Deodat's Lawson's A BRIEF AND TRUE
NARRATIVE
A Brief and True Narrative Of some Remarkable
Passages Relating to sundry Persons Afflicted by Witchcraft, at Salem
Village Which happened from the Nineteenth of March, to the Fifth of
April, 1692. Collected by Deodat Lawson. Boston, Printed for Benjamin Harris and are to
be Sold at his Shop, over-against the Old-Meeting-House. 1692.
From, Geoge Burr, Narratives of Witchcraft
Cases, (New York, 1917) 145-162 "The Bookseller to the
Reader." The Ensuing Narrative, being a Collection of
some Remarkables, in an Affair now upon the Stage, made by a Credible
Eye-witness, is now offered unto the Reader, only as a Tast, of more
that may follow in Gods Time. If the Prayers of Good People may
obtain this Favour of God, That the Misterious Assaults from Hell now
made upon so many of our Friends may be thoroughly Detected and
Defeated, we suppose the Curious will be Entertained with as rare an
History as perhaps an Age has had; whereof this Narrative is but a
Forerunner. SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1692 Deodat Lawson's Narrative Benjamin Harris. On the Nineteenth day of March last I went to
Salem Village, and lodged at Nathaniel Ingersols [Nathaniel
Ingersoll, deacon in the village church and perhaps its most devoted
member, kept the tavern, or "ordinary," which was the recognized
centre of the "Village." The meeting-house
adjoined it to the east, to the west the parsonage, where lived Mr.
Parris.] near to the Minister Mr. P's (Parris).
house,and presently after I came into my Lodging Capt.
Walcuts Daughter Mary [Captain Jonathan
Walcot, commander of the village militia, dwelt next beyond the
parsonage. His daughter Mary was now seventeen.] came to Lieut. Ingersols and spake to me, but,
suddenly after as she stood by the door, was bitten, so that she
cried out of her Wrist, and looking on it with a Candle, we saw
apparently the marks of Teeth both upper and lower set, on each side
of her wrist. [The
Rev. Samuel Parris (1653-1720), whose part, and whose family's, in
the Salem panic was to be so great, had been at Salem Village since
1688, succeeding Deodat Lawson as its spiritual head. Till then, though
educated at Harvard, which is to say for the ministry, he had been
engaged in
the West Indian trade, and had lived for a time in Barbadoes, whence he had brought back
with him the two slaves, John and Tituba, perhaps half negro, half native, with
whom we must soon have to do. Abigail Williams, his niece, was a member of his
household; and we shall meet also his little daughter Elizabeth, aged nine. The account of
his life by S. P. Fowler (Essex Institute, Proceedings, II. 49-68)
has been separately printed (Salem, 1857) and is appended to Drake's
ed. of Mather and Calef (III. 198-222). But the student needs also
Upham, Salem Witchcraft, and the documents reprinted by
Calef, More Wonders, pp. 55-64.] There was a close
association with the influence of voodoo in both witchcraft and the
so-called revivals. In the beginning of the Evening, I went to
give Mr. P. (Parris) a visit. When I was there, his Kins-woman,
Abigail
Williams, (about 12 years of age,) had a grievous fit; she was
at first hurryed with Violence to and fro in the room, (though Mrs.
Ingersol endeavoured to hold her,) sometimes makeing as if she would fly,
stretching up her arms as high as she could, and crying "Whish,
Whish, Whish!" several times; Presently after she said there was
Goodw. Nurse. and said, "Do you not see her? Why there she stands!"
