fell downe, my boy crying with the hurt of the fall. In the afternoone the potts hanging over the fire, did dash so vehemently one against the other, we sett downe one that they might not dash to pieces. I saw the andiron leap in to the pott and dance, and leap out, and againe leap in and dance, and leap out againe, and leap on a table and there abide, and my wife saw the andiron on the table. Also I saw the pott turn itselfe over and throw down all the water. Againe we saw a tray with wool leap up and downe and throw the wool out and saw no body meddle with it. Againe a tub his hoop fly off, of itselfe and the tub turne over and no body neere it. Againe the woolen wheele upside downe and stood upon its end and a spade sett on it. Stephen Greenleaf saw it and myselfe and wife. Againe my rope tooles fell downe in the ground before my boy could take them being sent for them and the same thing of nailes tumbled downe from the loft into the ground and no body neere. Againe my wife and the boy making the bed, the chest did open and shutt, the bed clothes would not be made to ly on the bed, but fly off againe.

เ Thomas Rogers and George Hardy being at William Morse his house affirme that the earth in the chimney corner moved and scattered on them, that Thomas Rogers was hit with somewhat, Hardy, with an iron ladle, as is supposed. Somewhat hitt William Morse a great blow, but it was so swift that they could not tell what it was but looking downe after they heard the noyes they saw a shoe. The boy was in the corner at first, afterward in the house.

"Mr. Richardson on Saturday testifyeth that a board flew against his chaire and he heard a noyes in another roome, which he supposed in all reason to be diabolicall.

'John Dole saw a large fire stick of candle wood to fall downe, a stone, a fire brand, and these things he saw not whence they came, till they fell downe by him.

'Elizabeth Titcomb affirmeth that Powell sayd that he could find out the witch by his learning, if he had another scholar with him.

John Emerson affirmeth that Powell sayd he was brought up under Norwood and it was judged by the people there that Norwood studied the black art.'

6

In another paper entitled 'a farther testimony of William Morse and his wife,' he states that we saw a keeler of bread turn over a chair did often bow to me and rise up againe-the chamber door did violently fly together and the bed did move to and fro and not any body neer them.'

He also states that the cellar door did violently fly down and a drum rolled over it—his barn door was unpinned four times, and going to shut the doore, the boy being with me, the pin (as I did judge) coming downe out of the aire did fall down neer to me.'

Againe Caleb Powell came in as before and seeing our spirits very low by the sense of our great afflictions, began to bemoane our condition and sayd that he was troubled for our affliction, and sayd that he eyed the boy, and drawed neere to us with great compassion, poore old man, poore old woman, this boy is the occasion of your griefe, for he does these things and hath caused his good old grandmother to be counted a witch. Then sayd I, how can all these things be done by him? Then sayd he although he may not have done all, yet most of them, for this boy is a young rogue, a vile rogue. I have watched him and see him do things as to come up and downe.

'Caleb Powell also said he had understanding in Astrology and Astronomy and knew the working of spirits, some in one country and some in another, and looking on the boy said you young rogue to begin so soone. Goodman Morse, if you be willing to let mee have the boy, I will undertake you shall be freed from any trouble of this kind while he is with me. I was very unwilling at the first, and my wife, but by often urging me to, and when he told me whither and in what employment and company he should goe, I did consent to it and

we have been freed from any trouble of this kind ever since that promise made on Monday night last till this time being Friday afternoone,'

After enumerating a great variety of marvellous exploits, such as 'hearing a great noyes in the other roome,'-' his chaire would not stand still but ready to throw me backward,'-'my cap almost taken off my head three times,'' a great blow in my poll,'-'the catt thrown at my wife and thrown at us five times, the lamp standing by us on a chest, was beaten downe,' and so forth, he thus concludes:

'Againe a great noyes a great while very dreadful. Againe in the morning a great stone being six pounds weight did remove from place to place. We saw it. Two spoones throwed off the table and presently the table throwed downe, and being minded to write, my ink horne was hid from me, which I found covered with a rag and my pen quite gone. I made a new pen and while I was writing, one eare of corne hitt me in the face and fire sticks and stones and throwed at me, and my pen brought to me. While I was writing with my new pen, my ink-horne taken away. Againe my specticles thrown from the table, and throwne almost into the fire by me, my wife and the boy. Againe my booke of all my accounts throwne into the fire and had been burnt presently, if I had not taken it up. Againe boards taken of a tub and sett upright by themselves, and my paper, do what I could, I could hardly keep it, while I was writing this relation. Presently before I could dry my writing, a monmouth hat rubbed along it, but I held it so fast that it did blot but some of it. My wife and I being much afraid that I should not preserve it for the publick use, we did think best to lay it in the bible and it lay safe that night. Againe the next [night] I would lay it there againe, but in the morning it was not to be found, the bag hanged downe empty, but after was found in a box alone. Againe while I was writing this morning I was forced to forbeare writing any more, I was so disturbed with so many things constantly thrown at

me.

This relation taken December eighth, 1679.'

On the court records I find nothing more concerning Elizabeth Morse. From an essay on witchcraft, by the reverend John Hale, of Beverly, and published in the year 1697, I make the following

extracts.

'She [Elizabeth Morse] being reprieved was carried to her own home and her husband (who was esteemed a sincere and understanding christian by those that knew him) desired some neighbour ministers, of whom I was one, to discourse his wife, which we did, and her discourse was very christian, and still pleaded her innocence as to that, which was laid to her charge. We did not esteem it prudence for us to pass any definitive sentence upon one under her circumstances, yet we inclined to the more charitable side. In her last sickness she was in much trouble and darkness of spirit, which occasioned a judicious friend to examine her strictly, whether she had been guilty of witchcraft, but she said no, but the ground of her trouble was some impatient and passionate speeches and actions of her while in prison upon the account of her suffering wrongfully, whereby she had provoked the Lord by putting contempt upon his word. And in fine she sought her pardon and comfort from God in Christ and dyed so far as I understand, praying to, and resting upon, God in Christ for salvation.'

It was owing, we believe, to the firmness of governor Bradstreet, that the life of Elizabeth Morse was saved, and the town of New

bury thus prevented from offering the first victim, in Essex county, to that lamentable spirit of delusion, which twelve years after left so dark a stain on its annals.

The following is a view of the house occupied by William Morse and family, and which, in the language of the excessively credulous Cotton Mather, was so infested with demons' in 1679, and where, 'before the devil was chained up, the invisible hand did begin to put forth an astonishing visibility! The house is still standing at the corner of Market street, opposite to saint Paul's church. The lot on which it stands was granted to William Morse in 1645, but in what year he erected it, no record informs us; but from all that I can ascertain, the house, or at least a part of it, must have been erected soon after the lot was granted.

March 8th. The town granted the petition of John Badger for 'two rods of land over against his house to set up a mill to make oatmeal.' This mill was kept in operation till 1810. The last proprietor was Mr. Nicholas Lunt, who, between 1763 and 1810, manufactured thirty-seven thousand, five hundred and sixty bushels of oatmeal.

March 8th. The selectmen (hearing that Jeremy Goodridge and his family was in a suffering condition) sent up Joseph Pike to know how the case stood with him, and upon his inquirie Jeremy Goodridge told him he was in a way to get a house of his owne and for provision he was in a way also to provide for himselfe, for he had corne paid for, which he hoped he should have. And Joseph Pike told him if he was like to suffer he should come and acquaint the selectmen with it and they would make him supply.' *

*Town records.

'August 29th. James Merrick chosen sexton, and to have three pounds and ten shillings a year for his service.'*

'October 12th. It was voted that whereas the scholars are so few that such as come to learne English shall pay three pence a week for their schooling.'*

October 19th. The town voted to impower the selectmen to petition the general court to grant Mr. Woodbridge magistratical power. In their petition they say, among many other things, by reason of the largeness of the towne and frequent concourse of vessels to trade among us, they wish to have Mr. Woodbridge, as he is the fittest and most able for such a work in this place.'

'November 28th. The town voted that henceforth the general towne meeting should be the first Tuesday in March.' *

1682.

Early this year, a small baptist church was formed in Newbury, as appears from the following extract from the records of the first baptist church in Boston.

