Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft, Chapter 8
CHAPTER. VIII.
7. A Seventh principle is, If the party ſuſpected appear in Spectre to the afflicted, and the afflicted give a blow with a knife, ſword, &c. unto the Spectre (or ſome other in their behalf) and the Spectre ſeems wounded, or bleeding, or to have their garment torn, or ſlit by the blow received. And that the party Spectrally repreſented be preſently ſearched, and there is found upon their body a wound, or blood, &c. on the ſame part of their body, or a rent, or cut upon the ſame part of the garment, which appeared upon the Spectre unto the afflicted. This hath been counted a ſtrong evidence to prove the party ſuſpected to be a confederate with Satan in afflicting t… complainer. As by Judge Archer in Coxes caſ… Executed at Taunton, Anno 1663. (See Glanv… part 2. p. 196) But let us ſearch this to the bottom; and there is no ground of ſuſpicion in ſuch a kind of probation. For the ground of the ſuſpicion ariſeth hence viz. That what wound or mark is given to the Spectre (that is to the Devils aerial aſſumed body) is tranſlated thence unto the perſon ſetting this Spectre on work to afflict; or to their garments, if the mark be on that. But we have no ſufficient ground to know this.
1. For if it muſt be ſo, it muſt be either (1.) From ſome ſympathy in nature between the Spectre and the party repreſented by it. But this we have no ground in reaſon to conclude; for whence or how ſhould ſuch a ſympathy be between an humane body, and the Devil in the Image or likeneſs of it? Or if it were, how can there come ſuch a ſympathy between the garment of a perſon and the Devil appearing in the likeneſs of that garment? Surely the garment was not in any league with Satan? (2) Or this comes to paſs by vertue of the Covenant between Satan and this confederate: if ſo we ſay, I ask how come we to know there is ſuch an article in the bargain with the Devil? or if we know there were ſuch an article in their agreement, how can we tell, that the Devil will ſtand to his own Covenant? Or, (3.) This comes to paſs by the Immediate hand of God making ſuch a tranſlation of a wound &c. unto a Witch that they may thereby be diſcovered; which if ſo, it is preternatural if not ſupernatural. And we have no ground from Scripture to expect ſuch a ſign from God; and therefore to expect it is to be guilty of the ſin of that Wicked Generation, that ſought after a ſign. Math. 16.4. Which ſhould not be given to them. Or (4) This tranſlation cometh (if there be any ſuch) from the Devil as a free & powerful Spirit, afflicting the body or affecting the garment ſo marked: And if it be from hence, its the Devils teſtimony which ought to be no credit with mankind.
2. The true ſtate of this caſe ſeems to be this; That the perſon or garment ſo repreſented to the Afflicted by a Spectre was wounded, or bleeding, or cut or rent before. And the Devil knowing this, repreſents to the afflicted (or ſtriker at the Spectre) that part of the Spectre which anſwers the Body wounded, or garment rent or torn, the Searchers finding ſuch wounds upon, or rents about the perſon ſuſpected are ready to conclude it was done by the ſtroke at the Spectre which was done before. I ſhall confirm this by inſtances.
There was at Ghelmsford, an Afflicted perſon, that in her fits cryed out againſt a Woman, a Neighbour, which Mr. Clark, the Miniſter of the Goſpel there could not believe guilty of ſuch a Crime. And it hapned while that woman was milking her Cow, the Cow ſtruck her with one horn upon her Forehead and fetched blood, and while ſhe was bleeding, a… Spectre in her likeneſs appeared to the party Afflicted, who pointing at the Spectre, one ſtruck at the place, and the Afflicted ſaid, you have made her forehead bleed. Hereupon ſome went to the woman, and found her forehead bloody, and acquainted Mr. Clark with it; who forthwith went to the woman, and asked how her forehead became bloody, and ſhe anſwered by a blow of the Cows horn, as above ſaid, whereby he was ſatisfied that it was a deſign of Satan to render an innocent perſon ſuſpected.
Another inſtance was at Cambridge, about fourty years ſince: There was a man much troubled in the night with Cats, or the Devil in their likeneſs haunting of him, whereupon he kept a light burning, and a Sword by him as he lay in bed; for he ſuſpected a Widow woman to ſend theſe Cats or Imps by Witchcraft to bewitch him. And one night as he lay in bed, a Cat or Imp came within his reach, and he ſtruck her on the back; and upon enquiry heard this Widow had a ſore back: this confirmed his ſuſpicion of the Widow, he ſuppoſing that it came from the wound he gave the Cat. But Mr. Day the Widows Chyrurgeon cleared the matter; ſaying, this Widow came to him and complained of a ſore in her back, and becauſe ſhe could not ſee it, deſired his help; and he found it to be a Boyl, and ripened and healed it as he uſed to do other Boyls But while this was in cure, the ſuppoſed Cat was wounded as already rehearſed.
But ſome may ſay when ſuch wounds or rents come, it's not the Spectre that's ſtruck but the real perſon or garment is there preſent, but by vertue of the Charm, or Witchcraft, a miſt is caſt between the Witch and Spectators in the room, whereby the perſon becomes inviſible to all of them except the bewitched Sufferer. As ſome juglers have ſeemed to creep through a Tree or Log, when indeed its only upon the Tree or Log; but by inchantment a ſhadow of the Log or Cloud is caſt over the Log between the Jugler and Spectators, whereby they are deceived.
I Anſwer, If it were ſo, then thoſe that ſtrike with Sword, or other Inſtrument, and wound the party might feel ſome body, or garment ſtopping the force of their blow; for a Body can be felt if it cannot be ſeen, as above ſhewed. But when the ſtricken inſtrument feels no harder ſubſtance than Air to ſtop its force, and there ſeems to be a perſon in the way to the Afflicted's eye: We may conclude its but a Spectre, or deluded imagination.