Onely Steuen Conrade , one of the Magistrates of the saide Schmidweiler , saith , that he hath heard and seene the Maids father and mother , sometimes buy sugar and such drugges , but whereabout they vsed it or howe he knoweth not , or whether it were for the said Maide . He farther saith , that the saide Father and Mother onely tend the said Maiden , and take her vppe and lay her downe , neuer suffering their Maiden , or any of the familie to helpe them at all , and this is all that he could say .

The names of those that were heard & examined .

Steuen Conrad of Schmidweiler , an officer of the Lawe and Gets his Wife . Molter Iohn and Margaret his wife . Iohn the Taylor . Iohn Conrade a Smith , and Magdalein his wife . Enichen a sheepheards wife , all inhabitants of Schmidweiler .

Fourthly , the Phisitions visited the said Katerin , & found her in euery point as insueth , according to the markes and tokens , and her shape and speech .

First her face is faire and sound , of good couller , ful of life and good disposition , her eyes cléere , quicke and well sighted as anie whole bodies , except that they be a little suncke into her heade , and that sometimes there arriseth a swelling vnder them which continueth not long , neither is there any impediment in her smelling , hearing or tast , as they say and testifie . Her spéech likewise is faire , gracious , decent , cléere , significant and intelligible : onely her mouth is shronke vp so close by reason of her cheekes that are very sore ( as her selfe told vs ) that she can scarce put in her litle finger , albeit there appeare no apparant or grosse swelling . But when she is vp , she cannot of herselfe holde vppe her head , or keepe it vpright by reason of swimmings of the heade . Her hayre is all fallen , but beginneth to growe againe , and shee neuer felt any vermin therein . During this her infirmitie or weakenes , for thrée yeeres shee loft almost her hearing and vnderstanding , but vpon Thursday before Easter 1583. shee recouered her speech and vnderstanding verie well , yea much better then she had them in her health time , and that after this strange and wonderfull manner ensuing . viz. While her Father the same time , as a man of occupation was making of planckes in the forrest , and her Mother was gone to him , so that there was no body in the house , but that all the doores were shutte : there came a man into the stooue in Ministers apparrell , and drawing neere the bed , lifted her vp vnder the left elbowe , & walking vp and downe with her , began to question with her whither shée could pray well , wherat she was somewhat amazed , because she could make him no answer , for she was yet dombe . Then hée began to pray vnto her ( as shee termeth it ) Gods ten Commaundements after the Lutherans manner , and then after such sorte as her Minister and Pastor had taught her them , together with the Articles of the faith , the Lordes prayer , and the institution of Baptisme and the Lords supper , repeating all the premisses vnto her , with an exhortation to patience , consolation and assurance that she should shortly receiue her speech , and so he departed suddainly from her : and that after that her speech returned immediatly , so as she talked sensibly to her mother at her return home , whereat her said mother was maruailously abashed , and as it were afraide , as also was her father at his comming in . Since which time shee neuer had impediment in her speech or vnderstanding .

2 Concerning her breast or stomack , her breath is sweet and of good sauour , her pouls in both armes and feete naturall , in good order , proportionable and equall , but outwardly both before and behind her two shoulders , aboue and beneath shee is somewhat wearie and tired . Her brestes are more long , soft and hanging then Maidens vse to be . Sometimes she feeleth paine one both sides vnder her short ribs , which slideth and bendeth toward the pit of her stomack , & maketh her so weake and faint , that she can scarce drawe her breath , and somtimes she séemeth as her wind should vtterly faile her , which paine neuertheles weareth soone away by reason of applying or chafing her with vertuous and sweet waters , and if any touch the pit of her stomack , it putteth her to paine .

3 As for her wombe , it is somewhat fallen as a voide & emptie bodie , and yet is outwardly reasonable plumpe , fleshy and fat , as also she is about the hips and the nether part of her chine . She is not troubled with any winde or collick , or any other prickinges within her , as hickets or other troubles of the stomack . Farther albeit oftentimes without constraint of néede and necessitie , shée hath strained herselfe to take & swallowe any thing , yet can shée not doo it , neuertheles she can wel abide the sight and sauour of meat , and suffer them to eate and drinke by her , howheit sometimes more then other , for her throte was & yet is , as if it were close & stopped vp , neither hath she any stooles , vrine , or menstruall purgations , as before her sicknes for a while shee had verie perfectly and in good order , but doe nowe vtterly faile her . Likewise she neuer thirsteth , yet somtimes shee taketh a little freshe water & Aqua vitae mingled together to wash her mouth withall , but spitteth it straight out againe . This she vsed to doo with Aqua vitae alone before , but now she can not abide it , as beeing ouer sharp & strong in her mouth , which is waxen ouer tender and delicate , so that she doth it but to refresh her head and hart .

