YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY OF THE
DIVINITY SCHOOL

PRO COPIA INSTRUMENTUM
PUBLICUM
OONCEIIXIM; THAT
WHICH WAS < OXSIDERED IX FACTI, BY
THE LORD COMMISSIOKERS OF THE I'ALATTXE
ELECTOR -VL PRIXCE IX REFERENCE
To the Protestant Menno-
nites at Reijdt in the
Year 1694, and what
Transpired

TRANSLATED FROM HIGH GERMAN INTO
LOW GERMAN, WITH CORRECTIONS BY
GODSCHALK GODSCHALKS.
Creveld, July 5,
1771.
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH FROM
THE DUTCH, J I' L Y, I 9 O 9.

Yale Divinity Library
New Haven, Conn.

General Conference of the Mennonite Church i
of North America
HISTORICAL LIBRARY
Accession Number Poirorf;^' KnrU UrytfUArt/\ "
Date Received oK^ • /* J 7
Fund 
This book should be returned at the end of two weeks; other- .fjj "'
wise a fine of 2 cents a day is charged for each adr1' nal day.
THE following several papers bearing on the
early history of the Mennonite church in
America have been secured by Rev. N. B.
Grubb, Pastor First Mennonite Church of Phila
delphia, from the Librarian of the Mennonite
Church, at Amsterdam, where the original manu
scripts are preserved in the Church Archives.
The originals are in the Dutch and German language
and were translated as nearly literal as possible,
and now appear in print for the first time.
Philadelphia, Pa., July, 1909,

dm t Name of th* IGnriu A«wtt.
Know all men 1 ^ , ¦ ae presents that in
one year after the Holy and blessed birth of
our Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Sixteen-hundred ninety-six in the fourth
convocation, under the dominion and reign
of the most illustrious, mightiest and most
unconquerable Prince and Master, Lord
Leopold the First of that name chosen
Roman Emperor for all time preserver of
the realm in Germany as also in Hungary,
Bohemia, Dalmatia, Crete and Slavonia,
King Arch Duke of Austria, Duke of
Burgundy, Brabant, Styn Marnten, Kraijen
Lutzenborg, Wurtenberg, Upper and Lower
p Selisia, Prince of Swaben, Margrave of
^SB'urgou, Moravia, Upper and Lower Lausnits,
^Princely Count of Hapsburg.
In the thirty-eighth year, according to the
jPRoman style of the reign and realm of our
' <- most gracious Lord his Imperial and Royal
— n 3 Majesty's government, the forty-first ac
cording to the Hungarian and the fortictli

year according to the Bohemian style, . on
Thursday, the Ninth day of February, new
stylo, in the afternoon between five and six
o'clock at the house of Peter Janssen, there
personally came and appeared before me,
the appointed Imperial Notary Public and
the Gentlemen witnesses, the Protestant
Mennonites subscribing hereto and presented
in writing and personally handed over to
me, the Notary, the following Specium
Facti, regarding what was done by the
Electoral Princely Palatine's Lord Commis
sioners at Reijdt and elsewhere in the year
1094, from July 10, to August 28 and what
in deed and truth took place, with the
request and prayer that they be questioned
and examined individually as well as alto
gether in the presence of the above mention
ed gentlemen witnesses as to whether they
could well and sufficiently remember, and if
they knew that everything occurred in deed
and truth and took place as told in writing ;
all of which they confess and acknowledge
ad notam and will pay for the accrued costs

of the following instrument or instruments
and will communicate the same to their
other members, proclaiming the said specie
factie word for word as further described
below : SPEC'TES FA ("IT.
That which was purposed by the Commis
sioners of the Palatinate towards the Men-
nonites at Reijdt and elsewhere in the year
1094, from July 10 to August 28 and what
happened in deed and in truth.
After the Protestant Mennonites had
lived in quiet tranquility and peace for over
30 years in the Barony of Reijdt and had
obediently and .willingly without the slight
est resistance paid all taxes and other charges
of war which were imposed uponi them by
the High Autliorities, and without notice
ever having been given to them to leave
that place,
Nevertheless on the 10th day of July,
1094, at break of day it transpired that the
Baron van Bongart of Papendorp, Doctor
Hoyden and Doctor SchifTert as Lord Com-

