CHAPTER XXI.
De confrontatione testium.
When we were summoned before the court again, the whole court was full of people, and some shuddered when they saw us, but others wept; my child told the same tale as before. But when our old Ilse was called, who sat on a bench behind, so that we had not seen her, the strength wherewith the Lord had gifted her was again at an end, and she repeated the words of our Saviour, "He that eateth bread with Me hath lift up his heel against Me:" and she held fast by my chair. Old Ilse, too, could not walk straight for very grief, nor could she speak for tears, but she twisted and wound herself about before the court, like a woman in travail. But when Dom. Consul threatened that the constable should presently help her to her words, she testified that my child had very often got up in the night, and called aloud upon the foul fiend.
Q. Whether she had ever heard Satan answer her?—R. She never had heard him at all.
Q. Whether she had perceived that Rea had a familiar spirit, and in what shape? She should think upon her oath, and speak the truth.—R. She had never seen one.
Q. Whether she had ever heard her fly up the chimney?—R. Nay, she had always gone softly out at the door.
Q. Whether she never at mornings had missed her broom or pitchfork?—R. Once the broom was gone, but she had found it again behind the stove, and may be left it there herself by mistake.
Q. Whether she had never heard Rea cast a spell, or wish harm to this or that person?—R. No, never; she had always wished her neighbours nothing but good, and even in the time of bitter famine had taken the bread out of her own mouth to give it to others.
Q.—Whether she did not know the salve which had been found in Rea her coffer?—R. Oh, yes! her young mistress had brought it back from Wolgast for her skin, and had once given her some when she had chapped hands, and it had done her a vast deal of good.
Q. Whether she had anything further to say?—R. No, nothing but good.