Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory (36 page)

The 137th witness was the honorable Michael Galyk, residing in the town of Beckov, 32 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 138th witness was the honorable Blasius Chyzmazia, Captain in the town of Beckov, 33 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 139th witness was the noble Janós Baranyai, 40 years old, sworn and interrogated; regarding the daughters of Benedictus Barbel and Georgius Tukynzky, as well as the sister of Janós Belanzky, he said the same as Martinus Chanady; regarding the questions posed, he only knew a little from hearsay.

The 140
^th
witness was the noble Franciscus Bardy, residing in the town of Beckov, 34 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as his wife, Lady Dorottya Jezernyczky.

The 141st witness was the noble Georgius Kopaach, residing in the town of Beckov, 29 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as his Janós Baranyai.

The 142nd witness was the noble Georgius Bereczk, residing in the town of Beckov, 30 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as his Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 143
^rd
witness was the noble Michael Horwath, residing in the town of Beckov, 50 years old, sworn and interrogated; he said the same as the previous witness.

The 144
^th
, 145th, 146
^th
, 147
^th
, 148
^th
, 149
^th
, 150
^th
, 151
^st
, 152
^nd
, and 153
^rd
witnesses were the honorable Blasius Kochys, 45 years old, Nicolaus Zamochnyk, 40 years old, Janós Sargawych, about 90 years old, Martinus Tekol, 40 years old, Jacobus Buol, 40 years old, Janós Sysska, 40 years old, Martinus Walach, 23 years old, Janós Andrassowych, 23 years old, Adamus Vadomzky, 40 years old, all residing in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; they said the same as Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 154
^th
, 155
^th
, 156
^th
, 157
^th
, 158
^th
, 159
^th
, 160
^th
, 161
^st
, 162
^nd
, and 163
^rd
witnesses were the honorable Zacharias Halgaff, 50 years old, Martinus Zwolyenzky, 30 years old, Andreas Hojan, 24 years old, Martinus Pusztaczky, 20 years old, Felix Sedyk, 50 years old, Michael Sodykowych, 35 years old, Martinus Walagowych, 65 years old, Nicolaus Buyak, 34 years old, Martinus Megarowych, 24 years old, Michael Warga, 34 years old, all residing in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; they said the same as the previous witnesses and, in particular, like Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 164
^th
, 165
^th
, 166
^th
, 167
^th
, 168
^th
, 169
^th
, 170
^th
, 171
^st
, 172
^nd
, and 173
^rd
witnesses were the honorable Nicolaus Motychka, 24 years old, Andreas Sedykowych, 23 years old, Andreas Hlawathy, 26 years old, Daniel Jakwbykh, 40 years old, Janós Zamechnyk, 28 years old, Janós Blawar, 20 years old, Nicolaus Petruskowych, 26 years old, Martinus Sedykowych, 26 years old, Janós Ztankowych, 35 years old, Janós Ztankowych, 23 years old, sworn and interrogated; they said the same as the previous witness and, in particular, like Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 174
^th
, 175
^th
, 176
^th
, 177
^th
, 178
^th
, 179
^th
, 180
^th
, 181
^st
, 182
^nd
, and 183
^rd
witnesses were the notable Jacobus Voyko, 35 years old, Adamus Boffaczky, 20 years old, Martinus Kral, 26 years old, Ladislaus Morawchyk, 30 years old, Stephanus Kehalyowych, 28 years old, Paulus Kukharowych, 35 years old, Nicolaus Hlawathy, 65 years old, Mattheus Haycheck, 30 years old, Georgius Kawalecz, 32 years old, Jacobus Golyas, 40 years old, all residing in the town of Beckov; they said the same as the previous witnesses and, in particular, like Nicolaus Mednyansky.

The 184
^th
, 185
^th
, 186
^th
, 187
^th
, 188
^th
, 189
^th
, 190
^th
, 191
^st
, 192
^nd
, and 193
^rd
witnesses were the noteable Martinus Vesowych, 30 years old, Janós Ptaczek, 25 years old, Nicolaus Troyan, 60 years old, Adamus Malyk, 50 years old, Michael Malyk, 28 years old, Nicolaus Thykhy, 28 years old, Janós Balasykowych, 35 years old, Georgius Sedyk, 35 years old, Janós Frastaczky, 23 years old, Janós Hrodko, 35 years old, all living in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; they said they knew about the content of the questions posed only through hearsay.

The 194
^th
, 195
^th
, 196
^th
, 197
^th
, 198
^th
, 199
^th
, 200
^th
, 201
^st
, 202
^nd
, and 203
^rd
witnesses the noteable Martinus Mlynar, 28 years old, Nicolaus Sedyk, 40 years old, Tamás Györkeos, 31 years old, Michael Twrkowych, 23 years old, Janós Wawrowych, 25 years old, Janós Hornyachek, 40 years old, Janós Myhalyowych, 32 years old, Martinus Swanczar, 35 years old, Vosommanus Mayer, 40 years old, Martinus Gonyo, 35 years old, all residing in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; they all said the same as the immediately-preceding witness.