February 6th, 1681-2. [It was] agreed upon a church meeting that we the church at Boston have assented unto the settling of the church at Newbury.'

The persons who formed this church, were, probably, George Little and Philip Squire, who united with the baptist church in Boston in 1676, Nathaniel Cheney, William Sâyer and wife, Benjamin Morse and wife, Mr. Edward Woodman and wife, John Sâyer, and Abel Merrill, all of whom became members of the same church in 1681. All these were residents in Newbury at that time. This comprises all the information that I can find on the subject.

Among the papers of George Little, above-mentioned, the following petition, in the elegant handwriting of William Chandler, is still to be seen. It has neither date nor signature, but was probably written between the years 1661 and this year. The justness of the sentiments, and the beauty of the style, warrant the insertion of it here.

'To the honored generall court.

'Whereas wee have these many yeares bin preserved by the good providence of God under a peaceable government in this wildernesse and many worthy things have by you bin donne unto and for this people, which we acknowledge with all thankfulnesse, notwithstanding, may it please you to take notice of some greevance of many of the people of God in this country which lieth on their spirits, respecting some streightnes and streightening of yt christian liberty which wee think ought to be allowed unto all christians houlding the foundation and walking orderly, though of different perswations, namely, to worship God according to their owne judgement and consciences without being restrained to the judgements of others by human laws; and forasmuch as our gratious king is pleased in his letter to declare (as wee apprehend) that a principall end of this plantation granted is yt liberty of conscience may bee heere

enjoyed. Wee hope therefore it will be noe griefe of mind to you to consider of it, and to repeale such lawes as are a hinderance or restraining in any respect to ye people of God either in their joining together in church fellowship or exercising in the ordinances of God accordinge to ye pure gospel rule. Our humble petition is that all such laws, as occasion or cause any such streightnes, restraint or hinderance may be repealed, and that such christian liberty may bee allowed and confirmed, the which wee believe will tend much to ye glory of God in ye peace and settlement of his people heere. And soe shall wee pray for your peace and remaine (as in duty wee are bound) your faithful and humble petitioners.'

'March 22d. The selectmen agreed with William Bolton to keep the dry herd and to come upon the first day of May and fetch the cattle and drive them up into the upper commons* and so forth and William Bolton is to have paid him by the owners of the cattle sixpence a head to be paid in malt or Indian corne.'

And he is to burne the woods and to make up the flatts' fence and for that he shall be paid fourteen shillings.'†

'At a legall meeting of the towne April nineteenth 1682. 'There was voted to go to Ipswich to subscribe according to court order about Mr. Mason's clayme, captain Daniel Pierce, Mr. Richard Dummer, sergeant [Tristram] Coffin, sergeant [Caleb] Moody, Mr. John Woodbridge, Mr. Henry Sewall, Nicholas Noyes.

In October, the general court renewed the license of Hugh March to keep an ordinary.' In his petition to the court, he states, that 'the town of Newbury some years since were destitute of an ordinary and could not persuade any person to keep it. For want of an ordinary they were twice fined by the county and would have been fined a third time had I not undertaken it. It cost me,' says he, 'one hundred and twenty pounds to repair the house, and more than four hundred pounds in building house, barn, stables and so forth.'

March 22d. It was ordered that all swyne that goes upon the cow commons shall be ringed under the penalty of twelve pence a head and so forth and that all horses and horse kind and dry cattle shall be cleared out of the commons and Plum island between this and the first of May next under the penalty of two shillings a head' and so forth. All these were to be driven up into the upper commons, except 'such horses that are kept for the necessary use of their owners.' These were to be fettered under a like penalty,' in case of neglect. †

From this extract, from the petition sent to the general court in 1679 by the inhabitants of Ipswich, and from other circumstances and allusions, it is evident that large numbers of cattle and horses were, by the inhabitants of Newbury, for many years after the first settlement of the town, driven on to Plum island in the fall of the year, there to spend the winter and live as they could till the spring of the year, or turned out in the lower commons to shift for themselves. Tradition informs that many of the cattle, especially those

*The upper commons,' see March twenty-first, 1642.
†Town records.