The Penguin Book of Witches (12 page)

The same day she was again taken with a new kind of unwonted fit in which after she had been awhile exercised with violence. She got her a stick and went up and down, thrusting and pushing here and there,
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and anon looking out at a window, and cried out of a witch appearing in a strange manner in form of a dog downward with a woman’s head, and declared the person, other whiles that she appeared in her whole likeness, and described her shape and habit, signified that she went up the chimney and went her way. What impression we read in the clay of the chimney, in similitude of a dog’s paw, by the operation of Satan and in the form of a dog’s going in the same place she told of, I shall not conclude, though something there was, as I myself saw in the chimney in the same place where she declared the foot was set to go up.

In this manner was she handled that night and the 2 next days, using strange gestures, complaining by signs when she could not speak, explaining that she was sometimes in the chamber, sometimes in the chimney, and anon assaults her, sometimes scratching her breast, beating her sides, strangling her throat, and she did oftentimes seemed to our apprehension as if she would forthwith be strangled. She declared that if the party were apprehended she should forthwith be well, but never till then. Whereupon her father went and procured the coming of the woman impeached by her, who came down to her on Thursday night, where (being desired to be present) I observed that she was violently handled and lamentably tormented by the adversary, and uttered unusual shrieks at the instant of the person’s coming in, though her eyes were fast closed. But having experience of such former actings, we made nothing of it, but waited the issue. God therefore was sought to, to signify something whereby the innocent might be acquitted or the guilty discovered,
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and he answered our prayers, for by 2 evident and clear mistakes she was cleared, and then all prejudices ceased, and she never more to this day hath impeached her of any apparition. In the fore mentioned allegation of the person, she also signified that sometimes the Devil also in the likeness of a little boy appeared together with the person. Friday was a sad day with her, for she was sorely handled with fits, which some perceiving, pressed that there was something that behind not discovered by her, and she, after a violent fit, holding her between 2 and 3 hours did first to one and afterward to many acknowledge that she had given of her blood to the Devil and made a covenant with him, whereupon I was sent for to her, and understanding how things had passed, I found that there was no room for privacy, in another already made by her so public. I therefore examined her concerning the matter and found her not so forward to confess as she had been to others, that this much I gathered from her confession.

That after she came to dwell with us, one day as she was alone in a lower room, all the rest of us being in the chamber, she looked out at the window and saw the Devil in the habit of an old man coming over a great meadow lying near the house, and suspecting his design, she had thoughts to have gone away, that at length resolved to tarry it out and hear what he had to say to her. When he came he demanded of her some of her blood, which she forthwith consented to, and with a knife cut her finger. He caught the blood in his hand and then told her she must write her name in his book. She answered she could not write, but he told her he would direct her hand and then took a little sharpened stick and dipped in the blood and put it into her hand and guided it, and she wrote her name with his help. What was the matter she set her hand to, I could not learn from her; but thus much she confessed, that the term of time agreed upon with him was for 7 years. One year she was to be faithful in his service, and then the other six he would serve her and make her a witch. She also related that the ground of contest between her and the Devil, which was the occasion of this sad providence, was this: that after her covenant made, the Devil showed her hell and the damned and told her if she were not faithful to him, she should go thither and be tormented there. She desired of him to show her heaven, but he told her that heaven was an ugly place and that none went thither but a company of base rogues whom he hated. But if she would obey him, it should be well with her. But afterward she considered with herself that the term of her covenant was but short and would soon be at an end and she doubted (for all the Devil’s promises) she must at last come to the place he had shown her. And withal, feared if she were a witch, she should be discovered and brought to a shameful end, which was many times a trouble on her spirits. This the Devil perceiving, urged upon her to give him more of her blood and set her hand again to his book, which she refused to do, but partly through promises, partly by threatenings, he brought her at last to a promise that she would sometime do it. After which he left not incessantly to urge her to the performance of it. Once he met her on the stairs and often elsewhere, pressing her with vehemence, but she still put it off, till the first night she was taken when the Devil came to her and told her he would not tarry any longer. She told him she would not do it. He answered she had done it already and what further damage would it be to do it again, for she was his sure enough. She rejoined she had done it already and if she were his sure enough, what need he to desire any more of her. Whereupon he struck her the first night, again more violently the 2nd as is above expressed.

This is the sum of the relation I then had from her, which at that time seemed to be methodical. These things she uttered with great affection, overflowing of tears, and seeming bitterness. I asked of the reason of her weeping and bitterness. She complained of her sins and some in particular, profanation of the Sabbath, et cetera, but nothing of this sin of renouncing the government of God and giving herself up to the Devil. I therefore (as God helped) applied it to her and asked her whether she desired not prayers with and for her. She assented with earnestness and in prayer seemed to bewail the sin as God helped, then in the aggravation of it and afterward declared a desire to rely on the power and mercy of God in Christ. She then also declared that the Devil had deceived her concerning those persons impeached by her, that he had in their likeness or resemblance tormented her, persuading her that it was they, that they bore her a spleen, but he loved her and would free her from them and pressed on her to endeavor to bring them forth to the censure of the law.

In this case I left her but (not being satisfied in some things) I promised to visit her again the next day, which accordingly I did, but coming to her, I found her (though her speech still remained) in a case sad enough, her tears dried up and senses stupefied, and (as was observed) when I could get nothing from her and therefore applied myself in counsel to her, she regarded it not, but fixed her eye steadfastly upon a place, as she was wont when the Devil presented himself to her, which was a grief to her parents, and brought me to a stand. In the condition I left her.

The next day, being the Sabbath, whether upon any hint given her or any advantage Satan took by it upon her, she sent for me in haste at noon. Coming to her, she immediately with tears told me that she had belied the Devil in saying she had given him of her blood, et cetera. Professed that the most of the apparitions she had spoken of were but fancies, as images represented in a dream, earnestly entreated me to believe her, called God to witness to her assertion. I told her I would willingly hope the best and believe what I had any good grounds to apprehend. If therefore she would tell a more methodical relation than the former, it would be well, but if otherwise, she must be content that everyone should censure according to their apprehension. She promised so to do and expressed a desire that all that would might hear her, that as they had heard so many lies and untruths, they might now hear the truth, and engaged that in the evening she would do it. I then repaired to her, and diverse more then went. She then declared this much, that the Devil had sometimes appeared to her, that the occasion of it was her discontent, that her condition displeased her, her labor was burdensome to her, she was neither content to be at home nor abroad and had oftentimes strong persuasions to practice in witchcraft, had often wished the Devil would come to her at such and such times and resolved that if he would, she would give herself up to him soul and body. But (though he had oft times appeared to her) at such times he had not discovered himself, and therefore she had been preserved from such a thing. I declared a suspicion of the truth of the relation and gave her some reasons. But by reason of the company did not say much, neither could anything further be gotten from her. But the next day I went to her and opened my mind to her alone and left it with her declared (among other things) that she had used preposterous courses and therefore it was no marvel that she had been led into such contradictions and tendered her all the help I could, if she would make use of me and more privately relate any weighty and serious case of conscience to me. She promised me she would if she knew anything but said that then she knew nothing at all but stood to the story she had told the foregoing evening. And indeed what to make of these things I at present know not, but am waiting till God (if he see meet) wind up the story and make a more clear discovery.

It was not many days ere she was hurried again into violent fits after a different manner, being taken again speechless and using all endeavors to make away with herself and do mischief unto others, striking those that held her, spitting in their faces. And if at any time she had done any harm or frightened them, she would laugh immediately, which fits held her sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. Few occasions she had of speech, but when she could speak, she complained of a hard heart, counseled some to beware of sin, for that had brought her to this, bewailed that so many prayers had been put up for her and she still so hard hearted, and no more good wrought upon her. But being asked whether she were willing to repent, shaked her head and said nothing. Thus she continued till the next Sabbath in the afternoon, on which day in the morning, being something better than at other times, she had but little company tarried with her in the afternoon, when the Devil began to make more full discovery of himself.