missionors of his Electoral Highness of the
Palatinate, together with Captain of Horse,
Mr. Wedding, as also a certain inhabitant
of Juchen named Paulus Katz, having with
them a large number of armed peasants,
entered the village of Reijdt and, having
divided into several parties, the peasants
immediately inquired about the Mennonites
and having ascertained the places where
they lived, wherever they found them im
mediately fell upon them, beating upon the
doors of the houses and, when they were
not immediately opened broke them open
and chopped some of them to pieces, enter
ing the houses by force ; the first being that
of Jan Klaasen van Aaken and his brother
Arendt Klaasen van Aaken, the latter upon
opening the door was struck upon the head
with a pistol by Lord Commissioner Heyden,
and so severely wounded that blood streamed
over his clothing, after which the same, and
all those whom they could possibly find,
without distinction, whether men, women
or children, were taken into custody and

brought together in the village ; among them
being several women having nursing child
ren with them, though others were obliged
to leave theirs behind.
These were then brought to the dwelling
of Johan Klaasen van Aaken where Dr.
Schiffert examined the aged and eldest one
by one and sharply inquired of them,
whether they had money or bonds in their
houses and those who made any effort at
concealment were very harshly treated.
In the meanwhile four peasants from the
village of Reijdt namely, Willem de Kuijper,
Florens Hernel, Anthon Vinkenberg and
Johan Lungcn were so bold as to inspect
the prisoners pockets to see if they could
find any money or anything else, and all
day long until evening the same were kept
under guard. Afterwards about 30 persons
both old and young, were bound together
with cords and knots like criminals and
were taken away.
Those who could not walk well were
place 1 upon carts and thus, in the evening,

taken from Reijdt to Jnchcn, a place two
hours distant and were there imprisoned
under a certain Werner Jelisen and guarded
with a guard of peasants.
But in the meanwhile the afore mentioned
Commissioners remained there with some
soldiers because they could not readily enter
the Fortress of Reijdt which was fortified
with ramparts and moats and the gates
of which remained closed. For this
reason they strongly surrounded the same
until afternoon so that no one could enter
or leave the castle, having done which, the
Lord Commissioners in the absence of Count
van. Bijland, the judiciary there, ordered
Mr. Gangelt under severe penalty to appear
before them at once and, as soon as the
latter came to them, had him disarmed and
placed under arrest and forced him to let
down the bridges of the afore said fortress
and to open the passage and thus, witli the
soldiers at their command forced an entrance
after which they continued invading the
Mennonite houses and dwellings and in-

spccted and searched the same through and
through in the very keenest manner.
The remaining women and children whom
they met with, (owing to the men in the
meanwhile having takeu themselves off and
had fled), were placed under, arrest and
closely guarded in their houses until the
following Saturday when they, numbering
about 13 to 14 persons, were placed on carts
and thus also brought as prisoners to the
person afore mentioned at Juchen, making
altogether a total of over 40 persons or
people. In the meanwhile they stripped
tlie houses of all furniture, loaded the same
upon cai'ts and took a large quantity to
Juchen and sold part thereof at Clad bach
and Reijdt and continued doing so for 20
days, until almost nothing was left. All
that remained, according to tlie attestation
of the Imperial Notary, in evidence under
date of October 5, 1094, being that which
they could neitlier take away nor sell, was
given to tlie Conventionalists (or Francis
cans). The floors, ceilings and tiles were

10
destroyed and tlie boards carried away.
When the prisoners had been a few days at
Juchen, Dr. Schiffert came to them and
treated them very harshly and, among other
things, also represented to them that they had
an accursed and damnable faith, that they
must renounce it and accept the Catholic
religion, or they would all die because they
had undoubtedly lived and sojourned a long
while under the authority of his Electoral
Princely Grace of the Palatinate, and as
this had now for the first time occurred to
his Electoral Princely Grace it was, there
fore purposed by him to weed out such a
damned sect if they would not change their
faith. On the 22nd of July of the same year,
the prisoners were each brought separately ,
in the house of Paul us Katz at Juchen,
before the Lord Commissioners and examined
anew. At this time Dr. TIeyden demanded
of them and learned first their names,
second their ages and thirdly whether they
were not yet willing to renounce their

11
wrong and cursed belief, aiid accept theirs,
and if not, that they must then prepare
themselves to submit to such punishment as
was contained in the Imperial mandate
which the Lord Commissioners had before
them and which they had read to them and
which was as follows:
That they would be put to death by fire
or at the least, by special grace, by the
sword; which occasioned no small change
and deathly agitation among them as well
as among the others.
A few days later tlie same occurrence took
place, as they were then each taken sepa
rately back and fortli (in Katz's house) by
the guards and then, in the presence of
Lord Count de Burgan, Vryheer, Baron
van Bongert and Dr. Heyden again examin
ed in a severe and hard manner as to
whether they still had outstanding money,
cotton thread and pieces of linen on the
looms and where the weavers lived ; and all
that they could possibly find they had taken
away, after which it was represented to

