at Vienna, in Austria, and various means were tried to cause him to
apostatize. The citizens came to him in prison, and in a friendly
manner earnestly admonished him to recant, or they would have to drown
him in the Danube. But he said: “Though you drown me, I will not depart
from God and his truth. Christ died for me, and him will I follow, and
also die for his truth, far rather than forsake it.” No matter whatever
they said, they could not make him apostatize. Two brethren then came
to him, who comforted him; to them he commended his wife and child.
They embraced each other, and thus took leave from one another, wishing
him patience in his suffering, which he innocently had to endure. After
having been confined for one year and six weeks, they took him from
prison on a certain Wednesday night; took him out of the city, that
the multitude of the people should neither see nor hear anything, and
drowned him in the Danube. There was no trial held over him, nor was
his crime made known.
Since he patiently and cheerfully persevered unto the end, God shall
also confess him; and though they executed him secretly and at night,
yet he shall appear in the open judgment of the Lord in the valley of
Jehosaphat, where another judgment will be held. Joel 3:2. And that
judgment will fall a hundred fold more heavily upon the heads of those
who thus presumptuously condemn innocent blood on earth; yea, it shall
be more tolerable for those of Sodom and Gomorrah in the last day, than
for such. Matt. 10:15.
ANDREW KOFLER, A. D. 1545.
In the year 1545, one Andrew Kofler from Etschland was also apprehended
for the faith and the divine truth, at Ips, on the Danube. As he would
not renounce, and could not be made to apostatize by the priests and
false prophets, he was sentenced to death by the children of Pilate,
and delivered to the executioner, who executed him with the sword,
thus satisfying the ungodly. Thus he valiantly confessed and testified
to the truth of God even unto death, and is now gone before into
eternal light and life, and rests in Abraham’s bosom, yea, under the
altar, under which those lie, who have been beheaded and slain for the
word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, until the number of
their fellow brethren who shall also be killed as they were, shall be
fulfilled.
HANS BLIETEL, A. D. 1545.
In this year, also Brother Hans Blietel, who had been sent by the
church, was apprehended at Ried, in Bavaria; for those of Ried had
offered a sum of money to the one who should apprehend him. Hence,
there was a traitor, who addressed him with fair words, pretending to
be very zealous, and under a desire to be with him, decoyed him into
his house. The brother supposed that he was concerned for the salvation
of his soul, and went with him. He then locked him into his house, and
said: “Hans, you are a prisoner.” But Hans replied: “God forbid that
you should do this; have I not come to thee for good?”
The traitor demanded money of him, and he would release him; but
when the brother refused to accede to this demand, he went to the
authorities and betrayed him. While he went, the wife of the traitor
also demanded money of him; for, said she, the authorities would take
him along any way; she wanted fifteen guilders, and they would let him
go away from the house. But Brother Hans Blietel would not consent
to give her one farthing; but would with the help of God await all
tribulation. In the meantime, the authorities came with a great number
of armed men, and apprehended the brother, together with the traitor
and his wife, securing them well with ropes, bonds and straps.
Having arrived in the market town of Ried, they took them, and
tormented them dreadfully, the traitor as well as the brother; for the
authorities thought that he had taken money from the brother, because
they found so little on him. The traitor’s wife also had her hand
squeezed until the blood flowed from it; for they wanted her to tell
it. And though they had not received anything, their treachery became a
source of sore grief to them.
When Brother Hans had lain in prison for four or five weeks, he was
sentenced to death, about St. John’s day, to be burnt alive. He was led
out to the place of execution, where the priests attempted to induce
him to desist from and forsake his faith; but he said to them: “You
may well desist from your wicked deception; I will not hear or embrace
your false doctrine; I have at this day something else to do, than to
listen to you false prophets; I must follow the Lord my God in Christ,
and fulfill what I have promised.” The priests, therefore, stood back,
and left him be in peace. On his way to the place of execution he met
one of his acquaintances, named Michael Dirks, or Kramer. Hans Blietel
looked at Michael with a smiling countenance, and pointed him to
heaven. The latter was astonished that he could smile, going as he was
to death and the fire. This produced a complete contrition of heart in
Michael, as also in his wife, who did not eat anything for three days,
but sought to join the church, and become pious, and others with them.
