great violence, so that at one time about thirty thief catchers[352]
entered, as by storm, the houses of the Anabaptists and defenseless
Christians, made many watch-fires, raged and stormed, broke open doors
and windows, ran with bare swords through the houses, and afterwards
drank and rioted worse than soldiers.
[352] There were with them two preachers (says the Swiss author), who
went along with the thief catchers and helped them.
Among others there was also vehemently assailed the house of an old
man, named Hans Meyli, a minister of the church, who himself had been
imprisoned in the year 1637; but now they also took along his son Martin’s
wife, notwithstanding she had an infant at the breast.
She was bound hard, and confined in the convent prison called
Othenbach, fed for a long time on bread and water, and very severely
treated, in order to cause her to apostatize; but she continued
steadfast in all her temptations, and was ultimately, through the grace
of God, wonderfully delivered from bonds. Subsequently, being enceinte,
she was again apprehended, and taken to the council house at Zurich,
thence to Othenbach, and finally into the hospital, and there made fast
to a chain, until the pains of travail came upon her, when she was
loosed from her bonds, and seeing an opportunity for deliverance, once
more escaped the persecutors’ hands. See _Tract of the year 1645, by
Jer. M., fol. 4, B. and fol. 5, A._
NOTE.--The authorities laid their hands also on the property, movable
as well as immovable, of the old man, and realized from the sale of
it fourteen thousand guilders, all of which they kept for themselves,
without making any restitution.
NOTE.--On the 3d of May, A. D. 1639, the two sons of the aforementioned
Hans Meyli, namely, Hans Meyli, Jr., and Martin Meyli, together with
the wife of this Hans Meyli, were apprehended and imprisoned at Zurich,
where there was inflicted upon them, especially upon the men, much
misery, vexation and harm, with fetters and handcuffs, as well as
iron shackles, which were put upon them twice, in order to make them
apostatize from their faith.
Their children, as poor, forsaken orphans, were put out among
strangers, which, as may easily be supposed, must have caused no
small sorrow and anxiety to the hearts of these imprisoned parents;
nevertheless they remained unchanged in their faith, refusing to
apostatize therefrom, notwithstanding their love to their afflicted
children, to whom they could not come, until they, on the Friday
before Easter, A. D. 1641, after three years imprisonment, together
with others of their fellow brethren, were delivered, in an unexpected
manner, from their bonds, keeping a good conscience. See _Tract of the
year 1645, by Jer. Mang., fol. 5, A. B._
CATHARINA MULERIN, A. D. 1639.
[Illustration: CATHARINA MULERIN APPREHENDED.]
The north wind of persecution rose now more and more in the Knonow
district, which also appeared in the case of an old sister, named
Catharina Mulerin; who having also been apprehended and taken to
Zurich, had to suffer much there in prison, for the faith and testimony
of Jesus Christ; but was afterwards (as the preceding ones), beyond all
hope and expectation, released from bonds. _Tract, Jer. Mang., fol. 8,
B._
FOUR SISTERS, NAMELY, BARBARA MEYLIN, OTTILA MULERIN, BARBARA KOLBIN,
AND ELIZABETH MEYLIN, A. D. 1639.
The persecution did not cease with the foregoing; but they continued
and laid their hands also upon four pious sisters, Barbara Meylin,
Ottila Mulerin, Barbara Kolbin, and Elizabeth Meylin, who also had to
drink out of the bitter cup of the dreadful Zurich prison; however, the
Lord preserved them, so that they, unharmed in their faith, unknown to
the authorities, unexpectedly also escaped from imprisonment and bonds.
See the last mentioned tract, _fol. 10, A._
NOTE.--We made mention, for the year 1635, of one Hans Muller, who,
being imprisoned in the council house at Zurich, with two of his fellow
brethren, was released for a month upon condition, and then again
imprisoned, and released the second time upon the same condition.
He was subsequently (about the year 1639, as the circumstances show)
again cruelly persecuted; insomuch that even his neighbors and their
houses were not spared, through which the thief-catchers ran like
ravening wolves on the track of a sheep; but when they came into his
house, from which he had already escaped, they, with pincers and other
instruments, broke open chests and drawers, in the hope that they might
there find the property of the church or the poor.
These thief-catchers, that night, threatened his little children, with
bare swords, that they would kill them, if they did not show them where
their father was.
