Pruckmair, and Hans Aicher, were apprehended for the faith, while on a
journey, half a league from Riet, they having taken some refreshments
in an inn, and after eating returned thanks. Hence, immediately
beadles were sent for, and it was told that there were people there
like Anabaptists. While they were then counting out the money for what
they had received, and the innkeeper took it, the wicked men came,
apprehended all three of them, and took them to Riet. A few days after,
they were taken from Riet to Berckhausen, where the council and the
judges sent eminent doctors to them, who were to speak with them, and
if possible to overcome them and turn them from their faith; but they
could accomplish nothing, nor were they (neither the doctors nor the
priests) able, by disputing, in any wise to turn these brethren.
In the meantime they executed the aforementioned brother Leonhart
Sumeraver, with the sword, on a Friday, about eight o’clock in the
morning. Afterwards the judge and other lords went into the castle,
and announced it to these brethren, and told them that if they would
not renounce, that they should share the same fate with him; whereupon
they replied: “We are ready to die; whatever be God’s will with us,
we will patiently suffer.” Now when they had been imprisoned for a
considerable time, about fourteen weeks, at Berckhausen, and they could
not prevail upon them, nor intimidate them, they were separately placed
in carts, on the next following day of execution, namely, the 3d of
August, led forth from prison, and about four o’clock brought before
the council house, where the royal decree was read to them, according
to which they were to be dealt with. In the meantime the judge called
the executioner, and commanded him, that he should bind these three
persons and convey them out to the usual place of execution, and then
(since they had been sentenced from life to death) to execute them
with the sword, and afterwards lay them upon a pile of wood and burn
them with fire. Thereupon, brother Wolfgang replied: “Not from life to
death, but through death into eternal life.” Then George and Wolfgang
said: “Now since we must die, we die solely for the sake of the divine
truth, for we have done no evil or wrong to any one, and here is not a
single person to whom we have done any injury, or who can complain of
us; since we then must lose our lives for the faith and for the word of
God, we shall find it again in eternity, as the holy Gospel testifies.”
They then said to the authorities: That they should henceforth take
better heed, for the innocent blood should cry for vengeance upon those
that were guilty of it; but since it was the will of God concerning
them, they would willingly die, since our Lord Jesus Christ had to
suffer the same death in this world. Then Wolfgang said to George and
Hans: “Now my dear brethren, we will take leave from one another; and
let us be joyful, for the Lord is with us.” Thereupon, brother George
requested the executioner, that he would loose their hands a little,
so that they could give each other the hand, and thus take leave;
to which the executioner consented, doing it willingly. Thus they
took joyful leave from one another. In the meantime a priest came to
brother Wolfgang, and admonished him to renounce. But brother Wolfgang
briefly answered him, that he should himself renounce his ungodly life
and fornication; and would not tolerate the priest with him. He then
went on, and when he came into the market place, he commenced to sing
joyfully, and then gave praise and thanks to God, that they had come
to this, that they might be truly refined. And he further said: “Would
to God, that among this multitude of people there might be some one
from our country that could inform our brethren of this; then we would
greatly thank God for it. However, we trust that God will send some
one that will notify them of this, whether it be orally or by writing;
and this causes our heart to rejoice.” This wish was also fulfilled,
as the facts show. Then Wolfgang said to the executioner: “Now, Master
Christoffel, I shall henceforth be more quiet, and contain myself a
little; but my heart experiences no anxiety at all, but there is only
laughter within; and if my brethren, my wife and child, knew this, they
would rejoice for our sakes, though they might otherwise, according to
the flesh, weep and mourn. And I pray, and also hope, that God will
send some one to our country, to our church, who will for us take leave
from all brethren and sisters, our wives and children, and all our
acquaintances according to the flesh.”
While Wolfgang was thus speaking, they were led out, and came to the
place of execution. The other two brethren, George and Hans, had mostly
been silent; but when they arrived at the place of execution, all three
of them were joyful, again took leave from one another, and offered up
their prayer together in quietness.
