor of the sufferers. hardly be heightened if it should appear that Then, by a sleight of hand, he transforms this Brattle supplied Calef with materials in his "phantasy" of his own brain into an unquescontroversy with Mather. tionable fact. The language, throughout, is in conformity If Mr. Mather is not alluded to in the followwith the political relations between Brattle and ing passage from Brattle's letter, who is? "I Willard. The side the latter had espoused was " cannot but admire, that any should go with 64 SALEM WITCHCRA'T AND COTTON MATHER. "their distempered friends and relatives to the Immediately after the prosecutions terminated, "afflicted children to know what these distem- measures began to be developed to remove Mr. "pered friends ail; whether they are not be- Parris from his ministry. The reaction early took "witched: who it is that afflicts them' and the effect where the outrages of the delusion had'like. It is true, I know no reason why these been most flagrant; and the injured feelings of " afflicted may not be consulted as well as any the friends of those who had been so cluelly cut "other, if so be that it was only their natural off, and of all who had suffered in their charac"and ordinary knowledge that was had recourse ters and (condition, found expression. A move"to; but it is not on this notion that these af- ment was made, directly and personally, upon Par"flicted children are sought unto; but as they ris, in consequence of his conspicuous lead in the " have a supernatural knowledge-a knowledge prosecutions; showing itself, first, in the form of " which they obtain by their holding correspond- litigation, in the Courts, of questions of salary ence with spectles or evil spirits-as they them- and the adjustment of accounts. Soon, it broke "selves grant. This consulting of these afflicted out in the Church; and satisfaction was demand"children, as abovesaid, seems to me a very gross ed, by aggrieved brethren, in the methods appro-'evil, a real abomination, not fit to be known in priate to ecclesiastical action. The charges here New England, and yet is a thing practiced, not made against him were exclusively in reference "only by Toni and John — mean the ruder and to his course, at the Examinations and Trials, in "more ignorant sort-but by many who profess 1692. The conflict, thus initiated, is one of the "high, and pass among us for some of the better most memorable in our Church History. Parris "sort. This is that which aggravates the evil and his adherents resisted, for a long time, the "and makes it heinous and tremendous; and rightful and orderly demands of his opponents "yet this is not the worst of it, for, as sure as I for a Mutual Council. At length, many of the "now write to you, even some of our civil lead- Ministers, who sympathized with the aggrieved'' ers and spiritual teachers, whlo, I think, should brethren, felt it their duty to interpose, and ad"punish and preach down such sorcery and dressed a letter to Mr. Parris, giving him to un" wickedness, do yet allow of, encourage, yea, derstand that they were of opinion he ought to "and practice, this very abomination. comply with the demand for a Council. This let"I know there are several worthy gentlemen, ter, dated the fourteenth of June, 1694, was signed " in Saleml, who account this practice as an abom- by several of the neighboring Ministers, and by "ination; have trembled to see the methods of James Allen, of the First, and Samuel Willard, of "this nature which others have used; and have the Old South, Churches, in Boston, but not by the " declared themselves to think the practice to be Miatf7hers. On the tenth of September, a similar'" very evil and corrupt; but all avails little with letter was written to him, also signed by neigh"the abettors of the said practice." boring Minipters, and Mr. Allen, and Mr. Willard, Does not this stern condemnation fall on the but not by the Mathers. head of the "'spiritual teacher," who received Not daring to refuse any longer, Parris, proconstant communications from the spectral world, fessedly yielding to the demand, consented to a fastening the charge of diabolical confederacy Mutual Council, but avoided it, in this way. upon other persons, in confidential interviews Each party was to select three Churches, to mainwith confessing witches-not to mention the tain its interests and give friendly protection to Goodwin girls;-~whose boast it was, "it may be its rights and feelings. The aggrieved brethren "no man living has had more people, under pre- selected the Churches of Rowley, Salisbury and "ternatural and astonishing circumstances, cast Ipswich. Parris undertook to object to the "by the Providence of God into his more par- Church of Ipswich; and refused to proceed, if it " ticular care than I have had;" and that he had was invited. Of course, the aggrieved brethren kept to himself information thus obtained, which, persisted in their right to name the Churches on if he had not suppressed it, would have led to their side. Knowing that they had the right so the conviction of " such witches as ought to to do, and that public opinion would sustain them "die;" who sought to have the exclusive right in it, Parris escaped the dilemma, by calling an of receiving such communications conferred upon ex parte Council; and the Churches invited to it him, " )y the authority; " who, at trhat time, was were those of North Boston, Weymouth, Malden, holding this intercourse with persons pretending and Rowley. The first was that of the Mathers. to spectral visions; and, the next year, held such That Parris was right in relying upon the Rev. relations with Margaret Rule? Samuel Torrey of Weymouth, is rendered probaThe next evidence in support of the opinion ble by the circumstance that, of the names of that Cotton Mather was considered, at the time, the fourteen Ministers, including all those known as identified with the proceedings at Salem, in to have been opposed to the proceedings at Sa1692, although circumstantial, cannot, I think, lem, attached to the recommendation of the but be regarded as quite conclusive. Oases of Conscience, his is not one; and may SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MrATHrER. 65 be considerec as made certain by the fact record- accusing gir's, to know of them " who afflicted " ed by Sewall, that he was opposed to the discon- theml. For these reasons, and these eailone, they tinuance of the Trials. The Pastor of the Mal- " submit ihe whole" to the decision of the Arden Church was the venerable Michael Wiggles- bitator s, conclluding thus: " to determine whethworth, a gentleman of the lighest repute; who " er ve,ire, or (ought to be, any ways obliged to had declined the Presidency of Harvard College;' honor, respect, and support such an instrument whose son and grand-son b)ecalme Professors in' of our mniseries." The Arbitrators decided that that institution and whose descencdants still sus- they o1gght not; fixed the sum to be paid to Partain the honor of their name and lineage. From ris, as a final settlement; and declared the minthe tone of his writings, it is quite probable that iste.ial relation, between him and the people of he favored the witchcraft proceedings, at the be- the Vilag'e, dissolved. ginning; but the change of mind, afterwards With this official statement of the grounds on strongly expressed, had, perhaps, then begun to ihrich his dislission was demanded and obtainbe experienced, for he did not respond to the ed, before his eyes as printed by Calef (p. 63), call, as his name does not appear in the record this Reviewer says that Parris remained the Minof the Council. The fact that Parris chiefly de- ister of Salem Village, five years " after the pended upon tlie Church at North Boston, of' witchctIft excitemett; "and further says, "the which Cotton Mather wtas Pa.stor, to sustain his "iimmlediate cause of his leaving, was his quarcause, in a Council, whose,whole business was to "rel with the Parish, concerning thirty cords of pass upon his conduct in the witchcraft prosecu- "wood and the fee of the parsonage." fIe tions, is quite decisive. That Church was named thus thinks, by a iash of his pen, to strike out by him, from the first to tlhe last, and neither o; the of thwe factc of t h f at th e main, in truth, the other Boston Churclhes. It sllows that hle thie only, ground on whlich Parris was dismissed, turned to Cotton Mather, more than to any othler waas tile part lie bore in the witchcraft prosecuMinister, to be Iris clatmpion. tions. The sala1ry question Ilad been pending in It is furlther decisively proved that the reaction the Courts; but it was wiolly left out of view, had become strong among tlte Ministers, by the by the the party demalinding his dismlission. It unusual steps they took to prevent that Council had nothing to do withl disi,-issio.; was a ques)being under the sway of such men as Cotton tion of contract and debt; and was absorbed in Mather and Torrey, thereb)y prolonging the mis- tlie "'excitement," witich hadi never ceased, about chief. A meeting of the "Reverend Eldeis of the witchcraft prosecutions. The Arbitrators did " the Bay " was held; and Mr. Parris was given not decide those questions, about salary and tlle to understand that, in their judgment, the balance of accounts, excepet as incidental to the Churches of MIessrs. Allen and Willard ought also other question, of dismission. to be invited. He bitterly resented this, and saw The feeling among the inhabitants of Salem that it sealed his fate; but felt the necessity of Village, that Cotton Matlier was in sympathly yielding to it. The addition of those two with 5Mr. Parris, during the witchcraft prosecnChurches, with their Pastors, determined the char- tions, is demonstrated by the facts I have adacter and result of the Council, and gave new duced connected with the controversy between strength to the aggrieved brethren, who soon suc- them and the latter, and most emphatically by ceedec in compelling Parris and his friends to thleir choice of Elisha Cook, as the Arlitrator, on agree to sublmit the wlhole matter to tlhe arbitra- their partt. Surely no pelsonq, of tlat cday untionof three men, mutually chosen, whose decision derstood the matter better than they did. Inshould be final. deed, they could not have been mistaken about The umpire selected in behalf of the oppo- it. It remained the settled conviction of that nents of Parris was nor other than Elisha Cook, community. the head of the pr,'ty,arrayed against,ia.tlier. Wait When the healing ministry of the successor Winthrop appears to have been selected by Par- of Parris, Joseph Green, was brought to a close, ris; and SamuelSewall w1vas mutu1ally algrYeed uipol. by the early death of that good man, in 1715, Two of the three, who thus passed final judgment and tile whole Paris1, still feeling the dire effects against the proceedings at the Salem Trials, of tile great calamity of 1692, were mourning sat on the Benclh of the Special Court of O.er thleir bereavement, expressed in their oown lanand Terminer. The case of the aggrieved bl eth- guage: " the choicest flower, and greenest oliveren was presented to the Arbitrators in a docu- " tree, in the garden of our God herIe, cut down ment, signed by four men, as " Attoneys of tle I' in its prime and flourishing estate," they passed " people of the Village," eachl one of whom had a vote, earnestly soliciting tile Rev. William Bratbeen struck at, in the time of the prosecutions. tle of Cambrlidge, to visit them. He was always It exclusively refers to Mr. Parris's conduct, in a known opponent of Cotton Mather. To have the witchlcraft prosecitions; to "his believing selected him to.come to them, in their distress "the Devil's accusations;" and to his going to the and destitution, indicates the views then preva5 6s SALERM WiTCHItRAlT AND COTTON MATHEt. lent in the Village. He went to them and guided extracted:' I would come yet nearer to our own them by his advice, until they obtained a new "' times, and bewail the errors and mistakes that Minister. "have been, in the year 1692-by following such i:The mention of the fact by Mr. Hale, already "traditions of our fathers, maxims of the comnstated, that Cotton IMather's book. Memorable'mon law, and plrecedents and principles, which Providences, was used as an authority by the "now we may see, weighed in the balance of Judges at the Salem Trials, shows that the author' the sanctuary, are found too light —Such was of that work was regarded by Hale as, to that "the darkness of that day, the tortures and extent at least, responsibly connected with the''lamentations of the afflicted, and the power of prosecutions. "former precedents, that we walked in the -I pass over, for the present, the proceedings "clouds and could not see our way-I would and writings of Robert Calef.'' humbly propose whether it be not expedient After the lapse of a few years, a feeling, "that somewhat more should be publicly done which had been slowly, but steadily, rising among " than yet hath, for clearing the good name and the people, that some general and public acknowl-' reputation of some that have suffered upon this edgment ought to be made by all who had been "account." engaged in the proceedings of 1692, and especially The Rev. John Higginson, Senior Pastor of by the authorities, of the wrongs c(mmitted in the First Church in Salem, then eighty-two years that da.rk day, became too strong to be safely of age, in arecommendatory Epistleto the Reader, disregarced. On the seventeenth of December, prefixedto Mr. Hale's book, dated thetwenty-third 1696, Stoughton, then acting as Governor, issued of March, 1698, after stating that, " under the ina Proclamation, ordaining, in his name and that " firmities of a decrepit old age, lie stirred little of the Council and Assembly, a Public Fast, to "'abroad, and was much disenabled (both in body be kept on the fourteenth of January, to implore "and mind) from knowing and judging of octhat the anger of God might be turned away,' currents and transactions of tlhat time, " proceeds and Hiis hand, then stretched over the people in to say that he was " more willing to accompany" manifold judgments, lifted. After referring to Mr. Hale "to the press," because he thought his the particular calamlities they were suffering''treatiseneedfulandI usefulupon diversaccounts;" and to th6 many days that had been spent in among others specified by him, is the following: solemn addresses to the throne of mercy, it ex- " That whatever errors or mistakcs we fell into, presses a fear that something was still wanting "'in the dark hour of temptation that was upon to accompany their supplications, and proceeds'us, may be (upon more light) so discovered, to refer, specially, to the witchcraft tragedy. It "acknowledged, and disowned by us, as that it 7was on the occasion of this Fast, that Judge'"may be matter of warning and caution to those Sewall acted the part, in the public assembly of "that come after us, that they may not fall into the old South Church, for which his name will "the like. —. or.. x, 11. Pelix quemfaciunt ever be held in dear and honored memory. "aliena pericula cautuml.. I would also proThe public mlind was, no doubt, gratified and'' pound, and leave it as an object of consideramuch relieved, but not satisfied, by this demon- "tion, to our honored Magistrates and Reverend stration. The Proclamation did not. after all, "Ministers, whether the equity of that law in meet its demands. Upon careful examination'" Leviticus, Chap. iv. for a sin-offering for the and deliberate reflection, it rather aggravated the " Rllers and for the Congregation, in the case of prevalent feeling. Written, as was to be sup''sins of ignorance, when they come to be known, posed, by Stoughton, it could not represent a re- "be not obliging, and for direction to us in a action in which he took no part. It spoke of'' ospel way." The venerable man concludes by "mistakes on either hand," and used general saying that "it shall be the prayer of him who forms, " wherein we have done amiss, to do so "is daily waiting for his change and looking "no more." It endorsed, in a new utterance, "for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, unto the delusion, sheltering the proper agents of the'" eternal life," that the''blessing of Heaven may mischief, by ascribing it all to " Satan and his " go along with this little treatise to attain the "instruments, through the awful judgment of " good ends thereof." "God;" anid no atonement, for the injuries to Judge Sewall, too, and the Jury that had the good name and estates of the sufferers, not given the verdicts at the Trials, in 1692, publicly to speak of the lives that had been cut off, was and emphatically acknowledged that they had suggested. The conviction was only deepened, been led into error. in all good minds, that something more ought to All these things afford decisive and afbe done. Mr. Hale, of Beverly, met the obliga- fecting evidence of a prevalent conviction ti;at tion pressing upon his sense of justice and ap- a great wrong had been committed. The vote pealing to him with especial force, by writing passed by the Church at Salem Village, on the his book, from which the following passages are fourteenth of February, 1703-"We are, tlrough 1~~~~~~~~~~futet ofFerur,173'Werethog SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. "God's mercy to us, convinced that we were, "how doth he bewail it, and shame himself for it, "at that dark day, under the power of those "before God and men afterwards. [1'i.m. i. I3, "errors which then prevailed in the land.'" 16.] I think, and am verily persuaded, God ex"We desire that this mny be entered in our pects that. wecdothe like, in order to our obtainChurch-book,"'"t hat so God may forgive our "ing Iris pardon: I mean by a Public and Sol"Sin, and may be atoned for the land; and we'"etr acknowledgment of it and humiliation "humbly pray that God will not leave us any "for it; and the more particularly and person"more to such errors and sins "-affords strik-'"ally it is done by all that have been actors, the ing proof that the right feeling had penetrated "more pleasing it will be to God, and more efthe whole community. On the eiglth of July, " fectual to turn away his judglments from the of that same year, nearly the whole body of the " Land, and to prevent his wiath from falling Clergy of Essex-county addressed a Memorial';upon the persons and families of such as have to the General Court, in which they say, " There "been most concerned. "is great reason to fear that innocent persons I known this is a NVoli Me tanger'e, but what " then suffered, and that God may have a con- "shall we do? Must we pine away in our introversy with the land upon that account." " iquities, rather than boldly declare the Counsel Nothing of the lind, however, was ever heard " of God, who tells us, [Isaie i. 15.]' When you from the Ministers of Boston and the vicinity. "' make many prayers, I will not hear you, your Why did they not join their voices in this pray- "'hands are full of blood.' er, going up elsewhere, fionr all concerned, for He further says that he believes that'the the divine forgiveness? We know that most "whole country lies under a curse to this day, of them felt right. Samuel Willard and James " and will do, till some effectual course be taken Allen did; and so did William Brattle, of Cam- " by our honored Governor and General Court to bridge. Their silence cannot, it seems to me, mlake amends and reparation " to the families be accounted for, but by considering the degree of such as were condemned "for supposed to which they were embarrassed by the relation "witchcraft," or have "been ruined by taking of the Mathers to the!affair. One brave-hearted " away and making' havoc of their estates." Afold man remonstrated against their failure to ter continuing the argument, disposing of the exmeet the duty of the hour, and a ddressed his cuse that the country was too impoverished to remonstrance to the right quarter. The Rev. do any thing in that way. hle charges his corresMichael Wiggglesworth, a Feliow of Harvard pendent to communicate his thoughts to " the College, and honored in all the Churches, wrote " Rev. Sqmuel Willard and the rest of our bretha letter to Increase Matler, cdated July 22, "1en in the ministry," that action may be taken, 1704 [Mather Pcapers, 647], couched in strong without delay. He concludes his plain and earand bold terms, beginning thus: nest appeal and remonstrance, in these words: " REV. AND DEAR Sm. I am right well assur- "I have, with a weaik body and trembling hand, "ed that both yourself, your son, and th' rest of "endeavoured to leave my testimony ltefore I' our brethren with you in Boston, have a deep "leave the world; and having left it with you "sense upon your spirits of the awful symptoms "(my Rev. Brethren) I hope I shall leave this "of the Divine displeasure that we lie under "life with more peace, when God seeth meet to "at this day." After briefi.