When they could not get him, they took along his wife, whom they bound
and imprisoned in Othenbach. Thereupon, it was proclaimed in church,
that no one was allowed to lodge, or give food or drink to Hans Muller
from the Groeningen Bailiwick, on pain of severe penalty and the
disfavor of the authorities.
Now when his life was made exceedingly hard to him, the Bailiff in the
convent of Ruti, in the name of the burgomasters and councilors of
Zurich, sent to him a letter of this import, namely: That he should
have a safe conduct for three weeks, to go and remain wherever he
would; also that he might freely come to him in the convent, and, after
they should have finished their conference, leave free and unmolested.
Thereupon he voluntarily, with sure confidence in the aforesaid
promise, went into the convent; but when he could not consent to the
Bailiff’s demand about his having to go to church, he was confined
there, guarded day and night, and then taken to Zurich, imprisoned
for a time in the council house, and then in Othenbach (that being
the place where also his wife was imprisoned), where he was stripped,
and kept a prisoner about sixty weeks; in which time he was in irons
sixteen weeks, till he with the other prisoners finally, one Friday
before Easter, unexpectedly made his escape.
Afterwards he was again hunted with mad fury, even as before, and
driven from one place to another, so that he did not dare to live in
his house with his wife.
In the meantime it happened, that his wife, having been delivered
of twins, and lain in but eleven days, was surprised by ten
thief-catchers, who, having surrounded the house by night, entered it
with this threat: That if she would not indicate her husband’s hiding
place, she should not leave the house for six weeks, or else she would
have to go to church herself. But when she would not comply with this,
two of the ten remained, and guarded her day and night.
This filled the woman with such terror that, seeing their design, she,
on a certain very cold night, broke away with her two infants, and went
a long unbeaten way, over hill and dale, and thus escaped the enemies’
hands, forsaking all that she had, which the authorities rented to
strangers, realizing thereby a thousand guilders annually. See _Jer.
Mang. Tract, fol. 13, A._
ELIZABETH HILZIN, A. D. 1639.
In the meantime they treated some far more severely and cruelly than
the preceding ones; for they ceased not with mere imprisonment, but the
people were suffered to die by sheer want, poverty and misery.
Among those that suffered death, there is numbered Elizabeth Hilzin, a
godfearing woman and sister of the church, who having been apprehended,
bound, and imprisoned in Othenbach, was there treated so harshly, that
she, from that time on, had but few well moments.
Nevertheless no mercy or compassion was shown her, until she, in
consequence of all the hardships suffered, wasted in body, and, having
surrendered her spirit, which she had received from God, back to him,
died. However, the second death shall not hurt her, according to the
promise of the Lord: “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the
second death.” Rev. 2:11. See above.
NOTE.--The authorities extorted a fine of five hundred guilders from
the surviving husband of Elizabeth Hilzin.
_Further observations._--About this time, 1639, there was also
apprehended a young man from Horgerberg, named Hans Aster. He was also
taken to Zurich into Othenbach, fed on bread and water for a time,
stripped in his bonds, etc., but subsequently helped out, through the
assistance of some of his fellow believers.
When this occurred, he was so miserably crippled through the severe
imprisonment, that he had to be carried a long distance in the night.
In the meantime, also his wife with her infant child was apprehended,
and confined in Othenbach for a time, but subsequently, through divine
providence, escaped the enemies’ hands.
The authorities expelled the children into poverty, and sold their
house and homestead (realizing from it about four thousand guilders),
without restoring any thing.
The parents had therefore to work hard for a living, having lost every
thing; but in this they trusted in God’s promises. _Tract, Jer. and
Meyli._
HANS VAN UTICKEN, A. D. 1639.
Like a sweeping tempest which strikes everything, and carries away
whatever is loose, so it also went at this time in the matter of
persecution. All that were called Anabaptists were taken along,
wherever they could get hold of them. The district of Uticken-wage had
to suffer much in consequence of this. Among those that lived here,
they also apprehended a pious brother, named Hans van Uticken,[353]
surnamed Muller, who, in the year 1639, was incarcerated in the convent
prison at Zurich.