They were then beheaded, and their bodies laid upon piles of wood and
burnt.
When the executioner had performed this, he said to the people: “These
persons would not desist from their faith, nor would they tolerate
priests; they also have a much stronger faith than I and all that are
here. I would rather execute thirty robbers than these.”
Thus these dear brethren testified to the faith in Jesus Christ and the
divine truth with their blood, to which end God gave them power and
strength, for which praise be to him forever. Amen.
OF THE MANDATE PUBLISHED AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS IN THE DUCHY OF
PRUSSIA (BUT NOT UNTO DEATH), ON THE 12TH OF NOVEMBER, A. D. 1586.
When on account of the terrible burning and scorching of the pious
witnesses of Jesus that were called by the name of Anabaptists, many of
them went from papistic regions, where the distress was greatest, to
the Prussian countries, in the hope that the rulers there, who boasted
of greater discretion and mercy than those of general popery, should
grant them liberty to live according to their conscience, it came to
pass, that when they came there they found themselves deceived in their
opinion, inasmuch as the Prince of that country, who then reigned at
Brandenburg, ordered them, by a public mandate, to leave.
Concerning this, P. J. Twisck has given this account:
George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg, commanded in a public
mandate, on the 12th of November, A. D. 1586, that the Anabaptists must
leave this whole Duchy of Prussia. _Chron. van den Ondergang, edition
1620, 2d part, 16th book, for the year 1586, p. 1401, col. 1._
CHRISTIAN GASTEYGER, A. D. 1586.
In the year 1586, on the Friday after Whitsuntide, which was the 3d of
June, Christian Gasteyger, a blacksmith, was imprisoned, at Ingolstadt
in Bavaria. On the following Sunday two Jesuits, with the town judge,
came to him, and talked with him concerning his faith; but they soon
left him again, for they could not agree with him. Nine days after,
the two Jesuits came again to talk with him, and began with many words
to revile the church; but the brother contradicted them, and thus
they spent almost an hour and a half together, and then left him with
dissatisfaction. Three weeks afterwards, again two Jesuits came to him,
who wanted to instruct him; but when he would not dance as they piped,
they left him again; and after two days the judge came to him, with a
doctor in the Scriptures, to speak with him concerning infant baptism.
They said: Children were damned, if they were not brought to baptism.
Thereupon, brother Christian replied: “They are not damned therefore;”
and he proved it to them with many Scriptures which he adduced. On this
account they called him a heretic and said further: “Children have the
devil in them; hence they must be baptized.” Then he asked how the
devil got into the children. They said: “He comes into the child from
the mother.” But he contradicted them also in this.
Nine days afterwards the judge and his council came to him, and they
said: “You are well aware why you are imprisoned here; you have been
confined here for some time already, and priests have come to you; but
you would not hearken to them, for I have been told by them, that there
is no hope of you any more; and the order has come, that I am to speak
with you once more, and that if you will not be converted to that which
your parents believed, you shall be placed upon a stack of wood and
burnt; and let us see then how God will be with you.” But he replied:
“I am ready every day to die, and I hope to God in heaven, that he will
keep me valiant and faithful unto the end, so that I shall not depart
from the truth; and may his will be done concerning me.”
The next day again two Jesuits came to dispute with him, and asserted
that he had no faith. They also began of infant baptism, saying:
That the child had to be baptized, else it were damned. But he
contradicted them. And when they had spent three hours with him, and
he had sufficiently replied to them, and valiantly resisted their
false doctrine, they left him. He also let us know that, as he was
now imprisoned for the truth’s sake, he would also firmly adhere to
the truth; though it should cost him his life, he should not depart
from it; they should have all good confidence concerning him, for he
would valiantly fight for the eternal crown, and he well perceived
that God faithfully succored him in his bonds, for which he also
praised and thanked him, and prayed that he would keep him even unto
his temporal death. He moreover sent us and all believers a Christian
greeting. Afterwards, when he had been confined for over twelve weeks
at Ingolstadt, and all the priests and Jesuits there had become tired
of him, and yet could accomplish nothing with him, he was, on the 25th
of August, placed upon a cart and conducted from Ingolstadt to Munich.
