With thanks, like greeting meets their ears.
Then unto him they said:
That he the word divine should hear,
Or feast on executioner’s fare.
“From this my faith I’ll ne’er let go,
The word of God full well I know;
My cause to God I give;
Yet deep regret doth fill my heart,
That innocent I must depart.”
They led him to an inn in haste,
And meat and drink before him placed,
The hangman by his side:
That deep disgust and fear of death,
Might make him yet renounce his faith.
Quoth Haslibacher to the man:
“Eat, drink; make merry while you can,
For though upon this day
You offer up my guiltless blood,
My soul more quickly soars to God.”
He further said: “The Lord will show
Three signs, to let you plainly know
That innocent I die;
For when my head’s struck off, ’twill fall
Into my hat, and laugh withal.
“The second sign upon the sun
You’ll plainly see when it is done;
And of the third take heed:
The sun will, like my blood, be red,
The town-well likewise blood will shed.
The judge unto the lords decreed:
Of these three signs take goodly heed.
Remember also this:
That if this all shall happen so,
’Twill work your soul’s eternal woe.”
When he had finished his repast,
They took his hands to tie them fast;
When Haslibacher said:
“Pray, Lorenz, listen to my plea,
And leave my hands from fetters free.
“I’m ready now and do rejoice,
That you have let me have my choice
To die and pass from hence.
But Lord, show mercy unto them,
Who me this day to death condemn.”
When he at last the block had faced,
He doffed his hat and had it placed
The multitude before:
“Friend Lorenz, to my prayer give ear,
I beg to leave my hat lie here.
With this he bowed his knees in prayer,
And when the Paternoster there,
He earnestly had prayed,
He said: “To God I’ve given my cause,
Act now, according to your laws.”
Down comes the sword, when lo, the head
Springs in his hat, as he had said;
And all the signs were seen--
The sun was red and looked like blood,
The town-well shed a crimson flood.
Amazed, an aged sire said:
“The Anabaptist laughs, though dead.”
Then said another sire:
“If you had let this Baptist live,
Eternally you would not grieve.”
With one accord the people said:
“Henceforth no Baptist’s blood we’ll shed.”
Then said an aged sire:
“Had you not acted ’gainst my will,
This Baptist would be living still.”
The hangman too was heard to say:
“’Tis guiltless blood I’ve shed to-day.”
Then said a yeoman old:
“The Anabaptist’s mouth did laugh,
Which surely indicates God’s wrath.”
He who composed this little hymn,
Received his death in prison dim,
A sinful mob to please.
They brought him pen and ink to write,
And thus he bade us all “Good night.”
NOTE.--At the close of the German edition of the Martyrs Mirror an
extract was received and inserted which Hans Lœrsch had copied out of
the Tower Book at Berne, and which has been preserved by Christian
Kropff; the same reads as follows:
At Berne the following persons were executed for the faith: In the year
1528: Hans Seckler, a joiner, and hatter, at Aarau. In the year 1529:
Conrad Eicher of Staffisburg; two believers from the Seignioralty Bix;
a tinker from the Emmenthal; Ulrich Schneider, of Luetzgenpfluehe; a
young lad from Wallis; Hagerly, from the Seignioralty Alburg. In the
year 1536: the 2d of May, Moritz Losenegger. In the year 1537: Bernhard
Waelty of Ruederswil, on the 7th of July; Hans Schweitzer of Ruegsau,
Juerg Hoffser of Obergallbach, from the Seignioralty Siegnau on the
28th of August, Ulrich Bichsel; Barbeli Willher of Hassli; Barbeli
zur Studen of Summiswald; Catharina Friedli Imhoff; Verena Issoli of
Schuelbah from the Seignioralty Seignau; Ulrich of Ruegsau. In the
year 1538: Cunas Seidenkohen of Constance, on the 28th of March; Peter
Stucki, at Wimmis on the 16th of April; Ulrich Huben of Rietenbach,
from the Seignioralty Seignau; Hans Willer, in August; Elsbeth Kuepfer
of Summiswald; two women, on the 28th of May, the one of Summiswald,
the other of Hoestetten; Peter Wessenmiller of Wimmis, on the 7th of
September; Stephen Ruegsegger, on the 8th of December, who was executed
at Einygen; one from the Seignioralty Seignau; one of Summiswald;
Rudolph Isolly from the Tannenthal. In the year 1539: Lorenz Aeberly
of Gruenau, on the 3d of June; Hans Schumacher from the Aargau, of
Wuemistern. In the year 1532: one of Oberbip, on the 1st of May; Peter
Ancken from the Siebenthal. In the year 1543: Christian Oberlen, on the
17th of September; Hans Ancken of Ausseldingen; Waelty Gaerber on the
Striethalter, from the Seignioralty Seignau. In the year 1571, on the
20th of December: Hans Haslibacher, from the Seignioralty Summiswald,
who was executed at Haslibach.
