# XXVI: How He Was Imprisoned for a Traitor and Enchanter explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus > Chapter companion for The Adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. ## What happens Simplicissimus is discovered to be a man in women's clothing and is arrested by the Provost-general on suspicion of being a spy and a witch. He is put in irons and interrogated by the regimental sheriff, who accuses him of witchcraft based on confessions from burnt witches. Simplicissimus gives evasive answers, and the sheriff threatens torture. He is held for further examination by the Judge-Advocate-General, but is spared when events intervene. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Appearance Simplicissimus's disguise as a woman leads to his arrest and accusations of being a spy and witch. ### Folly and Wisdom Simplicissimus's foolish answers to the interrogation reflect his naive attempts to avoid revealing his true story. ### Fortune and Fate Simplicissimus narrowly escapes torture due to divine intervention, recalling the prophecies of his mentors. ## Character check-ins ### Simplicissimus Disguised as a woman, he is discovered, arrested, and interrogated as a suspected spy and witch. ### The Provost Marshal The Provost-general arrests Simplicissimus and orders him put in irons. ### Oliver The secretary Oliver pays for Simplicissimus's keep and informs him of the charges against him. ### Ulrich Herzbruder Mentioned as dead; Simplicissimus recalls his prophecy about the fool's coat. ### The Governor Mentioned as a former master of Simplicissimus. ## Key lines > As soon as it was day my master handed me over to the horseboys, even as both armies were striking their tents: these were a pack of rascals, and therefore was the baiting which I must endure the greater and more dreadful: for they hastened with me to a thicket the better to satisfy their bestial desires, as is the custom of these devils’ children when a woman is given over to them At dawn, my master gave me to the horseboys while both armies packed up. They were a wicked bunch, and they dragged me into a thicket to abuse me, as such cruel people do when they get hold of a woman. _Simplicissimus describes being handed over to abusive horseboys who intend to assault him, thinking he is a woman._ > But he briefly inquired of the matter, and whereas I hoped he would save me, on the contrary he arrested me, because it was a strange and suspicious thing for a man to be found in an army in women’s clothes. He asked what was happening, and though I hoped he would rescue me, he instead arrested me because it was suspicious for a man to be in an army wearing women's clothes. _The Provost-general arrests Simplicissimus instead of helping him._ > for they counted me not only for a spy, but also for one that could use witchcraft; for shortly after I left my colonel certain witches were burnt who confessed before their death that they had seen me at their General Assembly, when they met together to dry up the Elbe, that Magdeburg might be taken the sooner. They considered me not just a spy but also a witch, because soon after I left my colonel, some witches were burned who claimed they had seen me at their meeting where they plotted to dry up the Elbe to help capture Magdeburg. _Simplicissimus is accused of witchcraft based on the confessions of executed witches._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/xxvi-how-he-was-imprisoned-for-a-traitor-and-enchanter - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters