The Trial Of Tempel Anneke

In the Trial of Tempel Anneke, Tempel Anneke describes herself as being a healer. This is shown throughout the community as they often call for her help when people are sick. I think that this detail of her life greatly impacted how her trial went. For starters, being a healer during this time meant that she used a lot of herbs; Tempel Anneke mentions what she uses and often refers to healing books as being the way she learned their properties. As the trial progresses, she says the books have become missing (59). I think this detail raised suspicion among court authorities since they now would not have access to possible evidence that these were in fact resources she used as a healer. This left room for imagination in the court because now

With this in mind, I think the authorities may have viewed her position as a healer in the community as a cover to fit in and fly under the radar when it came to strange occurrences or sicknesses. Tempel Anneke exhibits this idea in the beginning of her trial by highlighting that she is a healer and that she just wants to help people, but I don’t think the authorities played into it due to other evidence, like the witness’ statements. For example, “ Because Inquisitin Anna Roleffes, otherwise called Tempel Anneke, concealed the truth on various Inquisitonales during the previous Territion…” (79). This statement shows the distrust the officials had when it came to Tempel Anneke’s responses. They sort of assume here that she hasn’t been truthful, and now find it necessary to bring torture into

At first when the authorities asked Tempel Anneke questions, she continued to say she didn't know or wasn’t involved. When the executioner comes and shows his tools and begins to torture Tempel Anneke, she now claims she “would like to say the pure truth” (80). Now Tempel Anneke talks about how she is visited by the Devil and learns from him and taught sorcery to four others (84-86). She then states that she promised herself to Satan for 12 years and wanted to finish the duration of that time, but also wanted to return to God after (86). Now the authorities assume Tempel Anneke is telling the truth to prevent further torture, so they focus their questions on the specific details regarding her interactions with the Devil, how she practiced witchcraft, and who taught her. These questions make Tempel Anneke very remorseful; and the threat of torture makes her seemingly honest. In example, “She does not deny any further questions asked at that time, now as before. She wailed and cried, saying that she is sorry with all her heart about her sin, and heartily wanted to repent…” (87). Her responses under the torture also change the courts