have at divers times indicated to us by way of complaint, that
you daily molest them, and deprive them of the means, in peace
and quietness to gain a living for themselves and their families,
prohibiting them from opening their shops, under the pretext that they
refuse to render the oath in such form as other citizens; which we
have duly considered; and since the aforesaid people offer to bear,
in equity, all burdens, together with other citizens (however, in the
matter of arms, which chiefly moves them to take this course, levy upon
them such a contribution as you, or those who may have charge of it,
may find to be proper in all justice and equity); hence we think that
you are doing very unjustly, in not letting them live in peace and
quietness, according to the dictates of their conscience, persuant to
the act which we, with the advice of the Governor and the Councilors,
have previously granted them, which they say they have exhibited to
you; and yet, as we learn that you have hitherto not been willing to
regard it, nor our previous letters, we have been compelled to write
you this final act, by the which we openly declare to you, that it
does not behoove you, in particular, to concern yourselves with any
one’s conscience, as far as there is nothing done that might tend to
any one’s offense, in which case we wish to regard or tolerate no one:
and _therefore_, we expressly command and ordain you, in future to
desist from molesting the aforesaid people, that are Anabaptists, or
from preventing them to exercise their traffic and trade, to gain a
living for wife and children; allowing them to open their shops, and
to work as they have previously done, at least until the time that
the Generality, whose province it is to do this, shall have decreed
otherwise. Hence beware of attainting anything contrary to this and the
act granted them, and to take from them any fines for the above cause;
because there is nothing attainted with them, except what might tend
to the offense of any one; and because they shall also, together with
others, bear all civil and reasonable burdens. Herewith, noble, pious,
honorable, wise, discreet, dear, particular, I commend you to God.
Written at Antwerp, on the sixteenth day of July, 1578.
Subscribed:
PAR COPIE DE BAUDEMONT.
The aforegoing copy was certified to as follows:
Written by the secretary Baudemont, and found to agree with it. By me
Jacob Masureel, notary public of the town van der Vere, the 15th of
November, 1579.
Signed:
J. MASUREEL, Notary.
REMARK.--Notwithstanding the Prince, of Worshipful Memory, had now the
second time so strictly commanded this liberty of conscience in the
practice of the worship of God, the true fruit did still not follow,
notwithstanding it was obeyed for a few years immediately afterwards;
for after the decease of that good Prince they began again; however, to
the salvation of the defenseless church of God, it was terminated by a
third prohibition, by his son, as shall be stated in the proper place.
HENDRICK SUMER AND JACOB MANDEL, A. D. 1582.
In the year 1582, in the first week of September, the dear and faithful
brother Hendrick Sumer, a minister of the word of God, still under
trial, and with him Jacob Mandel, were apprehended for their faith and
the testimony of Jesus Christ, at Torzag, in Switzerland, and were then
conducted into the town of Baden, where they, by the High Bailiff of
the country, and the judges, were publicly examined in the presence of
the people, in the council house, and interrogated concerning their
faith, which they freely confessed. At this examination were present
twenty-four priests, who tried whether they could not cause them to
apostatize and err in their faith: but they could accomplish nothing,
nor were they able to convict them of any wrong or error, much less
perceive in them a just cause of death.
Now when these brethren and Christian heroes were quite steadfast in
the faith, and boldly testified and proved by the word of God, that
they were on the true, narrow way of the truth unto the eternal life
in Christ Jesus, from which they would in no wise depart, though it
should cost them their lives; then the priests were at their wits end,
and said to the councilors, that they could not do anything further;
since they remained obstinate, they must now deal with them as they
deemed proper.
They were then to be sentenced to death; but the councilors could not
agree, for some among them would not take the responsibility of their
death upon themselves, nor be guilty of it, because it was on account
of matters of faith, and they knew them to be good men. But as the
majority of the voices were for putting them to death, they determined
that their sentence should be proceeded with, which when the brethren
learned that their time had come that they should depart out of the
world, they rejoiced from the heart, and were glad and of good cheer;
they also said that it was a greater joy for them than if they were
to go to a marriage; yea, they were of very good cheer, that God had
counted them worthy, that they should glorify his name through such a
righteous death--which many righteous ones and friends of God had done
before them, and thus obtained the heavenly crown.
When they were led forth, they spoke boldly to the people, and exhorted
the great multitude that had gathered, that they should repent and turn
from their sinful life to God, and then both joined their voices in
raising a joyful, sweet, and heartfelt song of praise to the Lord.
