When this was rumored abroad the next day, all the people exclaimed,
"The Queen is a murderess; she must be condemned;" and the King could
not this time repulse his councillors. Thereupon a trial was held, and
since the Queen could make no good answer or defence, she was condemned
to die upon a funeral pile. The wood was collected; she was bound to
the stake, and the fire was lighted all around her. Then the iron
pride of her heart began to soften, and she was moved to repentance;
and she thought, "Could I but now, before my death, confess that I
opened the door!" And her tongue was loosened, and she cried aloud,
"Thou good Angel, I confess." At these words the rain descended from
heaven and extinguished the fire; then a great light shone above, and
the Angel appeared and descended upon the earth, and by her side were
the Queen's two sons, one on her right hand and the other on her left,
and in her arms she bore the new-born babe. Then the Angel restored to
the Queen her three children, and loosening her tongue promised her
great happiness and said, "Whoeverwill repent and confess their sins,
they shall be forgiven.
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