12
them that they had forfeited life and pos
sessions, but that if they would contribute
12,000 Ryxdalders in behalf of his Electoral
Princely Grace, their lives would be spared.
Upon which the prisoners represented to
them the impossibility of so doing after they
had been robbed of all their possessions and
placed beyond all credit; but without effect.
And after much lamentation on the part of
tlie women they were obliged to offer first
1200 Ryxdalders and as such did not avail
then 4000 Ryxdalders, after which tlie afore
said Lord Commissioners agreed first to
take 10,000, and afterwards, 8000 Ryxdal
ders, which was thus finally promised by
the prisoners on account of their being
driven by dire necessity to do so; which was
approved, with the request on the part of
tlie prisoners that the Lord Commissioners
allow them to retain all garden and fire
wood, likewise chests, bed steads and any
thing whatsoever that might be found in or
outside of the Barony, but nevertlieless the
exact opposite transpired afterwards, tlie

13

same being all sold and distributed accord
ing to the indexed specification still in hand.
After this the Lord Commissioners in
sisted by all possible means that the prison
ers, without any delay, should give approved
security for the sum promised. Against this
the prisoners remonstrated to the effect that
many among them had nothing outside of
the country but, on the contrary, having
been robbed of their goods, some of them
wore in debt. Therefore they would have
to have the same collected in Holland and
this would require some time. This, never
tlieless, was not accepted or considered, but
on the contrary tlie guards were doubled so
that the house where tlie prisoners were
held was guarded day and night by a large
number of armed peasants.
At a certain time the secretary of
Baron van Bongart came to them from
Diissoldorf, and said that he had brought
with him tlie death sentence for Jan Klaasen
van Aaken and Godschalk van Elten, that
tlie first named should be put to death with

14
the sword but the latter with the rope.
After many other threats that they would
now be cast into deep prisons in Gulich and
afterwards in other places they were finally
taken on a Sunday afternoon, the first of
August, in an almost inhuman manner with
both arms before their bodies and three,
four or five pinioned together in such a
manner that even the priest there showed
his sympathy and requested that they would
handle them more gently ; in this manner
they were taken from there to Papendorp,
four hours from Juchen, in a heavily pour
ing shower by a number of soldiers who
drove them forward like cattle until late at
night. Yes, and even when at times they
could scarcely move onward owing to the
narrowness and unfitness of the road, they
were urged forwards with the cry : ' 'Forward ,
you dogs, forward!"
Having finally arrived at Papendorp they
placed them in three groups, thirteen of
whom, mostly men, were placed in a tower,
another thirteen, mainly women, together

15
with Jan Klaasen van Aaken who, owing to
physical weakness could not climb up, were
placed in the lower part of a tower, and the
remaining 14 persons both women and
children were directed to another place;
after which the windows were nailed fast
and they were only given a little kindling
wood, and straw upon which to lie.
In the meanwhile a resident of Oladbaeh,
named Peter Slooter, a son by a former
marriage of Beltge Peters, wife of Jan
Floh, aged about 43 years, and of tlie
protestant religion, was seized at Leurop
near Gladbach, by some of the armed guard
as lie was on his way to Creveld, and, with
out the slightest known reason or cause,
carried off and bound like a criminal and
tli ns brought prisoner to Juchen and there
imprisoned. He was tormented in all possi
ble ways to make him admit what property
lie had and where his hiding shed (or place
to hide anything) was and where his moth
er's goods were. From there he was taken
to Papendorp where he was imprisoned in a

16
deep cellar together with Peter Tomps, also
one of the Reformed religion, where it trans
pired that the aforesaid Peter Slooter was
found , on the second clay pitifully ill treated,
dead with his head cut off; whereupon by
order of Baron van Bongart, the dead body
was dragged out like a dead carcass (or
carrion) to the place of execution and left
under the gallows under the blue heavens
until the third day and was kept with a
guard, but was afterwards hanged like a
dog with the limbs aloft on the gallows
standing there. To this place three of the
imprisoned Mennonites, namely Jan Klaasen
K6ters, Arent Klaasen van Aaken and his
son Jan Arents van Aaken, were led bound
hard and fast to each other, by armed peas
ants, with express orders that, if the Men
nonites should try to escape they would be
killed like dogs. Their attention was then
called to the spectacle of the dead body of
tlie afore said Peter Slooter together with
another hanging on the gallows and at tlie.
same time they were threatened witli similar

