for it, which the Owner of the Study thought more Kind than True. And she presently and perfectly came to her self, so that her whole Discourse and Carriage was alter'd unto the greatest measure of Sobriety; and she sate reading of the Bible and other good Books, for a good part of the Afternoon. Her Affairs calling her anon to go down again, the Dæmons were in a quarter of a Minute as bad upon her as before; and her Horse was waiting for her. Some then to see whether there had not been a Fallacy in what had newly hapned, resolv'd for to have her up unto the Study, where she had been at ease before; but she was then so strangely distorted, that it was an extream Difficulty to drag her up stairs. The Damons would pull her out of the Peoples Hands, and make her heavier than perhaps Three of her self. With incredible Toil (tho' she kept screaming, They say I must not go in) She was pull'd in; where she was no sooner got, but she could stand on her Feet, and with an alter'd Note, say, Now I am well.

She would be faint at first, and say, She felt something to go out of her! (the Noises whereof we sometimes heard, like those of a Mouse) but in a Minute or two she could apply her self to Devotion, and express her self with Discretion, as well as ever in her Life.

To satisfie some Strangers, the Experiment was divers times with the same Success, repeated; until my Lothness to have any thing done like making a Charm of a Room, caus'd me to forbid the Repetition of it. But enough of this. The Ministers of Boston and Charlstown, kept another Day of Prayer with Fasting for Goodwin's afflicted Family: After which, the Children had a Sensible, but a Gradual Abatement of their Sorrows, until Perfect Ease was at length restor'd unto them. The young Woman dwelt at my House the rest of the Winter; having by a vertuous Conversation made her self enough welcome to the Family. But e're long, I thought it convenient for me to entertain my Congregation with a Sermon on the memorable Providences wherein these Children had been concern'd, [afterwards publish'd.] When I had begun to study my Sermon, her Tormentors again seiz'd upon her, and manag'd her with a special Design, as was plain, to disturb me in what I was then about.

In the worst of her Extravagancies formerly, she was more dutiful to my self than I had reason to expect: But now her whole Carriage to me was with a Sawciness, which I was not us'd any where to be treated withal. She would knock at my Study door, affirming That

some below would be glad to see me; tho' there was none that ask'd for me: And when I chid her for telling what was false, her Answer was Mrs Mather is always glad to see you! She would call to me with numberless Impertinencies: And when I came down, she would throw things at me, tho' none of them could ever hurt me: And she would Hector me at a strange rate for something I was doing above, and threaten me with Mischief and Reproach that should revenge it. Few Tortures now attended her, but such as were provok'd. Her Frolicks were numberless; if we may call them hers. I was in Latin telling some young Gentlemen, That if I should bid her look to God, her Eyes would be put out: Upon which her Eyes were presently serv'd so. Perceiving that her Troublers understood Latin, some Trials were thereupon made whether they understood Greek and Hebrew, which it seems, they also did; but the Indian Languages they did seem not so well to understand.

When we went unto prayer, the Dæmons would throw her on the Floor at the Feet of him that pray'd, where she would whistle, and sing, and yell, to drown the Voice of the Prayer, and she would fetch Blows with her Fist, and Kicks with her Foot, at the Man that Pray'd: But still her Fist and Foot would always recoyl, when they came within an Inch or two of him, as if rebounding against a Wall: and then she would beg hard of other People to strike him, which (you may be sure) not being done, she cry'd out, He has wounded me in the Head. But before the Prayer was over, she would be laid for dead, wholly senseless, and (unto appearance) breathless, with her Belly swell'd like a Drum; And sometimes with croaking Noises in her. Thus wou'd she lie, most exactly with the Stiffness and Posture of one that had been two Days laid out for dead. Once lying thus, as he that was praying, was alluding to the Words of the Canaanitess, and saying, Lord, have mercy on a Daughter vex'd with a Devil, there came a big, but low Voice from her, in which the Spectators did not see her Mouth to move, There's two or three of us. When Prayer was ended, she would revive in a Minute or two, and continue as frolicksome as before.

She thus continu'd until Saturday towards the Evening; when she assay'd with as nimble, and various, and pleasant an Application, as could easily be us'd, for to divert the young Folks in the Family from such Exercises, as it was proper to meet the Sabbath withal: But

they refusing to be diverted, she fell fast asleep, and in two or three Hours wak'd perfectly her self, weeping bitterly to remember what had befallen her. When Christmas arriv'd, both she at my House, and her Sister at home, were by the Dæmons made very drunk, tho' we are fully satisfied they had no Strong Drink to make them so; nor would they willingly have been so, to have gain'd the World. When she began to feel her self Drunk, she complain'd, Oh! they say they will have me to keep Christmas with them. They will disgrace me, when they can do nothing else. And immediately the ridiculous Behaviours of one drunk, were with a wondrous Exactness represented in her Speaking, and Reeling and Spewing, and anon Sleeping, till she was well again. At last the Dæmons put her upon saying that she was dying, and the matter prov'd such, that we fear'd she really was; for she lay, she toss'd, she pull'd, just like one dying, and urg'd hard for some one to die with her, seeming loth to die alone. She argu'd concerning Death, with Paraphrases on the Thirty first Psalm, in Strains that quite amaz'd us: And concluded, that tho' she was loth to die, yet if God said she must, she must! Adding, that the Indians would quickly shed much Blood in the Countrey, and horrible Tragedies would be acted in the Land. Thus the Vexations of the Children ended.