When the dear brother Hans arrived at the place of execution, he
thought of the church, and cried with a loud voice unto the multitude
of the people assembled: “Is there any one here, who has courage to
tell the church of God in Moravia, that I, Hans Blietel, was burned
for the Gospel, at Ried, in Bavaria?” Thereupon a zealous man, full of
piety, kindled thereby, revealed himself, and though he could not get
to him, he called to him, that he would inform the church in Moravia,
that he was burned at Ried, for the faith; which encouraged brother
Hans, so that he again cried out to the people: “This my faith is the
divine truth, which I will show to you; and I say unto you, repent,
reform, and desist from your unrighteous, wicked, and vicious life;
for if you do not do this, the eternal God shall visit you for your
sins, and punish you with the everlasting pain which is prepared for
all sinners, and he shall require the innocent blood at your hands, and
punish you for it.”
The fire having been kindled and prepared, he was tied upon a ladder.
In the meantime, he testified again that this was the truth and the
way to eternal life, and the true church of God, appealing to heaven
and earth as his witnesses. “And to-day,” said he, “shall God give a
sign in heaven, to testify that this is the way to eternal life.” This
also occurred; for the sun in the sky was darkened and became full of
spots, so that he gave forth no shadow. Though the sky was quite clear
and bright, yet the sun emitted a very pale and yellow light upon the
earth; for God intended to confirm it by this sign. This lover of God
also sang in the fire, in which he lived for some time, praising God by
his singing, and praying for all men who were worthy, that God would
enlighten them. And thus he was found constant and steadfast in the
faith, in the trial of the fire, even as the precious and pure gold. He
had also foretold as a sign, that his smoke would quickly rise on high
over him, and his soul ascend in it unto heaven; which came to pass,
the smoke ascending straight up to heaven. Some said that a beautiful
white dove flitted in the fire, and flew over him to heaven. Thus God
assisted him very powerfully.
MICHAEL MATSCHILDER, ELIZABETH HIS WIFE, AND HANS GURTZHAM, A. D. 1546.
In the year 1546, brother Michael Matschilder, also called Little
Michael, a minister of Jesus Christ and his church, and two others,
namely, his wife Elizabeth, and Hans Gurtzham, a shoemaker, were
apprehended and examined at Altenburg, in Upper Kærnthen. A doctor and
a learned man of Villach disputed with them; but this brother gave
them such answers, that they had to withdraw in confusion, unable to
accomplish anything.
They were then led in iron chains through Styria, and delivered into
the bailey, at Vienna, to the jailer, who said: “Come, I will bring you
into a vault, where others of your brethren are. In there were Hans
Stautdach and three fellow-prisoners.
When they met, they embraced and kissed each other, and praised God,
who had brought them together for the glory of his name. Hans Stautdach
and his three fellow-prisoners were then executed; but these others
were kept in prison longer; that is, about three years, namely, until
the year 1549, when a conflagration occurred in the city. Then, as
is customary in that city when a conflagration occurs, the gates of
the city were closed, and the prisoners released. After the fire was
extinguished, brother Michael and his wife, through the providence of
God and the assistance of a citizen, escaped from the city, and came
to the church. Thus God delivered them unharmed and in peace. But Hans
Gurtzham went back to prison, and was confined there one year longer,
namely, until the year 1550, when he was executed, about June, being
drowned in the Danube, early on a certain Friday morning.
QUIRINUS PIETERS OF GRŒNINGEN, BURNT ALIVE FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
CHRIST, AT AMSTERDAM, IN HOLLAND, ON THE 16TH OF APRIL, A. D. 1545.
When the constraint of conscience and faith did not cease, but
increased and broke forth more and more through the adherents of
popery, against the pious Christians, who, according to the command of
Christ had been baptized upon their faith, it occurred, that a certain
pious brother, named Quirinus Pieters, a native of Grœningen, also
separated from popery, and joined the cross-bearing church of Jesus
Christ, called Baptists, or, contemptuously, Anabaptists, having been
received into the church through baptism upon confession of his faith,
by Menno Simon, who was at that time one of the most eminent teachers
in Friesland.
