USA > Pennsylvania > Historic background and annals of the Swiss and German pioneer settlers of southeastern Pennsylvania, and of their remote ancestors, from the middle of the Dark Ages, down to the time of the Revolutionary War > Part 9
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1556-Philip II of Spain, Imitating Charles V, Issues Bloody Edicts.
This year says the Mirror (p. 530) Philip II, son of Emperor Charles V, following his father's footsteps, caused all the former bloody edicts of his father to be renewed against the Anabaptists.
The decree forbid all persons to read or discuss the scriptures, es- pecially all doubtful points, except theologians versed in divinity and spiritual law. This was to apply to all those who try to seduce persons away from the holy mother church. Those who do so teach were to be punished as seditious persons, and be executed, viz .: the men with the sword and the women to be burned alive and their property to be confis- cated. The decree recited that as es- pecially the Anabaptist violated all decrees and moved about secretly, none of the inhabitants of Holland should be allowed into the territories of Philip, except bringing a certifi- cate from the priest. All having knowledge of Anabaptists were com- pelled to disclose them. The decree forbid the Judges to mitigate the pun- ishnient in any particular. The above is cited from the Great Book of De- crees of Ghent, containing all the de- crees of Charles and Philip, collected by William I, Prince of Orange in 1560.
Müller commenting on the same wicked decree (p. 161), says, that af- ter Charles came, Philip as ruler of Netherlands and with the assistance of his hangmen, during the Inquisi- tion, 1000 Evangelicals or Anabap- ists were destroyed. Alone in Hol- land, outside of Friesland, in these few years, one hundred and eleven
60
PERSECUTIONS BEGIN IN THE PALATINATE
Mennonites were executed. He also had a discussion at Pfeddersheim that executed the Calvinists, until the exe- year with the Mennonite and Anabap- tist leaders and the edict was the re- sult, (Do., 185). We notice above the striking similarity between the name of the Paltinate town Pfeddersheim and that of our well known Peter- sheims in eastern Lancaster county, cution of Duke of Egmout and Horne. Then a general religious war broke out. In six years the Duke of Alba, known as Philip's hangman, executed 18,000 people and then left for Neth- erlands. Goethe has written a tragedy of Eggmount. It likely depicts this adherants of the Amish Church. It is awful time in Holland. Alba was to Holland, what Weyler was to Cuba. likely their names are derived from that of the ancient German town 1557-First Mennonite Gathering Into the Palatinate. where ancestors of the family may have dwelt in olden times. It was a more or less general custom to name citizens after the towns. as is in- stanced in the Oberholtzers, who were first known in Oberholtz, a town of the Wald in Switzerland.
Brons tells us (p. 181) that in 1557 the persecuted of Holand and espe- cially of Switzerland began going in- to the Palatinate, that is, the Rhine country in Germany, then the prov- ince of Frederick II, Elector Palatine, who was a protestant, (Rupp, p. 68). They did this to escape their terrible ordeals under Philip.
1557-Anabaptist Translations of the Bible.
From 1525 onward to 1557 more than 25 translations of the Bible ap- ple toward the Danube and was taken peared in Holland and the Menno- nites and Anabaptist genrally helped to do most of it. After 1557 the Ana- baptist helped in many more transla- tions. Up to 1723 there were over one hundred editions of the Bible in dif- fernt sizes issued, and made up from Biestken's translation alone, whose work was completed in 1560 at Ent- den, (Brons 1. 57).
1557 - Persecutions Begin in the Palatinate.
This year there was a renewal of persecution against the Mennonites and Anabptists generally, and it ex- Peter Creamer did not fare so well. .He lived in the Duchy of Berg, was arested and brought to Winnick. He was imprisoned a long time. When brought to execution he appeared so tended into the Palatinate. The dis- cussions of Menno Simon when he was there in 1555 was the seed which a couple years later brought on the fruit, (Brons, p. 93). The result was upright and pious that nearly every that in 1557 sharp mandates against one wept-the steward, the judges, the Mennonites were issued through- out the Palatinate. Elector Frederick
1558 - Conrad Shumaker and Peter Creamer Suffer.
This year Shumaker and Creamer, names very commonly met with in our county and state, were executed. Shumaker was a Swabian, a section anciently comprising northern Swit- zerland. He journeyed with his peo-
at Stein and imprisoned in Vienna. Here he suffered torture and hunger. He was brought before Emperor Fer- dinand, who was attending a great diet at Augsburg, and theratened with execution before daylight so that the people should not be excited in his favor. He would not yield though the executioner was by his side. He was remanded and brought before the Bishops and his monks and priests three days later and threatened with- out avail. Then the Lutheran preach- ers of the King interceded and he was released, (Mirror, p. 552).
the deputy, the executioner and the common people. The Steward begged
61
MENNO'S DEATH-GENEROUS ELECTOR FREDERICK
and begged him to come back to the in the 30 years' war it was again de- Romish church; but he refused. And vastated. The place is near Leibeck a free city of Germany on the Baltic. at last he was executed standing with the Sword, (Do., 586).