The 204
^th
, 205
^th
, 206
^th
, 207
^th
, 208
^th
, 209
^th
, 210
^th
, 211
^th
, 212
^th
, and 213
^th
witnesses were the honest women Dorottya Hornyakowych, wife of Nicolaus Vybarowych, 30 years old, Katalin Hornyakowych, widow of Janós Horniak, 60 years old, Katalin, widow of Janós Zechaar, 33 years old, Katalin, wife of Martinus Cherny, 20 years old, Anna, wife of Janós Frastaczky, 62 years old, Dorottya Semkowa, wife of Martinus Sanko, 70 years old, Susanna, wife of Martinus Zwolyenzky, 32 years old, Katalin Korchochka, widow of Georgius Korchok, 40 years old, Orsolya, wife of Adam Nowottnyk, 44 years old, Susanna Krannarowych, wife of Janós Sankowych, 40 years old, all residing in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; they all said the same as Katalin Hornyakowych as well as the immediately-preceding witness; Katalin Hornyakowych, however, said the same as Lady Katalin, wife of Janós Kun, the 117
^th
witness, regarding the girl who was treated in Újhely.

The 214
^th
, 215
^th
, 216
^th
, 217
^th
, 218
^th
, 219
^th
, 220
^th
, 221
^st
, 222
^nd
, and 223
^rd
witnesses were the honest women Soffia Hlawatha, wife of Nicolaus Hlawatha, 42 years old, Anna Klwkowa, widow of Janós Klwka, 45 years old, Margareta, wife of Martinus Barbel, 40 years old, Margareta Gonyowych, wife of Martinus Gonyowych, about 50 years old, Marta, wife of Felix Sedyk, 38 years old, Katalin, wife of Janós Wokhath, 40 years old, Dorottya, wife of Adamus Voykowych, 50 years old, Anna Hlawatha, wife of Andreas Hlawatha, 40 years old, Katalin, wife of Georgius Horywasakowych, 28 years old, Anna, wife of Adamus Korbel, 40 years old, all living in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; regarding the content of the questions posed, they all said that they knew of it only from hearsay.

The 224
^th
witness was the honorable Paulus Sankowych, living in the town of Beckov, sworn and interrogated; he said that he knew well that the daughter of Benedictus Barbel was killed by the Lady Widow Nádasdy in her
Gynaecaeum
; regarding the other questions posed, he knew only from hearsay.

These witness interrogations and demonstrations testify to the truth, and we declare that we have faithfully undertaken our duty as the Notary of Record with these, our letters, under our judicial seal in the service of general justice.

Given in Bratislava on the 3rd weekday after the Feast of the Holy Apostle Jacobus, in the year 1611 (28 July 1611).

Reviewed and completely corrected by me,

Master András of Keresztúr

Royal Notary of Record

By My Own Hand

REPORT OF MÓZES CZIRÁKY

(12 WITNESSES)

DECEMBER 14, 1611

After he was in receipt of this order, the master notary of record reported in faithful and appropriate fulfillment of his obligation in this way, as it appears from the testimony below, in compliance with the Royal Majesty and the Holy Kingdom, having dutifully been made to ensure that in this case those above-mentioned witnesses speak to our Majesty of what they have experienced, heard, and may possibly know regarding the guilty so that all may recognize how everything has been taken down and, thus, the truth and certainty in all ways be fully satisfied.

The first witness, the honorable Mrs. Erzsébet Reta, widow of Janós Siido, residing in Sárvár outside the castle, some 36 years old, was sworn and interrogated, and said that she knew nothing, except that Mrs. Erzsébet Báthory herself personally beat the girl named Kata Berényi, the girl called Szabattkay and the daughter of Mrs. Draskóczy, of which she (the witness) knows with certainty that their noses, lips and fingers were pierced with needles, and she (the Lady) beat and whipped them for so long that they departed from this world. She heated the pliers and likewise the fire iron glowing hot, and burned them on the stomach. As for what the others saw, she (the witness) knows nothing about it, except that from the Lady’s court came plenty of very bad news of her many atrocities.

The second witness, the honorable Mrs. Susanne, wife of Janós Eötvös of Csejthe, residing in the above-mentioned city of Sárvár, some 25 years old, was sworn and interrogated. She said: She knows well that the younger daughter of Gábor Sittkey died from the many beatings of Lady Erzsébet Báthory, but she does not remember the first name of the girl because at court she was always called Lady Sittkey.

The third witness, the noblewoman Helena, married first to Janós Zalay, and then to the noble Paul Gerczej, residing in the said town of Sárvár, about 45 years old, was sworn and interrogated, and said: She knows that Kata Fekete died in chains at Keresztúr; she has also seen Erzsébet Báthory torture and beat the girls, and that she scorched their hands with a burning iron when the frills were not done well. She has seen her (the Lady) wash the girls with nettles, and she also saw how she stuck pins into their shoulders and flogged the girls on their breasts; regarding the young girl from Bratislava named Modl, she knows that Mrs. Báthory flogged and held her in chains.

