The devil is amongst us

On this day of July 10, 1638 in the year of our Lord, I, James Schwitters, stand before my fellow citizens to give recounts of the investigation of Olga Van Schoick. As an elected magistrate of the village of Merkhalle, it is my duty for God and country to expel all aspects of the devil from harming the fabric of our society. A week prior, the Holden family suffered a great loss at the hands of Mrs. Van Schoick. She was the attending mid wife at the delivery of their baby Hans. Hans was a still born. It is believed that this was the intention of Mrs. Van Schoick due to the fact that a new born baby can be used in many ways to aid in the practicing of witchcraft. Ben Hernandez, a famer in our community brought another incident with Mrs. Van Schoick to the attention of the court. Eight years prior to our inquisition Mr. Hernandez had several livestock perish after a series of confrontations with Mrs. Van Schoick. The arguments were over missing grains from the Hernandez property. As our community knows, Mrs. Van Schoick’s husband, Franz, perished in the Thirty Years war. As the trial began, I could not help but wonder if she had a spell to make her husband perish in battle. Upon seizure of the Van Schoick estate, several dolls were found, both male and female. These may have been used to carry out spells on her enemies. The inquisition began with a series of simple questions that led to more serious actions as the procedure went on. My first series of questions was about her loyalty to the Catholic faith. I asked Mrs. Van Schoick if she could recite the Acts of Contrition. She paused and then told the panel that as a child she did not attend church. Her rebuttal was that she was baptized before her marriage. This aspect puzzled me; therefore, I asked a more simplified question, “What is your favorite part of the bible?” Again there was a long pause and she replied, “I cannot read Sir. My husband used to read me passages and as you know he died years ago. My association with the church has been distant due to the fact that I can no longer afford the tiding and am embarrassed by my poverty.” I explained to Mrs. Van Schoick that God does not differentiate between rich and poor. My goal was not to educate her, rather see if she was honest or not. I sensed the devil’s strong presence with her. This was due to the fact that she was combative with the initial responses. This led the panel to begin a more intense line of questioning. When asked about claims that she had been seen at the Sabat (a meeting of witches), she got angrier and told the panel she had no knowledge of the Sabat. Without further time wasted, I called for a viewing. Jesus Melendez, the town executioner will act as a guard along with the magistrate panel to determine if there are any familiars in the home of Mrs. Van Schoick.

Victim and Witness Accounts

On this day of July 11, 1638 in the year of our Lord, I, Ben Hernandez, stand before my fellow citizens to give recounts of the investigation of Olga Van Schoick. As an upstanding citizen and a farmer in the village of Merkhalle, it is my obligation to state, what I have seen the widow, Mrs. Olga Van Schoick, the accused do and testify of her witchcraft, devilish deeds, and allegiance with the devil.
I witnessed her evil ways one early morning; she knocked on my door asking for food and supplies. As she had done for several years now, as we all know her husband Franz was a friend and our neighbor was killed in the war. But, when I explained to her that I was not able to help her any longer with her necessities. She scurried away, as only a witch would do, chanting her evil spells which she had learned for the devil. I heard her and saw her point at my farm and animals. The very next morning my prized pigs and several chickens had been mauled and killed by a creature that only the devil and this old hag Mrs. Olga Van Schoick could have only sent. There were also several crops stolen and destroyed by the demon that she sent to harmed me and my farm.
There are other things that seemed very odd to me, and until this very moment I just remembered. She was burning something in the middle of night and was dancing around and chanting her evil spells around a huge fire. I believe that she was entertaining the Sabbat, because I could hear the sounds of fornication and laughter that is so common to their parties of sexual corruptions that the devil does with his witches, which is done during the Sabbat. And until now, it is odd but makes sense because several days later we all found out that her husband was killed in battle. So is that just a coincidence or was she casting a spell to have her husband is killed and dies in battle? Why would anyone burn something in the middle of the night, unless she is hiding something or consorting with the devil on the Sabbat?

Executioner

It is my duty as the executioner to perform the hard task of proving your evil acts; I shall tie you down and introduce you to the witches’ cart that will transport you to the location at which the viewing will take place. I will strap you down and restrained you from any movement that may allow you to perform any spells on us. Standing on a chair you shall remain for three days and two nights in which myself and magistrate will take viewing of you and the arrival of those evil familiars that by the need of you evil flesh have no choice but to look for you. Then and only then should we be able to prove what we all know, that your presence is nothing less than the devils spirit its self. Should any of you familiars show up, you will be proved guilty of witch craft and all the penalties in which we have trialed you today. As I watched the wicked witch stand, in solitude, during the first day there was no sign of the evil spirits that hunt for her evil flesh. But too soon did I speak when just on the third day just when the sun illuminated the sky with its splendorous rays of light, did we see the evil familiars that not knowing any better had come to feed off the flesh of the accused witch. In the form of flies they came feeding of her skin and drinking the salty potions that she expelled from her body as a signal for this creature to come. There it was the proof that the evil spirits the witch was bonded to have come to her calling, now there was no thought of her evil intentions as well of her guilt of the accused crimes. It is time to take her back upon the magistrate and have her confess of all her evil deeds.

