# George Wanger, A. D. 1591.

1591 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: GEORGE WANGER, A. D. 1591.

Source heading; not independently verified

In this same year 1591, on the fifth day of the
month of August, George Wanger, a tailor, was
executed for the faith, at Lorenzi, in the Pusterthal,
in the earldom of Tyrol, after he had been
confined for more than a year; for he was apprehended
the evening before St. James’ day, in the
year 1590. At Lorenzi he was brought into the
Bailiff’s house, and put into a common prison.
The next day he was brought before the Bailiff,
judge, clerk, and a priest, where they wanted to
know of him, who had gone out with him, and
where he had staid or lodged. But he answered:
“God keep me from this evil; we do not betray our
enemies; should I then betray my friends and dear
brethren? by the help of God I shall not do this,
for it is contrary to the love for our neighbor.” The
judge strenuously assailed him with smooth and
with hard words; but the brother said: “I received
my sound members from God; to him I will offer
them up again, and this with a good conscience.”

Having been confined long at Lorenzi, and examined
three times by the authorities, he was in
the castle of Michelsberg placed upon the rack, and
when he would not, according to their wicked demand,
tell what was contrary to God, his conscience,
or neighborly love, he was twice so tortured,
that the marks of it could be seen on him for
thirteen weeks.

Having been confined in the castle of Michelsberg
about two weeks, he was, on the sixteenth day of
the month of September, taken to Brixen, and
there put in chains in the tower, in which there was
much vermin; scorpions also crawled about his
head, on his bed and on the walls; he could not
well turn over, and always had to keep his head
covered, on account of the vermin. During the
nineteen weeks that he was imprisoned at Brixen,
his death was announced to him twice, and he was
at the same time earnestly admonished to recant.
But he said: “I have no desire to go to this people
to whom you want to drive me; but to amend my
life, if I err, and to exhort others that have not yet
amended their life, to repentance; this I consider a
work of God, and will gladly do it, and keep to
God what I promised him in baptism, to my soul’s
salvation.” The priests at Brixen often pestered
him in prison with their visits, and also had him
summoned before the vicar or provost of the cathedral,
twice before the commander, ten times also
before monks and priests, nobles and others, and
wanted to lead him back to the true church. But
he said: “I have not forsaken the true doctrine,
faith, or church of Christ, but through the grace of
God have obtained it, and want to adhere to it.”

Having been imprisoned at Brixen seven weeks,
he was taken back to Lorenzi, and it was intended
to execute him after two nights; but this was frustrated
by the death of the Bishop of Brixen. He
was taken back to Michelsberg, and imprisoned in
the castle, until the fifth day of August, when he
was again brought to Lorenzi into the judgment
hall, where the priests held judgment over him, first
trying whether they could not make him apostatize;
1025
but when they could not accomplish that, he was
sentenced to death upon the imperial mandate, and
it was read to him, that he had apostatized from the
Catholic, Roman Church, and been baptized again,
and had afterwards also sought to bring others to it,
and to seduce them to his heretical sect, as they
called it. But brother George said: “It is no heretical
sect, but it is the divine truth and the true way
to the kingdom of God.” He was then led out to
the place of execution, where the commander of
Lorenzi again earnestly admonished him, with
smooth words, to recant; he would give him so
much that he should have enough all the days of
his life; and would moreover be surety for him at
the last day, if he did wrong in it. But the brother
said: “If I did this, and were to accept you as my
surety, and the devil should first make off with the
surety, where should I then have to go and seek
my surety and pledge.” Thus the commander was
made ashamed, and desisted from him.

There were also many people present, some of
whom wept. He also requested that his hands be
released a little, that he might lift them up to God,
to thank and praise him, and to ask him, that he
would give him strength to resist the false prophets
and evil spirits. Finally he commended his spirit
into the hands of God, and was thus beheaded for
the word of God and his truth.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-george-wanger-a-d-1591/

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