1559 --- Menno Simon's Last Works and Death.
It would sem that this remarkable man worked, and wrote expounding and defending his faith and that of his followers up until his death. Accord- ing to Funk, who published Menno's complete works, Menno wrote and fi- nished on January 23, 1559 his "Thor- ough Answer to the Slanders, Defama- tion, Backbiting, Unseasoned and Bit- ter Words of Zyles and Lemmekes" concerning the Mennonite doctrine, especially on the subject of the "Ban | Separation or Shunning", (Menno's Works, Part 2, pp. 283-295). This doc- trine of separation from and shunning by the church, of those who are "of the world" is more or less strictly ad- hered to today by one branch of Men- nonites. They contend that they are the only true followers of the doctrine of the Bible as explained by Menno Simon. In this answer, carrying his arguments to the point where parents and children and even husband and wife must be baned from and must shun each other if one has accepted the doctrine of Menno as he defines it, and the other has not, his reason- ing leads to very cruel conclusions and no end of family discord.
1559-Philip the Cruel and Frederick the Generous.
We remember that Charles V of Spain abdicated in favor of his son Philip II. He was very cruel to all Anabaptists. But they (and especially the Mennonites) had a friend in elec- tor Frederick; and he defended them against Philip's hatred. March 7, 1559, Philip writes that he has read Freder- ick's defense of these people but that he still thinks most of them an anti- christ sect like those of Münster, who made trouble wherever they were found. But he says there are some good communities of them, who are a plain peaceful people and not crazy like the remainder. The Münsterites asserting themselves to be Mennonites and yet full of war and rebellion and sedition and not having Mennonite principles at all, mislead the rulers and make a hard road for Taufers or Mennonites in all sections. Their cen- tral habitat was Münster. Philip then said, "Those plain, harmless ones should be tolerated, under cautious surveillance; but as to all the active and troublesome ones, take the sword and slay them. As to the mild ones they simply err in faith and efforts should be made by reason and charity to get them back. Listen to them and argue. Put out and destroy their teaching but you may as you desire save their lives". Philip was now King of Spain and as Spain was very powerful at this time he also ruled Holland, parts of Germany and adja- cent country; and thus Frederick the elector, was under him.
According to Brons, (p. 102), on the same day Menno finished this thesis he died-January 23, 1559, a true ex- ample of "faithful unto death". But some writers say he died in 1561. Brons says he was buried on his own estate or farm, in Germany, known as the "Wuestenfelds" or Wastefield, be- cause when he first acquired it the 1559-Margrave Albrecht of Prussia Orders Banishment of Mennonites and All Wiedertaufers. place was a barren tract. He made it fertile. The place of the grave is not known. His followers, some time af- terwards, continued to resort to his "Wiedertaufers", we remember means, those who have received sec- premises, and it seems, cultivate it and use it making it very fertile, until | ond baptism, on the belief that their
62
FIRST EMDEN BIBLE-TAUFERS IN PRUSSIA
baptism while infants was of no avail. | pened that a Hollander named Van All who held this view, among whom Diest in Emden, just across a little gulf from the Holland line, issued the Bible above referred to in 1560. most prominently were the Menno- nites, this year by edict were ordered out of Prussia. But the persecution was mild there and more tolerant and 1560- Beginning of Mennonites in Prussia. the order was not obeyed, for 20 years later the Mennonites petitioned the authorities for free permission to set- tle in Koënegsburg and other places in the Duchy, on the Baltic sea. The same time they submitted their arti- cles of faith. This latter request in 1579 was again made as we shall see later to Margrave George Frederick. He said he was compelled to refuse their request, as the Government policy was that the peoplse since the Reformation, that people should be all Lutherans; but he told them this kindly and as he said regretfully, for he found them otherwise very good people.
1560-The First Edition of the Biest- kens Bible Issued at Emden.
