A notable and prodigious history of a maiden, who for sundry yeeres neither eateth, drinketh, nor sleepeth, neither avoideth any excrements, and yet liveth.  
❧ A matter sufficiently opened and averred, by the proceedings, examinations, and diligent informations thereof, taken ex officio by the Magistrate. And since by the order of the said Magistrate Printed and published in high Dutch, and after in French, and now lastly translated into English. 1589.  
 printer's device for John Charlewood? NOSCE TE IPSUM NE QVID NIMIS LOVE AND live  
AT LONDON, ❧ Printed by John wolf. Anno. M.D.LXXXIX.   

An exact information and declaration of a true history, importing: howe a maiden of the town of Schmidweiler,( situate in the jurisdiction of Colberberg, the domains and Lordship of the most noble Prince, the L. Duke John Casimir, county Palatine of Rhin, Tutor and administrator of the Palatine Electorate) did neither eat or drink any thing in seven yeres, & yet hath by Gods grace in wonderful manner been preserved alive.  
WHereas by the commandment of the most noble Prince, my lord Duke John Casimir, county Palatin of Rhin, Tutor and administrator of the Palatine Electorate, Duke of bavier. Conrad Colb of Wartemberg Esquire, governor for his highnes at Caiserlauter, Adrian Lollemanne, superintendant of the same place, henry Smith, and John james Theodore, Doctors in physic, were deputed and sent to see and visit the daughter of coun the Cooper of Schmidweiler, a Village situate within the jurisdiction of Colberberg, our said Lords domains and Lordship, who is called Katerin, and is said not to haue eaten, drunk, or voided any thing out of her body for these seven yeeres: to the end also, exactly, narrowly and truly to inquire out the whole estate and matter of the said Maiden. In performance whereof, the said Commissioners met at the said place of Schmidweiler, vpon Tuesday the 24. of november, 1584. and there made enquiry in manner as ensueth.  
First, after the arrival of the said Commissioners at Colberberg toward evening the 23. of november, they sent for the said coun the Cooper, father of the said Maiden, and him admonished, summoned, and adjured, by his oath & duty due unto his Lord, freely to show, and openly to confess, vpon every point and Article that should be unto him propounded, whatsoever he might haue truly seen and known concerning his daughter, and how her whole case had fully passed sense the beginning unto that time, and not to hid or dissemble any thing. Whereupon he answered distinctly as followeth.  
1 First that his name is coun Cooper, born at Spisheim, and his wives Katerin, born at Valdemor.  
2 That in the year 1552. they went to the Church & were married at Duntzweiler. Since which time they haue remained under my said L. the most noble Prince John Casimir, in the village of Schmidweiler, in the jurisdiction of Colberberg, and are both iusticiable and natural subiects to my said Lord.  
3 That during their marriage they haue had five children of whom the said Katerin the youngest is about 27. yeeres of age.  
4 That her mother went her full time, & never had mischance or fright while the child was in her womb, but was safely delivered. That the child came into the world in good & perfect health, both faire and lusty, and that herself nursed it.  
5 That the child had no great sickness before it was about ten yeres old, & then it had the shingles, which held it about 4. weeks, and being recovered for a time continued well & lusty, and eat and drank, & in time convenient had her menstrual purgations.  
6 That the said Katerin was at Eniedt at a marriage, the space of two daies, and at her coming home had an ague the took her with a shaking. Hereupon she lost al pleasure & appetite to warm meats for the space of 5. yeres, but eat could meat. Neither could she drink any wine, but water only, yet lived in good health, though not without the wonder of her parents. All the said time she was likewise obedient to her father & mother, and prayed diligently to God, learned her catechism, and willingly frequented Sermons, and gave ear to reasoning in Gods word, that withal she would cheerfully labour until the time of her weakness & infirmity.  
7 That for her recovery of a taste of warm meats, her Parents beside their household physic, asked counsel of an vnlerned physician of Caiserlauter, called Scher Otteln, son to the deceased Hebamm, who undertook to help her, and return her to a taste of warm meats: and thereupon gave her a potion which wrought her much trouble, so as she became so weak that she lost al appetite both from warm meat and could: and since that time, which is about 7. yeres, there could neither meat or drink go down her throat, saving that about sire monthes after she sucked the juice of certain apples or pears. Also her parents being minded to seek remedy & ask counsel again, she requested them not to do it, but to commend the whole matter to God, who was able to deliver her from this cross, which it pleased him according to to his blessed will to sand her.  
8 She hath no true & natural sleep as other persons, and in the night she hath sundry fancies. Since she could not use the juice of apples & pears, she hath washed her mouth with Aqua vitae only, but never could swallow the least drop therof: only by this washing she hath gathered some strength. Also the said Aqua vitae is now too sharp, and therefore shée can not use it alone, but taketh fresh water mingled therewith, somewhat to ease and refresh herself.  
