The Witchcraft in New England. Calef Robert

      PREFATORY.

       Table of Contents

      THE Object in giving to the Public this new Edition of the Wonders of the Invisible World, is mainly to preserve an accurate Reprint of that wonderful Book. At the same Time it is intended to show that its Author has unjustly been singled out and held up to everlasting Scorn, as though he had been the Instigator of the whole Mischief; that from his high Standing socially he was more prominent than any other Man, and that this occasioned his being especially held responsible is clearly true. His ready Pen also largely contributed to place him in the front Rank of those whom that woeful Delusion led captive; he having written more largely upon the Subject than any other.

      The first Edition of the Wonders of the Invisible World was published in Boston early in the Year 1693, at which Time Witches had begun to grow scarce; in other Words, Prosecutions had nearly ceased, and People were seriously looking about themselves, and anxiously inquiring what they had been about? The serious Inquirers were those (though few in Number) who had from the Beginning had Doubts as to the Reality of Witchcraft. When this Class began to reason, their Strength began to concentrate, and in due Time it put an End to the Horrors which had so strongly tended to the Ruin of the whole Community. Until this Reaction was brought about, no Person was for a Moment safe. Notwithstanding this frightful State of Things was thus brought to a Stand, a large Portion of the People retained all their Faith in the Reality of Witchcraft, and many of them exclaimed in Despair, that "the Kingdom of Satan had prevailed," and that they were a "God-forsaken People." In this latter Class was the Author of the Wonders of the Invisible World. He never wavered in his Faith to the very End, because his Conviction that he had espoused the Truth was stronger than any Argument which could be brought against it. Some others of the Ministers, and one or two of the Judges were equally sanguine in their own Righteousness. And yet we find the following cautious Piece of Advice given by "several Ministers to his Excellency and the Honourable Council":—"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." For all this it is not easy to discover the Practice of any of that "exquisite Caution" in the Proceedings against those accused.

      No sooner was the Edition of the Wonders printed in Boston, than Copies were sent to London and reprinted there with all Dispatch, as will be seen by the "Imprimatur" in the Front of the Work. Mr. Deodat Lawson's "Brief and True Narrative" of the same Affair was printed in Boston in 1692, by Benj. Harris, and the next Year in London by John Dunton, in Connection with Dr. Increase Mather's "Further Account of the Tryals of the New England Witches." A second (in Fact, it was the third) Edition of Mr. Lawson's Work was issued in London in 1704, which, though he calls it a second Edition is quite a different Book from the first Edition. In the first he inserted the Names of the Parties, while in the last, Dashes stand in their Stead. It has two Dedications: one "To the Right Worshipful and truly Honourable, Sir Henry Ashhurst, Barr^t. and to His Truly Honourable and Religious Consort, Lady Diana Ashhurst, Barr^t:" signed Deodat Lawson. The other is "To the Worshipful and Worthily Honoured Bartholomew Gidney, John Hathorne, and Jonathan Corwin, Esqrs. Together with the Reverend Mr. John Higginson, Pastor, and Mr. Nicholas Noyes Teacher of the Church of Christ at Salem." Signed Deodat Lavson. It should be mentioned also that Dr. I. Mather's "Further Account," &c., contains Nothing beyond a Reprint of Lawson's Book, (first Edition) except a "Letter" containing "A further Account of the Tryals of the New England Witches," sent "to a Gentleman in London." This Letter was added at the End of the "Further Account." It was probably written by Mr. Mather to John Dunton, his Friend and Publisher, and occupies about three additional Pages.

      In this Reprint of the Wonders I have followed the second Edition,