- enumeratinui the " call me hence." public calamities of the period, he continues. He died within a year. When the tone of this "I doubt not:but you are all endeavouring to letter is carefully considered, and the pressure of "find out and discover to the people the cans- its forcible and bold reasoning, amounting to ex"es of God's controversy, and how they are to postulation, is examined, it can hardly be ques" be removed; to help forward this difficult and tioned that it was addressed to the perlsons who "necessary work, give me leave to impart somne most needed to be appealed to. But no effect "of my serious alnd solemn thoughts. I fear appears to have been produced by it. "(amongst our many other provocations) that In introducing his report of the Trials, conGod hath a controversy with us about what tained in the Wonders (o the Ilnvuiible World, "was done in the time of the Witclcraft. I Cotton Mather, alluding to the " surviving rela" fear that innocent blood hath been shed, and'' tions" of those who had been executed, says: "that mzany have had their hands defiled there-' The Lord comfort them." It was poor conso" with. After expressing his belief that the lation he gave them in that book —holding up Judges acted conscientiously, and that the their parents. wives, and husbands, as "Malefacpersons concerned were deceived, he proceeds: " tors." Neither he nor his father ever express" Be it then that it was done ignorantly. Paul, ed a sentiment in harmony with those uttered by "a Pharisee, persecuted the Church of God, Hale, I-igginson, or Wigglesworth-on the con"shed the blood of God's Saints, and yet obtain- trary, Cotton Mather, writing a year after the Sa"ed mercy, because he did it in ignorance; but lem Tragedy, almost chuckles over it: " In the 68 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER.'"whole-the Devil got just nothing-but God habitual disposition. He never had the wisdom or'"got praises. Christ got subjects, the Holy dignity to acknowledge, as an individual, or as' Spirit got temples, the church got addition, one of the Clergy, or to propose specific reparation and the souls of men got everlasting benefits." for, the fearful mischiefs, sufferings and horrors tU leef; 12. growing out of the witchcraft prosecutions. The Stoulghton remained nearly the whole time, un- extent to which he was at the time, and probably til his death, in May, 1702, in control of affairs, always continued to be, the victim of baleful suBy his influence over the Government and that perstitions, is his only apology, and we must alof the Mathers over the Clergy, nothing was done low it just weight. to remove the dark stigm-i from the honor of the A striking instance of the occasional ascendenProvince, and no seasonalle or adequate repara- cy of his better feelings, and of the singular tion ever made for the Great Wrong. methods in which he was accustomed to act, is I am additionally indebted to the kindness of presented in the following extract from his Diary, Dr. MIolre for the following extracts from a Ser- at a late period of his life. We may receive it as mon to the General Assembly, delivered by Cot- an indication that he was not insensible of his oblitan Mather, in 1709, intitlec Theopolis America- gation to do good, where, with his participation, n" ai. Pure Gold in the market place." so much evil had been done: " There is a town "In two or three too Memorable Days of " in this country, namely, Salem, which has many " Temptation, that have been upon us, there " poor and bad people in it, and such as are es-' have been Errors Committed. You are always " pecially scandalous for staying at home on the ready to Declare unto all the World,' That you " Lord's day. I wrapped up seven distinct par" disapprove those Errors.' You are willing to " eels of money and annexed seven little books "inform all mankind with your Declarations. " about repentance, and seven of the monitory " That no man imay be Persecated, because he "letter against profane absence from the house "is Conscienciously not of the same Religirous "of Gi;d. I sent those things with a nameless " Opinions, with those that are uppermost. "letter unto the Minister of that Town, and de" And; That Persons are not to be judged " sired and empowered him to dispense the char" Confederates with Evil Spirits, merely because " ity in his own name, hoping thereby the more "the Evil Spirits do make Possessed People cry "to ingratiate his ministry with the people. "out upon them. " Who can tell how far the good Angels of Heav" Could any thinlg be Proposed furthe, by " en cooperate in these proceedings? w" ay of Reparation, [Besides the General Day " of Humiliation, which was aptointed and ob- XVI. " served thro' the Province, to bewayl the Erro OPINION AS COTTO ATHE HISTORY OF OPINION AS TO COTTON )IATHER, 4" of our Dark time, some years ago:] You would CONTINUED. FRANCIS HUTCHINSON. DANIEL "(bew willng to hearien toit. )d 1 NEAL. ISAAC WATTS. THO.MAS HUTCHINSON. The suggestion thus ma1de, not, it must be con- WILLIA M BENTLEY. JOHN ELIOT. JOSIAH fessed, in very urgent terms, did not, it is proba- - ble, produce much ilmpriession. The preacher seemed to rest upon the Proclamation issued by It was the common opinion in England, that Stoug1hton, some eleven years before. Coupling the Mathers, particularly the younger, were prethe t\wo errors specified together, was 1not calcu- eminently responsible for the pr1oceedings at Salated to give effect to the recomendation. Pub- lem, in 1692. Francis Hlutchinson, in the work lic opinion was not, then, prepeared to second frotm wvhich I have quoted, speaks of the whole such enlightenedc views as to religious liberty. system of witchcraft doctrine, as "fantastic noIt is very noticahle that Mather here must be'l tions," which are so far from raising their considered as a dmiting tlat " in the Dark time,"'sickly visions into legal evidence, that they are'persons were judged " Confederates with Evil'grounded upon the very dregs of Pagan and " 8irits," "' erely" because of SpectralEvidence.' Popish superstitions, and leave the lives of inAll that was said, on this occasion, does not "nocent men naked, without defence against amount to any thing, as an expression of person- " them;" and in giving a list of books, written al opinion or feeling, rela.ting to points on which fori upholding them, mentions, "Mr. Increase Hale and rHi gginson uttered their deep sensibili- "'and Mir. Cotton Mather's several tracts;" and, ty, and Wigglesworth lhad addressed to the Math in his Cha.plter on Witchcraft in Massachusetts, in ers and other Ministers, his solemn and searching 1692, commends the book of " Mr. Calef, a Merappeal. The duty of reparation for the great' chant in that Plantation." wron1 was thrown off upon others, than those About the same time, the Rev. Daniel Neal, particularly and prominently responsible. the celebrated author of the History of the PariNothing has led me to suppose that Cotton tans, wrote a H1istory of Nein England, in Mather was cruel or heartless, in his natural or which he gives place to a brief, impartial, and SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 69 just account of the witchcraft proceedings, in Reviewer that he does not mention the "agency" 1692. He abstains from personal criticisms, but of Cotton Mathter in thatt ransqction. There are expresses this general sentiment n' "Si e erge were sever"al very distinct references to Mather's'the mistakes that some of the wisest and best' aencety," in Hutchinson's account of the transm' en of the country committed on this occa- actions connected with Salem WTitchcraft, some''sion; which must have been fatal to tie wllo!e of which I haIve cited. I ask to whonm does the "Province, if God, in his Providence, had not following passage referi?-i., 63. -" One of the meircifully interposed." The only sentence "'Ministers, rwho. in the tinme of it, was fully that contains a stricture on Cotton Mather, partic- " convinced that the complaininig persons were ularly, is that in which he thus refers to his "no impostors, and who vindicated his own constatement that a certain confession was -freely " duct and that of the Court, in a Narrative he made. Ncal quietly suggests, "'whellerI the act " published, remalks, not long after, in his Diary, " of a man in prison, and under apprehlension of that lmany were of opinion that innocent blood " death, may be called free, I leave others to' had been shed." " judge." Dr. Isaac Watts, having read Ncal's This shows that Hutchinson regarded Cotton book, thouollt it necessary to write a letter to Mather's agency in tile light in which I have repCotton Mathler(, te, February 19, 1720; (i/asss- resented it; that he considered lim as wholly achusetts Hi.storical Collections, J., v., 200) commiitted to the then:prevalent delusion; as and, describing, a convesation he had just been acting a part that identified him with the prosehaving wlith Neal, says: "Tlhere is anothler cutions; and that the Narrative he published was "thing, wherein my brother is solicitous lest he a joint vindication of himself and the Court.'should halve displeased you, and that is, the Hutchinson fastens the passage uplon Mathler, by " Chapter on Witchlldaft, but, as lie hls related the reference to the Diary; and while he says that " matters of fact, )by comparison of several au- it contained a statement, that many believed the'thors, he hiolpes that you wiill forgive that lie persons who suffered innocent, he avoids saying "has not fallen into your sentiments exactly. " tlat such was the opinion of the author of the The anxiety ftvlt by Neal andc Watts, lest the feel- Diary. ings of Mather mighlt be wounded, shows what Finally, his takiong particular pains to do it, by they thouglt of his implication witli the affair. giving a Note to the purpose of expressing his This inference is rendered unavoidable, whlen we confidence in Calef, pronouncing him a " fair leexamine Neal's book and find that lie quotes or "' lator"-ii, 56-proves that Governor Hutchinrefers to Calef, all along, without the slighhtest son held the opinion about Mather's " agency,' question as to his credibility, receiving his state- which lhas always heretofore been ascribed to him. ients and fully recognizing his authority. In- William Bentley, D.D., was born in Bostol, deed, his references to Calef are about ten to one anid foa lalrge part of thefilst half of Iislife, residoftener tlhan to Mat-her. The attempt of Neal ed, as his amilay had done for am lon g pleriod, in; and Watts to smolotlle the matter down, by say- tlhe Nortll part of that Town. He was of a turn of ingy that the former had been led to his conclu- mind to gather all local traditions, and, through mions by "a comparison of several authors," all his days, devot(ed to antiqua.rian pursuits. could have given little satisfaction to Mather, as No one of his peliod paid more attention to the the authors wlhomi lie chiefly refeis to, are Calef subject of the witchicraft delusion. For much of and Matherl; and, comparing them with each oumr information concerning it, we are indebted to other, he followed Calef. his HIistory cand7 Desc'iptiol of Saleme. printed in Tile impression thus held in England, even by 1800-~l/~assachulsetts Historical Collections, 1., Mather's friends and correspondenits, that he was vi.-After relating many of its incidents, unpleasantly connected with the Witchlcraft of lie brea.ks folth in condemnation of those 1692, has been uniformly experienced, on both who, disappro'viig, at the time, of the proceedsides of the water, until this Revie\wer's attempt ings, did not come out and denounce them. to erase it from the minds of men. Holdino the opinion, which had come down Thomias Hutchinson was born i n 171i, and flromn the beginning, that Increase Mather disapbrouaht up in tile neighborhoiodo of tile Mathers; proved of the transaction, he indignantly repudifinishing his colleriate course andt taking his Bacl- ates the idea of giving him any credit therefor. elor's degree at iarvard Colleg'e, in 1727, a year " Increase Matlher did not oppose Cotton Mather" before the death of Cotton Malther. He had op- -this is the utterance of a received, and, to him, portunities to form a colrrect judgment ahout Sa- unquestioned, opinion that Cotton Mather aplem Witchcraft and the chief actors in the pro- proved of, and was a leading agent in, the prosceedings, greater thanu my man of his day; ecutions. but his close family connection with the Mathers The views of Dr. John Eliot, are freely given, imposed some restraint upon his expressions; not to the same effect, in his Biographical Dictionaenough, however, to justify the statement of the ry, as will presently lbe shown. 79 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. The late Josiah Quincy had studied the annals The writer in the North American says: of Massachusetts with the thoroughness with " Within the last forty years, there lias grown which he grappled every subject to which he' up a fashion, among our historic(al writers, of turned his thoughts. His ancestral associa- "defaming his character and underrating his tions covered the whole period of its history; and "productions. For a specimen of these attacks, all the channels of the local traditions of Boston " the reader is referred to a Supposed Letter were open to his enquiring and earnest mind. His "firom Rev. Cottozn Moitiher, D. D., with comHistory of Hcarvard University is a monument "'mentts on the same by James Sacvage." The that will stand forever. In that work, he speaks article mentioned consists of tlle supposed letof the agreement of Stoughton's views with those "ter," and a very valuable communication froml of the {Mathers; and, in connection with the the late Rev. Samuel Sewall, witli some items by witchcraft delusion, says that both of them' had Mr. Savage-[Massacehusetts Historical Collec" an efficient agency in producing and prolong- tions, V., ii., 122.] Neither of these enlightened,''ing that excitement." "The conduct of In- faithful, and indefatigable scholars is to be "crease Mather, in relation to it, was marked disposed of in this style. They followed no "with caution and political skill; but that "fashion;" and their venerable names are held " of his son, Cotton Mather, was headlong, zeal- in honor by all true disciples of antiquarian " ous, and fearless, both as to character and co.i- and genealogical learning. The author of such' sequences. In its commencement and p)rox- workis, in this department, as Mr. Savage has "gress, his activity is every-where conspicuous." produced, cannot be thus set aside by a magisteThe Reviewer represents Mr. Quincy as merely rial and supercilious waving of the hand of this repeating what I had said in my Lectures. He Reviewer. makes the same reckless assertion in reference to V Bancroft, the late William B. 0. Peabody, D, D., and every one else, who has written upon the THE EFFECT UPON THE POWVE OF THE MATHEl1S, subject, since 1831. The idea that Josiah Quincy IN TEr PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF THE PROVINCE, OF' tooki his cue" from me, is simply preposterous. THEIR CONNECTION WITIH WITCHCRAFT. He does not refer to me, nor give any indication that he had ever seen my Lectures, but cites Ca- The Reviewer tftkes exception to my statement, lef, as his authority, over iand over again. Dr. that the connection of the M iatlers withl thle Peabody refers to Calef throughout, and lrawvs witchcraft business, " broke down " their influupon him freely and with confidence, as every ence in public affairs. What are the facts? It one else, who has written about the transaction, has been shown, that the administration of Sir has probably done. William Phips, at its opening, was under their It may safely be said, that no historical fact control, to an extent never equalled by that of has ever been more steadily recognized, than the p)rivate men over a ovevernment. The prayters of. action and, to a great degree, controlling agency, Cotton Mather were fully ansiered; and if wise of Cotton MIather. in supl)orti.in' and promoting and cautious counsels had been given, what both the witchcraft pr,ceedin-s of 169.2. That it has, father and son had so coveted, in the political all along, been the establislhed conviction of the mangagement of the Province, would have been pulblic mind, is proved by the chronological series pernianently realized. But, aiming to arm thlemof nzames I have prcdued. Thomas Hutchinson, selves with terrific and overwhelming strength, by John Eliot, William B.ntley, and Josiah Quincy, invoking tle cooleration of forces from the spircover the whole period flom C ottoin Mtather's day itual, invisible, andc diabolical world, with rash to this. They knew, as well as any1 other men "precipitancy," they hurried on the witchcraft that can be named, the current opinions, trans- prosecutions. The consequence was. that in six mitted sentiments, and local and personal annals, months, the whole machinery on which they had of Boston. They reflect with certainty an assur placed thleir reliance. was prostrate. At the very ance, running in an unbroken course over a cen- next election, Elisha Cook was chosen and Natury and a half. Their family connections, so- thaniel Saltonstall rechosen, to the Council; and; cial position, conversance withl events, and famil- ever after, the Mathers were driven to the wall, in iar knowledge of what men thought, lbelieved, desperate and unavailing self-defence. and talked about, give to their concurrent and No party or faction could claim the Earl of continuous testimony, a force and weight of au. Bellamlont, during his brief administration, covthority that are decisive; and demonstrate that, eringo but fourteen months. Although the only instead of my having invented and originated nolletan ever sent over as Governor of Massathe opinion of Cotton Mather's agency in the mat- chusetts, more than all others, lie conciliated the ter now under consideration, I have done no general good will. Ilis short term of office and more than to restate what has been believed and wise policy prevented any particular advantage uttered from the beginning. to the Mathers from the dedication to him of the SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 71 Life of Phips. During the entire period, be- the Mathers must have been sufficiently awkward tween 1692 and the arrival of Dudley to the Gov- a.nd uncomfortable; but no particular public eminent, the opponents of the Mathers were demonstrations appear to have been made, on steadily increasing their strength. Opposition to either side, for some time. Increase Mather was soon developed in attempts Mr. Willard died on the twelfth of September, to remove him from the Presidency of Harvard 1707; and the great question again rose as to the College. Tn 1701, an Order was passed by the Gen- proper person to be called to the head of the Coleral Court,'"that no man should act as President lege. The extraordinary learning of Cotton Math"of the College, who did not reside at Cam- er undoubtedly gave him commanlding and pre-'lbridge." This decided the matter. Increase eminent claims in the public estimation; and he Mather resigned, on the sixth of September fol- had reason to think that the favorite object of his lowing; and. tlhe same day, the Rev. Sa-muel Wil- ambition was about to be attained. But hle was lard took charge of the College, under the title doomed to bitter disappointment. On the twenof Vice-president, and acted as President, to the ty-eighth of October, the Corporation, through acceptance of the people and with the support its senior member, the Rev. James Allen of Bosof the Governlment f tile Province, to his death, ton, communicated to the Governor the vote of in 1707-all the while allowed to retain the pas that body, appointing the " Honorable John Levtoral connection with his Church, in Boston. " erett" to the Presidency; and, on the fourteenth Joseph Dudley arrived from England, on the of January, 1708, he was publicly inducted to eleventh of June, 1702, with his Commission, as office. The Mathers could stand it no longer; Captain-general and Governor of the Province. but, six days after, addressed, each, a letter to On the sixteenth, he made a call upon Cotton Dudley, couched in the bitterest and most abuMather, who relates the interview in his Diary. sive terms.