Finally, on the 13th of December, sentence was requested concerning
him. The Prince was not at home, and the supreme judge had died;
the under judge would have had to pronounce the sentence; but he
would not, and said that it was not his office. The burgomaster and
several others in the council would also not consent to it; but the
Jesuits strenuously insisted upon it, so that the sentence proceeded
nevertheless.
He was led forth from prison before the council house, and sentenced to
the sword. He was then led to death, and since he was very joyful and
of good cheer, and spoke very much to the people, the Jesuits became
very angry and spat into his face, so that the executioner himself
wiped it off. The Jesuits also held before him an idolatrous crucifix
and spat again into his face, which vexed the people greatly.
When he arrived in the place of execution, he was very joyful, because
he saw that he had so nearly gained the crown.
The executioner stood there with the drawn sword, afraid and begging
him to renounce. But he said to the executioner that he should execute
his sentence on him; and to the Jesuits he said: “Though there were a
thousand of you here, and multiplied thousands, you should not be able
to seduce me.” Then the executioner executed him with the sword, and
thus he persevered steadfast and joyful in the faith.
CONCERNING THE DECREE EMITTED AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS IN THE
JURISDICTION OF KOENIGSBERG AND ITS CITIES AND SUBURBS, ON PAIN OF
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND LOSS OF THEIR PROPERTY, A. D. 1587.
Even as it had gone the year before in Prussia, with the Anabaptists,
so it went now also in the dominion of Koenigsberg, which was carried
out by the same prince, who was also the lord of this territory.
The aforementioned author, having related their departure from Prussia,
immediately adds: That on the 1st of March, A. D. 1587, they were
ordered to leave not only the liberties of Koenigsberg and the cities
and suburbs of that country, but also all the territories and dominions
belonging under the reign of George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg,
and this on pain of corporal punishment and loss of their property.
This was done because they spoke most offensively[344] (as it was said)
of infant baptism (which the learned of that country considered the
door and entrance into the kingdom of God). Compare the sixteenth book
of _Chron. van den Ondergang, 2d part, edition 1620, page 1501, col.
2_, with _Johan. Behin, fol. 72, 73_.
[344] _Derisively_, the authors say.
MICHAEL VISCHER, A. D. 1587.
In the year 1587, about Whitsuntide, Michael Vischer was imprisoned for
the faith, at Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, and when he had been confined
about twelve weeks, and much had been tried with him by monks, Jesuits
and otherwise, and he would also not follow their false doctrine and
idolatry, but firmly persevered in the faith which he had accepted,
acknowledged and confessed, he was finally sentenced to death, that
he should be executed on Friday the 6th of August, if he would not
renounce; but since he looked for a better and eternal life, he
continued immovable and steadfast in the faith. Thus he was on the
aforementioned day, about eight o’clock in the morning, brought from
the prison before the council house, and sentence was there read to
him: That since this Anabaptist had for about twenty years adhered to
Anabaptism (so they call it), and also seduced several others thereto,
and would in no wise allow himself to be moved from it, he must die
for it. For the imperial mandate and decree is, that such shall not
be suffered or tolerated, but punished with fire and sword. Thereupon
he was led out to the place of execution, to which he was willing
and ready, going there with alacrity. A Jesuit and a monk went with
him, and wanted to instruct him; however he did not hearken to them,
but told them to go away from him. Thus they went in advance to the
place of execution, and there said to him, that since he had to die,
he should prepare himself for it, and they held a crucifix before his
face, saying, that he should behold him that had died for us. But he
shook his head and said: “Christ my Redeemer is in heaven; therefore
I deny all human handiwork.” He also said to the executioner: “Come
hither; there is nothing else left to do, I will valiantly adhere to
the faith and die upon it.” And with this he knelt down, boldly and
undismayed. God granted him such power and strength, that he persevered
steadfastly unto the end, in the way of truth unto eternal life in
Jesus Christ. The executioner became terrified by his undauntedness, so
that he could not properly execute him, but had to cut off his head as
it were,[345] in consequence of which he was in no small peril of his
life.
