COTTON MATHER

[Cotton Mather, the son of Increase, and the grandson, on his mother's side, of John Cotton, was born in 1663, graduated at Harvard in 1678, and died in 1728. His active life was, therefore, largely contemporaneous with that of his father, with whom he was associated in the pastorate of the North Church after 1685. Here the two men worked side by side as leaders of the movement to retain the old beliefs, and the old prerogatives of the ministers. Their connection with the witchcraft excitement, perhaps the best-known episode in their lives, shows how seriously they took to heart the backsliding of New England, and how ready they were to see in any occurrence a judgment of God on the apostasy of his followers. Unlike Increase Mather, Cotton never travelled out of New England; and he seems to have differed from his father in being more learned, more self-centred, more violent in his prejudices, and less urbane. A comparison between the extract from his letter to Governor Dudley and Increase Mather's letter on the same occasion will show the difference in the literary styles of the two men, and throw some interesting side-lights on their respective characters.

Cotton Mather was a man not only of great learning, but of great industry, and the amount of his writings was prodigious. The catalogue of his publications appended to his life by Samuel Mather contains three hundred and eighty-two titles, and it is known that he left still other printed works, besides many in manuscript. His publications range in size from sermons, which are of course most numerous, to the bulky "Magnalia Christi Americana: or, the Ecclesiastical History of New England, from its First Planting in the Year 1620, unto the Year of our Lord, 1698." This is his most representative and most considerable work, and contains seven books. The first tells of the founding of the colonies, the second of the lives of the governors, the third of the lives of sixty ministers, the fourth of Harvard College, the fifth of the "Acts and Monuments of the Faith and Order in the Churches of New England," the sixth of wonderful providences, and the seventh of "The Wars of the Lord." One of the most famous of Cotton Mather's works is "The Wonders of the Invisible World: being an Account of the Tryals of several Witches Lately Executed in New England," ," "Published by the Special Command of his Excellency the Governour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England," with the evident purpose of defending the action of the authorities in the proceedings at Salem. Another work which deserves mention is that commonly known as "Essays to do Good," which shows the practical side of the author, and had great influence on Benjamin Franklin. Cotton Mather is most readable in straightforward narratives, like his accounts of witchcraft, or his "Life of Sir William Phips";

and in his exhortations on practical matters. In dealing with religious and philosophical subjects he is likely to be pompously and ridiculously pedantic. It must not be inferred from the fact that several of the selections given below deal with witchcraft that this is the subject of any great proportion of the author's work.

The selections from "The Wonders of the Invisible World" are from the reprint in the "Library of Old Authors," London, 1862. The Letter to Governor Dudley is printed in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. All the other selections are from the first edition of the "Magnalia," London, 1702.]

SOME EVIDENCE THAT SUSANNA MARTIN WAS A

WITCH

[From "The Wonders of the Invisible World"]

IV. John Atkinson testifi'd, That he exchanged a Cow with a Son of Susanna Martin's, whereat she muttered, and was unwilling he should have it. Going to receive this Cow, tho' he Hamstring'd her, and Halter'd her, she, of a Tame Creature, grew so mad, that they could scarce get her along. She broke all the Ropes that were fastned unto her, and though she were ty'd fast unto a Tree, yet she made her escape, and gave them such further trouble, as they could ascribe to no cause but Witchcraft.

V. Bernard Peache testifi'd, That being in Bed, on the Lord'sday Night, he heard a scrabbling at the Window, whereat he then saw Susanna Martin come in, and jump down upon the Floor. She took hold of this Deponent's Feet, and drawing his body up into an Heap, she lay upon him near Two Hours; in all which time he could neither speak nor stir. At length, when he could begin to move, he laid hold on her Hand, and pulling it up to his Mouth, he bit three of her Fingers, as he judged, unto the Bone. Whereupon she went from the Chamber, down the Stairs, out at the Door. This Deponent thereupon called unto the People of the House, to advise them of what passed; and he himself did follow her. The People saw her not; but there being a Bucket at the Left-hand of the Door, there was a drop of Blood found upon it; and several more drops of Blood upon the Snow newly fallen abroad: There was likewise the print of her 2 Feet just without the Threshold; but no more sign of any Footing further off.

At another time this Deponent was desired by the Prisoner, to come unto an Husking of Corn, at her House; and she said, If he did not come, it were better that he did! He went not; but the Night following, Susanna Martin, as he judged, and another came towards him. One of them said, Here he is! but he having a Quarter-staff, made a Blow at them. The Roof of the Barn, broke his Blow; but following them to the Window, he made another Blow at them, and struck them down; yet they got up, and got out, and he saw no more of them.

About this time, there was a Rumour about the Town, that Martin had a Broken Head; but the Deponent could say nothing to that.

The said Peache also testifi'd the Bewitching the Cattle to Death, upon Martin's Discontents.

