HOW IN MY PRESENCE THE DEVIL FETCHED OLD LIZZIE KOLKEN

When I recovered from my above-mentioned swound, I found my host, his

wife, and my old maid standing over me, and pouring warm beer down my

throat. The faithful old creature shrieked for joy when I opened my eyes

again, and then told me that my daughter had not suffered herself to be

racked, but had freely confessed her crimes and filed herself as a witch.

This seemed pleasant news to me in my misery, inasmuch as I deemed the

death by fire to be a less heavy punishment than the torture. Howbeit when

I would have prayed I could not, whereat I again fell into heavy grief and

despair, fearing that the Holy Ghost had altogether turned away His face

from me, wretched man that I was. And albeit the old maid, when she had

seen this, came and stood before my bed and began to pray aloud to me; it

was all in vain, and I remained a hardened sinner. But the Lord had pity

upon me, although I deserved it not, insomuch that I presently fell into a

deep sleep, and did not awake until next morning when the prayer-bell

rang; and then I was once more able to pray, whereat I greatly rejoiced,

and still thanked God in my heart, when my ploughman Claus Neels came in

and told me that he had come yesterday to tell me about my oats, seeing

that he had gotten them all in; and that the constable came with him who

had been to fetch old Lizzie Kolken, inasmuch as the honourable high court

had ordered her to be brought up for trial. Hereat the whole village

rejoiced, but _Rea_ herself laughed, and shouted, and sang, and told him

and the constable by the way (for the constable had let her get up behind

for a short time), that this should bring great luck to the Sheriff. They

need only bring her up before the court, and in good sooth she would not

hold her tongue within her teeth, but that all men should marvel at her

confession; that such a court as that was a laughing-stock to her, and

that she spat, _salvâ veniâ_, upon the whole brotherhood, _et cet_.

Upon hearing this I once more felt a strong hope, and rose to go to old

Lizzie. But I was not quite dressed before she sent the impudent constable

to beg that I would go to her with all speed and give her the sacrament,

seeing that she had become very weak during the night. I had my own

thoughts on the matter, and followed the constable as fast as I could,

though not to give her the sacrament, as indeed anybody may suppose. But

in my haste, I, weak old man that I was, forgot to take my witnesses with

me; for all the misery I had hitherto suffered had so clouded my senses

that it never once came into my head. None followed me save the impudent

constable; and it will soon appear how that this villain had given himself

over body and soul to Satan to destroy my child, whereas he might have

saved her. For when he had opened the prison (it was the same cell wherein

my child had first been shut up), we found old Lizzie lying on the ground

on a truss of straw, with a broom for a pillow (as though she were to fly

to hell upon it, as she no longer could fly to Blockula), so that I

shuddered when I caught sight of her. Scarce was I come in when she cried

out fearfully, "I'm a witch, I'm a witch! Have pity upon me, and give me

the sacrament quick, and I will confess everything to you!" And when I

said to her, "Confess, then!" she owned that she, with the help of the

Sheriff, had contrived all the witchcraft in the village, and that my

child was as innocent thereof as the blessed sun in heaven. Howbeit that

the Sheriff had the greatest guilt, inasmuch as he was a warlock and a

witch's priest, and had a spirit far stronger than hers, called Dudaim,

which spirit had given her such a blow on the head in the night as she

should never recover. This same Dudaim it was that had raked up the crops,

heaped sand over the amber, made the storm, and dropped the frog into my

daughter her lap; _item_, carried off her old goodman through the air.

And when I asked her how that could be, seeing that her goodman had been a

child of God until very near his end, and much given to prayer; albeit I

had indeed marvelled why he had other thoughts in his last illness; she

answered that one day he had seen her spirit, which she kept in a chest,

in the shape of a black cat, and whose name was Kit, and had threatened

that he would tell me of it; whereupon she, being frightened, had caused

her spirit to make him so ill that he despaired of ever getting over it.

Thereupon she had comforted him, saying that she would presently heal him

if he would deny God, who, as he well saw, could not help him. This he

promised to do; and when she had straight-way made him quite hearty again,

they took the silver which I had scraped off the new sacrament cup, and

went by night down to the seashore, where he had to throw it into the sea

with these words: "When this silver returns again to the chalice, then

shall my soul return to God." Whereupon the Sheriff, who was by,

re-baptized him in the name of Satan, and called him Jack. He had had no

sponsors save only herself, old Lizzie. Moreover, that on St. John's Eve,

when he went with them to Blockula for the first time (the Herrenberg was

their Blockula), they had talked of my daughter, and Satan himself had

sworn to the Sheriff that he should have her. For that he would show the

old one (wherewith the villain meant God) what he could do, and that he

would make the carpenter's son sweat for vexation (fie upon thee, thou

arch villain, that thou couldst thus speak of my blessed Saviour!).

Whereupon her old goodman had grumbled, and as they had never rightly

trusted him, the spirit Dudaim one day flew off with him through the air

by the Sheriff's order, seeing that her own spirit, called Kit, was too

weak to carry him. That the same Dudaim had also been the woodpecker who

afterwards 'ticed my daughter and old Paasch to the spot with his cries,

in order to ruin her. But that the giant who had appeared on the

Streckelberg was not a devil, but the young lord of Mellenthin himself, as

her spirit, Kit, had told her.

And this she said was nothing but the truth, whereby she would live and

die; and she begged me, for the love of God, to take pity upon her, and,

after her repentant confession, to speak forgiveness of her sins, and to

give her the Lord's Supper; for that her spirit stood there behind the

stove, grinning like a rogue, because he saw that it was all up with her

now. But I answered, "I would sooner give the sacrament to an old sow than

to thee, thou accursed witch, who not only didst give over thine own

husband to Satan, but hast likewise tortured me and my poor child almost

unto death with pains like those of hell." Before she could make any

answer, a loathsome insect, about as long as my finger, and with a yellow

tail, crawled in under the door of the prison. When she espied it she gave

a yell, such as I never before heard, and never wish to hear again. For

once, when I was in Silesia, in my youth, I saw one of the enemy's

soldiers spear a child before its mother's face, and I thought that a

fearful shriek which the mother gave; but her cry was child's play to the

cry of old Lizzie. All my hair stood on end, and her own red hair grew so

stiff that it was like the twigs of the broom whereon she lay; and then

she howled, "That is the spirit Dudaim, whom the accursed Sheriff has sent

to me--the sacrament, for the love of God, the sacrament!--I will confess

a great deal more--I have been a witch these thirty years!--the sacrament,

the sacrament!" While she thus bellowed and flung about her arms and legs,

the loathsome insect rose into the air, and buzzed and whizzed about her

where she lay, insomuch that it was fearful to see and to hear. And this

she-devil called by turns on God, on her spirit Kit, and on me, to help

her, till the insect all of a sudden darted into her open jaws, whereupon

she straightway gave up the ghost, and turned all black and blue like a

blackberry.

I heard nothing more save that the window rattled, not very loud, but as

though one had thrown a pea against it, whereby I straightway perceived

that Satan had just flown through it with her soul. May the all-merciful

God keep every mother's child from such an end, for the sake of Jesus

Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour! Amen.

As soon as I was somewhat recovered, which, however, was not for a long

time, inasmuch as my blood had turned to ice, and my feet were as stiff as

a stake; I began to call out after the impudent constable, but he was no

longer in the prison. Thereat I greatly marvelled, seeing that I had seen

him there but just before the vermin crawled in, and straightway I

suspected no good, as, indeed, it turned out; for when at last he came

upon my calling him, and I told him to let this carrion be carted out

which had just died in the name of the devil, he did as though he was

amazed; and when I desired him that he would bear witness to the innocence

of my daughter, which the old hag had confessed on her death-bed, he

pretended to be yet more amazed, and said that he had heard nothing. This

went through my heart like a sword, and I leaned against a pillar without,

where I stood for a long time: but as soon as I was come to myself I went

to _Dom. Consul_, who was about to go to Usedom and already sat in his

coach. At my humble prayer he went back into the judgment-chamber with the

_Camerarius_ and the _Scriba_, whereupon I told all that had taken place,

and how the wicked constable denied that he had heard the same. But they

say that I talked a great deal of nonsense beside; among other things,

that all the little fishes had swam into the vault to release my daughter.

Nevertheless, _Dom. Consul_, who often shook his head, sent for the

impudent constable, and asked him for his testimony. But the fellow

pretended that as soon as he saw that old Lizzie wished to confess, he had

gone away, so as not to get any more hard words, wherefore he had heard

nothing. Hereupon I, as _Dom. Consul_ afterwards told the pastor of Benz,

clenched my fists and answered, "What, thou arch-rogue, didst thou not

crawl about the room in the shape of a reptile?" whereupon he would

hearken to me no longer, thinking me distraught, nor would he make the

constable take an oath, but left me standing in the midst of the room, and

got into his coach again.

