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
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
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