17
treatment if they did not either change
their faith, or immediately, or at the latest
within three days produce the sum of 8,000
Ryxdalders demanded heretofore, then call
ing them rogues and dogs who did not keep
their word they brought them back. Where
upon, the Lord Commissioners having given
orders that these three together with a
certain Godschalk Dirriks van Elten should
be cast into a deep den, be treated as thieves
and rogues, and be given nothing but water
and bread, had a priest sent to them to
acquaint them with the fact that if the
money was not contributed, they should
prepare themselves for death, who thus
came to them with two servants with chains
and cords and having called out the fore
going to them, they were afterwards locked
together two by two with heavy irons and
so let down into the bottom of a deep
dungeon, where they were obliged to lie on
their backs on a little straw for eight full
days, during which time, like the other
prisoners, they had nothing for their suste-

18
nance but a little water and bread and so
little of that that they suffered great thirst, so
that two women were obliged to give their
own water to their children, namely Maria
Janssen and the servant girl of Cornelis
Flooh. Besides all this the four aforesaid shackled
ones not only endured a dreadful odor but
also had all kinds of vermin crawling all
over them, such as toads, frogs and similar
creatures. But finally they were again
released of their bonds after the priest had
again addressed them in reference to chang
ing their religion.
In the meanwhile a very friendly missive
by his Royal Highness of England was sent
to his Electoral Princely Grace of the
Palatinate. Likewise from the Lord Resi
dent (Governor) of Bilderbeek, in the name
of the High and Mighty States General, by
which the prisoners felt encouraged, hoping
that they would be released without pay
ment of this large amount, or be treated
more gently, but notwithstanding this they

19
were obliged on August 28th to pay the
8000 Ryxdalders together with 800 Ryxdal
ders for calculated expenses, under threat
that if they did not immediately deliver the
moneys they would be taken to Gulick and
placed in even more severe prisons and
would be obliged to pay 16,000 Ryxdalders
instead of 8,000. And though they believed
that they would thus and immediately be
let free (or discharged) at the last moment
a certain document was placed before them
to be signed instead of taking oath, though
no copy of the same could be obtained,
which the prisoners, nolens volens, were
forced thereto by all manner of threats,
until finally they signed the document;
whereupon the prisoners were finally set
free and conducted to the frontier of the
country were they were banished and
exiled with forfeiture of person, life and
property should they return.
It also happened in the meanwhile that a
servant girl of Cornelis Flooh, named Ger-
truijd Fieten, of the Reformed religion,

20
who had been brought with the other pris
oners from the Castle of Reijdt to Papen
dorp and imprisoned, was twice taken from
there and threatened (as was pretended)
with execution, (or hanging) and the first
time it was also claimed that she would be
tortured to make her admit where the pos
sessions of her master, Cornelis Flooh, were
to be found, at which time the executioner
grasped her by the arms and further made
all kinds of preparations to torture her.
The second time she was threatened with
death and let down into a deep dungeon
where, a year or two previous, a prisoner
had been kept who was later hanged on the
gallows. At. that place the aforesaid exe
cutioner, who was an old, gray and terrible
individual, came to her again with a sword
girded to his side and gave her notice to
prepare herself for death — to die immediate
ly — in the aforesaid dungeon; with this, he
at once tore off her outer garments, took off
her head dress and further made all prepa
rations for an execution such as would take

21
place in the case of a criminal. Notwith
standing it was well known to them that
she was of the protestant religion, also that
from the first they had opened her chests
and taken out of them everything that she
possessed in the shape of clothing, woolens
and linen.
Afterwards she was again taken to the
other prison and remained there until she,
like those aforementioned was ransomed and
set free, whereupon she was again seized
and placed in a tower at Papendorp where
she was obliged to pass one night without
even straw or light and was taken from
there to Diisseldorf and kept under arrest
there four weeks longer; a ransom of 70
Ryxdalders being demanded of her or that
she should offer sufficient security for this
amount, neither of which she could do.
Thus, finally, the aforesaid Cornelis Flooh
was obliged to pay the sum of 150 Ryxdal
ders for her release and for his own annota
tion or merchant's books which had been
taken from him, together with 20 Ryxdal-

