# 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.

1660 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: 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.

Source heading; not independently verified

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.

1073





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