Benno Butendick

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Geographic Coordinates: 54° 29' 33.00" N, 8° 52' 37.00" E

(See also Nr. 266, p. 196 in “Sagen, Märchen und Lieder der Herzogthümer Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg”)

In the previous (16th) century, a man named Benno lived in Nordstrand. He was rich in money, cattle, and land. But he had obtained his wealth in dishonorable ways. He lent poor farmers a few thalers, and in exchange they had to pledge their fields as security in case they did not repay him in time. And when they did not manage to do so at the agreed-upon time, the rich man brazenly took their possessions. He cheated minors and orphans, and twisted wills, but in particular he robbed churches and schools of their lands and incomes. Since he was widely respected due to his wealth, and was powerful and feared due to his many connections among the farmers, none of the people he cheated ever dared to defy him.

Eventually, this man died suddenly, and was interred with much splendor in a walled crypt within the church. The next night, the sacristan and the neighbors suddenly heard a great noise within the church, and thus all emerged from their beds and houses. The next morning, the pastor and his colleagues, the sacristans and others working in the name of Christ, opened the church. With dread, they beheld that the grave of this rich man had been opened and was empty. Soon afterwards, the Devil appeared in the shape of Benno. He looked at the people with a wild gaze, and spoke: “I live in this corpse. It is my property. Divine justice orders me to appear in the shape of this damned man for three hours at night, and three hours during the day. Thus, begone from here — or you will suffer for it!” The pastor and his associates replied to him that he should leave the corpse and refrain from disturbing the temple of God. But the Devil started to laugh loudly, and said: “You can do nothing to me!”

For several weeks, the corpse was thus not consumed by the worms, but remained preserved and lively. Indeed, Satan wore it even in the bright midday sun — to the terror of the entire region. Thus, the preachers were summoned, prayers were ordered in all churches of the island, and, at 11 o’clock, they bravely confronted the Devil, who was already roaming around at this time. However, he ignored the devout admonishments and prayers for an hour. Finally, the youngest of the present pastors started to press the Devil strongly and with hard words. Then the latter acknowledged himself to be overcome, and shouted in Frisian: “Listen, listen! I will have to go, and you will accomplish this!” And the pastor successfully drove the evil spirit down into Hell by throwing Bibles at the infernal body. But the corpse was buried by the executioner of Husum in the muds beyond the fields of the island. And a long, vividly colored pole was thrust through the center of the body.

Soon after, a poor farmer arrived. Perhaps he lacked firewood, as the entire land was without forests, or perhaps he was ignorant of this entire incident. For whatever reason, he started to pull out the pole with his strong arms. Then the Devil immediately shouted: “Aah, aah, a little more!” When the farmer heard this, he pushed the pole into the depths again with all force, which caused the Devil to shout: “A rogue, whoever is pushing this down!” The pole remained standing there for many years, and was only ripped away at the start of this (i.e. the 17th) century by a flood.

A grandson of this unholy man was Benno (I shall omit his family name), who was a councilman in Husum. He was an honest and friendly man. But the rabble did not let him and his children escape from taunts, and they frequently had to hear the mocking phrase “Benneke Büttendick”.

(From the “historiolis” of Matz Paisen.)

Source: Jahrbücher für die Landeskunde der Herzogthümer Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg Band IV, p. 153f