ABSTRACT
Whenthebodyofthechildwasopened,wefoundthatthelowerendofthe rectumintestinum,insteadofbeingmusculous,asitshouldhavebeen,wasmembranous,andaltogetherclosedup.Ihadgreatreasontosuspectawitchcraftinthis preternaturalaccident;becausemywife,afewweeksbeforeherdeliverance,was affrightedwithanhorriblespectre,inourporch,whichfrightcausedherbowelsto turnwithinher;andthespectreswhichbothbeforeandaftertormentedayoung womaninourneighbourhood,braggedoftheirgivingmywifethatfright,inhopes, theysaid,ofdoingmischiefuntoherinfantatleast,ifnotuntothemother:and besidesallthis,thechildwasnosoonerborn,butasuspectedwomansentuntomy fatheraletterfullofrailingagainstmyself,whereinshetoldhimhelittleknew whatmightquicklybefallsomeofhisposterity.However,Imadelittleuseof,and laidlittlestresson,thisconjecture;desiringtosubmituntothewillofmyheavenly fatherwithoutwhichnotasparrowfallsuntotheground. 121
(ii)[1696]28thday,12thmonth[February],Friday.Earlythismorning,my daughterMehetabel,122diedsuddenly,initsnurse'sarms(notknowntobedying tillitwasdead)ofsomesuddenstoppagebywind;thewindpassedovertheflower, anditwaspresentlygone.123