Neither do I know how I got out of the room; but next morning when the sun

rose, and I found myself lying in bed at Master Seep his ale-house, the

whole _casus_ seemed to me like a dream; neither was I able to rise, but

lay a-bed all the blessed Saturday and Sunday, talking all manner of

_allotria_. It was not till towards evening on Sunday, when I began to

vomit and threw up green bile (no wonder!), that I got somewhat better.

About this time _Pastor Benzensis_ came to my bedside, and told me how

distractedly I had borne myself, but so comforted me from the word of God,

that I was once more able to pray from my heart. May the merciful God

reward my dear gossip, therefore, at the day of judgment! For prayer is

almost as brave a comforter as the Holy Ghost himself, from whom it comes;

and I shall ever consider that so long as a man can still pray, his

misfortunes are not unbearable, even though in all else "his flesh and his

heart faileth" (Psalm lxxiii.).

_The Twenty-fifth Chapter_

HOW SATAN SIFTED ME LIKE WHEAT, WHEREAS MY DAUGHTER WITHSTOOD HIM RIGHT

BRAVELY

On Monday I left my bed betimes, and as I felt in passable good case, I

went up to the castle to see whether I might peradventure get to my

daughter, but I could not find either constable, albeit I had brought a

few groats with me to give them as beer-money; neither would the folks

that I met tell me where they were; _item_, the impudent constable his

wife, who was in the kitchen making brimstone matches. And when I asked

her when her husband would come back, she said not before to-morrow

morning early; _item_, that the other constable would not be here any

sooner. Hereupon I begged her to lead me to my daughter herself, at the

same time showing her the two groats; but she answered that she had not

the keys, and knew not how to get at them: moreover, she said she did not

know where my child was now shut up, seeing that I would have spoken to

her through the door; _item_, the cook, the huntsman, and whomsoever else

I met in my sorrow, said they knew not in what hole the witch might lie.

Hereupon I went all round about the castle, and laid my ear against every

little window that looked as though it might be her window, and cried,

"Mary, my child, where art thou?" _Item_, at every grating I found I

kneeled down, bowed my head, and called in like manner into the vault

below. But all in vain; I got no answer anywhere. The Sheriff at length

saw what I was about, and came down out of the castle to me with a very

gracious air, and, taking me by the hand, he asked me what I sought? But

when I answered him that I had not seen my only child since last Thursday,

and prayed him to show pity upon me, and let me be led to her, he said

that could not be, but that I was to come up into his chamber, and talk

further of the matter. By the way he said, "Well, so the old witch told

you fine things about me, but you see how Almighty God has sent his

righteous judgment upon her. She has long been ripe for the fire; but my

great long-suffering, wherein a good magistrate should ever strive to be

like unto the Lord, has made me overlook it till _datum_, and in return

for my goodness she raises this outcry against me." And when I replied,

"How does your Lordship know that the witch raised such an outcry against

you?" he first began to stammer, and then said, "Why, you yourself charged

me thereon before the judge. But I bear you no anger therefor, and God

knows that I pity you, who are a poor, weak old man, and would gladly help

you if I were able." Meanwhile he led me up four or five flights of

stairs, so that I, old man that I am, could follow him no further, and

stood still gasping for breath. But he took me by the hand and said,

"Come, I must first show you how matters really stand, or I fear you will

not accept my help, but will plunge yourself into destruction." Hereupon

we stepped out upon a terrace at the top of the castle, which looked

toward the water; and the villain went on to say, "Reverend Abraham, can

you see well afar off?" and when I answered that I once could see very

well, but that the many tears I had shed had now peradventure dimmed my

eyes, he pointed to the Streckelberg, and said, "Do you, then, see nothing

there?" _Ego_. "Nought save a black speck, which I cannot make out."

_Ille_. "Know, then, that that is the pile whereon your daughter is to

burn at ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and which the constables are now

raising." When this hell-hound had thus spoken, I gave a loud cry and

swounded. Oh, blessed Lord! I know not how I lived through such distress;

thou alone didst strengthen me beyond nature, in order, "after so much

weeping and wailing, to heap joys and blessings upon me; without thee I

never could have lived through such misery: therefore to thy name ever be

all honour and glory, O thou God of Israel!"

When I came again to myself I lay on a bed in a fine room, and perceived a

taste in my mouth like wine. But as I saw none near me save the Sheriff,

who held a pitcher in his hand, I shuddered and closed mine eyes,

considering what I should say or do. This he presently observed, and said,

"Do not shudder thus; I mean well by you, and only wish to put a question

to you, which you must answer me on your conscience as a priest. Say,

reverend Abraham, which is the greater sin, to commit whoredom, or to take

the lives of two persons?" and when I answered him, "To take the lives of

two persons," he went on, "Well, then, is not that what your stubborn

child is about to do? Rather than give herself up to me, who have ever

desired to save her, and who can even yet save her, albeit her pile is now

being raised, she will take away her own life and that of her wretched

father, for I scarcely think that you, poor man, will outlive this sorrow.

Wherefore do you, for God his sake, persuade her to think better of it

while I am yet able to save her. For know that about ten miles from hence

I have a small house in the midst of the forest, where no human being ever

goes; thither will I send her this very night, and you may dwell there

with her all the days of your life, if so it please you. You shall live as

well as you can possibly desire, and to-morrow morning I will spread a

report betimes that the witch and her father have run away together during

the night, and that nobody knows whither they are gone." Thus spake the

serpent to me, as whilom to our mother Eve; and, wretched sinner that I

am, the tree of death which he showed me seemed to me also to be a tree of

life, so pleasant was it to the eye. Nevertheless I answered, "My child

will never save her miserable life by doing aught to peril the salvation

of her soul." But now, too, the serpent was more cunning than all the

beasts of the field (especially such an old fool as I), and spake thus:

"Why, who would have her peril the salvation of her soul? Reverend

Abraham, must I teach you Scripture? Did not our Lord Christ pardon Mary

Magdalene, who lived in open whoredom? and did he not speak forgiveness to

the poor adulteress who had committed a still greater _crimen?_ nay, more,

doth not St. Paul expressly say that the harlot Rahab was saved, Hebrews

xi.? _item_, St. James ii. says the same. But where have ye read that any

one was saved who had wantonly taken her own life and that of her father?

Wherefore, for the love of God, persuade your child not to give herself

up, body and soul, to the devil, by her stubbornness, but to suffer

herself to be saved while it is yet time. You can abide with her, and pray

away all the sins she may commit, and likewise aid me with your prayers,

who freely own that I am a miserable sinner, and have done you much evil,

though not so much evil by far, reverend Abraham, as David did to Uriah,

and he was saved, notwithstanding he put the man to a shameful death, and

afterwards lay with his wife. Wherefore I, poor man, likewise hope to be

saved, seeing that my desire for your daughter is still greater than that

which this David felt for Bathsheba; and I will gladly make it all up to

you twofold as soon as we are in my cottage."

When the tempter had thus spoken, methought his words were sweeter than

honey, and I answered, "Alas, my lord, I am ashamed to appear before her

face with such a proposal." Whereupon he straightway said, "Then do you

write it to her; come, here is pen, ink, and paper."

And now, like Eve, I took the fruit and ate, and gave it to my child that

she might eat also; that is to say, that I recapitulated on paper all that

Satan had prompted, but in the Latin tongue, for I was ashamed to write it

in mine own; and lastly I conjured her not to take away her own life and

mine, but to submit to the wondrous will of God. Neither were mine eyes

opened when I had eaten (that is, written), nor did I perceive that the

ink was gall instead of honey, and I translated my letter to the Sheriff

(seeing that he understood no Latin), smiling like a drunken man the

while; whereupon he clapped me on the shoulder, and after I had made fast

the letter with his signet, he called his huntsman, and gave it to him to

carry to my daughter; _item_, he sent her pen, ink, and paper, together

with his signet, in order that she might answer it forthwith.

Meanwhile he talked with me right graciously, praising my child and me,

and made me drink to him many times from his great pitcher, wherein was

most goodly wine; moreover, he went to a cupboard and brought out cakes

for me to eat, saying that I should now have such every day. But when the

huntsman came back in about half an hour with her answer, and I had read

the same, then, first, were mine eyes opened, and I knew good and evil;

had I had a fig-leaf, I should have covered them therewith for shame; but

as it was, I held my hand over them and wept so bitterly that the Sheriff

waxed very wroth, and cursing bade me tell him what she had written.

Thereupon I interpreted the letter to him, the which I likewise place

here, in order that all may see my folly, and the wisdom of my child. It

was as follows:--

"IESVS!

"Pater infelix!

