Elizabeth, A. D. 1549.

The foregoing is the first confession.

Afterwards she was again brought before the council, and led into the torture chamber, Hans, the executioner, being present. The lords then said: “We have thus long dealt with you in kindness; but if you will not confess, we will resort to severity with you. The Procurator General said: “Master Hans, seize her.”

Master Hans answered: “O no, my lords, she will voluntarily confess.”

But as she would not voluntarily confess, he applied the thumb-screws to her thumbs and forefingers, so that the blood squirted out at the nails.

Elizabeth said: “Oh! I cannot endure it any longer.”

The lords said: “Confess, and we will relieve your pain.”

But she cried to the Lord her God: “Help me, O Lord, thy poor handmaiden! for thou art a helper in time of need.”

The lords all exclaimed: “Confess, and we will relieve your pain; for we told you to confess, and not to cry to God the Lord.”

But she steadfastly adhered to God her Lord, as related above; and the Lord took away her pain, so that she said to the lords: “Ask me, and I shall answer you: for I no longer feel the least pain in my flesh, as I did before.”

Lords. “Will you not yet confess?”

Elizabeth. “No, my lords.”

They then applied the screws to her shins, one on each.”

She said: “O my lords, do not put me to shame; for never a man touched my bare body.”

“The Procurator General said: “Miss Elizabeth, we shall not treat you dishonorably.”

She then fainted away. They said to one another: “Perhaps she is dead.”

But waking up, she said: “I live, and am not dead.”

They then took off all the screws, and plied her with entreaties.

Elizabeth. “Why do you thus entreat me? this is the way to do with children.”

Thus they obtained not one word from her, detrimental to her brethren in the Lord, or to any other person.

Lords. “Will you revoke all that you have previously confessed here?”

Elizabeth. “No, my lords, but I will seal it with my death.”

Lords. “We will try you no more; will you voluntarily tell us, who baptized you?”

Elizabeth. “O no, my lords; I have certainly told you, that I will not confess this.”

Sentence was then passed upon Elizabeth, on the 27th of March, 1549; she was condemned to death—to be drowned in a bag, and thus offered up her body to God.