22
ders additional for costs, before the release
could be effected. Nevertheless, until this
very hour, {hey have still withheld the
principal books and only a few of the minor
ones have been restored to him after ab
stracts had been made therefrom.
Whereas I, a Notary Public, could not
reject or decline such reasonable request and
wish expressed, the aforesaid Protestant
Mennonites as a whole and also those in
dividually concerned (or affected) being
present, have carefully and distinctly read
all the foregoing, and all the deponents
having been examined in specie one by one
in reference thereto, each and all have, ac
cording to their usual pure and upright
truth, assured and declared that all that
which truly and without the slightest simul
ation or concealment taken place and
happened. To the fuller confirmation of which the
Mennonites together with the especially
required Notary and the gentlemen witness-

23

es have subscribed their names to this in
strument with their own hands.
Signed and delivered in the presence of
Mr. Johanes Reijners and Mr. Johannes
Broekman, both Burgomeisters and Justices
of the City and manor of Creveld as especi
ally called and required credible witnesses.
In the year, Convocation, Imperial Reign,
month, day, hour and place as is first above
correctly stated.
I, Arendt Klaasen, with three daughters,
namely: Jenneken, Lisbet and Gritgen,
Pieter Jacobs, Jan Jacobs to Camp,
Diedrich Jacobs, Lisbet Janseen, for
Jan Klaasen Koters, me and my husband,

Jan Arendts,
Dahm Janssen,
Gritgen Simmens,
Bilken Fieten,
Frinken Fieten,
Bilken Pieters,
Anneken Derriksen,
Hilliken Samans,
Gerdrat Hendriks,

Jan Klaasen,
Alletgen Linkens,
Maria Janssen,
Drutgen Fieten,
Maria Aldendorp,
JennekenGodschalks Altgen Derriks,

24
We the undersigned, as well as the fore
going, bear witness with our own signatures
that the foregoing, thus further subscribed
to by us, has really and truly taken place.
Anno ^ Supra.
Johannes Reijners, as witness,
Johannes Broekman ut festis.
Quod ex attester
Herm. Marthens
Imp. auth. Not. pub.
The present copy has been compared
word for word with the true and real origi
nal in my possession. Witness my hand and
usual Notarial seal.
Attested and confirmed.
Herm. Marthens, Notaris pub.

25

Copy of the Letters of the King of
England to the Electoral Pbince of
the Palatinate, Written In Their
Favor. Translated from French into German.

MON FRERE:
The love which I bear towards all Christ.
ians and the representations which have
been made to me of the abuses which certain
Protestants called Mennonites have suffered
in your country of Gulich oblige me, to be
their intercessor with your Highness in the
hope that your Highness may consider it"
worth while to have detailed and careful re
ports made to your Highness of the violent
treatment to which these people have been
subjected; as I feel assured, that in view of
their harmlessness, you will be very much

26
touched, and will issue orders to free them
from the punishment with which they are
threatened and to restore them to the full
possession of their property and effects. I
have entered into this intercession more
readily by the assurance, which has always
been made to me, of the submissive and
peacable character of this people, who con
duct themselves with absolute subjection
and obedience towards those in authority,
leading a peaceful and industrious life, and
willingly paying' the taxes of the State and
County where they reside, and where they
make themselves useful by their industry
and labor. Taking this into consideration,
I have not been able to refuse to send this
recommendation to you for their persons
and possessions, assuring myself that you
will consider them worthy of your Highness'
protection and that by proof of the un
changing faithfulness which they owe to
you, they will come to a full comprehension
of your goodness and gentleness, which I
shall at the same time acknowledge and

27
with which I may prove to your Highness
how much I am, Mon Frere,
Your affectionate brother,
William Rx.
In camp at Mont St. Andre this 11th day
of August, 1694.
Addressed To my brother the Electoral Prince
of the Palatinate.

Second Letter From His High Ma
jesty on the Same Subject.
Translated from Latin into German.

