Verystrikinginallthesecaseswasthealloyoffrenzywithtrickery。Inmostofthemadnesstherewasmethod。SundrywitcheschargedbythepossessedhadbeenengagedincontroversywiththeSalemchurchpeople。OthersoftheaccusedhadquarrelledwithMr。Parris。Stillothershadbeenengagedinoldlawsuitsagainstpersonsmoreorlessconnectedwiththegirls。
Oneofthemostfearfulcharges，whichcostthelifeofanobleandlovelywoman，aroseundoubtedlyfromherbetterstyleofdressandliving。Oldslumberingneighbourhoodorpersonalquarrelsboreinthiswayastrangefruitageofrevenge；forthecardinaldoctrineofafanatic’screedisthathisenemiesaretheenemiesofGod。
AnypersondaringtohinttheslightestdistrustoftheproceedingswasindangerofbeingimmediatelybroughtunderaccusationofaleaguewithSatan。Husbandsandchildrenwerethusbroughttothegallowsfordaringtodisbelievethesechargesagainsttheirwivesandmothers。Someoftheclergywereaccusedforendeavouringtosavemembersoftheirchurches。[398]
[398]ThisisadmirablybroughtoutbyUpham，andthelawyerlikethoroughnesswithwhichhehasexaminedallthesehiddenspringsofthechargesisoneofthemainthingswhichrenderhisbookoneofthemostvaluablecontributionstothehistoryandphilosophyofdemoniacalpossessioneverwritten。
Onepoorwomanwaschargedwith“givingalooktowardthegreatmeeting-houseofSalem，andimmediatelyademonenteredthehouseandtoredownapartofit。”ThiscauseforthefallingofabitofpoorlynailedwainscotingseemedperfectlysatisfactorytoDr。
CottonMather，aswellastothejudgeandjury，andshewashanged，protestingherinnocence。Stillanotherlady，belongingtooneofthemostrespectedfamiliesoftheregion，waschargedwiththecrimeofwitchcraft。Thechildrenwerefearfullyafflictedwheneversheappearednearthem。ItseemednevertooccurtoanyonethatabitteroldfeudbetweentheRev。Mr。
Parrisandthefamilyoftheaccusedmighthaveprejudicedthechildrenanddirectedtheirattentiontowardthewoman。Noaccountwasmadeofthefactthatherlifehadbeenentirelyblameless；andyet，inviewofthewretchedinsufficiencyofproof，thejurybroughtinaverdictofnotguilty。Astheybroughtinthisverdict，allthechildrenbegantoshriekandscream，untilthecourtcommittedthemonstrouswrongofcausinghertobeindictedanew。Inordertowarrantthis，thejudgereferredtooneperfectlynaturalandharmlessexpressionmadebythewomanwhenunderexamination。Thejuryatlastbroughtheringuilty。Shewascondemned；and，havingbeenbroughtintothechurchheavilyironed，wassolemnlyexcommunicatedanddeliveredovertoSatanbytheminister。Somegoodsensestillprevailed，andtheGovernorreprievedher；butecclesiasticalpressureandpopularclamourweretoopowerful。TheGovernorwasinducedtorecallhisreprieve，andshewasexecuted，protestingherinnocenceandprayingforherenemies。[399]
[399]SeeDrake，TheWitchcraftDelusioninNewEngland，vol。
iii，pp。34etseq。
Anothertypicalcasewaspresented。TheRev。Mr。Burroughs，againstwhomconsiderableillwillhadbeenexpressed，andwhosepettyparishquarrelwiththepowerfulPutnamfamilyhadledtohisdismissalfromhisministry，wasnamedbythepossessedasoneofthosewhoplaguedthem，oneofthemostinfluentialamongtheafflictedbeingAnnPutnam。Mr。Burroughshadledablamelesslife，themainthingchargedagainsthimbythePutnamsbeingthatheinsistedstrenuouslythathiswifeshouldnotgoabouttheparishtalkingofherownfamilymatters。Hewaschargedwithafflictingthechildren，convicted，andexecuted。
AtthelastmomentherepeatedtheLord’sPrayersolemnlyandfully，whichitwassupposedthatnosorcerercoulddo，andthis，togetherwithhisstraightforwardChristianutterancesattheexecution，shookthefaithofmanyintherealityofdiabolicpossession。Erelongitwasknownthatoneofthegirlshadacknowledgedthatshehadbeliedsomepersonswhohadbeenexecuted，andespeciallyMr。Burroughs，andthatshehadbeggedforgiveness；butthisforatimeavailednothing。Personswhowouldnotconfessweretiedupandputtoasortoftorturewhichwaseffectiveinsecuringnewrevelations。
InthecaseofGilesCoreythehorrorsofthepersecutionculminated。Seeingthathisdoomwascertain，andwishingtopreservehisfamilyfromattainderandtheirpropertyfromconfiscation，herefusedtoplead。Thougheightyyearsofage，hewasthereforepressedtodeath，andwhen，inhislastagonies，histonguewaspressedoutofhismouth，thesheriffwithhiswalking-stickthrustitbackagain。
