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Updated: June 7, 2025
As his reputation increased, he assumed the title of "Witchfinder General," and travelled through the counties of Norfolk, Essex, Huntingdon, and Sussex, for the sole purpose of finding out witches. In one year he brought sixty poor creatures to the stake. The test he commonly adopted was that of swimming, so highly recommended by King James in his "Demonologie."
"What wouldst thou?" said one of them, as Claus advanced towards the prison door. "I would look upon her, there in her prison," said the cripple, with an expression that denoted a malicious eagerness to gloat upon his victim. The soldiers interchanged glances with one another, as if they doubted whether such a permission ought to be allowed to the witchfinder. "Ah, bah!" said Hans.
The presence of the young Fraulein was of rare occurrence upon occasions of judicial ceremony in the old town-hall. But a solemn appeal to her testimony had been made by the witchfinder; and her father, whose sense of justice considered that a matter of accusation of so heavy and serious a nature as that of witchcraft, should be investigated in all its bearings, had commanded her presence.
The town of Newcastle, which in 1649 had sent to Scotland for a witchfinder, was able in 1673 to make use of home-grown talent. In this instance it was a woman, Ann Armstrong, who implicated a score of her neighbors and at length went around pointing out witches. She was a smooth-witted woman who was probably taking a shrewd method of turning off charges against herself.
Now, thou knowest why I have never dared to enter the holy building." The witchfinder groaned bitterly, clenching, in agony, the folds of his garment, and tearing his breast. "My spiritual adviser was benevolent and kind; but he was also stern in his calling. He imposed upon me such penitence as, in his wisdom, he thought most fit to wash out my crime; and I obeyed with humble reverence.
I remember all how we flew through the air; and then the rushing waters. Oh! tell me; where is he?" The bishop now comprehended that she spoke of the witchfinder; and said, "He is gone for ever, to his last great account." Magdalena groaned bitterly, and again closed her eyes. But it was evident that she still retained her consciousness; for her lips were moving faintly, as if in prayer.
The reading of the act, however, being at last terminated, the town-beggar, commonly known by the familiar name of Black Claus the witchfinder, Schwartzer-Claus, or Claus Schwartz, as he was usually designated among the people, was summoned to stand forward as the denouncer of the aforesaid Magdalena, and to substantiate his charge.
But they left to others the search which they had begun. The witchfinder had been active for a little over a year. But during the last months of that time his discoveries had not been so notable. Was there a falling off in interest? Or was he meeting with increased opposition among the people? Or did the assize courts, which resumed their proceedings in the summer of 1646, frown upon him?
Thus does Teufelsdrockh, wandering in regions where he had little business, confound the old authentic Presbyterian Witchfinder with a new, spurious, imaginary Historian of the Brittische Journalistik; and so stumble on perhaps the most egregious blunder in Modern Literature!
Alas, in vain! for Heaven refuses the expiation, since it has reserved the wretched penitent this last, most fearful blow of all!" "Thou! oh no! say it not! Thou my mother!" cried the witchfinder. "Thy mother Margaret Weilheim!" "Horrible! most horrible!" repeated the agonized son, letting go the bars, and clasping his bony hands over his face.
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