Wolfgang Pinder, in the Year 1571

In this year 1571, Brother Wolfgang Pinder was arrested through treachery at Scharding, in Bavaria. The chancellor of Burkhausen was at Scharding at that time. He came himself, arrested him and bound him, and took him from there to Burkhausen, where he had to withstand many attacks and temptations from the host of false prophets, such as priests and others, who assailed him fiercely, so that he would renounce his faith and let himself be taught by them. To this end they worked hard, and used every kind of cunning, to see whether they could lead him astray by fair, smooth words, by false doctrine, or by arrogance and threats. But he would not be moved in any way from the known way of the truth, into which God had helped him. So when the priests could accomplish nothing, the executioner was on hand the following night, and had to lay hold of him. He was severely tortured, racked and stretched most pitifully, so that his hands swelled badly and he could not stand on his feet. So cruelly and mercilessly had the children of Satan treated him, after the manner of their father, who is full of wrath against the human family, and works through his children all the works of wickedness, wherever he can.

Once two priests came to this brother. One of them talked with him, and urged him to give up his error and be converted. But Brother Wolfgang, though still in great pain from the torture and the racking, said to him with a manly heart: "O you priest, repent, and turn from your sinful life and your false doctrine. For you are a false prophet, and one of the rogues who go about in sheep's clothing and cover their deceit and their rascality with long robes. But inwardly you are ravening wolves, on whom the Lord has pronounced many woes." At this the priest grew angry and blushed, and so did the other. They could not accomplish their purpose with him. Finally they sent him back from Burkhausen to Scharding, where he had first been arrested. In both places they tried him hard, but could not accomplish their purpose with him. When he could not be moved, and would not follow their false doctrine, he had to lay down his life. They set a day without warning, and he was led out early in the morning to be executed, without any judicial sentence, which Brother Wolfgang had demanded. But such conduct on their part need not surprise anyone at all, for they have nothing to bring against the pious, and cannot find any cause of death in them.

So the executioner came and took the collar from his neck, but he laid hold of him with fear and trembling. Brother Wolfgang knelt down and commended his spirit into the hands of his Lord and God. The executioner handled him very badly. He could not strike him properly, nor put him to death quickly. Finally, while he was lying on the ground, he had to hack or cut off his head as best he could, so that he himself was in great fear, and in great danger of his life from the people present, and he vowed never again in his life to execute any of the brothers. Many people were present who saw how valiant and brave he was. This happened shortly after Candlemas, in the year 1571. After he had been in prison almost half a year, he had to shed his blood in this way for the faith in Jesus Christ, and passed over to the host of the Lord, who must in faith, by patient suffering, take possession of the kingdom of joy. The traitor who had informed against him afterward fared very badly, and so did the chancellor who had arrested him. Their good days soon ended, as it usually goes with such Judases, who sin against the pious, innocent sheep of the Lord and thirst for their blood: misfortune overtakes them through the wrath of God, and does not let them long remain at ease.