The Accused

My dearest Hannah,

I have been falsely accused of witchcraft. I wait in the witch’s chamber with those who share my fate. I am begging you to flee dear sister, for I do not wish the same upon you. Please listen as I tell you what has happened in the days since my capture...

One week ago, on July 9, two men arrived at my door, ordering I surrender on the charges of witchcraft and malficia. I refused, and demanded they leave my property immediately, for “I am a God fearing woman, and could never meddle in such heinous acts!”

Schatzi began to bark ferociously and the bearded man shouted “Rascal! Her Familiar has come before us!” They kicked Schatzi until she cried out and forced me onto the street without my shoes. It was then that I surrendered without protest.

Upon my arrival at the prison I was stripped of my garments and bound with rope to a wooden chair. There I remained for three days and three nights without food, water, or a moment’s rest. I cried for mercy. The heat was unbearable. The flies swarmed about my face, landing in the corner of my eyes, the tip of my nose, the lobe of my ears…. My body was then examined in the nude by Witch Hunter Amsel, a strange and nervous man, who declared the teat below my right breast, a “devil’s mark.” I denied it, “It has been there since birth. I am an old woman of sixty-five. Nothing has come of it until now…” Oh dear Hannah, my cries fell on deaf ears, for the torture began soon thereafter!

Sister, I pray you believe I am innocent; as are the accused that wait with me. Some two days ago, as she was led to her execution, Lady Gersten asked for my forgiveness. She had named me and nine others in her confession. I cannot blame her. May God rest her soul! For we are tortured to no end - a priest would be forced to confess!

The executioner has written this letter for me at the risk of his own life. Please give him what you can for his mercifulness. I pray you do not wait any longer little sister. Flee from this town before it’s too late, for once you are accused you shall forever remain a witch.

Your Faithful Sister,

Olga VanSchoick - 16 July 1628

Image: "Witches Shack" by Louise Thorp

Executioner

As ordered by the honorable magistrate we shall proceed with the torture that shall help us obtain a confession of Mrs. Van Schoick. This confession will allow us to clarify what we already know, that she is indeed a witch and that she has committed sin against our community. I will apply a light form of torture that will make her confess her evil deeds as well of her accomplices. I will start with the common leg screws and a leather strap to her head. Assimilated pain and tears came out of her but me being no fool knew better than to fall for her wicket tricks now that her or any witch feel no pain. Been a strong witch due to her long affiliation with the devil and the great power that he had laid upon her the torture applied had no effect. Therefore in a decision made by the magistrate and myself we will apply the witches chair in an effort to help her confess her sins. It has been three days now and the time to use the witches chair has come. I have strapped her down tightly so that she has no opportunity to make any movements that will produce spells that deceive from the truth. Has I start the fire she moans an cries trying to trick us to believe that she is in pain when in reality is nothing more than a effort to escape her well deserved punishment. But not too much into the torture does her evil spirit give in to the cleansing of the heat produced by the fire. She then with no thought in her mind confessed to the evil deeds that as a witch she had committed. But not only did she confess to her crimes also she turned in four other witches that she had met at the sabath. Now that she has confessed it is my duty as the lord demands to purify her soul so she returns to the path of light and the only way to do so is by beheading her and burning her remains. I will pray for her soul and for those that she had confessed upon.

Victim and Witness Accounts

I Benjamin Hernandez, a farmer who prides himself with the knowledge of the word of God, states that I am sure that she is a witch and has placed her evil eye on my farm and my animals. My testimony is true and should be added to the record as a statement of true accounts of the harm; Mrs. Olga Van Schoick has done to me and several others. I have also been made aware of her harming others through her collection of dolls. Only a witch would have that many dolls. It is a well known fact that witches use dolls to place curses and evil spells on people with the use of dolls, as Mrs. Olga Van Schsick has been doing to several people in our town. Her evil is now known to have a great amount of power and has harmed me and most recently has taken the life a newly born child. She has placed a curse on our town which has caused me losses of livestock and grains from my harvest. She now places us in danger, so we must protect ourselves from her and her evil curses, and make sure she is not able to continue doing this in our town. She has now used her talents to harm and is doing the bedding of the devil, along with her familiars, so she may be able to subject her evil deeds to many of our friends and towns people.

She must pay for her evil deeds and be punished, because as in the Bible, EXOD. 22.18, states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” So I testify that my statements are true, and God as my witness, knows I am telling all I know about this old hag, who is consorting with the devil, and is a witch!

Guilty

Darling Hannah,

I will be put to death at dawn for crimes I did not commit – yet forced to confess. God forgive me for the lies I have told, as I can no longer endure the pain I have suffered. It has been nearly two months since my capture, and the injuries I have acquired from torture have led to a terrible infection in my legs. I fear the pain will drive me to hang myself in my cell as Adie Krause, the Chancellor’s wife, had done some five days ago. I am not afraid of death dear sister, though I ask that you pray for my soul…for in my confession I was forced to forsake God – something I would have never done before, or do again! The torture I endured was unbearable. For this reason I had confessed, under oath, to the following charges…

When asked how I first met Satan, I told them that Franz had been at war for several months, and I had found little work as a midwife since the opening of Dr. Drechsler’s office on Braun Street. One afternoon I had chased a pair of rabbits from the garden when the evil one appeared to me on a dark horse. He seduced me and commanded I kill the next child I deliver as a sacrifice to him or my sister would be struck with consumption and die. It was then that I made a potion from a black powder he had had given me. I sprinkled in the feed of farmer Hernandez’s pigs when he would not lend me some grains. The pigs went mad and some of his livestock died. Then some days later the Holden infant was delivered stillborn. I confessed that I had given the missus a potion to kill the child but told her it was to help ease her labor. All lies to end the torment.

In the weeks since my last letter I have prayed for your safety. Soon after my capture, old man Jorgen, who owns the bakery on Hamburg Lane, was arrested on charges of conspiracy – the week before he had mercifully given me several loaves of stale bread from his shop. I am afraid his charity has placed him under scrutiny. Although I did not name him in my confession a witness has come forward with claims that he had provided bread for the sabbat. Later he was accused of his grandson’s drowning twenty-three years ago. I do hope you have found somewhere safe, away from Merkhalle, to rest your head. Nothing good remains here. If you stay, they will surely get you too. I am sorry I have to leave you like this.

Goodbye dear sister, and God bless.

Olga Van Schoick - 14 September 1638

Her soul has been saved

I, James Schwitters, have taken this case to the next level of prosecution. After disrobing the accused, a mark of the devil was seen. And not minutes later, her familiars arrived in the form of flies to feed off of her. Olga did not need any food or water for several days. This is due to her ability to live off of the souls of others. She has now been brought to the confession area of the town jail. After consulting the local university, I have come to the conclusion that Olga is not being forth coming with the details of her involvement with the devil. The recommended procedure will be torture. I will not administer but rather ask the questions that will save her soul. Lady Gersten, a neighbor of Olga’s has already implicated she has not only been to the sabat, but also learned the ways of malficia. Light torture shall began in the early hours of the morning September 12, 1638. After the accumulation of evidence and testimony we should have no problem proving Olga’s guilt. We began by applying leg screws and a leather strap to her head. She shed to tears in an attempt to fool us that she could feel the pain. For I could not be fooled because I am well learned in trials From Bamberg. There witches were tortured with no mercy, and in the end hundreds were exposed for their crimes. On September 15, 1638, we applied the witch’s chair as our last means. Not only did Mrs. Van Schoick admit to her crimes, but she implicated four others. This will be valuable evidence in their trials. To save this wretch’s soul, we beheaded her and burned her body in the town square. This purification process also acted as a deterrent for Satan to steal the souls of our townspeople. As stated previously, four more accused shall be brought to this court to be tried for their crimes. It is my duty to restore order in this unpredictable time.

Sources

Behringer , Wolfgang, Witch Persecutions in Bravaria
Behringer, Wolfgang, Shaman of Oberstdorg: Chonrad Stoeckhlin and the Phantoms of the Night
Levack, Brian P., The Witchcraft Sourcebook
www.departments.kings.edu/womens_history/witch
www.History.hanover.edu/early/wh

Images


http://www.artsweb.uwaterloo.ca/~kholmber/350B/1628.shtml

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~marian1/gourmet/pic/hexen2.jpg

http://www.godecookery.com/macabre/gallery2/macbr45.htm

http://www.horsesinart.co.uk/album/slides/Witches%20shack.html

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhle/001/teniersf.JPG