IV. 'Tis a thousand pitties, that we should permit our Eyes to be so

_Blood-shot_ with passions, as to loose the sight of many wonderful things, wherein the Wisdom and Justice of God, would be Glorify'd. Some of those things, are the frequent ==Apparitions== of Ghosts, whereby many Old ==Murders== among us, come to be considered. And, among many Instances of this kind, I will single out one, which concerned a poor man, lately _Prest_ unto Death, because of his Refusing to _Plead_ for his Life.[200] I shall make an Extract of a Letter, which was written to my Honourable Friend, _Samuel Sewal_, Esq.; by Mr. _Putman_, to this purpose; 'The Last Night my Daughter _Ann_, was grievously Tormented by Witches, Threatning that she should be _Pressed_ to Death, before _Giles Cory_. But thro' the Goodness of a Gracious God, she had at last a little Respite. Whereupon there appeared unto her (she said) a man in a Winding Sheet, who told her that _Giles Cory_ had Murdered him, by _Pressing_ him to Death with his Feet; but that the Devil there appeared unto him, and Covenanted with him, and promised him, _He should not be Hanged_. The Apparition said, God Hardned his heart; that he should not hearken to the Advice of the Court, and so Dy an easy Death; because as it said, _It must be done to him as he has done to me_. The Apparition also said, That _Giles Cory_, was carry'd to the Court for this, and that the Jury had found the Murder, and that her Father knew the man, and the thing was done before she was born. Now Sir, This is not a little strange to us; that no body should Remember these things, all the while that _Giles Cory_ was in Prison, and so often before the Court. For all people now Remember very well, (and the Records of the Court also mention it,) That about Seventeen Years ago, _Giles Cory_ kept a man in his House, that was almost a Natural Fool: which Man Dy'd suddenly. A Jury was impannel'd upon him, among whom was Dr. _Zerobbabel Endicot;_[201] who found the man bruised to Death, and having clodders of Blood about his Heart. The Jury whereof several are yet alive brought in the man Murdered; but as if some Enchantment had hindred the Prosecution of the Matter, the Court Proceeded not against [48] _Giles Cory_, tho' it cost him a great deal of Mony to get off. Thus the Story,' _THE Reverend and Worthy Author, having at the Direction of His_ EXCELLENCY _the Governour, so far Obliged the Publick, as to give some Account of the Sufferings brought upon the Countrey by_ Witchcraft; _and of the Tryals which have passed upon several Executed for the Same:_ _Upon Perusal thereof, We find the Matters of Fact and Evidence, Truly reported. And a Prospect given, of the_ Methods of Conviction, _used in the Proceedings of the Court at_ Salem. Boston Octob. 11. 1692. William Stoughton Samuel Sewall. BUT is _New-England_, the only Christian Countrey, that hath undergone such Diabolical Molestations? No, there are other Good people, that have in this way been harassed; but none in circumstances more like to _Ours_, than the people of God, in _Sweedland_. The story is a very Famous one; and it comes to Speak English by the Acute Pen of the Excellent and Renowned Dr. _Horneck_.[202] I shall only single out a few of the more Memorable passages therein Occurring; and where it agrees with what happened among ourselves, my Reader shall understand, by my inserting a Word of every such thing in ==Black Letter==.