weapons, and each spoke of the matter as he understood it. And thus
they died through the sword, as pious heroes, and became a sacrifice
unto the Lord, as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ, A. D. 1529.
While these seven brethren were still in prison, they together, each
giving his own mind, wrote and practiced the following, and sent it to
their brethren.
The first made the following prayer: “Out of the depths of my soul I
cry unto thee, O God; hear my cry. Send thy Holy Spirit, even as thou,
O Christ, hast until now not withdrawn, but graciously imparted him to
me. We rely on what thou hast commanded us; but the heathen seek to
kill us.” Ps. 130:1.
The second prayed: “The flesh is weak, O Lord; Thou well knowest that
it fears the least pain; hence, fill us with thy Holy Spirit, which we
entreat of thee from the bottom of our hearts; so that we may continue
steadfast unto the end, and cheerfully and valiantly enter upon the
suffering which now awaits us, and that we may fear no agony or pain.”
Matthew 26:41; 10:22.
The third prayed: The spirit is willing and ready to desire the
suffering. O Lord, hear our prayers, through Jesus Christ thy Son. We
also pray for our enemies, who, alas! are so ignorant, that they do
not know what they are doing, and are not mindful of thy wrath.” John
15:16; Matt. 5:44; Luke 23:34.
The fourth prayed: “We beseech thee, O Father, and dear Lord, through
Christ thy Son, increase thy little flock. Kindle in them and also in
us thy divine life, and our hearts will rejoice; for after this our
hearts do hunger and thirst.” Matt. 6:9; Luke 12:32; 2 Cor. 3:18; Matt.
5:6.
The fifth prayed: “O God, thou hast received us in grace, and made us
thy ministers. Through thy divine assistance we have also willingly
fullfilled thy ministry, in our weakness. Preserve us still further
firm in thy word; we desire to obey thee also henceforth; come to our
aid, and be our Comforter.” 1 Cor. 1:4.
The sixth prayed: “Thou Lord God art my Protector; we will cleave to
thee, and then pain will not seem severe to us; though they deprive us
of our life, thou hast prepared it for us forever in heaven, and though
here we suffer reproach and pain, it shall not be in vain.”
The seventh said: “The body, life, soul, and all members we have
received from thee, O God; these we will now offer up to thee, to the
praise of thy holy name. It is only dust and ashes. We commend our
spirits into thy hands. Amen.” Romans 12:1; Gen. I:7; Luke 23:46.
ANNA OF FREIBURG, A. D. 1529.
This Anna of Freiburg was zealous in the fear of the Lord and as she
believed in Christ, and was baptized upon faith in him, and thus sought
to arise with Christ; and walk in newness of life, the adversary could
not endure it; therefore Anna was envied, accused, apprehended by his
ministers, and after steadfastly suffering many torments, sentenced to
death, and drowned in the water, and afterwards burned with fire. This
happened at Freiburg, in the year 1529. When she was about to die, she
spoke the following prayer to God, and left these admonitions to all
descendants.
“Dear, Eternal, heavenly Father, I call upon thee, from the depths of
my heart; do not let me turn from thee, but keep me in thy truth unto
my end. O God, keep my heart and mouth; guard me, that I may never
separate from thee, on account of impending sorrow and anguish, or
any manner of distress; keep me cheerful and glad in my sufferings.
Eternal God, my dear Father instruct and teach me, thy poor, unworthy
child, that I may heed thy ways and paths. O Father, this is my sincere
desire, that through thy power I may press even unto death, through all
sorrows, sufferings, anguish and pain, and in this let me persevere, O
God, that I may not be separated from thy love. There are many who now
walk in this way; but the cup of suffering is given them to drink. We
are also accused of false doctrine, in order to draw us from Christ our
Lord. But O God, I lift up my soul unto thee and trust in thee in every
adversity; do not let me be confounded, lest my enemy exalt himself
over me in this earth. I am now imprisoned here by him, but, O God, I
sincerely wait for thee with great desire, until thou wilt awaken, and
deliver thy prisoners. O dear heavenly Father, make us prepared with
the five wise virgins (Matt. 25:2), that we may prudently wait for the
bridegroom with his heavenly hosts. O heavenly King, feed and refresh
us according to the spirit with thy heavenly meats, which never perish
but abide in life eternal; for if thou shouldest withdraw thy food from
us, all that we do, would with ourselves be in vain and perish. But,
through thy grace, we trust in thee, that we shall not fail. I do not
doubt in the least, the power of God; for his judgments are honored.