-[fMassachusetts Historical Soociety's Tt seems that Mather made quite a speech to the Collections, I., iii., 126.] No explosions of new Governor, urging him " to ca.rry an indiffer- disappointed politicians and defeated aspi"ent hand toward all parties," and explaining his rants for office, in our day, surpass these letters. meaning thus: "By no means, let any people They show how deeply the writers were stung. " have cause to say that you take all your meas- They heap maledictions on the Governor, with" ures from the two Mr. Mathers." HIe then ad- out any of the restraints of courtesy or proprieded:' By the same rule, I may say without of- ty. They charge him with all sorts of malver-' fence, by no means let any people say that sation in office, bribery, peculation, extortion, "you go by no lmeasures in your conduct but Mr. falseness, hypocrisy, and even murder; imput"Bfield's and Mr. Leverett's. This I speak, ing to him " the guilt of innocent blood," be — "not from any personal prejudice against the cause, many years before, lie had, as Chief-justice "gentlemen, but from a due consideration of of New York, presided at the Trial of Leisler and "the disposition of the people,,.nd as a service Milburn; and averrino that "those men were not "to your Excellency." " only murdered, but barbarously murldered." Dudley-whetherl judging rightly or not is to It is observable that some of the heinous be determined by taking into view his position, crimes charged upon Dudley, occurred before his the then state of parties, and the principles of arrival as Governor of Massachusetts, in 1702; human natulre-evidently regarded this as a trap. and that, in these very letters, they remind him If he had. followed the advice, and kept aloof that it was, in part, by their influence that he was fromn Byfield and Leverett, they would have been then appointed. and that a letter from Cotton placed at a distance from him, and he would ne- Mather, in favor of Iis a:ppointmnent. was re (d. becessarily have fallen into the hands of the Math- fore " the late King William." Both the Mathers. He may have thought that the only way to ers were remarkable for a lack of vision, in refavoid such a result, was for hinm to explain to erence to the logical bearing of what they said. those gentlemen his avoidance of them, by men- It did not occur to them, that the fact of their tioning to them what Mather had said to him, soliciting his appointment closed their mouths thereby signifying to them, that, as a mlatter of from lmaking charges for public acts well known policy, he thought it best to adopt the sugges- to them at the time. tion and stand aloof from both sides. Wheth- Dudley says that he was assured by the Mather acting from this consideration or from resent- ers, on his arrival, that lie had the favor of all ment, he informed them of it; whereupon Math- good men; and Cotton Mather, in his letter, reer inserted this in his Diary: " The WnRETCH minds him that he signalized his frielndly feelwent unto those men and told them that I had ings, by giving to the public, on that occasion, "advised him to be no ways directed by them. the " portraiture of a good man." It is proved, "and inflamed them into implacable rage against therefore, by the evidence on both sides, that, "me." well knowing all about the Leisler affair and After this, the relations between Dudley and other crimes alleged against him, they were 72 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. ready, and most desirous, to secure his favor and stand that he conducted the public affairs with friendship; and to identify themselves with his great ability and success, with the general apadministration. proval of all classes, andc plarticul'arly of the In alluding to these letters, Hutchinson (Tfis- Clergy. His statement that ble hald the suppo't tory, ii, 194,) says:''In times when party spirit of all the Ministers of New England, except the "prevails, what will not a Governor's enemies lMathers, was undoubtedly correct. It is certain"believe, however injurious and absurd? At ly true of the Ministers of Boston. In his Di" such a time, he was charged with dispensing ary, under the year 1709, Cotton Mtlher says: "'sunmnum jss to Leisler and incurring an ag-' The other Ministers of the Town are this day "gravated guilt of blood beyond that. of a "feasting with our wicked Governor. I liave, "common murderer. The other party, no doubt, "by mny provoking plainness and freedom, in' would have cha.rged the fidlu;re of justice up-'telling this Ahl-ab of his wickmedness, procured "on him, if -Leisler had been acquitted." " myself to be left out of his invitations. I reDudley replied to toth tiese extraordinary "joiced in my liberty fronm the temptations missives, in a letter dated the third of February, "wherewith they were encumbered." He set 1708. After rebuking, in stern and difgnified apart that day for fasting and prayer, the speclanguage, the tone and style of their letters, ial interest of which, he says, " was to obtain reminding them, by apt citations from Scripture, "deliverance and protection" from his "eneof the "laws of wise and Christian reproo"f,' " whose names, he informis us, he "menwhich they had violated, and showing upon hat'' tioned unto the Lord, who had promised to be false foundations their charges'rested, he says:' my shield." " Can you think it the most proper season to do The bitterness with which Mather felt exclusion' me good by your admonitions, when t onu h'ave from power is strikingly illustrated in a letter "taken care to let the world know you are out of addressed by him to Stephen Sewall, pulblished "'frame and filled with the last prejudice by me in the Appendix to the edition of my " against my person and Govertnment?" "Every Lectures, printed in 1831. I subjoin a few ex"' one can see through thle protence, and is able tracts: "A couple of malignant follows, a'to account for the sprin- of these letters, and "' while since, railing at me in the Bookseller's "how they would have been prevented, without " shop, among other things they said,' and his easing any grievances you complain of." He "' friend Noyes has cast him off,' at which they makes the following proposal: "After all "set up a laughter." "No doubt, you under"though I have reason to complain to heaven "stand, how ridiculously thlings have been man-' and earth of your unchristain rashness, and'' aged in our late General Assembly; voting and "wrath, and injustice, I would yet maintain a "unvoting, the same day; and, at last, the "christain temper to w ars you. I do, therefore, "squirrels perpetually running into the mouth "now assure you that I shall be ready to give' open for theum, though they hiid cried against " you all thie atisfaction Cimristiauity requires, in " it wonderifully. And your neighbor, Sowgelder,' those points which are proper fior you to seek "after lis indefati.g'able pains at the castration "to receive it in, when, with' proper temper "of all common honesty, rewarded, before the " and spirit, giving me timely notice, you do see " Court broke up, with being mnade one of your m' meet to make me a visit for that end; and I " briother Justices; which the whole House, as "exiect the same satisfaction from you." He " well as the apostate himself, had in view, all offers this signific,:nt suoggesti on: "i desire you "along, as the expected wages of his iniquity." "will keep your' station, and let tifty or sixty "' If things continmue in the present administra-'good Ministers, your equals in the Province, "tieol, there will shortly bie not so much as a'' have a share in the Government of the College " shadow of justice left in the country. Bribery, "and advise thereabouts, as well as yourselves,'a crime capital ameong the Pa,'ans, is already a "and I hope all will be well." Hle concludes " peccadillo among us. All officers are learning by claiming that he is sustained by the favor "it. And, if I should say, Jud-ges will find the of the'' Ministers of New Eng'-landd;" and cliar-' way to it, some will say, there needs not the acterises the issue between him and them "future tense in the case."''Every thing is bethus: "The " College must be disposed against " trayed, and that we, on the top of our house, the opinion of all the -Ministers in New En-' may complete all, our very religion, with all "land, except yourselves, or the Governor torn thie Churches, is at last betrayed-the treachery "in pieces. This is the view I ihave of your "camrried on with lies, and fallacious representa-'' inclination." "tions, and finished by the rash hands of our Dudley continued to adnminister the Govern- "Clerg'y." ment for' eight years longer, until the infirmities That Cotton iMiather continued all his subseof age compelled him to retire. Both Hutchin- quent life to experience the dissatisfaction, and son and Doctor John Eliot give us to under- give way to the feelings, of a disappointed man, SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 73 is evident from his Diary. I have quoted from " great and generous soul." His natural abilities it a few passages. The Reviewer says it " is full were of a very high order. His attainments were "of penitential confessions," and seems to liken profound and extensive. He was well acquainted hinl, in this respect, to the Apostle of the Gen- with the learned languages, with the arts and tiles. Speaking of my having cited the Diary, as "sciences, with history, philosophy, law, divinhistorical evidence, he says:' Such a use of the "ity, politics." Such, we are told, were " the confessional, we believe, is not common with' majesty and marks of greatness, in his speech, "historical writers." I do not remember any-''his behaviour, and his very countenance," that thing like "penitential confessions," in the pass- the students of the College were inspired with ages from the Diary given in my book. The reverence and affection. In his earlier and later reader is referred to them, in VolumelI. Page 503. life, he had been connected with the College, as They belong to the year 1724, and are thus pref- Tutor and as President; and in the intermediate aced: period, he had filled the highest legislative and ju"DARK DISPENSATIONS, BUT LIGHT ARISING IN dicial stations, and been intrusted with the most''DARKNESS." important functions connected with the military "It may be of some use to me, to observe service. I am inclined to think, all things con"some very dark dispensations, wherein the rec- sidered, a claim, in his behalf, might be put in "ompense of my poor essays at well-doing, in for the distinction the Reviewer awards to Cot" this life, seem to look a little discouraging; and ton Mather, as' doubtless the most brilliant man " then to express the triumph of my faith over " of his day in New England." "such and all discouragements." "Of tle President Leverett was buried on the sixth of "things that look dark, I may touch of twice May. Cotton Mather officiated as one of the Pall4 seven instances." bearers, and then went home, anld made the folThe writer, in the Christian Examiner, No- lowing entry in his Diary, dated the seventh: vember, 1831, from whom I took them, omitted "'The sudden death of the unhappy man who two, " on aceouut of their too personal or domes- "sustained the place of President in our College,' tic character, "'will open a door for my doing singular services I cannot find the slightest trace of a peniten-' in the best of interests. I do not know tial tear on those I have quoted; and cite now "that the care of the College will now be cast but one of them, as pertinent to the point I am' upon me; though I am told it is what is most making: " What has a gracious Lord given me' generally wished for. If it slould be, I shall "to do for the good of the country? in appli-'' be in abundance of distress about it; but, if it' cations without number for it, in all its inter- "should not, yet I may do many things for tile "ests, )esides publications of things useful to it, "good of the College more quietly and more "and for it. And, yet, there is no man whom l hopefully than formerly." "the country so loads with disrespect, and As timle wore away, and no cloice of President "calumnies, and manifold expressions of aver- was miade, lie becamlle e mlore and iore sensible' Sion." that an influence, hostile to himi, was in the asThis is a specimen of the whole of theml-one cendency; and, on the first of July, he writes half recounting what lie had done, the other thus, in his Diary:''Tils day being our insipid, complaining. sometimes almost scolding, at the "ill-contrived anniversary, which we call Cornpoor requital lie had received. "mencement, I close to spend it at home, in President Leverett died, on the third of May, "supplications, partly on tle behlalf of the Col1724. His death was lamented by the country; "lege, that it maLy not be foolishly thrown away, and the most eminent men vied with each other "'but that God nmv lbestow sucli a President in doing honor to lris memory. The Rev. Ben- "upon it, as may prove a rich blessing unto it jamin Colman called hini "' our mnaster," and pro- " and unto all our Churches." nounced his life as "great and good."'The In the nmeanwhile, lie renewed his attendance "young nmen saw him and hid themselves, and t at the meetings of tlie Overseers; hlitving never "the aged arose and stood up." Dr. Aplpleton occupied his seat, in that Body, with the excepdeclated that he had been " an honored orna- tion of a single Session, during the wlhole period " ment to his country. Verily, the breach is so of Leveret,'s presiclency. Tlie Board, at a meet"wide, that none but an all-sufficient God (with ing lie attendel, onl the sixth of August, 1724, "whom is tle residue of the Spirit) can repair passed a vote tadvising and directing tile speedy "or heal it." The late Benjamin Peirce, in his election of a President. On tie eleventh, tle CorHistory of Har'var d University, says that "hlis poration chose tie Rev. Joseph Sewall of thie Old "Presidency was successful and brilliant." He Soutl Cllurch; and Matlher records the event in was honored abroad, as well as at home; and his his Diary, as follows:' I aml informed that, yesname is inscribed on the rolls of the Royal Socie- "terday, the six men, who call themselves tile ty of London. Mr. Peirce says; "He had a "Corporation of the College, rmet, and, contrary 74 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. "to the epidemical expectation of the country, XVIII. "chose a modest young man, Sewall, of whose COTTON MATHER'S WgTrNGS AND CHAIoACTEr. piety (and little else) every one gives a lauda-'' ble character." While compelled — by the attempt of the wri"I always foretolcl these two things of the Cor- ter in the North American Reviewo to reverse the "poratioii: First, that, if it were poss;ble for just verdict of history in reference to Cotton "them to steer clear of nme, they will dco so. fNather's connection with Salem Witchcraft-to "Secondly, that, if it were possible for them to lhow the unhappy part he acted and the terrible'act foolishly, they will do so. The perpetual responsibility lie incur.red, in bringing forward,'envy with which my essays to serve the king- and carrying through its -stages, that awful tra"dom of God are treated amnongy them, and the gedy, and the unworthy nmeans he used to throw "dread thit Satan has of my beating up his that responsibility, afterwards, on others, I amni "quarters at the College, led ime into thle fkrmer not to be misled into a false position, in reference "sentiment; the nia'vel ous indiscretion, with to this extraordinary man. I endorse the lanwhich the affairs of the College are manag ed, guage of Mr. Peirce:' iTeT pi)ssessed great vigor:7 "led me into tile latter."'and activity of mind, quickness of apprehenMr. Sewall declined the appointnmet. On the "sion, a lively imagin ation, a prodigious niemeighteenth of November, the Rev. Benjamin Col-''ory, uncommon facility in acquiring and coinnman, of the Brattle street Church, was chosen. He "municating knowledge, with. the mnst indealso declining, the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, of " fatigable application and industry; tliat he the First Church, was clected, in June, 1725, and " amassed an iminai.se stre,,f information on inaugurated on the seventh of July. " all subjects, huitm an and divine." I follow l Mr. It thus appears that Dr. Mather was pointedly Peirce still further, in believing that his natural passed over; and every other,M'inister of Bostonl temperanment was pleasnt aiid(l Ihis sentiments of successively chosen to that great office. a benevolent cast:' tlma't he was an habitual Of course lie took, as Mr. Peirce informs uns, "' promoter and doer of good. is evident, as well no further part in the mangeinment of the Col- from Ihis writing's as from the various accounts lege. While h11 considered, as he expressed it,' "that have been tiransmitted respecting him." the''senselessness" of those entrusted with its f- If the question is asked, as it naturally will fair s, as tllhreatening " little short of a dissolution be, x ow these admissions can be reconciled with: f the College," yet he persuaded himself that the views and statements respecting him, conlie had never dlesired the office. tie had, lie tained in this article and in my book oni witchsays, " unspeakable cause to admire the compas- craft, the answer is: that mankind is not divided "sieon of lieaven, in saving hini from the atp- into two absolutely distinct and entirely sepa"pointmnent;" and that ho i ad always had a rated portions-one g:ood and the otlier evil.'' dread of what the generality of sober men" The good are liable to, and the bad are capable thought lie desired —' dismal apiprehension of the of, eacli receiving much into their own lives and "distresses which a call at Cambridge would characters, that belongs to the other. This interIbring" upon him. -He was sincere in those fusion universally occurs. The great errors and declarations, no doubt; but they show hov coin- tile great wrongs imputiable to Cotton Mather do pletely lie could blind himself to the past and not make it inipra.cticable to discern what was even to the actual present. Mr. Peirce explains commendable in himi. They ma:y be accounted why the Corporation were so resolute in with for without tnhrowing him out of thle pale of huholding their suffrages from Matlher: " His con- inanity or our Iaiving to shut our eyes to traits "temploraries appear to have formed a very cor- and merits other iways exhibitedrect estimate of his character.". T'The saw, The extraordinary precoo.it of his intellect — "wlhat iposterity sees, that he was a man of:von- itself always a peni, often a life-long imisfor"derful parts, of imiumense learning, and of emn- tune-'awakened vanity and subjected him to the "inctit piety and virtue."' Thiey saw ihis wveak- flattery