"Ego cras non magis pallebo rogum aspectura, et rogus non magis erubescet,

me suscipiens, quam pallui et iterum erubescui, literas tuas legens. Quid?

et te, pium patrem, pium servum Domini, ita Satanas sollicitavit, ut

communionem facias cum inimicis meis, et non intelligas: in tali vitâ esse

mortem, et in tali morte vitam? Scilicet si clementissimus Deus Mariae

Magdalenae aliisque ignovit, ignovit, quia resipiscerent ob carnis

debilitatem, et non iterum peccarent. Et ego peccarem cum quavis

detestatione carnis, et non semel, sed iterum atque iterum sine reversione

usque ad mortem? Quomodo clementissimus Deus haec sceleratissima ignoscere

posset? infelix pater! recordare quid mihi dixisti de sanctis martyribus

et virginibus Domini, qua omnes mallent vitam quam pudicitiam perdere. His

et ego sequar, et sponsus meus, Jesus Christus, et mihi miserae, ut spero,

coronam aeternam dabit, quamvis eum non minus offendi ob debilitatem

carnis ut Maria, et me sontem declaravi, cum insons sum. Fac igitur, ut

valeas et ora pro me apud Deum et non apud Satanam, ut et ego mox coram

Deo pro te orare possim.

"MARIA S., captiva."

When the Sheriff heard this, he flung the pitcher which he held in his

hand to the ground, so that it flew in pieces, and cried, "The cursed

devil's whore! the constable shall make her squeak for this a good hour

longer"; with many more such things beside, which he said in his malice,

and which I have now forgotten; but he soon became quite gracious again,

and said, "She is foolish; do you go to her and see whether you cannot

persuade her to her own good as well as yours; the huntsman shall let you

in, and should the fellow listen, give him a good box on the ears in my

name; do you hear, reverend Abraham? Go now forthwith and bring me back an

answer as quickly as possible!" I therefore followed the huntsman, who led

me into a vault where was no light save what fell through a hole no bigger

than a crown-piece; and here my daughter sat upon her bed and wept. Any

one may guess that I straightway began to weep too, and was no better able

to speak than she. We thus lay mute in each other's arms for a long time,

until I at last begged her to forgive me for my letter, but of the Sheriff

his message I said nought, although I had purposed so to do. But before

long we heard the Sheriff himself call down into the vault from above,

"What (and here he gave me a heavy curse) are you doing there so long?

Come up this moment, reverend Johannes!" Thus I had scarce time to

give her one kiss before the huntsman came back with the keys and forced

us to part; albeit we had as yet scarcely spoken, save that I had told her

in a few words what had happened with old Lizzie. It would be hard to

believe into what grievous anger the Sheriff fell when I told him that my

daughter remained firm and would not hearken unto him; he struck me on the

breast, and said, "Go to the devil then, thou infamous parson!" and when I

turned myself away and would have gone, he pulled me back, and said, "If

thou breathest but one word of all that has passed, I will have thee burnt

too, thou grey-headed old father of a witch; so look to it!" Hereupon I

plucked up a heart, and answered that that would be the greatest joy to

me, especially if I could be burnt to-morrow with my child. Hereunto he

made no answer, but clapped to the door behind me. Well, clap the door as

thou wilt, I greatly fear that the just God will one day clap the doors of

heaven in thy face!

_The Twenty-sixth Chapter_

HOW I RECEIVED THE HOLY SACRAMENT WITH MY DAUGHTER AND THE OLD

MAIDSERVANT, AND HOW SHE WAS THEN LED FOR THE LAST TIME BEFORE THE COURT,

WITH THE DRAWN SWORD AND THE OUTCRY, TO RECEIVE SENTENCE

Now any one would think that during that heavy Tuesday night I should not

have been able to close mine eyes; but know, dear reader, that the Lord

can do more than we can ask or understand, and that his mercy is new every

morning. For toward daybreak I fell asleep as quietly as though I had had

no care upon my heart; and when I awoke I was able to pray more heartily

than I had done for a long time; so that, in the midst of my tribulation,

I wept for joy at such great mercy from the Lord. But I prayed for nought

save that he would endow my child with strength and courage to suffer the

martyrdom he had laid upon her with Christian patience, and to send his

angel to me, woeful man, so to pierce my heart with grief when I should

see my child burn that it might straightway cease to beat, and I might

presently follow her. And thus I still prayed when the maid came in all

dressed in black, and with the silken raiment of my sweet lamb hanging

over her arm; and she told me, with many tears, that the dead-bell had

already tolled from the castle tower, for the first time, and that my

child had sent for her to dress her, seeing that the court was already

come from Usedom, and that in about two hours she was to set out on her

last journey. Moreover, she had sent her word that she was to take her

some blue and yellow flowers for a garland; wherefore she asked me what

flowers she should take; and seeing that a jar filled with fire lilies and

forget-me-nots stood in my window, which she had placed there yesterday, I

said, "Thou canst gather no better flowers for her than these, wherefore

do thou carry them to her, and tell her that I will follow thee in about

half an hour, in order to receive the sacrament with her." Hereupon the

faithful old creature prayed me to suffer her to go to the sacrament with

us, the which I promised her. And scarce had I dressed myself and put on

my surplice when _Pastor Benzensis_ came in at the door and fell upon my

neck, weeping, and as mute as a fish. As soon as he came to his speech

again he told me of the great _miraculum_ (_daemonis_ I mean) which had

befallen at the burial of old Lizzie. For that, just as the bearers were

about to lower the coffin into the grave, a noise was heard therein, as

though of a carpenter boring through a deal board; wherefore they thought

the old hag must be come to life again, and opened the coffin. But there

she lay as before, all black and blue in the face, and as cold as ice; but

her eyes had started wide open, so that all were horror-stricken, and

expected some devilish apparition; and, indeed, a live rat presently

jumped out of the coffin and ran into a skull which lay beside the grave.

Thereupon they all ran away, seeing that old Lizzie had ever been in evil

repute as a witch. Howbeit at last he himself went near the grave again,

whereupon the rat disappeared, and all the others took courage and

followed him. This the man told me, and any one may guess that this was in

fact Satan, who had flown down the hag her throat as an insect, whereas

his proper shape was that of a rat: albeit I wonder what he could so long

have been about in the carrion; unless indeed it were that the evil

spirits are as fond of all that is loathsome as the angels of God are of

all that is fair and lovely. Be that as it may; _Summa_: I was not a

little shocked at what he told me, and asked him what he now thought of

the Sheriff? whereupon he shrugged his shoulders, and said that he had

indeed been a wicked fellow as long as he could remember him, and that it

was full ten years since he had given him any first-fruits; but that he

did not believe that he was a warlock, as old Lizzie had said. For

although he had indeed never been to the table of the Lord in his church,

he had heard that he often went at Stettin, with his Princely Highness the

Duke, and that the pastor at the castle church had shown him the entry in

his communion-book. Wherefore he likewise could not believe that he had

brought this misery upon my daughter, if she were innocent, as the hag had

said; besides, that my daughter had freely confessed herself a witch.

Hereupon I answered, that she had done that for fear of the torture; but

that she was not afraid of death; whereupon I told him, with many sighs,

how the sheriff had yesterday tempted me, miserable and unfaithful

servant, to evil, insomuch that I had been willing to sell my only child

to him and to Satan, and was not worthy to receive the sacrament to-day.

Likewise how much more steadfast a faith my daughter had than I, as he

might see from her letter, which I still carried in my pocket; herewith I

gave it into his hand, and when he had read it, he sighed as though he had

been himself a father, and said, "Were this true, I should sink into the

earth for sorrow; but come, brother, come, that I may prove her faith

myself."

Hereupon we went up to the castle, and on our way we found the greensward

before the hunting-lodge, _item_, the whole space in front of the castle,

already crowded with people, who, nevertheless, were quite quiet as we

went by: we gave our names again to the huntsman. (I have never been able

to remember his name, seeing that he was a Polak; he was not, however, the

same fellow who wooed my child, and whom the Sheriff had therefore turned

off.) The man presently ushered us into a fine large room, whither my

child had been led when taken out of her prison. The maid had already

dressed her, and she looked lovely as an angel. She wore the chain of gold

with the effigy round her neck again, _item_, the garland in her hair, and

she smiled as we entered, saying, "I am ready!" Whereat the reverend

Martinus was sorely angered and shocked, saying, "Ah, thou ungodly woman,

let no one tell me further of thine innocence! Thou art about to go to the

holy sacrament, and from thence to death, and thou flauntest as a child of

this world about to go to the dancing-room." Whereupon she answered and

said, "Be not wroth with me, dear godfather, because that I would go into

the presence of my good King of Heaven in the same garments wherein I

appeared some time since before the good King of Sweden. For it

strengthens my weak and trembling flesh, seeing I hope that my righteous

Saviour will in like manner take me to his heart, and will also hand his

effigy upon my neck when I stretch out my hands to him in all humility,

and recite my _carmen_, saying, 'O Lamb of God, innocently slain upon the

cross, give my thy peace, O Jesu!'" These words softened my dear gossip,

and he spoke, saying, "Ah, child, child, I thought to have reproached

thee, but thou hast constrained me to weep with thee: art thou, then,

indeed innocent?" "Verily," said she, "to you, my honoured godfather, I

may now own that I am innocent, as truly as I trust that God will aid me

in my last hour through Jesus Christ. Amen."

