part consisted in the power to command the aid of invisible spirits, to

harrass and torment those whom their malice, revenge or fancy should point out as victims, by pinching, strangling, biting, scratching, scald- ing, &c. The witches themselves were to have power to appear in the shape of beasts or spectres, or almost any form ; also power to
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inflict diseases upon their victims, and to cause them to pine away and die.
There is a possibility that the knowledge of the art of printing would have died with the inventor, had it not been for the popular be- lief in devil dealing. When the inventor appeared in the market place of Mentz, with a sample of his printed sheets, the people crowded around, and were very much astonished at their perfection. But their astonishment was redoubled on finding that they were precisely alike. If there was a wrong or defective letter in one, the same was the case with the whole ; if there was a graceful flourish in one, none were without it. They besought him to inform them by what extraordinary process he had been able to produce such results. He made a secret of the discovery, designing to turn it to great future account. A panic soon seized upon the people. Terror mingled with their astonishment. They believed the inventor to have accepted an agency for the devil. He was seized and thrown into prison. And finally, to obtain release, he was forced to make known his secret.
Some learned writers have been at great pains to fix upon a cause for the extraordinary outbreak known the world over as the Salem "Witchcraft. But of the result of these learned labors, people naturally entertain different views. The peculiarly trying situationj)f the colo- nists, at the period immediately preceding, has been forced prominently into view, as having prepared the public mind for such aji excitement. That certainly was, in almost any point of view, an exceedingly dark period. The broad land was still almost entirely overshadowed by the primeval forest. The Indians had been making a most desperate ef- fort for the extermination of the pale-skinned intruders upon their soil. To the ruthless Indian warfare, had been added the skill of the French.* The political affairs of the settlers, too, had for a time worn a most gloomy aspect. f
* The dreadful conflict with the Indians, known as Philip's War, commenced in 1675. The red men foughtfwjth^ desperation which could only have been felt by an expiring nation. The darkness of the winter's night was broken by the glare of the blazing habitation ; and the path to many a settlement was traced by the blood upon the snows. The colonies never before sus- tained such a shock from their jealous and infuriated neighbors. Six hundred of the bravest'of the colonial soldiery were lost in this war ; a number of towns were made desolate ; and six hundred dwellings destroyed. But it proved one of the last,endeavors of the Indians. From the disasters of the swamp fight they never recovered ; though spasmodic efforts were occasion- ally made, for years. But in 1690, the colonists were called to the field to face new, and in some respects, far more powerful enemies. The war with the French and Indians had broken out, and to the savage practices of the latter, were added the experienced generalship, the mc^e rdeadly weapon, the national hatred, of the former.
t It was in 1684 that the colonial charter was annulled. And two years after, the cunning, ^arbitrary, and overbearing Sir Edmund Andros arrived with his royal commission. And no
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But the idea that these had any thing to do with the cause' of the eruption, does not seem very satisfactory, when we consider that in other portions of the world, where they did not exist, similar transac- tions took place. And they would indeed seem rather to have a ten- dency to divert the mind from things pertaining to the unseen world. Might we not rather conclude that the cause was involved in facts like these : The whole civilized world at that time believed in witchcraft. There were no more, raising their voices against it than there are rais- ing their voices against Christianity itself at the present day. The received interpretations of scripture required such belief. The laws of England and of all other christianized countries recognized it as a crime.* And then, what is very important, let us bear in mind that the colonists were singularly pertinacious in fancying that they were specially sent here by divine providence for the purpose of preserving pure those gospel doctrines which they and their brethren of the old world had sacrificed so much to sustain. Their minds were well pre- pared for the dark and fearful apprehension that the devil, while
reader of New England history will need to be informed of the public ferment which his gross acts of oppression occasioned. He seemed to aim solely to aggrandize himself and his follow- ers. Oppressive taxes were imposed ; new offices with exorbitant fees were instituted ; a re- moulding or renewal of real-estate titles was required, and heavy charges for all property tran- sactions levied. In short, next to enriching himself and his friends, his object seemed to be to vex and harrass those whom he governed. If the people of New England ever rejoiced, it was on the accession of William and Alary.