Everythingwasmadetocontributetotheorthodoxviewofpossession。Ononeoccasion，whenacartconveyingeightcondemnedpersonstotheplaceofexecutionstuckfastinthemire，someofthepossesseddeclaredthattheysawthedeviltryingtopreventthepunishmentofhisassociates。Confessionsofwitchcraftabounded；butthewayinwhichtheseconfessionswereobtainedistouchinglyexhibitedinastatementafterwardmadebyseveralwomen。Inexplainingthereasonswhy，whenchargedwithafflictingsickpersons，theymadeafalseconfession，theysaid：
“……Byreasonofthatsuddainsurprizal，weknowingourselvesaltogetherInnocentofthatCrime，wewereallexceedinglyastonishedandamazed，andconsternatedandaffrightedevenoutofourReason；andournearestanddearestRelations，seeingusinthatdreadfulcondition，andknowingourgreatdanger，apprehendingthattherewasnootherwaytosaveourlives，……
outoftender……pittyperswadedustoconfesswhatwedidconfess。AndindeedthatConfession，thatitissaidwemade，wasnootherthanwhatwassuggestedtousbysomeGentlemen；
theytellingus，thatwewereWitches，andtheyknewit，andweknewit，andtheyknewthatweknewit，whichmadeusthinkthatitwasso；andourunderstanding，ourreason，andourfacultiesalmostgone，wewerenotcapableofjudgingourcondition；asalsothehardmeasurestheyusedwithus，rendredusuncapableofmakingourDefence，butsaidanythingandeverythingwhichtheydesired，andmostofwhatwesaid，wasineffectaconsentingtowhattheysaid……”[400]
[400]SeeCalef，inDrake，vol。ii；alsoUpham。
Caseaftercase，inwhichhysteria，fanaticism，cruelty，injustice，andtrickeryplayedtheirpart，wasfolloweduptothescaffold。Inashorttimetwentypersonshadbeenputtoacrueldeath，andthenumberoftheaccusedgrewlargerandlarger。Thehighestpositionandthenoblestcharacterformednobarrier。Dailythepossessedbecamemorebold，moretricky，andmorewild。Nopleaavailedanything。Inbehalfofseveralwomen，whoseliveshadbeenofthepurestandgentlest，petitionswerepresented，buttonoeffect。Ascripturaltextwasalwaysreadytoaidintherepressionofmercy：itwasrememberedthat“Satanhimselfistransformedintoanangeloflight。”andaboveallresoundedtheOldTestamentinjunction，whichhadsentsuchmultitudesinEuropetothetorture-chamberandthestake，“Thoushaltnotsufferawitchtolive。”
SuchclergymenasNoyes，Parris，andMather，aidedbysuchjudgesasStoughtonandHathorn，leftnothingundonetostimulatetheseproceedings。ThegreatCottonMatherbaseduponthisoutbreakofdiseasethustreatedhisfamousbook，WondersoftheInvisibleWorld，thankingGodforthetriumphsoverSatanthusgainedatSalem；andhisbookreceivedtheapprobationoftheGovernoroftheProvince，thePresidentofHarvardCollege，andvariouseminenttheologiansinEuropeaswellasinAmerica。
But，despitesucheffortsasthese，observation，andthoughtuponobservation，whichformthebeginningofalltruescience，broughtinaneworderofthings。Thepeoplebegantofallaway。JusticeBradstreet，havingcommittedthirtyorfortypersons，becamearousedtotheabsurdityofthewholematter；theministerofAndoverhadthegoodsensetoresistthetheologicalview；evensohighapersonageasLadyPhips，thewifeoftheGovernor，begantoshowlenity。
Eachofthesewas，inconsequenceofthisdisbelief，chargedwithcollusionwithSatan；butsuchchargesseemednowtolosetheirforce。
InthemidstofallthisdelusionandterrorismstoodCottonMatherfirmasever。Hiseffortstoupholdthedecliningsuperstitionwereheroic。Butheatlastwentonesteptoofar。
Beinghimselfpossessedofamaniaformyth-makingandwonder-mongering，andhavingdescribedacaseofwitchcraftwithpossiblygreaterexaggerationthanusual，hewasconfrontedbyRobertCalef。CalefwasaBostonmerchant，whoappearstohaveunitedthegoodsenseofamanofbusinesstoconsiderableshrewdnessinobservation，powerinthought，andlovefortruth；
andhebeganwritingtoMatherandothers，toshowtheweakpointsinthesystem。Mather，indignantthatapersonsomuchhisinferiordareddissentfromhisopinion，atfirstaffectedtodespiseCalef；but，asCalefpressedhimmoreandmoreclosely，Matherdenouncedhim，callinghimamongotherthings“ACoalfromHell。”Alltonopurpose：Caleffastenedstillmorefirmlyupontheflanksofthegreattheologian。Thoughtandreasonnowbegantoresumetheirsway。