[353] The Swiss author calls this Hans van Uticken by the name of
Hans Muller, but we have allowed him to retain the name Hans van
Uticken, because he was by descent from Uticken-wage; to distinguish
him from Hans Muller who was descended from the Groeningen Bailiwick,
and of whom we made previous mention, in the note added to the
account concerning Barbara Meylin and three of her fellow-sisters.
There they fed him on water and bread, stripped him in his bonds, and
treated him most unmercifully, until he, having continued therein two
years, became very sick, and as sick as he was, was helped out of
prison, through the assistance of some of his fellow-believers, who, as
it seems, feared his untimely death.
But when he was brought to his wife and children, and attained to
rest, he died; however, with a joyful hope and glad soul, because the
course of his pilgrimage (since he was not weakened in his faith and
conscience) was now finished.
Thereupon his wife, because she had lodged her husband, and the
children, because they had shown mercy to their father, had to pay to
the authorities, a fine of forty pounds. _Tracts, Jer. Mang., fol. 6,
A., and M. Meyli, fol. 7, B., num. 13._
NOTE.--In the year 1639, the thief-catchers of the city of Zurich, led
by one of the ministers of the church there, who went before them with
a light (a lantern, torch or candle) like maniacs and madmen, violently
entered into the house of a pious brother, named Rudolf Hagi, whom
they forthwith took prisoner and conducted to Othenbach, a damp and
unwholesome prison of the city of Zurich.
Here he was stripped in his bonds, and kept confined for about
eighty-three weeks; during which time he, with other of his
fellow-believers, was fettered and chained for sixteen weeks.
In the meantime they searched hard for his wife, but for the first
captured only her oldest child, which they threatened with iron bonds
and handcuffs, if it would not show where its mother was. Afterwards
they also found the mother, whom they imprisoned in Othenbach. They,
however, when there was no deliverance at hand, subsequently, by a
certain means, made their escape, together with their brethren and
sisters that were also imprisoned, without apostatizing from the faith.
_Tract Jeremiah Mang., fol. 6, A._, compared with _M. Meyli, on the
name Rudolf_.
BURCKHARDT AMAN, A. D. 1639.
Burckhardt Aman was a godfearing brother, who lived on the lake of
Zurich. He was from there taken to Zurich, and imprisoned in Othenbach.
But when his imprisonment had lasted about a year and a half, he,
through a certain accident, unexpectedly was released, unknown to the
authorities, keeping the faith in a good conscience.
But as in his bonds he had been maltreated very unmercifully and
miserably, through many hardships and afflictions that he had suffered,
not the least true Christian love or assistance having been shown him,
it was impossible for him to live long; and he fell into a lingering
sickness, and ultimately died, and was thus numbered among the dead in
Christ, who have suffered and fought for his name’s sake. _Jer. Mang.
Tract for the year 1645, fol. 20, A._
NOTE.--About this time also two sisters, honorable women, were
apprehended on the Lake of Zurich; who, after they had endured the
trial of the faith, were released and delivered from their bonds. See
_Tract, Script., A. D. 1645_.
JACOB EGLI, A. D. 1639.
The misery of the beloved friends and children of God continued;
insomuch that in the year 1639 they laid their hands also on a pious
hero and soldier of Christ, named Jacob Egli, from the Groeningen
Bailiwick. He was also taken to Zurich, and there imprisoned in the
convent dungeon Othenbach.
Herein he persevered upwards of seventy weeks,[354] but was finally
no longer able to endure, according to the flesh, the severity of the
place and the bad treatment, so that he at last, when his strength
failed more and more, and his infirmities increased, with a cheerful
heart, commended his soul into the hands of God, and through death
departed this life.
[354] A year and a half, one of the Zurich writers say.
Thus he finished the course of his pilgrimage, and entered into the
saints’ rest, to triumph hereafter, where there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain; where all things shall be made
new and turned into joy, according to the Lord’s promise, Rev. 21:4.
See _Tract Jer. Mang., fol. 18, B._; also, _M. Meyli. Tract, fol. 7,
A., num. 10_.
NOTE.--A. D. 1639 there was also apprehended the brother George Weber,
an old man, from the county of Kiberg. The same was also taken to
Zurich, into the convent Othenbach, and there fed on bread and water.
Finally, through the hardships and long duration of his imprisonment,
he became greatly impaired in his body, and fell into a severe
sickness, after he had been confined there seventy weeks.