AN EDICT PUBLISHED BY THOSE OF BERNE AGAINST THOSE CALLED ANABAPTISTS,
THE 9TH OF AUGUST, IN THE YEAR 1659.
The persecution did not cease with the imprisonment of the above
mentioned seven friends at Berne but they proceeded still further with
their constraint of conscience, and consequently with the exercise of
their fury; insomuch that they also aimed at those that were dispersed
and wandered about as sheep having no shepherd.
Against them, on the 9th of August of the year 1659, in the meeting
of the Council of the city of Berne, a certain edict was drawn up,
confirmed and also proclaimed, touching the bodies and goods of the
aforementioned, poor, wandering, and afflicted people, teachers as well
as those taught; reading as follows:
_Extract of an edict, published by those of Berne against the
Anabaptists._
The teachers, of whom, by close search; one or more can be apprehended,
shall forthwith, by the Bailiff, be conducted here into our orphan
house, for safe keeping; in order that the necessary steps for their
conversion may be taken there, or, if they persist in obstinacy, proper
punishment be exercised. In the meantime the officers shall seize their
property and deliver an inventory thereof to us, or to the directors
appointed by us for this purpose.
Now between those that are not teachers, but simply their adherents and
followers, as also between the stubborn and obstinate, and the simple
or weak and inexperienced, this difference shall be made, that with the
former more severity is to be used, but with these more gentleness.
Those, however, as well as these, our officers and preachers shall
together, kindly, diligently and punctually examine and investigate,
concerning their and their fellow believers’ life, conversation and
faith; remind and convince them from the word of God of their error,
and thereupon, for the same reason, show them, with proper discretion
and prudence, their bounden duty towards God, his word, the preaching
of the same, holy baptism, the holy Supper and catechization, and
also toward their God-appointed Christian authorities, fidelity and
allegiance towards their country, together with other things required,
and remind them well, so that they may at all times execute these
things.
If then by such kind words, instruction and admonition, some shall have
been brought back into the true way, so that there is hope of their
reformation and conversion, the same shall and may without any other
abjuration, or without rendering any oath, be set at liberty, with a
good admonition, and paying the expenses, and as converted members,
graciously be received back into the bosom of the church; without this
causing them any further rebuke, hatred, contempt or the like, but much
rather praise for their obedient return.
Then, as soon as these people shall have returned the preachers of said
place shall so order their sermons, as to strengthen the same after
their conversion, and earnestly admonish all the others in general,
much rather to honor, praise and love these people on account of their
conversion, than that they should therefore in any wise hate, despise
and revile them. Further, they shall set them a good example, by a
blameless life and conversation, by piety and honesty, in the hope,
that by this means the rest may be won the more easily, and, without
fear, be brought back into the true way.
But to those who accept no reminding, instruction or admonition, but
continue disobedient and stubborn, neither will renounce or depart
from their error, the penalty of banishment imposed upon them shall be
announced, and their immovable obstinacy and reprobacy be made known to
the directors appointed by us over the affairs of the Anabaptists, that
our further orders with regard to it may be expected.