Thepossessedhavingaccusedcertainmenheldinveryhighrespect，doubtsbegantodawnuponthecommunityatlarge。HerewastherepetitionofthatwhichhadsetmenthinkingintheGermanbishopricswhenthoseundertrialforwitchcrafttherehadatlast，intheirdesperationormadness，chargedtheverybishopsandthejudgesuponthebenchwithsorcery。Thepartyofreasongrewstronger。TheRev。Mr。Parriswassoonputuponthedefensive：forsomeofthepossessedbegantoconfessthattheyhadaccusedpeoplewrongfully。Herculeaneffortsweremadebycertainoftheclergyanddevoutlaitytosupportthedecliningbelief，butthemorethoughtfulturnedmoreandmoreagainstit；jurymenprominentinconvictionssolemnlyretractedtheirverdictsandpubliclycravedpardonofGodandman。MoststrikingofallwasthecaseofJusticeSewall。Amanofthehighestcharacter，hehadinviewofauthoritydeducedfromScriptureandtheprincipleslaiddownbythegreatEnglishjudges，unhesitatinglycondemnedtheaccused；butreasonnowdawneduponhim。Helookedbackandsawthebaselessnessofthewholeproceedings，andmadeapublicstatementofhiserrors。
Hisdiarycontainsmanypassagesshowingdeepcontrition，andeverafterward，totheendofhislife，hewaswont，ononedayintheyear，toenterintosolitude，andthereremainallthedaylonginfasting，prayer，andpenitence。
Chief-JusticeStoughtonneveryielded。Tothelasthelamentedthe“evilspiritofunbelief“whichwasthwartingthegloriousworkoffreeingNewEnglandfromdemons。
ThechurchofSalemsolemnlyrevokedtheexcommunicationsofthecondemnedanddroveMr。Parrisfromthepastorate。CottonMatherpassedhislastyearsingroaningoverthedeclineofthefaithandtheingratitudeofapeopleforwhomhehaddonesomuch。Verysignificantisoneofhiscomplaints，sinceitshowstheevolutionofamorescientificmodeofthoughtabroadaswellasathome：helamentsinhisdiarythatEnglishpublishersgladlyprintedCalef’sbook，butwouldnolongerpublishhisown，andhedeclaresthis“anattackuponthegloryoftheLord。”
AboutfortyyearsaftertheNewEnglandepidemicof“possession“
occurredanothertypicalseriesofphenomenainFrance。In1727
therediedattheFrenchcapitalasimpleandkindlyecclesiastic，theArchdeaconParis。Hehadlivedapious，Christianlife，andwasendearedtomultitudesbyhischarity；
unfortunately，hehadespousedthedoctrineofJansenongraceandfreewill，and，thoughheremainedintheGallicanChurch，heandthosewhothoughtlikehimwereopposedbytheJesuits，andfinallycondemnedbyapapalbull。
HisremainshavingbeenburiedinthecemeteryofSt。Medard，theJansenistsflockedtosaytheirprayersathisgrave，andsoonmiraclesbegantobewroughtthere。Erelongtheyweremultiplied。Thesickbeingbroughtandlaiduponthetombstone，manywerecured。Wonderfulstorieswereattestedbyeye-witnesses。Themyth-makingtendency——thepassionfordeveloping，enlarging，andspreadingtalesofwonder——cameintofullplayandwasgivenfreecourse。
Manythoughtfulmensatisfiedthemselvesofthetruthoftheserepresentations。OneoftheforemostEnglishscholarscameover，examinedintothem，anddeclaredthattherecouldbenodoubtastotherealityofthecures。
Thisstateofthingscontinuedforaboutfouryears，when，in1731，moreviolenteffectsshowedthemselves。Sundrypersonsapproachingthetombwerethrownintoconvulsions，hysterics，andcatalepsy；thesediseasesspread，becameepidemic，andsoonmultitudesweresimilarlyafflicted。Bothreligiouspartiesmadethemostofthesecases。InvaindidsuchgreatauthoritiesinmedicalscienceasHecquetandLorryattributethewholetonaturalcauses：thetheologiansonbothsidesdeclaredthemsupernatural——theJansenistsattributingthemtoGod，theJesuitstoSatan。
OflateyearssuchcaseshavebeentreatedinFrancewithmuchshrewdness。When，aboutthemiddleofthepresentcentury，theArabpriestsinAlgierstriedtoarousefanaticismagainsttheFrenchChristiansbyperformingmiracles，theFrenchGovernment，insteadofpersecutingthepriests，sentRobert-Houdin，themostrenownedjugglerofhistime，tothesceneofaction，andforeveryArabmiracleHoudinperformedtwo：didanArabmaraboutturnarodintoaserpent，Houdinturnedhisrodintotwoserpents；andafterwardshowedthepeoplehowhedidit。