The fourth witness, Ambrosius Borbély, residing in the aforementioned city of Sárvár, about 35 years old, was sworn and interrogated and said: E. Báthory frequently called him to court with paving/plastering requests, but he does not know what for. About the rest, he does not know anything exactly, because he never entered her house.

The fifth witness, the magnanimous Lady Anna Zelesthey, widow of the honorable Janós Zelesthey from Mihalifalva, residing in the area of the above-named market town, about 54 years old, was sworn and interrogated, and said that her own daughter, Zsuzska, was given at the court of Mrs. E. Báthory, from which she can say with certainty and also what she was told by certain people that, namely, E. Báthory beat, tortured, and tormented Zsuzska with blows for so long that her flesh fell from the bones, which is why she had to suffer death. She has also heard from many that, from the beginning, E. Báthory killed several hundred girls with the same kind of cruelty; she, however, did not see it, because she never went to the court, but has only heard from others.

The sixth witness, the honorable Benedikt Deseö, residing outside of Castle Keresztúr, 50 years old, was interrogated under oath and said: Even though he had worked as E. Bathory's Court Master in the past, when he entered her house he indeed saw some monstrous deeds with his own eyes; some he had only heard about from others, and it would be an impossible thing to count every single evil deed on the Mistress’ shameful list, because there was enough to fill an ocean. Among other things, the following shameful deeds were clearly seen by him with his own eyes: that the mistress took a shoemaker's daughter named Ilonka, stripped her naked and, in this way, cruelly tormented her by taking a knife and, beginning with the fingers, shoving the knife into both arms; thereafter, she flogged the girl, and then held a burning candle to her hands until they were burned and singed, torturing her until she put an end to her life. He has also seen with his own eyes that a girl, her name no longer known to him, had her lips pierced on two sides with needles, thus fastening her mouth shut; when she moved her tongue between her lips to let it extend out, the tongue was also perforated with a needle. So the poor girl had to suffer. The witness has seen countless cases in which girls were made to stand naked before Lady Báthory as she beat them, many times beating them on the hands and nails so long that they became swollen and infected, and then she forced them to sew, commanding them, "Sew, you whore!" And if the poor girl with her broken hand could not sew because she was in such a pitiful condition, it led Lady E. Bathory to complain in front of her attendants: "What a useless, spoiled whore she is. She can’t even sew!" And then she began to stick the girl with the needle from her arm up to her shoulder, thereafter whipping, flogging and tormenting her. She withheld water from many of them until they became very thirsty. When she eventually and finally (on my honor!) brought them water, each one standing naked before her, even better it was that the hand was held underneath and then used to drink from it. The witness also heard from others that the wide fire iron was heated and the girls’ two arms burned to smoke and ash. Yes, we are also told that the smaller, round fire iron was also heated until very hot and (on my honor!), shoved into their vaginas. As to the following, he also knows this with certainty that the noble lady brought in two girls from Regede. Once, on one occasion, while traveling in the direction of Bratislava, Ferenc Zemptey gave Lady E. Báthory two potato
pogácsa
(
Pogatsche
in German; a type of sweet appetizer) to take along. The mistress gave these to the German girl to hold. The girl ate one and could therefore no longer present it. As a result, the mistress heated the other until it was very hot, and then shoved it, nearly flaming, into the girl’s mouth. She subjected these two girls to all sorts of different torments until they finally breathed their last. Regarding one young lady named Modl, the lady herself used a knife to cut into the raw hindquarters of a giant piece of meat and gave it to the poor woman to eat. After much suffering, she finally died at Sárvár. When the parliament meeting was held in Bratislava, she tormented a girl so long that she finally died in Cseplez. Last year, on St. Luke’s Day in Csejthe, a laundry woman named Ilona buried the corpse of a girl next to the latrine; later, the dogs dug it up, as many saw with their own eyes, dragging around parts of it. Those women knew of her many heinous misdeeds, such as the laundry woman and the others that she knew, and could probably be very accurate if they wanted to tell the truth. Also, particularly those who were tortured and executed at Bitcá; they were able to report many atrocities. Jakob Zylvasy, Mátyás Nagy and Gergely Páztory also know something about it. The Lord God could enumerate as to how many innocent people’s death she was to blame. We, the staff, said this witness, warned and asked her, by God's will, not to commit such huge atrocities and to stop, because she certainly would be arrested. She replied that she was not afraid because she had two good advisors in Transdanubia ae well as on this side of the Danube. And also, so she said, a noble could not be arrested without a judicial subpoena. Finally, we wanted to leave her service, but the Lord Megyeri asked us not to leave until the mistress went to Csejthe. As soon as we went to Csejthe, she would then be arrested.