And when such obstinate erring, persons, upon the above mentioned
report, have been sentenced by the court, it is our meaning, intention
and command: that they, under a safe escort, be conducted to the
boundary, and by a promise, in place of an oath (since they do not
swear an oath), be utterly banished from our country and dominion,
until their apparent conversion; and if they, notwithstanding the
banishment, return unconverted, and are apprehended, and still do not
recant, but obstinately persevere in their error as before, they shall,
as often as this occurs, be publicly scourged with rods, branded, and
again, as before, expelled and banished from the country, which well
deserved punishment is founded upon the following reasons and arguments:
1. All subjects are, without contradiction, bound to show their
natural, God-given authorities, fidelity and allegiance, and to attest
such fealty or fidelity with an oath; but those who will not render
such oath of allegiance are not recognized as subjects, nor tolerated
in the country, hence the Anabaptists, who flatly refuse the same,
neither can or shall in any wise be permitted to remain in the country.
2. Just as little can they be recognized and tolerated as subjects,
who will not acknowledge (as subjects are bound to acknowledge),
that their authorities are from God, and with God, without which
acknowledgment there can be no obedience; but as the Anabaptists
will not admit, that the office of magistracy is compatible with
Christianity (or can exist in the Christian church), hence they can
also not be tolerated in the country.
3. All subjects are bound to defend and protect their country, as being
our common mother, yea, to sacrifice their property and blood for it;
hence those, who, contrary to the command refuse to do this, cannot be
permitted in the country and as the Anabaptists utterly refuse this,
they cannot be tolerated in the country.
4. All subjects are bound, according to the teaching of the holy
apostle Paul, to render, for the common support of their country,
tithes, customs and taxes; and those who refuse to do this cannot be
tolerated in the country. Since, then, the Anabaptists, though they do
not refuse to do these things, which is done through fear, yet teach,
that to take this, is not compatible with Christianity; which doctrine,
if it should gain the ascendancy, might easily produce evil fruit;
therefore such people can not be put (or tolerated) under a government.
5. Since the magistracy, as the same apostle teaches, is given of God
as an avenger, upon those that do evil, especially upon murderers,
traitors, and the like, the subjects are bound to make the same known
to their authorities; but those who will not obligate themselves to do
this, cannot be reckoned among the faithful and obedient subjects; now
therefore as the Anabaptists are such as refuse to make known one of
them to the authorities, they cannot be tolerated.
6. Those who refuse to submit to the wholesome ordinances and statutes
of the authorities of the country, yea, act directly contrarily to
them, can be tolerated still less. Now the Anabaptists are such
people; for they act and offend against the so necessary and not less
beneficial ordinances of the authorities, in the following ways:
1. They preach without the calling and confirmation of the authorities.
2. They baptize in their churches without the calling and command of
the authorities.
3. They pervert the church discipline (or have other church
regulations) contrary to the public ordinances of the authorities.
4. They attend no meetings (of the church) held on Sundays or days of
prayer.
Hence, as they will not submit, as behooves faithful subjects, to such
institutions and ordinances, that agree with the word of God, and
contemptuously act contrarily to them, they are not worthy to live in
the country.
For these manifold and vitally important reasons we are entirely
resolved, and would earnestly have it laid to heart by all, that they
constantly and without delay proceed with such banishment and the
penalties pertaining thereto, against all the adherents and followers
of this erring and, (on account of much evil) very dangerous, wicked
sect; that the same may make no progress, much less, receive additions,
but that it may, with every possible means, be utterly abolished, and
the country be rid of it; whereupon we graciously rely.
Touching, then, the property of such disobedient banished people, as
also of those that have run away, the same shall, after computation of
the expenses accrued, be divided with the obedient wives and children,
and said portion, whether real or personal property, after our officers
have seized it, an inventory thereof shall be sent to the hands of
our aforesaid directors, in order that such property may be managed
at their discretion, the annual income be drawn from it and, if the
banished or fugitive persons do not again return, but die unconverted
in their errors, the same be adjudged to us with perfect equity;
likewise shall it be done regarding the property belonging to the wives
and children of Anabaptists, who went away with them, though they were
not regarded as adherents of the sect.