When the maid heard this, she made such outcries that I repented that I

had suffered her to be present, and we all had enough to do to comfort her

from the word of God till she became somewhat more tranquil; and when this

was done, my dear gossip thus spake to my child: "If, indeed, thou dost so

steadfastly maintain thine innocence, it is my duty, according to my

conscience as a priest, to inform the worshipful court thereof"; and he

was about to leave the room. But she withheld him, and fell upon the

ground and clasped his knees, saying, "I beseech you, by the wounds of

Jesus, to be silent. They would stretch me on the rack again, and uncover

my nakedness, and I, wretched weak woman, would in such torture confess

all that they would have me, especially if my father again be there,

whereby both my soul and my body are tortured at once: wherefore stay, I

pray you, stay; is it, then, a misfortune to die innocent, and is it not

better to die innocent than guilty?"

My good gossip at last gave way, and after standing awhile and praying to

himself, he wiped away his tears, and then spake the exhortation to

confession, in the words of Isaiah xliii. 1, 2, "But now thus saith the

Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear

not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art

mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and

through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest

through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle

upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy

Saviour."

And when he had ended this comfortable address, and asked her whether she

would willingly bear until her last hour that cross which the most

merciful God according to his unsearchable will had laid upon her, she

spake such beautiful words that my gossip afterwards said he should not

forget them so long as he should live, seeing that he had never witnessed

a bearing at once so full of faith and joy, and withal so deeply

sorrowful. She spake after this manner: "Oh, holy cross, which my Jesus

hath sanctified by his innocent suffering; oh, dear cross, which is laid

upon me by the hand of a merciful Father; oh, blessed cross, whereby I am

made like unto my Lord Jesus, and am called unto eternal glory and

blessedness: how! shall I not willingly bear thee, thou sweet cross of my

bridegroom, of my brother?" The reverend Johannes had scarce given us

absolution, and after this, with many tears, the holy sacrament, when we

heard a loud trampling upon the floor, and presently the impudent

constable looked into the room and asked whether we were ready, seeing

that the worshipful court was now waiting for us; and when he had been

told that we were ready, my child would have first taken leave of me, but

I forbade her, saying, "Not so; thou knowest that which thou hast promised

me; ... 'and whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will

lodge: ... where thou diest will I die ...' if that the Lord, as I hope,

will hear the ardent sighs of my poor soul." Hereupon she let me go, and

embraced only the old maid-servant, thanking her for all the kindness she

had shown her from her youth up, and begging her not to go with her to

make her death yet more bitter by her cries. The faithful old creature was

unable for a long time to say a word for tears. Howbeit at last she begged

forgiveness of my child for that she unwittingly accused her, and said,

that out of her wages she had bought five pounds' weight of flax to hasten

her death; that the shepherd of Pudgla had that very morning taken it with

him to Coserow, and that she should wind it closely round her body; for

that she had seen how old wife Schurne, who was burnt in Liepe, had

suffered great torments before she came to her death, by reason of the

damp wood.

But ere my child could thank her for this, the dreadful outcry of blood

began in the judgment-chamber; for a voice cried as loudly as might be,

"Woe upon the accursed witch, Mary Schweidler, because that she hath

fallen off from the living God!" Then all the folk without cried, "Woe

upon the accursed witch!" When I heard this I fell back against the wall,

but my sweet child stroked my cheeks with her darling hands, and said,

"Father, father, do but remember that the people likewise cried out

against the innocent Jesus, 'Crucify him, crucify him!' Shall not we then

drink of the cup which our Heavenly Father hath prepared for us?"

Hereupon the door opened, and the constable walked in, amid a great tumult

among the people, holding a drawn sword in his hand, which he bowed thrice

before my child, and cried, "Woe upon the accursed witch, Mary Schweidler,

because that she hath fallen off from the living God!" and all the folks

in the hall and without the castle cried as loud as they could, "Woe upon

the accursed witch!"

Hereupon he said, "Mary Schweidler, come before the high and worshipful

court to hear sentence of death passed upon thee!" Whereupon she followed

him with us two miserable men (for _Pastor Benzensis_ was no less cast

down than myself). As for the old maid-servant, she lay on the ground for

dead.

After we had with great pains pushed our way through all the people, the

constable stood still before the open judgment-chamber, and once more

bowed his sword before my child and cried for the third time, "Woe upon

the accursed witch, Mary Schweidler, because that she hath fallen off from

the living God!" And all the people, as well as the cruel judges

themselves, cried as loud as they could, "Woe upon the accursed witch!"

When we had entered the room, _Dom. Consul_ first asked my worthy gossip

whether the witch had abode by her free avowal in confession; whereupon,

after considering a short time, he answered, that he had best ask herself,

for there she stood. According, taking up a paper which lay before him on

the table, he spake as follows:--"Mary Schweidler, now that thou hast

confessed, and received the holy and most honourable sacrament of the

Lord's Supper, answer me once again these following questions:--

"1. Is it true that thou hast fallen off from the living God and given

thyself up to Satan?

"2. Is it true that thou hadst a spirit called _Disidaemonia_, who

re-baptized thee and carnally knew thee?

"3. Is it true that thou hast done all manner of mischief to the cattle?

"4. Is it true that Satan appeared to thee on the Streckelberg in the

likeness of a hairy giant?"

When she had with many sighs said "Yes" to all these questions, he rose,

took a wand in one hand and a second paper in the other, put his

spectacles on his nose, and said, "Now, then, hear thy sentence." (This

sentence I since copied: he would not let me see the other _Acta_, but

pretended that they were at Wolgast. The sentence, however, was word for

word as follows.)

"We, the Sheriff and the Justices appointed to serve the high and

worshipful criminal court. Inasmuch as Mary Schweidler, the daughter of

Abraham Schweidlerus, the pastor of Coserow, hath, after the appointed

inquisition, repeatedly made free confession that she hath a devil named

_Disidaemonia_, the which did re-baptize her in the sea, and did also know

her carnally; _item_, that she by his help did mischief to the cattle;

that he also appeared to her on the Streckelberg in the likeness of a

hairy giant. We do therefore by these presents make known and direct that

_Rea_ be first duly torn four times on each breast with red-hot iron

pincers, and after that be burned to death by fire, as a rightful

punishment to herself and a warning to others. Nevertheless we, in pity

for her youth, are pleased of our mercy to spare her the tearing with

red-hot pincers, so that she shall only suffer death by the simple

punishment of fire. Wherefore she is hereby condemned and judged

accordingly on the part of the criminal court.

"_Publicatum_ at the castle of Pudgla, the 30th day _mensis Augusti, anno

Salutis_ 1630."

