Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases, 1648-1706 :: :: University of Virginia Library

Notes

[[204].]

1694 of our present calendar.

[[205].]

Mather.

[[206].]

Haven't, hain't.

[[207].]

Then.

[[208].]

The answer to Governor Phips's letter of October 12 (see pp. 196-198, above) was indeed a royal order of January 26 “approving his action in stopping the proceedings against the witches in New England, and directing that in all future proceedings against persons accused of witchcraft or of possession by the devil, all circumspection be used so far as may be without impediment to the ordinary course of justice” — what Frederick the Great would have called “a vague answer — in the Austrian style — that should mean nothing.” It of course did not reach America till after the despatch of Sir William's letter of February 21 (pp. 198-202, above).

[[209].]

The two Boston booksellers'.

[[210].]

It is perhaps idle to guess at the identity of this gentleman; but his initials suggest the Rev. Joshua Moodey, whose kindlier attitude toward witches and their defenders may be inferred from his course in the case of Philip English (see pp. 187-188, note), and who, though early in 1693 he returned to Portsmouth, was still often in Boston. Nor may it be forgotten that the initials of the Rev. Increase Mather are by the printer constantly made “J. M.”

[[211].]

See above, p. 304, note 3.

[[212].]

See above, p. 216, note 1, and p. 219.

[[213].]

See above, p. 304, note 5.

[[214].]

To the end of the paragraph the words are Gaule's. Calef is quoting them, not from Gaule's book, but from Mather's Wonders; for Gaule numbers this rule, not IV., but X., and the introductory words (“Among the most unhappy Circumstances to convict a witch, one is”) are not his, but Mather's — and there are other slight departures from Gaule's wording.

[[215].]

With.

[[216].]

By a misprint the original has “P. C.”

[[217].]

Travestying. See p. 323, above.

[[218].]

See p. 318, above.

[[219].]

See p. 123, above.

[[220].]

1694 of new style.

[[221].]

Sir William Phips's.

[[222].]

Between this letter and the pages of Calef's book which here follow there intervene (1) further letters from him to Mather and to other Boston ministers, on whom he urges his views, (2) a body of documents relating to the controversy between the Rev. Mr. Parris and his disaffected parishioners at Salem Village between the period of the witch-trials and his removal, (3) an epistolary discussion as to the theory of witchcraft between Calef and a Scotsman named Stuart.