So what testimony should we exclude then? Where will we arrive? Is this not our manifest punishment? And what should I say about the testimony of those beggar boys who, led on either by malevolent people or, as it is easy to deceive them at that age, by a particular skill in examination assailing them on all sides with sophistical questions, or even willingly allured by food and drink, agree that they have been seduced. When they are asked about wonders they narrate wonders—what they saw at sabbaths, what was done there, who was present, and the like—none of which they remember when asked by clergymen and more intelligent men, and they retract everything.
So when a nanny goat recently went missing, which I will add here for the sake of humor (for a soldier had abducted her), she was also eaten at a witches’ sabbath by these and those people—I do not know whether they have already been executed or are about to be. There are many such cases which I shall omit because I am hastening to the end. Perhaps we will collect them elsewhere. The rulers should know that they are being deceived by their officials in a wonderful way that can only be lamented.
[ . . . ]
(B) The Judicial Procedures for Witchcraft Trials and their explanation to the Emperor and the German People.
QUESTION LI. What is a brief summary of the method used by many judges in witch trials today, fitting for the noble emperor to comprehend and Germany to study?
I ANSWER, any reader could fashion a summary of this treatise himself, but because I can do it more easily I shall do it myself here, omitting, however, many things that cannot be conveniently inserted. For such matters, consult what I have said already and, likewise, if you should want to know more details concerning those things which are set down here. So here is the summary:
1. It is incredible what superstitions, jealousies, lies, slurs, mutterings, and the like there are among the common people in Germany, particularly (it is embarrassing to say) among Catholics, which the authorities do not punish nor preachers reproach, and which first arouse the suspicion of magic. All divine punishments which God threatens in the Holy Scriptures are committed by witches. God no longer does anything, nor nature, but everything is done by witches.
2. Thus everyone shouts with great passion that the authorities should therefore investigate the witches—of which they themselves created so many with their own tongues.
3. The princes therefore command their judges and counselors to begin to try witches.
4. At first these men do not know where to begin, for they have neither evidence nor proof, and they do not dare in good conscience to undertake anything without good cause.
5. Meanwhile they are admonished two or three times to begin the trials. The common people shout that this delay is itself not without suspicion. So, advised by I know not whom, the princes convince themselves of virtually the same thing.
6. In Germany it is a serious matter to offend the princes and not obey them immediately. Most people, even clergymen, excessively approve of almost anything as long as it pleases the princes, nor do they notice who is often inciting the princes, however much the princes themselves may have the best nature possible.
7. Therefore the judges finally accede to the princes’ will and at last find some way to begin the trials.
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