# Four Brethren And Four Sisters.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: FOUR BRETHREN AND FOUR SISTERS.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

In the year 1529, four brethren, named Wolfgang
of Mos, Thomas Imwald of Aldein, George Frick
of Wirzberg, and Mankager of Fuessen; also four
sisters, Christina Tolinger of Penon, a widow, Barbara
of Thiers, Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg,
and her sister Elizabeth, were apprehended in the
Ful, in Elschland, and led up to the castle, where
they died on the sixteenth of November. Each was
separately examined concerning their faith in the
following articles:

Brother Wolfgang of Mos confessed that on the
Sunday after the feast of our Lady, it was just one
year that one Michael (who was afterwards executed
with fire for this matter, at Goffedaum, and testified
to the truth) presented and taught to me, Wolfgang,
Martin von Neck, and another, the Gospel
and the word of the Lord, and then rebaptized all
three of us according to the command of God.
Matt. 28:19. He further said that he did not believe
in infant baptism, that God the Lord had said
nothing of it, nor had Christ commanded it. Matthew
15:13; 28:20; Mark 16:19. He also confessed
that Christ is not bodily in the host, when
it is consecrated by the priest. Furthermore, he
said: That he did not believe in fast days, Sunday,
and other feast days, otherwise than in the manner
spoken of in the New Testament.

Thomas Imwald of Aldein confessed that he had
been baptized before St. Ulric’s day, at Breitenberg
by a teacher who had formerly been a priest, but
had forsaken his office as priest, and whose name
was George Blaurock, from Switzerland. Of the
mass, also, he believed that it is nothing but a human
invention and institution, and not a commandment
of God. Concerning the sacrament he did not
believe that the priests, by their consecrating or
blessing, could bring our Lord God into the host,
420
or change it; and he also showed them, that Christ
was to be received in the word, and that the bread
is only a sign and memorial. Neither does he believe
in the confession as it is instituted by the
priests; as it is not used according to the command
of God. Again, to our Lady he assigns the position
to which God has chosen her; he believes that she
was a virgin and the mother of our Redeemer. He
was furthermore asked whether if their number had
become great, they would not have attempted to
bring some one’s country or people over to their
faith by force. He answered: “No, that they did
not believe in compelling any one to it; since God
desired a willing and unconstrained heart, and himself
had constrained no one, but the Lord gave it
into their minds.”

George Frick of Wirzberg, a tailor, confessed
that on last St. Gallus’ fair he was rebaptized by
one Benedict, who belonged to their faith, at Philip
Kopfler’s, in the Ful. He also did not believe that
the priests could bring our Lord God into the host,
or change him into bread, since God had neither
commanded nor instituted the mass, but the sacrament
was only a bread of remembrance. In confession
he likewise did not believe; for how can one
forgive sins, who is himself a whoremonger and
idolater. 2 Pet. 2:19. Concerning our Lady he
believed that God favored her and that before and
after the birth she was a virgin; for God is able to
do more than this. Again he would adhere to his
God, and not depart from this faith, but that the
will of God should be done. Matt. 6:10.

Mankager of Fuessen, a journeyman shoemaker,
confessed that in the forepart of the summer, about
St. James’ day, he was baptized, at George Karniter’s
of Kunen, by one George of Chur, in Switzerland,
who had been a priest, but had resigned said
office, and was burned in the summer, at Clausen.
He did not believe in infant baptism, nor in the
mass; neither did he believe that our Lord God is
in the sacrament. He believed that Mary the mother
of Christ, was a pure virgin; but the idea of her
intercession, as well as that of the saints, he rejected,
since Christ is the Mediator, between God and men.
1 Tim. 2:5. In the auricular confession of the
priests he did not believe at all. Again, concerning
Sunday he said, that God Almighty, in the beginning,
in six days, created the world, and rested on
the seventh; hence the origin of Sunday; there he
would let it rest,—work was not prohibited, but
we should rest and fast from sin. He further declared
that in the forenoon the priests committed
idolatry, and in the afternoon fornication, and what
he confessed with the mouth, he would testify to
with his blood, and would not depart from the faith,
but firmly adhere to it unto his end.