[345] As distinguished from severing it with one stroke.--_Tr._
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN, A. D. 1588.
This Christiaen Rijcen lived still in these latter days as a faithful
witness, at Hontschoten, in Flanders, where he, as a true Christian,
was imprisoned for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ,
in December of the year 1587. And after suffering much trial and
temptation there, he was very cruelly tortured and burned to ashes
there, the seventh day of April, 1588, under the bloody tyranny and
reign of the Prince of Parma. And thus he steadfastly delivered over
unto death his corruptible body, for the truth of Christ, and expects
now a new house in heaven, which God shall prepare for him, that it
shall endure forever. 2 Cor. 5:1. Of this friend of God a book has
been published, containing fifteen letters, with some hymns, which this
true witness wrote from prison to his wife and his friends, for comfort
and encouragement; of which the following few are here communicated to
the reader.
A STATEMENT HOW HE WAS EXAMINED BY THE MAGISTRATES, AND HOW THE PASTOR
WANTED TO PROVE INFANT BAPTISM TO HIM, AND HOW SEVERELY THEY ASSAILED
HIM.
Grace, peace and love be unto you, from God our heavenly Father,
through his Son Jesus Christ. Amen. This I wish you my dear and beloved
wife, for an affectionate greeting.
And after all salutation, I inform you, my very dear wife, that it is
still tolerably well with me, according to the flesh; and according to
the spirit it is my mind and purpose, by the help of God, to adhere to
the Lord unto the end of my life.
The reason of my writing is further to inform you, that I have been
before the lords once, and they questioned me concerning my faith,
which I confessed to them. And they asked me whether I had had myself
baptized. I said: “Yes.” They asked me how long ago it was. I said:
“About eight years.” They then asked me concerning my children,
whether they were not baptized. I said: “No.” They asked whether my
wife was like I. I said: “Yes.” Then they asked in what house I had
been baptized. I told them that it stood in the South East corner.
They asked me what the name of the man was that lived in it. I said:
“Pieter.” “And his surname?” said they. I said: “We do not inquire
much after surnames.” Thus they wrote down all that I told them. And
they sent for the pastor, and read to him what I had confessed before
them. And the pastor spoke much to me about baptism, and said that
the children must be baptized, in order to be cleansed from original
sin. I said that Paul, Romans 5, says that as death passed upon all
men through Adam, so righteousness came upon all men through Christ
Jesus. Yea, even as we all die through Adam, so we are all made alive
by Christ. This he would not accept, but said that John says: “Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of heaven.” Hence the children must be baptized, if they are to
be delivered from original sin. I said to him: “The Scripture does not
say in John 3: Except a man be baptized of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God; but the Scripture says: Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God, and this the children cannot, and need not do, since
they have not committed sin, that they must be born again.” Thus, my
dear and beloved wife, we had many other words also, which I have
forgotten, and which do not deserve to be written. Thus, I know not
what they will do with me, whether they will pursue their old course,
or not. But, my dear wife, though they deal with me as they have been
accustomed to do in old times, let us therefore not be surprised, even
as Peter writes: “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings. For
if ye [he says] be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;
for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he
is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Pet. 4:12–14.
