Hans Haslibacher, A. D. 1571.

In connection with the above account of the persecutions that came upon the Swiss brethren, we do not deem it out of place to add the following, namely: That a certain old and pious brother (commonly called Haslibacher, because he was born at Haslibach); was apprehended for his faith, and brought to Berne, where in prison he was handled very severely, and cruelly tortured; but when he, notwithstanding this, steadfastly adhered to his faith, there came to him in the prison, soon after, one Friday, several preachers, who disputed with him, against whom he so bravely conducted himself, in defending his simple confession of faith, that they could accomplish nothing with him. Thereupon the preachers came to him again the following day, being Saturday, speaking more harshly to him, and severely threatening him, that if he did not renounce his faith, his head should be laid before his feet. Upon this, the good old man courageously replied, that he should in no wise renounce his faith, but would steadfastly adhere to the same, since he felt perfectly assured that his faith was so acceptable to God, that he should by no means forsake him in distress and death.

Thereupon it happened, as is credibly related, that in the following night from Saturday until Sunday he was comforted and strengthened by a Divine vision, and exhorted to adhere steadfastly to his accepted faith; and that, though they should severely threaten him, even so that they should put him to death with the sword, he should nevertheless not be terrified, for the Lord should be at his side, and not suffer that he should feel any pain from it.

Now when on Monday the preachers again came to him and disputed with him as before, endeavoring to move him from his faith, adding, that if he did not renounce, he should be punished with death the next day. Haslibacher boldly answered: “I am ready to suffer my head to be struck off, much rather than apostatize from my faith.”

Thereupon, when the preachers left him, and he in the evening fell into a deep sleep which lasted until midnight; it is said that he had a dream in which it was shown him that they would behead him (through which he was suddenly awakened), and it was made known to him in a special manner, that he should be punished with the sword, but that there should be given three special signs, whereby his innocence would appear before men.

Note.—As reference has been made to three signs, which however, are not mentioned, but are given in the hymn (the last one of the Gesangbuch der Taufgesinnten), we will in order to complete the account, here insert this hymn in full. We will, however add, that neither this hymn nor the list of Swiss martyrs, copied by Hans Loersch, following it, were contained in the Holland editions of the Martyrs Mirror, but were afterwards added in the German editions. The hymn which also appears only in part in the German, is here given entire.—Publishers.

1069

Give ear, kind friends, and help who can,

To sing about an aged man,

Who hailed from Haslibach;

Hence, Haslibacher was he called,

And lived in parish Summiswald.

Since our dear Lord permission gave,

To men t’accuse him as a knave,

Because of his true faith;

Hence bound they him with rigor stern,

And led him to the town of Berne.

And though he was imprisoned here,

And tortured with torments severe,

For holding to his faith;

Yet did he steadfast still remain,

In torture, anguish, and in pain.

One Friday morning, mark my words,

There came some educated lords,

Into his prison hold;

And in dispute did him enlist,

That he should from his faith desist.

Our Haslibacher then and there,

Gave all their babblings to the air,

For thus he straightway said:

“My faith I never will forsake,

Though life and body you should take.”

On Saturday these learned men

Came to his prison-hold again,

And thus with threats they spake:

“Thou must renounce thy heresy,

Or else thou shalt beheaded be.”

Instant he answered with bold heart:

“From this my faith I’ll ne’er depart,

But firmly cleave thereto;

For God accepts my faith as right,

And he’ll protect me by his might.”

And when night’s sable garb was spread,

God’s angel came with might and said,

In Haslibacher’s ear:

“’Tis God who me to thee doth send,

To comfort thee before thy end.

“Moreover I will counsel thee,

Not wavering in thy faith to be,

But strong therein remain;

For God accepteth thy belief—

He’ll keep thy soul and bring relief.

“And though they threaten with the sword

To execute thee, let their word

In thee cause no dismay:

For at thy side I will remain

To succor thee from every pain.”

And thus again, when Monday came,

Those tutored men, of priestly fame

To Haslibacher went,

And sorely him with words they ply,

That his belief he should deny.

“If not,” they said, and meant it too,

“To-morrow’s morn brings death to you.”

But Haslibacher said:

“This body you may put to death—

I’ll give my head, but not my faith.”

When night again her mantle spread,

Deep sleep fell on his weary head,

Until the clock struck twelve.

He dreamed he was in daylight fair,

Led forth to be beheaded there.

This wakes him up, as well it might,

And lo, about him all is light.

A book before him lies,

An angel’s holy voice explains:

“Read what this little book contains.”

And when he reads the book he finds

That his tormentors set their minds,

That they would him behead.

But God would let three signs appear

To show th’ injustice he should bear.

When he had read it to the end,

Night’s darkness did again descend,

And sleep his eyelids closed,

Till daylight brought these murderous men,

Into his prison cell again.

“Good morning, friend,” he from them hears,

With thanks, like greeting meets their ears.

Then unto him they said:

That he the word divine should hear,

Or feast on executioner’s fare.

“From this my faith I’ll ne’er let go,

The word of God full well I know;

My cause to God I give;

Yet deep regret doth fill my heart,

That innocent I must depart.”

