Excerpt: The Witch of Winthrop Village

Chapter 18: Harvest of The Wolves
October 1698

On Friday the twenty fourth, Reverend Warwick took Elder Butcher and they left early in the morning for Kingsbury Kross to look in on Rachel. Edward’s plan was to be home by early Sabbath evening and get ready for the special service on Sunday before All Hallows eve and the wolves.

Saturday afternoon the men made ready the catapult brining in extra rocks the quarry near Guilford Grange. It took twenty men and four hours to transport the rocks back to the site. The Lord Mayor Kirgis gave a speech of encouragement to the villagers just before sundown to help them have faith in their selves and their god to ensure they will come out of this predicament unscathed. As Mayor Kirgis finished Rev. Warwick and Elder Butcher drove up in the wagon. Everyone turned to them for further words of encouragement. Although Colleen could tell her father was very tired, she knew he would not let the people down. Edward climbed down from the wagon and stood near the catapult as the last rays of sunlight cast a long shadow on the siege engine.
“Brethren and Friends, the next forty eight hours will test our courage as a village and a people but we will prevail. The lord God is on our side and as the apostle Paul says, “If God is for us who can be against us?” I know I am still considered an outsider by some but in the last few months I feel that this is where I belong and that the lord God still has work for me to do here. In our this dire hour I am reminded of Psalm 19 which reads:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, `and' righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.’ Thank you.”
As he finished everyone quietly departed to their homes. No one was planning to come to the Warwick home as services would be held all day Sunday and Monday evening prior to sundown.

Sunday morning came and the Warwicks were first to the meeting house. Although this was unusual for the preacher to be first, Edward Warwick knew that this day was unusual for all in that it only happened once a year and he wanted to keep hope and courage to all that were present. He greeted Elder Butcher and his wife, followed by the Olivers and others of Winthrop Village as they assembled together.
Elder Oliver began with a prayer written by Michael Wigglesworth.
“Bow with me please,” he said.
“O Dearest Dread, most glorious King,
I'le of thy justest Judgements sing:
So thou my head and heart inspire,
To Sing aright, as I desire.
Thee, thee alone I'le invocate,
For I do much abominate
To call the Muses to mine aid:
Which is th' Unchristian use, and trade
Of some that Christians would be thought,
And yet they worship worse then nought.
Oh! what a deal of Blasphemy,
And Heathenish Impiety,
In Christian Poets may be found,
Where Heathen gods with praise are Crown'd,
They make Jehovah to stand by,
Till Juno, Venus, Mercury,
With frowning Mars, and thundering Jove
Rule Earth below, and Heaven above.
But I have learnt to pray to none,
Save unto God in Christ alone.
Nor will I laud, no, not in jest,
That which I know God doth detest.
I reckon it a damning evil
To give Gods Praises to the Devil.
Thou, Christ, art he to whom I pray,
Thy Glory fain I would display.
Oh! guide me by thy sacred Sprite
So to indite, and so to write,
That I thine holy Name may praise,
And teach the Sons of men thy wayes.

“Amen,” said the congregation. Elder Butcher got up and led the congregation in a singing of a couple psalms, which included Psalm nineteen. Then Reverend Edward Warwick got up and began to preach on the hope Israel had while in Egypt and then in the wilderness. He also talked about the sin of the people and their constant murmurings and the punishment that God sent to the people each time. His sermon went on for about two and a half hours. The service then concluded with a couple more prayers and then another psalm.

The congregation left feeling comforted and edified and as they looked over to see the catapult that comfort sort of drained away. Reverend Warwick stepped out on the steps and frowned at the catapult sitting there.
“Thomas,” he called to Elder Oliver, “is it really necessary for the catapult to be there?”
“Of course,” replied elder Oliver. “It gives people hope that the village is protected.”
“What about the town watch?” he asked. “Doesn’t Chief Inspector Phelps provide men to patrol the area at night.”
“Usually he does,” replied Elder Butcher coming over to the reverend Warwick. “But as of late he is short handed and can only provide one patrolman per area at night. Since Winthrop Village is so close to Thistle Hurst, the one patrolman is used for both.”
“Then we should post our own men,” replied Warwick.
“But what about the Sabbath law?” inquired Elder Butcher.
“That would end at sundown tonight,” said Elder Oliver. “Besides that it is still another twenty four hours after that for the wolves to arrive.”
“Exactly!” said Warwick. “If the people knew that we are establishing our own patrol starting tonight and for the next couple nights, that will give extra comfort for the villagers in the arrival of the wolf pack.”
“We can make inquires with the Lord Mayor Kirgis this afternoon about qualified men from Thistle Hurst,” suggested Elder Oliver.
“Excellent idea!” said Warwick. “I will inquire around town here and I’ll put some more words in my sermon tonight. Perhaps discuss the rebuilding of the temple form the book of Nehemiah.” The three of them shook hands and departed for their noon day meal.