As he spake the last word he brake his wand in two and threw the pieces

before the feet of my innocent lamb, saying to the constable, "Now, do

your duty!" But so many folks, both men and women, threw themselves on the

ground to seize the pieces of the wand (seeing they are said to be good

for the gout in the joints, _item_, for cattle when troubled with lice),

that the constable fell to the earth over a woman who was on her knees

before him, and his approaching death was thus foreshadowed to him by the

righteous God. Something of the same sort likewise befell the Sheriff now

for the second time; for when the worshipful court rose, throwing down

tables, stools, and benches, a table, under which two boys were fighting

for the pieces of the wand, fell right upon his foot, whereupon he flew

into a violent rage, and threatened the people with his fist, saying that

they should have fifty right good lashes a-piece, both men and women, if

they were not quiet forthwith, and did not depart peaceably out of the

room. This frighted them, and after the people were gone out into the

street, the constable took a rope out of his pocket, wherewith he bound my

lamb her hands so tightly behind her back that she cried aloud; but when

she saw how this wrung my heart, she straightway constrained herself and

said, "Oh, father, remember that it fared no better with the blessed

Saviour!" Howbeit, when my dear gossip, who stood behind her, saw that her

little hands, and more especially her nails, had turned black and blue, he

spoke for her to the worshipful court, whereupon the abominable Sheriff

only said, "Oh, let her be; let her feel what it is to fall off from the

living God." But _Dom. Consul_ was more merciful, inasmuch as, after

feeling the cords, he bade the constable bind her hands less cruelly and

slacken the rope a little, which accordingly he was forced to do. But my

dear gossip was not content herewith, and begged that she might sit in the

cart without being bound, so that she should be able to hold her

hymn-book, for he had summoned the school to sing a hymn by the way for

her comfort, and he was ready to answer for it with his own head that she

should not escape out of the cart. Moreover; it is the custom for fellows

with pitchforks always to go with the carts wherein condemned criminals,

and more especially witches, are carried to execution. But this the cruel

Sheriff would not suffer, and the rope was left upon her hands, and the

impudent constable seized her by the arm and led her from the

judgment-chamber. But in the hall we saw a great _scandalum_, which again

pierced my very heart. For the housekeeper and the impudent constable his

wife were fighting for my child her bed, and her linen, and wearing

apparel, which the housekeeper had taken for herself, and which the other

woman wanted to have. The latter now called to her husband to help her,

whereupon he straightway let go my daughter and struck the housekeeper on

her mouth with his fist, so that the blood ran out therefrom, and she

shrieked and wailed fearfully to the Sheriff, who followed us with the

court. He threatened them both in vain, and said that when he came back he

would inquire into the matter and give to each her due share. But they

would not hearken to this, until my daughter asked _Dom. Consul_ whether

every dying person, even a condemned criminal, had power to leave his

goods and chattels to whomsoever he would? and when he answered, "Yes, all

but the clothes, which belong of right to the executioner," she said,

"Well, then, the constable may take my clothes, but none shall have my bed

save my faithful old maid-servant Ilse!" Hereupon the housekeeper began to

curse and revile my child loudly, who heeded her not, but stepped out at

the door toward the cart, where there stood so many people that nought

could be seen save head against head. The folks crowded about us so

tumultuously that the Sheriff, who, meanwhile, had mounted his grey horse,

constantly smote them right and left across their eyes with his

riding-whip, but they nevertheless would scarce fall back. Howbeit, at

length he cleared the way, and when about ten fellows with long

pitchforks, who for the most part also had rapiers at their sides, had

placed themselves round about our cart, the constable lifted my daughter

up into it, and bound her fast to the rail. Old Paasch, who stood by,

lifted me up, and my dear gossip was likewise forced to be lifted in, so

weak had he become from all the distress. He motioned his sexton, Master

Krekow, to walk before the cart with the school, and bade him from time to

time lead a verse of the goodly hymn, "On God alone I rest my fate," which

he promised to do. And here I will also note, that I myself sat down upon

the straw by my daughter, and that our dear confessor the reverend

Martinus sat backwards. The constable was perched up behind with his drawn

sword. When all this was done, _item_, the court mounted up into another

carriage, the Sheriff gave the order to set out.

_The Twenty-seventh Chapter_

OF THAT WHICH BEFELL US BY THE WAY: _ITEM_, OF THE FEARFUL DEATH OF THE

SHERIFF AT THE MILL

We met with many wonders by the way, and with great sorrow; for hard by

the bridge, over the brook which runs into the Schmolle, stood the

housekeeper her hateful boy, who beat a drum and cried aloud, "Come to the

roast goose! come to the roast goose!" whereupon the crowd set up a loud

laugh, and called out after him, "Yes, indeed, to the roast goose! to the

roast goose!" Howbeit, when Master Krekow led the second verse the folks

became somewhat quieter again, and most of them joined in singing it from

their books, which they had brought with them. But when he ceased singing

awhile the noise began again as bad as before. Some cried out, "The devil

hath given her these clothes, and hath adorned her after that fashion";

and seeing the Sheriff had ridden on before, they came close round the

cart, and felt her garments, more especially the women and young maidens.

Others, again, called loudly, as the young varlet had done, "Come to the

roast goose! come to the roast goose!" whereupon one fellow answered, "She

will not let herself be roasted yet; mind ye that: she will quench the

fire!" This, and much filthiness beside, which I may not for very shame

write down, we were forced to hear, and it especially cut me to the heart

to hear a fellow swear that he would have some of her ashes, seeing he had

not been able to get any of the wand, and that nought was better for the

fever and the gout than the ashes of a witch. I motioned the _Custos_ to

begin singing again, whereupon the folks were once more quiet for a

while--_i.e._, for so long as the verse lasted; but afterwards they rioted

worse than before. But we were now come among the meadows, and when my

child saw the beauteous flowers which grew along the sides of the ditches,

she fell into deep thought, and began again to recite aloud the sweet song

of St. Augustinus as follows:--

Flos perpetuus rosarum ver agit perpetuum,

Candent lilia, rubescit crocus, sudat balsamum,

Virent prata, vernant sata, rivi mellis influunt,

Pigmentorum spirat odor liquor et aromatum,

Pendent poma floridorum non lapsura nemorum,

Non alternat luna vices, sol vel cursus syderum,

Agnus est faelicis urbis lumen inocciduum.

By this _Casus_ we gained that all the folk ran cursing away from the

cart, and followed us at the distance of a good musket-shot, thinking

that my child was calling on Satan to help her. Only one lad, of about

five-and-twenty, whom, however, I did not know, tarried a few paces behind

the cart, until his father came, and seeing he would not go away

willingly, pushed him into the ditch, so that he sank up to his loins

in the water. Thereat even my poor child smiled, and asked me whether I

did not know any more Latin hymns wherewith to keep the stupid and

foul-mouthed people still further from us. But, dear reader, how could I

then have been able to recite Latin hymns, even had I known any? But my

_confrater_, the reverend Martinus, knew such an one; albeit it is indeed

heretical; nevertheless, seeing that it above measure pleased my child,

and that she made him repeat to her sundry verses thereof three and four

times, until she could say them after him, I said nought; otherwise I have

ever been very severe against aught that is heretical. Howbeit I comforted

myself therewith that our Lord God would forgive her in consideration of

her ignorance. And the first line ran as follows:--_Dies irae, dies ilia_.

But these two verses pleased her more than all the rest, and she recited

them many times with great edification, wherefore I will insert them here.

Judex ergo cum sedebit

Quidquid latet apparebit,

Nil inultum remanebit:

_Item_,

Rex tremends majestatis!

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

Salva me, fons pietatis!

When the men with the pitchforks, who were round about the cart, heard

this, and at the same time saw a heavy storm coming up from the

Achterwater, they straightway thought no other but that my child had made

it; and, moreover, the folk behind cried out, "The witch hath done this;

the damned witch hath done this!" and all the ten, save one, who stayed

behind, jumped over the ditch, and ran away. But _Dom. Consul_, who,

together with the worshipful court, drove behind us, no sooner saw this

than he called to the constable, "What is the meaning of all this?"

Whereupon the constable cried aloud to the Sheriff, who was a little way

on before us, but who straightway turned him about, and when he had heard

the cause, called after the fellows that he would hang them all up on the

first tree, and feed his falcons with their flesh, if they did not return

forthwith. This threat had its effect; and when they came back he gave

each of them about half a dozen strokes with his riding-whip, whereupon

they tarried in their places, but as far off from the cart as they could

for the ditch.

Meanwhile, however, the storm came up from the southward, with thunder,

lightning, hail, and such a wind, as though the all-righteous God would

manifest his wrath against these ruthless murderers; and the tops of the

lofty beeches around us were beaten together like besoms, so that our cart

was covered with leaves as with hail, and no one could hear his own voice

for the noise. This happened just as we were entering the forest from the

convent dam, and the Sheriff now rode close behind us, beside the coach

wherein was _Dom. Consul_. Moreover, just as we were crossing the bridge

over the mill-race, we were seized by the blast, which swept up a hollow

from the Achterwater with such force that we conceived it must drive our

cart down the abyss, which was at least forty feet deep or more; and

seeing that, at the same time, the horses did as though they were upon

ice, and could not stand, the driver halted to let the storm pass over,

the which the Sheriff no sooner perceived than he galloped up and bade him

go on forthwith. Whereupon the man flogged on the horses, but they slipped

about after so strange a fashion that our guards with the pitchforks fell

back, and my child cried aloud for fear; and when we were come to the

place where the great waterwheel turned just below us, the driver fell

with his horse, which broke one of its legs. Then the constable jumped

down from the cart, but straightway fell too on the slippery ground;

_item_, the driver, after getting on his legs again, fell a second time.

Hereupon the Sheriff, with a curse, spurred on his grey charger, which

likewise began to slip as our horses had also done. Nevertheless, he came

sliding towards us, without, however, falling down; and when he saw that

the horse with the broken leg still tried to get up, but always

straightway fell again on the slippery ground, he hallooed and beckoned

the fellows with pitchforks to come and unharness the mare; _item_, to

push the cart over the bridge, lest it should be carried down the

precipice. Presently a long flash of lightning shot into the water below

us, followed by a clap of thunder so sudden and so awful that the whole

bridge shook, and the Sheriff his horse (our horses stood quite still)

started back a few paces, lost its footing, and, together with its rider,

shot headlong down upon the great mill-wheel below, whereupon a fearful

cry arose from all those that stood behind us on the bridge. For a while

nought could be seen for the white foam, until the Sheriff his legs and

body were borne up into the air by the wheel, his head being stuck fast

between the fellies; and thus, fearful to behold, he went round and round

upon the wheel. Naught ailed the grey charger, which swam about in the

mill-pond below. When I saw this I seized the hand of my innocent lamb,

and cried, "Behold, Mary, our Lord God yet liveth! 'and he rode upon a

cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. Then did

he beat them small as the dust before the wind; he did cast them out as

the dirt in the streets.' Look down, and see what the Almighty God hath

done." While she hereupon raised her eyes towards heaven with a sigh, we

heard _Dom. Consul_ calling out behind us as loudly as he could: and

seeing that none could understand his words for the fearful storm and the

tumult of the waters, he jumped down from the coach, and would have

crossed the bridge on foot, but straightway he fell upon his nose, so that

it bled, and he crept back again on his hands and feet, and held a long

talk with _Dom. Camerarius_, who, howbeit, did not stir out of the coach.