To the Illustrious Prince, Lord Johann
Wilhelm, Electoral Prince of the Rhein,
our dearly beloved friend and kinsman,
Greeting :
Most illustrious Prince, dearly be
loved friend and kinsman, we could not re
frain from bearing witness with this that
the declaration made by your Electoral

28
Princely Grace to Lord Baron van Kinsky
in behalf of the Protestant Mennonites on
the 24th day of April last, in reply to our
request, has been most agreeable and pleas
ant to us. We earnestly request, moreover,
of your High Electoral Princely Grace that
it may please him according to his authority,
to direct that the above mentioned declara
tion may be fulfilled in each and every
respect to the end especially that all the
property, gardens and grounds which they
may have lost may be restored to them and
that the debts claimed of the said Menno
nites may be declared satisfied, which also
would be most agreeable to us, and we will
allow no opportunity to pass on our part to
show similar service to your High Electoral
Princely Grace, whenever it may be in our
.power so to do, etc., etc.
Further we commit your Electoral Prince
ly Grace with sincere affection of spirit to
the protection of the Almighty.
Done in our camp at Cocklenberg, the
14th day of July, in the year of our Lord

29
1697, and in the 19th of our own Royal
reign. Your Electoral Princely Grace's good
Brother and Kinsman,
William Rx.
7 Blatwijt.
Addressed To the Electoral Prince of the Palatinate.

Address of Thanks*

Presented by the Anabaptists to His
Majesty in this matter.
We, your Highness' obedient servants,
separated from the Protestants, who in this
country bear the name of Mennonites or
Anabaptists, come in all humility and re
spect obediently to thank your High Royal
Majesty for the favorable offices so merci
fully conducted by your Royal intercession
in our behalf to his Grace the Lord Electoral
Prince of the Palatinate, which, by God's
grace, have been so effectual that our exiled
* Thi« was graciously received by his royal highnesn.

30
brethern have again been restored to pos
session of their immovable property and
hope is held out that they may receive some
compensation for the rest.
We find, Most Illustrious Prince, great
occasion and reason to thank the God of
Heaven and of Earth from the bottom of
our hearts that it has graciously pleased his
Divine Majesty to elevate your Highness to
the royal throne to be a blessed instrument
to the preservation of that most valued pos
session, freedom of conscience, and to afford
a support and solace to all oppressed Protes
tant Christians and also, in this praise
worthy work to follow the praiseworthy
footsteps of your illustrious forefathers who,
to this beneficent purpose, from the begin
ning of the Reformation seem to have been
raised by Heaven and given to oppressed
nations. We pray with all our hearts that it may
please the Lord of Hosts long to preserve
your soul and body for our good 'and that
of the many thousands of Protestants.

31

HERMANNUS SCHYN
HORN 1662, DIED 1727
One of the leading Mennonite Ministers of Amster
dam, Holland and also a medical practioner, an
author and historian of note in his day He
stood very close to the Mennonites in Amer
ica when they tirsl located here.

32

Copy of a letter the original of which is
in the Archives of the United Doopsgezinde
(Mennonite) Congregation at Amsterdam,
(Holland).

Germantown, Sept. 3, 1708.
Highly esteemed and heartily beloved
friends, Hermaenus Schijn and other minis
ters of the Doopsgezinde (Mennonite) Con
gregations both in Holland and wherever
elsewhere this letter may be sent, who are
united with us in one faith, workers in the
spiritual vineyard of Almighty God and our
Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace unto
you from the merciful God in unity with
the Holy Spirit, and to all those who fear
the Lord be happiness and comfort and
eternal inheritance of the life everlasting.
Your very welcome letter, written by the
ministers at Hamburg and elsewhere and
signed by you, concurring with its contents,
under date of April 16, 1707, has come
safely to hand, we have thoroughly under
stood your good instructions contained

33
therein and it has given us thorough expla
nation and was received with pleasure by
our elder preceptor Willem Rittinghuyssen
and, consequently, it was fully resolved to
give baptism upon request to those who
requested and who had already requested it.
But at this time the Lord had stricken him
with illness and laid him and his wife on
the sick bed and in a few days he was taken
from us ;~two or three hours before his death
he held a short exhortation and, taking
leave of the brethern, fell asleep in the
Lord, he being 64 years of age and she 66;
this was a painful farewell for us and made
us sorrowful. But we may say as it is
written in the Revelations of St. John the
Divine, chapter XIV, verse 13: "Blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord" and, as
a certain poet says "If my friend but sleeps
in the Lord he lives until that joyful day
when Thou, 0 Lord God, givest life again,
by whom all things are done". We had,
however, only one* who could preach a ser-
* Jacob Oodtschalck.

