Leonhart Sumeraver, in the Year 1584

In the year 1584, about eight days before Saint Martin's day, brother Leonhart Sumeraver, from the country of Saltzburg, was arrested, as he was about to leave the country and had gone on board at Titmaing. The boatman learned of it, and landed at Berckhausen, at the bridge, so that they should not come to grief. A rope was thrown to them there, and the matter became known, for the boatmen shouted that they had an Anabaptist on board. The clerk, who stood there, went to the chancellor and told him that an Anabaptist had arrived. The chancellor had him arrested, and he was immediately brought to the rack and five times dreadfully tortured, and also twice suspended by a rope; but they could get nothing from him, nor accomplish anything with him. So he had to suffer much pain and sorrow during the time of his imprisonment, and also much temptation and conflict on account of his faith, and because he would not accept their doctrine.

After he had been in prison almost half a year, he was led to the place of execution. Four priests went with him, and they urged him stubbornly to renounce; but he said that he had already renounced his unrighteous life, more than twenty years before. When he was led through the town, they urged him a second time to renounce. But he replied: "Should I depart from God? Christ does not teach me this when He says, 'Whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.'"

When he was led out before the stone court, they said to him: "Look, there is the image of our Lord; bow down before it." But he replied that he dared not do it, and that they should proceed with him. The priests asked him why he had gone out from the Christian church and gone over to this heresy (as they call it). But he said: "Not so; but I went out from ungodly idolaters, fornicators, blasphemers, and all the unclean, and have gone over to the good, to God, and His church." But they said: "He is possessed by the devil, who makes him speak this way" ; just as the Jews also accused Christ. Afterward they begged him three times, for God's sake, to renounce; but he would not. The executioner also begged him the best he could. But Brother Leonhart said: "Oh dear, be silent, and do not beg me, but proceed, for I want to die as a good Christian; I stand in the true faith and on the firm foundation, which is Christ my Lord, from which I shall never depart." When they saw that all their efforts were in vain, the executioner took his collar from his neck and said to him: "If you would only renounce the two articles, they would release you." But he said: "Let me alone and proceed as you please, for I want to die valiantly upon my faith." Then the executioner said: " I do not like to execute you, but if I do not do it, another will." And he drew out the sword before him, in order to frighten him; but he was not terrified by it in the least. So he was beheaded, and buried at the place of execution.

It was at Berckhausen, on July the 5th, 1585, that this lamb of the Lord was torn by the ravening wolves.