[190] A learned Jesuit, and as superstitious as he was learned. The Work out of which the Extract is made, is entitled the Natural and Moral History of the West Indies. Then (1591) a History of the West Indies included America.
[191] According to Clavigero, the God the most celebrated in Mexico was Huitzilopochzli.—Hist. Mexico, Cullen's Translation, i, 259. See also the Plate, ib., 279.
[192] It is certainly singularly noteworthy that the Devil and his Throng of Witches should adopt the Forms and Practices of the Churches of the Author's own Order. One would naturally suppose that they would have chosen those of the primitive Churches.
[193] It is as much easier, as it is safer to answer these Questions now than in Dr. Mather's Time. Everybody is born in the same Ignorance as in those Days, but fortunately we of this Day are surrounded by a lighter Age, and hence grow up with more Knowledge. And yet our Age of Light is Light only by Comparison.
[194] Nicholas Hemmingius, I suppose, a native of the Island of Laland, born in 1513. His Business was that of a Smith, but taking to Learning, he studied with the celebrated Melancthon, and became a Professor of Hebrew at Copenhagen. He died in the Year 1600.
[195] A Word not found in the Dictionaries. Perhaps it may be defined by the Readers of the Works of the elder Pliny.
[196] This Story of the iron Spindle is briefly told by Lawson, who probably took it from our Author. See Lawson's Work, P. 102-3 of the London Edition. It is not in the original (Boston) Edition.
[197] There were Pitmans at Marblehead, and Salem at this Time. Manchester was then included in Salem. There was a Thomas Pitman hung there not long before the Witch Cases occurred.
[198] Perhaps Mr. John Higginson.
[199] There was a Family of Whitfords in Salem at this Time.