Part 99
George Frick of Wirzberg, a tailor, confessed that on last St. Gallus’ fair he was rebaptized by one Benedict, who belonged to their faith, at Philip Kopfler’s, in the Ful. He also did not believe that the priests could bring our Lord God into the host, or change him into bread, since God had neither commanded nor instituted the mass, but the sacrament was only a bread of remembrance. In confession he likewise did not believe; for how can one forgive sins, who is himself a whoremonger and idolater. 2 Pet. 2:19. Concerning our Lady he believed that God favored her and that before and after the birth she was a virgin; for God is able to do more than this. Again he would adhere to his God, and not depart from this faith, but that the will of God should be done. Matt. 6:10.
Mankager of Fuessen, a journeyman shoemaker, confessed that in the forepart of the summer, about St. James’ day, he was baptized, at George Karniter’s of Kunen, by one George of Chur, in Switzerland, who had been a priest, but had resigned said office, and was burned in the summer, at Clausen. He did not believe in infant baptism, nor in the mass; neither did he believe that our Lord God is in the sacrament. He believed that Mary the mother of Christ, was a pure virgin; but the idea of her intercession, as well as that of the saints, he rejected, since Christ is the Mediator, between God and men. 1 Tim. 2:5. In the auricular confession of the priests he did not believe at all. Again, concerning Sunday he said, that God Almighty, in the beginning, in six days, created the world, and rested on the seventh; hence the origin of Sunday; there he would let it rest,--work was not prohibited, but we should rest and fast from sin. He further declared that in the forenoon the priests committed idolatry, and in the afternoon fornication, and what he confessed with the mouth, he would testify to with his blood, and would not depart from the faith, but firmly adhere to it unto his end.
Christina Tolinger, of Penon, confessed that Brother George Blaurock baptized in her house with the true Christian baptism. Concerning the sacrament as used by the priests, she did not believe at all, that they can bring our Lord God into the host or wafer; it is only bread, and the performance of the priests is in every respect a deception. As to whether infants were worthy of salvation without baptism, the Lord said: “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14. The priests baptize the infants, and have much unnecessary care while they are in their infancy; but though they wash them from sin, they do not attempt to draw them away from sin. Regarding our Lady she believed that she is the mother of Christ and a pure virgin. Matt. 1:23. In confession as used by the priests, she did not believe; if one confesses his sins, and forsakes and desists from them, it is a true confession. Concerning holidays and Sundays she said that in six days God the Lord created the world, and rested the seventh day; and that the other holidays had been instituted by popes, cardinals, and archbishops, and that she did not believe in them. Since she lived in the world, she observed them as others did, to avoid giving offense; however, none is condemned for working. Again, the priests commit idolatry in the forenoon, and fornication in the afternoon. With the help and grace of God she intended to die in this her resolution.
Barbara of Thiers, wife of Hans Portzen confessed that about last St. Michael’s day she was baptized with the true Christian baptism, at Craum on the Moss, near Eintempichel, by a teacher of the word of God, named Benedict. Again, she did not believe in the idolatrous sacrament of the priests, nor in the mass; since the priests commit idolatry in the forenoon, and fornication in the afternoon. In confession as used by the priests, she did not believe. Concerning our Lady, she had nothing to say. Regarding Sundays and holidays, she said that God the Lord had commanded to rest the seventh day, and there she would let it rest. With the help and grace of God she intended to adhere to this, and to die therein, since it was the true faith and the right way in Christ.
Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg confessed that next Christmas it would be about a year since she was baptized, in Switzerland, in a place called Auf der Tiefe, near St. Gall, by one Brother Topigh, a teacher of the word of God. She did not believe in infant baptism, though they had all been baptized. If children die in or before baptism, they die in innocence, and are the Lord’s. She did not believe in the mass, since Christ did not say to his disciples: “Go and read mass;” but: “Go, and preach the Gospel.” Matt. 16:15. Concerning the sacrament she said that since in the creed it is confessed that he (Christ) sitteth at the right hand of his heavenly Father, whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead, she believed in no wise that he permitted himself to be changed by the priests, into the host or bread. Regarding our Lady she said that she believed that she brought forth Christ the Lord, who alone has redeemed us, and that the Word of God became man in her and suffered for us on the tree of the cross. John 1:14. As regards holidays, she said that one day is not any holier than another, and that Sunday was ordained for the purpose of assembling together, preaching the Gospel, and speaking of it; but that it was abused through drunkenness and other forms of wickedness. With the help and grace of God she would steadfastly adhere to this her faith.
Elizabeth, sister of the aforementioned Agatha, confessed that in the early part of the summer she was baptized at Breitenberg, by Brother Blaurock, according to the command of the Lord Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the sacrament and mass of the priests she did not believe, since it is not found that God commanded it. Concerning our Lady she believed that she brought forth Christ our Redeemer, and was a virgin; and that the saints had indeed to enter [into the kingdom] through tribulation (Acts 14:22), like we and others; but that they are intercessors, she did not believe; since Christ has reserved to himself all power in heaven and earth. As to holidays, she esteems none more highly than the rest, but that we should always wait for the great day of the Lord, and rest from sin. To this she would constantly adhere. Thereupon they were executed as those who truly loved God (Luke 10:27), and as innocent sheep of the Lord; and their names are written in heaven.
ANNA MALER, AND URSULA, A. D. 1529.
In the year 1529, two sisters, Anna Maler, and Ursula, were condemned to death for the divine truth, and drowned in the water, at Hall, in the valley of the Inn, and thus, though women, they were manful and valiant in God, so that many were amazed at their steadfastness, that thus in life and death they testified to the divine truth, as is declared by those who knew them, and are still alive.
NINE BRETHREN, SEVERAL SISTERS, AND ANOTHER SISTER. A. D. 1529.
About the year 1529, the knowledge of the truth began to shine also in the places on the river Rhine, so that divine zeal and the fire of God arose, which the priests, by instigating the authorities, strenuously attempted to stop. First nine brethren and several sisters were apprehended for the faith, in the city of Altzey, without the order of the Elector or Palsgrave, simply through the instigation of the priests, and the aid of the nobility. They lay in prison for a considerable time, and as they were waiting how to deal with them, the Burgrave at Altzey inquired of the Palsgrave, his prince and lord, what he should do with them. The prince answered him that they had a court of justice at Altzey, and that he should let them examine and judge them. The Burgrave did so, and brought them before the court of justice, which, however, would not sentence them, because they had been apprehended simply for the sake of their faith, and no other cause of death existed. Acts 18:15,16. In the meantime an imperial diet was held, at which the Palsgrave stated that he had some prisoners who had been apprehended on account of their faith for Anabaptism; and asked how he should deal with them. The matter was committed to the four inquisitors, as they are called; whom, however, they referred to the mandate of the Emperor, where they would sufficiently find what imperial constitutions, institutions and ordinances were made concerning such; according to which they should deal with them.
For the constitution clearly implies that each and all Anabaptists and anabaptized, whether men or women, if possessing reason, and of adult age, are to be executed with fire, the sword, or some other way according to the character of the persons; and that wherever they were found, they should be brought before the court, accused, and convicted, and be judged or dealt with in no other way, on pain of severe punishment.
Moreover, when they would not apostatize, the mandate was also read to them; upon which without further sentence, they were led out to death, by virtue of the imperial mandate. The brethren were executed with the sword, but the sisters drowned in the horse pond. While they were yet imprisoned, a sister came to them, and comforted the sisters (Matt. 25:39); she told them valiantly and firmly to adhere to the Lord, and not to regard these sufferings, for the sake of the eternal joys which should follow. 2 Cor. 1:5. When this was noticed she was also very speedily apprehended. She was afterwards burned, because she had thus comforted and strengthened the others.
TWO OTHER BRETHREN, AND TWO SISTERS, A. D. 1529.
