execution of Stubbe Peter, from the German tract
A true Discourse. Declaring the damnable life and death of
one Stubbe Peeter, a
most wicked Sorcerer, who in the likeness of a Wolf committed many murders,
continuing this devilish practice 25 Years, killing and devouring Men,
Women, and
Children. Who for the same fact was taken and executed the 31st of October
last
past in the town of Bedbur [Bedburg] near the City of Collin [Cologne,
Köln] in
Germany.
Truly translated out of the high Dutch, according to the copy printed in
Collin,
brought over into England by George Bores ordinary post, the 11th day of
this
present month of June 1590, who did both see and hear the same.
AT LONDON Printed for Edward Venge, and are to be sold in Fleet Street
at
the sign of the Vine.
A most true discourse, declaring the life and death of one Stubbe Peeter,
being a
most wicker [sic] sorcerer.
Those whom the Lord doth leave to follow the imagination of their own hearts,
despising his proffered grace, in the end through the hardness of heart
and
contempt of his fatherly mercy, they enter the right path to perdition
and
destruction of body and soul for ever: as in this present history in perfect
sort may
be seen, the strangeness whereof, together with the cruelties committed,
and the
long time therein continued, may drive many in doubt whether the same be
truth or
no, and the rather fore that sundry false and fabulous matters have heretofore
passed in print, which hath wrought much incredulity in the hearts of all
men
generally, insomuch that now of days few things do escape be it never so
certain,
but that it is embased by the term of a lie or false report.
In the reading of this story, therefore I do first request reformation
of opinion, next
patience to peruse it, because it is published for example's sake, and
lastly to
censure thereof as reason and wisdom doth think convenient, considering
the
subtlety that Satan useth to work the soul's destruction, and the great
matters
which the accursed practice of sorcery doth effect, the fruits whereof
is death and
destruction for ever, and yet in all ages practiced by the reprobate and
wicked of
the earth, some in one sort and some in another even as the Devil giveth
promise
to perform. But of all other that ever lived, none was comparable unto
this Hell
hound, whose tyranny and cruelty did well declare he was of his father
the devil,
who was a murderer from the beginning, whose life and death and most bloody
practices the discourse doth make just report.
In the towns of Cperadt and Bedbur near Collin in high Germany, there was
continually brought up and nourished one Stubbe Peeter, who from his youth
was
greatly inclined to evil and the practicing of wicked arts even from twelve
years of
age till twenty, and so forwards till his dying day, insomuch that surfeiting
in the
damnable desire of magic, necromancy, and sorcery, acquainting himself
with
many infernal spirits and fiends, insomuch tat forgetting the God that
made him,
and that Savior that shed his blood man man's redemption: In the end, careless
of
salvation gave both soul and body to the Devil for ever, for small carnal
pleasure in
this life, that he might be famous and spoken of on earth, though he lost
heaven
thereby.
The Devil, who hath a ready ear to listen to the lewd motions of cursed
men,
promised to give him whatsoever his heart desired during his mortal life:
whereupon this vile wretch neither desired riches nor promotion, nor was
his fancy
satisfied with any external or outward pleasure, but having a tyrannous
heart and a
most cruel bloody mind, requested that at his pleasure he might work his
malice on
men, women, and children, in the shape of some beast, whereby he might
live
without dread or danger of life, and unknown to be the executor of any
bloody
enterprise which he meant to commit.
The Devil, who saw him a fit instrument to perform mischief as a wicked
fiend
pleased with the desire of wrong and destruction, gave unto him a girdle
which,
being put around him, he was straight transformed into the likeness of
a greedy,
devouring wolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in
the night
sparkled like unto brands of fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharp
and
cruel teeth, a huge body and mighty paws. And no sooner should he put off
the
same girdle, but presently he should appear in his former shape, according
to the
proportion of a man, as if he had never been changed.
Stubbe Peeter herewith was exceedingly well pleased, and the shape fitted
his
fancy and agreed best with his nature, being inclined to blood and cruelty.