But when he, about six years ago, went to Holland, and settled down
at Amsterdam, there to live in quiet according to his faith and
conscience, he was very speedily discovered by the authorities,
apprehended, and finally, as he would not apostatize, sentenced to
death, on the sixteenth of April, A. D. 1545, namely, to be burned to
death; which dreadful and severe punishment this pious hero of Christ
steadfastly endured, having commended his soul into the hands of God.
All of this we have taken from the following sentence, which was
publicly read to him, on the day of his death, by the rulers of
darkness, and a true copy of which, extracted from the book of
criminal sentences, has now been transmitted to us through the
secretary there. The contents of the same, with the exception of the
title, are as follows:
_Sentence of death pronounced upon Quirinus Pieters of Groeningen._
Whereas Quirinus Pieters, a native of Grœningen, has embraced the
unbelief and heresy of the Anabaptists, having been rebaptized about
six years ago, by Menno Simon, a teacher of the aforesaid sect, and
whereas he holds pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the
holy church, and, moreover, has induced others, into such unbelief
and errors, persuading them into it, directly contrary to the holy
Christian faith, the ordinances of the holy church, and the decrees of
his Imperial Majesty, our gracious lord; and whereas he obstinately
continues in the aforesaid unbelief, therefore, my lords the Judges,
having heard the demand made by my lord the Bailiff concerning the
aforesaid Quirinus Pieters, as also his answer and confession, and
having fully considered the circumstances of said matters, sentence
the aforesaid Quirinus Pieters to be burnt by the executioner; and
furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the
exchequer of his Imperial Majesty. Pronounced this sixteenth of April,
A. D. 1545, in the presence of the entire bench of Judges, except Sir
Henry Dirks, Burgomaster.
Pursuant to this sentence, Quirinus Pieters was executed by the
executioner on the same day.
The whole of this was extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in
the keeping of the secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
HANS STAUDTACH, ANTHONY KEYN, BLASIUS BECK, AND LEONHARD SCHNEIDER, A.
D. 1546.
In the year 1546, four brethren, namely, Hans Staudtach of Kaufbeuren,
Anthony Keyn, a tailor of Gunzenhausen, Blasius Beck and Leonhard
Schneider, both of them also of Kaufbeuren, while on their way, with
their wives and children, to the church in Moravia, were apprehended in
Austria. On the third of August they were brought to Vienna, two and
two fettered together, with great chains on their feet, and led through
the city like criminals, with their wives and children following after
them. They were brought into prison, with their wives and children,
and left for four days. In these four days they were examined, and
sorely assailed, whether they would continue in this faith; this they
confessed, with the help and power of God they would do. Thereupon the
four brethren were put into another prison. Afterwards they examined
them again, and brought their wives and children into the house of the
Judge, but prevented the brethren from talking much with them.
On Sunday, the sixteenth of August, much people came to them in prison,
and talked with the brethren, and concerning their wives. But however
hard they were pressed to recant, they remained valiant and steadfast,
though they threatened to take away their children from them. In the
meantime, however, their wives were released, and came to the church.
Subsequently much craftiness was resorted to, to intimidate them, and
cause them to apostatize. Four times they were brought before the
authorities at Vienna, also before monks, priests and doctors, whom
Christ does not in vain designate ravening wolves, of whom we are to
beware; for their priests are like wolves, and indeed come under a
fair appearance, to devour them; yea, would have them all killed and
destroyed. Hence, it grieves the false prophets to leave any one pious
and unseduced, and therefore they labor much and in many various ways.
They have enough who follow the doctrine of their false prophets, and
walk after their ungodly and vicious life; they might well leave the
pious in peace.