He will forsake no one who firmly holds to him in faith, and seeks to
walk in his true ways. Heb. 13:5; Matt. 7:14. O ye Christians, rejoice
(Phil. 3:1), and always be of good cheer in the Lord Jesus Christ; may
he increase love and faith in us. God comfort us by his holy word, in
which we may firmly trust. I commend myself to God and his church; may
he be my Protector to-day, for his holy name’s sake. O my Father, let
it be done through Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Thereupon she voluntarily submitted to death, and was drowned in the
water, as mentioned above.
DANIEL KOPF, WITH TWO BRETHREN AND FOUR SISTERS, A. D. 1529.
Daniel Kopf, a minister of the word, was apprehended with six other
persons, at Bairisch-Graitz, in Steyermark; he and two brethren were
sentenced to the sword, while the four sisters were drowned. They
testified with their body and life, that this is the true way (Matt.
7:14; John 14:6) to eternal life in Christ Jesus, and though the
executioner, fire, water and the sword sought to turn them away, they
would nevertheless adhere to it as long as breath remained in them. Of
this Daniel, writings are also extant in the church, concerning baptism
and other points; as well as four hymns composed by him.
FOUR BRETHREN AND FOUR SISTERS.
In the year 1529, four brethren, named Wolfgang of Mos, Thomas
Imwald of Aldein, George Frick of Wirzberg, and Mankager of Fuessen;
also four sisters, Christina Tolinger of Penon, a widow, Barbara of
Thiers, Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg, and her sister Elizabeth, were
apprehended in the Ful, in Elschland, and led up to the castle, where
they died on the sixteenth of November. Each was separately examined
concerning their faith in the following articles:
Brother Wolfgang of Mos confessed that on the Sunday after the feast
of our Lady, it was just one year that one Michael (who was afterwards
executed with fire for this matter, at Goffedaum, and testified to
the truth) presented and taught to me, Wolfgang, Martin von Neck, and
another, the Gospel and the word of the Lord, and then rebaptized all
three of us according to the command of God. Matt. 28:19. He further
said that he did not believe in infant baptism, that God the Lord had
said nothing of it, nor had Christ commanded it. Matthew 15:13; 28:20;
Mark 16:19. He also confessed that Christ is not bodily in the host,
when it is consecrated by the priest. Furthermore, he said: That he did
not believe in fast days, Sunday, and other feast days, otherwise than
in the manner spoken of in the New Testament.
Thomas Imwald of Aldein confessed that he had been baptized before
St. Ulric’s day, at Breitenberg by a teacher who had formerly been
a priest, but had forsaken his office as priest, and whose name was
George Blaurock, from Switzerland. Of the mass, also, he believed
that it is nothing but a human invention and institution, and not a
commandment of God. Concerning the sacrament he did not believe that
the priests, by their consecrating or blessing, could bring our Lord
God into the host, or change it; and he also showed them, that Christ
was to be received in the word, and that the bread is only a sign and
memorial. Neither does he believe in the confession as it is instituted
by the priests; as it is not used according to the command of God.
Again, to our Lady he assigns the position to which God has chosen her;
he believes that she was a virgin and the mother of our Redeemer. He
was furthermore asked whether if their number had become great, they
would not have attempted to bring some one’s country or people over to
their faith by force. He answered: “No, that they did not believe in
compelling any one to it; since God desired a willing and unconstrained
heart, and himself had constrained no one, but the Lord gave it into
their minds.”
George Frick of Wirzberg, a tailor, confessed that on last St. Gallus’
fair he was rebaptized by one Benedict, who belonged to their faith, at
Philip Kopfler’s, in the Ful. He also did not believe that the priests
could bring our Lord God into the host, or change him into bread, since
God had neither commanded nor instituted the mass, but the sacrament
was only a bread of remembrance. In confession he likewise did not
believe; for how can one forgive sins, who is himself a whoremonger and
idolater. 2 Pet. 2:19. Concerning our Lady he believed that God favored
her and that before and after the birth she was a virgin; for God is
able to do more than this. Again he would adhere to his God, and not
depart from this faith, but that the will of God should be done. Matt.