Therefore, satisfied with this strange and devilish gift, for that it was
not
troublesome nor great in carriage, but that it might be hidden in a small
room, he
proceeded to the execution of sundry most heinous and vile murders; for
if any
person displeased him, he would incontinent thirst for revenge, and no
sooner
should they or any of theirs walk abroad in the fields or about the city,
but in the
shape of a wolf he would presently encounter them, and never rest till
he had
plucked out their throats and tear their joints asunder. And after he had
gotten a
taste hereof, he took such pleasure and delight in shedding of blood, that
he would
night and day walk the fields and work extreme cruelties. And sundry times
he
would go through the streets of Collin, Bedbur, and Cperadt, in comely
habit, and
very civilly, as one well known to all the inhabitants thereabout, and
oftentimes was
he saluted of those whose friends and children he had butchered, though
nothing
suspected for the same. In these places, I say, he would walk up and down,
and if
he could spy either maid, wife, or child that his eyes liked or his heart
lusted after,
he would wait their issuing out of the city or town. If he could by any
means get
them alone, he would in the fields ravish them, and after in his wolfish
likeness
cruelly murder them.
Yea, often it came to pass that as he walked abroad in the fields, if he
chanced to
spy a company of maidens playing together or else a milking their kine,
in his
wolfish shape he would incontinent run among them, and while the rest escaped
by
flight, he would be sure to lay hold of one, and after his filthy lust
fulfilled, he would
murder her presently. Beside, if he had liked or known any of them, look
who he
had a mind unto, her he would pursue, whether she were before or behind,
and
take her from the rest, for such was his swiftness of foot while he continued
a wolf
that he would outrun the swiftest greyhound in that country; and so much
he had
practiced this wickedness that the whole province was feared by the cruelty
of this
bloody and devouring wolf.
Thus continuing his devilish and damnable deeds within the compass of a
few
years, he had murdered thirteen young children, and two goodly young women
big
with child, tearing the children out of their wombs, in most bloody and
savage sort,
and after ate their hearts panting hot and raw, which he accounted dainty
morsels
and best agreeing to his appetite.
Moreover, he used many times to kill lambs and kids and such like beasts,
feeding
on the same most usually raw and bloody, as if he had been a natural wolf
indeed,
so that all men mistrusted nothing less than this his devilish sorcery.
He had at that time living a fair young damsel to his daughter, after whom
he also
lusted must unnaturally, and cruelly committed most wicked incest with
her, a most
gross and vile sin, far surmounting adultery or fornication, though the
least of the
three doth drive the soul into hell fire, except hearty repentance, and
the great
mercy of God. This daughter of his he begot when he was not altogether
so
wickedly given, who was called by the name of Stubbe Beell, whose beauty
and
good grace was such as deserved commendations of all those that knew her.
And
such was his inordinate lust and filthy desire toward her, that he begat
a child by
her, daily using her as his concubine; but as an insatiate and filthy beast,
given over
to work evil, with greediness he also lay by his own sister, frequenting
her
company long time, even according as the wickedness of his heart led him.
Moreover, being on a time sent for to a gossip of his there to make merry
and
good cheer, ere he thence departed he so won the woman by his fair and
flattering
speech, and so much prevailed, that ere he departed the house, he lay by
her, and
ever after had her company at his command. This woman had to name Katherine
Trompin, a woman of tall and comely stature of exceeding good favor and
one that
was well esteemed among her neighbors. But his lewd and inordinate lust
being not
satisfied with the company of many concubines, nor his wicked fancy contented
with the beauty of any woman, at length the Devil sent unto him a wicked
spirit in
the similitude and likeness of a woman, so fair of face and comely of personage,
that she resembled rather some heavenly Helfin than any mortal creature,
so far her
beauty exceeded the choicest sort of women; and with her, as with his heart's
delight, he kept company the space of seven years, though in the end she
proved
and was found indeed no other than a she-Devil.
Notwithstanding, this lewd sin of lechery did not any thing assuage his
cruel and
bloody mind, but continuing an insatiable bloodsucker, so great was the
joy he
took therein, that he accounted no day spent in pleasure wherein he had
not shed
some blood, not respecting so much who he did murder, as how to murder
and
destroy them, as the matter ensuing doth manifest, which may stand for
a special
note of a cruel and hard heart. For, having a proper youth to his son,
begotten in
the flower and strength of his age, the first fruit of his body, in whom
he took such
joy that he did commonly call him his heart's ease, yet so far his delight
in murder
exceeded the joy he took in his son, that thirsting after his blood, on
a time he
enticed him into the fields, and from thence into a forest hard by, where,
making
excuse to stay about the necessaries of nature, while the young man went
forward,
incontinent in the shape and likeness of a wolf he encountered his own
son and
there most cruelly slew him, which done, he presently ate the brains out
of his head
as a most savory and dainty delicious mean to staunch his greedy appetite:
the
most monstrous act that ever man heard of, for never was known a wretch
from
nature so far degenerate.