There was present a great number of people, and many among them shed
tears, when they heard them sing and saw that they were of such good
cheer in the hour of death. But the eternal joy was before their eyes,
and they rejoiced in the inner man, that they should go to Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, to all the patriarchs and the whole number of the saints,
to all the prophets and the apostles of the Lord, and to their pious
fellow-brethren and sisters that had recently died, yea, to Jesus
Christ himself, their Savior. Thus they sang till close to the water’s
edge, where they were to be drowned.
When they came outside, Hendrick said: “Now, my brother Jacob, since
we have traveled together so long, let us now also journey together
further, through this temporal death into eternal life.” Brother Jacob
Mandel was the first one. The executioner took him and drowned him
in the water. When he was dead, he drew him out and laid him before
Hendrick’s eyes, and said: “My dear Hendrick, behold thy brother who
lost his life, and renounce yet, or you will have to die too, there
is no other choice.” But he said: “You need not think that I shall
renounce, and forsake the divine truth; I will adhere to it though
it cost body and life.” A priest also begged him very earnestly and
said: “O my dear Hendrick, desist from this new infidelity, and from
this evil sect.” But brother Hendrick turned to him and said: “What
sect? I believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ our
Lord and Savior, and in his holy word and divine commandment; in this
I stand--do you consider this a sect? Dare you call the true Christian
faith a sect? what kind of a faith have you then? If you have another
faith, you are in a sect and in a new faith yourself; desist from it,
and forsake your sinful, vicious and ungodly life.” Thus the priest was
put to shame and ridicule, and had to keep silence. When they saw that
he continued steadfast, the executioner took him and drowned him too,
like the other. This took place on the 9th of October of the aforesaid
year 1582, at Baden, in Switzerland, after they had been imprisoned
four weeks and a half.
MELCHOIR PLATSER, A. D. 1583.
In the year 1583, on the Friday after Whitsuntide, Melchoir Platser,
who had been an apothecary, was apprehended for the faith’s sake, in
the village of Rankweil, in the Feldkirch, bailiwick. There he was put
in irons and taken to Feldkirch into the castle, and imprisoned in a
deep tower, whence he was several times taken before the authorities
and the priests. He was always prepared to give an answer concerning
his faith and to resist their false doctrine.
There was then brought to him from the town of Bregenz a special
priest, whom they regarded as very wise and learned. He undertook to
dispute publicly with brother Melchoir, hoping to get honor and glory
by it; but he was very soon put to shame, so that he himself said: “Did
the devil bring me here for this purpose, that I should be convinced by
an Anabaptist?” Now when they could accomplish nothing with him, they
sent (since that region is completely papistic) for Lutheran parsons,
and brought them to him, [to see] whether they could instruct him. But
they were no better in his eyes; he convinced them, that they were both
in unrighteousness and unjustly upheld and maintained their doctrine.
This is the cause why at the present day all sin, vice, and idolatry
are so prevalent, because the priests themselves are the greatest
rogues and knaves.
Now when they could in no wise seduce or deceive him, they delivered
him over to the authorities and accused him as a traitor that had
merited death. However, they offered him that, if he desired mercy, and
would swear an oath that he would leave their land and dominion, they
would suffer him to live and go away. But he answered: Before he would
swear such an oath to them, and consent to renounce, he would rather
await what God should permit them to do with him, though it should cost
his body and life. He also told them that their threats did not terrify
him, and that he did not care for it, for at all events he had once to
die.
Then the lord at Feldkirch was touched, and requested that they should
conduct him back to Rankweil, into the same village where they had
apprehended him, as though he thereby wanted to wash his hands in
innocence from his blood.
When they came to Rankweil, they held a court over him, pursuant to
the order of the great Hannibal, to whom he had been delivered by the
prince of Innsbruck, to deal with him according to his pleasure. There
they passed sentence, that he should be put to death.
When the brother heard that he was to depart out of this world, he
faithfully thanked God the heavenly Father, and rejoiced that God was
willing to make him worthy, that he should testify to the truth with
his blood, which he regarded as a great benefit from God.