And the said Goodw. N. offered her The Book, but she was resolved she
would not take it, saying Often, "I wont, I wont, I wont, take it, I
do not know what Book it is: I am sure it is none of Gods Book, it is
the Divels Book, for ought I know." After that, she run to the Fire,
and begun to throw Fire Brands, about the house; and run against the
Back, as if she would run up Chimney, and, as they said, she had
attempted to go into the Fire in other Fits. On Lords Day, the Twentieth of March, there
were sundry of the afflicted Persons at Meeting, as, Mrs. Pope, and
Goodwife Bibber, Abigail Williams. Mary Walcut, Mary ewes, and Docter
Griggs' Maid. There was also at Meeting, Goodwife C. [Martha Corey,
wife of Giles Corey. She too was advanced in years.] (who was afterward Examined on suspicion of
being a Witch:) They had several Sore Fits, in the time of Publick
Worship, which did something interrupt me in my First Prayer; being
so unusual. After Psalm was Sung, Abigail Williams said to me, "Now
stand up, and Name your Text": And after it was read, she said, "It
is a long Text." In the beginning of sermon, Mrs. Pope, a Woman
afflicted, said to me, "Now there is enough of that." And in the
afternoon, Abigail Williams upon my referring to my Doctrine said to
me, "I know no Doctrine you had, If you did name one, I have forgot
it." In Sermon time when Goodw. C was present in
the Meetinghouse Ab. W. called out, "Look where Goodw. C sits on the
Beam suckling her Yellow bird betwixt her fingers"! Anne Putnam another
Girle afflicted said there was a Yellow-bird sat on my hat as it hung
on the Pin in the Pulpit: but those that were by, restrained her from
speaking loud about it. On Monday the 21st of March, The Magistrates
of Salem appointed to come to Examination of Goodw C. And about
twelve of the Clock, they went into the Meeting-House, which was
Thronged with Spectators: Mr. Noyes began with a very pertinent and
pathetic Prayer; and Goodwife C. being called to answer to what was
Alledged against her, she desired to go to Prayer, which was much
wondred at, in the presence of so many hundred people: The
Magistrates told her, they would not admit it; they came not there to
hear her Pray, but to Examine her, in what was Alledged against her.
The Worshipful Mr. Hathorne asked her, Why she Afflicted those
Children? she said, she did not Afflict them. He asked her, who did
then? she said, "I do not know; How should I know?" The Number of the
Afflicted Persons were about that time Ten, viz. Four Married Women,
Mrs. Pope, Mrs. Putman,Goodw. Bibber, and an Ancient Woman, named
Goodall, three Maids, Mary Walcut, Mercy Lewes, at Thomas Putman's,
and a Maid at Dr. Griggs's, there were three Girls from 9 to 12 Years
of Age, each of them, or thereabouts, viz. Elizabeth Parris, Abigail
Williams and Ann Putman; these were most of them at G. C's
Examination, and did vehemently accuse her in the Assembly of
afflicting them, by Pinching, Strangling, etc. And that they did in
their Fit see her Likeness coming to them, and bringing a Book to
them, she said, she had no Book; they affirmed, she had a
Fellow-Bird, that used to suck betwixt her Fingers, and being asked
about it, if she had any Familiar
Spirit, that attended her, she said,
She had no Familiarity with any such thing. She was a Gospel Woman:
which Title she called her self by; and the Afflicted Persons told
her, ah! She was, A Gospel Witch. Ann Putman did there affirm, that
one day when Lieutenant Fuller was at Prayer at her Fathers House,
she saw the shape of Goodw. C. and she thought Goodw. N. Praying at
the same time to the Devil, she was not sure it was Goodw. N. she
thought it was; but very sure she saw the Shape of G. C. The said C.
said, they were poor, distracted Children, and no heed to be given to
what they said. Mr. Hathorne and Mr. Noyes replyed, it was the
judgment of all that were present, they were Bewitched, and only she,
the Accused Person said, they were Distracted. It was observed several times, that if she did
but bite her Under lip in time of Examination the persons afflicted were
bitten on their armes and wrists and produced the Marks before the
Magistrates, Ministers and others. And being watched for that, if she
did but Pinch her Fingers, or Graspe one hand hard in another, they
were Pinched and produced the Marks before the Magistrates, and
Spectators. After that, it was observed, that if she did but lean her
Breast against the Seat, in the Meeting House, (being the Barr at
which she stood,) they were afflicted. Particularly Mrs. Pope
complained of grievous torment in her Bowels as if they were torn
out. She vehemently accused said C. as the instrument, and first
threw her Muff at her; but that flying not home, she got off her
Shoe, and hit Goodwife C. on the head with it. After these postures
were watched, if said C. did but stir her feet, they were afflicted
in their Feet, and stamped fearfully. The afflicted persons asked her
why she did not go to the company of Witches which were before the
Meeting house mustering? Did she not hear the Drum beat? They accused her of having Familiarity with
the Devil, in the time of Examination, in the shape of a Black man
whispering in her ear; they affirmed, that her Yellow-Bird sucked
betwixt her Fingers in the Assembly; and order being given to see if
there were any sign, the Girl that saw it said, it was too late now;
she had removed a Pin, and put it on her head; which was found there
sticking upright. They told her, she had Covenanted with the
Devil for ten years, six of them were gone, and four more to come.
