lished in 1684; and there was so exact a resemblance 1692. between the Old England dæmons and the New, that, it can hardly be doubted, the arts of the designing were borrowed, and the credulity of the populace augmented, from the parent country. The gloomy state of New England probably facilitated the delusion; for "superstition flourishes in times "of danger and dismay." The distress of the colonists, at this time, was great. The sea coast was infested with privateers. The inland frontiers east and west were continually harassed by the French and Indians. The abortive expedition to Canada had exposed the country to the resentment of France, the effects of which were perpetually dreaded, and, at the same time, had incurred a heavy debt. The old charter was gone; and what evils would be introduced by the new, which was very reluctantly received by many, time only could determine, but fear might forebode.

How far these causes, operating in a wilderness, that was scarcely cleared up, might have contributed toward the infatuation, it is difficult to determine. It were injurious however, to consider New England as peculiar in this culpable credulity, with its

86

* a shepherd to be met with, who had not seen a spirit." ADDISON, Spectator, vi. No. 419. Sir William 'Temple, in his Essay on Poetry, remarks: "How much of this credulity remained, even to our own age, may be ob"served by any man that reflects so far as 30 or 40 years; how often avouched, and how generally credited were the stories of Fairies, Sprites, witchcrafts, and enchantments! In some part of France, and not longer ago, the common people believed certainly there were Longaroos, or men "turned into wolves; and I remember several Irish of the same mind. The * remainders [of the Gothic Runes or Verses, to which all sorts of charms "were attributed] are woven into our very language. Mara in old Runic " was a Goblin, that seized upon men asleep in their beds, and took from "them all speech and motion. Old Nicka was a sprite who came to strangle people when they fell into the water. Bo was a fierce Gothic cap*tain, son of Odin, whose name was used by the soldiers when they would "fright or surprise their enemies."

1 Home's Sketches of the History of Man, iv. 255. “During the civil "wars of France and England, superstition was carried to extravagance. "Every one believed in magic, charms, spells, sorcery, and witchcraft." Ib. 2 Hutchinson, ii. 12.

1692. sanguinary effects; for more persons have been put to death for witchcraft in a single county in England in a short space of time, than have suffered, for the same cause, in all New England since its first settlement."

Although the trials on indictment for witchcraft were prosecuted the subsequent year, yet no execution appears to have taken place. Time gradually detected the delusion. Persons in high stations, and of irreproachable characters, were at length accused. The spectral evidence was no longer admitted. The voice of Reason was heard; and all, who had been imprisoned, were set at liberty.'

1 Hutchinson, ii. 16. Blackstone [Comment. book iv. chap. iv.], having stated the evidence on both sides of the question concerning the reality of witchcraft, observes, " it seems to be the most eligible way to conclude, that in general there has been such a thing as witchcraft, though one cannot give credit to any particular modern instance of it." He also observes, that" the acts against witchcraft and sorcery continued in force till lately, "to the terror of all ancient females in the kingdom: And many poor "wretches were sacrificed thereby to the prejudice of their neighbours, " and their own illusions; not a few having, by some means or other, con❝fessed the fact at the gallows. But all executions for this dubious crime " are now at an end." The statute 9 Geo. II. ch 5, enacts, that no prosecution shall for the future be carried on against any person for conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, or enchantment. Ibid.

2 Calef's More Wonders of the Invisible World; particularly Part v, which gives " A short Historical Account of matters of fact in that affair.' Hutchinson, ii. 15-62. Adams N. Eng. 160-165. Morse and Parish N. Eng. chap. xxiii. At the court in January, the grand jury found bills against about 50 for witchcraft; but, on trial, they were all acquitted, excepting three of the worst characters, and those the governor reprieved for the king's mercy. All, who were not brought upon trial, he ordered to be discharged. Hutchinson. "The conclusion of the whole, in the Mas"sachusetts colony was, Sir William Phips governor being called home, "before he went he pardoned such as had been condemned, for which they gave about 30 shillings each to the king's attorney," Calef. It is but just to observe, that many of the ministers and principal men in the colony disbelieved the charges at the time, and discountenanced the judicial proceedings. Several persons, who had served as Jurors in the trials at Salem, afterward publicly confessed their error, and asked forgiveness. Judge Sewall, who was one of the court at those trials, and concurred in the sentences of condemnation, made a public confession several years afterward. I find these entries in his MS. Diary. "April 11, 1692. Went to Salem, " where in the meeting house the persons accused of witchcraft were ex"amined; was a very great assembly-'twas awfull to see how the afflic"ted persons were agitated." Put in the margin is written with a tremulous hand, probably on a subsequent review, the lamenting Latin interjec