*Says Judge fe lack's to he': .... The thing itself [witchcraft] is a truth to which every na- tion it) ? lie world hath in its turn borne testimony, either by examples seemingly well attested, or by prohibiiory laws; which at least suppose the possibility of commerce with evil spirits. The civil law punishes with death not only the sorcerers themselves, but also those who con- sult them; imitating in the former the express law of God, 'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.' And our own laws, both before and since the conquest, have been equally penal ; ranking this crime in the same class with heresy, and condemning both to the Haines." A statute of 33 Henry VIII. made all witchcraft and sorcery, felony, without benefit of clergy. And a statute of 1 James I. enacted " that al.i persons invoking any evil spirit, or consulting, covenanting with, entertaining, employing, feeding, or rewarding any evil spirit; or taking up dead bodies from their graves to be used in any witchcraft, sorcery, chaim, or enchantment; or killing or otherwise hurting any person by suUi infernal arts, should be guilty of felony without benefit of clergy, and suffer death. And if any person should attempt by sorcery to discover hidden treasure, or to restore stolen goods, or to provoke unlawful love, or to hurt any man or beast, though the same were not effected, he should suffer imprisonment and pillory for the first of- fence, and death for the second.' The peculiar interest, which James individually exhibited, however, in these matters, did not meet with the reception, in after years, which he probably e.vp ecled. His book-making propensity added but liltfe lustre to his regal fame ; though that fame was none the brightest, it was a cutting remark of the commentator, that "such a scep- tre was too weighty to be wielded by such a hand." James how ever, had the wisdom and grace to recant some of his vagaries, before his death. Witchcraft had its legal ups and downs in England, till by statute of 9 George II. it was enacted " that no prosecution shall for the fu- ture be carried on against any persons for conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, or enchantment." But still, persons pretending to be witches, fortune-tellers, &c, would, as with us, be guilty of misdemeanor, and. fall under the provisions of vagrant acts.
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wandering up and down the earth, seeking where he could do most mis- chief, had discovered this sequestered niche, which contained all that was pure, nil that was lovely in the system established by him to whom of old he had offered all the kingdoms of the world for the boon of worship. And could they doubt that on making the discovery he had summoned his strongest powers for the destruction of the holy vine which they under the keenest privations had planted, and, at every earthly hazard, had cherished.
The remarkable excitement at Salem, commenced early in the year 1092. In the latter part of February, two little girls in the family of Rev. Mr. Parris, one his own daughter, named Elizabeth, about nine years, and the other, his neice, named Abigail Williams, twelve years of age, together with a girl in the neighborhood, named Ann Putnam, began to act in a most strange and unaccountable manner.* They did not, however, at first, appear to be maliciously or viciously inclined. They would jabber in strange language wild and unmeaning speeches. They would distort their countenances into the most odd and gro- tesque expressions, even on the most solemn occasions, and put their bodies into all manner of uncommon and unseemly postures. They would roll upon the floor, creep under chairs and tables, and crawl
* These occurrences took place at Salem Village as it was then called, but now known as North Danvers.. The church was established here in 1671, as a branch of the first church of Salem. Rev. Mr. Braman was the late pastor. Mr. Parris, in whose family the excitement commenced, was the fourth pastor. He was born at London, in 1653, and settled here, in 1689. The second pastor was Rev. George Burroughs; and it is painful to remark that he was executed for witchcraft, on Gallows Hill, August J9, 1C92, under peculiarly affecting circumstances. Mr. Parris was a man of learning and fervent piety, but, in common with the Puritan clergy in general, lie took a most dark and melancholy view of human nature. He appeared to perceive nothing bright or jbeautiful in the outward world, and nothing but corruption in the human heart. In looking over the parish records, some years s;nc;e, I was induced to transcribe the following, which stands in Mr. Parris's own hand writing. And while copy ing, it was impos- sible to avoid a thought of the agony which filled the heart of him who made the record.
" 27 March, Sab., 1692, Sacrament Day.
"After the common auditory was dismissed, and before (he church communion at the Lord's table, the following testimony against the error of our sister Mary Sibley, who had given di- rection to my Indian man in an unwarrantable way, to find out witches, was read by the pastor. It is altogether undenyable that our great and blessed God hath suffered many persons, in several families, of this little village, to be greviously vexed and tortured in body, and to be deeply tempted, to the endangering of the destruction of their souls, and all these amazing facts (well known to many of us) to be done by witchcraft and diabolical operations. It is also well known that when these calamities first began, which was in my own family, the affliction was several weeks before such hellish operations as witchcraft was suspected. Nay it never brake forth to any considerable light until diabolical means were used by the making of a cake by my Indian-man, who had his directions! from this our Sister Mary Sibley, since which apparitions have been plenty, and exceeding much mischief hath followed. But by this means it seems .the devil hath been raised amongst us, and hid rage is vehement and terrible, and when he shall rbe silenced the Lord only knows."
