Blood and Clay by Dulcinea Norton-Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

prayer today? ”

 
    “ I appreciated it. I need all the strength God can give me ”

 
    “ That you do Roger. Did you want to speak to me about
something? Have you decided what to do about the witches? ”

 
    Roger
sat in silence for a minute, eyes closed and breathing slowly as if in prayer.
Then he raised his head and looked at the vicar.

 
    “ Yes. I needed your counsel. I need to know that what I am
about to do is right and just in the eyes of God. People will get hurt, maybe
even killed. I need to know that it is necessary and that God will forgive me. ”

 
    “ It is so bad Roger? There will be deaths? ”

 
    Roger
heaved a big sigh. “ Yes it is. It is that bad, or at least it may become so.
Witches are being hung as far as London and Scotland and as near as Lancaster.
The tortures they put those women through to make them confess. I don ’ t know if I have the strength to
order that to be done. ”

 
    “ What is done Roger? What could be so bad? ”

 
    “ They poke them. With sharp pointed sticks. They poke until
they find a spot which does not bleed and produces no pain. That is the spot
where the Devil took their blood to make them his own. ”

 
    “ Well that is not pleasant Roger but it is not so terrible.
These things must be done. ”

 
    “ I know. They do other things too. You know of the
floatings. We all do. Tie the women up and drop them in the village pond. If
they float they are witches and must face burning or the gallows. If they sink?
Well at least they go to heaven. I just pity those poor souls who sink;
innocent women who are mistaken for witches and end up dead. ”

 
    “ It is all for the cause Roger. These women would not be accused
if they had not given us reason to fear them. ”

 
    “ Yes. I know, all for the cause. There are other tortures
too. Tortures usually saved for murderers and those guilty of treason. They are
legal to use on witches now. We are no longer in the soft willed ways of Queen
Elizabeth. ”

 
    “ Maybe it is for the better Roger. What are you afraid of?
That you may find witches among us? ”

 
    “ No. Unfortunately I know that the Devil Brides already walk
among us. The families of Old Mother Chattox and Old Mother Demdike. We know
them too well. I am afraid that when I am called to deal with tem I will not
have the courage to order it done. To order torture and deaths of women and
children. Can this really be what God wants? ”

 
    “ We cannot answer that Roger but we must trust in what our
king says. He was chosen by God to rule us. Surely he is closer to God than
even you and I. If these women and children lie with the Devil then they are
against God and against goodness. We must deal with that as forcefully as is
necessary and may God forgive us for any innocents we cause to suffer. ”

 
    “ May that be so. ” Said Roger. A look of relief settled
upon his previously troubled face. He was a God fearing Protestant and this man
of God sanctioned the acts that Roger was about to instigate.

 
    “ Do you know that these women and their families are
witches? Can you be sure? ”

 
    “ Aye unfortunately I am quite sure. I cannot absolutely know
until they confess but I am sure as I can be from the stories that these women
and their kin are witches. They cast charms and make herbal brews. There are
tales of their deeds also. Old Chattox is said to have killed the man who
married Demdike ’ s daughter. There was no body but that is the tale. ”

 
    “ Just a family feud? Do they trouble others with their
deeds? ”

 
    “ Aye they do. There are stories of illnesses. Richard
Baldwin has a daughter who is suffering from fits and convulsions as if
possessed by the Devil. He swears to all who will listen that it is the work of
Demdike. Just last night John Nutter came to me to make accusations. He told me
that Demdike killed his cow. He did not explain how she came to be at is farm.
I suspect he