Thus they meant to extinguish the light of the truth and the fire of God; but it was kindled only the more. They then apprehended a man, a woman, a man-servant and a maid-servant. Whoever embraced the faith, and desired to separate from the ways, society and idolatry of the world, was apprehended by them. In several places they filled all the prisons with them, intending to deter them by fear; but they sang and rejoiced in prison, so that their enemies who had cast them into prison were more troubled and afraid than the prisoners. They knew not what to do with them, especially since it was only on account of the faith.
ABOUT THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERSONS PUT TO DEATH FOR THE FAITH, NEAR ALTZEY, PURSUANT TO THE IMPERIAL MANDATE, A. D. 1529.
The Palsgrave then, in pursuance with the imperial mandate, in a short time, caused about three hundred and fifty persons to be executed for the faith; especially his Burgrave at Altzey, namely Dietrich von Schoenburg, caused many in the town of Altzey to be beheaded, drowned and otherwise put to death; even as the lords who came to the church, and at that time were residents in Altzey, saw themselves how they were taken from the houses in which they were known to be, and led as sheep to the place of execution. They could in no wise be persuaded to apostatize, but went joyfully to meet death; while the others were being drowned, and executed, the rest who were yet alive and waited for death sang until the executioner took them. They were very steadfast in the truth confessed, and, assured in the faith which they had received from God, conducted themselves as valiant soldiers. Matt. 10:22. All the learned and great of this world were confounded by them. 1 Corinthians 1:25,26.
Some whom they did not wish to execute they tortured and maimed their bodies; of some they cut off the fingers, others they burned crosses on their foreheads, and subjected them to much wanton injury; so that even the aforesaid Burgrave said: “What shall I do? the more I cause to be executed, the more they increase.” Ex. 1:22.
This Burgrave Dietrich, who had shed much innocent blood, died a sudden and terrible death, as he was rising from his table. _Chron. van den Ondergang, page 1029, col. 1_, from the old _History of the Baptist Martyrs, lib. 1_.
PHILIP OF LANGENLONSHEIM, A. D. 1529.
One of the last brethren whom they executed in the town of Creitze, was Philip of Langenlonsheim. When the executioner struck off his head, something flew into his face, so that he put up his hands to it, which was well noticed by the people; however, they knew not what it was, or why he did it. Then the saying went abroad that something like a black hen had fluttered before his face, so that he defended himself with his hands; some said that the blood had squirted into his face; and though he himself knew best what it was, it was nevertheless seen afterwards, what it must have been: for the executioner’s nose dropped off close to his face. Thus God punished and visited him, because of the innocent blood, with which he had stained his hands to so large an extent (Prov. 6:17); and God openly and palpably made known thereby, how greatly they oppressed the pious. The Palsgrave also was terrified and troubled in various ways, so that afterwards he had no longer a desire to wash his hands in innocent blood, and would have given much, if it had never taken place.
GEORGE BAUMAN, A. D. 1529.
About this time, a brother named George Bauman was apprehended at Banschlet, in Wurtemburg, for the faith and the word of God. The nobleman whose subject he was, kept him imprisoned for a time, and also had him dreadfully racked and tortured, and did so much to him, by imprisonment, torture and pain, and also by various promises, so that they persuaded him and gained his assent to follow them. They then demanded of him, that he should recant in church, and confess that he desisted [from his faith], which he did once or twice; went to church, and performed that for which his consent had been extorted from him. In the meantime he came to himself, and considered the honor of God and his holy name, and also whither he was going.
