came in against the Prisoner, the Testimonies of several
Persons, who confessed their own having been horrible _Witches_, and
ever since their Confessions, had been themselves terribly Tortured by
the Devils and other Witches, even like the other Sufferers; and therein
undergone the Pains of many _Deaths_ for their Confessions.
These now testified, that _G. B._ had been at Witch-meetings with them;
and that he was the Person who had Seduc'd, and Compell'd them into the
snares of Witchcraft; That he promised them _Fine Cloaths_, for doing
it; that he brought Poppets to them, and Thorns to stick into those
Poppets, for the Afflicting of other People; and that he exhorted them
with the rest of the Crew, to Bewitch all _Salem Village_, but besure to
do it Gradually, if they would prevail in what they did.
When the _Lancashire Witches_ were Condemn'd I don't remember that there
was any considerable further Evidence, than that of the Bewitched, and
than that of some that confessed. We see so much already against _G. B._
But this being indeed not enough, there were other things to render what
had been already produced _credible_.
V. A famous Divine recites this among the Convictions of a Witch; _The
Testimony of the party Bewitched, whether Pining or Dying; together with
the joint Oaths of sufficient Persons that have seen certain Prodigious
Pranks or Feats wrought by the Party Accused._ Now, God had been pleased
so to leave this _G. B._ that he had ensnared himself by several
Instances, which he had formerly given of a Preternatural Strength, and
which were now produced against him. He was a very Puny Man, yet he had
often done things beyond the strength of a Giant. A Gun of about seven
foot Barrel, and so heavy that strong Men could not steadily hold it out
with both hands; there were several Testimonies, given in by Persons of
Credit and Honor, that he made nothing of taking up such a Gun behind
the Lock, with but one hand, and holding it out like a Pistol, at
Arms-end. _G. B._ in his Vindication, was so foolish as to say, That
_an +Indian+ was there, and held it out at the same time:_ Whereas none
of the Spectators ever saw any such _Indian_; but they supposed, the
_Black Man_, (as the Witches call the Devil; and they generally say he
resembles an _Indian_) might give him that Assistance. There was
Evidence likewise brought in, that he made nothing of taking up whole
Barrels fill'd with _Malasses_ or _Cider_, in very
|