Ulrich Muller, A. D. 1640.
On the 31st of August of the year 1640, there was apprehended Ulrich Muller, a minister of the word of God, in the county of Kiberg.
He was taken from there to Zurich, where he was confined in the council house, and a few days afterwards imprisoned in the convent dungeon at Othenbach.
Here they treated him most unmercifully for thirty-five weeks, so that he completely wasted away, and, adhering to his faith, fell asleep in his bonds in great steadfastness.
After his death his children had to pay a fine of 100 guilders to the authorities on account of their father, who had, as it was thought, died as a heretic. Compare both tracts, that of Mangold is well as that of Meyli, on the name Ulrich.
Note.—At this time, A. D. 1640, there was also apprehended Oswald Landis, with his wife and two of his daughters-in-law, all of whom were imprisoned in the convent Othenbach; Jacob Landis, the son of Oswald, as also his entire family, were exiled into misery.
In the meantime the two imprisoned daughters-in-law, who had nursing infants, escaped out of prison by night; in which subsequently also the old man and his wife succeeded, but they had lost all their property, in consequence of which they had to roam about in poverty. Tract, Jer. M.
In the following year, 1641, they again apprehended divers pious Christians residing in the Seignioralty of Knonow; among whom are mentioned by name, Henry Fricken, and also Hans Ring and his wife.
Henry Fricken was confined in the council house of the city of Zurich, and so unmercifully treated, that he weakened in his purpose, and consented also to go to the common church, which was what they desired; whereupon he was released. But when he considered what he had done, and how he had done violence to his conscience, wronged his soul, and given offense to the Church of God, he fell into great distress, confessed his fall, and, with Peter, bitterly wept over his sin, and in order that his persecutors should no more rejoice over his apostasy, he went back to Zurich, into the council house, to be confined in the place whence he had been released, which was done.
In the meantime, by the order of the authorities, his two large farms were rented for 420 guilders and twenty quarters of corn annually; and in money and notes they took from him over 13,000 guilders; after which he was released, but again apprehended, out of which bonds he again escaped, but was afterwards, as before, sorely persecuted, while wandering about in misery and poverty.
Hans Ring also had to go to Zurich into the council house, and was then imprisoned in Othenbach, and closely guarded. He was conducted into the torture chamber, and twice stripped, near the rack, but yet finally, unweakened in his faith, escaped the tyrants’ hands.
The wife of this Hans Ring, four days after having been confined, and being yet very sick, was unexpectedly so assailed and distressed by the magistrates’ beadles, with furious raging and cursing, that she, in the attempt to save herself as it seems, unexpectedly fell into a gutter, where she could not be found or helped out for the time being; but afterwards, having been found, she was there fastened to a chain, and the people in the house commanded with severe threats, not to let her leave the house.
Finally, however, through the aid of some of her friends, she escaped by night, and, being very weak yet, was carried into another region. Compare Tract, Mang. with Tract, Meyli, on the names above referred to.
OF A CERTAIN SUPPLICATION ADDRESSED AND DELIVERED BY THOSE OF AMSTERDAM, IN FEBRUARY, 1642, TO THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ZURICH, FOR MITIGATION OF THE PERSECUTION RAISED; AND OF THE ANSWER WHICH, IN JUNE OF THE SAME YEAR, FOLLOWED THEREUPON, BY THOSE OF ZURICH.
The laudable magistrates of the city of Amsterdam, in Holland, having an aversion to the proceedings of their fellow-associates at Zurich, on the 20th of February 1642, through the urgent request of the Anabaptists, at Amsterdam, with regard to the distress of the Swiss brethren, sent an humble supplication to the burgomasters and the council of the city of Zurich, in order, if possible, to obtain some mitigation of the persecution commenced against the Anabaptists there.
This supplication having safely and properly arrived and been delivered there, could nevertheless obtain nothing in this direction, save only an unfriendly and irritating reply; which was drawn up by them on the 18th of June, of the same year, and sent to the good magistrates of Amsterdam, and consequently also to the Anabaptists there, accompanied by three of their previously emitted manifestoes of the year 1639, wherein, as we have noticed for said year, nothing but reproach and contumely (though without cause) was heaped upon said persecuted people.
We could here adduce this letter of the Zurich lords, as we have a correct copy of it; but as it contains nothing but unkindness and acrimony, without the least justice or information, and the following work sufficiently declares from what spirit it proceeded, we deem it unnecessary and unworthy, to accord it a place here; without, however, despising said lords, since we are commanded to love even our enemies, and to pray for them that persecute us. Matt. 5:44.