Shortly afterward he was delivered into the hands of the executioner,
who conducted him to the usual place of execution. The people were
very sorrowful and compassionate; but brother Melchior began to speak
to the people with great zeal, and exhorted them to think of their
ungodly life in which they were sunk, and that they should no longer
thus perversely boast themselves Christians. “O what woe” said he,
“and eternal suffering will come upon such men that kill an innocent
man because he has separated and turned from the ungodly, shameful
life of the world. But I will commit this to God in heaven who will
give such mouth-Christians their reward.” The priests also came, as
he was being led out, and wanted to comfort him. But he said: “You
priests are the serpents and scorpions, against whom Christ has warned
us; that are full of abomination and destruction.” Thereupon, they
commanded him to keep silence, if he wanted to speak so scornfully to
them. Then he began to sing with a loud voice, till he arrived at the
place where he was to be executed. He then again warned the people that
they should beware of the false prophets who thus uphold, comfort and
strengthen them in unrighteousness, and promise them liberty and life,
in order that they should the less desist from wickedness. He spoke so
earnestly and much to the people, that the sweat rolled from his face.
The executioner dried off his face and said: “Speak freely, I shall
not hurry you.” A little after the executioner said to him: “If you
will consent to do according to the mind of the lords, and acknowledge
their doings as right, power has been given me to release you.”
Melchior replied: “I will not do this; hence go on, and do what you
are commanded.” Thereupon, the executioner forthwith executed him with
the sword and speedily cut off his head. Not far from there was a pile
of wood, upon which he laid his body and burned it, after he had been
imprisoned about twenty-six weeks. Thus he kept the confessed truth, as
long as he was in life and had breath in him.
ANDRIES PIRCHNER, A. D. 1584.
On the 26th of May, in the year 1584, Andries Pirchner was apprehended
at Laitsch, in Vintschgau, his fatherland, and thence taken to
Soltrain, where he was thrice put upon the rack and severely tortured.
For they wanted to know of him, where and with whom he had lived and
had intercourse, and that he should mention them. But he answered:
He would not be a Judas, to betray those that had done good to him,
so that any harm would come to them; he would rather lose his life
and body, yea, one member after another; nor were these matters that
concerned the faith or any article of the same; but in regard to his
faith, that he would willingly and gladly declare and not keep silence
about what he had done or not done; he had made God in heaven a promise
in Christian baptism, to which he would adhere, and not be found a liar
before God. Moreover, he would (if it could not be otherwise) patiently
suffer death, and also request nothing else, than that by his blood
and suffering he might induce some poor souls to repentance and to
the confession of the truth. Thereupon priests were sent to him, that
they should dispute with him; but these, no matter what they commenced
with him, accomplished nothing at all, for he forthwith upbraided
them with their sinful and lascivious life, showing them, that they
could not lead or point others to a virtuous life, because they were
blind themselves. And he further said that they should consider their
own ways and desist from their sinful life; he also presented to them
several passages from the Old and New Testaments, so that they could
accomplish nothing with him according to their will, but he constantly
persevered firmly in his faith. He was also greatly admonished and
entreated by many, privately in the house, and also in public, that he
should desist from his faith, since he must see that there was nothing
else left for him, or he should have to die. Thereupon he answered:
“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, as
the Scripture says. And to the same I will adhere, and I daily pray
to God, my heavenly Father, that his will be done. Now if it be God’s
will, he can order it that I shall be released; but if it is not his
will, I will die patiently.” They entreated him, that he should only
once renounce and recant, and they should let him go; he might then
adopt it again. But he replied: “No, that cannot be; may God keep me
from breaking my promise and being found a liar before him; for that
were acting like the dog that swallows again that which he has once
vomited. So it would also go with me; I would have to recant and stamp
as a lie that which I have long known and confessed as the truth and
the will of God; of which I should not be able for a long time truly
to repent, and who knows whether I should be able to repent and obtain
grace? Hence I neither will nor can do it, and I will rather die, and
hope by the help of God to be a living martyr for his truth.” After
that he was brought from Soltrain to Schlanders, and there, according
to the princely and old imperial command and decree sentenced to
death and delivered to the officer, who conducted him to the place of
execution.
When he was led forth he spoke with a joyful heart: “God be praised,
that it has come so near to the end with me, and since it is thus his
will, I will also patiently die.” And thus he honored his end with many
thanksgivings, Christian teachings and remarks to the people, after
which he knelt down; and though it had on that day been cloudy weather
until that hour, the sun commenced to shine brightly, right into his
face, at which he rejoiced, and said: “God be praised, that he shows me
his bright sun yet before my end.”