6:10.
Mankager of Fuessen, a journeyman shoemaker, confessed that in the
forepart of the summer, about St. James’ day, he was baptized, at
George Karniter’s of Kunen, by one George of Chur, in Switzerland, who
had been a priest, but had resigned said office, and was burned in the
summer, at Clausen. He did not believe in infant baptism, nor in the
mass; neither did he believe that our Lord God is in the sacrament. He
believed that Mary the mother of Christ, was a pure virgin; but the
idea of her intercession, as well as that of the saints, he rejected,
since Christ is the Mediator, between God and men. 1 Tim. 2:5. In the
auricular confession of the priests he did not believe at all. Again,
concerning Sunday he said, that God Almighty, in the beginning, in six
days, created the world, and rested on the seventh; hence the origin of
Sunday; there he would let it rest,--work was not prohibited, but we
should rest and fast from sin. He further declared that in the forenoon
the priests committed idolatry, and in the afternoon fornication, and
what he confessed with the mouth, he would testify to with his blood,
and would not depart from the faith, but firmly adhere to it unto his
end.
Christina Tolinger, of Penon, confessed that Brother George Blaurock
baptized in her house with the true Christian baptism. Concerning the
sacrament as used by the priests, she did not believe at all, that
they can bring our Lord God into the host or wafer; it is only bread,
and the performance of the priests is in every respect a deception. As
to whether infants were worthy of salvation without baptism, the Lord
said: “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14. The priests baptize
the infants, and have much unnecessary care while they are in their
infancy; but though they wash them from sin, they do not attempt to
draw them away from sin. Regarding our Lady she believed that she is
the mother of Christ and a pure virgin. Matt. 1:23. In confession as
used by the priests, she did not believe; if one confesses his sins,
and forsakes and desists from them, it is a true confession. Concerning
holidays and Sundays she said that in six days God the Lord created
the world, and rested the seventh day; and that the other holidays had
been instituted by popes, cardinals, and archbishops, and that she did
not believe in them. Since she lived in the world, she observed them
as others did, to avoid giving offense; however, none is condemned
for working. Again, the priests commit idolatry in the forenoon, and
fornication in the afternoon. With the help and grace of God she
intended to die in this her resolution.
Barbara of Thiers, wife of Hans Portzen confessed that about last St.
Michael’s day she was baptized with the true Christian baptism, at
Craum on the Moss, near Eintempichel, by a teacher of the word of God,
named Benedict. Again, she did not believe in the idolatrous sacrament
of the priests, nor in the mass; since the priests commit idolatry
in the forenoon, and fornication in the afternoon. In confession as
used by the priests, she did not believe. Concerning our Lady, she had
nothing to say. Regarding Sundays and holidays, she said that God the
Lord had commanded to rest the seventh day, and there she would let it
rest. With the help and grace of God she intended to adhere to this,
and to die therein, since it was the true faith and the right way in
Christ.
Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg confessed that next Christmas it would be
about a year since she was baptized, in Switzerland, in a place called
Auf der Tiefe, near St. Gall, by one Brother Topigh, a teacher of the
word of God. She did not believe in infant baptism, though they had
all been baptized. If children die in or before baptism, they die in
innocence, and are the Lord’s. She did not believe in the mass, since
Christ did not say to his disciples: “Go and read mass;” but: “Go, and
preach the Gospel.” Matt. 16:15. Concerning the sacrament she said that
since in the creed it is confessed that he (Christ) sitteth at the
right hand of his heavenly Father, whence he shall come to judge the
quick and the dead, she believed in no wise that he permitted himself
to be changed by the priests, into the host or bread. Regarding our
Lady she said that she believed that she brought forth Christ the
Lord, who alone has redeemed us, and that the Word of God became man
in her and suffered for us on the tree of the cross. John 1:14. As
regards holidays, she said that one day is not any holier than another,
and that Sunday was ordained for the purpose of assembling together,
preaching the Gospel, and speaking of it; but that it was abused
through drunkenness and other forms of wickedness. With the help and
grace of God she would steadfastly adhere to this her faith.