But after a while, they began again; and then one particular Minister taking a particular Compassion on the Family, set himself to serve them in the methods prescrib'd by our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, the Lord being besought thrice in Three Days of Prayer, with Fasting on this occasion, the Family then saw their Deliverance perfected; and the Children afterwards all of them, not only approv'd themselves Devout Christians; but unto the Praise of God reckon'd these their Afflictions among the special Incentives of their Christianity.

SAMUEL SEWALL

FROM

THE DIARY

Dec. 20, [1676]. . Mrs. Usher lyes very sick of an Inflammation in the Throat, which began on Monday. Called at her House coming home, to tell Mr. Fosterling's Receipt, i. e, A Swallows Nest (the inside) stamped and applied to the throat outwardly. . .

July 8, 1677. New Meeting House Mane: In Sermon time there came in a female Quaker, in a Canvas Frock, her hair disshevelled and loose like a Periwigg, her face as black as ink, led by two other Quakers, and two other followed. It occasioned the greatest and most amazing uproar that I ever saw. Isaiah I. 12, 14.

Friday May 22d. 1685, had a private Fast: the Magistrates of this town with their Wives here. Mr. Eliot prayed, Mr. Willard preached. I am afraid of Thy judgments-Text Mother gave. Mr. Allen prayed; cessation half an hour. Mr. Cotton Mather prayed; Mr. Mather preached Ps. 79, 9. Mr. Moodey prayed about an hour and half; Sung the 79th Psalm from the 8th to the End: distributed some Biskets, and Beer, Cider, Wine. The Lord hear in Heaven his dwelling place.

Monday, July 6th. . . . An Indian was branded in Court and had a piece of his Ear cut off for Burglary.

Thorsday, Novг. 12. . . . After, the Ministers of this Town Come to the Court and complain against a Dancing Master who seeks to set up here and hath mixt Dances, and his time of Meeting is Lecture-Day; and 'tis reported he should say that by one Play he could teach more Divinity than Mr. Willard or the Old Testament. Mr. Moodey said 'twas not a time for N.E. to dance. Mr. Mather struck at the Root, speaking against mixt Dances.

Friday, Augt. 20. [1686]. Read the 143, 144 Psalms mane, and Sam Read the 10th of Jeremiah. I was and am in great exercise about the Cross to be put into the Colours, and afraid if I should have a hand in 't whether it may not hinder my Entrance into the Holy Land.

...

Sabbath, Feb. 6. [1687]. Between hour after 11. and hour after 12. at Noon, many Scores of great Guns fired at the Castle and Town, suppose upon account of the King's entring on the third year of his Reign. . . . . This day the Lord's Supper was administered at the middle and North Meeting-Houses; the ratling of the Guns during almost all the time, gave them great disturbance. "Twas never so in Boston before.

Feb. 15, 1686/7. Jos. Maylem carries a Cock at his back, with a Bell in 's hand, in the Main Street; several follow him blindfold, and under pretence of striking him or 's cock, with great cart-whips strike passengers, and make great disturbance. .

the two days wherein he buried his Wife and Son, were the best that ever he had in the world.

....

Friday, Oct. 5. . . . . About 9. night, Thomas, an Indian and very usefull Servant of Mr. Oliver, hang'd himself in the Brewhouse. Satterday, Oct. 6. The Coroner sat on him, having a Jury, and ordered his burial by the highway with a Stake through his

Monday, Oct. 22. Mr. Isaac Walker is buried. Bearers, Mr. James Taylor, Mr. Francis Burroughs, Capt. Tho. Savage, Mr. Simeon Stoddard, Mr. George Elleston, Mr. Saml. Checkly; Deacon Eliot and I led the young widow, and had Scarfs and Gloves. The Lord fit me, that my Grave may be a Sweetening place for my Sinpolluted Body.

....

Sabbath, Jan. 12. [1689]. Richard Dumer, a flourishing youth of 9 years old, dies of the Small Pocks. I tell Sam. of it and what need he had to prepare for Death, and therefore to endeavour really to pray when he said over the Lord's Prayer: He seem'd not much to mind, eating an Apple; but when he came to say, Our father, he burst out into a bitter Cry, and when I askt what was the matter and he could speak, he burst out into a bitter Cry and said he was afraid he should die. I pray'd with him, and read Scriptures comforting against death, as, O death where is thy sting, &c. All things yours. Life and Immortality brought to light by Christ, &c. "Twas

at noon.

Sabbath-day, August the four and twentieth, 1690. I publish my little Daughter's name to be Judith, held her up for Mr. Willard to baptize her. She cried not at all, though a pretty deal of water was poured on her by Mr. Willard when He baptized her. . . .

Sabbath, Sept. 21. About 2 mane, I rise, read some Psalms and pray with my dear Daughter. Between 7. and 8. (Mr. Moodey preaches in the Forenoon) I call Mr. Willard, and he prays. Told Mr. Walter of her condition at the funeral, desiring him to give her a lift towards heaven. Mr. Baily sat with me in the Afternoon. I acquainted Him. Between 7. and 8. in the evening the child died, and I hope sleeps in Jesus.

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