Emden is a German city in the province of Hanover on an arm of the North Sea, on the line between Hol- land and the German Empire. Here in 1560, says Brons, (p. 57) the first Biestkens (Van Diest) Bible was is- sued. Brons introduces this chapter by telling of the rise of Anabaptism in Holland. She tells us that before the Reformation the ground was prepared by the early Evangelicals or Frater- nals. These were followers of Waldo -- the Waldenseans. Some of the early leaders were Thomas of Kempis, John Wessel and the great Erasmus. Ken- pis wrote four books on the true Imi- tation of Christ. He was of Rhenish Prussia-a priest or monk. But his works extended into Holland. These works are famous now in many lan- guages and libraries. The writings of Luther followed and soon spread everywhere .- in Germany, in Holland and in Switzerland. Through this agi- tation the translations of the Bible were very numerous, but of all places, they were more numerous in Holland than anywhere else. And so it. hap-
This year it becanie known that there were three large Mennonite con- gregations in Prussia, Germany. It is believed that Menno Simon and Dirk Philip organized them. They were the first known there. From that time onward there were many of them. These three had one bishop and formed the first conference district. From that tinie a register was kept there and it was complete at least down until the time, Anna Brons of Norden, wrote her work on "Taufge- sinnten oder Mennoniten" in 1884. The first bishop was Hans Von Swin- derin. Dirk Philip died near Emden. The next bishop seems to have been Quirin von der Meulen in Dantzig. He printed a Bible at his own expense, called the Schotlandische Bible. Then there was a bishop named Hiltze Schmidt, (Brons, p. 251).
1560-Holland Mennonites Form Con- ference Districts.
Between 1560 and 66 the congrega- tions of four cities, viz: Harlingen, Francker, Leeuworden and Sneek of Friesland, now in Holland combined into conference districts, etc., by a compact of 19 articles, so that by the efforts of all they might help those who had fled to them from other places, where they had been perse- cuted and robbed. A good many of these refugees canie from Flanders. The compact did not last long, be- cause a large faction of them con- tended that Christ would not favor so much organization and machinery in the Church, (Brons, p. 133).
Here can be seen the early stages of the Church simplicity and opposi- tion to anything which looks like self aggrandizement, which simplicity
63
THE EBY OR EABY FAMILY-THE SCHWENKFELDERS
still shows itself today. These people always had a zealous care that their church government, form of worship and church property should all be simple and plain and not exalt their manner of religion into a magnifi- cence and ceremony that would make men forget their humility. They have thus for more than three centuries been called the "plain church".
1560-Bollinger, Becomes a Menno- nite Historian.
We have written of Bollinger's ac- tivity for the Anabaptists or Menno- nites, of which he was a member. In his now later and maturer life he wrote a work on the origin of the Mennonites, which he published this year. In it he tells how Moravia had beconie the New Jerusalem of the persecuted brethren of Zurich and Berne and Switzerland generally. Dr. Hupmeier of Zurich was active in or- ganizing and founding an asylum there, (Müller, p. 94). Bollinger also wrote up the Mennonites in 1531, nearly 30 years earlier. Froschower printed it for him, (Do., p. 3).
1560-The Eby or Eably Family Move to Zurich.
In the History of the Eby Family, written in 1889 by Ezra E. Eby, of Berlin, Ontario, he says, "The Ebys belong to the Celts, an ancient Asiatic race. During early ages they lived in the Northern Parts of Italy and were converted from heathendom through the Valdois or Waldenses, who from the 8th to the 11th century be- came numerous. The Church of Rome tried to exterminate them; and in 1453 the whole valley Luzerne was laid under an edict. In 1560 a large number of them fled and went to the Northern part of Switzerland. Among the Waldenses who settled there were the Ebees. These Waldenses joined Menno Simon in 1538".
1562-Death of Caspar Swenkield.
of the Swenkfelders under Casper Swenkfeld. This year he died at Ulm. Ulm is in Wittenburg, on the Danube and it is famous for having the highest spire in Germany. The first followers of Schwenkfeld were in Silesia, Germany. Silesia is where Schwenkfeldt was born. His followers never had any relaton to the Sweden- borg doctrine, as asserted by Löher. The capital city of Silesia is Breslau. The Lutherans prosecuted the Schwenkfelders severely. The Cath- olics tried also to punish them and to to get their children back to the Catholic faith. They endured all pa- tiently without any signs of restless- ness, when suddenly in 1725 the Silesian colony departed by night for Saxony and in 1734 came to America leaving everything behind. They had quietly made arrangement with Eng- land to land here, (Do.).
1562-The Swiss Catholies of Waadt Want Anabaptists Suppressed.
The persecutions about Berne are now beginning to be agitated. This year the leading Catholic powers of Waadt asked for severe rules on the Mennonites to suppress them. They asked to have Bollinger suppressed. The fight was now on between the State church (Catholic) and the Ana- baptists. Twenty-four Anabaptist preachers left the neighborhood of Waadt and emigrated toward Berne, (Müller p. 49).