When the executioner had drawn out the sword, and was about to make
a stroke, they called to him to hold still, and the brother was very
earnestly entreated, that he should renounce, and they should let him
live. But he would not; he valiantly lifted up his head, and thus the
executioner beheaded him; joyfully offering up his spirit unto God.
Afterwards his body was singed with a little fire of straw.
This occurred on the 19th of October of the aforesaid year, after he
had been imprisoned for about twenty-two weeks.
LEONHART SUMERAVER, A. D. 1584.
In the year 1584, about eight days before Saint Martin’s day, brother
Leonhart Sumeraver, from the country of Saltzburg, was apprehended, as
he was about to leave the country and had embarked at Titmaing. The
boatmen learned of it, and landed at Berckhausen, at the bridge, in
order that they should not come to grief. There a rope was thrown them,
and the matter became known, for the boatmen cried that they had an
Anabaptist on board. The clerk, who stood there, went to the chancellor
and told him that an Anabaptist had arrived. The chancellor had him
apprehended, and he was forthwith brought to the rack and five times
dreadfully tortured, also twice suspended by a rope; but they could
obtain nothing from him, nor accomplish anything with him. Hence, he
had to suffer much pain and sorrow during the time of his imprisonment,
and also much temptation and conflict on account of his faith, and
because he would not accept their doctrine.
After he had been in prison almost half a year, he was led to the
place of execution. There went with him four priests, who tenaciously
urged him to renounce: but he said that he had already renounced his
unrighteous life, more than twenty years ago. When he was led through
the town, they admonished him the second time to renounce. But he
replied. “Should I depart from God? Christ does not teach me this when
he says: Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven.”
When he was led forth before the stone court, they said to him:
“Behold, there is the image of our Lord; bow down before it.” But he
replied that he dared not do it; that they should proceed with him. The
priests asked him, why he had gone out from the Christian church, and
betaken himself to this heresy (as they call it). But he said: “Not
so; but I went out from ungodly idolaters, fornicators, blasphemers,
and all the unclean, and have betaken myself to the good, to God and
his church.” But they said: “He is possessed of the devil, who causes
him to speak thus;” even as also the Jews accused Christ. Afterwards
they entreated him thrice for God’s sake, that he should renounce; but
he would not. The executioner also begged him the very best he could.
But brother Leonhart said: “O dear, be silent, and do not beg me, but
proceed, for I want to die as a good Christian; I stand in the true
faith and upon the firm foundation, which is Christ my Lord, from which
I shall never depart.” When they saw that all their efforts were in
vain, the executioner took his collar from his neck and said to him:
“If you would renounce but the two articles, they would release you.”
But he said: “Let me alone and proceed as you please, for I want to
die valiantly upon my faith.” Thereupon, the executioner said: “I do
not like to execute you, but if I do not do it, another will.” And he
drew out the sword before him, in order to frighten him; but he was not
terrified in the least by it. Thus he was beheaded, and buried in the
place of execution.
This happened at Berckhausen, on the 5th of July 1585, that this lamb
of the Lord was torn by the ravening wolves.
ANNEKEN BOTSON, JANNEKEN HER DAUGHTER, AND MAEYKEN PIETERS, A. D. 1585.
About the year 1585, there were imprisoned, at Sint Vyt, in the country
of Lutzenborg, three women, having been brought from a village called
Nieuwstadt. Among them were a mother and daughter; the mother’s name
was Anneken Botson, and that of her daughter Janneken Botson; the
other woman was named Maeyken Pieters. All three of them were simple,
godfearing persons, who had forsaken popery, and through the grace of
God, betaken themselves to the obedience of the holy gospel. This the
priests could not endure, but they manifested their envy and reported
these persons to the authorities; and thus they were apprehended and
put in prison at Sint Vyt, as already mentioned. There they were not
confined long, but were forthwith examined concerning their faith,
which they cheerfully and in simplicity confessed, and to which they
also constantly adhered, though they tried in many ways to make them
recant the truth; but when they could not prevail upon them they were
sentenced that they should be burnt to ashes. As innocent sheep for the
slaughter they went to the place where they were to be offered up, and
died thus a valiant death, offering up their bodies as a sacrifice to
the Lord.
WOLFGANG RAUFER, GEORGE PRUCKMAIR, AND HANS AICHER, A. D. 1585.