Daughter of Satan by Jean Plaidy Page B

became his solemn mission, he carried a Bible in his hand; and with him came a group of men to help in his work.
    He stood in the square and told the people of the great work he was doing for God and the King. The country was suffering from witches. He could recognize a witch when he saw one, merely by looking at her; but he believed in justice, so he condemned none before they had been put through the test.
    â€˜If any of ye know a witch, do not hold back that knowledge. And if any of ye have suspicions that your neighbour traffics with the Devil, then come forth and name them.’
    Tamar stood on the edge of the crow4, alert, ready to run if any should look her way.
    Simon Carter was a man who knew how to talk to simple people.
    God, he explained, was all-powerful, but there was one – turned out from Heaven – who under God was greater than any. Goodness must prevail, because God was the greatest power in the world; but evil unchecked could do great harm. Nor was God one to save from witches those who by their own folly – and he was not sure that he should not say wickedness – abstained from denouncing these creatures. For to give oneself to the Devil was to work against God. They were all God’s servants, were they not? Then let them show it by giving the information he sought.
    â€˜Good people, have your crops ever failed you and you wondered why? Have your animals died of strange sickness? Have you ever been taken with fits and vomiting and strange sickness? You have! Then, my friends, you may take my word for it, you have been the victims of a witch’s, spleen. Think, men and women . . . think of those who live around you. Haveany of them ever done strange things? Have you seen animals slink into their houses? Have you seen them collecting strange herbs and brewing odd concoctions? Have you ever seen or heard them muttering to themselves? Have you seen them going into the country at dark of moon? Come! As you would serve your King, as you value your health, your good living and that of your little ones . . . come and tell me of those who lead dark lives among you.’
    Tamar slipped away from the crowd. The streets were deserted. It seemed that everyone was in the square. She knew that she was in danger. The old woman was in danger, and if they tortured her she would say those queer, incoherent things which she had said to Tamar. There was nothing she could do, for how could she take the old woman and hide her? It would be impossible to move her from the cottage.
    She did not go back to the cottage, but lay stretched out on the grass, looking at the sea, trying to think clearly, to make some plan to save herself and the old woman.
    But the desire to know what was happening in the town was too strong to be resisted, and she went back.
    Already Simon Carter had six women gathered together in the Town Hall.
    He talked continually.
    â€˜Witchcraft, my good friends, is more often found in women than in men. The incubus and the succubus and any devil of Satan’s kingdom loves best the women. For women are weak creatures, more given to wickedness than men. They lack the brighter intellect which God has given men; they are more easily persuaded to wickedness. Strip the women of their clothes. My good friends, we will now search for the Devil’s mark. He stamps them with it to mark them his for ever. He will often put it in the most secret places of the body, so that it is necessary for us to search most diligently.’
    One woman was protesting; she was young and not uncomely. But one of Simon Carter’s men had pinioned her, while another tore her garments from her.
    â€˜And what,’ continued Simon Carter, taking the woman nearest him and forcing her on to her knees while he jerked her face roughly upwards and pulled at her nostrils to peer upthem, ‘and what, my innocent friends, do these creatures do besides the evil tricks they play on you? They wallow in filth, my