Elizabeth, sister of the aforementioned Agatha, confessed that in the
early part of the summer she was baptized at Breitenberg, by Brother
Blaurock, according to the command of the Lord Christ, in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the sacrament and mass
of the priests she did not believe, since it is not found that God
commanded it. Concerning our Lady she believed that she brought forth
Christ our Redeemer, and was a virgin; and that the saints had indeed
to enter [into the kingdom] through tribulation (Acts 14:22), like
we and others; but that they are intercessors, she did not believe;
since Christ has reserved to himself all power in heaven and earth. As
to holidays, she esteems none more highly than the rest, but that we
should always wait for the great day of the Lord, and rest from sin. To
this she would constantly adhere. Thereupon they were executed as those
who truly loved God (Luke 10:27), and as innocent sheep of the Lord;
and their names are written in heaven.
ANNA MALER, AND URSULA, A. D. 1529.
In the year 1529, two sisters, Anna Maler, and Ursula, were condemned
to death for the divine truth, and drowned in the water, at Hall,
in the valley of the Inn, and thus, though women, they were manful
and valiant in God, so that many were amazed at their steadfastness,
that thus in life and death they testified to the divine truth, as is
declared by those who knew them, and are still alive.
NINE BRETHREN, SEVERAL SISTERS, AND ANOTHER SISTER. A. D. 1529.
About the year 1529, the knowledge of the truth began to shine also
in the places on the river Rhine, so that divine zeal and the fire
of God arose, which the priests, by instigating the authorities,
strenuously attempted to stop. First nine brethren and several sisters
were apprehended for the faith, in the city of Altzey, without the
order of the Elector or Palsgrave, simply through the instigation of
the priests, and the aid of the nobility. They lay in prison for a
considerable time, and as they were waiting how to deal with them, the
Burgrave at Altzey inquired of the Palsgrave, his prince and lord,
what he should do with them. The prince answered him that they had a
court of justice at Altzey, and that he should let them examine and
judge them. The Burgrave did so, and brought them before the court of
justice, which, however, would not sentence them, because they had been
apprehended simply for the sake of their faith, and no other cause of
death existed. Acts 18:15,16. In the meantime an imperial diet was
held, at which the Palsgrave stated that he had some prisoners who
had been apprehended on account of their faith for Anabaptism; and
asked how he should deal with them. The matter was committed to the
four inquisitors, as they are called; whom, however, they referred
to the mandate of the Emperor, where they would sufficiently find
what imperial constitutions, institutions and ordinances were made
concerning such; according to which they should deal with them.
For the constitution clearly implies that each and all Anabaptists
and anabaptized, whether men or women, if possessing reason, and of
adult age, are to be executed with fire, the sword, or some other way
according to the character of the persons; and that wherever they were
found, they should be brought before the court, accused, and convicted,
and be judged or dealt with in no other way, on pain of severe
punishment.
Moreover, when they would not apostatize, the mandate was also read to
them; upon which without further sentence, they were led out to death,
by virtue of the imperial mandate. The brethren were executed with the
sword, but the sisters drowned in the horse pond. While they were yet
imprisoned, a sister came to them, and comforted the sisters (Matt.
25:39); she told them valiantly and firmly to adhere to the Lord, and
not to regard these sufferings, for the sake of the eternal joys which
should follow. 2 Cor. 1:5. When this was noticed she was also very
speedily apprehended. She was afterwards burned, because she had thus
comforted and strengthened the others.
TWO OTHER BRETHREN, AND TWO SISTERS, A. D. 1529.
Thus they meant to extinguish the light of the truth and the fire of
God; but it was kindled only the more. They then apprehended a man, a
woman, a man-servant and a maid-servant. Whoever embraced the faith,
and desired to separate from the ways, society and idolatry of the
world, was apprehended by them. In several places they filled all the
prisons with them, intending to deter them by fear; but they sang and
rejoiced in prison, so that their enemies who had cast them into prison
were more troubled and afraid than the prisoners. They knew not what to
do with them, especially since it was only on account of the faith.
ABOUT THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERSONS PUT TO DEATH FOR THE FAITH, NEAR
ALTZEY, PURSUANT TO THE IMPERIAL MANDATE, A. D. 1529.
