III. If a Drop of _Innocent Blood_ should be shed, in the Prosecution

of the _Witchcrafts_ among us, how unhappy are we! For which cause, I cannot express my self in better terms than those of a most Worthy Person, who lives near the present Center of these things.[198] _The Mind of_ God _in these matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with due Circumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend justice and yet intend mischief_. But on the other side, if the storm of Justice do now fall only on the Heads of those guilty _Witches_ and _Wretches_ which have defiled our Land, _How Happy!_ The Execution of some that have lately Dyed, has been immediately attended, with a strange Deliverance of some, that had lain for many years, in a most sad Condition, under, they knew not whose _evil hands_. As I am abundantly satisfy'd, That many of the Self-Murders committed here, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody _Witchcraft_, letting fly _Demons_ upon the miserable _Seneca's;_ thus it has been admirable unto me to see, how a Devilish _Witchcraft_, sending Devils upon them, has driven many poor people to _Despair_, and persecuted their minds, with such Buzzes of _Atheism_ and _Blasphemy_, as has made them even run _distracted with Terrors:_ And some long _Bow'd_ down under such a _spirit of Infirmity_, have been marvellously Recovered upon the death of the Witches. One _Whetford_[199] particularly ten years ago, challenging of _Bridget Bishop_ (whose Trial you have had) with steeling of a Spoon, _Bishop_ threatned her very direfully: presently after this, was _Whetford_ in the Night, and in her Bed, visited by _Bishop_, with one _Parker_, who making the Room light at their coming in, there discoursed of several mischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last they pull'd her out, and carried her unto the Sea-side, there to _drown_ her; but she calling upon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury. From that very time, this poor _Whetford_ was utterly spoilt, and grew a Tempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, and all about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay, till those women were Apprehended by the Authority; _then_ she be[47]gan to mend; and upon their Execution, was presently and perfectly Recovered, from the ten years madness that had been upon her. _A Fourth_ CURIOSITIE.