9 That her said father, since she lay without eating, as yet she doth, could never perceive any euarcuation of her belly, or any urine or sweat that cometh from her: nor see any vermin in her head or else where, but stil findeth both her bed & body clean, and voided of any filthiness, except that sometimes she seemeth to haue some distillation of the brain, and spiteth, but very little. Also sometimes under one of her sides there riseth somewhat that passeth to her hart, and procureth her pain especially in the head, this happeneth when the wether is not clear, & maketh her so weak, that she looseth al her strength, but it continueth not long.  
10 She can brook the sight and smell of meats, but hath no desire to use any. She hath also diuers doings, whereupon they rub her nose, temples, breast, and pulses with certain virtuous waters, whereby she receiveth her strength. Héere he ended his deposition.  
Secondly Katerin the Maids mother was examined severally vpon the said Articles, whose deposition agreeth, as before.  
Thirdly for the farther, inquisition of the truth were adjourned, called & examined al the said princes subiects, inhabitants of the said Schmidweiler, with their wives, that often visited the said Maid, admonishing them of their duties & fidelity wherein they stand bound to their lord, but specially the women, that upon their faith & honor they should testify the truth, & not to conceal or dissemble any thing that they had heard or seen, also whither they were not of opinion, that in this action there were some secret deceit. Who al jointly & severally both men & women, said and declared that they knew no more then they had learned and heard of her parents, all which is found to agree with her said fathers deposition in every point, as above is mentioned.  
Onely steven conrad, one of the Magistrates of the said Schmidweiler, saith, that he hath heard and seen the Maids father and mother, sometimes buy sugar and such drugs, but whereabout they used it or howe he knoweth not, or whether it were for the said maid. He farther saith, that the said Father and Mother onely tend the said Maiden, and take her up and lay her down, never suffering their Maiden, or any of the family to help them at all, and this is all that he could say.  
The names of those that were heard & examined.  
steven Conrad of Schmidweiler, an officer of the Lawe and Gets his Wife. Molter John and Margaret his wife. John the tailor. John conrad a Smith, and Magdalein his wife. Enichen a shepherds wife, all inhabitants of Schmidweiler.  
Fourthly, the physicians visited the said Katerin, & found her in every point as ensueth, according to the marks and tokens, and her shape and speech.  
First her face is faire and sound, of good couller, full of life and good disposition, her eyes clear, quick and well sighted as any whole bodies, except that they be a little sunk into her head, and that sometimes there arriseth a swelling under them which continueth not long, neither is there any impediment in her smelling, hearing or taste, as they say and testify. Her speech likewise is faire, gracious, decent, clear, significant and intelligible: onely her mouth is shronke up so close by reason of her cheeks that are very sore( as herself  told us) that she can scarce put in her little finger, albeit there appear no apparent or gross swelling. But when she is up, she cannot of herself hold up her head, or keep it upright by reason of swimmings of the head. Her hair is all fallen, but beginneth to grow again, and shee never felt any vermin therein. During this her infirmity or weakness, for three yeeres shee loft almost her hearing and understanding, but vpon Thursday before Easter 1583. shee recovered her speech and understanding very well, yea much better then she had them in her health time, and that after this strange and wonderful manner ensuing. viz. While her Father the same time, as a man of occupation was making of planks in the forest, and her Mother was gone to him, so that there was no body in the house, but that all the doors were shut: there came a man into the stooue in Ministers apparel, and drawing near the bed, lifted her up under the left elbow, & walking up and down with her, began to question with her whither shée could pray well, whereat she was somewhat amazed, because she could make him no answer, for she was yet dumb. Then he began to pray unto her( as shee termeth it) Gods ten commandments after the Lutherans manner, and then after such sort as her Minister and Pastor had taught her them, together with the Articles of the faith, the lords prayer, and the institution of baptism and the Lords supper, repeating all the premises unto her, with an exhortation to patience, consolation and assurance that she should shortly receive her speech, and so he departed suddenly from her: and that after that her speech returned immediately, so as she talked sensibly to her mother at her return home, whereat her said mother was marvelously abashed, and as it were afraid, as also was her father at his coming in. Since which time shee never had impediment in her speech or understanding.  
2 Concerning her breast or stomach, her breath is sweet and of good savour, her pouls in both arms and feet natural, in good order, proportionable and equal, but outwardly both before and behind her two shoulders, above and beneath shee is somewhat weary and tired. Her breasts are more long, soft and hanging then Maidens use to be. Sometimes she feeleth pain one both sides under her short ribs, which slideth and bendeth toward the pit of her stomach, & maketh her so weak and faint, that she can scarce draw her breath, and sometimes she seemeth as her wind should utterly fail her, which pain nevertheless weareth soon away by reason of applying or chafing her with virtuous and sweet waters, and if any touch the pit of her stomach, it putteth her to pain.  