34
mon to us which caused us further grief
and having called upon the Lord in refer
ence hereto we found strength to elect in
the hope that the Lord might raise another
to us and so we elected two* to be ministers
and threef to be deacons one of whom has al
ready delivered two sermons to us to the
great pleasure of the Brotherhood. The
Lord will, I trust, also show his further
grace and blessing in connection with the
administering of baptism. Of those who
requested it there were eleven men and
women who have been admitted to the con
gregation by baptism. J
We earnestly and kindly request, as we
hear that there is a minister of the brother
hood here, who is willing to come over that
you will keep them and us in mind and
that their way may be success in the growth
of the congregation here which, in time,
should increase greatly. We will gratefully
* Herman Kasdorp, Martin Koib.
t Isaac van Sintprn, Hendric CasBel, Conrad Janz.
% This baptism was administered by Rev. Jacob (iodt-
srhalek on May 9, 1708

35
appreciate the love and benefit as we under
stand from the Brothers that he was so
much affected by the zeal and seriousness of
the request of the ministers at Hamburg
that Pieter Kolb was elected as an-jslder.
We are also considering writing te~5the
ministers at Hamburg with the kind request
of the ministers that they send lis some
catechisms for the children and some small
testaments for the young people. The mem
bers here are poorly supplied with Psalm
books and we have no Bible in the meeting
house here. Some have a Bible, others a
small Bible (testament), so that each has
not more than one Bible and cannot well
spare any. We dare not suggest the num
ber to you but leave it to your pleasure and
love. The congregation here is still quite
small, and to have printing done here would
cost a great deal of money ; here and also at
New York they do printing in English, so
our old friend and minister Willem Ritting
huyssen has written to New York in con
nection with having the articles of faith

36
printed in English as there are some people
here who call themselves "Mennisten" who
would like to have our articles translated
into English, but the printer demands so
high a price that our congregation could
not raise the amount. When people arrive
here from Germany they have risked every
thing and must make a new start which is
very hard.' Some purchase a piece of land,
must build a house thereon and all have to
work hard to obtain and pay for whatever
else they need for their maintenance. If
the ministers would kindly send over some
books, whatever they send will be appre
ciated by the poor, and we, on behalf of the
poor, will be grateful. Time and oppor
tunity oblige me to abridge this as a friend
is waiting to take his departure. We sin
cerely request that the Brethren may be
pleased to include us in their devout prayers
to the end that the Lord may sustain us
with his grace in this strange Western
country and strengthen us with his spirit to
the upbuilding of the congregation and to

37
the salvation of our souls; wherewith we
close and, with sincere greetings from us
all, commend the ministers and brethern to
the keeping and protection of the Lord
Most High.
We ask that you occasionally send us a
letter which is always most agreeable and
welcome to us.
Your friends and brothers in Christ :
Jacob Godtschalck,
Herman Kasdorp,
Martin Kolb,
Isaack van Sintern,
Conrade Jansen.
Addressed to the Honorable and Discreet
Hermaenus Schyn,
Doctor at Amsterdam.

This copy is made by the Assistant at the
Library and Archive Room of the United
Anabaptist Congregation at Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, April 23, 1909. C. J. Stroer.

38
TO all the ministers and deacons of the non-
resistant Doopsgesinde congregation of God
in Amsterdam and Harlem, and wheresoever this
letter may be read. We, all the brethren, minis
ters and deacons of the non-resistant Doopsgesinde
congregations in Pennsylvania unite in hearty
greetings, wishing you the grace of God, love,
and peace, out of the fullness of Jesus.

Sincerely Beloved Brethren:
In the year 1742, we sent you a
letter, dated May 8, in which we placed be
fore you our desires, and in hearty love,
although in simplicity and weakness made
clear our condition; first, that until the
present under the praiseworthy crown of
Great Britain we were permitted to live in
liberty of conscience, without hindrance;
and further, that our congregation under
Divine direction was continued, increased
and enlarged.
In our former communication, we also
spoke of our fear concerning the assurance
of continued liberty of conscience. Until
now, thanks be to the dear Lord, we have
been permitted to live here in freedom of

39
conscience and unmolested peace. But we
have no assurance in case there should be a
hostile outbreak in this province, as has
been the case in other provinces, that we
would not be compelled against our con
sciences to bear arms, and with other pro
vinces to meet an enemy armed, to the great
burdening of our consciences.
We likewise informed you that we have
prayed and have made application to our
assembly and the authorities in case of such
an outbreak, to be exempt from the bearing
of arms. Our request has been graciously
received, with this answer, however, that it
was not in their power to grant the request,
and that the right of liberty of conscience
must be sought from his Royal Highness,
the King of Great Britain.
When we consider our own condition, we
realize that we are weak, helpless, and
powerless to seek, in our humble way, such
favors at the hands of Royal Highness, and
so there is no security in this case, except
with the strong and mighty protector, tlie