1564-Berne Deerce Against Emmen- thal Mennonites.
February 16, this year the Swiss authorities in the Canton of the Em- menthal had a decree passed and proclaimed from the Catholic pulpits in Signau, Trachelwald, and Brandis to the effect that all Mennonites are to be fined ten pounds each if they do not stop printing and reading books of their own invention. They were ac-
We have written before of the rise | tive printers of their doctrines about
64
THE MYLINS AND KOCHS APPEAR-CALVINISM ARISES
the Emmenthal, (a locality in Switzer- land east of Berne) ever since 1551; and the result was that the whole ter- ritory about Hoechstetten and the Emmenthal showed a big increase in their growth. Soon a stricter order was issued, to the effect if they con- tinue in their heresy they will be punished in body and in possessions. But the threat was not then carried out. In 1566 the subject was brought before the authorities again and a de- cree of banishment was passed. But it was of no avail. They continued to increase.
1564 -- The Meilens or Melins of Ghent, Belgium.
There is an account in Martyr's Mirror (p. 640) edtailing how Peiter ; Von Der Meulen of Ghent for defend- road sides and on buildings were de- ing his faith as an Aanbaptist, was put to death. I speak of this only be- cause the name seems to have some relation to the family so famous and so numerous in eastern Pennsylvania and in Lancaster County,- Meilin, etc. A well known home of the an- cestors of our present day Meilins was Switzerland. The present item may establish that there was an an- cient home in Belgium also.
1565-Conrad Koch of Berg Executed.
We now call attention to another name quite common in Eastern Penn- sylvania and in Lancaster County,- Koch. This man seemed to live in Berg, Germany, in the region of the Rhine river. The record shows that when the light began to shine along the Rhine, Conrad Koch embraced it. He lived in the little town of Hauf. He was imprisoned in the Castle of Loemenburg about a year and then executed, (Mirror, p. 659).
1565-Fire of Calvanism Arouses Hol- land Against Papacy.
In 1565 the nobility of Holland got together, on the question of abolish- ing the Spanish inquisition in Hol- land. Holland belonged to Spain at this time. Charles V abdicated in
favor of Philip, his son. Charles had sympathy for the Netherlands, but Philip did not. Charles was born there. Philip, however, had not the least interest in the Dutch people-he was a Spaniard. When he was crown- ed in Brussels that sealed the doom of thousands in Holland. So the in- quisition was introduced in Holland; but in spite of all this the Menno- nites flourished greatly there, and they were found in all places. Next to them were the Calvinists. Their preachers spoke on the street, in the fields, and implored the people to des- ert papacy. They ridiculed the Catho- lic Church and its Pope; showed the bad morals of the monks and priests and worked the people up into a frenzy so that the crosses along the
molished and the graves of prominent Catholics desecrated. In three days 300 churches were demolished when Calvinism started, -- Catholic churches. This was the answer of the people to the establishment of 14 new dioceses under the papacy of Cardinal Granvella. But regent Mar- garet, wife of Philip was herself dis- satisfied and asked milder treatment for the Mennonites and all dissenters. But just the contrary resulted-the Inquisition. Then in 1565 the nobility got together and protested against its further use and declared they would stand together and if necessary lose all they had to abolish the inquisition; but it was of no avail, (Brons, p. 106).
1566-Executions About Berne at This Time.
The Mirror relates that up to this time, in Berne, 42 persons were put to death for their faith. The informa- tion is found in an extract of a docu- ment by H. Vlaming, a resident of Amsterdam, citing a document drawn up in ancient times by the elders of Alsace. In it they say: As regards the brethren who were executed for their faith in the Berne Country, there were executed from 1528 until 1566,
65
BERNE IMPATIENT OVER ZOLOTHURN: HANS HASLIBACH
forty-two persons, among whom were eight women. We have in our pos- session a brief abstract of their names and the year of death, (p. 675).
Gruner relates that this year (1566) too, a Mennonite was beheaded in Berne, who was so invincible that he vehemently declared with his last breath that no one of his enemies should pray for him. He declared he was praying for himself. Of him Zehnder says, he was the most prom- inent teacher of the Berne Menno- nites. He was executed July 30th. A reward of 100 guilders was offered for his arrest and thus he was cap- tured, (Müller, p. 75).
1566-Mennonites Quit the Elbe Dis- trict.