Hence, when he came to church the third time for recantation, he said to the priest and the bystanders: “You have condemned me and through pain and fear prevailed upon me to follow you; but now I renounce and revoke it all, and I am sorry that I did it.” Thus he began, and confessed anew that this was the divine truth and the true faith; yea, the way to life in Christ, and that, on the other hand, the idolatrous life and ways of the world are a delusion and contrary to God. In this his faith and confession he intended to continue and persevere unto the end. For what should the priests and servants wait any longer? hence they quickly apprehended him again, and he was speedily sentenced to death. When he was led out to the place of execution, he sang joyfully on the way. It was very muddy in the village, but he walked briskly nevertheless; so that his shoes remained fast in the mud; but he took no notice of it, left them there, hurried on to the place of execution, and sang for joy that God had again given him such courage and heart. Thus he was beheaded with the sword. The nobleman who caused his execution, and nearly all who had sat in judgment, and condemned him, died almost every one of them a miserable death, and came to a dreadful end, so that their happy days in this world terminated in sorrow.
THE SECOND EDICT BY THOSE OF ZURICH, IN WHICH ALL SO-CALLED ANABAPTISTS ARE THREATENED WITH DEATH, A. D. 1530.
There has existed, writes a certain author, in the Zwinglian churches, from their beginning, a great hatred and bitterness against the Anabaptists, or more properly speaking, against those baptized according to the ordinance of Christ as history certifies; by which they commenced very early to tyrannize over them; for we believe the Zwinglian church was not yet ten years old when said abuse occurred. Yet it did not stop at this, but they proceeded, the longer the worse, in this tyranny; so that those of Zurich, A. D. 1530, emitted an edict very much like the bloody decrees of the Roman Emperor, in which they write as follows:
“Therefore we strictly command all the inhabitants of our country, and those who are in any wise united with them, particularly high and low magistrates, bailiffs, constables, judges, elders of churches, and ecclesiastical officers, that, if they hear of any Anabaptists, they give us information concerning them, by virtue of the oath with which they are bound to us; that they nowhere tolerate them, or allow them to multiply; but that they apprehend them, and deliver them to us; for we shall punish with death, according to the purport of our laws, the Anabaptists with all those who favor them or adhere to them; and we shall also punish without mercy, according to their deserts, as having violated the faith and oath which they swore to their authorities,” those who assist, and do not report, drive away, or bring as prisoners to us, all such persons.
This we have taken word for word from the edict, as Bullinger (contra, etc.) has cited it. Compare the note in the preface to the _Offerboeck der Doopsgesinde, A. D. 1615, letter Y, with P. J. Twisck’s, Chron., p. 1031, col. 1_, from different authors.
GEORGE GRUENWALD, A. D. 1530.
In the year 1530, Brother George Gruenwald, a shoemaker, and minister of the word of God, and of his flock, was apprehended for the divine truth, at Kufstein, on the Inn, condemned to death, and burned. Thus he valiantly testified with his blood, that which he had confessed and taught with his mouth, and confessed Christ, yea, his divine truth, before men, forsaking this earthly and perishable praise, that Christ at his day should confess him before his heavenly Father, and, moreover, give him immortal life in the eternal glory of heaven. Matt. 25:46.
BROTHER ALDA, A. D. 1530.
A few days after the execution of the above person, Brother Alda was also executed for the faith, at Kufstein.
GEORGE STEINMETZ, A. D. 1530.
