# Hans Haslibacher, A. D. 1571.

1571 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: HANS HASLIBACHER, A. D. 1571.

Source heading; not independently verified

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.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-hans-haslibacher-a-d-1571/

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