3 As for her womb, it is somewhat fallen as a void & empty body, and yet is outwardly reasonable plump, fleshy and fat, as also she is about the hips and the nether part of her chine. She is not troubled with any wind or colic, or any other prickinges within her, as hickets or other troubles of the stomach. Farther albeit oftentimes without constraint of need and necessity, shée hath strained herself to take & swallow any thing, yet can shée not do it, nevertheless she can well abide the sight and savour of meat, and suffer them to eat and drink by her, howheit sometimes more then other, for her throat was & yet is, as if it were close & stopped up, neither hath she any stools, urine, or menstruall purgations, as before her sickness for a while shee had very perfectly and in good order, but do now utterly fail her. Likewise she never thirsteth, yet sometimes shee taketh a little fresh water & Aqua vitae mingled together to wash her mouth withall, but spiteth it strait out again. This she used to do with Aqua vitae alone before, but now she can not abide it, as being over sharp & strong in her mouth, which is waxed over tender and delicate, so that she doth it but to refresh her head and hart.  
4 Concerning her arms and legs, her arms are sound and fleshy, especially the left, which is very active, and in every respect without default, but her right arm is numbe from the elbow to her fingers ends, so as her hand is become crooked, & her fingers stiff that she can not stir them. She can do somewhat with her right arm near the shoulder, yet can she not lift it to her head, or from one side to another without help. Her legs are meetly full & fleshic, but so crooked that she can not stretch them forth, yet can she somewhat move her feet & her toes. Her arm is so benumbed and her legs crooked since within these three years that she hath lain and eaten nothing. Throughout her whole body, she hath a temperat and kindly heat. The nails both of her feet and hands are well formed, somewhat long, in good state and disposition, as beseemeth a whole body.  
Now in as much as throughout this search and inquest, yea a very diligent inquisition, as exactly taken as might bee, there doth not appear any certain 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 slight or deceit she be fed with natural meat & drink: all and every the said Commissioners haue thought it good and expedient for the discovery of all truth to employ this farthar charge. viz. That the Maid be tended by four wise & skilful women meet for such matter, who for the same purpose shalbe chosen, and sent to the said place of Schmidweiler, there by turns to keep and watch her, two by day, & two by night, for the space of 14. daies with all diligence, to see that she haue neither meat nor drink administered unto her by any person, father, mother, or whosoever, likewise that the bed whereon she now lieth be changed & an other brought in the place, as also that throughout the whole stooue, there be diligent search, and the rather for occasions following.  
First, because out of the Maids own mouth it hath been heard, that not only there come unto her both Iesuites, Nuns and some Lay persons of the bishopric of Treues, which use sundry speeches with her, yea even rare revelations & prophesies from her, but because there haue been Letters found about her, written as it were to a holy virgin, whereby it appeareth they would make her a very idol, yea and in the end form and practise some pilgrimage unto 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 steven Conrad of Schmidweiler, in his deposition toucheth some doubt, and yet can testify nothing certain or assured, whether there be any deceit or fraud 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 aforesaid, esspecially for the eschewing of all idolatry, as also to cut off all means and occasion of villainous backbiting from enemies and aduersaries, of this good advice & deliberation of the said Commissioners, who without delay took in hand this search & exact observation before the said Maid were any further circumvented, or wrought for her faith, whereof shee made declaration to the said Commissioners, namely, that she will & purposeth constantly to persevere in the ten Commandements, and all the doctrine she hath learned of her Pastor, as also she gave the superintendant at his going forth, whom she desired speedily to return again, as also to haue her in remembrance in every his prayer at his ordinary preachings, likewise that he might help to pray to God for her, that he would vouchsafe to maintain and keep her in this knowledge and constant confession of faith.  
Howbeit this affair dependeth upon my said most noble Lords pleasure, and resteth in his hand and power. &c. And the said Commissioners do most humbly héereuppon attend more ample commandement and answer. given, the day, time, and place above mentioned, in the presence of Ma. Godfrey Tabor, Pastor of the Church of Colberberg. Nicholas Hoche, provost Iustice in the same place, and james Schicab, lieutenant Chatelain of Caiserlauter. Also the said Commissioners haue subscribed it with their own hands.  
Conrad Colb of Wartemberg Esquire, governor of Caiserlauter. Adrian Lollemanne. Henry Smith, doctor of physic. John james Theodore, D. of physic.   