This George Steinmetz was apprehended and beheaded for the testimony of Jesus Christ, at Portzen, in Germany, A. D. 1530. He left the following admonition for consolation in suffering, to all believers:
“We sincerely thank thee, O God, for thy fatherly faithfulness. No one ought to mock at or despise his grace, lest at last, when his departure is at hand, he regret it. O Lord, help and assist us through Jesus Christ. God has called many to his eternal light, whom he also visits with suffering and pain, as we see in this earth; for it seems that here we must be refined by the fire of affliction, since we must all enter through much tribulation into the kingdom of God, and be purified from all sin and vice (1 Peter 1:7; Acts 14:22); for he that herein follows Christ, walks in the true path. Christ says: “I am the Way and the Door, the Truth and the Life; enter in by me; before me there is yet a hedge; the cross, which each who would come to the father must carry, stands in the way. John 10:9. And according to my experience, I must state the truth, that the cross appears much heavier than it really is; which deters many a one, as though he should not be able to bear it, and hence would pass it by, and seek another way. But we cannot come to God unless we bear the yoke of Christ. Matt. 11:29. For he that would enter in by any other way into the sheep fold, than through this door, the same is a thief and a murderer (John 10:1), and shall have to suffer the vengeance of God--everlasting pain. Christ would have such disciples as bear the cross after him, follow him in all his ways, as I hope to show, and carry his yoke unto the end. Matt. 16:24. But he that will not bear his cross, but allows himself to be moved and hindered by Satan, may take heed that Christ says: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32,33. O God, sustain us to thy praise and honor, that love may not wax cold in us. Matthew 24:12. To this end give us strength, wisdom and understanding, through thy holy spirit, who can guide us into all truth (John 16:13), that we may never despond, but keep good courage, and remain steadfast and proceed straight on in the narrow way, and at the risk of body-life, go on through Christ to the Father. John 14:6. Praised be the Lord our God, who has called us to be his servants and children. Him we will constantly praise forever and ever, because we may wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb (Revelations 7:14), and afterwards, from this brief death and suffering, go into everlasting joy with him. With this mind this witness of Jesus Christ was beheaded and died at Portzen, as stated above.
MARTIN THE PAINTER; WOLFGANG ESLINGER, PAIN, MELCHIOR, AND THREE OTHERS, A. D. 1531.
In this year, Martin the painter, a minister of the word of God, and six others from the Swabian church, were apprehended for the faith and the divine truth. After long proceedings, they were promised, that if they would renounce, they might go home unmolested to their wives and children. But they answered frankly: “No,” but that they would willingly die, and not renounce. Afterwards, having been imprisoned almost a year, all seven were sentenced to death. They were led under the town hall, and several articles of their doctrine were read to them. When the first article was read Brother Wolfgang Eslinger said: “As you judge to-day so shall God judge you when you come before his face; God shall well know you.” Matt. 7:23.
When the third article was read, Brother Pain said: “You stain your hands with our blood (Jer. 7:6); God shall certainly not remit it to you, but require it at your hands.”
When the fourth article was read, Brother Melchior said: “To-day we will testify with our blood, that that wherein we stand is the truth.”
When the fifth article was read, Brother Wolfgang Eslinger said: “Forsake your sins and unrighteousness, and repent, and God shall never remember it to you.” Jer. 26:13. All seven were then led under a guard, to the place of execution. There Brother Martin, and all the others commended themselves unto God their Lord, praying that he would grant them a happy end, and care for his sheep. When they were brought to the field, the miller’s servant, who was about sixteen years old, said to the people present, that they should forsake their sins, and turn to God, since there was no other way to heaven, than through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, and redeemed us. Ps. 34:14; Is. 45:24; John 14:6; Matt. 27:50. When they were brought into the ring, a nobleman rode up to said servant, admonished and entreated him, saying: “My son, desist from your error, and renounce it. Why do you allow yourself to be thus persuaded? spare your young life. I will take you home with me, and always keep you; you shall enjoy good things with me all your life, if you obey me.” But the servant said: “God forbid that this should ever come to pass; if I should keep this temporal life (Jn. 12:25), and lose the eternal, I would act foolishly. I will not do it; your wealth can help neither you nor me; I expect one that is far better, if I persevere to the end. Matt. 10:22. I will surrender my spirit to God, and commend it to Christ (Luke 23:46), that his bitter suffering, which he endured on the cross, may in my case not be in vain.” This servant was inspired by God in his purpose; for though he was younger in years than his brethren, they were nevertheless, as far as the purpose is concerned, of like age. Thus all seven valiantly and joyfully confessed God and his truth, even unto death and the shedding of their blood. The above mentioned Martin, when he was led out over the bridge, said: “This once yet the pious are led over this bridge, but no more hereafter.” This came true; for a short time afterwards, such a violent storm and flood came that the bridge was demolished and carried away.
WALTER MAIR, AND TWO OTHERS, A. D. 1531.