bsy which it is fed. All ancestral associ"ness and eccentricities." "It is evident ations and family influences pampered it. Such''that his judgment was nct equal to his other a spleech as that imade to hin, at hiis graduation, "faculties' tliat his passions, which were nattir- b)y President Oakes, could not have failed to " ally strong and violent, were not alwaxys nunder hioave inflated it to exaggerated di mensions. Cler"' proper rcegulation; that lie was weak, credulous, ical and political ambition was natural, all but "enthusiastic, ani suolerstitious. Hisconversation instinctive, to one, whose father, and )both whose "is said to hlave been instructive and entertain- grandfathlers, liad been powers, in the State as ming, in a high degree, though often marred hby well as Church. The religious ideas, if they can "levity, vanity, iimprudence and puns." For be so called, in wvhich lie hiad been trained from these reasons, he was deemed an unsuitable per- childhliood, in a. form learing upon him with more son for the Presidency of the College. weight than upon any other person in all history, MALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 1b inasmuch, as they constituted the pr meinent fca- cal world, whether of reality or fancy it matters ture of his father's reading, talk, tholughts, and not, had, all his life long. been the ordinary diet, writings, gave a rapid and overshadowing growth the daily bread, of his mind. to credulity and superstition. A defect in his It may, perhaps, be said with truth, that the education, perhaps, in part, a natural defect, left theological imagery and speculations of that day, him without any true logical culture, so that he particularly as developed in the writings of the seems, in his productions and conduct, not to dis- two Mathers, were more adapted to mislead the cern the sequences of statements, the coherence mind and shroud its moral sense in darkness, of propositions, nor the consistency of actions, than any system, even of mythology, that ever thereby entangling himi in expressions and decla- existed. It was a mythology. It may be spoken rations that have the aspect of untruthfulness- of with freedom, now, as it has probably passed his languagoe often actually be-aring that charac- away, in all enlightened communities in Christer, without his discerningg it. His writings tendom. Satan was the great central character, present many instances of thisinfirmity. Some in what was, in reality, aPantheon. He was surhave lereadcy been incidentally adduced. In his rounded with hosts of infernal spirits, disemLife of Phips, avowing himself the author of bodied and embodied, invisible demons, and conthe document known as the Advice of the Mfinis- federate human agents. He was seen in everyters, he uses this language:' By Mr. Mather the thing, everywhere. His steps were traced in ex"younger, as I have been informed." IHe had, traordinary occurrences and in the ordinary opin fact, never been so informed. He knew it by erations of nature. He was hovering over the consciousness. Of course he had no thought of heads of all, and lying in wait along every daily deceiving; but merely followed a habit he had path. The affrighted imagination, in every scene got, of such modes of expression. So, also, when and mode of life, was conversant with ghosts, he sent a present of money and tracts to " poor apparitions, spectres, devils. This prevalent, "' and bad people," in Salem, with an anonymous all but universal, exercise of credulous fancy, letter to the Miinister of the place, " desiring and exalted into the most imposing dignity of theol"empowering him to dispense the charity, in his ogy and faith, must have had a demoralizing' own01 name, hoping thereby the more to inyga- effect upon the rational condition and faculties "tiate his iniistry?with the people," he lookled of men, and upon all discrimination and healthonly on one side of the i)oposal, and saw it in fulness of thoug-ht. When error, in its most exno othelr lighlt than a benevolent and friendly travagant fornis, hald driven the simplicity of the transaction. It never occurred to him that lie Gospel out of the Church and the world, it is was suggo-,esting a deceptive procedure and draw- not to be wondered at that the mind was led to ing thle MIinister into a false 1position and practice. the most shocking iprversions, and the conscience Whlen, in addition, we consider to what hle ensnaed to the most indefensible actions. was exlose-d by his proclivity to. and aspirations The superstition of tlhat day was foreshadowed for, political power, the expedients, schemes, in the fe oieous cannibal of classic mythology — contrivances, and appiliances, in which he there- a monster, hoirific, lhideous in mein, and gigantic iy becanme involved in the then state of things in statuie. It involved the samne fate. The eye in the Colony, and the conection which leading of the intellect xwas burned out, the light of rcaMinisters, although not admitted to what are son extinguished cui lumen adempltum. strictly sp eaking political offices, had with the Havingt always given himself up to the concourse of public affairs-his father, to an extent tenmplation of diabeolical inlaginations, Cotton never equalled by any other Clergynian, before or MIather wais led to take the part lie did, in the since-we begin to estimate the influences that witchcraft proceeings; and it cannot be hidden disastrously swayed the mind of Cotton Mather. from the light of history. The greater his talVanity, flattery. credulity, wvant of logical ents, thlle mole earnestly le may, in other matters, discernment, and the struggles between political have alimed to be useful, the more weighty is the factions. in the unsettled, uncertain, transition lesson his course teaches, of the baleful effects period, betx ween tle old and new Charters, are of bewildering and darkening supelrstition. enough to account for much that was wrong, in There is another, and a special, explanation to one of Miiaher's temperament and passions, with- be given of th e disingenuousness th dainenu e tt appears in out questionino his real mental qualities, or, I llis writings. He was a master of languaoge. He am disposed to think, his conscious integrity, or could express, with marvelous facility, any shade the sinceri-ty of his religious experiences or pro- of thought. He could also make language confessions. ceal tlhought. No one ever handled words with But his chief apology, after all, is to be found o ore adroitness. He could mould thl1mI to suit in the same sphere in which his chief offences his purposes, at will, and with ease. This facwere commnitted. Certain topics and notions, in ulty was called in requisition by the special cirreference to the invisible, spiritual, and diaboli- cumstances of his times. It was necessary to 76 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHEKR. preserve, at least, the appearance of unity among I vindicated him, without reserve, from the the Churches, while there was as great a tendency, charge of pedantry. This I cannot do now. then, as ever, to diversity of speculations, touch- Observation and reflection have modified my ing points of casuisl:ical divinity or ministerial views. He made a display, over all his pages, policy. The talent to express in formulas, senti- of references and quotations fromn authors then, ments that really differed, so as to obscure the as now, iarely cead, and of anecdotes, biographdifference, was needed; and lie had it, lie knew ical incidents,: dci critical comments relating to how to f rame a document that would suit both scholars and eminent persons, of wlhom others sides, but, in effect, answer the purposes of one hive but little information, and of many of of them, as in the Advice of the 2Ministeirs. He whom but fewv have ever heard. This filled his could assert a proposition and connect with it contemporaries with wonder; led to most extravwhat appeared to be only a judicious modifica- agant statements, in funeral discourses, by Benjatien or amplification, but which, in reality, was min Colman, Joshua Gee, and others; and made susceptible of being interpreted as either more the general impression that has come down to or less co:rroborating or contradicting it, as occa- our day. Without detracting from his learning, sion might require. This was a sort of sleight of which was truly gre.at, it cannot be denied that hand, in the use of words; anid was noticed, at this superfluous, display of it subjects him, justthe time, as " legerdemain." He practised it so ly, to the imputation of pedantry. It may be aflong that it becamie a feature of his style: and he fected where, unlilck the case of Cotton Matlier, actually, in this way, deceived himself as well as there is, in reality. no very extraordinary amount others. It is a danger to wvhich ingenious and of learning. It is a trick of authorship easily hair-splitting writers are liable. I nam inclined practised. to think that what we cannot but regard as uatent Any one reading Latin wiith facility, having a misstatements, were felt by him to )e all right, in good memory, and keeping a well-arranged consequence, as just intimated, of this acquired scrap-book, needs less than hlialf a dozen such habit. books as the following, to make a show of His style is sprightly, and often entertaining. learning and to astonish the world by his refer Neal, the author of the tHistory qf t/he Puritans, ences and citattions-tlhe six folio volumes of in a letter to the Rev. Benjamin Colman, after Petavius, on Dogmatic Tlheology, and his smallspeakino with comimendation of one of Cotton er work, Rationari-um Temporitum, a sort of comMather's productions, says: "It wvere only to be pendium or schedule of universal history; and a' wishled thatt it i adc been freed from tlhose puns volume 1printed, in the latter half of the seven" and jingles that attend all his writings, biefore teenli century, at A.msterdam, compiled by Lim-'' it had been made piullic.' —~zfassach-usetts his 1- b)orch, consisting of an extensive collection of lettorical Gollections,., v., 199. —Mr. Peirce, it ters to and from the most eminent men of tlat has been observed, speaks of his''puns," in con and the preceding century, such as Ariminius, versation. It is not certain, but th at, to a reader Vossius, Episcopiis, Grotinis, and many others, now, these very thlings constitute a redeeming embracing a vast variety of literary history, critattraction of his writings and relieve the mind (of icism, biography, theology, philosophy, and ecthe unpleasant effects of his credulity and vanani, clesiastical matters~I hlave before nme the copy pedaiintic and often far-fetched references, ptalpa- of this work, owned by that prodigy of learning, ble absurdities, and. sometiies, the repulsiveness Dr. Samuel Parr; who pronounced it " a precious of his tol)ics and a m:tter. " book;" an d it may have contributed much to The Reviewer represents inme as prejudiced give to his productions, that air of rare learning against (Cjotton Matlier. Far from it. Forty- that astonislied his contemporaries. To- comthree years ago b1efore imy attention liad been par- p!ete the compendious apparatus, a1nd give the ticularly called to Shis connection with alleged means of exhibiting any quantity of learning, ivitclicrafts or withl tle political affairsof Iis times, in fields frequented b)y few, the only other book I eulogized Iis "'' learnin an d liberality," in warm needed is Melchlior Adams's Lives of LEiterati, interims.-Sermvnoa, at the Dedicatizon of thle Fouse cluding all most prominently connected with Diof Wors.hip ftthie First Chnrch, in, Salem, Maisal- vinity, Philosophy, and the progress of learning ehus.etts, 48. and culture, during' the fifteenth and sixteenth I do not retract whlat I then said. Cotton centuries, and. down to its date, 1615. I have Matlier was in advaince of his times, in liberality before me, the copy of this last work, owned by of feelinii, in reference to sectarian and deno1m- Richard Matlier, and probably b)rought over with inational matters. liHe was, undoubtcdly, a great hini, in his perilous voyage, in 1635. It xw'as, sucstudent, and had read all that an Ameniican cessively, in the libraries of his son, Increase, and scholar could then lay his hands on. Marvellous his grandson, Cotton Mather. At a corner of one stories were told of the rapidity of his reading. of the blank leaves, it is noted, apparently in the He was a devourer of books. At the same time, hand of Increase Mather: "began Mar. 1. fin SALEM WITCH(TRAFT AND COTTON MATtER. 77 "ished April 30, 1676." According to the pop- ful as his wholelife would have been, but for the ular tradition, Cotton would have read it, in a malign influences I have endeavored to desciibe, day or two. It contains interesting items of all leading hinl to the errors and wrongs which, sorts-personal anecdotes, critical comments, and while faithful history records them, men must striking passages of the lives and writings of regard with considerate candor, as God will with more than one hundred and fifty distinguishec infinite mercy. men, such as Erasmus, Fabricius. Faustus, Cran- It is a curious circumstance, that the two great nmer, Tremellius, Peter Martyr, Beza, and Jolhn public funerals, in those early times, of whlch Knox. Whether Miather had access to either of we have any particular accounts left, were of the the above-named works, except the last, is uncer- men who, in life, had been so bitterly opposed tain; but, as his library was very extensive, hle to each other. When Leverett was buried, the sparing no pains nor expense in furnishing it, and cavalcade, official bodies, students, and people, these books were severally then in print and pre- were fain to proceed near as far as Hastings' cisely of the kind to attract him and suit his' before they returned," so great was the length fancy, it is not unlikely that he had them all. of the procession: the funeral of Mather was They would have placed in easy reach, much of attended by the greatest concourse that had ever the mass of amazing erudition with which he been witnessed in Boston. " entertained " his readers and hearers. Cotton Mather died on the thirteenth of Febru- XX. ary, 1728, at the close of his sixty-fifth year. ROBERT CALEFS WRITINGS AND CHARACTER. Thirty-six years had elapsed since the fatal imbroglio of Salem witchcraft. lie had proba- I approach the close of this protracted discus-' bly long been convinced that it was vain to at- sion with what has been purposely reserved. The tempt to slake the general conviction, expressed article in the North Americcan Review rests, by Calef, that he had been "the most active and throughout, upon a repudiation of the authority "forward of any Minister in the country in of Robert Calef. Its writer says, "his faculties " those matters," and acquiesced in the general " appear to us to have been of an inferior order." disposition to let that matter rest. It must be " He had a very feeble conception of what credipleasing to all, to think that his very last years "ble testimony is." If he had not intentionw'e! e freed from the influences that had destroyed " ally lied, he had a very imperfect appreciation the peace of his life and left such a shade over " of truth." Hie speaks of "'Calef's disqualificahis namie. Having met with nothingl but disas- "tions as a witness." He seeks to discredit ter from attelmpting to manage the visiltle as well him, by suggesting the idea that, in his original as the invisible world, he probably left them both movements against Mather, he was instigated by in the hands of Providence; and experienced, pre-existing enmity —" Robert Calef, between as he had never done, a brief period of tranquil- whom and Mr. Mlather a personal quarrel existlity, before finally leaving the scene. His aspi- "ed."'i His personal enemy, Calef." ration to control the Piovince had ceased, The There is no evidence of any difficulty, nor of object of his life-long putsuit, the Presidency of any thing that can be called' enmity," between the College, was foreveir Iaffled. Nothing but these two persons, prior to their dealings with mischief and misery to lhimself and others had each other, in the Margaret Rule case, commencfollowed his attempt to lead the great combat ing on the thirteenth of September, 1693. Mather against the Devil and his hosts. It had fired his himself states, in his Diary, that the enmity beearly zeal and a.inllition; but that fire was extin- tween them arose out of Calef's opposition to his, guished. The two ties, which lmore than alloth- Mather's, views relating to the'existence and ers, had bound him, by his good affections and " influences of the invisible world." So far as his -unhappy passions, to what was going on we have any knowledge, their acquaintance began around him, were severed, nearly at the same at the date just mentioned. The suggestion of time, by the death of his fatlhei, in 1723, and of lls pre-existing enmity, therefore, gives an unfair great and successful rival, Leverett, in 1724. and unjust impression. Severe domestic trials and bereavements complet- Robert Calef was a native of England, a young ed the work of weaninv him from the world; man, residing, first in Roxbury, and' afterwards at and it is stated that, in his very last years, the re- Boston. He was reputed a person of good sentments of his life were buried and the ties of sense; and, from the manner in which Mather albroken friendshipsrestored. Thepleasantestinter- ludes to him, in one instance, of considerable course took place between him and Benjamin means: he had, probably, been prosperous in his Colman; men of all parties sought his company business, which was that of a merchant. Not a and listened to the conversation, which was al- syllalle is on record against his character, outways one of his shining gifts; he had written side of his controversy with the Mathers; all kindly about Dudley; and his end was as peace- that is known of him, on the contrary, indicates 78 SAtEM WITOHCRAFT AND COTTON MiATHEA. that he was an honorable and excellent person. teenth, after sunset, accompanied ly some otlhers, He enjoyed the confidence of the:,eople; and he went to the house, "drawn," as he says, "by was called to municipal trusts, for which only re-' curiosity to see Margaret Rule, and so much liable, discreet, vigilant, and honest citizens were " the rather, because it was reported Mr. Mather selected, receiving the thanks of the Town for his "would be there, that night." They were taken services, as Overseer of the Poor. As he encoun- into the chaimber where she wasin bed. They found tered the madness and violence of the people, her of a healthy countenance. She was about sevwhen they were led by Cotton lMather, in the enteen years of age. Increase and Cotton Mathwitchcraft dleluion, it is a singular circumstance, er came in, shortly afterwards, with otllers. Alconstituting an honorable distinction, in which together, there were between thirty and forty perthey shared, that, in a later period of their lives, sons in the room. Calef drew up Minutes of they stood, shoulder to shoulder, breasting brave- what was said and done. He repeated his visit, ly together, another storm of popular fanaticism, on the evening of the nineteenth. Cotton Mather by publicly favoring inocculation for the small had been with Margaret half an hour; and had pox. He offered several of his children to be gone before his arrival. Each night, Calef made treated, at the hands of Dr. Boylston, in 1721. written minutes of what was said and done, the His family continued to bear up the respectabil- accuracy of which was affirmed by the signatures ity..f the name, and is honorably mentioned in of two persons, which they were ready to confirm the municipal records. A vessel, named London. with their oaths, He showed them to some of was a regular Packet-ship, between that port and Mather's particular friends. Whereupon Mather Boston. and probably one of the largest class preached about him; sent word that he should then built in America. She