Meanwhile the driver and the constable had unyoked the maimed horse, bound

it, and dragged it off the bridge, and now they came back to the cart and

bade us get down therefrom and cross the bridge on foot, the which we did

after the constable had unbound my child with many curses and ill words,

threatening that, in return for her malice, he would keep her roasting

till late in the evening. (I could not blame him much therefore; for truly

this was a strange thing!) But albeit my child herself got safe across, we

two--I mean reverend Martinus and myself--like all the others, fell two or

three times to the ground. At length we all, by God his grace, got safe

and sound to the miller's house, where the constable delivered my child

into the miller his hands, to guard her on forfeit of his life, while he

ran down to the mill-pond to save the Sheriff his grey charger. The driver

was bidden the while to get the cart and the other horses off the

bewitched bridge. We had, however, stood but a short time with the miller,

under the great oak before his door, when _Dom. Consul_, with the

worshipful court, and all the folks, came over the little bridge, which is

but a couple of musket-shots off from the first one, and he could scarce

prevent the crowd from falling upon my child and tearing her in pieces,

seeing that they all, as well as _Dom. Consul_ himself, imagined that none

other but she had brewed the storm and bewitched the bridge (especially as

she herself had not fallen thereon), and had likewise caused the Sheriff

his death; all of which, nevertheless, were foul lies, as ye shall

hereafter hear. He, therefore, railed at her for a cursed she-devil, who,

even after having confessed and received the holy Sacrament, had not yet

renounced Satan; but that nought should save her, and she should,

nevertheless, receive her reward. And, seeing that she kept silence, I

hereupon answered, "Did he not see that the all-righteous God had so

ordered it, that the Sheriff, who would have robbed my innocent child of

her honour and her life, had here forfeited his own life as a fearful

example to others?" But _Dom. Consul_ would not see this, and said that a

child might perceive that our Lord God had not made this storm, or did I

peradventure believe that our Lord God had likewise bewitched the bridge?

I had better cease to justify my wicked child, and rather begin to exhort

her to repent, seeing that this was the second time that she had brewed a

storm, and that no man with a grain of sense could believe what I said,

etc.

Meanwhile the miller had already stopped the mill, _item_, turned off the

water, and some four or five fellows had gone with the constable down to

the great water-wheel to take the Sheriff out of the fellies, wherein he

had till _datum_ still been carried round and round. This they could not

do until they had first sawn out one of the fellies; and when at last they

brought him to the bank, his neck was found to be broken, and he was as

blue as a corn-flower. Moreover, his throat was frightfully torn, and the

blood ran out of his nose and mouth. If the people had not reviled my

child before, they reviled her doubly now, and would have thrown dirt and

stones at her, had not the worshipful court interfered with might and

main, saying that she would presently receive her well-deserved

punishment.

[Illustration: The Doom of the Wheel]

Also, my dear gossip, the Reverend Martinus, climbed up into the cart

again, and admonished the people not to forestall the law; and seeing that

the storm had somewhat abated, he could now be heard. And when they had

become somewhat more quiet, _Dom. Consul_ left the corpse of the Sheriff

in charge with the miller, until such time as, by God's help, he should

return. _Item_, he caused the grey charger to be tied up to the oak-tree

till the same time, seeing that the miller swore that he had no room in

the mill, inasmuch as his stable was filled with straw; but that he would

give the grey horse some hay, and keep good watch over him. And now were

we wretched creatures forced to get into the cart again, after that the

unsearchable will of God had once more dashed all our hopes. The constable

gnashed his teeth with rage, while he took the cords out of his pocket to

bind my poor child to the rail withal. As I saw right well what he was

about to do, I pulled a few groats out of my pocket, and whispered into

his ear, "Be merciful, for she cannot possibly run away, and do you

hereafter help her to die quickly, and you shall get ten groats more from

me!" This worked well, and albeit he pretended before the people to pull

the ropes tight, seeing they all cried out with might and main, "Haul

hard, haul hard!" in truth he bound her hands more gently than before, and

even without making her fast to the rail; but he sat up behind us again

with the naked sword, and after that _Dom. Consul_ had prayed aloud, "God

the Father, dwell with us," likewise the _Custos_ had led another hymn (I

know not what he sang, neither does my child), we went on our way,

according to the unfathomable will of God, after this fashion: the

worshipful court went before, whereas all the folks, to our great joy,

fell back, and the fellows with the pitchforks lingered a good way behind

us, now that the Sheriff was dead.

_The Twenty-eighth Chapter_

HOW MY DAUGHTER WAS AT LENGTH SAVED BY THE HELP OF THE ALL-MERCIFUL, YEA,

OF THE ALL-MERCIFUL GOD

Meanwhile, by reason of my unbelief, wherewith Satan again tempted me, I

had become so weak that I was forced to lean my back against the constable

his knees, and expected not to live till even we should come to the

mountain; for the last hope I had cherished was now gone, and I saw that

my innocent lamb was in the same plight. Moreover, the reverend Martinus

began to upbraid her, saying that he, too, now saw that all her oaths were

lies, and that she really could brew storms. Hereupon, she answered with a

smile, although, indeed, she was as white as a sheet, "Alas, reverend

godfather, do you then really believe that the weather and the storms no

longer obey our Lord God? Are storms, then, so rare at this season of the

year, that none save the foul fiend can cause them? Nay, I have never

broken the baptismal vow you once made in my name, nor will I ever break

it, as I hope that God will be merciful to me in my last hour, which is

now at hand." But the reverend Martinus shook his head doubtingly, and

said, "The Evil One must have promised thee much, seeing thou remainest so

stubborn even unto thy life's end, and blasphemest the Lord thy God; but

wait, and thou wilt soon learn with horror that the devil 'is a liar, and

the father of it'" (St. John viii.). Whilst he yet spake this, and more of

a like kind, we came to Uekeritze, where all the people, both great and

small, rushed out of their doors, also Jacob Schwarten his wife, who, as

we afterwards heard, had only been brought to bed the night before, and

her goodman came running after her to fetch her back, in vain. She told

him he was a fool, and had been one for many a weary day, and that if she

had to crawl up the mountain on her bare knees, she would go to see the

parson's witch burned; that she had reckoned upon it for so long, and if

he did not let her go, she would give him a thump on the chaps, etc.

Thus did the coarse and foul-mouthed people riot around the cart wherein

we sat, and as they knew not what had befallen, they ran so near us that

the wheel went over the foot of a boy. Nevertheless, they all crowded up

again, more especially the lasses, and felt my daughter her clothes, and

would even see her shoes and stockings, and asked her how she felt.

_Item_, one fellow asked whether she would drink somewhat, with many more

fooleries besides, till at last, when several came and asked her for her

garland and her golden chain, she turned towards me and smiled, saying,

"Father, I must begin to speak some Latin again, otherwise the folks will

leave me no peace." But it was not wanted this time; for our guards, with

the pitchforks, had now reached the hindmost, and, doubtless, told them

what had happened, as we presently heard a great shouting behind us, for

the love of God to turn back before the witch did them a mischief; and as

Jacob Schwarten his wife heeded it not, but still plagued my child to give

her her apron to make a christening coat for her baby, for that it was

pity to let it be burnt, her goodman gave her such a thump on her back

with a knotted stick which he had pulled out of the hedge that she fell

down with loud shrieks; and when he went to help her up she pulled him

down by his hair, and, as reverend Martinus said, now executed what she

had threatened; inasmuch as she struck him on the nose with her fist with

might and main, until the other people came running up to them, and held

her back. Meanwhile, however, the storm had almost passed over, and sank

down toward the sea.

And when we had gone through the little wood, we suddenly saw the

Streckelberg before us, covered with people, and the pile and stake upon

the top, upon the which the tall constable jumped up when he saw us

coming, and beckoned with his cap with all his might. Thereat my senses

left me, and my sweet lamb was not much better; for she bent to and fro

like a reed, and stretching her bound hands towards heaven, she once more

cried out:

Rex tremendae majestatis!

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

Salva me, fons pietatis!

And, behold, scarce had she spoken these words, when the sun came out and

formed a rainbow right over the mountain most pleasant to behold; and it

is clear that this was a sign from the merciful God, such as he often

gives us, but which we blind and unbelieving men do not rightly mark.