She was required by the Magistrates to answer that Question in the
Catechism, "How many persons be there in the God-Head?" she answered
it but oddly, yet was there no great thing to be gathered from it;
she denied all that was charged upon her, and said, They could not
prove a Witch; she was that Afternoon Committed to Salem-Prison; and
after she was in Custody, she did not so appear to them, and afflict
them as before. On Wednesday the 23 of March, I went to
Thomas Putmans, on purpose to see his Wife: I found her lying on the
Bed, having had a sore fit a little before. She spake to me, and
said, she was glad to see me; her Husband and she both desired me to
pray with her, while she was sensible; which I did, though the
Apparition said, I should not go to Prayer. At the first beginning
she attended; but after a little time, was taken with a fit: yet
continued silent, and seemed to be Asleep: when Prayer was done, her
Husband going to her, found her in a Fit; he took her off the Bed, to
set her on his Knees; but at first she was so stiff, she could not be
bended; but she afterwards set down; but quickly began to strive
violently with her Arms and Leggs; she then began to Complain of, and
as it were to Converse personally with, Goodw. N., saying, "Goodw. N.
Be gone! Be gone! Be gone! are you not ashamed, a Woman of your
Profession, to afflict a poor Creature so? what hurt did I ever do
you in my life! you have but two years to live, and then the Devil
will torment your Soul, for this your Name is blotted out of Gods
Book, and it shall never be put in Gods Book again, be gone for
shame, are you not afraid of that which is coming upon you? I Know, I
know, what will make you afraid; the wrath of an Angry God, I am sure
that will make you afraid; be gone, do not tourment me, I know what
you would have (we judged she meant, her Soul) but it is out of your
reach; it is Clothed with the white Robes of Christs Righteousness."
After this, she seemed to dispute with the Apparition about a
particular Text of Scripture. The Apparition seemed to deny it, (the
Womans eyes being fast closed all this time); she said, She was sure
there was such a Text; and she would tell it; and then the Shape
would be gone, for said she, "I am sure you cannot stand before that
Text!" then she was sorely Afflicted; her mouth drawn on one side,
and her body strained for about a minute, and then said, "I will
tell, I will tell; it is, it is, it is!" three or four times, and
then was afflicted to hinder her from telling, at last she broke
forth and said, "It is the third Chapter of the Revelations." I did
something scruple the reading it, and did let my scruple appear, lest
Satan should make any Superstitious lie to improve the Word of the
Eternal God. However, tho' not versed in these things, I judged I
might do it this once for an Experiment. I began to read, and before
I had near read through the first verse, she opened her eyes, and was
well; this fit continued near half an hour. Her Husband and the
Spectators told me, she had often been so relieved by reading Texts
that she named, something pertinent to her Case; as Isa. 40. 1, Isa.
49. 1, Isa. 50. 1, and several others. On Thursday the Twenty fourth of march, (being
in course the Lecture Day, at the Village,) Goodwife N. was brought
before the Magistrates Mr. Hathorne and Mr. Corwin, about Ten of
[the] Clock, in the Fore Noon, to be Examined in the Meeting House;
the Reverend Mr. Hale begun with Prayer, and the Warrant being read,
she was required to give answer, Why she aflicted those persons? she
pleaded her owne innocency with earnestness. Thomas Putman's Wife,
Abigail Williams and Thomas Putmans daughter accused her that she
appeared to them, and afflicted them in their fitts: but some of the
other said, that they had seen her, but knew not that ever she had
hurt them; amongst which was Mary Walcut, who was presently after she
had so declared bitten, and cryed out of her in the meeting-house;
producing the Marks of teeth on her wrist. It was so disposed, that I
had not leisure to attend the whole time of Examination,but both
Magistrates and Ministers told me, that the things alledged by the
afflicted, and defences made by her, were much after the same manner,
as the former was. And her Motions did produce like effects as to
Biteing, Pinching, Bruising, Tormenting, at their Breasts, by her
Leaning, and when, bended Back, were as if their Backs was broken.
