SCENE 2. The throne room.

KING LUDWIG sits on the throne.

Ballard: Under the law of Hesse, all death sentences were automatically appealed.

Roland: But three months later, the Hesse Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence.

Glenna: Dame Gothel's only hope now lay with royal clemency.

Ballard: King Ludwig did issue a stay of execution, which left Dame Gothel with some reason to believe he might be merciful.

Enter attendant.

Attendant: Jürgen Wirtner is here to see your majesty with a petition.

King Lud.:Show him in.

Exit attendant. Enter WIRTNER with a petition.

Wirtner: [reading] "To His Majesty the King.

The humble petition of Dame Gothel

Most respectfully showeth,

That your Majesty's unfortunate petitioner was convicted at the 3rd sessions of the 1st Judicial District Landgericht on November 24, 1335, of the crimes of witchcraft, abduction of a minor, unlawful imprisonment, causing bodily harm, threatening the commission of a felony, endangering the welfare of a child, high treason, and causing grievous bodily harm, and received sentence of death accordingly: yet, she hopes, from your Majesty's humanity, as there are several circumstances in her favor, to partake of that royal clemency, which delights in bringing blessings to the afflicted.

As it appeared upon her trial that the evidence was contradictory, your petitioner humbly hopes to obtain that indulgent consideration, which she has no doubt but your Majesty's humane disposition will deem her unhappy case deserving of, that, through the benevolence of your Majesty, she may live to become an example to others, and a grateful monument of royal clemency.

And your majesty's humble petitioner,

As in duty bound will ever pray."

King Lud.: [angrily] Give me that! [grabs the petition and rips it to shreds, then hands the shreds back to WIRTNER] Take this back to Dame Gothel and tell her that's what I think – [regaining his composure] that is what we think of her humble petition.

SCENE 3. The throne room.

KING LUDWIG sits on the throne.

Ballard: So Dame Gothel's last hopes that her life would be spared were dashed. However there was still the possibility that her sentence might be commuted from burning to something less agonizing.

Roland: Thus it was that the next day, Wirtner bravely sought another audience with the king.

Enter WIRTNER with a petition.

Wirtner: [reading] "To the King's most Excellent Majesty

The Humble Petition of Dame Gothel

Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner lieth under a Sentence of Death for witchcraft, abduction of a minor, unlawful imprisonment, causing bodily harm, threatening the commission of a felony, endangering the welfare of a child, high treason, and causing grievous bodily harm; and is sentenced to be burnt on Thursday next.

That she is the Daughter of Herr Wendelin of Gleimenhain, descended of an ancient and honorable Family and related to several of the best Families of the Nobility of this Kingdom.

Wherefore your Petitioner humbly begs your Majesty, that Execution may be altered from Burning to Beheading, and may be respited for four Days:

And your Petitioner shall pray for and am your Majesty's most Obedient Humble Servant at Command."

King Lud.: Mr. Wirtner, we are sorry for our outburst yesterday. However, we reject this petition as well for the following reasons. First and foremost, there is the fact that her offense was committed against the Crown Prince. We say this, not because His Royal Highness is the heir apparent, but because he is my only son, whom I dearly love. If Dame Gothel's offense had been against our own royal person, we would probably show clemency, especially given what you said in the petition about how she is of noble birth, and also because of her age. But she shouldn't have blinded my only son. I take my children's safety very seriously. No one harms them and expects to live. She cannot reason with me. She cannot bribe, she cannot beg. She harmed my son and now she is going to pay the price, and no power on earth will make us show clemency. Secondly, she has shown no remorse. On account of all of these things, we are determined she shall burn in this world as surely as she shall burn in the next.