Not, my dear wife, that I have heard as yet, that they shall kill me;
but though they should do it, it were nothing new, for Christ himself
has foretold: “The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think
that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you,
because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John 16:2,3. Thus, my
dear wife, be of good cheer in the Lord, and let us commit our cause
to him, and from him expect a day that shall comfort us. For this is
what is first promised here upon earth, namely, weeping and lamenting;
but the world shall rejoice; we must now be sorrowful, but our sorrow
shall be turned into joy. And Paul says: I know that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18. Thus, my dear wife, be of good
cheer in the Lord; I hope that he will help us; and do the best with
the children, to nourish them up in the fear of God. And since your
burden is great, it oppresses me so much, when I think of you and the
children; the tears often flow from my eyes, because I have had to
leave you under so great a burden and with little temporal substance.
But, my love, when I think that we must leave each other for the Lord’s
sake, or we cannot be worthy of him, I hope that the Lord will care for
you, because it is written: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all that ye need shall be added unto you. Matthew
6:33. And Peter says: Cast all your care upon the Lord; for he careth
for you. 1 Pet. 5:7. Thus, my dear wife, since the Scriptures comfort
me, that we have such a good Provider, I hope that he will provide
you and me and our children with all that we need. Hence, my dear
wife, faint not. Write me how it is with you and with the children,
according to the flesh and according to the spirit. But, my dear wife,
I must also inform you, that the pastors have often talked with me
here in prison; but we cannot agree. Sometimes they use harsh words,
and sometimes fair words, and they always want to prove their infant
baptism from John 3, adducing yet many other Scriptures, as Romans 6;
Col. 2; Eph. 5; Tit. 3, and others, which do not serve their purpose,
but treat of regeneration, of the burial of sin by baptism, or that
God has cleansed his church by the washing of water in the word. These
Scriptures, which do not serve their purpose, they quote to prove their
infant baptism. Hence, I have a great conflict here; it seems to me
that I am in the wilderness at Marah, where the children of Israel
were, at the water of Meribah,[346] where the waters were bitter; but
the Lord showed them a tree, which they were to cast into the waters,
to make them sweet. Ex. 15:23–25. So the Lord has also shown me a green
tree which sweetens all this water; which is Christ Jesus, the true
green tree. When I think of him, how he was delivered over by the chief
priests and the scribes, to be crucified and put to death, it makes it
very sweet for me; for I think that the servant is not better than his
master, but that it ought to be enough for the servant, that he be as
his master.
[346] Strife.
Herewith I will commend you, my dear wife, for this time, to the Lord,
and to the rich word of his grace; who is able to keep your treasure,
and to give you his eternal kingdom.
Written on the 2d of January, A. D. 1588, by me, your husband.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN WRITTEN TO A BROTHER, THAT
HE WOULD AID HIS WIFE (IF HE SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH) IN GETTING TO
HOLLAND; TOGETHER WITH OTHER COMFORTING REMARKS.
The eternal, imperishable wisdom of the Father, and the love of the
Son, and the illumination of the Holy Ghost, this I wish my very dear
and beloved brother N., as an affectionate greeting in the Lord. Amen.
And after all salutation, I inform my dear and beloved brother, that I
am still in tolerably good health according to the flesh; and according
to the spirit, it is my purpose, by the help of God’s goodness, to
adhere to the Lord as long as I live.
Further, my beloved brother, I have learned that my children are at
your house, that you are to keep them till my wife comes home, whereby
you show me great friendship, that you have done this; and I also
pray you, my dear brother, that if you should have a small chamber
that you could spare, that my wife might also live with you until the
Lord bring about a change with me; and if they should deprive me of
my life, I should like it very much, if you would aid her in getting
to Bruges, there to make her living, or back to Holland, wherever it
should please her to go. For, my beloved brother, women that are thus
situated, have need of help and comfort; hence I pray you, do your
best in this matter; remember that James says, that true religion is,
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27. And, my dear brother,
though I must now suffer a little for the Lord’s sake, let this not
deter you from following the Lord, but let it make you the more zealous
to build the house firmly upon the rock, so that when such storms come,
it may stand. And neglect not to exhort one another with the gifts
that the Lord has given you, so that no one may be hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin; also to provoke one another to love and good
works, so that should it be to-morrow or the day after, that any of
you should come into bonds, you may then be strong through the Lord,
and through the power of his might, to resist all those that exalt
themselves against the knowledge of Jesus Christ. For Paul makes known
how we are to arm ourselves with the armor of God, saying that the
loins must be girt about with truth, and the breast protected with
righteousness, and the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
and above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph. 6. Thus, my beloved
brother, such weapons are of good service to him that is tried as I am
now tried.
