“They were wholly unnatural,” Rebecca said. “They could only be the teats from which her familiars suckled.”
“And what did Mother Lee say when she was confronted with this evidence?”
“At first she denied it. She claimed that they were hemorrhoids and that she’d suffered from them for many years.”
“What did you say to this?”
“I told her that they were no hemorrhoids, that she’d had traffic with Satan’s imps. She denied it, but I pressed her further and again. I told her that such marks could only have come from the devil and that she must tell the truth. It took many hours and much pressing, but she soon saw that I spoke the truth. She told me that the imps must have come to her in her sleep and suckled then. It was the only way she could have gotten such teats.”
“So she confessed to you that she is a witch?”
Rebecca nodded emphatically. “Yes, my lord, she did.”
The prosecutor smiled, clearly pleased to have regained control of the trial. “Thank you, Mrs. Hooke.”
The last witness was Mother Lee. The bailiffs led her to the front of the hall and left her there. She looked around the room at her neighbors, the women who had just condemned her to death. I saw no sign that she hated them for it.
The prosecutor stepped to the middle of the room and placed his hands on his hips. He sensed that victory was near and was enjoying the moment.
“When did Satan first come to you?” he asked.
“Some years ago,” she replied. “Six or seven. It was about a year after my husband died. My son had gone to London in search of work.”
The prosecutor strode forward and looked into Mother Lee’s eyes. “And you lay with the devil when he came to you. You let that infernal creature have carnal knowledge of your body.” It was less a question than a statement.
Mother Lee held his gaze. “Why do you want to know that?”
“We must have the truth,” the prosecutor responded. “Tell me—did the devil have use of your body?”
“Aye,” Mother Lee said at last. “He promised he would protect me, and send his imps to act as my servants. My house was in such disorder, and food was so dear. So I lay with him.”
The prosecutor smiled. Mother Lee was as good as hanged. “What was the devil like? What form did he take?”
“He was tall and handsome with black hair. He was a proper gentleman, more proper than you are.”
The prosecutor’s smile faded for a moment as the jurymen enjoyed a laugh at his expense. Rather than risk further humiliation, the prosecutor turned to the judge and announced that he had finished. The judge nodded—or perhaps fell to napping—and the bailiff led Mother Lee from the room. The prosecutor then announced the name of the next woman to be tried. Martha and I edged toward the door and slipped into the Castle yard.
“They will find her guilty,” Martha said as we hurried to the gate.
“Aye, with her confession there can be no doubt of that.”
“Will all the women hang? There are so many…”
“It will depend on how strong they are and how far they were pressed. If they confess before the jury, they are finished to be sure.”
“What are we going to do about Will?” Martha asked. “If they try him in that sort of court, he will receive the same sort of justice.”
“I have been trying to find a solution.…” My voice trailed off.
Martha’s laugh had a bitter edge. “And have you discovered a lawful escape for him?”
I shook my head. “The law is set against him, and there is no lawful thing we can do to oppose it.”
“What?” Martha cried, fury visible on her face. “So we let him try his fortune in court? Have you gone mad?” Martha made no effort to hide her anger, and passersby looked shocked that a maid would address her mistress in such a fashion. I could only image the gossip that would run through the markets after such a show.
“Of course not,” I replied, taking her arm. “We will smuggle him out of the city. With a good horse and a full purse he’ll have no trouble making his way to my estates in Hereford. Joseph’s writ won’t run so far as that. Eventually we can join him, or—if Joseph falls from power—he can safely return to York.” I could see the tension run from Martha’s body at my words. “Surely you didn’t think I’d let him hang, did you?”
Martha thought for a moment before answering. “I know you favor the law above all else. You’ve caused bastard-bearers to be whipped, sent ravishers to the gallows, and felt no sorrow along the way. You love the part you play in keeping order—it is why you sided with the King even as your kin chose Parliament. Last summer you stood ready to see a murderer walk free because the law could not act.”