VI. Robert Downer testified, That this Prisoner being some Years ago prosecuted at Court for a Witch, he then said unto her, He believed she was a Witch. Whereat she being dissatisfied said, That some She-Devil would shortly fetch him away! Which words were heard by others, as well as himself. The Night following, as he lay in his Bed, there came in at the Window, the likeness of a Cat, which flew upon him, took fast hold of his Throat, lay on him a considerable while, and almost killed him. At length he remembred what Susanna Martin had threatned the Day before; and with much striving he cried out, Avoid, thou She-Devil! In the Name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Avoid! Whereupon it left him, leap'd on the Floor, and flew out at the Window.

And there also came in several Testimonies, that before ever Downer spoke a word of this Accident, Susanna Martin and her Family had related, How this Downer had been handled!

VII. John Kembal testified, that Susanna Martin, upon a Causeless Disgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his, That she should never do him any more Good: and it came to pass accordingly. For soon after the Cow was found stark dead on the dry Ground, without any Distemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he was followed with a strange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he lost in one Spring to the Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said John Kembal had a

further Testimony to give in against the Prisoner which was truly admirable.

Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy one of this Martin, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House. But she not letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself then at one Blezdels. Having mark'd a Puppy, which he lik'd at Blezdels, he met George Martin, the Husband of the Prisoner, going by, who asked him, Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies? and he answered No. The same Day, one Edmond Eliot, being at Martin's House, heard George Martin relate, where this Kembal had been, and what he had said. Whereupon Susanna Martin replied, If I live, I'll give him Puppies enough! Within a few days after, this Kembal, coming out of the Woods, there arose a little Black Cloud in the N. W. and Kembal immediately felt a force upon him, which made him not able to avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were before him, albeit he had a broad, plain Cartway, before him; but tho' he had his Ax also on his Shoulder to endanger him in his Falls, he could not forbear going out of his way to tumble over them. When he came below the Meeting House, there appeared unto him, a little thing like a Puppy, of a Darkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards between his Legs. He had the courage to use all possible Endeavours of Cutting it with his Ax; but he could not Hit it: the Puppy gave a jump from him, and went, as to him it seem'd into the Ground. Going a little further, there appeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger than the first, but as Black as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than those of his Ax; it flew at his Belly, and away; then at his Throat; so, over his Shoulder one way, and then over his Shoulder another way. His Heart now began to fail him, and he thought the Dog would have tore his Throat out. But he recovered himself, and called upon God in his Distress; and naming the Name of JESUS CHRIST, it vanished away at once. The Deponent spoke not one Word of these Accidents, for fear of affrighting his Wife. But the next Morning Edmond Eliot, going into Martin's House, this Woman asked him where Kembal was? He replied, At Home, a Bed, for ought he knew. She returned, They say, he was frighted last Night.

Eliot asked, With what? She answered, With Puppies. Eliot asked, Where she heard of it, for he had heard nothing of it? She rejoined, About the Town. Altho' Kembal had mentioned the Matter to no Creature living.

VIII. William Brown testifi'd, That Heaven having blessed him with a most Pious and Prudent Wife, this Wife of his, one day met with Susanna Martin; but when she approach'd just unto her, Martin vanished out of sight, and left her extreamly affrighted. After which time, the said Martin often appear'd unto her, giving her no little trouble; and when she did come, she was visited with Birds, that sorely peck'd and prick'd her; and sometimes, a Bunch, like a Pullet's Egg, would rise in her Throat, ready to choak her, till she cry'd out, Witch, you shan't choak me! While this good Woman was in this extremity, the Church appointed a Day of Prayer, on her behalf; whereupon her Trouble ceas'd; she saw not Martin as formerly; and the Church, instead of their Fast, gave Thanks for her Deliverance. But a considerable while after, she being Summoned to give in some Evidence at the Court, against this Martin, quickly thereupon, this Martin came behind her, while she was milking her Cow, and said unto her, For thy defaming her at Court, I'll make thee the miserablest Creature in the World. Soon after which, she fell into a strange kind of distemper, and became horribly frantick, and uncapable of any reasonable Action; the Physicians declaring, that her Distemper was præternatural, and that some Devil had certainly bewitched her; and in that condition she now remained.

IX. Sarah Atkinson testify'd, That Susanna Martin came from Amesbury to their House at Newbury, in an extraordinary Season, when it was not fit for any to Travel. She came (as she said, unto Atkinson) all that long way on Foot. She brag'd and shew'd how dry she was; nor could it be perceived that so much as the Soles of her Shoes were wet. Atkinson was amazed at it; and professed, that she should her self have been wet up to the knees, if she had then came so far; but Martin reply'd, She scorn'd to be Drabbled! It was noted, that this Testimony upon her Trial, cast her in a very singular Confusion.