Hence, my dear brother, I beg you pray the Lord for me, that I may
overcome all; and do also in my place assist my wife and children, this
I pray you; and greet N. N., and above all, greet your wife much in my
name.
Written on the 17th of January, by me,
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM CHRISTIAN RIJCEN, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE, IN WHICH HE
WRITES THAT HE HAS LEARNED THAT NO COMFORT HAD COME FOR HIM FROM THE
COURT, THOUGH THE RECORDER HAD COME HOME; WHEREFORE HE CONSOLED HIMSELF
IN THE LORD.
Grace, peace and love be unto you from God our heavenly Father, through
his Son Jesus Christ. Amen. This, I Christiaen Rijcen, wish you my dear
wife, as an affectionate greeting in the Lord.
And after all salutation, I inform you, my very dear wife, that I am
still in tolerably good health (praise and glory to the Lord for his
grace), as I trust is also the case with you and the children.
I further inform you, that I received your letter, and I thank you
for the treasure you sent me. I further also learn that you live in
N.’s house, and that he has provided you with wood, of which I am
very glad, that you find some comfort there yet. If it should please
the Lord, to deliver me out of this again, I hope that we shall repay
it to him; but so far I think there is little prospect for me to
get out. For I have learned that no advice has come from the Court
as yet. Though the recorder has come, there has no comfort come for
me with him, except that I thank the Lord, who comforts me in this
tribulation. And I hope to approve myself as a minister of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God,
by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by
honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and
yet true; as unknown, and yet known before God; as dying, and behold,
we live. 2 Cor. 6. Thus, my dear wife, I hope to approve myself in
all things as the minister of God; for I often hear evil reports, and
sometimes good reports, and so the time passes away; and I think that
it may probably be so also with you. Hence, my beloved wife, let us
be patient in tribulation, fervent in hope, and continuing instant in
prayer; and remember me in your prayers, for I do the same for you. For
there passes not much time that I do not think of you and the children.
I pray you, do the best with them, and if you have some work, make them
labor diligently. Tell them that I command them to this; and when you
have some leisure, teach them in the book; this I pray you; so that
hereafter, when they shall have lost you and me, they may search, as to
what tends to their salvation.
I furthermore also learn from your letter, that you desire me to write
your landlord a short letter; which I have done. However, I wrote at
the top of the letter, to N. N.; but it does not matter to me who has
it; may the fruit of righteousness spring from it. But I hope to write
another yet, if the Lord permits me. Nothing more for this time, but be
commended to the Lord, and greet all acquaintances in my name.
Written the 27th of February, by me,
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
ANOTHER COMFORTING LETTER FROM CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN, WRITTEN TO HIS
WIFE, IN WHICH HE EXHORTS HER TO PERSEVERANCE IN THE FEAR OF GOD, AND
INFORMED HER, HOW THE PASTOR OF HOUTEN HAD TEMPTED HIM, PROMISING HIM
TO HELP HIM OUT, IF HE WOULD HEARKEN TO HIM.
I, Christian Rijcen, imprisoned for the Lord’s sake, wish my very dear
and beloved wife, the eternal wisdom of the Father, and the love of the
Son, and the consolation of the holy Ghost, as an affectionate greeting.