# Nicholas Felbinger And John Leytner, In The Year 1560.

1560 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: NICHOLAS FELBINGER AND JOHN LEYTNER, IN THE YEAR 1560.

Source heading; not independently verified

In the year 1560 brother Nicholas Felbinger, or
Schlosser, a willing minister of the word of God,
who was on trial yet, was apprehended, with another
brother by the name of John Leytner, not far
from Neumarkt, in Bavaria, where they had come
on the first day after Judica,285 in Lent, on their flight
on account of the faith. They were taken to Neumarkt,
where they were twice examined by the
Judge and his assessors, and interrogated especially
with regard to infant baptism. But having clearly
and thoroughly shown that Christ had not commanded
it, but only the baptism of adults, who
hear, understand, believe, and accept the word of
God, they were, early next morning, placed in a
cart, and, escorted by horsemen and guards, sent
to Landshut, where each was imprisoned separately,
and Nicholas kept chained. Afterwards the council
met, and summoned them before them; they spoke
much with them, but could accomplish nothing.

They then sent two learned men, namely, two
Dominicans, to them, who conversed with them
about the sacrament, infant baptism, and why they
had left the papal church; but the brethren answered
them from the word of God, that they had
to leave it.

Hence they then tried them by torture, racking
them severely, especially most severely when they
wanted to know where they had lodged, and whither
they intended to go. But Nicholas said: “We are
not bound to tell you these things.” They asked:
“Why?” He said: “Because you confiscate their
property, torture and kill them for it, and sin against
them. Should we betray those who do us good?
we do not betray even our enemies—why then our
friends?” They said: Then we will not cease to
torture you, till you tell us, and left them lying on
the rack a long time, until the executioner himself
interceded in their behalf, and said; “Do desist; for
though they be tortured all day, you will get nothing
out of them.”

Then the Judge became enraged, and called them
rogues and condemners of others. But brother
619
Nicholas said: “We condemn no one; but your
sins condemn you, if you do not desist from them,
this we testify according to the truth.”

The superior Judge asked: “What is truth?”
The brother replied: “You would not understand
it, though I should tell you; for you know as much
what truth is, as did Pilate, who asked the same
question.” John 18:38.

After this, two doctors were sent from the monks
to them, a distance of over nine leagues; who endeavored
in many and various ways to turn them,
but were not able to do it. Likewise the chancellor
and the lord of Landshut came to them once, and
assailed them; but they found them steadfast in
their faith, and had to leave them steadfast, being
unable to gain them by their false and seductive
counsels.

Two priests and a doctor in the Scriptures then
came to them, and vehemently argued with them
about infant baptism; but Nicholas vigorously withstood
them with the Scriptures, and drove them
from him.

After these, the chancellor and several Dominicans
came to them, and sought to move them by
suavity; but they valiantly withstood all the gates
of hell, fully assured that they stood in the divine
truth, which they faithfully and thoroughly defended,
and said that they wanted to adhere to it in the
simplicity of Christ. Thereupon the chancellor said
to brother Nicholas: “Are you simple? I cannot
believe this; a hundred might come, before there
should be one who could defend himself like you;
but I consider you an enthusiast, even as many are
found at present, who roam about without reason.”
But they boldly confessed and defended their faith,
and God gave them a mouth and wisdom which the
others were not able to resist. Luke 21:15.

After all this, they were sentenced to death by the
children of Pilate, and brother Nicholas’ tongue was
tied fast, that he should not speak to the people
at the place of execution; towards the close, however,
his tongue was freed so much that the two
brethren could converse together.

John Leytner, whom the executioner proceeded
to execute first, said to Nicholas: “Dear brother,
if my death should terrify you, go forward first, and
I will wait for the last.” But brother Nicholas said:
“O no, O no; I do not dread it.” And thus John
valiantly offered his neck to the sword, and was
beheaded, Nicholas beholding it with intrepidity and
boldness, as though it did not concern him. He
then advanced also, knelt down, and offered his
head, which was struck off for his faith, as had been
done to the other. Thus these two testified to the
divine truth with their blood, which took place on
the 10th of July, 1560.





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