When he didn't want her, a stick or a charmer was used, in more serious cases the love stone helped. When he wanted her too much, an extract of wormwood, comfrey and anise, slightly sharpened with brandy, was slipped to the young man. The marriage recipes were simple at first glance and apparently very effective, judging by the punishments of those who secretly engaged in witchcraft alchemy. Even three hundred years ago, association with unclean forces and possession by the devil meant being sent to the stockade or sentenced to death by burning. This was exactly the fate that befell Magdalena, the parish cook, and Marta, the widow of a wigmaker. As witches, they were condemned to have their souls wander forever without consolation. Three hundred and thirteen years later, Magdalene and Martina's souls managed to "incarnate" into the bodies of two modern women.