The Virginia Gazette

We have from Vienna the following very ridiculous Story, That the Baroness of Czernatza, in Bohemia, having sown Sedition amongst her Husband's Vassals, and at length instigated them to assassinate him, he had been sentenced by the Imperial Courts in that Kingdom, to be beheaded; but when they come to prepare for Execution, they found her possessed with a Devil, and speaking a Language which none of the Priests could understand, for which reason they had suspended her Execution till some Body should be found out that could understand what she said, and till the evil Spirit could be exorcised. I do not at all wonder at the Priests refusing to behead a Devil.

But I can see no Reason for their making any Ceremony about beheading a Criminal, whose Language they do not understand; and therefore I think if they can but set the Devil free, so as not to injure him in the Person of his present Host's, they may allow the Law to have its due Course against so very heinous an Offender, tho' they do not understand the Gibberish they may be pleased to utter: But if her Punishment is to be deferred till her Devil be exorcised, and her Language understood, we may presume, that, while she has any Money to give to the Priest, her Devil will keep Possession, and her Language will remain a Mystery.