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into holes. They would seize the firebrands and scatter them around the rooms, besmear themselves with ashes, and as a quaint writer of that time says, make as if they would go up chimney. Such conduct, of course, excited the most painful apprehensions of their parents and friends; particularly as persuasion, threats, nor reprimands could over- come it. Considerable time was spent, in using every effort which the tenderest and most anxious solicitude could devise, to remove the cause, whatever it might be, of tins strange conduct; but all efforts were unavailing. Physicians were now sent for, and after ma- turely considering the cases, it was decided that the children were bewitched ! And this was the lighting up -of that fire which sheds such a melancholy light over the historic page of that period. The annunciation carried terror to every bosom. A heavier cloud settled upon the brow of the old ; the joyous blood of the youthful heart was suddenly chilled ; the happy laugh of childhood was sub- dued, suppressed. Every thing seemed linged as with a glare from the nether world. The excitement soon began to spread. Several other girls in the neighborhood became affected. Private and pub- lic fasts were held. And if ever fervent, agonizing prayers went up to heaven from the hearts and lips of men, it was from the terror- stricken ones of that dark period. Scrupulously did they fast; earn- estly did they pray, that the spiritual plague might not be permitted to spread. On the solemn occasion of public exercise, the bewitched themselves were generally present; and not unfrequently their most violent fits came on during the exercises. And they would sometimes go into the. most dreadful convulsions. The first person accused by these children, of bewitching them, was an old Indian woman in the family of Mr. Parris, and she actually confessed that she did bewitch them, having derived her supernatural powers from the evil one, with whom she had entered into a most solemn league. This confession, as may well be supposed, added immensely to the excitement. Few, now, could doubt that the arch enemy had commenced his dreadful work in their midst in good earnest.
Increase Mather, in giving an account of a visit he made to Salem Village, on the 19th of March, mentions this Abigail Williams, whom he saw in one of her fits. He says, " she was hurried to and fro in the room," though those present endeavored to restrain her. She stretched out her arms as though she would fly; and insisted that she saw the spectre of an old woman who lived in the neighborhood. .She ran to the fire and threw firebrands about the house; and did
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Other things of a similar .nature. That night, Mather says, he lodged at the house of Nathaniel Ingersol, which was in the neighborhood of Mr. Parris's. " Presently after I came into my lodgings," says he, " Capt. Walcot's daughter Mary came to Lieutenant Ingersol's and spake to me; but suddenly after, as she stood by the door, was bitten, so that she cried out, of her wrist; and looking on it with a candle, we saw apparently the marks of teeth, both upper and lower set, on each side of the wrist." He preached in the village the next day, which was the Sabbath, and there were present at the meeting several of the afflicted persons ; among them Abigail Williams. And there was also present a woman named Martha Cory, who was the next day examined on the charge of being a witch ; and who was finally execu- ted. Continuing his account of their presence in the meeting house, he says, " They had several sore fits in the lime of public worship, which did something interrupt me in my first prayer. After psalm was sung, Abigail Williams said to me, ' Now stand up and name your text ! ' And after it was read she said, ' It is a long text.' . . . In the beginning of the sermon, Mrs. Pope, a woman afflicted, said to me, ' Now there is enough of that.' ... In sermon time, when Goodwife C. was present in the meeting house, Abigail Williams called out, ' Look where Goodwife C. sits on the beam, suckling her yellow bird betwixt her fingers ! ' * Ann Putnam, another girl afflicted, said there was a yellow bird sat on my hat as it hung on the pin in the pulpit; but those that were by restrained her from speaking loud about it."
The next day, as above observed, this Martha Cory was examined by the magistrates Of Salem. And from the same learned and pious writer, I will extract a ^ew incidents of the examination. ..." About twelve of the clock they went into the meeting house, which was thronged with spectators. Mr. Noyes began with a very pertinent and pathetical prayer ; and Goodwife C. being called to answer to what was alleged against her, she desired to go to prayer, which was much wondered at, in the presence of so many hundred people; the magistrates told her they would not admit it; they came not to hear
* The meeting houses of* those days had few of the comforts of modern structures, and none of their elegancies. The ponderous rafters and beams were open to view, the floors were without pews, and supplied with rude uncomfortable seats, except that here and there a vene- rable dame or sire occupied a chair. Fires, in the coldest weather, were not dreamed of; and it was considered a ju>t cause of complaint if the minister did not occupy at least two hours in the services— their faith kept them warm. And the worshipers not unfrequently came from distances of six or eight m iles.
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her pray, but to examine her, in what was alleged against her." * The afflicted ones present " vehemently accused her, in the assembly, of afflicting them, by biting, pinching, strangling, &c. And they did in their fits see her likeness corning to them, and bringing a book to them; she said she had no book ; they affirmed that she had a yellow bird, that used lo suck betwixt her fingers, ancf being asked about it, if she had any familiar spirit, that attended her, she said she had no
familiarity, with any such thing The said C. said they were
poor distracted children, and no heed to be given to what they said. Mr. Hathorne and Mr. Noyes replied that it was the judgment of all that were present, they were bewitched, and only she the accused per- son said i hey were destracted. It was observed several times, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of examination, the persons afflicted were bitten on their arms and wrists, and produced the marks before the magistrates and others. And being watched for that, if she did but pinch her fingers, or grasp one hand hard in another, they were pinched and produced the marks before the magistrates and spectators. After that it was observed tlrat if she did but lean her breast against the seat in the meeting house, (being the bar at which she stood,) they were afflicted. Particularly Mrs. Pope complained of grievous torment in her bowels as if they were torn out. She vehe- mently accused the said C. as the instrument, and first threw her muff at her; but that flying not home, she got her shoe and hit Goodwife