was commanded by have him arrested for slander; and called him " Robert Calef; " and, in the Boston Evening RPst,''one of the worst of liars. " Calef wrote him a of the second of MIay, 1774, " Dr. Calef of Ips- letter, on the twenty-ninth of September; and, in "' wich" is mentioned among the passengers just reference to the complaints and charges Mather arrived in her. Under his own, and other names, was making, proposed that they should meet, in the descendants of the family of Calef are prob- either of two places he mentioned, each accomably as numerous and respectable as those of the panied by a friend, at which time he, Calef, Mathers; and on that, as all other higher accounts, would read to him the minutes he had taken, of there is an equal demand for justice to their re- whathad occurredon the evenings of the thirteenth spective ancestors. and nineteenth. MaIther sent a long letter, not It is related by Mather, that a young woman, to be delivered, but read to him, in which he named Matrgaret Rule, belonging to the North agreed to meet him, as proposed, at.one of the part of Boston, " many months after the General places; but, in the mean time, on the complaint'Storm of the late enchantments, was over,' of the Mathers, for scandalous hbels upon Cotton' when the country had long lain pretty quiet," Mather, Calef was brought before "their iMajeswas'" seized by the Evil Angels, both as to ino- "ties Justice, and bound over to answer at Ses"'lestations and accusations from the Invisible "sions." Miather, of course, failed to give him' World". On the Lord's Day, the tenth of the meeting for conference, as agreed upon. On September, 1693, " after some hours of previous the twenty-fourth of November, Calef wrote to " disturbance of the public assembly, she fell him again, referring to his failure to meet him'"into odd fits," and had to be taken out of the and to tle legal proceedings he had instituted; congregation and carried home, "where her fits, and, as the time for a.ppearance in Court was "in a few hours, grew into a figure that satisfied drawing near, he "he thought it not amiss to "the spectators of their being supernatural." He " give a summary" of his views on the " great further says, that, "from the 10th of September "concern," as to which they were at issue. He "to the 18th, she kept an entire fast, and yet, states, at the outset, " that there are witches, is not'"she was to all appearance as fresh, as lively, as "the doubt." The Reviewer seizes upon this "hearty, at the nine clays end, as before they expression, to convey the idea that Calef was try"began. In all this time she had a very eager ing to conciliate Mather, and induce him to de"hunger upton her stomach, yet if any refresh- sist from the prosecution. Whoever reads the "meait were brought unto her, her teeth would letter will see how unfair and untrue this is. ",e set, and she would be thrown into many Calef keeps to the point, which was not whether "miseries. Indeed, once, or twice, or so, in all there were, or could be, witches; but whether the "this time, her tormentors permitted her to swal- methods Mather was attempting, in the case of'low a mouthful of somewhat that might in- Margaret Rule, and which had been used in Sa"crease her miseries, whereof a spoonful of rum lem, the year before, were legitimate or defensi-' was the most considerable." ble. He was determined not to suffer the issue The affair, of course, was noised abroad. It to be shifted. reached the ears of Robert Calef. On the thir- Upon receiving this letter, Mather, who had SALEt WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHEIR. 79 probably, upon reflection, begun to doubt about " could bear away." He notices the fact that he the expediency of a public prosecution, signified finds in Mather's letter no objection to what relatthat he had no desire to press the prosecution; ed to matters of greatest concern. Mather had and renewed the proposal for a conference. Ca- complained that the Minutes reported certain lef "' waited on Sessions;" btut no one appearing statellents made by Rule, which had been used against him, was diisissed. The affair seemed, to his disadvantage; and Calef suggests, " What at this crisis, to be tending toward an a.nicable' can he expected less from the father of lies, by conclusion. But Mather failed to meet him; and.,' Lwhom, you judge, she was possest?" on the eleventh of Jatnuary, 1694, Calef address- Appended to Mather's letter, are some docued him again, recapitulating what had occurred, ments, signed by several persons, declaring that sending' him copies of his previous letters and they had seen Rule lifted up by an invisible force also of the Minute.; he had taken of what occur- from the bed to the top of the room, while a red on the evenings of the thirteenth and nine- strong person threw his whole weight across her, teenth of September, with these words: "REv- and several others were trying with all their " EREND SIR: Finding it necessary, on many ac- minht to hold her down or pull her back. Upcounts, I here present you with the copy of on these certificates, Calef remarks: " Upon the "that Paper, which has been so much misrepre- " whole, I suppose you expect I should believe'sented, to the end, that what shall be found "it; and if so, the only advantage gained is,''defective or not fairly represented, if any such "that what has been so long controverted be"shall appear, they may be set right'''t.weenl Protestants and Papists, whether miraThis letter concludes in terms which show "cle. are ceased, will hereby seem to be decided that, in that stage cf the affair, Calef was dispos- " for the latter; it being, for ought I can see, if ed to treat Mather with great respect; and that " so, as true a mi acle as for iron to swim; and he sincerely and earnestly desired and trusted'"the Devil can work such miracles." that satisfaction might be given and taken, in Calef wrote to lhim again, on the nineteenth of the interview he so presistently so ught-not mere- February, once more praying that he would so ly in reference to the case of Margaret Rule, but far ol)lige him, as to give him his views, on the to the general subject of witchc aft, on which important subjects, for a right understanding of they had different apprehensions: "I have rea- which he had so repeatedly sought a conference "son to hope for a satisfactory answer to hin, and written'so many letters; and expressing his "who is one that reverences your person and of- earnest desire to be corrected, if in error, to "fice." which end, if Mather would not, he indulged This language strikingly illustrates the esti- a hope that some others would, afford him relief mate in which Ministers were held. Reverence and satisfaction. On the sixteenth of April, he for their office and for them, as a body, pervad- wrote still another letter. In all of them, he ed all classes. touched upon the points at issue between them, On the fifteenth of January, Matlher replied, and importuned Mather to cominunicate his views, complaining, in general terms, of the narrative fully, as to one seeking light. On the first of contained in Calef's Minutes, as follows: " I do March. he wrote to a gentleman. an acknowledg-''scarcely find any o6e thing, in the whole pa- ment of having received, through his hands, "afper, whether respecting my fatlher or myself, "ter more than a year's waiting," from Cotton'either fairly or truly represented." "The nar- Mather, four sheets of paper, not to be copied, rative contains a number of mistakes and false- and to be returned in a fortnight. Upon return"hoods which, were they wilful and designed, ing them, with comments, he desires the gentle" might justly be terlled great lies." He then man to recquest iiMr. Mathier not to send hinm any goes into a specification of a few palticulars, in more such papers, unless lie could be allowed to which he maintains that the Minutes are incor- copy and use them. It seems that, in answer to rect. a subsequent letter, Mather sent to him a copy of On the eighteenth of January, Calef replied. Richard Baxter's Certainty (f the World of reminding him that he hadi taken scarcely any Spirits, to which, after some time, Calaf found notice of the general subject of diabolical agency; leisure to reply, expressing his dissent from the but that almost the whole of his letter referred views given in that book, and treating the subto the Minutes of the meetings, on the thirteenth ject somewhat at large. In this letter, which and nineteenth of September; and he maintains closes his correspondence with Marther, he makes their substantial accuracy and shows that some this solemn and severe appeal:'Though there is of Mather's strictures were founded upon an in- "reason to hope that these diabolical p)rinciples correct reading of them. In regard to Mather's "have not so far prevailed (with multitudes of different recollection of some points, he express- "Christains), as that they ascribe to a witch and a es his belief that if his account, in the Minutes, "devil the attributes peculiar to the Almighty; "be not fully exact, it was as near as memory "yet how few are willing to be found opposing 80 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATjHEt. "such a torrent, as knowing that in so doing they "Devil," and to the subject of Witchcraft. On "shall be sure to meet with opposition to the ut- the twentieth of September, lie wrote to the Rev. "most, from the many, both of Magistrates, Samuel Willard, invoking his attention to the "Ministers, and people and the name of Saddu- "great concern," and his aid in having it "cee, atheist, and perhaps witch too, cist upon fairly discussed. On the twelfth of January, "them, most liberally, by meni of the highest 1696, he addressed "The Ministers in and near''profession in godliness; and, if not so learned as " Boston," for.the same purpose; and wrote a "some of themselves, then accounted only fit to seperate letter to the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth. "be trampled on, and their arguments (though These documents were all composed with great "both rational and scriptural) as fit only for con- earnestness, frankness, and ability; and are most''tempt. But though this be the deplorable di- creditable to his intelligence, courage, and sense of lemma, yet some have dared, from time to time, public duty. I have given this minute account of "(for the glory of God and the good and safety his proceedings with Mather and the Clergy gen" of men's lives, etc.) to run all these risks. And, erally, because I am impressed with a conviction "that God who has said,' AIy glory I will not that no instance can be found, in which a great "'give to another,' is able to protect those that question has been managed with more caution, "are found doing their duty herein against all deliberation, patience, manly openness and up"opposers; and, however otherwise contempti- rightness, and heroic steadiness and prowess, than "ble, can make them useful in his own hand, this young merchant displayed, in compelling all "who has sometimes chosen the weakest instru- concerned to submit to a thorough investigation " ments that His power may be the more illustri- and over-hauling of opinions and practices, es-''us. tablished by the authority of great names and "And now, Reverend Sir, if you are con- prevalent passions and prejudices, and hedged in " scions to yourself, that you have, in your prin- by the powers and terrors of Church and State. " ctples or practices, been abetting to such grand It seems to be evident that he must have receiv" errors, I cannot see how it can consist with sin- ed aid, in some quarter, from persons conversant "'cerity, to l)e so convinced, in matters so nearly with topics of learning and methods of treat" relating to the glory of God and lives of in- ting such subjects, to an extent beyond the reach " nocents, and, at the same time, so much to of a mere man of business. In'he First Volume';fear disparagement among men, as to trifle with of the Proceedings of the _Massachusetts Ilistori"conscience and dissemble an approving of cal Society, Page 288, a Memorandum, from which' former sentiments. You know that word,' He I make an extract, is given, as found in Doctor'' that honoreth me I will honor, and he that Belknap's hand-writing, in his copy of Calef's''despiseth me shall be lightly esteemed.' But, book, in the collection, from the library of that "'if you think that, in these matters, you have eminent historian, presented byhis heirs to that in"' done your duty, and taught the people theirs; stitution: "A young man of good sense, and free'" and that tihe doctrines cited from the above " from superstition; a merchant in Boston. He ",lentioned book [Baxter's] are ungainsayal)le; "was furnished with materials for his wor i, by I shall conclude in almost his words. He that " Mr. Brattle of Cambridge, and his l)rother of "teaches such a doctrine, if through ignorance " Boston, and other gentlemen, who were opposhe believes not whlat he saitl, may be a Chris- " ed to the Salem proceedings.-E. P." tain; ibut if he believes them, lie is in the The fact that Belknap endorsed this statement, " broad path to heathenism, devilism, popery, gives it sufficient credibility. Who the " E. P." "or atheism. It is a solemn caution (Gal. i, 8): was, from whom it was derived, is not known. "'But though we, or an angel from heaven, If it were either of the Ebenezer Pembertons, "'preach any other gospel unto you than that father or son, no higher autlority could be ad"' which we have preached unto you, let him be duced. But whatever aid Calef received, he so "'accursed.' I hope you will not misconstrue thoroughly digested and appropriated, as to make " my intentions herein, who am, Reverend Sir, him ready to meet Mather or any, or all, the other " yours to command, in what I may." Ministers, for conference and debate; and his title Resolute in his lpurpose to lring the Ministers, to the authorship of the papers remains complete. if possible, to meet the questions lie felt it his duty The Ministers did not give him the satisfaction to have considered and settled, and careful to le sought. They were paralyzed by the influleave nothing undone tlat he could do, to this ence or the fear of the Mathers. Perhaps they end, lie sought the satisfaction from others, he were shocked, if not indignant, at a layman's da.rhad tried, in vain, to oltain from Matiher. On the ing to make such a movement against a Minister. eighteenth of March, 1695, he addressed a letter It was an instance of the laying of unsanctified "To the Ministers, whether English, French, or hands on the horns of the altar, such as hlad not " Dutch," calling their attention to " the myster- been equalled in audacity, since the days of Anne ions doctrines" relating to the " power of the Hutchinson, by any but Quakers. Calef, how SAtEM WITCH'RAFT AND COTTON kATHEE. 81 ever, was determined to compel the attention of means " printed." It does not necessarily mean, the world, if he could not that of the Ministers of and is not defined as exclusively meaning, to put Boston, to the subject; and he prepared, and sent to press. To be " published," a document does to England, to be printed, a book, containing all not need, now, to be printed. Much less then. that had passed, and more to the same purpose. Mather wrote it, as he says, with a view to its It consists of several parts. being printed, and put it into open and free circuPART I. is An account (f the afflictions of Mar- lation. Calef publicly declared that he received garet Rule, written by Cotton Mather, under the it from " a gentlemlan, who had it of the author, title of Another Brand plucked out of the Burn " and communicated it to use, with lis express ing, or more Wonders of the Invisible World. "consent." Mather says, in a prefatory note: In my book, the case of Margaret Rule is spoken " I now lay before you a very entertaining story," of as having occurred the next " Summer" after "of one who had been prodigiously handled by tlhe witchcraft delusion in Salem. This gives "the evil Angels." "I do not write it with a the Reviewer a chance to strike at me, in his usual "design of throwing it presently into the press, style, as follows: "' The case did not occur in "but only to preserve the memory of such mlemthe Summer; the date is patent to any one who "orable things, the forgetting whereof would' will lo(ok for it." Cotton Mather says that she "neither b)e pleasing to God, nor useful to men." first found herself to be formally besieged by The unrestricted circulation of a work of this " the spectres," on the tenth of September. From kind, with such a design, was publishing it. It the preceding clauses of the same paragraph, it was the form in which almost every thing was aight be inferred that she had had fits before. published in those days. If Calef had omitted IHe speaks of those, on the tenth, as " the first I'll it, in a book professing to give a true and full' mention," The word " formally," too, almost account of his dealings witl Mather, in the Marimplies tle same. Tiis, howevet, must be al- garet Rule case, he would have been charged lowed to be the smallest kind of criticism, al- with having withheld Mather's carefully prepared though uttered by the Reviewer in tle style of a view of that case. Mather himself considered petulant pedagogue. If Summer is not allowed the circulation of his' account," as a publicato borrow a little of September, it will sometimes tion, for in speaking of his design of ultimately not have much to show, in our climate. The printing it himself, he calls it a "farther publitenth of September is, after all, fairly within tlhe cation." astronomical Summer. PART II. embraces the correspondence between The Reviewer says it will be "difficult for me Calef, Mather, and others, which I have particu" to prove" that Miargaret Rule belonged to Mr. larly described. Mather's Congregation, before September, 1693. PART III. is a brief account of the Parish Mather vindicates his taking such an interest in troubles, at Salem Village. her case, on the ground that she was one of his PART IV. is a correspondence between Calef " poor flock." The Reviewer raises a question and a gentleman, whose name is not given, on the on this point; and his controversy is with Mather, subject of witchcraft, the latter maintaining the not with me. If Rule did not belong to tle Con- views then prevalent. gregation of North Boston, when Mather filst PAIRT V. is An implartial account of the most visited her, his language is deceptive, and his memorable matters of'fact, touching the supposed apology, for meddling with the case, founded in witchcraft in New England, including the'Refalsehood. I make no such charge, and have no'"port" of the Trials given by Mather in his such belief. The Reviewer seelms to have been Wonders of the Invisible World. led to place Cotton Mather in his own light-in The work is prefaced by an Epistle to the Reader, fact, to falsify his language-on this point, by couched in plain but pungent language, in which what is said of another Minister's having visited he says: lIt is a great pity that the matters of her, to whose flock she belonged, and whom she "fact, and indeed the whotle, had not been done called, "Father." This was Inciease Mather. "by some abler hand, better accompllished, and We know he visited her; and it was as s proper "with the advantages of both natural and acfor him to do so, as for Cotton. They were as- "quired judgment; but, others not appearing, I sociate Ministers of the same Congregation-that "have enforced nmyself to do what is done. Miy to which the girl belonged-and it was natural " other occasions will not admit any further scuthat she should have distinguished the elder, by tiny therein." A Postcript contains some striccalling him " Father." tules on the Life of Sir Win. Phips, then recently In contradiction of another of my statements, printed, "which book," Calef says, "' though it the Reviewer says: " Mr. Mather did not pub- "bear not the author's name, yet the style, man"lish