But he would confess nothing at all, and they left him where he was.
XXXI
It was the month of May. The Tree of Justice was green again. Green also were those grassy banks where the judges were wont to seat themselves. Nele was summoned to give evidence, for it was the day on which the judgment was to be promulgated. And the people—men and women—of Damme, stood around the open space of the court, and the sun shone brightly.
Katheline and Joos Damman were now brought before the tribunal, and Damman appeared more pale than ever because of the torture he had suffered, the many nights he had passed without sleep or anything to drink. As for Katheline, she could scarcely support herself on her tottering legs, and she pointed to the sun continually, and cried out: “Put out the fire! My head is burning!” And she gazed at Joos Damman with tender love. And he looked back at her with hate and despite. And his friends, the Lords and gentlemen who had been summoned to Damme, were all present there before the tribunal as witnesses.
Then the bailiff spoke as follows:
“The girl Nele here, who is protecting her mother Katheline with such great and brave affection, has found sewn into the pocket of Katheline’s Sunday dress a letter signed by Joos Damman. And I myself, when I was inspecting the dead body of Hilbert Ryvish, which was dug up in the field near Katheline’s cottage, found thereon a second letter, addressed to him and signed by the said Joos Damman, the accused now present before you. Is it your pleasure that these letters be now read to you?”
“Read them, read them!” cried the crowd. “Nele is a brave girl! Read the letters! Katheline is no witch!”
And the clerk of the court read out as follows:
“To Hilbert, son of William Ryvish, knight, Joos Damman, knight, Greeting.