An essay on demonology, ghosts and apparitions, and popular superstitions : also, an account of the witchcraft delusion at Salem, in 1692 / by James Thacher.

  • Thacher, James, 1754-1844.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on demonology, ghosts and apparitions, and popular superstitions : also, an account of the witchcraft delusion at Salem, in 1692 / by James Thacher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Stake. In most of the instances at Salem, the confessions proved false and deceptive, those who made them being totally ignorant of the nature of witchcraft. Our learned author further observes, that if two credible persons shall affirm on oath that they have seen the person accused, doing things which none but such as have familiarity with the devil ever did or can do^ that is a sufficient ground of convic- tion. It was on this ground that he justified the condemnation and execution of George Burroughs, the minister ; it being testified be- fore the court, that he had been seen to lift a barrel of molasses or cider, and to extend with one hand a heavy musket at arras' length. Nothing could be more sophistical than evi- dence of this description, for there are persons who can lift a solid body of six or seven hun- dred pounds, and can extend a king's arm at arms' length, when held at the smallest end with one hand, and no jury in our day would condemn such to the gallows as wizards. It is among the most unaccountable facts, that those who, to save their lives, belied their consciences, and confessed themselves guilty of having formed a league with the devil, and