One of the first books printed in the colonies was the Bay Psalm Book, the standard
hymnal of the time.
Increase Mather, one of the book's three authors, served for many years as pastor
of the North Church in Boston.
He was also the author of some 130 books.
Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits, published in 1693, was a discourse
on the Salem witchcraft trials of the previous year.
The trials, conducted in an atmosphere of hysteria, resulted in the hanging of
twenty people as witches.
Increase's eldest son, Cotton Mather, far exceeded his father's literary output,
publishing at least 400 works in his lifetime.
Cotton Mather, like his father, is remembered in part because of his connection
with the Salem witchcraft trials.
Although he did not actually take part in the trials, his works on witchcraft
had helped to stir up some of the hysteria.
Still, Cotton Mather was one of the most learned men of his time, a power in
the state and a notable author.
His theory of writing was simple (although his writing was not):
The more information a work contains, the better its style.