Löher says, Mennonites and Quak- ers in the 17th century gathered about Wastefield in Holland, of which we have written before. The Mennonites by the middle of the 16th century were leaving the neighborhood of Hamburg and the Elbe district. They were going into Holland where numerous congregations of Menno- nites found peace, as persecution with the decline of Philip and the uprising of the people ended there before 1570. But in Switzerland their troubles were never ended. Even in Holland, Men- no's death had great effect. His con- gregations divided and only a few re- mained on the Elbe river. They scattered into Denmark and Germany, (Löher, p. 56).
1566-Berne Drives Mennonites to Zolothurn.
This year a company of Mennonites came from Zolothurn, about thirty miles away, to Berne; but Berne sent them back again. Zolothurn was never so severe on them as Berne and companies of them went to Berne for the purpose of helping their brethren there and adding to their strength by securing conversions. Berne deter- mined to stamp this out, (Müller, p. 73).
1568-Moravian Mennonites Print a Book.
This year (Brons, p. 77), the Men- nonites of Moravia and Bohemia is- sued a book called the Golden Portals of Heaven, published by Gabriel Ackerman of Neweustadt. In it is set forth their doctrine, explaining why they do not have any pictures of the Virgin in their churches. They say they are reproached for this omis- sion; but they count it only proper not to worship the Virgin.
1569-Great Slaughter of Anabaptists in Belgium, Flanders, etc.
According to the Martyr's Mirror, (pp. 708 to 800) this year scores of Mennonites or Anabaptists were slain in Belgium, Flanders and parts of Holland. None of the names is fa- miliar in Pennsylvania, except those of Hesbourke and Dirk Williams. Hasbourke is a New York name also.
1571-Hans Hasel or Haslibach of Haslibach.
October 20, this year, Hans Hasli- bach, teacher of a congregation in the Sumiswald in Switzerland was killed. He composed a famous hymn reciting all about his trials, and reciting that he had a vision in his sleep that as a sign of God's anger over his death, as soon as his head was cut off it would leap into his hat and begin to smile, the sun would turn red and the creek nearby would flow with blood. The Mirror recites page 851, the same supernatural events upon the execu- tion of Hans Misel, which may be our same Hans Hasel. The Haslibach Hymn is one of the most famous pieces of the old Swiss Religious Poetry. It is found in the "Ausbund" or ancient Song Book of the Menno- nites published about 1620, and also in the Mirror (p. 1069). The hymn had 32 verses. detailing the incidents in the capture, hardships and death of Hans Haslibach or Hans of Haslibach. He was to the Sumiswald, (a region 15 miles northeast of Berne), in a religious sense, what William Tell
66
BERNE KEEPS MENNONITES FROM MORAVIA
was to another part of Switzerland in a patriotic sense; and in many ways the two were alike. Governor Penny- packer in 1904 translated this hymn and the same is found in the Menno- nite Year Book for 1911. About this time there was a movement against capital punishment. The putting to death of these brave people; and their bravery in meeting death had a won- derful effect in making the common people believe in them. And many were heard to remark that they wished they were as sure of salvation as the Mennonites. Thus capital punishment was simply making more adherents of the faith, (Müller, p. 77). Haslibach's death and the declared fulfillment of what he predicted about his head, the sun and the little river, gave renewed belief in the Mennonite faith.
1572-Tortures Again Rage in Hol- land; United Netherlands Formed.
Philip and Duke Alba, known as his executor or hangman, this year alone in Holland executed a thousand Evangelicals or Anabaptists, Menno- nites, etc. Holland was in an uproar. Mennonites and Calvinists were mar- tyred until the execution of Eggmont and the war for liberty broke out. August 15, 1572 the foundation of the United Netherlands was laid and the Prince of Orange elected Governor. In 1573 Alba left Netherlands, having re- sided there six years, and in that time murdered 18,000 people. The same year the Prince of Orange joined the Calvinists. Thus there are the Dutch Reformed who followed Calvin and the Swiss Reformed who followed Zwingli, (Brons, 16).
1573-Berne Prevents Mennonites from Converting Moravians.
This year says Müller (p. 96) there were three edicts from Berne to pre- vent her Mennonites from going into Moravia as missionaries. Nor were missionaries allowed to come to Berne. Each year after "bread break- ing" these missionaries were sent.
1575-Bylers of Flanders, Tortured in England.
This year several Mennonites from Flanders fled to England because of persecution and lived in simplicity about London. Their religious ser- vices were spied out by a constable and he drove them to South Fort on the Mersey River. They were given the alternative of subscribing to transsubstantiation - to oaths-to in- fant baptism-to the bearing of public offices, or being put to death. Some they put on board ship for Gravesend and some they killed, by burning alive. One named Gerrett Byler, af- ter much misery, escaped.
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