The Witchcraft in New England. Calef Robert

Work entitled The Home Cyclopedia, compiled by Messrs. George Ripley and Bayard Taylor.

[89] A very considerable Part of the learned John Scheffer's History of Lapland is taken up in Details of Witchcraft, as observed in that Country. He was a Native of Germany, born 1621, resided some Time in Sweden, died 1679. For later Transactions of the same Kind, and in the same Country, the Reader may consult Dr. Horneck's Account, before referred to, "Done from the High-Dutch."

[90] This will all be found verified (if the Reader can command sufficient Credulity) in a curious little Work entitled England's Warning Pieces, printed in 1642, and fully illustrated by Engravings. Among Prodigies related, the Writer says: "I remember our Brethren in New England, not long since, made use of another most prodigious and mishapen and monstrous Birth, brought foorth by a Gentlewoman of that New Plantation, who had beene a maine Fautrix, if not originall Broacher of very many most wicked, dangerous and damnable Opinions in their Church." Page 27. For further Particulars see Savage's Winthrop's Journal, i, 261–3.

[91] This has Reference to the then late Persecution of the Huguenots in France. They had been protected by the Edict of Henry the Fourth (Nantes, 1598), which was revoked in 1685 by Louis XIV; by which Revocation about 50,000 Protestants were forced to fly the Kingdom. Some fled to Germany, Holland, Switzerland, England, and some even took Refuge in New England, where their Posterity are yet well known, respected and honored.

[92] If, according to our Author, there is anything good or bad, that the Devil does not do, and is not the Author of, one might not unreasonably inquire what it is? Certainly in his Charges against the Devil every Accusation imaginable is exhausted, not one left even to father upon a Witch. Erratic Brains thus overdo themselves.

[93] Rome was built on seven Hills. It is to that he alludes.

[94] Ray refers to the Subject of the Earth having been once nearer the Sun than at present. See Physico-Theological Discourses, P. 381; also Dr. John Woodward's Natural History of the Earth, 245, Edition 1695, 8vo. Other Authors might be referred to.

[95] So far as the Annotator's Reading goes he has not found the Devil charged with making Earthquakes previous to our Author's Time. He certainly was in Advance of all Philosophers, ancient and modern, as respects that Discovery.

[96] Claudius Nero Tiberius died AD 37, aged 78.

[97] On the 7th of June, 1692, Jamaica was partly destroyd. Some 1500 People perished. Why Jamaica or its Capitol is compared to the ancient Tyros or Tyrus it is not easy to understand, as it might be difficult to find two Places differing wider in most Respects. See Ray's Discourses, 258, where may be seen a particular Account of this Earthquake.

[98] The Annotator is very greatly out in his Reckoning if the Reader does not decide that the Author was of all Men the most "bedeviled" of any ever heard or read of by him. This is the Editor's Corollary.

[99] This is related by one Mr. Balsom. See Clarke's Martyrology, ii, 179. The Devil had Possession of the Body of the Man, and uttered the Language italicized in the Text, making Use of the Man's Organs of Speech.

[100] It may not be easy for the Reader to discern how the whole Earth and the infinite Realms of Space about it can be much of a Gaol, especially with such a liberal Yard. The Doctor's Imagination is singularly at random sometimes.

[101] A noted Puritan of the Time of Cromwell. In such of his Books as have come under my Notice, his Name is uniformly Burroughs. His Rare Jewell, 410, 1648, was formerly very popular, and there is a handsome Edition of it as late as 1845.

[102] One has indeed a very "easie Time of it" in prophecying, and it is quite as easy to be laughed at for such Folly by those who come after such shallow-pated Soothsayers. The Author felt very sure that by the Year 1697, only five Years from the Time he was writing, that the Devil would have "his Wings so singed that he should no more set the Affairs of this World on Fire." That is to say—the Millenium would then begin!

[103] The Turks had not received their greatest Check until after our Author wrote. Mahomet IV commenced with renewed Vigor the War against Germany in 1663. It was continued with alternate Success and Disaster, until 1683, when John Sobieski, King of Poland, raised the Siege of Vienna; but it was not till 1699 that the Turks were driven out of Transylvania.

[104] The reported Utterance of Queen Mary (Consort of William the Third) at an Interview between her and the Author's Father, at Whitehall, April 9th, 1691. See Parentator, p. 130.

[105] This refers to the coming in of the Prince of Orange, and the Overthrow of James the Second's Government.

[106] On the 15th of March, 1691, Louis the XIV captured Nice in Piedmont, defended by the Duke of Savoy. But in the following Year the French lost the Supremacy of the Sea in the terrible Battle off La Hogue. That Supremacy they have never yet obtained.

[107] See Morton's Memorial, P. 38, Edition 16º. Edition 1721. Mather's Relation, 110, Ed. 4º, 1864. Johnson's Wonderworking Providence, 51.

[108] Having Reference, probably, to the Antinomians, as the more liberal Christians were called.

[109] The Difficulties with the Episcopalians.

[110] The absurd Notion that the Devil's Time was very short in 1693, was generally entertained by Christians. This Matter has already been referred to. When the World and its Affairs can go on without antagonistic Forces it is pretty certain the Devil's Time will be about out.

[111] Although the Affairs of the French King had begun to decline when the Author wrote the above, his Opponents were not without great Fear from him, as he achieved several considerable Victories on the Land after the signal Defeat of his Fleet mentioned in a previous Note.

[112] This Paragraph, though bracketed, is in the original Edition, Page 47.