¶ To our Maisters, the worthy, noble, honourable, & most learned governor of Noustatt, lieutenant to the most noble Prince, our Lord, and to the Counsellors of the said Court, our gracious and gentle superiors, and our good friends.  
Right virtuous, noble, honourable, and learned governor and counsellors, our favourable superiors, lords and good friends, we present unto you first, out cheerful, speedy, and ready service.  
ACcording to the commandement and commission, proceeding from your generosity and worthiness, bearing date the 24. of December 1584. unto us directed, concerning the Maids case of the village of Schmidweiler, when haue every way made diligent inquisition after four honourable women, but a good while could find none that would meddle in such a matter, until at the last we had induced and persuaded Anne burning, the widow of the late Andrew Zils of this town, otherwise called the old Carpentresse. Anastazia, the widow of the late of good memory John Eberhard, in his life time Pastor of Walhaben. Agnes the wife of the now Pastor of Steinwarden, and Margaret the widow of the deceased John Gauffen, in his life time burgess of this town, and the same furnished with power and authority in such a case requisite. having instructed and informed thē of their duties, according to the tenor of the advice first sent to our Lord, and having sworn all the four, wee caused them the 16. of Ianuarie last, to be convyed to Schmidweiler, with Ma. Lolleman the superintendant, where they remained about the said Maid until the 30. of the same Month, and vpon their return hither, the next day they reported unto us at large, what they had learned, found and fried concerning her, as followeth.  
When the superintendant with the foresaid women, arrived late at Colberberg, the 16. of january, they would not trouble the said Maiden that night, but the next day, viz. the 17. they went by waggon to Schmidweiler, & came first to her father & mother, giuing them to understand that by the governors commandment they came with charge & commission to keep their daughter one fortnight, and that it was done only to stop the mouths of such as every where spake badly of her, yea and of their most merciful Lord and prince, because his highnes giveth credite to their daughters speeches, namely, the in so long time shee neither eat nor drank, fully persuading himself that she useth not those speeches vpon any lying or fraud, as also to the end that once the whole truth may be known. Where to her parents did willingly consent: and lovingly receiving them, brought them into the Maids chamber, where the said M. Adrian used the same speeches to the maid, as before to her father & mother, concerning the cause of their coming. hereupon she began to inquire why they should now begin so much to molest & trouble her, but most she grieved that her father and mother might not nightlie lye in her Chamber, whereupon she wept sore. But when M. Lolleman was gone, Anne burning spake her so fair, that she willingly granted them, not onely to carry out her father and Mothers bed, but also to search her own, and to carry it away & make her another in another place of the st●ue, so as her parents could not by night lye in her Chamber, and whensoever they came into the Chamber, yet durst they not come near their daughter, or haue any secret speech with her.  
Now during the said fortnight, they did at full declare and rehearse to the said women how her weakness began, & how long she had continued without eating and drinking, which doth wholly agree with the first report made to the Commissioners. The said woman also found her to be sometime weaker then othersome, and stil two of them watched with her by day, & two by night. Also for further trial of the truth, one of the four nightly lay in bed with her, that no deceit might bee used, which they diligently prevented, and watched carefully night and day, and yet can there be nothing found, but all agreeth with that which before she said of herself in truth assured. moreover, the said four women, especially Anne burning, haue confessed before us, and sollemnly affirmed, that they do take it vpon the salvation of their loules, and will die thereupon, that the said Maiden neither eat nor drank one morsel or drop, neither took any comfitures. Likewise that she voided no urine neither any other excrements out of her, much less that she stepped any whit. Also that whosoever calleth this Maidens case into doubt, doth her injury & great wrong, and the rather, because her Parents do freely offer, & are ready to suffer their said daughter to be transported into any other place, which it may please our most merciful Lord and Prince to name and appoint, so that shee may onely endure the carriage.  
Besides, the said women reported unto us, that at the taking of their leave of the said maid, she heartily besought & requested them in her name, most humbly to beseech our most courteous princess to give her some good bed, also to impart unto her of her virtuous and corroborating waters, because she hath heretofore manifestly perceived and tried that shee hath sound ease in the said waters, albeit she could not recover her health.  
Of all which things, according to our dueties and humble service, we do by this our present report certify your generosity and worthiness: withall, commending you unto almighty God, to whose good favour we heartily desire to be commended.  
From Caiserlauter the 19. of february. 1585. Of your generosity and worthiness, the most ready and affectionate servitors, Conrad Colbe of Wartemberge Esquire. John Zann, notary provincial.   

THe Readers are to be advertised, that the said Katerin yet liveth in like disposition & state as this report doth import, and hath thus continued without eating, drinking, or sleeping, the space of nine whole years complete, and yet miraculoussie liveth through the singular, pure, and incomprehensible grace of almighty GOD.  
FINIS.