an account of thelong-continued fastings, ne. and matter ale such, tlat, were tlele no " or any other account of the case of Margaret "other demonstration or token to know him by, " Rule." He seems to think that "published" "it were no witchcraft to determine that Mr. 6 82 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATEtiR. "Cotton Mather is the author of it." The real' Colman's, do set the people into a mighty feragency of Sir William Phips, in demolishing, "ment." with one stern blow, the Court of Oyer and Ter- The entries in his Diary, at this time, show that miner, and treading out the witchcraft prosecu- he was exasperated, to the highest degree, against tions, has never, until recently, been known. Calef, to whom he applies such terms as, "a The Records of the Council, of that time, were' liar," " vile," "infamous," imputing to him obtained from England, not long since. They, diabolical wickedness. He speaks of him as "a with the General Court Records, Phips's letter to'weaver; " and, in a pointed manner calls him the HomeGovernment-copied inthisarticle-and Calf, a mode of spelling his name sometimes the Diary of Judge Sewall, reveal to us the action practised, but then generally going out of use. of the brave Governor, and show how much that The probability is that the vowel a, formerly, as generation and sulbsequent times are indebted to in most words, had its broad sound, so that the him, for stopping, what, if he had allowed it to pronunciation was scarcely perceptibly different, go on, would have come, no man can tell " where when used as a dissyllable or monysyllable. As "at last." the broad sound became disused, to a great exCalef speaks of Sir William, kindly: "It is tent, about this time, the name was spoken, as "not doubted but that he aimed at the good of well as spelled, as a dyssyllable, the vowel havthe people; and great pity it is that his Govern- irg its long sound. It was written, Calef, and "ment was so sullied (for want of better inform- thus printed, in the title-page of his book; so that "ation and advice from those whose duty it Mather's variation of it was unjustifiable, and an " was to have given it) by the hobgoblin Monster, unworthy taunt. "Witchcraft, whereby this country was night- It is unnecessary to say that a fling at a person's "mared and harassed, at such a rate as is not previous occupation, or that of his parents-an "easily imagined." attempt to discredit him, in consequence of his Such were the contents, and such the tone, of having, at some period of his life, been a meCalef's book. The course he pursued, his careful- chanic or manufacturer-or dropping, or altering ness to do right and to keep his position fortified a letter in his name, does not amount to much, as he advanced, and the deliberate courage with as an impeachment of his character and crediwhich he encountered the responsibilities, con- bility, as a man or an author. Hlard words, too, nected with his movement to rid the country of in a heated controversy, are of no account whata baleful superstition, are worthy of grateful re- ever. In this case, particularly, it was a vain and membrance. empty charge, for Mather to call Calef a liar. Mather received intelligence that Calef had sent In the matter of the account, the latter drew up, his book to England, to be printed; and his mind of what took place in the chamber of Margaret was vehemently exercised in reference to it. He Rule: as he sent it to Mather for correction, and set apart the tenth of June, 1698, for a private as Mather specified some items -which he deemed Fast on the occasion; and he commenced the ex- erroneous, his declaration that all the rest was a ercise of the day, by, " first of all, declaring unto tissue of falsehoods. was utterly futile; ard can " the Lord" that he freely forgave Calef, and only be taken as an unmeaning and ineffectual praying "the Lord also to forgive him." He expression of temper. So far as the truthfulness " pleaded with the Lord," saying that tie design of Caief's statements, generally, is regarded, there of this man was to hurt his " precious opportu- is no room left for question. "nities of glorifying" his " glorious Lord Jesus In his Diary for February, 1700, Mather says, " Clhist." He earnestly besought that those op- speaking of the " calumnies that Satan, by his inportunities might not be " damnified" by Calef's " strument, (Caf, had cast upon" him and his book. And he finished by imploring deliverance father, " the Lord put it into the hearts of a confrom his calumnies. So "I put over my calum- "siderable number of our flock, who are, in "nious adversary into the hands of the righteous "their temporal condition, more equal unto our "God." "adversary, to appear in our vindication." A On the fifth of November, Calef's book having Committee of seven, including John Goodwin, been received in Boston, Mather again made was appointed for this purpose. They called upit the occasion of Fasting and Praying. His on their Pastors to furnish them with materials; friends also spent a day of prayer, as he expresses which they both did. Tile Committee drew it, "to complain unto God," against Calef, he, up, as Mather informs us, in his Diary, a "handMather, meeting with them. On thetwenty-fifth "some answer unto the slanders and libels of of November, he writes thus, in his Diary:' The "our slanderous adversary," which was forth" Lord hath permitted Satan to raise an extraor- with printed, with the names of the members of " dinary Storm upon my father and myself. All the Committee signed to it. The pamphlet was 6 the rage of Satan, against the holy churches of entitled, Some Few Remarrks, &c. Mather says of the Lord, falls upon us, First Calf's and then "it: The Lord blesses it, for the illumination of SAtEM WITCHCRAFT A"I COTTON MATHBR. 83 " his people in many points of our endeavour to " Calef, &c. Their motto was, Truth will come " serve them, whereof they had been ignorant; off conquerors which proved a satire upon them" and there is also set before all the Churches a " selves, because Calef obtained a complete tri" very laudable example of a people appearing "umph. The Judges of the Court and the Jury " to vindicate their injured Pastors, when a storm " confessed their errors; the people were aston"' of persecution is raised against them. "' ished at their own delusion; reason and comThis vindication is mainly devoted to the case " mon sense were evidently on Calef's side; and of the Goodwin children, twelve years before, and "even the present generation read his book with to a defence of the course of Increase Mather, in'- mingled sentiments of pleasure and admiraEngland, in reference to the Old and New Char- " tion." ters. No serious attempt was made to controvert Calef's book continues, to this day, the recogmaterial points in Calef's book, relating to Salem nized authority on the subject. Its statements of Witchcraft. As it would have been perfectly matters of fact, not disputed nor specifically deeasy, by certificates without number, to have ex- nied by the parties affected, living at the time, posed any error, touching that matter, and as no nor attempted to be confuted, then, and by them, attempt of the kind was made, on this or any never can be. The current of nearly two centuries othel occasion, the only alternative left is to ac- has borne them beyond all question. No assault cept Hutchinson's conviction, that " Calef was a can now reach them. No writings of Mather "'fair relator" of that passage in our history. have ever received more evidence of public inHis book has, therefore, come down to us, bear- terest or favor. First printed in London, Calef's ing the ineffaceable stanip of truth. volume has gone through four American ediIt was so regarded, at the timne, in England, as tions, the last, in 1861, edited by Samuel P. Fowlshown in the manner in which it was referred to elr, is presented in such eligible type and so readby Francis Hutchinson and Daniel Neal; and in able a form, as to commend it to favorable noAmerica, in the way in which Thomas Hutchin- tice. son speaks of Calef, and alludes to matters as It may be safely said that few publications stated by him. I present, entire, the judgment of have produced more immediate or more lasting Dr. John Eliot, as given in his Biographical effects. It killed off the whole business of MarDictionary. Bearing in nmind that Eliot's work garet -Rule. Mather abandoned it altogether. was published in 1806, the reader is left to make In 1694, he said "the forgetting thereof would his own comments on the statement, in the North "neither be pleasing to God nor useful to men." American Review, that I originated, in 1831, the Before Calef had done with him, he had dropunfavorable estimate of Cotton Mather's agency ped it forever. in the witchcraft delusion of 1692. It is safe Calef's book put a stop to all such things, in to say that no higher authority can be cited than New and Old England. It struck a blow at the that of John Eliot: " CALEF, ROBERT, merchant, whole system of popular superstition, relating to " in the town of Boston, rendered himself f a- the diabolical world, under which it reels to this "mous by his book against Witchcraft, when day. It drove the Devil out-of the preaching, "the people of Massachusetts were under the the literature, an(t the popular sentiments of the " most strange kind of delusion. The nature of world. The traces of his footsteps, as controll"this crime, so opposite to all common sense, ing the affairs of men and interfering with the "has been said to exempt the accusers from ob- Providence of God, are only found in the dark "serving the iules of common sense. This was recesses of ignorance, the vulgar profanities of'evident flrom the trials of witches, at Salem, in the low, and a few flash expressions and thought" 1692. Mr. Calef opposed facts, in the simple less forms of speech. " garb of truth, to fanciful representations; yet No one can appreciate the value of his service.' he offended men of the greatest learning and If this one brave man had not squarely and defi" influence. He was obliged to enter into a con- antly mnet the follies and madness, the priestcraft "troversy, which he managed with great bold- and fanaticism, of his day; if they had been al" ness and address. His letters and defence were lowed to continue to sway Courts and Juries; if " printed, in a volume, in London, in 1700. Dr. the pulpit and the press had continued to throw "Increase Mather was then President of Har- combustibles through society, and, in every way, " vard College; he ordered the wicked book to inflame the public imaginations and passions, " be burnt in the College yard; and the members what limit can be assigned to the disastrous con"of the Old North Church published a defence sequences? " of their Pastors, the Rev. Increase and Cotton Boston Merchants glory in the names, on their "Mather. The pamphlet, printed on this occa- proud roll of public benefactors, of men whose "sion, hasthistitle-page: Rmarksupon a scan- wisdom, patriotism, and munificence have up-' dalous book, against the Government and Min- held, adorned, and blessed society; but there is 6'istry of New England, written by Robert. no one of their number who encountered more 84 SALEM WITCHCRAFT Ai4 COTqO1 MATXEii. danger, showed more moral and intellectual cise date; and they were published anonymously, prowess, or rendered more noble service to his in Philadelphia. The right of Wise and Pike fellow citizens and fellow men, every where, than to the credit of having first, by written remonROBEIlT CALEF. strance, opposed the proceedings, on the spot, I again ask attention to the language used in cannot, I think, be taken away. the North American Review, for April, 1869. The Reviewer charges me, in reference to one'"These views, respecting Mr. Mather's connec- point, with not having thought it necessary to tion with the Salem trials, are to be found IN " pore over musty manuscripts, in the obscure NO PUBLICATION OF A DATE PRIOR TO 1831, when " chirography of two centuries ago." So far as "Mr. Upham's Lectures were published." my proper subject could be elucidated by it, I am Great as may be the power of critical journals, constrained to claim, that this labor was encounthey cannot strike into non-existence, the record- tered, to an extent not often attempted. The files ed and printed sentiments of Brattle, the Hutch- of Courts, and State, County, Town, and Church insons, Neal, Watts, Bentley, Eliot, Quincy, and records, were very extensively and thoroughly Calef. studied out. So far as the Court papers. belongXX. ing to the witchcraft Examinations and Trials, are regarded, much aid was derived from Records MIELLANEOUS REMAKS. CONof Salem WCitchrtcr ft, copied from the origiThere are one or two minor points, where the nal documents, printed in 1864, by W. Eliot Reviewer finds occasion to indulge in his pe- Woodward. But such difficulty had been exculiar vein of criticism on my book, which it is perienced in deciphering them, that the originals necessary to notice before closing, in order to were all subejected to a minute reexamination. prevent wrong impressions being made by his ar- The sa!me necessity existed in the use of the Anticle, touching the truth of history. nals of Salem, prepared and publishel d by that A pamphlet, entitled, Some Miscellany Observa- most indefatigable antiquary, the late Rev. Joseph tions on our present dpbates respecting Witch- B. Felt, LL. D. In writing a work for which so craft, in a Dialogue between S and B, has been little aid could be derived from legislative recreferred to. It was published in Philadelphia, ords or printed sources, bringing back to life a in 1692. Its printing was procured by Hezekiah generation long since departed. and ie)roducing Usher, a leading citizen of Boston, who, at tihe a comnmunitS and transaction so nearly Ibuied in later stages of the prosecution, had been cried oblivi(on, covering a wide field of gaetealioy, topout upon, by the accusing girls, and put under ogrlapliy and cllronology, emllni'(ing an indefinite arrest. Its author was understood to t e the Rev. variety of municipal, parochial, political, social, Samuel Willard. The Reviewer claims for its local, and family matters, and of things, names, writer precedence over the Rev. John Wise, of and dates without number, it was, after all, imIpswich, and Robert Pike, of Salisbury. as hav- plossil)le to avoid feeling that many errors and ing earlier opposed the proceedings. Wisehead- oversights might hiave been commnitted; and, as ed a Memorial, in favor of John Proctor and my only object was to construct a true and adeagainst the use of spectral evidence, before the quate history, I coveted, and kept myself in a trials that took place on the fifth of August; and frame gratefully to receive all coirections and Pike's second letter to Judge Corwin lwas dated suggestions, with a view of lmaking the work as the eighth of August. perfect as )possible, in a reprint. As I was reaThe pamphlet attributed to Willard is a spirit- sonably confident that the ground under ime ed and able performance; but seems to allow the could stand, at all important points, any assaults use of spectral evidence, when bearing against of criticism, made in the ordinary way, it gave persons of " ill-fame." me satisfaction to hear, as I did, in voices of ruPike concedes all that believers in the general mor reaching me fromn many quarters, that an ardoctrines of witchcraft demanded, particularly tide was about to appear in the North American the ground taken in the pamphlet attributed to Review that would "demolish" my book. I Willard, and then proceeds, by the most acute flattered myself thlt, whether itdid or not, much technical logic, based upon solid comnnion sense, valuable information would, at least, be receivto overturn all the conclusions to which the Court ed, that would enalle me to make my book more had been led. It was sent, by special messenger, to niv purpose, by makling it nore true to history. to a Judge on the Bench, who was also an asso- After the )ulblication of the article, and Ibefore ciate with Pike at the Council Board of the I could extricate nl.yself from other engagements Province. Wise's paper was addressed to the so far as to look into it, I read, in edmitorials, from Court of Assistants, the Supreme tribunal of tlhe week to week, in newspapers and journals, that Province. The Mtiscellany Observations, appear I had been demolished, Surely, I tihought, some to have been written after the trials. There is great errors have been discovered, some precious nothing, however, absolutely to determine the pre- "original sources " opened, some lost records ex SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 85 humed, so that now, at last, no matter by whom, running back over the life, indefinitely. The Enthe story of Salem witchcraft can be told. My clycopedia Am'nericana, Eliot's Biographical Diedisappointment may be imagined, when, upon tionary, and one of the last numbers of the Hisexamining the article, it appeared that only one toric Genealogical.Register, all give that title to error had been discovered in my book, and that Increase Matller, referring to a period anterior to I now proceed to acknowledge. its having bIeen conferred upon him. The title The Reviewer says: "Thomas Brattle, the was given by the learned editor of the Massachu-' Treasurer of Harvard College, (not William setts Hlistorical Collections, to Cotton Mather, in' Brattle, a merchant of Boston, as Mr. Upham the caption of his letter to Governor Dudley. "states) wrote, at the time, an account of Salem In the Mather Papers, letters written a score of "Witchcraft." This was not an error of the years before that degree had been conferred on press, but wholly my own, as it is in tle -'copy." him, are endorsed "Doctor Cotton Mather." sent to the printers. In finding the interesting If the high authority of the North American Rerelations held by the Rev. William Brattle with view is to establish it, as a literary canon, that the Salem Village Parish, after the death of Mr. titles are never to be given, except in relation to Green, lie being called to act as their patron and a period sub-'equent to their conferment, writers guide, and eventually marrying Green's widow, must, hereafter, be very careful, when cursorily his name became familiar to my thoughts, and alluding to anything in the earlier lives of the slipped through my pen. Every one who has Dukeof Marlborough, LordCastlereagh,theDuke gone through the drudgery of proof-reading of Wellington, Doctor Franklin, Doctor Chanknows what ridiculous anld, sometimes, frightful, ning, or Doctor Priestley, to say, Mr. Churchill, errors are detected. even in the "last revise." Mr. Stewart, Mr. Wellesley, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Upon opening the volume, when it came to me Channing, or Mr. Priestley. from the binder, I saw this error and immediately What renders this making of a great matter informed my publishers. It is pleasing to think out of so trivial a point, by our Reviewer, amusthat it cost the Reviewer no pains to discover it, ing, as well as ridiculous, is that he is the first as the right name stands out in the caption of to break his own rule. the article, which is in capital ietters-Massachu-Tis the sport to have the engineer setts Historical Gollections, 1., v., 61-where "Hoist with his own petard. alone he or I could have seen it. Mistakes in names and dates-always provok- The critic is caught by his own captious critiing, often inexplicable- are a fate to which all Cisml. In the passage, pointing out the error in are liable. In a friendly, elaborate, and able the name of Brattle, he calls him, "at the time" notice of my book, in a newspaper of high char- he wrote the account of Salem witchcraft, "the acter, it is stated that Salem Village was the home " Treasurer of Harvard College." Brattle held of the family which gave General Rufus Putnam not then, and never had held, that honorable to " the War of 1812; " and George Burrioughs