Afterwards, through some of his fellow-prisoners, who opened the
prison, he was released, but never again recovered his property.
As regards the homestead of this George Weber, as also that of Jacob
Egly, the owners of the same must each annually pay therefor to the
authorities five hundred guilders. _Jer. Mang. Tract, fol. 19, A._
ULLI SCHEDME, SURNAMED SCHNEIDER, IN THE YEAR 1639.
The fire which the persecutors had kindled continued to burn, and their
mad fury did not cease, until they had also apprehended a zealous
and godfearing minister of the church, named Ulli Schedme, surnamed
Schneider, by descent from Hirtzenstal, in the seignioralty Wadischwyl.
In his imprisonment all manner of vexation and sorrow was inflicted
upon him, in order to induce him to conform to the common mode of
worship in the churches, and to turn him from his own with whom he had
hitherto associated. But as he could not consent to this, and time
passed on, he, because of the bad fare and other hardships suffered,
continually grew weaker and weaker, till his soul left his body; and he
thus, because of his faithfulness, became, through natural death, an
heir of the eternal and blissful life; the full possession of which the
Lord, at the last day, shall grant to, and make partakers of, all those
that have here faithfully and steadfastly served him. _Tract, M. Meyli,
fol. 6, B., num. 4._
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8.
JACOB RUSTERHEL FROM HORGERBERG, IN THE YEAR 1639.
In the year 1639, there was also brought prisoner to Zurich, Jacob
Rusterhel, an old brother of the church at Horgerberg.
He was imprisoned in Othenbach, and they dealt very unmercifully,
rigorously and cruelly with him; insomuch that he weakened, and
consented to those that kept him in prison, to go to church; wherefore
he was released.
But when he came to himself and considered what he had done, and what
great offense should arise from it, he repented and very bitterly
bewailed his fall, and again prepared himself very valiantly for the
coming conflict.
Thereupon he suddenly became weak and sick according to the body,
though full of divine power according to the soul, and kept quietly hid
in his house.
However this could not remain concealed any longer; hence, being known,
he was betrayed, again apprehended, and, as sick as he was, taken
to Zurich, and, having been shackled with a chain, confined in the
hospital there.
But as he could not endure this, and bodily infirmities came upon him
more and more, he there departed this life, in misery, though with a
joyful hope, waiting in blessed rest for the day of resurrection from
the dead, which shall crown and comfort him and all true lovers of God,
for all reproach and affliction suffered, with eternal honor and joy.
_Jer. Mang., Tract of the year 1645, fol. 13_; also, _M. Meyli, Tract,
fol. 6, B., num. 14_.
NOTE.--We have extracted this from the writing of the Swiss friends, of
A. D. 1658, and it must be distinguished from that which is contained
in the writing of A. D. 1645, concerning brother Jacob Rusterholtz, who
was imprisoned almost two years, and then with wife and child expelled
from the country, leaving behind his property, from the sale of which
the authorities realized 1700 guilders, without restoring anything of
it. See _Tract, Jer. Mangold concerning the name Jacob Rusterhel_.
But if it is to be understood, that both accounts refer to one and the
same person, so that the surnames Rusterhel and Rusterholtz are only to
be distinguished in the sound or spelling, and not in signification, it
must follow, that said person was imprisoned only a few years ago, and
then, when they could accomplish nothing with him, expelled from the
country, and his goods seized and sold; but that he was finally again
apprehended, and, when he, as before, remained steadfast, fastened to a
chain in the hospital, until he died, having commended his soul to God.
Compare both tracts, in the places which we have indicated.
STEPHEN ZEHENDER OF BYRMENSDORF, IN THE YEAR 1639.
On the 23d of September of the same year, 1639, there was brought bound
to Zurich a godfearing brother, aged in years, named Stephen Zehender,
a member of the church at Knonow, but by descent from Byrmensdorf. He
was there imprisoned for sixteen weeks, in iron bonds, in the convent
prison, a very damp and unwholesome place, called Othenbach, stripped
in his bonds, fed on bread and water, and kept very hard in every
respect, until he could stand it no longer, and, impaired in body, was
befallen with severe misery according to the flesh, and ultimately with
death, after he had with a patient and steadfast mind commended his
soul unto God. See _Jer. Mang., Tract, fol. 7, B._, compared with the
account of _M. Meyli, fol. 6, B., num. 6_.
