Witchcraft in America. Charles Wentworth Upham
were under Ill-handling as they call it: One Family had their Milk so affected, that they could not possibly make any Cheese, but it hov'd and swelled, and was good for nothing: They are now rid of that trouble, but how they got rid of it I do not know': Thus my Letter. By which it is evident that Towns in England as well as New-England are molested with Dæmons, only I wish that the Superstitions practiced in other places to get rid of such troublesome Guests had never been known, much less used amongst us or them.
Some I hear have taken up a Notion, that the Book newly published by my Son, is contradictory to this of mine: 'Tis strange that such Imaginations should enter into the Minds of Men: I perused and approved of that Book before it was printed; and nothing but my Relation to him hindred me from recommending it to the World: But my self and Son agreed unto the humble Advice which twelve Ministers concurringly presented before his Excellency and Council, respecting the present Difficulties, which let the World judge, whether there be anything in it dissentany from what is attested by either of us.
It was in the Words following:—
The Return of several Ministers consulted by his Excellency, and the Honourable Council, upon the present Witchcrafts in Salem Village.
Boston, June 15, 1692.
I. The afflicted State of our poor Neighbours, that are now suffering by Molestations from the Invisible World, we apprehend so deplorable, that we think their Condition calls for the utmost help of all Persons in their several Capacities. II. We cannot but with all Thankfulness acknowledge, the Success which the merciful God has given unto the sedulous and assiduous Endeavors of our honourable Rulers, to detect the abominable Witchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; humbly praying that the discovery of these mysterious and mischievous Wickednesses, may be perfected. III. We judge that in the prosecution of these, and all such Witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical and exquisite Caution, lest by too much Credulity for things received only upon the Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train of miserable Consequences, and Satan get an advantage over us, for we should not be ignorant of his Devices. IV. As in Complaints upon Witchcrafts, there may be Matters of Enquiry, which do not amount unto Matters of Presumption, and there may be Matters of Presumption which yet may not be reckoned Matters of Conviction; so 'tis necessary that all Proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tenderness towards those that may be complained of; especially if they have been Persons formerly of an unblemished Reputation. V. When the first Enquiry is made into the Circumstances of such as may lie under any just Suspicion of Witchcrafts, we could wish that there may be admitted as little as is possible, of such Noise, Company, and Openness, as may too hastily expose them that are examined: and that there may nothing be used as a Test, for the Trial of the suspected, the Lawfulness whereof may be doubted among the People of God; but that the Directions given by such judicious Writers as Perkins and Bernard, be consulted in such a Case. VI. Presumptions whereupon Persons may be committed, and much more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be condemned as guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable, than barely the accused Person being represented by a Spectre unto the Afflicted; inasmuch as 'tis an undoubted and a notorious thing, that a Dæmon may, by God's Permission, appear even to ill purposes, in the Shape of an innocent, yea, and a vertuous Man: Nor can we esteem Alterations made in the Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused to be an infallible Evidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by the Devil's Legerdemains. VII. We know not, whether some remarkable Affronts given to the Devils, by our disbelieving of those Testimonies, whose whole force and strength is from them alone, may not put a Period, unto the Progress of the dreadful Calamity begun upon us, in the Accusation of so many Persons, whereof we hope, some are yet clear from the great Transgression laid unto their Charge. VIII. Nevertheless, We cannot but humbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorous Prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according to the Direction given in the Laws of God, and the wholesome Statutes of the English Nation, for the Detection of Witchcrafts.
FOOTNOTES:
1. R. Sactias. R. Eleazer Athias. Lyranus. Sic & Josephus.
2. Ambrose, Hierom, Basil, Nazianzen.
3. Thomas, Tostatus, Suarez. Cajetan, In Ecclesia, Chap. 46. 22, 23.
4. In Locum.
5. In 2 Cor. 11, 14, Pag. 555.
6. De Spectris, Cap. 7.
7. Præstig. Dæmon. Lib. 1. C. 16.
8. De C. D. l. 18.
9. De Appar. Spirituum, Lib. 2. Cap. 7.
10. Misq. Magicar. Lib. 2. C. 12.
11. De Confes. Sag. pag. 191.
12. De secretis mag. p. 31. see also Lavater de Spect. Lib. 2. Cap. 18.
13. Dr. Casaubon: of Spirits.
14. Sulpitius Severus in vita Martini.
15. Guaccius, compend. malefic. p. 342.
16. Binsfield, de Confess. Sag. p. 187.
17. Examples, Vol. 1. p. 510.
18. Socrate's Hist. p. 7. C. 38.
19. Lege Villalpond de Magia, &c. L. 2. Cap. 27.
20. Part 1. Chap. 19. Pag. 8.
21. Epistol. 2.
22. In Disput. de Magia. P. 575.
23. In Mr. Couper's Mystery of Witchcraft, Pag. 174, 175.
24. Acta Eruditorum Anno 1690. Pag. 113.
25. In Mr. Glanvil's Philosophical Considerations.
26. De subtilitate. Lib. 29.