We herewith also declare and prohibit with equal strictness, that
no one, whoever he be, shall lodge or give shelter to native or
foreign Anabaptists, whether they be related to him or not; or to
help encourage their meetings, preaching, etc., whether by granting
them the use of houses or barns, or by aiding them with means: or,
in the future, to have any intercourse whatever with them, whether
written or oral; or in any wise to lend them any aid in the way of
money, provisions, or the like, neither secretly nor publicly; but,
on the contrary, we earnestly admonish every one of our subjects,
whatever they can learn concerning them, by writing, by messengers, or
orally, forthwith to report the same to the high Bailiff, that he may
regulate himself according to these our ordinances, and proceed against
offenders, for every offense of which they are found guilty, with
the irremissible fine of one hundred guilders; or, in case they are
not able to pay it, with arbitrary punishment, concerning which last
mentioned point, every one shall, until further information, be warned
by a special proclamation read from the pulpit.
Given in our council meeting, on the 9th of August, A. D. 1659.
CONCERNING WHAT WAS DONE FOR THE DELIVERANCE OF THE LAST MENTIONED
PRISONERS, AS ALSO FOR THE MITIGATION OF THE EDICT OF THOSE OF BERNE,
BY THEIR HIGH MIGHTINESSES THE LORDS STATES GENERAL, AND SOME RULERS OF
DUTCH CITIES, IN THE YEAR 1660.
This edict having been drawn up and proclaimed everywhere, especially
in the confines of Berne, caused very great sorrow, for those that
were already imprisoned, as well as for all the rest that were still
out of bonds; since, as it seemed, it was now imminent, that the whole
remaining light of truth, which had most gloriously arisen in these
parts, should be extinguished, and even the very foundation and root of
the lovely flower of the true Christian church utterly eradicated and
destroyed.
But in the meantime it happened, that the aforementioned edict came
to our notice, in the original Swiss language, and also translated
into the Dutch; whereby there was caused in us, and in many others
of our fellow-believers in the province of Holland, who had received
reliable information regarding the same, an inward affection, love
and compassion for the distressed Swiss friends, who were severely
threatened thereby.
Hence it was resolved and determined, in February of the year 1660,
to dispatch certain persons, fellow-believers of our faith, from the
cities Dortrecht, Harlem, Leyden, Amsterdam, Goude, and Rotterdam, to
Gravenhage, or the Court of Holland, where their High Mightinesses,
the Lords States General, were then holding their special assembly; to
the end that the distress of the Swiss Anabaptists might be made known
to them, and favorable letters of recommendation be obtained, to the
cities of Berne and Zurich, for the release, or at least alleviation of
the condition, of said people that were persecuted there.
Thereupon those dispatched from the aforementioned cities appeared
together in Gravenhage, about the 18th of February, of the same year,
and very speedily brought into the proper form an humble supplication
(which had already been drafted, but was not yet signed by all)--signed
it, and, to the end of aforesaid, delivered it to their High
Mightinesses.
These, as kind fathers and friendly fosterers of the afflicted, poor
and oppressed, took such great interest in the matter, that they
without delay, immediately resolved to comply with what was requested
in the aforementioned supplication.
Hence three documents were drawn up by the order of their High
Mightinesses; The first to the rulers of the city of Berne, for the
releasing of the prisoners, etc. The second to those of Zurich, for
restitution of the property of the imprisoned, deceased and expelled
Anabaptists (of whom we have also made mention in this book), which
they had kept in their possession already from the year 1635. The
third, as a passport for Adolph de Vrede, who was now to travel to
Berne and Zurich in Switzerland, in behalf of the Dutch Anabaptists,
or at least in the name of those who had drawn up the aforementioned
supplication, and thereupon obtained the letter of recommendation from
their High Mightinesses; to deliver the first mentioned two documents
to the lords there, to the end aforesaid.
These three documents, since we have received true copies thereof,
we shall, as much as concerns this matter in particular, present to
the well-disposed reader, and accord them a place in this book, for a
laudable memorial of what the States General of these blessed United
Netherlands have herein done.
THE STATES, ETC.
_To the city of Berne in Switzerland_:
Noble, very respectable, wise, prudent lords, especial good friends
and neighbors. From the complaints of divers persons, delegated by
their respective churches, who here in this land are called Mennonists,
citizens and inhabitants of the cities of Dortrecht, Harlem, Leyden,
Amsterdam, Goude, and Rotterdam, all situated in the province of
Holland, we have learned, that their fellow-believers, under the
name of Anabaptists, are suffering great persecution at Berne and
thereabouts, by virtue of very rigorous edicts enacted against them,
whereby they are not only prohibited from continuing to reside in the
country, but are not even permitted to depart elsewhere with their
families and goods, though they cannot be charged with any crimes.