Neither did my child heed it; for albeit she thought upon that first

rainbow which shadowed forth our troubles, yet it seemed to her impossible

that she could now be saved, wherefore she grew so faint, that she no

longer heeded the blessed sign of mercy, and her head fell forward (for

she could no longer lean it upon me, seeing that I lay my length at the

bottom of the cart), till her garland almost touched my worthy gossip his

knees. Thereupon he bade the driver stop for a moment, and pulled out a

small flask filled with wine, which he always carries in his pocket when

witches are to be burnt, in order to comfort them therewith in their

terror. (Henceforth, I myself will ever do the like, for this fashion of

my dear gossip pleases me well.) He first poured some of this wine down my

throat, and afterwards down my child's; and we had scarce come to

ourselves again, when a fearful noise and tumult arose among the people

behind us, and they not only cried out in deadly fear, "The Sheriff is

come back! the Sheriff is come again!" but as they could neither run away

forwards or backwards (being afraid of the ghost behind and of my child

before them), they ran on either side, some rushing into the coppice, and

others wading into the Achterwater up to their necks. _Item_, as soon as

_Dom. Camerarius_ saw the ghost come out of the coppice with a grey hat

and a grey feather, such as the Sheriff wore, riding on the grey charger,

he crept under a bundle of straw in the cart: and _Dom. Consul_ cursed my

child again, and bade the coachman drive on as madly as they could, even

should all the horses die of it, when the impudent constable behind us

called to him, "It is not the Sheriff, but the young lord of Nienkerken,

who will surely seek to save the witch: shall I, then, cut her throat with

my sword?" At these fearful words my child and I came to ourselves again,

and the fellow had already lift up his naked sword to smite her, seeing

_Dom. Consul_ had made him a sign with his hand, when my dear gossip, who

saw it, pulled my child with all his strength back into his lap. (May God

reward him on the day of judgment, for I never can.) The villain would

have stabbed her as she lay in his lap; but the young lord was already

there, and seeing what he was about to do, thrust the boarspear, which he

held in his hand, in between the constable's shoulders, so that he fell

headlong on the earth, and his own sword, by the guidance of the most

righteous God, went into his ribs on one side, and out again at the other.

He lay there and bellowed, but the young lord heeded him not, but said to

my child, "Sweet maid, God be praised that you are safe!" When, however,

he saw her bound hands, he gnashed his teeth, and, cursing her judges, he

jumped off his horse, and cut the rope with his sword, which he held in

his right hand, took her hand in his, and said, "Alas, sweet maid, how

have I sorrowed for you! but I could not save you, as I myself also lay in

chains, which you may see from my looks."

But my child could answer him never a word, and fell into a swound again

for joy; howbeit, she soon came to herself again, seeing my dear gossip

still had a little wine by him. Meanwhile the dear young lord did me some

injustice, which, however, I freely forgive him; for he railed at me and

called me an old woman, who could do nought save weep and wail. Why had I

not journeyed after the Swedish king, or why had I not gone to Mellenthin

myself to fetch his testimony, as I knew right well what he thought about

witchcraft? (But, blessed God, how could I do otherwise than believe the

judge, who had been there? Others, besides old women, would have done the

same; and I never once thought of the Swedish king; and say, dear reader,

how could I have journeyed after him, and left my own child? But young

folks do not think of these things seeing they know not what a father

feels.)

Meanwhile, however, _Dom. Camerarius_, having heard that it was the young

lord, had again crept out from beneath the straw, _item, Dom. Consul_ had

jumped down from the coach and ran towards us, railing at him loudly, and

asking him by what power and authority he acted thus, seeing that he

himself had heretofore denounced the ungodly witch? But the young lord

pointed with his sword to his people, who now came riding out of the

coppice, about eighteen strong, armed with sabres, pikes, and muskets, and

said, "There is my authority, and I would let you feel it on your back if

I did not know that you were but a stupid ass. When did you hear any

testimony from me against this virtuous maiden? You lie in your throat if

you say you did." And as _Dom. Consul_ stood and straightway forswore

himself, the young lord, to the astonishment of all, related as

follows:--That as soon as he heard of the misfortune which had befallen me

and my child, he ordered his horse to be saddled forthwith, in order to

ride to Pudgla to bear witness to our innocence: this, however, his old

father would nowise suffer, thinking that his nobility would receive a

stain if it came to be known that his son had conversed with a reputed

witch by night on the Streckelberg. He had caused him therefore, as

prayers and threats were of no avail, to be bound hand and foot, and

confined in the donjon-keep, where till _datum_ an old servant had watched

him, who refused to let him escape, notwithstanding he offered him any sum

of money; whereupon he fell into the greatest anguish and despair at the

thought that innocent blood would be shed on his account; but that the

all-righteous God had graciously spared him this sorrow; for his father

had fallen sick from vexation, and lay a-bed all this time, and it so

happened that this very morning about prayer-time the huntsman, in

shooting at a wild duck in the moat, had by chance sorely wounded his

father's favourite dog, called Packan, which had crept howling to his

father's bedside, and had died there; whereupon the old man, who was weak,

was so angered that he was presently seized with a fit and gave up the

ghost too. Hereupon his people released him, and after he had closed his

father's eyes and prayed an "Our Father" over him, he straightway set out

with all the people he could find in the castle in order to save the

innocent maiden. For he testified here himself before all, on the word and

honour of a knight, nay, more, by his hopes of salvation, that he himself

was that devil which had appeared to the maiden on the mountain in the

shape of a hairy giant; for having heard by common report that she

ofttimes went thither, he greatly desired to know what she did there, and

that from fear of his hard father he disguised himself in a wolf's skin,

so that none might know him, and he had already spent two nights there,

when on the third the maiden came, and he then saw her dig for amber on

the mountain, and that she did not call upon Satan, but recited a Latin

_carmen_ aloud to herself. This he would have testified at Pudgla, but,

from the cause aforesaid, he had not been able: moreover, his father had

laid his cousin, Claus von Nienkerken, who was there on a visit, in his

bed, and made him bear false witness; for as _Dom. Consul_ had not seen

him (I mean the young lord) for many a long year, seeing he had studied in

foreign parts, his father thought that he might easily be deceived, which

accordingly happened.

When the worthy young lord had stated this before _Dom. Consul_ and all

the people, which flocked together on hearing that the young lord was no

ghost, I felt as though a millstone had been taken off my heart; and

seeing that the people (who had already pulled the constable from under

the cart, and crowded round him, like a swarm of bees) cried to me that he

was dying, but desired first to confess somewhat to me, I jumped from the

cart as lightly as a young bachelor, and called to _Dom. Consul_ and the

young lord to go with me, seeing that I could easily guess what he had on

his mind. He sat upon a stone, and the blood gushed from his side like a

fountain (now that they had drawn out the sword); he whimpered on seeing

me, and said that he had in truth hearkened behind the door to all that

old Lizzie had confessed to me, namely, that she herself, together with

the Sheriff, had worked all the witchcraft on man and beast, to frighten

my poor child, and force her to play the wanton. That he had hidden this,

seeing that the Sheriff had promised him a great reward for so doing; but

that he would now confess it freely, since God had brought my child her

innocence to light. Wherefore he besought my child and myself to forgive

him. And when _Dom. Consul_ shook his head, and asked whether he would

live and die on the truth of this confession, he answered, "Yes!" and

straightway fell on his side to the earth and gave up the ghost.

Meanwhile time hung heavy with the people on the mountain, who had come

from Coserow, from Zitze, from Gnitze, etc., to see my child burnt, and

they all came running down the hill in long rows like geese, one after the

other, to see what had happened. And among them was my ploughman, Claus

Neels. When the worthy fellow saw and heard what had befallen us, he began

to weep aloud for joy; and straightway he too told what he had heard the

Sheriff say to old Lizzie in the garden, and how he had promised a pig in

the room of her own little pig, which she had herself bewitched to death

in order to bring my child into evil repute. _Summa_: all that I have

noted above, and which till _datum_ he had kept to himself for fear of the

question. Hereat all the people marvelled, and gently bewailed her

misfortunes; and many came, among them old Paasch, and would have kissed

my daughter her hands and feet, as also mine own, and praised us now as

much as they had before reviled us. But thus it ever is with the people.

Wherefore my departed father used to say:

The people's hate is death,

Their love a passing breath!

My dear gossip ceased not from fondling my child, holding her in his lap,

and weeping over her like a father (for I could not have wept more myself

than he wept). Howbeit she herself wept not, but begged the young lord to

send one of his horsemen to her faithful old maid-servant at Pudgla, to

tell her what had befallen us, which he straightway did to please her. But

the worshipful court (for _Dom. Gamerarius_ and the _scriba_ had now

plucked up a heart, and had come down from the coach) was not yet

satisfied, and _Dom. Consul_ began to tell the young lord about the

bewitched bridge, which none other save my daughter could have bewitched.