Christina Tolinger, of Penon, confessed that
Brother George Blaurock baptized in her house
with the true Christian baptism. Concerning the
sacrament as used by the priests, she did not believe
at all, that they can bring our Lord God into the
host or wafer; it is only bread, and the performance
of the priests is in every respect a deception. As to
whether infants were worthy of salvation without
baptism, the Lord said: “Suffer little children, and
forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the
kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14. The priests
baptize the infants, and have much unnecessary
care while they are in their infancy; but though
they wash them from sin, they do not attempt to
draw them away from sin. Regarding our Lady
she believed that she is the mother of Christ and
a pure virgin. Matt. 1:23. In confession as used
by the priests, she did not believe; if one confesses
his sins, and forsakes and desists from them, it is
a true confession. Concerning holidays and Sundays
she said that in six days God the Lord created
the world, and rested the seventh day; and that the
other holidays had been instituted by popes, cardinals,
and archbishops, and that she did not believe
in them. Since she lived in the world, she observed
them as others did, to avoid giving offense; however,
none is condemned for working. Again, the
priests commit idolatry in the forenoon, and fornication
in the afternoon. With the help and grace
of God she intended to die in this her resolution.

Barbara of Thiers, wife of Hans Portzen confessed
that about last St. Michael’s day she was baptized
with the true Christian baptism, at Craum on the
Moss, near Eintempichel, by a teacher of the word
of God, named Benedict. Again, she did not believe
in the idolatrous sacrament of the priests, nor
in the mass; since the priests commit idolatry in the
forenoon, and fornication in the afternoon. In confession
as used by the priests, she did not believe.
Concerning our Lady, she had nothing to say.
Regarding Sundays and holidays, she said that God
the Lord had commanded to rest the seventh day,
and there she would let it rest. With the help and
grace of God she intended to adhere to this, and to
die therein, since it was the true faith and the right
way in Christ.

Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg confessed that
next Christmas it would be about a year since she
was baptized, in Switzerland, in a place called Auf
der Tiefe, near St. Gall, by one Brother Topigh, a
teacher of the word of God. She did not believe in
infant baptism, though they had all been baptized.
If children die in or before baptism, they die in innocence,
and are the Lord’s. She did not believe
in the mass, since Christ did not say to his disciples:
“Go and read mass;” but: “Go, and preach the
Gospel.” Matt. 16:15. Concerning the sacrament
she said that since in the creed it is confessed that
he (Christ) sitteth at the right hand of his heavenly
Father, whence he shall come to judge the quick and
the dead, she believed in no wise that he permitted
himself to be changed by the priests, into the host
or bread. Regarding our Lady she said that she
believed that she brought forth Christ the Lord,
who alone has redeemed us, and that the Word of
God became man in her and suffered for us on the
tree of the cross. John 1:14. As regards holidays,
she said that one day is not any holier than another,
and that Sunday was ordained for the purpose of
assembling together, preaching the Gospel, and
speaking of it; but that it was abused through
drunkenness and other forms of wickedness. With
the help and grace of God she would steadfastly
adhere to this her faith.

421

Elizabeth, sister of the aforementioned Agatha,
confessed that in the early part of the summer she
was baptized at Breitenberg, by Brother Blaurock,
according to the command of the Lord Christ, in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost. In the sacrament and mass of the priests
she did not believe, since it is not found that God
commanded it. Concerning our Lady she believed
that she brought forth Christ our Redeemer, and
was a virgin; and that the saints had indeed to
enter [into the kingdom] through tribulation (Acts
14:22), like we and others; but that they are intercessors,
she did not believe; since Christ has reserved
to himself all power in heaven and earth.
As to holidays, she esteems none more highly than
the rest, but that we should always wait for the
great day of the Lord, and rest from sin. To this
she would constantly adhere. Thereupon they were
executed as those who truly loved God (Luke
10:27), and as innocent sheep of the Lord; and
their names are written in heaven.





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