That also some of the abovementioned persuasion are kept in close
confinement there.
All of which has moved us to Christian compassion, and we could
therefore not forbear, but, on the contrary, have deemed it well,
hereby to request you very kindly and neighborly, also most earnestly,
that you will not only not meet, neither suffer to be met,--the
fellow-believers of the supplicants, who under the name of Anabaptists
are found in, or belong to your dominion and are obedient, with
improper proceedings, and release and set at liberty the aforesaid
prisoners,--but also much rather, according to the good example of the
lords of the government of Schaffhausen, grant them sufficient time, to
remove with their goods and effects, whithersoever they shall resolve
to go.
Taking into favorable and proper consideration, that in the year 1655,
when the Vaudois, our and your fellow-believers, were so miserably
dispersed and persecuted by the Romanists, solely for the profession
of their Reformed religion, that the distress of the poor, dispersed
people, could not be relieved in any other way, than by the giving
and gathering of great contributions in England, in this country,
and elsewhere, where the Reformed[360] religion was practiced, the
Anabaptistic church, now the aforesaid supplicants, upon this simple
recommendation of their respective magistrates, from due obedience
to the same, and at the same time, also out of Christian love and
compassion for the aforesaid dispersed and persecuted Christians,
gave so liberally in their meetings, that it swelled to a notable
sum, which the deacons of the aforesaid church, by the order of their
aforementioned respective magistrates, turned over to where it belonged.
[360] _True Reformed_, a certain copy has it.
We will rest confident, that you will defer to our well meant friendly
and neighborly intercession, as much as the justice of the matter
demands, and as we expect from your usual wisdom and discretion;
assuring you, that we shall never fail to return and acknowledge
respectively this favor to you collectively and individually, also to
your inhabitants, whenever an opportunity for it shall present itself
to us, and you shall be pleased to try us in this respect. In the
meanwhile we pray God Almighty: Noble, etc. In the Hague, the 19th of
February, 1660.
This accords with the minutes preserved in the records of their High
Mightinesses.
J. SPRONSSEN.
Besides this writing of their High Mightinesses to the lords of Berne,
there was drawn up also the following, to those of Zurich, which
(excepting a few words expressed in the foregoing, and hence not
necessary to be repeated), we will present here.
THE STATES, ETC.
_To the city of Zurich in Switzerland_:
Noble, very respectable, wise, prudent lords, especial good friends
and neighbors. From the complaints of divers persons, delegated by
their respective churches, who here in this land are called Mennonists,
citizens and inhabitants of the cities of Dortrecht, Harlem, Leyden,
Amsterdam, Goude, and Rotterdam, all situated in the province of
Holland, we have learned, that their fellow-believers, under the
name of Anabaptists, have suffered great persecution at Zurich and
everywhere in your dominion, by virtue of very rigorous edicts enacted
against them, and that they have thereby been compelled to leave every
thing and to remove to other countries, to their great inconvenience
and total ruin.
All this has moved us to Christian compassion, and we could therefore
not forbear, but on the contrary, deemed it good, hereby to request you
very kindly and neighborly, also most earnestly, that you, according
to the good example of the magistrates of the city of Schafthausen,
release the property of the fellow-believers of the supplicants, which
you have now for several years had managed by directors appointed over
them, and drawn the fruits thereof, and deliver them to the aforesaid
persons interested, or those authorized by them, to be sold within a
certain sufficient time, and turned into money for their benefit.
(The rest is identical word for word with the preceding letter.)
Besides the aforementioned two letters of the States General to the
lords of Berne and Zurich, which are dated the same day, namely, the
19th of February, 1660, there followed yet a third letter, on the
9th of March of the same year, serving partly as a passport to the
ambassador and bearer of said two letters to the cities of Berne and
Zurich, and partly to request the neighboring potentates near and
around those parts, to promote said matter for the protection of the
Anabaptists. The contents thereof are as follows:
COPY.
_The States General of the United Netherlands, to all who see this or
hear it read, greeting._