That evening just before service, the elders came to Reverend Warwick with the first group of men to stand watch. It was Robert Miles, his son Thomas and a man by the name of Olaf Mortensen. It was mentioned that Olaf had some military and guard experience. Edward was very happy of the choices and said that they would begin the first watch at six; one hour into the service. Edward then had them come into the meeting house so that they might be introduced to the congregation. Edward and Humfrey Oliver would take second watch at nine, followed by both Elders at midnight, and finally Goodmans White and Bennet would take up the final watch at three.

As the service began Reverend Warwick pointed out the three men that would serve as patrol starting in one hour and then listed off the others including himself and the intervals of the patrol throughout the night. He also added that although the arrival of the wolves would not transpired until tomorrow, he did not see a reason not to begin patrols now. He then turned to the book of Nehemiah and began to talk about the rebuilding of the temple and the problems they had with Sanballat. One hour into the sermon he verbally excused the three for the first patrol and had Elder Oliver lead the congregation in prayer for their guidance through the night.

Edward then preached only another thirty minutes and that was followed by prayers form both elders and then everyone quickly went home. On the way out Edward reminded the congregation of a special service Monday evening to further comfort and guide the members and hope all would be in attendance.

His family had left for their home, the twins behaving more than usual especially knowing that they would be attending school starting on Tuesday. Reverend Stone would be in attendance for this special service not only to give additional comfort to the villagers but also to remind those boys who are of the age that classes will commence on Tuesday. Due to planting and harvesting, the boys only attend school from November through March, as they are need on the different farms to tend to the seeding, weeding, growing and harvesting.

When it came time for Edward and Humfrey to take the patrol they met the other three men at the meeting house and gave a report of quiet. Humfrey took the three hours alone with Reverend Warwick to discuss his desire of Colleen’s hand in marriage. He gave his lists of qualifications and even went so far as to list a couple faults to show he was not perfect. Edward grew very fond of the boy and only hoped that the twins would be half of the individual that Humfrey was.

Just as the elders came to relive them, a wolf cry was heard near by. To Edward it seem to come just on the other side of the meeting house. Two more howls went up in answer to the first.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” said Elder Oliver.
“Why do you say that?” asked Warwick.
“Usually the howls are not this loud or this frequent until the next night,” he replied.
“Then we must be ready for an attack!” said Edward.
“We are ready!” said Elder Butcher. “But you two should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day!”

Edward agreed although he seemed hesitant to leave them alone. He shook hands with the elders and then Humfrey and then departed for his house.
Martha was waiting up for him and he scolded her for this.
“Mother, waiting for me will not keep the wolves away!” he said.
“Yes, but I can still worry about my husband,” she replied. “A patrol is no place for a preacher!
“True,” agreed Warwick. “However, in order to encourage hope in these people I have to jump in along side of them to show that I am not above them in anything just because I am a minister.”
“Okay,” said Martha. “Just be careful! Now let’s go to bed.” She turned and led the way and as Edward placed a foot on the first stair, he distinctly heard the sound of the catapult go off. Shouting of men and the howls of wolves followed this sound. Edward quickly turned and dashed out the against his wife’s wishes.

As he reached the area of the catapult, he could see four bright white blurs running back into the woods. Both elders and Olaf Mortensen were present. Elder Oliver was shaking his fist at the fleeing wolves.
“Just try it again and see what happens!” he shouted.
Edward came up to them and placed a hand on Elder Oliver’s shoulder.
“What happened?” he asked.
“The little buggers thought they could come in a day early and helped themselves to some eats,” replied Oliver.
Edward hid a smile at Oliver phrasing. He knows that Thomas can be a bit rough around the edges when he gets angry.
Martha came running up to the men.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Mother, get back in the house!” said Warwick. “Nothing to see here.”
“I’ll thank you very much not to scold me again,” she said properly. “I allowed the first one I’ll not have you do it again so soon after!”
Edward smiled at his wife.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Let’s go home. The elders have things well in hand.” He led her back to the house and briefly told her what he saw.