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INTRODUCTION. 1

I.

THE CONNECTION OF THE MATHERS WITH THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THEIR
TIME. 1

II.

THE GOODWIN CHILDREN. SOME GENERAL REMARKS UPON THE
CRITICISMS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW. 4

III.

COTTON MATHER AND THE GOODWIN CHILDREN. JOHN BAILY. JOHN
HALE. GOODWIN'S CERTIFICATES. MATHER'S IDEA OF WITCHCRAFT
AS A WAR WITH THE DEVIL. HIS USE OF PRAYER. CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE CASE OF THE GOODWIN CHILDREN AND SALEM
WITCHCRAFT. 6

IV.

THE RELATION OF THE MATHERS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF
MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1692. THE NEW CHARTER. THE GOVERNMENT
UNDER IT ARRANGED BY THEM. ARRIVAL OF SIR WILLIAM PHIPS. 12

V.

THE SPECIAL COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER. HOW IT WAS
ESTABLISHED. WHO RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
PROVINCE CONCENTRATED IN ITS CHIEF-JUSTICE. 15

VI.

COTTON MATHER'S CONNECTION WITH THE COURT. SPECTRAL EVIDENCE.
LETTER TO JOHN RICHARDS. ADVICE OF THE MINISTERS. 19

VII.

ADVICE OF THE MINISTERS, FURTHER CONSIDERED. COTTON MATHER'S
PLAN FOR DEALING WITH SPECTRAL TESTIMONY. 23

VIII.

COTTON MATHER AND SPECTRAL EVIDENCE. 30

IX.

COTTON MATHER AND THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS. JOHN PROCTOR.
GEORGE BURROUGHS. 32

X.

COTTON MATHER AND THE WITCHCRAFT TRIALS. THE EXECUTIONS. 38

XI.

LETTER TO STEPHEN SEWALL. "WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD."
ITS ORIGIN AND DESIGN. COTTON MATHER'S ACCOUNT OF THE
TRIALS. 44

XII.

"WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD," CONTINUED. PASSAGES FROM
IT. "CASES OF CONSCIENCE." INCREASE MATHER. 50

XIII.

THE COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN END. SIR