The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-06-11
MISCELLANEOUS
NEW ENGLAND WITCHCRAFT.
BY JOHN NEAL.

conclusion OF n series OF interesting articles III
the Mirror, by John Neal, detailingi the trials of
the Salem Witches. Incredible as portions OF
this narrative may appear, it no doubt preserves
verisimiIitude of the Court proceedings in
that dark age:
On the fifth of August, 1602-less than one
hundred and fifty years ngo-Mr Burroughs, u
minister of the gospel, was put upon trial. in
the very heart of New England, for wtchcraft !!
1t happen ed i'm the midst of a terrible thunder
storm, and lasted all day and part of the night.
His behavior that of good and brave man;
but he shook, nevertheless, two or three times
after nightfall, when he saw beside eight con-
Tossing witches, and five or six poor distempered
creatures, Elizabeth Hubbard herself, a woman
whose character had been at his mercy for years
John FRock, his brother-n-law pious, weak
man. two or three old and very dear fir iends, land
half a score of neighbors arrayed against him ,as
if each encouraged by the others. What
was he to believe what could he believe P
These people were not, like Elizabeth Hubbard,
in his power, nor like the multitude, either hos
tile to nor afraid of him. They were there to
take away his life-under deep sense of duty.
His manly heart swelled when he saw ths-and
a shadow fell upon the faces about him. 1t
was the shadow of death, and he knew it.
"The confessiug witches testified" to borrow
the very language of eyewitness to the
whole, shat the prisoner had been at witch
meetings with thcm and had seduced and com.
PEELED them to the snares of Witchcraft, that he
promised them fine clothes for doing it, that he
brought poppets TO them and thorns to stick into
those poppe,s for the affecting other people, and
that he exhorted them to bewitch all Salem vii
lage, but to do it gradually
Among the bewitched, or afflicted persons,
one declared, "that in her agonies, little black
man came to her, saying his name was Bur-
roughs, and bidding her set her hand to u book
which ne showed her, Dragging that he was
q all ha Of h
es )" and others, that SIN their torments, the
prisoner tempted them to go TO a sacrament, to
which they heard him slimmoning other witch
es by the sound of a trumpet, who came from
all quarters, heller SHELTER, TO the rendezvous; >
another, on recovering fIom a trance, declared q,
"that he had carried her away TO top the of Il We
ry high mountain, where he showed her mighty
and glorious kingdoms, and offered them all to
her il she would but write her name in his
book His sudden appearance at the trial of
Sarah Good, his look of premature Old age alter
an absence of only three years, about which ev-
cry body spoke with surprise when he appeared
i'll conrt his loud voice and swarthy complex
ion, both so unlike what they had been, that
few could remember i'm him the gay high spirit
ed youth, whom they had known but few
years before, and been so well acquainted with
when a preacher his behavior TO the boy,
his reproduction of the lost knife at such criti
cal moment, by the help of that boy; his bright
fierce look, his undaunted carriage, and his re-
markable words when they asked him by what
authority he was abroad again, and he answered
by the authority of the Strong Man. Who was
that Strong Nun? "By authority OF One who
hath endowed me with great power !" Who
was that One
! The Judges were not long in doubt, for it be-
| ing proved by great number of respectable and
| trust morthy witnesses, that the accused, though
Il small man, had lifted gun of seven feet bar
rel, with one hand behind the lock; nay, that
with his fore finger in the barrel, he did so, and
that in the same party, at the same place, stout,
! formidable savage did the same thing, il was adj
Judged by the court, after consulting together a
while, that Burroughs had been aided and assist
ed by the Black Man, who was near in bodily
shape and after this, 1t having been satisfactory
! lY proved that Burroughs'n,dde nothing" OF other
feats recurring bodily strength. such as no one
there had eyer seen or heard out OF the holy
scriptures, was solenlnIy n,Idged by the same
court, after further consideration, that George
Burroughs had devil others now testified
that both his wives had frequently complained
| of their house being troubled with wicked spir-
| its and others who had sworn before the COM
hitting judge to the same story, now repeated
while it Numbered and lightened in their upturn-
ed faces-and the big sweat stood upon the
forehead of Burroughs, who appeared as II his
heprt was broken, though about his mouth was
IA patient, proud smile; for near him were Eliza
beth and Rachel Dyer also charged with witch
craft, waiting to be called up, one pale as death
watching his look if she had no hope on
earth but in him. while the other stood up with
her majestic forehead flashing to the storm--ay
repeated, even at such an hour. and in such Il
place, that they had been visited by the appari
tons of his buried wives, who charged him with
having caused their death, and promised, if ne
denied The charge, to appear in court agains
him.
"Prisoner at the bar" said one of the judges
after consulting with Lieutenant Governor
Stoughton, Mr. Winthrop, and Major Saon
stall, three other judges, prisoner ut the bar
what say you will you venture TO deny the
charge p
"Wll deny the -" He was interrupt
ed by a crash of thunder that shook the whole
house, and was followed by one universal cry o
horror from The multitude, rushing together, ant
falling upon their knees and covering their faces
"will deny the charge? Yes, that will +! tho
do Let my accusers appear Let the grave
open before mel am not afraid. If they bu
wear the blessed features OF them that love'
while on earth, shall but trembe with joys t'