40
only and almighty God, who until now has
graciously protected this province, so that
we could live in peace.
However, our aged ministers, now de
ceased, Hans Burckholder, Bendickt Brocht-
biell, and others, who more than twenty-
seven years ago came to this country, had
discussed the matter with friends and breth
ren in Amsterdam and Harlem, as also with
Herman Duniaden and his associates in the
ministry, who gave us the consolation that,
should we suffer on account of freedom of
conscience, they would report the matter to
the brethren in Holland. This and the
fact that they are inclined to come to our
aid with counsel has made us rejoice. We
recognize the fact that we have made a mis
take in coming to this far off country with
insufficient assurance in the matter of free
dom of conscience. This is in brief the
contents of our former communication to
you. Since, however, we have received no reply
from the brethren, as to whether thcv have

41
received the letter or considered our plea,
we are prompted to write again that you
may know what burdens us, hoping that
you may receive and accept the same in love,
and that you may be willing to counsel us
in our anxiety and fear concerning such a
possible outbreak.
Our further concern is, Dearly Beloved,
inasmuch as we can not know what the
future has in store, and since the flames of
war are evidently rising higher, that to the
non-resistant Christians tribulation and per
secution may come to their house, and for
this reason it will be needful to fortify
against such visitation in patience and obe
dience, and to prepare for firmness and per
severance in faith. It has been the concen
sus of opinion of this congregation that it
were well if we could have the Bloody Mar
tyr's Mirror, by Dielman Jans van Bracht
translated into the German language, and es
pecially, since in this country in our congre
gations many young people have grown up
and our number mnch increased, so that

42
coming generations may have the testimony
of true witnesses to the Truth, who have
walked in the way of truth, and given their
life for it. Much as this has been desired
for several years, the wish is as yet not ful
filled. It is true that a printing press has been
established in this land for German print
ing, and this had given us hope that our
plans might be carried out, but we have
noticed that the paper used here is of too
poor a quality, and for this reason the
matter was held over for further considera
tion. In the next place there has not been
anyone as yet, either among us nor else
where, who has been willing to undertake
to make a true translation. Those who did
apply and promised to make a worthy trans
lation could not, for certain reasons, be
entrusted with the work. Much as we
desire the translation we are likewise desir
ous that, so much as lieth in us, the truth
shall not be injured by the translation.
Finally, we have agreed to submit our

43
plan to the brethren in Holland, and to
seek their advice. To this all the ministers
and deacons have agreed.
We urgently request, Dearly Beloved,
that our request may be received in love,
and in case it is, to send us, as soon as it
can be done, an estimate and specifications
of what that translation of a copy, printing
and binding will cost us; also to inform us
if they can be sent free, or at least without
high taxes and customs. Further, of what
the cost would be with or without copper
plates ; also if it would be best to send it in
single copies or all together at ' the same
time* and how according to your judgment
it could best be done.
Our requests are made to you, Dearly
Beloved, because there is being manifested
a longing desire to have the said book trans
lated into High German. We beseech you
that this time you give us your loving advice
that we may be informed — if it be possible—
at a time when the air is filled with rumors
of war to consummate our plan, and what

44
tlie cost per copy of translation, printing
and binding a thousand copies would be.
We hope, Dearly Beloved, that our in
quiry will be received in love and that as
soon as possible, you will give us your ad
vice and judgment in the matter. In this
hope we abide while we commend ourselves
to our worthy brethren and fellow ministers.
Jacob Godschalk
Martin Kolb
Michael Ziegler
Yellis Kassel
Dielman Kolb
Heinrich Funk
The subscribed names of the ministers of
tlie congregation in Schiebach (Skippack)
are by the other congregations here ordered
to send this to you, Dearly Beloved. Done
this 19th day of October, 1745.
P. S. We here note that duty demands
that we should not have delayed so long,
but we still awaited an answer to our former
writing, which, however, until now has not
come. We send this in duplicate because

45
of the threatening war times, with the hope
that if one fails the other will reach you.
This to be delivered in haste to the honor
able Bartholomeus Loureing and Henricus
Bakker, members of the church council of
the Defenceless Doopsgesinde congregation
in Amsterdam. To be delivered at "der
Zingel in der Sonn," Amsterdam.
The answer to this letter was dated Feb
ruary 10, 1748.
Note— Translated from the German.

7344