Thus they also tempted these lovers of God, yet could not gain them,
but were put to shame and reproach: for no one can pluck Christ’s own
out of his hand. John 10:28. They also read to them the mandate of
the King, and threatened them with fire, water and the sword, or that
they should be kept on bread and water, and separated, or drowned in
the night, like Brother Oswald of Jamnits, as related previously. By
these things they endeavored to intimidate them; but there was no
intimidating these soldiers and heroes of the truth of God.
On the fifth day after St. Michæl’s, they were subjected to another
hearing, whether they would renounce their faith; if not, they had
orders to put them to death by fire, water or the sword. This was the
last warning. But when they could accomplish nothing by their threats,
they brought all four of them back into the _Joppen_ (a prison). Hans
Staudtach was left in prison. Blasius in the wood-room, and Leonhard,
with another, in a vacant apartment; but afterwards, about All-souls
Day, they were put together again.
After all this, as they remained constant and steadfast, and continued
to confess that they were going in the true way of the divine truth,
which they were willing to seal with their blood, they were condemned
to death, a little after St. Martin’s day, on the 22d of November, and
delivered to the executioner, who bound them, and, in order to avoid
too great a sensation, and not to have a large concourse of people come
together he led them out to the place of execution, in the morning, at
daybreak.
When they were being led out to the slaughter, they boldly and
joyfully sang. A ring was then made, as the executioners usually do.
The brethren knelt down and fervently prayed, offering up this burnt
offering as their final farewell to the world.
The executioner became sad, acted with reluctance, and was grieved in
his heart that he had to perform this execution. The other children of
Pilate also wished to be innocent, yet they had to do it because of
their superiors in authority, and by virtue of their office; but they
would much rather have been excused.
They then blessed each other, and exhorted one another to
steadfastness, to be strong and of good cheer, saying; “To-day we
shall be together in the kingdom of our heavenly Father,” etc.
Thus all four were beheaded with the same sword, and undauntedly and
boldly surrendered their necks for the name of Christ.
DIRK PIETERS SMUEL AND JACOB DEN GELDERSMAN, BURNT ALIVE AT AMSTERDAM,
ON THE 24TH OF MAY, A. D. 1546.
After manifold tribulations and afflictions upon the pious followers
of Jesus Christ, it came to pass, that the Procurator from the Hague,
and the Bailiff of Amsterdam, Waterlandt and Zeevanck, came to Edam
with a whole troop of beadles. These came on the 12th of March, that
is on the Friday preceding Shrove Tuesday, A. D. 1546, at night,
with torches, and lanterns, to the house of Dirk Pieters Smuel and
Jacob den Geldersman, both of them citizens of Edam, of one faith,
and seekers of the truth. They took them out of their own houses from
their beds, and led them from the east end out of the stone portal
to the west end, where they were put into a boat, and thus brought
prisoners to Amsterdam, whence, after a certain time, they were brought
to the Hague, where, on the 16th of May of the same year, they were
examined concerning their faith, and as they would steadfastly adhere
to the accepted truth, were sentenced, on the 22d of May, in the high
court of the lords of this world, to be burnt alive. Thereupon they
were again brought to Amsterdam, where, after suffering many trials,
they were bound on ladders, and burned alive, enduring it with great
steadfastness. They joyfully surrendered and forsook their earthly
habitations, and are now awaiting a building of God, which shall endure
forever in heaven. 2 Cor. 5:1.
ANDREW SMUEL AND DIRK PIETERS. THE DEFENSE AND CONFESSION OF FAITH
WHICH THEY MADE AT AMSTERDAM BEFORE THE COMMISSARIES, AND CONFIRMED
WITH THEIR DEATH, IN THE YEAR 1546.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever,
Amen. Hear my confession to the princes of this world. In the first
place, they inquired concerning my faith. I therefore said to them:
“A scribe came to the Lord, and asked him, saying: Master, which
is the great commandment? The Lord said to him: Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself; this is the greatest
commandment, and there is no other. The scribe answered and said: Thou
hast answered well, that there is one God, and to love him with all the
heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love
our neighbor as ourself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices.”
To this they replied: “We know that there is one God; but do you
believe, that when the priest stands at the altar, God is in his hands?”