The afflicted persons said, the Black Man whispered to her in the
Assembly, and therefore she could not hear what the Magistrates said
unto her. They said also that she did then ride by the Meeting-house,
behind the Black Man. Thomas Putman's wife had a grievous Fit, in the
time of Examination, to the very great Impairing of her strength, and
wasting of her spirits, insomuch as she could hardly move hand, or
foot, when she was carryed out. Others also were there grievously
afflicted, so that there was once such an hideous scrietch and noise,
(which I heard as I walked, at a little distance from the Meeting
house,) as did amaze me, and some that were within told me the whole
assembly was struck with consternation, and they were afraid, that
those that sate next to them, were under the influence of Witchcraft.
This woman also was that day committed to Salem Prison. The
Magistrates and Ministers also did informe me, that they apprehended
a child of Sarah G. and Examined it, being between 4 and 5 years of
Age, And as to matter of Fact, they did Unanimously affirm, that when
this Child did but cast its eye upon the afflicted persons, they were
tormented, and they held her Head, and yet so many as her eye could
fix upon were afflicted. Which they did several times make careful
observation of: the afflicted complained, they had often been Bitten
by this child, and produced the marks of a small set of teeth,
accordingly, this was also committed to Salem Prison; the child
looked hail, and well as other Children. I saw it at Lieut.
Ingersols. After the commitment of Goodw. N., Tho: Putmans wife was
much better, and had no violent fits at all from that 24th of March
to the 5th of April. Some others also said they had not seen her so
frequently appear to them, to hurt them. On the 25th of March, (as Capt. Stephen Sewal,
of Salem, did afterwards inform me) Eliza. Paris had sore Fits, at
his house, which much troubled himself, and his wife, so as he told
me they were almost discouraged. She related, that the great Black
Man came to her, and told her, if she would be ruled by him, she
should have whatsoever she desired, and go to a Golden City. She
relating this to Mrs. Sewall, she told the child, it was the Divel,
and he was a Lyar from the Beginning, and bid her tell him so, if he
came again: which she did accordingly, at the next coming to her, in
her fits. On the 26th of March, Mr. Hathorne, Mr.
Corwin, and Mr. Higison were at the Prison-Keepers House, to Examine
the Child, and it told them there, it had a little Snake that used to
Suck on the lowest Joynt of it[s] Fore-Finger; and when they inquired
where, pointing to other places, it told them, not there, but there,
pointing on the Lowest point of Fore-Finger; where they Observed a
deep Red Spot, about the Bigness of a Flea-bite, they asked who gave
it that Snake? whether the great Black man, it said no, its Mother
gave it. The 31 of March there was a Publick Fast kept
at Salem on account of these Afflicted Persons. And Abigail Williams
said, that the Witches had a Sacrament that day at an house in the
Village, and that they had Red Bread and Red Drink. The first of
April, Mercy Lewis, Thomas Putman's Maid, in her fitt, said, they did
eat Red Bread like Mans Flesh, and would have had her eat some: but
she would not; but turned away her head, and Spit at them, and said,
"I will not Eat, I will not Drink, it is Blood," etc. She said, "That
is not the Bread of Life, that is not the Water of Life; Christ gives
the Bread of Life, I will have none of it!" This first of April also
Marcy Lewis aforesaid saw in her fitt a White man and was with him in
a Glorious Place, which had no Candles nor Sun, yet was full of Light
and Brightness; where was a great Multitude in White glittering
Robes, and they Sung the Song in the fifth of Revelation the Ninth
verse, and the 110 Psalm, and the 149 Psalm; and said with her self,
"How long shall I stay here? let me be along with you": She was loth
to leave this place, and grieved that she could tarry no longer. This
Whiteman hath appeared several times to some of them, and given them
notice how long it should be before they had another Fit, which was
sometimes a day, or day and half, or more or less: it hath fallen out
accordingly. The third of April, the Lords-Day, being
Sacrament-day, at the Village, Goodw. C. upon Mr. Parris's naming his
Text, John 6, 70, One of them is a Devil, the said Goodw. C. went