is trust and title, though subsequently appointed called " John" Burroughs. to the office. It is sometimes as hard to correct an error, as It is not probable that Cotton Mather will it is easy to fall into one. In pointing out my ever find a biographer more kind and just than inadvertant mistake, the Reviewer unwittingly re- the late W. B. O. Peabody, whose mild and produces it. His sentence, just quoted, is liable pleasant humor was always kept unier the sway to convey the idea that William Brattle was of a sweet spirit of candor and benevolence, "a merchant of Boston." As he has been kind and who has presented faithfully all the good enough. all through his article, to tell what I points and services of his subject-Spai7rs.'s ought to have read, and seen. and done. I len- A.merican Biography, V5ol. VI. But the knight ture to suggest that his sentence ought to have errant who has just entered the lists, brandishbeen constructed thus: "Thomas Brattle, a mer- ing his spear against all who have uttered a lisp "chant of Boston, (not William, as Mr. Upham against Cotton Mather, goes out of his way to says.)" strike at Doctor Peabody. He inserts. at the foot A queer fatality seems to have attended this of one of his pages, this sneering Note: "Mr. attempt to correct my error. " Peabody says; Little did the venerable DocA reader of tlh. North American Review can- "'tor think,' etc. The venerable Doctor was not fail to have noticed the manner in which the " twenty-nine years of age! and was no Doctor late Rev. Dr. Peabody, as well as myself, is held " at all." up to ridicule, for having called Cotton Mather, Let us see how the ridicule of the Reviewer''Dr." when referring toa ny thing previous to his can be parried by his own weapons. Indulging having received his Doctorate. Perhaps we myself, for a moment, in his stSle, I have to say were excusable. By usage, such honorary titles, that " this Reviewer has never seen " Worcesapd indeed ll titles, are applied retrospectively, ter's Dictionary, nor Webster's Dictionary, in 86 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. neither of which does time or age enter into the of a probable error, not discovered by him. In definition of venerable. The latter gives the Vol. II. p. 208, the name of "Elizabeth Carey' sense as follows: "Rendered sacred by religious is given among those for whose arrest Warrants "associations, or being consecrated to God and were issued, on the twenty-eighth of May, 1692. "to his worship; to be regarded with awe, and On page 238, the name " Elizabeth Cary" is "treated with reverence." Further: "This again mentioned. The facts are, that Calef, "Reviewer should have been familiar enough (p. 95,) says: "MAY 24TH: Mrs. Carey, of Cllarles"with the original sources of information on "town, was examined and committed. Her " this subject," to have known that it was corn- "husband, Mr. Nathaniel Carey, has given acmon, in those days, to speak and think of such count thereof, as also of her escape, to this efpersons as Cotton Mather, although not old in " feet." He then gives a letter going into much years, as " venerable." All the customs, habits, interesting detail, evidently written bv her husideas, and sentiments of the people invested band, and signed "Jonathan Carey." Hutchthem with that character. Their costume and ins-n (History, ii. 49,) repeats Calef's account, bearing favored it. The place they filled, and calling the woman, " Elizabeth, wife of Nathanthe power they exercised, imparted awe and "iel;" and gives the substance of her husband's veneration, whatever their years. All that age letter, without attempting to explain, or even could contribute to command respect was an- noticing, the discrepancy as to the name of the ticipated and brought, to gather round the voung husband. Not knowing what to make of it, I Minister, when hands were laid upon him, at examined the misce laneous mass of papers, in dis ordination, bv the title he thenceforth the Clerk's office, and found, on a small scrip, wore, of "Elder." By his talents, learning, the original Complaint, on which the Warrant and ambition, Cotton Mather had become rec- was issued. It is the only paper, relating to ognized as a "Father in the Church;" and his the case, in existence, or at least to be found aspect, as he stood in the pulpit of " North Bos- here. In it, the woman is described as " Eliza" ton," fulfilled the idea of venerableness. And " beth, the wife of Capt. Nathaniel Carey of we find that this very term was applied to the "Charlestown, mariner." This seemed to setrepresentative centre of a consecrated family, in tle it and I let it pass, without attempting to the " Attestation " to the Mlaqnaia, written bv explain how " Jonathan Carey " came to appear John Higginson, venerable in years, as in all as the husband of the woman, in the le ter things else, in some Latin lines of his composure: signed by that name. I am now quite convinced " Venerande ~Matheae." that, in this case, I was misled, together with In the popular eye, Cotton Mather concen- Calef and Hutchinson, by paying too much retrated all the sacred memories of the great " de- gard to " original sources." I am satisfied that "cemvirate," as Higfinson called it, of the tle authority of the letter of " Jonathan CGirey," Mathers, who had been set apart as Ministers of must stand; that the woman was his wife, " HanGod; and he was venerable, besides in the asso- "nal;" and that the error is in the original ciations connected with the hallowed traditions Complaint," here on file. of his maternal grand-father, whose name he The facts, probably, were, that, it being rubore, John Cotton. mored in Charlestown that a Mrs. Carey was An object is venerable, whether it be a person, "cried out upon, "without its being known a building, a locality, or any thing else, around which Mrs. Carey it was, Jonathan, determined which associations gather. that inspire rever- to meet the matter at the threshold, took his wife ence. Age, in itself, suggests the sentiment, if directly to the spot. He arrived at Salem Vilits natural effect is not marred by unworthiness: lage, in the midst of a great excitement, bringso does wisdom. Virtue is venerable, whatever ing together a crowd of people, half crazed the age. So are all great traits of character; under the terrors of the hour. Nobody knew and so is every thing that brings to the mind him, which would not have been so likely to consecrated thoughts and impressions. There have been the case with his brother, Nathaniel, was much in Mather's ancestry, name, and office, who was a more conspicuous character. He to suggest the term, without any regard what- could find no one he knew, except Mr. Hale, ever to his years. If applied to him by the who was formerly a Charlestown man, and whom people of that day, or by a. writer now, in ref- he soon lost in the confusion of the scene. The erence to any period of his life after entering accusing girls were on the look out, and noticthe ministry and being classed with the Elders ing these two strangers, enquired their names, of the Church and the land, it was entirely le- and were told, Mr. and Mrs. Carey. They had gitimate and appropriate. been crying out upon Elizabeth Carey, and While acknowledging the one error, detected thinking they had her, informed Thomas Putby the Reviewer, I avail myself of the oppor- nam and Benjamin Hutchinson, two persons tunity to apprise those who have my book perfectly deluded by them, who instantly drew SALEM WITCHICRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 87 up the Complaint. In the hurry and horrors of tion of a capital convict. Sir William Phips~ the moment, the error in the names was not dis- although present, (lid not sign the Death-warcovered: Jonathan and Hannah were sent forth- rant of Bridget Bishop. with to prison, from which they broke, and es- The Reviewer expresses, over and over again, caped to New York. The girls, thinking they his great surprise at the view given in my book had got Mrs. Elizabeth Carey in prison, said no of Cotton Mather's connection with Salem more about it. As Jonathan and his wife were witchcraft. It is quite noticeable that his lansafe, and beyond reach, the whole matter drop- guage, to this effect, was echoed through that ped out of the public mind; anld Mrs. Eliza- portion of the Press committed to his statebeth remained undisturbed. This is the only ments. My sentimients were spoken of as " surway in which I can account for the strange in- " prising errors." What I had said was, as I have congruity of the statements, as found in the shown, a mere continuation of an ever-received " Complaint," Calef, and Hutchinson. The let- opinion; and it was singular that it gave such ter of Jonathan Carey is decisive of the point a widespread simultaneous shock of " surprise." that it was " Hannah," his wife, that was ar- But that shock went all around. I was surrested, and escaped. The error in Calef was prised at their surprise; and may be allowed, not discovered by himi, as his book was printed as well as the Reviewer, to express and explain in London; and, under the general dispo:ition that sensation. It was awakened deeply and forto let the subject pass into oblivion, if possible, cibly by the whole tenor of his article. He was no explanat'on was ever given. the first reader of my book, it having been furI cannot let the letter of Jonathan Carey pass, nished him by the Publishers before going to without calling to n)tice his statement that, the binder. He wrote an elaborate, extended, upon reacling New York, they found " His Ex- and friendly notice of it, in a leading paper of cellency, Benjamin Fletcher, Esq. very cour- New York city, kindly calling it " a monument teous" to them. Whatever multiplies pleas-' of historical and antiquarian research " " a ant historical reminiscences and bonds of asso- "narrative as fascinating as the latest novel;" ciation between different States, ought to be and concluding thus: "Mr. Upham deserves the gathered up and kept fresh in the minds of all. "thanks of the many persons interested in The fact that when Massachusetts was suffering " psychological inquiries, for the minute details firom a fiery and lloody, hut -brief, persecution he has "given of these transactions." Somecritby its own Government, New York opened so icisms were suggested, in reference to matters of kind and secure a shelter for those lortunate form in the work; but not one word was said about enough to escape to it, ought to be forever held Gotton Mather. The change that has come in grateful remembrance by the Ileople of the over the spirit of his dream is more than surold Bay State, and constitutes a part of the his- prising. tory of the Emipie State, of which sule may well The reference, in the foregoing ci'ation, to be proud. If the historians and antiquaries of " psychological enquiries," suggests to me to althe latter State can find any tr:ces, in their mu- lude, before closing, to remarks made by some nicipal or other archives, or in any quarter, of other critics. I did not go into the discussion, the refuge which the Careys and others found with any particularity, of the connection, if any, among them, in 1692, they would be welcome between the witchcraft developments of 1692 contributions to our history, and strengthen the and modern spiritualism, in any of its forms. A bonds of friendly union. fair and candid writer observes that " the facts The Reviewerseemstoi agini e that, by a stroke " and occurences," as I state them, involve difof his pen, he can, at any time, make history. ficulties which I " have not solved. There are Referring to Governor Winthrop, in connection " depths," he continues, "in this melancholy epwith the case of Margaret Jones, forty-two years' isode, which his plummet has not sounded, by before, he says that he " presided at her Trial; " a great deal." This is perfectly true. " signed her Death-warrant; and wrot2 the re- With a full conviction that the events and "port of the case in his journal." The fact circumstances I was endeavoring to relate, afthat, in his private journal, he has a paragraph forded more material for suggestions, in referrelating to it, hardly justifies the expression ence to the mysteries of our spiritual nature, "wrote the report of the case." Where did he, than any other chapter in history, I carefully our Reviewer, find authority for the positive abstained, with the exception of a few cautionstatement that Winthrop' si.gned the Death- ary considerations hinting at the difficulties " warrant " We have no information, I think, that encompass the subject, from attcmpting to as to the use of Death-warrants, as we under- follow facts to conclusions, in that direction. stand such documents to be, in those days; My sole object was to bring to view, as truthand especially are we ignorant as to the official fully, thoroughly, and minutely, as I could, the who 4rew and signed the Order for tlh e;ecu- phenomena of the case, as bare historictl facts, 88 SALEM[ WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. from which others were left to make their own reader for the Third Part, the authorities for deductions. This was the extent of the service which are, almost wholly, Court files. I desired to render, in aid of such as may at- As to the remaining suggestion, that I must tempt to advance the boundaries of the spirit- divide the work into Chapters, with headings, ual department of science. I was content, and there is something to be said. When the nature careful, to st iy my steps. Feeling that the sto- of an historical work admits of its being investry I was telling led me along the outer edge of ed with a (dramatic interest —and all histcry is what is now knowledge-that I was treading capable, more or less, of having that attractionthe shores of the ultimal Thule, of the yet dis- where minute details can fill up the whole outcovered world of truth-I did not venture up- line of characters, events, and scenes, all bearon the ocean beyond. My only hope was to ing the impress of truth and certainty, real aflord some data to guide the course of those history, being often stranger than fiction, may who may attempt to traverse it. Other hands be, and ought to be, so written as to bring to are to drop the plummet into its depths, and bear upon the reader, the charm, and work the other voyagers feel their way over its surface to spell, of what is called romance. The same socontinents that are waiting, as did this Western licitude, suspense, and sensibilities, which the Hemisphere, for aoes upon ages, to be revealed. parties, described, experienced, can be imparted The belief that fields of science may yet be to the reader; and his feelings and affections reached, by exploring the connection between keep pace with the developments of the story, the corporeal and spiritual spheres of our Ieing, as they arise, with the progress of time and in which explorations the facts presented in the events. Headings to Chapters, in historical witchcraft Delusion may be serviceable, suggest- works, capable of this dramatic element, would ed one of the motives that led me to dedicate be as out of place, and as mulct mar;nd lefeat my volumes to the Professor of Physiology in the effect, as in a novel. Harvard University. As for division into Chapters. This was much The Reviewer concludes his article by saying thought of and desired; but the nature of the that the "History of Salem witchcraft is as yet subject presented obstacles that seem insur" unwritten," but, that I must write it; and le mountable. One topic necessarily rain into, or tells me how to write it. He advises a more over lapped, another. No chronological unity, concise form, although his whole article consists if the work had been thus cut up, could have of complaints because I avoided discussions been preserved; and much of the ground would and condensed documents, which, if fully gone have had to be gone over and over,gain. Exinto and spread out at length, would have swell- aminations, Trials, Executions were, often, all ed the dimensions of the work, as well as broken going on at once. the thread of the narrative. It must!,e borne There is danger of a diminution of the conin mind, that a reader can only be held to the tinuous interest of some works, thus severed line of a subject, by an occasional retrospec- into fragments. There are, indeed, animals that tion and reiteration of what must be constantly will bear to be clopped up indefinitely, and kept in view. The traveler need%, at certain each parcel retain its life: not so with others. prints and suitable stages, to turn and survey The most important of all documents have sufthe ground over which he has passed. A con- fered injury, not to be calculated, in their atdensation that would strike out such recapitu- tractiveness and impressive ness, by being dividlations and repetitions, might impair the effect ed into Chapter and Verse, in many instances of a work of any kind, particularly, of one em- without reference to the unity of topics, or cobracing conplicated materials. herence of passages; dislocating the frame of The Reviewer says that, " by all means, I must narratives, and breaking the structure of sen-'"give references to authorities,' when I quote. tences. We all know to what a ridiculous This. as a general thino, is good advice. But it extent this practice was, for a long period, camust be reimembered that my work consists of tied in Sermons, which were " divided " to a three divisions. The History of Salem Village degree of artificial and elaborate dissection inconstitutes the First. This is drawn,almost whol- to " heads," that tasked to the utmost the inly, from papers in the ofices ofof registry, and firom genuity of the preacher, and overwhelmed the judicial files of the County, to which references discernment and memory of the hearer. He, in would he of little use, and serve only to cumber fact, was thought the ablest sermonizer, who and deforml the pages. Everything can be ver- could stretch the longest string of divisions, up ified by inspection of the originals, and not oth- to the " nineteenthly, " and beyond. This fasherwise. The Second Part is a cursory, general, ion has a prominent place amnong The Grounds abbreviated sketch or survey of the listory of and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy opinions, not designed as an authoritative trea- and Religion, by John Eachard, D. D., a tise for special students, but to prepare the work published in London, near the commence SALEM WrrCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. 