4 Concerning her armes and legs , her armes are sounde and fleshy , especially the left , which is very actiue , and in euery respect without default , but her right arme is numbe from the elbow to her fingers ends , so as her hand is become crooked , & her fingers stiffe that she can not stir them . She can doo somewhat with her right arme neer the shoulder , yet can she not lift it to her head , or from one side to another without help . Her legs are méetly ful & fleshic , but so crooked that she can not stretch them foorth , yet can she somwhat mooue her féete & her toes . Her arme is so benummed and her legges crooked since within these thrée yéeres that she hath lien and eaten nothing . Throughout her whole body , she hath a temperat and kindly heate . The nayles both of her féete and hands are wel formed , somewhat long , in good state and disposition , as beséemeth a whole bodie .

Now in as much as throughout this search and inquest , yea a very dilligent inquisition , as exactly taken as might bee , there doth not appeare any certaine ground , means or reason for this Maidens state , condition or case , whither she be thus maintained by the singular grace of almighty God , or by any sleight or deceit she be fed with natural meat & drinke : all and euery the said Commissioners haue thought it good and expedient for the discouery of all truth to employ this farthar charge . viz. That the Maid be tended by foure wise & skilful women méet for such matter , who for the same purpose shal be chosen , and sent to the said place of Schmidweiler , there by turnes to kéepe and watche her , two by day , & two by night , for the space of 14. daies with all dilligence , to sée that she haue neither meat nor drinke administred vnto her by any person , father , mother , or whosoeuer , likewise that the bed wheron she nowe lieth be changed & an other brought in the place , as also that throughout the whole stooue , there be dilligent search , and the rather for occasions folowing .

First , because out of the Maids own mouth it hath béen heard , that not only there come vnto her both Iesuites , Nuns and some Lay persons of the bishoprick of Treues , which vse sundry speeches with her , yea euen rare reuelations & prophesies from her , but because there haue béen Letters found about her , written as it were to a holy virgin , wherby it appeareth they would make her a very Idoll , yea and in the end forme and practise some pilgrimage vnto her .

2 Secondly because of the inquest among the peasants , there can be nothing learned , but as they haue heard of the Maides father and mother , except that Steuen Conrad of Schmidweiler , in his deposition toucheth some doubt , and yet can testifie nothing certaine or assured , whether there be any deceit or fraude in the action .

3 Thirdly , for that the said maid is so sound and perfect in her lims , and not otherwise disposed then a very sound body , which cannot be naturally , as also shee can not so long continue without eating and drinking : These be the causes as aforesaide , esspecially for the eschewing of all Idolatrie , as also to cut off all meanes and occasion of villanous backbiting from enemies and aduersaries , of this good aduice & deliberation of the saide Commissioners , who without delay tooke in hand this searche & exact obseruation before the said Maid were any further circumuented , or wrought for her faith , whereof shee made declaration to the said Commissioners , namely , that she will & purposeth constantly to perseuere in the ten Commandements , and all the doctrine she hath learned of her Pastor , as also she gaue the superintendent at his going forth , whom she desired spéedily to return again , as also to haue her in remembraunce in euery his prayer at his ordinary preachings , likewise that he might help to pray to God for her , that he would vouchsafe to maintaine and keepe her in this knowledge and constant confession of faith .

Howbeit this affaire dependeth vppon my saide most noble Lords pleasure , and resteth in his hand and power . &c. And the said Commissioners doe most humbly héereuppon attende more ample commandement and answer . Giuen , the day , time , and place aboue mencioned , in the presence of Ma. Godfrey Tabor , Pastor of the Church of Colberberg . Nicholas Hoche , prouost Iustice in the same place , and Iames Schicab , Lieuetenant Chatelain of Caiserlauter . Also the said Commissioners haue subscribed it with their owne hands .