Hereto the young lord gave answer that this was indeed a strange thing,

inasmuch as his own horse had also broken a leg thereon, whereupon he had

taken the Sheriff his horse, which he saw tied up at the mill; but he did

not think that this could be laid to the charge of the maiden, but that it

came about by natural means, as he had half discovered already, although

he had not had time to search the matter thoroughly. Wherefore he besought

the worshipful court and all the people, together with my child herself,

to return back thither, where, with God's help, he would clear her from

this suspicion also, and prove her perfect innocence before them all.

Thereunto the worshipful court agreed; and the young lord, having given

the Sheriff his grey charger to my ploughman to carry the corpse, which

had been laid across the horse's neck, to Coserow, the young lord got into

the cart by us, but did not seat himself beside my child, but backward by

my dear gossip: moreover, he bade one of his own people drive us instead

of the old coachman, and thus we turned back in God his name. _Custos

Benzensis_, who, with the children, had run in among the vetches by the

wayside (my defunct _Custos_ would not have done so, he had more courage),

went on before again with the young folks, and by command of his reverence

the pastor led the Ambrosian _Te Deum_, which deeply moved us all, more

especially my child, insomuch that her book was wetted with her tears, and

she at length laid it down and said, at the same time giving her hand to

the young lord, "How can I thank God and you for that which you have done

for me this day?" Whereupon the young lord answered, saying, "I have

greater cause to thank God than yourself, sweet maid, seeing that you have

suffered in your dungeon unjustly, but I justly, inasmuch as by my

thoughtlessness I brought this misery upon you. Believe me that this

morning when, in my donjon-keep, I first heard the sound of the dead-bell,

I thought to have died; and when it tolled for the third time, I should

have gone distraught in my grief, had not the Almighty God at that moment

taken the life of my strange father, so that your innocent life should be

saved by me. Wherefore I have vowed a new tower, and whatsoe'er beside may

be needful, to the blessed house of God; for nought more bitter could have

befallen me on earth than your death, sweet maid, and nought more sweet

than your life!"

But at these words my child only wept and sighed; and when he looked on

her, she cast down her eyes and trembled, so that I straightway perceived

that my sorrows were not yet come to an end, but that another barrel of

tears was just tapped for me, and so indeed it was. Moreover, the ass of a

_Custos_, having finished the _Te Deum_ before we were come to the bridge,

straightway struck up the next following hymn, which was a funeral one,

beginning, "The body let us now inter." (God be praised that no harm has

come of it till _datum_.) My beloved gossip rated him not a little, and

threatened him that for his stupidity he should not get the money for the

shoes which he had promised him out of the Church-dues. But my child

comforted him, and promised him a pair of shoes at her own charges, seeing

that peradventure a funeral hymn was better for her than a song of

gladness.

And when this vexed the young lord, and he said, "How now, sweet maid, you

know not how enough to thank God and me for your rescue, and yet you speak

thus?" She answered, smiling sadly, that she had only spoken thus to

comfort the poor _Custos_. But I straightway saw that she was in earnest,

for that she felt that although she had escaped one fire, she already

burned in another.

Meanwhile we were come to the bridge again, and all the folks stood still,

and gazed open-mouthed, when the young lord jumped down from the cart, and

after stabbing his horse, which still lay kicking on the bridge, went on

his knees, and felt here and there with his hand. At length he called to

the worshipful court to draw near, for that he had found out the

witchcraft. But none save _Dom. Consul_ and a few fellows out of the

crowd, among whom was old Paasch, would follow him; _item_, my dear gossip

and myself, and the young lord, showed us a lump of tallow about the size

of a large walnut, which lay on the ground, and wherewith the whole bridge

had been smeared, so that it looked quite white, but, which all the folks

in their fright had taken for flour out of the mill; _item_, with some

other _materia_, which stunk like fitchock's dung, but what it was we

could not find out. Soon after a fellow found another bit of tallow, and

showed it to the people; whereupon I cried, "Aha! none hath done this but

that ungodly miller's man, in revenge for the stripes which the Sheriff

gave him for reviling my child." Whereupon I told what he had done, and

_Dom. Consul_, who also had heard thereof, straightway sent for the

miller.

He, however, did as though he knew nought of the matter, and only said

that his man had left his service about an hour ago. But a young lass, the

miller's maid-servant, said that that very morning, before daybreak, when

she had got up to let out the cattle, she had seen the man scouring the

bridge. But that she had given it no further heed, and had gone to sleep

for another hour; and she pretended to know no more than the miller

whither the rascal was gone. When the young lord had heard this news, he

got up into the cart, and began to address the people, seeking to persuade

them no longer to believe in witchcraft, now that they had seen what it

really was. When I heard this, I was horror-stricken (as was but right) in

my conscience, as a priest, and I got upon the cartwheel, and whispered

into his ear, for God his sake, to leave this _materia_, seeing that if

the people no longer feared the devil, neither would they fear our Lord

God.

The dear young lord forthwith did as I would have him, and only asked the

people whether they now held my child to be perfectly innocent? and when

they had answered, "Yes!" he begged them to go quietly home, and to thank

God that he had saved innocent blood. That he, too, would now return home,

and that he hoped that none would molest me and my child if he let us

return to Coserow alone. Hereupon he turned hastily towards her, took her

hand and said: "Farewell, sweet maid, I trust that I shall soon clear your

honour before the world, but do you thank God therefor, not me." He then

did the like to me and to my dear gossip, whereupon he jumped down from

the cart, and went and sat beside _Dom. Consul_ in his coach. The latter

also spake a few words to the people, and likewise begged my child and me

to forgive him (and I must say it to his honour, that the tears ran down

his cheeks the while), but he was so hurried by the young lord that he

brake short his discourse, and they drove off over the little bridge,

without so much as looking back. Only _Dom. Consul_ looked round once, and

called out to me, that in his hurry he had forgotten to tell the

executioner that no one was to be burned to-day: I was therefore to send

the churchwarden of Uekeritze up the mountain, to say so in his name; the

which I did. And the bloodhound was still on the mountain, albeit he had

long since heard what had befallen; and when the bailiff gave him the

orders of the worshipful court, he began to curse so fearfully that it

might have awakened the dead; moreover, he plucked off his cap, and

trampled it under foot, so that any one might have guessed what he felt.

But to return to ourselves, my child sat as still and as white as a pillar

of salt, after the young lord had left her so suddenly and so unawares,

but she was somewhat comforted when the old maid-servant came running with

her coats tucked up to her knees, and carrying her shoes and stockings in

her hands. We heard her afar off, as the mill had stopped, blubbering for

joy, and she fell at least three times on the bridge, but at last she got

over safe, and kissed now mine and now my child her hands and feet;

begging us only not to turn her away, but to keep her until her life's

end; the which we promised to do. She had to climb up behind where the

impudent constable had sat, seeing that my dear gossip would not leave me

until I should be back in mine own manse. And as the young lord his

servant had got up behind the coach, old Paasch drove us home, and all the

folks who had waited till _datum_ ran beside the cart, praising and

pitying as much as they had before scorned and reviled us. Scarce,

however, had we passed through Uekeritze, when we again heard cries of

"Here comes the young lord, here comes the young lord!" so that my child

started up for joy, and became as red as a rose; but some of the folks ran

into the buckwheat, by the road, again, thinking it was another ghost. It

was, however, in truth, the young lord who galloped up on a black horse,

calling out as he drew near us, "Notwithstanding the haste I am in, sweet

maid, I must return and give you safe-conduct home, seeing that I have

just heard that the filthy people reviled you by the way, and I know not

whether you are yet safe." Hereupon he urged old Paasch to mend his pace,

and as his kicking and trampling did not even make the horses trot, the

young lord struck the saddle-horse from time to time with the flat of his

sword, so that we soon reached the village and the manse. Howbeit, when I

prayed him to dismount a while, he would not, but excused himself, saying

that he must still ride through Usedom to Anclam, but charged old Paasch,

who was our bailiff, to watch over my child as the apple of his eye, and

should anything unusual happen he was straightway to inform the town-clerk

at Pudgla, or _Dom. Consul_ at Usedom, thereof, and when Paasch had

promised to do this, he waved his hand to us, and galloped off as fast as

he could.

But before he got round the corner by Pagel his house, he turned back for

the third time: and when we wondered thereat, he said we must forgive him,

seeing his thoughts wandered to-day.

That I had formerly told him that I still had my patent of nobility, the

which he begged me to lend him for a time. Hereupon I answered that I must

first seek for it, and that he had best dismount the while. But he would

not, and again excused himself, saying he had no time. He therefore stayed

without the door, until I brought him the patent, whereupon he thanked me

and said, "Do not wonder hereat, you will soon see what my purpose is."

Whereupon he struck his spurs into his horse's sides and did not come back

again.

_The Twenty-ninth Chapter_