I said, “No. Stephen said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the
Son of man standing on the right hand of the Almighty Father.” Acts
7:56.
They again said: “Then you do not believe that he is there?”
I said, “No.”
_Question_: “We have been told, that when your pastor went on one side
of the street, and you and two others on the other, you gave no honor
either to him or to the sacrament; is this true?”
_Answer_: “Yes.”
_Ques._ “Why did you do this?”
_Ans._ “I will tell you, my lords: the Lord says through the prophet
Isaiah, chapter 2, verse 8: They worship the work of their own hands:
that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down,
and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.”
_Ques._ “Did you do it for the reason that it was made by the hands of
men?”
_Ans._ “Yea, my lords, because I would not offend my Lord and my God
with it.”
_Ques._ “How long ago is it since you went to confession the last time?”
_Ans._ “About two or three years.”
_Ques._ “Why so?”
_Ans._ “Because the Lord has said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.
_Ques._ “Did you do it on this account?”
_Ans._ “Yes.”
_Ques._ “How long is it since you attended the sacrament?”
_Ans._ “Also about two or three years.”
_Ques._ “Why so?”
_Ans._ “Because Paul says: Christ presented to himself a glorious
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27.
_Ques._ “Did you do it because you were not worthy of it?”
_Ans._ “Yes, because I have spots and wrinkles.”
_Ques._ “What do you believe concerning the holy church?”
_Ans._ “I know of no holy church, except the congregation of the
apostles, of which Christ is the corner stone.”
_Ques._ “We well know this, that there was a holy church then.”
_Ans._ “Can another foundation be laid, than that is laid? 1 Cor. 3:11.
Paul says to the Galatians, in the first chapter: I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto
another Gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I
now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God?
or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be
the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel
which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it
of man, neither was I taught it. Gal. 1:6–12. He further says, to the
Corinthians: For I determined not to know anything among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2.
_Ques._ “Well, what do you hold concerning Mary the mother of God?”
_Ans._ “Much, for she humbled herself before the Lord, and was exalted
through her humility.”
_Ques._ “You have answered well. What do you hold with regard to
purgatory?”
_Ans._ “I know of only two ways.” Matt. 7:13.
_Ques._ “Do you know your pastor well?”
_Ans._ “I know him well by sight; but I have never spoken to him, nor
he to me.”
_Ques._ “Why did you not hear him?”
_Ans._ “Because James says in his first chapter: A double minded man is
unstable in all his ways.”
_Ques._ “Well, what did he say?”
_Ans._ “I have heard say that he said that man can not be saved through
the death of Christ alone.”
_Ques._ “Did he say amiss in this?”
_Ans._ “Yes; Paul says: By him all that believe are justified from all
things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts
13:39.
_Ques._ “It is well known that we can not be saved through the law.”
_Ans._ “Peter says, that there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby they can be saved, than through the name of Jesus
Christ.”
_Ques._ “How long is it since you were baptized?”
Ans. “Ever since I was born.”
_Ques._ “Are you satisfied, that you can be saved by baptism?”
_Ans._ “I believe to be saved through the death of Christ.”
_Ques._ “We nevertheless must know whether you believe that you will be
saved by it?”
_Ans._ “I believe to be saved through the death of Christ.”
_Ques._ “If you had the opportunity, would you not be baptized again?”
_Ans._ “I know not; for God knows both to will and to do.”
_Ques._ “Still, we want to know whether you regard the baptism which
you received in your infancy as the true baptism, or that which is
administered on faith?”
_Ans._ “If this is all you want to know, it is written that the Lord
said to his apostles: ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.’ Mark 16:15,16. Further,
the men said to Peter and the other apostles: ‘What shall we do to be
saved? Repent, he said, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children,
and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in
prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were
done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all
things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them
to all men, as every man had need. And they continuing daily with one
accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and
having favor with all the people.’” Acts 2:37–47.
_Ques._ “There you say yourself, that the apostles went into the
temple?”
_Ans._ “Yes, this is true; that was a temple which God had commanded to
be built.”
_Ques._ “The apostles certainly went forth to teach; where did they go
to teach?”