# First Part. · Page 2 of 3

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The second chief point, as to how such people are
to be dealt with, consists of two points.

1. How the same are to be detected and brought
to light.

2. How those that are detected are to be proceeded
with.

Concerning the first: As these people are hard
to be taken, since some are concealed by others,
even by those to whom they are related by marriage
or other ties, particularly by those with whom
there is little knowledge of God, and zeal for religion
to be found, and they hold their gatherings mostly
by night, in hid or otherwise unknown places;
therefore our officers shall with all diligence, according
to their oath and official duty, also on pain of
punishment for connivance, be admonished and
bound themselves, and through their sub-officers and
servants, to search for them, especially the teachers,
as much as possible, and to have them followed
whether in the mountains or in valleys, forests and
wildernesses, with all possible means, in order to
apprehend or capture as many of them as possible.

In order now the better to know and discover
them and their adherents, our church ministers, as
appointed shepherds, shall with like diligence, and
in accordance with their literal, sworn oath, be admonished,
obligated and bound, every one of them,
particularly in places where this sect is found, with
two or three of the church council in his pastorate,
to go round from house to house at least twice a
year, and properly to write down all those that belong
in the church, that is, men and women, old and
young, and to keep a stricter eye on them, so that
they may all attend the preaching, catechization,
common prayers, and particularly also use the holy
sacraments; those who stay away and do not bring
their children to holy baptism at the proper time or
not at all, and thereby are guilty of apostasy from
the church, not only at all times to make known
these by name to the chief bailiff appointed, but also
to indicate to him the persons and their places of
abode, as far as known; also to neglect nothing of
all that is required for the managing of such persons.

However, in order that not again something be
lacking in the execution of this so necessary work,
even as has hitherto been the case, or that it otherwise
be slackened and omitted, through want of the
necessary zeal, our officers together with the preachers
are strictly charged to carry out this order with
the proper effect, in sincere earnestness, without regard
of persons. And that herein no negligence or
connivance be exercised by them, much less that
they allow themselves to be turned therefrom by any
scruples, as being forbidden, improper means, or on
account of any advantage, lest they incur our disfavor.

The second article of the second chief point concerns
the manner of proceeding against those that
are detected and captured by the aforesaid means:
whether the same be teachers and seducers, or their
adherents, and that are seduced.

Thus far the first part of the edict, which as yet
mentions no corporal punishment, but only the apprehending
and capturing of the (by them so-called)
Anabaptists. The other part then follows, page 1070,
col. 2, beginning with these words:

“The teachers of whom one or more, by close
search,” etc.

Thereupon it follows, in what manner they are
to be punished, either by depriving them of their
goods, utterly banishing them from the country,
conducting them under safe escort to the boundaries
of the country, and if they, contrary to the banishment,
etc.

Note.—This edict having been proclaimed in the
Berne dominion, soon after arrived in Holland, and
caused no small sorrow in many well-meaning
hearts among the Anabaptists there, who were
moved with heartfelt sympathy for their dear fellow
believers, the more so since already some of them
were in severe imprisonment, and others in the confines
of Zurich, had now for many years been deprived
of the use of their property.

Hence, in various Dutch cities, yet especially in
the city of Amsterdam, there was presented, by certain
men delegated thereto, in the name and by the
order of their churches, to the noble, honorable
1078
lords burgomasters of said place, the distress of the
aforementioned oppressed friends, and a formal request
made for favorable letters of recommendation
to the magistrates of the cities of Berne and Zurich
respectively, for the release of the aforementioned
prisoners, and the restitution of their goods, etc.
This was subscribed with the names of H. Vlaming,
W. J. V. Coppenol, and G. Grates.

This request having been delivered, the noble,
honorable lords burgomasters and rulers of the
aforementioned city, very fatherly and kindly consented
to the matters presented, giving thereupon
this appointment:



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_1078)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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