immediately out of the Meeting-House, and flung the door after her
violently, to the amazement of the Congregation: She was afterward
seen by some in their Fits, who said, "O Goodw. C., I did not think
to see you here!" (and being at their Red bread and drink) said to
her, "Is this a time to receive the Sacrament, you ran-away on the
Lords-Day, and scorned to receive it in the Meeting-House, and, Is
this a time to receive it? I wonder at you!" This is the summ of what
I either saw my self, or did receive Information from persons of
undoubted Reputation and Credit. Remarks of things more than ordinary about the
Afflicted Persons. 1. They are in their Fits tempted to be
Witches, are shewed the List of the Names of others, and are
tortured, because they will not yield to Subscribe, or meddle with,
or touch the Book, and are promised to have present Relief if they
would do it. 2. They did in the Assembly mutually Cure each
other, even with a Touch of their Hand, when Strangled, and otherwise
Tortured; and would endeavour to get to their Afflicted, to Relieve
them. 3. They did also foretel when anothers Fit was
a-coming, and would say, "Look to her! she will have a Fit
presently," which fell out accordingly, as many can bear itness, that
heard and saw it. 4. That at the same time, when the Accused
Person was present, the Afflicted Persons saw her Likeness in other
places of the Meeting-House, suckling her Familiar, sometimes in one
place and posture, and sometimes in another. 5. That their Motions in their Fits are
Preternatural, both as to the manner, which is so strange as a well
person could not Screw their Body into; and as to the violence also
it is preternatural, being much beyond the Ordinary force of the same
person when they are in their right mind. 6. The eyes of some of them in their fits are
exceeding fast closed, and if you ask a question they can give no
answer, and I do believe they cannot hear at that time, yet do they
plainely converse with the Appearances, as if they did discourse with
real persons. 7. They are utterly pressed against any
persons Praying with them, and told by the appearances, they shall
not go to Prayer, so Tho. Putmans wife was told, I should not Pray;
but she said, I should: and after I had done, reasoned with the
Appearance, "Did not I say he should go to Prayer?" 8. The forementioned Mary W. being a little
better at ease, the Afflicted persons said, she had signed the book;
and that was the reason she was better. Told me by Edward
Putman. Notes Remarks concerning the Accused.
1. For introduction to the discovery of those
that afflicted them, It is reported Mr. Parris's Indian Man and Woman
made a Cake of Rye Meal, and the Childrens water, baked it in the
Ashes, and gave it to a Dogge, since which they have discovered, and
seen particular persons hurting of them. 2. In Time of Examination, they seemed little
affected, though all the Spectators were much grieved to see
it. 3. Natural Actions in them produced
Preternatural actions in the Afflicted, so that they are their own
Image without any Poppits of Wax or otherwise. 4. That they are accused to have a Company
about 23 or 24 and they did Muster in Armes, as it seemed to the
Afflicted Persons. 5. Since they were confined, the Persons have
not been so much Afflicted with their appearing to them, Biteing or
Pinching of them, etc. 6. They are reported by the Afflicted Persons
to keep dayes of Fast and dayes of Thanksgiving, and Sacraments;.
Satan endeavours to Transforme himself to an Angel of Light, and to
make his Kingdom and Administrations to resemble those of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 7. Satan Rages Principally amongst the Visible
Subjects of Christ's Kingdom and makes use (at least in appearance)
of some of them to Afflict others; that Christ's Kingdom may be
divided against it self, and so be weakened. 8. Several things used in England at Tryal of
Witches, to the Number of 14 or 15, which are wont to pass instead of
or in Concurrence with Witnesses, at least 6 or 7 of them are found
in these accused: see Keebles Statutes. 9. Some of the most solid Alflicted Persons do
affirme the same things concerning seeing the accused out of their
Fitts as well as in them. 10. The Witches had a Fast, and told one of
the Afflicted Girles, she must not Eat, because it was Fast Day, she
said, she would: they told her they would Choake her then; which when
she did eat, was endeavoured. Finis. 