Long time he continued his vile and villainous life, sometime in the likeness
of a
wolf, sometime in the habit of a man, sometime in the towns and cities,
and
sometimes in the woods and thickets to them adjoining, whereas the Dutch
copy
maketh mention, he on a time met with two men and one woman, whom he greatly
desired to murder, and the better to bring his devilish purpose to effect,
doubting
by them to be overmatched and knowing one of them by name, he used this
policy
to bring them to their end. In subtle sort he conveyed himself far before
them in
their way and craftily couched out of the sight; but as soon as they approached
near the place where he lay, he called one of them by his name. The party,
hearing
himself called once or twice by his name, supposing it was some familiar
friend that
in jesting sort stood out of his sight, went from his company toward the
place from
whence the voice proceeded, of purpose to see who it was; but he was no
sooner
entered within the danger of this transformed man, but incontinent he was
murdered in the place; the rest of his company staying for him, expecting
still his
return, but finding his stay over long, the other man left the woman and
went to
look him, by which means the second man was also murdered. The woman then
seeing neither of both return again, in heart suspected that some evil
had fallen
upon them, and therefore, with all the power she had, she sought to save
herself by
flight, though it nothing prevailed, for, good soul, she was also soon
overtaken by
this light-footed wolf, whom, when he had first deflowered, he after most
cruelly
murdered. The men were after found mangled in the wood, but the woman's
body
was never after seen, for she the caitiff had most ravenously devoured,
whose flesh
he esteemed both sweet and dainty in taste.
Thus this damnable Stubbe Peeter lived the term of five and twenty years,
unsuspected to be author of so many cruel and unnatural murders, in which
time he
had destroyed and spoiled an unknown number of men, women, and children,
sheep, lambs, and goats, and other cattle; for, when he could not through
the
wariness of people draw men, women, or children in his danger, then, like
a cruel
and tyrannous beast, he would work his cruelty on brute beasts in most
savage
sort, and did act more mischief and cruelty than would be credible, although
high
Germany hath been forced to taste the truth thereof.
By which means the inhabitants of Collin, Bedbur, and Cperadt, seeing themselves
so grievously endangered, plagued, and molested by this greedy and cruel
wolf,
who wrought continual harm and mischief, insomuch that few or none durst
travel
to or from those places without good provision of defense, and all for
fear of this
devouring and fierce wolf, for oftentimes the inhabitants found the arms
and legs of
dead men, women, and children scattered up and down the fields, to their
great
grief and vexation of heart, knowing the same to be done by that strange
and cruel
wolf, whom by no means they could take or overcome, so that if any man
or
woman missed their child, they were out of hope ever to see it again alive,
mistrusting straight that the wolf had destroyed it.
And here is to be noted a most strange thing which setteth forth the great
power
and merciful providence of God to the comfort of each Christian heart.
There were
not long ago certain small children playing in a meadow together hard by
the town,
where also some store of kine were feeding, many of them having young calves
sucking upon them. And suddenly among these children comes this vile wolf
running and caught a pretty fine girl by the collar, with intent to pull
out her throat;
but such was the will of God, that the wolf could not pierce the collar
of the child's
coat, being high and very well stiffened and close clasped about her neck;
and
therewithal the sudden great cry of the rest of the children which escaped
so
amazed the cattle feeding by, that being fearful to be robbed of their
young, they
altogether came running against the wolf with such force that he was presently
compelled to let go his hold and to run away to escape the danger of their
horns;
by which means the child was preserved from death, and, God be thanked,
remains living at this day.
An that this thing is true, Master Tice Artine, a brewer dwelling at Puddlewharfe
in
London, being a man of that country born, and one of good reputation and
account, is able to justify, who is near kinsman to this child, and hath
from thence
twice received letters concerning the same; and for that the first letter
did rather
drive him into wondering at the act then yielding credit thereunto, he
had shortly
after, at request of his writing, another letter sent him, whereby he was
more fully
satisfied; and divers other persons of great credit in London hath in like
sort
received letters from their friends to the like effect.