It had been a question before whether she might properly be called a demoniac, or person possessed of the Devil, but it was then put out of question. He began (as the persons with her testify) by drawing her tongue out of her mouth most frightfully to an extraordinary length and greatness, and many amazing postures of her body, and then by speaking vocally in her, whereupon her father and another neighbor were called from the meeting, on whom (as soon as they came in) he railed, calling them rogues, charging them for folly in going to hear a black rogue who told them nothing but a parcel of lies and deceived them, and many like expressions. After exercise I was called, but understood not the occasion till I came and heard the same voice, a grim, low, that audible voice it was. The first salutation I had was, “Oh! You are a great rogue.” I was at the first something daunted and amazed and many reluctances I had upon my spirits, which brought me to a silence and amazement in my spirits, till at last God heard my groans and gave me both refreshment in Christ and courage. I then called for a light to see whether it might not appear a counterfeit and observed not any of her organs to move. The voice was hollow, as if it issued out of her throat. He then again called me great black rogue. I challenged him to make it appear, but all the answer was, you tell the people a company of lies. I reflected on myself and could not but magnify the goodness of God not to suffer Satan to bespatter the names of his people with those sins which he himself hath pardoned in the blood of Christ.

I answered, “Satan, thou art a liar and a deceiver, and God will vindicate his own truth one day.” He answered nothing directly but said, “I am not Satan. I am a pretty black boy. This is my pretty girl. I have been here a great while.”
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I sat still and answered nothing to these expressions, but when he directed himself to me again, “Oh! You black rogue, I do not love you,” I replied through God’s grace, “I hate thee.” He rejoined, “But you had better love me.” These manner of expressions filled some of the company there present with great consternation. Others put on boldness to speak to him, at which I was displeased and advised them to see their call clear, fearing least by his policy and many apish expressions he used, he might insinuate himself and raise in them a fearlessness of spirit of him. I no sooner turned my back to go to the fire, but he called out again, “Where is that black rogue gone?” I, seeing little good to be done by discourse and questioning many things in my mind concerning it, I desired the company to join in prayer unto God. When we went about that duty and were kneeled down, with a voice louder than before something, he cried out, “Hold your tongue. Hold your tongue. Get you gone, you black rogue. What are you going to do? You have nothing to do with me,” et cetera. But through God’s goodness was silenced, and she lay quiet during the time of prayer, but as soon as it was ended, began afresh, using the former expressions, at which some ventured to speak to him, though I think imprudently. One told him God had him in chains. He replied, “For all my chains, I can knock thee on the head when I please.”
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He said he would carry her away that night. Another answered, “But God is stronger than thou.” He presently rejoined that, “’Tis a lie. I am stronger than God.” At which blasphemy I again advised them to be wary of speaking, counseled them to get serious parsons to watch with her, and left her, commending her to God.

On Tuesday following, she confessed that the Devil entered into her the 2nd night after her first taking. That when she was going to bed, he entered in (as she conceived) at her mouth and had been in her ever since and professed that if there were ever a Devil in the world, there was one in her, but in what manner he spake in her she could not tell. On Wednesday night, she must forthwith be carried down to the bay in all haste, she should never be well till an assembly of ministers was met together to pray with and for her, and in particular Mr. Cobbet. Her friends advised with me about it. I signified to them that I apprehended. Satan never made any good motion, but it was out of season, and that it was not a thing now feasible, the season being then extreme cold and the snow deep. That if she had been taken in the woods with her fits she must needs perish. On Friday in the evening she was taken again violently and then the former voice (for the sound) was heard in her again, not speaking, but imitating the crowing of a cock, accompanied with many other gestures, some violent, some ridiculous, which occasioned my going to her, whereby signs she signified that the Devil threatened to carry her away that night. God was again then sought for her and when in prayer that expression was used, that God had proved Satan a liar in preserving her once when he had threatened to carry her away that night and was entreated so to do again. The same voice, which had ceased 2 days before, was again heard by the bystanders 5 times distinctly to cry out, “Oh, you are a rogue,” and then ceased. But the whole time of prayer, sometimes by violence of fits, sometimes by noises she made, she drowned her own hearing from receiving our petition, as she afterward confessed.