89 ment of the last century-one of the few hooks, alterations will be made; and that subsequent like Calet's, which have turned the tide, and ar- editions. will not impair the autlority or value rested the follie-, of their times. In bold, free, of the work, as originally published. in 1867. forcible satire, Eachard's book stands alone. In p)reparing the statement, now biought to a Founded on great learning, inspired by genuine close, the only object has been to get at, and wit, its style is plain even to homeliness. It present, the real facts of history. Nothing, struck at tie highest, and was felt and appreci- merely personal, affecting the writer in the North ated by the lowest. It reformed the pulpit, sim- American Review or myself, can be considered as plified the literature, eradicated absurdities (f of comparative moment. Many of the expresdiction and construction, and removed many of sions used by that writer, as to what I have the ecclesiactic abuses, of its day. No work of "seen"orl'read" and thelike, are, it iustbe conthe kind ever met with a more enthusiastic re- fessed, rather peculiar; but of very little interception. I quote fiom the Eleventh Edition, est to the public. Any notice, taken of them, printed in 1705:' We must observe, that there has been incidental, and such as naturally arose " is a gieat difference in texts. For all texts in the treatment of the subject. "come not asunder. alike; for somlltimes the Iii parting with the reader, I venture so far'" words naturally fall asunder; sometimes they further to tax his patience, as to ask to take a "drop asunder; sometimes they melt; some- retrospective glance, together, over the outlines " times they untwist; and tlere be some words of the road we have travelled. " so willing to be parted, that they divide them- In connection with some preliniiary observa-' selves, to the great ea-e and rejoicing of the tions, the first step in the argument was to show " Minister. But if they will not easily come in the relation of the Mathers, father and son, to' pieces, then he falls to hacking and hewing, the superstitions of their times culminating in the " as if he would make all fly into shivers. The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692, and their share of "truth of it is, I have known, now and then, responsibility therefor. The several successive "some knotty texts, that have been divided stages of the discussion were as follows: —The seven or eight times over, before they could connection of Cotton Mather with alleged cases " make them split handsomely, according to of Witchcraft in the family of John Goodwin of " their mind." Boston, in 1688; and said Goodwin's certificates An apology to those critics who lhave corn- disposed of: Mather's idea of Witchcraft, as a plained of my not dividing my book into Chap- war waged by the Devil against the Church; and 7ers, is found in the foregoing passage. I tried his use of prayer: The connection between the to do it, but found it a "knotty" subject, and, cases, at Boston in 1688, and at Salem in 1692: like the texts Eachard speaks of, "would not The relation of the Mathers to the Government " easily come in pieces." With all my efforts, it of Massachusetts, in 1692: The arrival of Sir it could not he made to " split handsomely." William Phips: the inmpression made upon him Tlis, and all other suggestions of criticism, by those whom he first met; his letter to the are gratefully received and respectfully con- Government in Enlanld: The circumstances atsidered. But, after all, it will not be well to tending the establishment of the Special Court establish any canons, to be, in all cases. impli- of Oyer and Terminer, and the precipitance with citly obeyed, by all writers. Much must be left which it was put into operation: Its proceedings, to individual judgment. Regard must be had conducted by persons in the interest of the Mathto the nature of suljects. Instead of servile ers: Spectral Testimony; and the extent to which uniformity, variety and diversity must l)e en- it was authorized by them to he received at the couraged. In this way, only, can we have a fiee, Trials, as affording grounds of enquiry and matnatural, living literature. ter of presumltion: Letter of Cotton Mather to In passing, I would say, that in meeting the one of the Judges: The Advice of the Minisdemand made upon me by the Reviewer, to re- ters: Cotton Mather's l)robblmle plan for dealing write the history of Salem witchcraft, I shall with spectral evidence: His views on. that subavail myself of the opportunity to correct the ject, as gathered from his writings and declarasingle error he has mentioned. In a re-issue of tions: The question of his connection with the the work, I shall endeavor to make it as accu- Examinations before the Magistrates: His conrate as possible. Anything that is found to be nection with the Trials and Executions: His Rewrong shall be rectified. The work, in the dif- port of five of the Trtials: His book entitled The ferent forms in which it was published, is nearly Wonders of the, lrvisible World; its design; the out of print. When issued again, it will be in circumstances attendinig its preparation for the a less costly style and more within the reach of press; and the views, feelings, and expectations all. From the result of my own continued re- of its autlhor, exhibited in extracts from it: Insearches and the suggestions of others, I feel crease Mather's Cases of Conscienee: The supinclined to the opinion that no very considerable pression of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, by 90 SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER. Sir William Phips: Cotton Mather's views subse- The apology for the great length of this article quent to 1692, as gathered from his writings. is, that the high authority justly accorded to the In traversing the field thus marked out. I sul- North AmericanJ Review, demande(l, in contromit that it has become demonstrated that, while verting any position taken in its columns, a Cotton Mather professed concurrence in the gen- thorough and patient investigation, and the proerally-received judlgment of certain writers against duction, in full, of the documents belonging to the reception of stectral evidence, lie alpproved the question. It has further been necessary, in of the manner in which it had been received by order to get at the )redominating tendency and the Judges, at the Salem Trials, and eulogizedl import of Cotton Mather's writings, to cite them. them throughout, from the beginning to tile end in extended quotaitions and numerous extracts. of the prosecutions. and ever after. He vindi- To avoid the error into which the Reviewer has cated, as a general lpinciple, the admission of fallen, tile peculiarity of Mather's style must be that species of testillony, on the ground of its l)orne in mind. Opposite drifts of expression being a sufficient basis of enqliry and presumpl- appear in different writings and in different tion, and needling only some additional evidence, I)arts of the samne writing; nill, not infrequently, -his own Relport and papers on file show how lit- the clauses of the satle lmssage have contrary tie was required-to justify conviction and execu- bearings. He ofttn palters, with himnself as well tion. This has been proved, at large, by an ex- as others, in a double sense. amination of his writings and actions, and is Quotations, to any a'mount, frtom the writings fully admitted bly him, in various forms of lan- of either of the Matllers. of passages having the guage, on several occasions-sublstantially, in his appearance of disc. >,tti Ii( ing spectral evistatement, that Spectral Testimony was the dence, can le of no zavail in sustaining the posi"chief" ground upon which "divers" were tions taken by the Revietwer, because theyar'e condemned and executed, and, explicitly, in his qualified by the admission, that evidence of that letter to Foster, in which he says that' a very sort Inight and outght,.not withstandi-ng, to be re"great use is to be made " of it, in the manner ceived as a basis for enquiry and groiund of'preand to the extent just mentioned; and that, when sumption, and, if supl)orted bly otller ordinary testhus used, the " use for which the Great God in- timo)ny, was sufficient for conviction. That other " tended it," will lbe made. In tle same passage, testimony, when adduced, was, as represented by he commends the Judges for having admitted it; Matther, clothed with a divine authority; having, and declares they had the divine blessing there- as he says, been supplied by a special Providence. upon, inasmucl as "God strangely sent other and l)een justly regarded, by the " excellent convincing testimony," to corrol)orate. and "Judges," as "an encouraging presence of God, thereby render it sufficient to convict. In his Ad- " strangely sent in." It could, indeed, in the dress to the General Assembly, years afterward, then state of the pullic mind, always be readily he fully admits that the Judges, in 1692, whose obtained. No matter how small in quantity or course he applauded at the time, allowed persons utterly itrelevant, it was sufficient for conviction, to be adjud ed guilty, "merely because" of coming after tte Spectral Evidence, To minds Spectral Testimony. thus subdued and overwhelmed witli "awe," My main purpose and duty, in preparifg this trifles light as air were confirmation strong. article, have been to disprove the absolute and It is to be presumed that his warmest admirers unlimited assertions made l)y the contril)utor to would not think of comparing Cotton Mather the North Americcan Review, that Cotton Mather with his transatlantic correspondent and coadjuwas opposed to the admission'z of Spectral Evi- tor, as to force of character, iower of mind, or dence; "denounced it as illegal, uncharital)le, the moral and religious value of their writings. "and cruel;" and " ever testified against it, botll Yet there were some striking similarities between pul)licly and privately; " and that the Advice them. They were men of undoulbted genius and of the AMinisters, drawn up l y hili, " was very great learning. They were all their lives awake specific in excluding Spectral Testimony." to whatever was going on around them. EarnIt has been thouglt lproper, also, to vindicate estly interested, and actively engaging, in all the trutl of history aga;inst the statements of this questions of theology and government, they both Reviewer, on some other points: as, for instance, rushed forthwith and incontinently to the press, by showing tlat tle opinion of Cotton Mather's until their publications )ecame too voluminous particular resp)onsilbility for tie WitchcraftTra.- and numerous to b)e patiently read or easily gedy, instead of originating with me. was held counted. Of course, what they printed was inmat the time, at home and a-)iroad, and has come l)ued with the changing taspects of the questions down, through an unb)roken series of the most they handled and open to the imputation of inaccredited writers, to our day; and that the in- consistency, of which Baxter was generally disfluence of the Matlers never recovered from the regardful and Mather mostly unconscious. shock given it, by the catastrophe of 169', Sir Roger L'Estrange was one of the great SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHIER. 91 wits and satirists of his age. His style was rough stage of the altercation, he exclaimed: "If an and reckless. A vehement and fierce upholder of' Angel from Heaven, I perceive, were employed the doctrines of arbitrary government, hle wls to brling you two to an algreement, he should lose knight.d by James the Second. His controver- " hislabolr." Great wasthleamusemelntofall classsial writings, having all the attractions of unscru- es to find that the language uttered by the conipulousinvective and homely but cutting sarcasm, batants, on each side, was taken from one or were much patronized b)y the great, and exten- another of writings published by Richard Baxter, bively read by the people. All Nonconformists- during his diversified controversial life. and Dissenters were the objects of his coarse If any skilful and painstaking humorist of abuse. He issued an ingenious pamphlet with ou' day, should feel so disposed, lie might, by this title: The Casuist uncased; in a Dialogue wading through the sea of Cotton Mather's writbet'owixt Richard and Baxter, with a moderator ings, pick np material enough for the purpose; between them, for quietness sake." The two dis- and, by cutting in halves paragrap)hs and sentences, putants range over a variety of sul)jects, and are entertain us in the same way, by giving to the quite vehement against each other; the Modera- public, through the Press, " A Dialogue betwixt tor interposing to keep thell to the point, pre- "COTTON and MATHER. with a Moderator beserve order in the debate, and, as occasion re-'- tween them for quietness sake." quired, reduce them to "quietness." At one H ISTORICAL M1AGAZIN E; AND Notes and Qneries concernin the Antiquities, History and Biography of Allerica. THIS Magazine was commenced in January, 1857, f r the purpose of furnishil g a medium of intercommunication between Historical Soci(ti.s, Authors, and Studlnts of History, and supplying an interesting and valuable journal-a miscellany of American History. 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Accurate reports of the proceedings of the numerous American Historical, Antiquarian, Geographical, Numismatic, and other kindred Societies. V. Notes and Queries of curious and important topics, new and old, with replies, by a large body of contributors. VI. Reprints of rare and interesting Tracts, old Poems out of print, &c., &c. VII. Miscellany and Anecdotes. VIII. Carefully prepared and impartial Notices of New Books and Engravings, especially those relating to the history, Antiquities, or Biography of America. IX. Historical and Literary Intelligence, Announcements, &c. The Historical Magazine is printed on fine quality of paper, similar in form and size to this sheet, and published in monthly numbers, of sixty-four pages each, at FIVx DOLLARS A YEAR. Single numbers SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS. HENRY Be DAWON Morrisania, N.,Y CONTRIBUTORS TO VOLUME I. NEW SERIES BERGIE, Hon. TUNIS, Bay Side, L... BENSON, EGBERT, on the Constitution of New BRINTON, Doctor D. 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KAPP, FRIEDRICH, the biographer of Steuben, HUMPHREYS, Colonel DAVID, of Connecticut. De Kalb, etc. HUNTINGTON, General JED., Of Connecticut. LAWRENCE, EUGENE, Columbia College, New JAY, JOHN, of New York. York. JEFFERSON, THOMAS, of Virginia. MOORE, GEORGE H., Librarian of New-York KENDALL, AMOS, [on the Jackson Cabinet.] Historical Society. KING, RUFUS, of New York. NEW YORK CITY, Corporation of. [On the Constitution of New York.] O'RIELLY, HENRY, the veteran printer and tele- LA FAYETTE, General. grapihist. LAURENS, HENRY, of South Carolina. ROCKWELL, Prof. E. F., Davidson College, North " MASON and DIXON," the Surveyors. v Carolina. MILLER, General JAMES, of New Hampshire. SCOTT, BENJAMIN, Chamberlain of the City of MOOERs, General BENJAMIN, of Plattsburg, London. New York. SHEA, J. GILMARY, LL,D., historian of the MORRIS, ROBERT, of Pennsylvania. Catholic Missions. PAGET, Apmiral, R. N. SMITH, Hon. BUCKINGHAM, St. Augustine, Fl. QUITMAN, General, of Mississippi. 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Hon. JOHN SULLIVAN, Exeter, N. H. Rev. PLINY H. WHITE, President of the Ver- ofessor R, e York. mont historical Society. E. F. D LANCEY, New York. Hon. J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL, President of the 8.-WRITERS OF INEDITED PAPERS. Con:lecticut Historical Society. Hon. TIHOMAS EWBANK, Vice-president of the Captain HENRY SiWALL, of the Revolutionary American Ethnological Society. Army. GEORGE HENRY MOORE, Librarian of the New SEU-KI-Yu, Governor of Fuh-Kien, China. York Historical Society. HARRISON GRAY OTIS. Rev. Doctor BALLARD, Secretary of the Maine JEFFERSON DAVIS. Historical Society. JOHN ADAMS. S. F. HAVEN, Librarian of the American Anti- General WADE HAMPTON, U.S.A. quarilan Society. The Citizen GENET. H. A. HOLMES, State Librarian, Albany. General WASHINGTON. E. B. O'CALLAGHAN, LL.D. Colonel DAVID CROCKETT. J. GILMARY SHEA, LL.D,, New York City. General LA FAYETTE. Doctor E. H. DAVIS, the Ethnologist. RuFUS KING. Doctor D. G. BRIN'ON, Westchester, Penn. General WINFIELD SCOTT, U.S.A. J. 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SOLOMON DROWNE, M.D., of the Revolutionary HENRY O'RIELLY, New York. Army. Doctor JOSEPH CQMSTOCK, Liberty Hill, Conn. Lieutenant-governor COLDEN, of New York. J. WILLIAMSON, Belfst, iMe. General JoIIN SULLIVAN, of the Revolutionary Rev. A. H. QUINT, D.D., New Bedford, Mass. Army. RUDOLPHE GARRIGUE, Morrisania, N. Y. HENRY CLAY. Editors of the lMethodist, New York. WILLIAM J. DUANE. Colonel RICHARD M. JOHNSON. 2.-~INEDITED ARTICLES. JARED SPARKS, LL.D. Hon. ALEXANDER H. EVERETT. SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN, Augusta, Me. Majo HENRY LEE. F. W. 8EWARD, Assistant Secretary of State of AARN BURRO the United States. JAMES MUNROE. THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. ETC., ETC., ETC. CONTRIBUTORS TO VOLUME III, NEW SERIES. AMERICANANTIQUAPIiAN SOCIETY, Worcester,Mass. KELBY, WILLIAM, New York City. BALLARD, D.D. REV. EDWARD, Brunswick, Maile. Of the New York Historical Society. Secretary of the Maine Historical Society. {KETCHIUM, H-O. EDGAR, Harlem, New York. BALLARD, FRANK W. New York City. LONG ISLAND HISTORTCAL SOCIETY, Brooklyn. BARTLETT, HON. J. RUSSELL, Providence, R. I. McCoY, JOHN F. Brooklyn, New York. Secretary of State of Rhode Islando MCKEEN, DOCTOR, Topsham, Maine. BLEECKER, R. WADE, New York City. MCKNTIOT, CHARLES, Poughkeepsie, New York BOARDMAN, SAMUEL L. Augusta, Maine. MOORE, GEORGE HENRY, LL.D.; New York. BOURNE, HoN. E. E. Kennebunk, Mane. Librarian of New York Historical Society. President of the Maine Historical Society. MORSE, C. H. Washington, D. C. BREVOORT, HON. J. CARSON, Brooklyn. NEILL, E. D. Washington, D. C. President of the L. 1. Historical Society. The historian of Minnesota. BRODHEAD, J. ROMEYN, LL,D., New York. NEW YORK, CoRrPORATION OF THE CITY OP. The historian of New York. O'CALLAGHAN, L! D. 2. B. Albany, N. Y. BRINLEY, HON. GEORGE, Hartford, Conn. Historian of N, Netherland. BURNS, C. DeFo New York City. PAINE, NATHANIEL, Worcester, Massachusetts. B3USHNELL, CHARLES J. New York City. Treasurer of the Aner. Antiquali-m Society. DEAN, JOHN WARD, Boston, Mass. PERRY, REV. WILLIAM STEVENS, Litchfield, Conn. Author of Life of Nathaniel Ward, etc. Secretary of House of Lay and Clerical DeleDF COSTA, REV. B. F. New York City. gates of General Convention of P. E. Church. The historian of Lake George, etc. PREBLE, CAPTAIN GEORGE FHENRY, U.S.N. DEVOE, COLONEL THOMAS F., New York City. ROCKWELL, PROFESSOR E. F. Davison's Col., N. C. The h;storian of the Markets. RUSSELL, J. Washington, D. C. DRAKE, SAMUEL G. Boston, Mass. SARDEMANN, REV. J. G. Weser, Germany. The historian of the Town of Boston, etc. SCOTT, LEWIS A. Philadelphia. DUANE, COLONEL WILLIAM, Philadelphia. SCOTT, M. B. Cleveland, Ohio. DUNSHEE, HENRY W. New York City. SHEA, LL.D. JOHN GIlMARY, Elizabeth, N. J. The historian of the Dutch School, in N.. Historian of the Catholic Missions. DUYCKINCK, EVERT A. New York City. SHEPPARD, J. H. Boston. Author of Encyclo. of Amer. Literature, etc. Librarian of N. 5. Hist,ric- Genealog. Society. EWBANK, HON. THOMAS, New York City. SrIEL, GENERAL FRANZ, Morrisania, N. Y. V. P. of The American Ethnological Society. SIMMS, LL. D, WILLIAM GrIMORE, Charleston, S.C. FISH, HON. HAMILTON, New York City. The historian of South Carolina. President of the New York Historical Society. SMITHr, BUCKINGHAM, St. Augustine, Florida. FRANCIS, The late JOHN W. LL.D. New York. STILES, DOCTOR HENRY R. Brooklyn, N. Y. GIBBS, GEORGE, Washington, D. C. Authror of History of irindsor; History o Author of The Administration of Washing- Brooklyn; etc. ton and Adams. STONE, REV. E, M. Providence. GILLETT, D.D., REV. E. H. Harlem, N. Y. Secretary of R. I. Historical Society. The historian of the Presbyterian Church. TAYLOR, ASHER, New York City. GODFREY, JOHN E. Bangor, Maine. THORNTON, J. WINGATE, Boston. GREENE, PROF. GEORGE W. East Greenwich, R.I. A ithor of Ancient Pemaquid, Landing on Author of Lifeof Gen. Nathaniel Greene, etc. Cape Ann, etc, GREENWOOD, ISAAC J. New York City. TIEDEMAN, H Amsterdam, Holland. HALL, lON. HILAND, North Bennington, Vermont. TRUMBULL, HON. J. HAMMIXOND, lartford, Conn. Lately President of Vermonti istorical Society. President of the Connecticut Historical Society, HATFIELD, E. F. REV. D.D., New York City. WALWORTH, MANSFIELD TRACY, Albany. The historian of Elizabeth-town, No J., etc. WHITE, REV. PLINY H. Coventry, Vermont. HAY, HON. WILLIAM, Saratoga Springs. President of Vermont Historical Society. IIELMICK, C. C. Waslhington, D.C. WEITMORE, WILLIAM IT. Boston. HOFFMAN, FRANCIS S. New York City. Author of IRVING, PIERRE, Tarrytown, New York. WILLIAMSON, HON. JOSEPH, Belfast, Maine. The biographer of Washington Irving. WILLTS, HON. WTTILIAM, Portland, Maine. JONES, COLONEL M. M. Utica, New York. Late President Maine Historical Society Assistant Secretary of State of New York. WOOL, MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN E. U. S. A. KAPP, FRIEDRICH, New York City. WYNNE, T. H. Baltimore. Biographer of Generals Steuben, DeKalb, etc. Editor of The Westover Papers, etc,