The Palsgrave then, in pursuance with the imperial mandate, in a short
time, caused about three hundred and fifty persons to be executed for
the faith; especially his Burgrave at Altzey, namely Dietrich von
Schoenburg, caused many in the town of Altzey to be beheaded, drowned
and otherwise put to death; even as the lords who came to the church,
and at that time were residents in Altzey, saw themselves how they
were taken from the houses in which they were known to be, and led as
sheep to the place of execution. They could in no wise be persuaded
to apostatize, but went joyfully to meet death; while the others
were being drowned, and executed, the rest who were yet alive and
waited for death sang until the executioner took them. They were very
steadfast in the truth confessed, and, assured in the faith which they
had received from God, conducted themselves as valiant soldiers. Matt.
10:22. All the learned and great of this world were confounded by them.
1 Corinthians 1:25,26.
Some whom they did not wish to execute they tortured and maimed their
bodies; of some they cut off the fingers, others they burned crosses on
their foreheads, and subjected them to much wanton injury; so that even
the aforesaid Burgrave said: “What shall I do? the more I cause to be
executed, the more they increase.” Ex. 1:22.
This Burgrave Dietrich, who had shed much innocent blood, died a sudden
and terrible death, as he was rising from his table. _Chron. van den
Ondergang, page 1029, col. 1_, from the old _History of the Baptist
Martyrs, lib. 1_.
PHILIP OF LANGENLONSHEIM, A. D. 1529.
One of the last brethren whom they executed in the town of Creitze, was
Philip of Langenlonsheim. When the executioner struck off his head,
something flew into his face, so that he put up his hands to it, which
was well noticed by the people; however, they knew not what it was, or
why he did it. Then the saying went abroad that something like a black
hen had fluttered before his face, so that he defended himself with his
hands; some said that the blood had squirted into his face; and though
he himself knew best what it was, it was nevertheless seen afterwards,
what it must have been: for the executioner’s nose dropped off close to
his face. Thus God punished and visited him, because of the innocent
blood, with which he had stained his hands to so large an extent (Prov.
6:17); and God openly and palpably made known thereby, how greatly they
oppressed the pious. The Palsgrave also was terrified and troubled in
various ways, so that afterwards he had no longer a desire to wash his
hands in innocent blood, and would have given much, if it had never
taken place.
GEORGE BAUMAN, A. D. 1529.
About this time, a brother named George Bauman was apprehended at
Banschlet, in Wurtemburg, for the faith and the word of God. The
nobleman whose subject he was, kept him imprisoned for a time, and
also had him dreadfully racked and tortured, and did so much to him,
by imprisonment, torture and pain, and also by various promises, so
that they persuaded him and gained his assent to follow them. They then
demanded of him, that he should recant in church, and confess that he
desisted [from his faith], which he did once or twice; went to church,
and performed that for which his consent had been extorted from him. In
the meantime he came to himself, and considered the honor of God and
his holy name, and also whither he was going.
Hence, when he came to church the third time for recantation, he said
to the priest and the bystanders: “You have condemned me and through
pain and fear prevailed upon me to follow you; but now I renounce
and revoke it all, and I am sorry that I did it.” Thus he began, and
confessed anew that this was the divine truth and the true faith; yea,
the way to life in Christ, and that, on the other hand, the idolatrous
life and ways of the world are a delusion and contrary to God. In this
his faith and confession he intended to continue and persevere unto the
end. For what should the priests and servants wait any longer? hence
they quickly apprehended him again, and he was speedily sentenced to
death. When he was led out to the place of execution, he sang joyfully
on the way. It was very muddy in the village, but he walked briskly
nevertheless; so that his shoes remained fast in the mud; but he took
no notice of it, left them there, hurried on to the place of execution,
and sang for joy that God had again given him such courage and heart.
Thus he was beheaded with the sword. The nobleman who caused his
execution, and nearly all who had sat in judgment, and condemned him,
died almost every one of them a miserable death, and came to a dreadful
end, so that their happy days in this world terminated in sorrow.
THE SECOND EDICT BY THOSE OF ZURICH, IN WHICH ALL SO-CALLED ANABAPTISTS
ARE THREATENED WITH DEATH, A. D. 1530.