serted.

The general court of Massachusetts, proceeding 1692. in its legislative duties, passed an act, which was a Rights askind of Magna Charta. Among the general privileges, which it asserted, it declared, "No aid, tax, "tallage, assessment, custom, loan, benevolence or imposition whatsoever, shall be laid, assessed, im"posed, or levied on any of their majesties' subjects "or their estates, on any pretence whatsoever, but "by the act and consent of the governor, council "and representatives of the people, assembled in "general court."*

poration of

The legislature of that colony passed an act, Newincorincorporating the college at Cambridge on a larger Harvard foundation, than was laid by its former charter. College. Among its new privileges was a power to confer such degrees, as are conferred by the universities in Europe. Under the former charter, no higher detion, Va, va, va! "Decr. 24. [1696.] Sam. recites to me in Latin Mat. "12 from the 6th. to the end of the 12th v. The 7th. verse did awfully "bring to mind the Salem Tragedie." A Proclamation was issued by the government of Massachusetts 17 Decemb. 1696, appointing the 14th of January to be observed as a day of Prayer and Fasting throughout the Province. The Proclamation took particular notice of "the late tragedy, "raised among us by Satan and his instruments, through the awful judg"ment of God ;" and inculcated humiliation and supplication for pardon. Historians mention a penitential paper, given on the day of the Fast by Judge Sewall to his minister (Mr. Willard), who read it in the congregation; but they do not accurately state its purport. It is preserved in his Diary, where it nearly fills a quarto page. It expresses a deep sense of "guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Commission of Oyer and "Terminer at Salem (to which the order for this day relates)," and asks pardon of God and man.

1 Hutchinson, ii. 64, 65. The other parts of the act were copied from the English Magna Charta; but this act, and an act for punishing capital offenders, with several other acts, were soon disallowed. Many acts however, which were then passed, were approved, viz. one for prevention of frauds and perjuries; others for punishing criminal offences, in many parts mitigating the penalties at common law; for the observation of the Lord's day; solemnizing marriages by a minister or a justice of peace; settlement and support of ministers and school masters; regulating towns and counties; requiring the oaths appointed instead of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, as also the oaths of officers; establishing fees; ascertaining the number and regulating the house of representatives; settlement of the estates of persons dying intestate; and divers other acts of immediate necessity and general utility. Ibid.

B

in Boston

1692. grees had been given, than those of bachelors and Buildings masters of arts. The same legislature passed an required to act, that no buildings, exceeding certain dimensions, be of stone should be erected in the town of Boston, but of stone or brick, and covered with slate or tile.

or brick.

Act res

pecting

It

also passed an act, prohibiting any of the French nation to reside or be in any of the seaports or fronthe French. tier towns within the province, without license from the governor and council. 3

ed.

After the destruction of Casco in 1690, all the Jan. 25. York near- eastern settlements were deserted, and the people ly destroy- retired to the fort at Wells. Depredations were still made. On the twenty fifth of January, this year, the Indians, accompanied by some French, surprised the town of York; killed about seventy the garri- five of the inhabitants; carried about the same number into captivity; and principally destroyed the On the tenth of June, an army of French

June 10.

Attack on

son at

Wells.

town.1

1 Hutchinson, i. 172. Brit. Emp. i. 324; ii. 42. Although, by a clause in the new province charter, it was provided, with a special view to the college, that no grants &c. to any towns, colleges, schools of learning &c. should be prejudiced through defect of form, but should remain in force, as at the time of vacating the colony charter; yet the president and many others were desirous of a new charter, with additional powers and privileges. This was the origin of the legislative act. The privilege of conferring the higher degrees was exercised in one instance only. The degree of Doctor of divinity, under the college seal, was presented to the reverend Increase Mather, the president. Before the expiration of three years the act of incorporation was disallowed. Hutchinson, ib. See A. D. 1697.

2 Massachusetts Laws. The reason, assigned for the law, is, that great desolations and ruins" had, at various times, been caused by means of the contiguity of the buildings, chiefly composed of wood.

3 Massachusetts Laws. The reason, assigned for the law, is, that with the French Protestants, who had lately fled from persecution, and come into Massachusetts, "many of a contrary religion and interest" had obtruded themselves.

4 Coll. Hist. Soc. iii. 8. The numbers killed and captivated are thus given (ib.) by the Hon. DAVID SEWALL Esq. who says, the French and Indians 66 came upon snow shoes," and that they " burned all the houses and property on the north east side of the river, where the principal settlements and improvements then were." The town of York had become so considerable, as to have, several years preceding, a settled minister, the reverend Shubael Dummer, who, on the morning of the disastrous day, was shot down, and found dead, near his door. Ibid. He is mentioned by C. Mather [Magnal. book vii. 77.] as a very worthy and respectable minister. See Belknap N. Hamp. i. 264. Adams N. Eng. 153.

and Indians made a furious attack on the garrison 1692. at Wells, commanded by captain Convers, who, after a brave and resolute defence, drove them off, with great loss.*

built at

Sir William Phips, having received instructions Stone fort from Whitehall to build a fort at Pemaquid, was in- Pemaquid. cited to attend with greater promptitude and zeal to that object, by the recent injuries of the French and Indians. Taking with him four hundred and fifty men, he embarked early in August at Boston; and, on his arrival at Pemaquid, proceeded to the erection of a fort. It was projected on a large scale, and the execution of it was superior to that of any fortress, which had been constructed by the English in America. It was called Fort William Henry; and was garrisoned with sixty men." No other obvious end being answered by it, than to keep pos

Belknap N. Hamp. i. 260, 264. Previously to this attack, the Indians had done considerable mischief in the settlements to the westward about Merrimac river; and on the 9th of June, 1691, had attacked Storer's garrison at Wells, but they were bravely repulsed. Ibid.

"It was

2 Neal N. Eng. ii. 118. Mather Magnal. book vii. p. 81. built of stone in a quadrangular figure, being about 737 feet in compass, without the outer walls, and 108 feet square, within the inner ones. It had 28 ports, and 14 (if not 18) guns mounted, whereof 6 were eighteen pounders. The wall on the south line, fronting to the sea, was 22 feet high, and more than 6 feet thick at the ports, which were 8 feet from the ground. The greater flanker or round tower at the western end of this line was 29 feet high. The wall on the east line was 12 feet high; on the north it was 10; on the west it was 18. It was computed that in the whole there were laid above 2000 cart loads of stone. It stood about a score of rods from high water mark." Ibid. The famous Benjamin Church, who had made two previous expeditions to the Province of Maine, accompanied governor Phips from Boston, with a body of volunteer militia and Indians, "for prosecuting, pursuing, killing and destroying the common enemy." Stopping at Casco in their way, they buried the bones of the dead, and took off the great guns, that were there. On their arrival at Pemaquid, the governor asked major Church to go ashore, and give his judgment about erecting a fort; but he replied, " that his genius did not incline that way, for he had never any value for them, being only nests for destructions." The governor said, he had a special order from king William and queen Mary, to erect a fort there. Both then went ashore; and, after spending some time in projecting it, the governor, retaining two com panies with him, sent Church with the rest of the troops to Penobscot. Church's Hist. 89—133- * See vol. i. p. 478,