# Of A Certain Prohibition Published By Those Of Aerdenborgh Against The Anabaptists, And What Was Done By The Lords States General Of The United Netherlands For The Abolishment Of The Same, A. D. 1615.

1615 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: OF A CERTAIN PROHIBITION PUBLISHED BY THOSE OF AERDENBORGH AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS, AND WHAT WAS DONE BY THE LORDS STATES GENERAL OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE SAME, A. D. 1615.

Source heading; not independently verified

Also at Aerdenborgh in Flanders they began to
put into execution various means for the oppression
of the Anabaptists who resided there and had escaped
the claws of the Romish wolf, the cause of
which was a certain prohibition emitted by the Bailiff
and the council of said city; in which said people
in the first place, were refused liberty in the practice
of their religion, insomuch that they were not allowed
to assemble for this purpose, neither in the city, nor
within the limits of its jurisdiction.

Thereupon there began they to afflict these innocent
and defenseless people, not only with heavy
fines, but also with arrest and imprisonment.

This sad beginning would, to all appearance,
have culminated in greater mischief to the aforesaid
people, had not their High Mightinesses, the
Lords States General of the United Netherlands,
who had received information of this, opposed it
with a certain mandate, whereby those who
were the cause of said oppression were prevented
from proceeding with the execution of their aforementioned
prohibition, and on the other hand, liberty
of religion was granted to those that were
oppressed. The contents of the aforementioned
mandate are as follows:

The States General, etc., to the Bailiff, Burgomasters
and Judges of Aerdenborgh.

Honorable, etc.: We have learned with surprise,
that, contrary to our resolution announced to Your
Honor by our order by the clerk, Jan Bogaerd,
you still hinder the members of the community
called Anabaptists or Mennonists, residing in Aerdenborgh
and the parts under its jurisdiction, in the
freedom of their assembling and the exercise of their
religion in Aerdenborgh, and trouble and oppress
them, by prohibiting their assembling, by arrests,
and fines.

Whereas we desire that the aforesaid members of
the community belonging to the Anabaptist persuasion
be allowed to enjoy just as much freedom, with
all quietness and modesty, in their mind, conscience,
assembling, and exercise of their religion, in Aerdenborgh
as is the case every where else in the provinces,
cities, and places of the United Netherlands, without
any contradiction or resistance; except that you may
exercise an oversight over their gatherings, as far as
they deem it well, and that they, to this end, may
inform you every time that they desire to assemble.
Hence we command you, to govern yourselves
precisely in accordance with this, to the better maintenance
of tranquillity, peace and unity in the aforesaid
city; without causing the apprehension or execution
of the aforesaid members for any fine or
contravention, because of previous gatherings.
Upon this we shall rely, and, etc. Given this 1st of
May, 1615.

1047

This agrees with the minutes preserved in the
rolls of their High Mightinesses. Signed,

N. Ruysch.





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