NOTE.--About this time an old sister named Catharina Grobin, lived
concealed (on account of the persecution) with her daughter, in the
Knonow Bailiwick; but the preacher of the church at Risterschwyl,
knowing this, came and wanted to apprehend her, notwithstanding he was
alone; the daughter, however, out of filial love, wanted to save her,
but he (O what cruelty from a preacher!) gave her such a thrust, that
the pains of travail came upon her, and she was delivered of a dead
child. In the meantime the mother escaped the hands of this ungodly
man. _Tract, M. Meyli_, compared with that of _Mangold, about the year
1639_.
ULRICH SCHNEIDER, WITH HIS TWO SONS, IN THE YEAR 1639.
On the same day that Stephen Zehender was apprehended at Knonow,
namely, the 23d of September, of the year 1639, they also seized, in
the Seignoralty Wadischwyl, Ulrich Schneider, who was likewise (for
his true faith, and because he would not go to the common church with
his adversaries) bound and brought into the dungeon Othenbach.[355]
[355] Some say, into the convent Othenbach; others, into the dungeon;
others, into the prison, etc., but it was evidently at Othenbach a
famous prison in Zurich.
But when he had persevered here for a long time, lain in irons, and
suffered exceeding much temptation, adversity and conflict (inflicted
upon him, to make him apostatize), and, moreover, been stripped in
his bonds, his bodily strength left him, and having committed his
spirit unto God; he died in prison, thereby triumphing valiantly and
courageously in the conflict set before him, without having weakened in
his faith.
After the death of their father, his two sons were also apprehended,
and imprisoned in the same place where their father had died; but
the Lord granted them deliverance, so that they, when it was least
expected, with a good conscience, through a certain means, unknown to
the authorities, obtained their freedom.
In the meantime the authorities broke up this whole family, drove the
remaining children among strangers, and sold the house and homestead,
realizing therefrom 7000 guilders, which they kept for themselves, but
the cast out and forsaken ones joyfully bore the spoiling of their
goods.[356] _Tract, Jer. Mang., fol. 11._
[356] They sold everything, without restoring the proceeds to the
poor, expelled orphans. How will they be able to answer for this in
the great day of judgment, when the Lord shall come and inquire what
mercy they have shown? Matt. 25.
HENRY GUTWOL OF LEHNMER, A. D. 1639.
Two days and one month after the apprehension of the last mentioned
witness of Jesus Christ, namely, on the 25th of October, 1639, there
also died in the dungeon Othenbach, very miserably, however with a
steadfast and joyful mind, Henry Gutwol, of Lehnmer, from the Knonow
Bailiwick, after he had suffered much want, poverty and misery there;
which painful and prolonged misery, upon which death ensued, shall
hereafter, because of his steadfastness in the accepted truth, be
returned to him in an eternal, joyful and triumphant life, according to
the Lord’s promise: “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a
crown of life,” Revelation 2:10. Compare both tracts, that of Mangold
as well as that of Meyli; the one of A. D. 1645, the other of A. D.
1658, in the Swiss language, on the name Henry Gutwol.
HANS JACOB HESS, WITH HIS WIFE, A. D. 1639.
Among those who suffered in the Swiss persecution, there was none of
the least Hans Jacob Hess, a chosen and confirmed minister of the
Christian church.
He was apprehended for the third time in the year 1639; for from the
two preceding imprisonments, the first of which had occurred already,
in the year 1637, the Lord, beyond all expectation, had remarkably
delivered him, through the aid of those that were imprisoned with him;
as also out of this third imprisonment. The first lasted nineteen days,
the second, eight weeks, the third, eighty-three weeks, or more than a
year and a half.
But in the meantime his life was made very bitter and vexatious: for he
was stripped, and, together with some of his fellow-believers, put in
iron bonds, sixteen weeks, which he nevertheless patiently bore with a
steadfast mind, until the time of his deliverance.
While this was taking place, namely in the same year, also his wife was
apprehended, who was first imprisoned in the council house, and then
in Othenbach, where, through bad treatment and unfit food and drink,
for sixty-three weeks, she was so impaired in her constitution, and
weakened, that she was seized with consumption, and after suffering
much misery, died in prison.