Likewise in the town of Germany aforesaid continual prayer was used unto
God
that it would please Him to deliver them from the danger of this greedy
wolf.
And, although they had practiced all the means that men could devise to
take this
ravenous beast, yet until the Lord had determined his fall, they could
not in any
wise prevail: notwithstanding, they daily continued their purpose, and
daily sought
to entrap him, and for that intent continually maintained great mastiffs
and dogs of
much strength to hunt and chase the beast. In the end, it pleased God,
as they
were in readiness and provided to meet with him, that they should espy
him in his
wolfish likeness at what time they beset him round about, and most circumspectly
set their dogs upon him, in such sort that there was no means of escape,
at which
advantage they never could get him before; but as the Lord delivered Goliath
into
the hands of David, so was this wolf brought in danger of these men, who
seeing,
as I said before, no way to escape the imminent danger, being hardly pursued
at
the heels, presently slipped his girdle from about him, whereby the shape
of a wolf
clean avoided, and he appeared presently in his true shape and likeness,
having in
his hand a staff as one walking toward the city. But the hunters, whose
eyes were
steadfastly bent upon the beast, and seeing him in the same place metamorphosed
contrary to their expectation, it wrought a wonderful amazement to their
minds;
and, had it not been that they knew the man so soon as they saw him, they
had
surely taken the same to have been some Devil in a man's likeness; but
for as much
as they knew him to be an ancient dweller in the town, they came unto him,
and
talking with him, they brought him by communication home to his own house,
and
finding him to be the man indeed, and no delusion or fantastical motion,
they had
him incontinent before the magistrates to be examined.
Thus being apprehended, he was shortly after put to the rack in the town
of
Bedbur, but fearing the torture, he voluntarily confessed his whole life,
and made
known the villainies which he had committed for the space of 25 years;
also he
confessed how by sorcery he procured of the Devil a girdle, which being
put on,
he forthwith became a wolf, which girdle at his apprehension he confessed
he cast
it off in a certain valley and there left it, which, when the magistrates
heard, they
sent to the valley for it, but at their coming found nothing at all, for
it may be
supposed that it was gone to the Devil from whence it came, so that it
was not to
be found. For the Devil having brought the wretch to all the shame he could,
left
him to endure the torments which his deeds deserved.
After he had some space been imprisoned, the magistrates found out through
due
examination of the matter, that his daughter Stubbe Beell and his gossip
Katherine
Trompin were both accessory to divers murders committed, who for the same
as
also for their lewd life otherwise committed, was arraigned, and with Stubbe
Peeter condemned, and their several judgments pronounced the 28 of October
1589, in this manner, that is to say: Stubbe Peeter as principal malefactor,
was
judged first to have his body laid on a wheel, and with red hot burning
pincers in
ten several places to have the flesh pulled off from the bones, after that,
his legs
and arms to be broken with a wooden ax or hatchet, afterward to have his
head
struck from his body, then to have his carcass burned to ashes.
Also his daughter and his gossip were judged to be burned quick to ashes,
the
same time and day with the carcass of the aforesaid Stubbe Peeter. And
on the
31st of the same month, they suffered death accordingly in the town of
Bedbur in
the presence of many peers and princes of Germany.
Thus, Gentle Reader, have I set down the true discourse of this wicked
man Stub
Peeter, which I desire to be a warning to all sorcerers and witches, which
unlawfully follow their own devilish imagination to the utter ruin and
destruction of
their souls eternally, from which wicked and damnable practice, I beseech
God
keep all good men, and from the cruelty of their wicked hearts. Amen.
After the execution, there was by the advice of the magistrates of the
town of
Bedbur a high pole set up and strongly framed, which first went through
the wheel
whereon he was broken, whereunto also it was fastened; after that a little
above
the wheel the likeness of a wolf was framed in wood, to show unto all men
the
shape wherein he executed those cruelties. Over that on the top of the
stake the
sorcerer's head itself was set up, and round about the wheel there hung
as it were
sixteen pieces of wood about a yard in length with represented the sixteen
persons
that was perfectly known to be murdered by him. And the same ordained to
stand
there for a continual monument to all ensuing ages, what murders by Stub
Peeter
was committed, with the order of his judgment, as this picture doth more
plainly
express.
Witnesses that this is true: Tyse Artyne. William Brewar. Adolf Staedt.
George
Bores. With divers others that have seen the same.