# Copy.

17th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: COPY.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

(Translated from the Latin.)

To the Rulers and Councilors of the City and
Republic of Berne, the Burgomasters and Rulers of
the City of Rotterdam wish all happiness and prosperity.

Noble, honorable, highly respected Lords, esteemed
Friends: It is but a few days ago, that there
was presented to us, from the elders of the church,
which, from their predecessor,361 Menno, is called
the church of the Mennonites, a request, in the
name of said church, containing long complaints;
that their fellow-believers, under the odious name
of Anabaptists, are proceeded against with such
fury in your E. E. city, that, in consequence of the
edicts, they are not allowed (though they are harmless
and not accused of any crimes), to remove with
their possessions and temporal effects out of your
E. E. city and jurisdiction, and go elsewhere, yea,
that some, solely out of hatred against their faith,
are deprived of their goods, and confined in prison.

They the supplicants, request, that we, through
our intercession, should endeavor, to avert, if possible,
the punishments decreed against their brethren;
which their request, being founded upon just
arguments, if they at all are founded on truth, we,
by virtue of our duty and office, could not ignore.

Hence we request your E. E. Highly-esteemed
Lords, yea, we beg your E. E., for the sake of religion
and the faith in Christ; which we have in
common with your E. E., that your E. E. would
be pleased, either utterly to abolish the aforesaid
exceedingly severe decrees enacted against the innocent,
erring or wandering ones, or, if your E. E.
should not deem this compatible with the situation
of your State, of which the judgment belongs to
your E. E., would at least permit, that the afflicted
people, after selling their real estate, and arranging
their matters, may remove with their means to where
they may expect more tranquillity and safety.

As far as we are concerned, Honorable Lords, we
have ever since the foundation of this city held, that
this class of people can quite safely be tolerated in
the state, without injury to the Republic.362

And for this our judgment we have to thank
Prince William of Orange, of blessed memory, who
through his valor established for us freedom of conscience,
whom the entreaties and perverse zeal of a
class of evil disposed men never could move, to refuse
the Mennonites any civil privileges. And, truly,
we have not yet regretted it, having never found,
that the Mennonites, under the cloak of religion
(which alone is pernicious for all Republics), have
ever sought to brew any thing in the state; but, on
the contrary, that they have always with a cheerful
and willing mind rendered custom and taxes, and
all that a subject owes to his prince, yea, that they
relieved, with their very liberal contributions, the
Reformed that were elsewhere suffering trouble for
their faith, and again recently, the Vaudois, our fellow-believers,
when they, upon the instigation of
the pope’s ministers, were miserably maltreated by
the duke of Savoy.

It is not hid from us, highly esteemed Lords, that
certain madmen, through a wrong and perverse
1075zeal, endeavor to persuade your E. E. by arguments
that the tolerating of the Mennonites is injurious
for the Republic; but they do this with such
arguments, the weight of which was never sufficient
to induce us, to oppress the Mennonites with any
severe edicts.

For, that they do not consider the office of magistracy
lawful for a Christian, and religiously abstain
from the swearing of oaths (with which two points
they are principally charged), this cannot be detrimental
to the Republic; seeing they do not refuse
obedience to the magistrates, to whom, though they
command something onerous, they, constrained by
their conscience, consider themselves in duty bound
to obey; and will be so bound to their naked declaration,
that, when convicted of broken faith and of
falsehood, they are willing to submit to the punishment
of perjurers.

Which things, as long as they continue unchanged
we cannot see, what harm the Republic has to expect
therefrom.

That some, through pious, or even superstitious,
fear, abstain from the magisterial office, and from
the swearing of oaths, what will those say against it,
who under the truly glorious name of Reformed,
follow the tyranny of the Pope, and under the favor
of the excellent titles of reformation and purity of
faith introduce popery, with regard to the cruelty
of which, as it was practiced in former times, in
this city, especially against the Mennonites, as often
as the remembrance of it, preserved in our records,
burdens our thoughts, our souls are seized with horror
and we rejoice that through the blood shed in
former times our necks have been freed from the
yoke of the furious harlot.

All of which, highly esteemed Lords, if it is properly
considered by your Excellencies, we indulge
the hope, that your E. E. will either abolish the severe
decrees against the Mennonites, or, at least,
after the example of those of Schaffhausen, one of
the Swiss cantons, and the example of the Roman
Catholic Prince of Neuburg, grant the afflicted, erring
(or wandering) ones sufficient time to arrange
their affairs, and to settle down elsewhere.

Which, highly esteemed Lords, when it shall
have been done, your E. E. shall have performed
an act that shall be acceptable unto God,
glorious for the name Reformed, salutary for the
erring (or wandering) ones, and pleasing to us, who
are united with your E. E. by the close bond of religion,
and able to serve as an example to all those
that boast of the glorious name of the meek Savior.

We pray God Almighty, to enlighten your E. E.
Persons and Republic with the radiance of his truth,
and to preserve you in lasting prosperity. In Rotterdam,
the 14th of February, 1660,

Your E. E. Excellencies’ affectionate friends,
burgomasters and rulers of the city of Rotterdam,
and in the name of the same.

W. van der A. A.

This then was the laudable and good work of our
high authorities in this land of the States General, as
well as of the authorities in particular cities; far
different from the disposition of those who instituted
the aforementioned oppressions and persecutions;
wherefore we sincerely wish and pray that God the
Almighty Lord, would therefore be pleased to be
their shield and exceeding great reward.

Verily every one shall receive reward according to
his works. The martyrs who suffered for the truth
of God, for their faithfulness and steadfastness unto
the end; the persecutors who afflicted the pious, for
their cruelty and tyranny, if they died unconverted
and without repentance; the saviors and deliverers
(that is the good authorities), who sought to defend
the oppressed and persecuted, to help them, and to
rescue them from the claws and teeth of rapacious,
blood-thirsty, unreasonable men, falsely so called,
for the salvation and deliverance which they with
regard to this effected for the harmless and innocent.

In the meantime we wish every one the best, even
our enemies; for by the means of their cruelty the
pious are tried, made martyrs, and brought to that
state which makes truly and infinitely happy,
namely, to the eternal and blessed life. For this is
thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God
endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1 Pet. 2:19.





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