subject: Puritans And The Salem Witch Trials [print this page] http://www.puritandownloads.com/swrb/categories/Holy-Days-%28Lord%27s-Day_-Christmas_-Easter_-etc.%29/
Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials
"Sect. XXX. After this, we had no more such entertainments. The Demons it may be would once or twice in a Week trouble her for a few minutes with perhaps a twisting and a twinkling of her eyes, or a certain Cough which did seem to be more than ordinary. Moreover, Both she at my house, and her Sister at home, at the time which they call Christmas, were by the Demons made very drunk, though they had no strong Drink (as we are fully sure) to make them so. When she began to feel her self thus drunk, she complained, 'O they say they will have me to keep Christmas with them! They will disgrace me when they can do nothing else!' And immediately the Ridiculous Behaviours of one drunk were with a wonderful exactness represented in her Speaking, and Reeling, and Spewing, and anon Sleeping, till she was well again. But the Vexations of the Children otherwise abated continually. They first came to be always Quiet, unless upon Provocations. Then they got Liberty to work, but not to read: then further on, to read, but not aloud, at last they were wholly delivered; and for many Weeks remained so" (Cotton Mather, "Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions," 1689).
For information about the Puritans, including free and discounted Puritan books, Puritan MP3s, Puritan digital downloads, and Puritan videos, as well as the Puritan Hard Drive, please visit Still Waters Revival Books at http://www.puritandownloads.com/swrb/.