They led him to an inn in haste,

And meat and drink before him placed,

The hangman by his side:

That deep disgust and fear of death,

Might make him yet renounce his faith.

Quoth Haslibacher to the man:

“Eat, drink; make merry while you can,

For though upon this day

You offer up my guiltless blood,

My soul more quickly soars to God.”

He further said: “The Lord will show

Three signs, to let you plainly know

That innocent I die;

For when my head’s struck off, ’twill fall

Into my hat, and laugh withal.

“The second sign upon the sun

You’ll plainly see when it is done;

And of the third take heed:

The sun will, like my blood, be red,

The town-well likewise blood will shed.

The judge unto the lords decreed:

Of these three signs take goodly heed.

Remember also this:

That if this all shall happen so,

’Twill work your soul’s eternal woe.”

When he had finished his repast,

They took his hands to tie them fast;

When Haslibacher said:

“Pray, Lorenz, listen to my plea,

And leave my hands from fetters free.

1070

“I’m ready now and do rejoice,

That you have let me have my choice

To die and pass from hence.

But Lord, show mercy unto them,

Who me this day to death condemn.”

When he at last the block had faced,

He doffed his hat and had it placed

The multitude before:

“Friend Lorenz, to my prayer give ear,

I beg to leave my hat lie here.

With this he bowed his knees in prayer,

And when the Paternoster there,

He earnestly had prayed,

He said: “To God I’ve given my cause,

Act now, according to your laws.”

Down comes the sword, when lo, the head

Springs in his hat, as he had said;

And all the signs were seen—

The sun was red and looked like blood,

The town-well shed a crimson flood.

Amazed, an aged sire said:

“The Anabaptist laughs, though dead.”

Then said another sire:

“If you had let this Baptist live,

Eternally you would not grieve.”

With one accord the people said:

“Henceforth no Baptist’s blood we’ll shed.”

Then said an aged sire:

“Had you not acted ’gainst my will,

This Baptist would be living still.”

The hangman too was heard to say:

“’Tis guiltless blood I’ve shed to-day.”

Then said a yeoman old:

“The Anabaptist’s mouth did laugh,

Which surely indicates God’s wrath.”

He who composed this little hymn,

Received his death in prison dim,

A sinful mob to please.

They brought him pen and ink to write,

And thus he bade us all “Good night.”

Note.—At the close of the German edition of the Martyrs Mirror an extract was received and inserted which Hans Lœrsch had copied out of the Tower Book at Berne, and which has been preserved by Christian Kropff; the same reads as follows:

At Berne the following persons were executed for the faith: In the year 1528: Hans Seckler, a joiner, and hatter, at Aarau. In the year 1529: Conrad Eicher of Staffisburg; two believers from the Seignioralty Bix; a tinker from the Emmenthal; Ulrich Schneider, of Luetzgenpfluehe; a young lad from Wallis; Hagerly, from the Seignioralty Alburg. In the year 1536: the 2d of May, Moritz Losenegger. In the year 1537: Bernhard Waelty of Ruederswil, on the 7th of July; Hans Schweitzer of Ruegsau, Juerg Hoffser of Obergallbach, from the Seignioralty Siegnau on the 28th of August, Ulrich Bichsel; Barbeli Willher of Hassli; Barbeli zur Studen of Summiswald; Catharina Friedli Imhoff; Verena Issoli of Schuelbah from the Seignioralty Seignau; Ulrich of Ruegsau. In the year 1538: Cunas Seidenkohen of Constance, on the 28th of March; Peter Stucki, at Wimmis on the 16th of April; Ulrich Huben of Rietenbach, from the Seignioralty Seignau; Hans Willer, in August; Elsbeth Kuepfer of Summiswald; two women, on the 28th of May, the one of Summiswald, the other of Hoestetten; Peter Wessenmiller of Wimmis, on the 7th of September; Stephen Ruegsegger, on the 8th of December, who was executed at Einygen; one from the Seignioralty Seignau; one of Summiswald; Rudolph Isolly from the Tannenthal. In the year 1539: Lorenz Aeberly of Gruenau, on the 3d of June; Hans Schumacher from the Aargau, of Wuemistern. In the year 1532: one of Oberbip, on the 1st of May; Peter Ancken from the Siebenthal. In the year 1543: Christian Oberlen, on the 17th of September; Hans Ancken of Ausseldingen; Waelty Gaerber on the Striethalter, from the Seignioralty Seignau. In the year 1571, on the 20th of December: Hans Haslibacher, from the Seignioralty Summiswald, who was executed at Haslibach.

Church Info

Projects

Welcome

Hans Haslibacher, A. D. 1571.

Continue exploring

An Account Of Those Who Suffered In The Seventeenth Century,

Summary Of The Martyrs In The Seventeenth Century.

Of A Decree Published By Those Of Groningen And Sneeck Against The Anabaptists, A. D. 1601.

The Decree.349

Further Observation.

Four Persons, Namely, Huybert Op Der Straten, Trijnken His Wife, Pieter Ten Hove, And Lijsken Te Linschoten, Near Witgensteyn Led Around The Gallows, Scourged, And Banished From The Country, A. D. 1601.

Church Info

Projects

Welcome

Social Outreach