Wolfgang Raufer, George Pruckmair, and Hans Aicher, in the Year 1585

In the year 1585, three brothers, namely Wolfgang Raufer, George Pruckmair, and Hans Aicher, were apprehended for the faith while on a journey, half a league from Riet, having taken some refreshment at an inn, and after eating returned thanks. [n1176-1] Hence beadles were sent for at once, and word was given that there were people there like Anabaptists. While they were counting out the money for what they had received, and the innkeeper took it, the wicked men came, apprehended all three of them, and took them to Riet. A few days later they were taken from Riet to Berckhausen, where the council and the judges sent eminent doctors to them, who were to speak with them, and if possible to overcome them and turn them from their faith; but they could accomplish nothing, nor were they (neither the doctors nor the priests) able to turn these brothers in any way by disputing. In the meantime they executed the aforementioned Brother Leonhart Sumeraver with the sword, on a Friday, about eight o'clock in the morning. Afterwards the judge and other lords went into the castle, announced it to these brothers, and told them that if they would not renounce, they should share the same fate with him. To this they replied: "We are ready to die; whatever God's will with us may be, we will patiently suffer." Now when they had been imprisoned for a considerable time, about fourteen weeks, at Berchhausen, and they could not prevail upon them or intimidate them, they were placed separately in carts on the next following day of execution, namely the 3rd of August, led out from prison, and about four o'clock brought before the council house, where the royal decree was read to them, according to which they were to be dealt with. In the meantime the judge called the executioner and commanded him to bind these three persons and take them out to the usual place of execution, and then (since they had been sentenced from life to death) to execute them with the sword, and afterwards lay them upon a pile of wood and burn them with fire. At this Brother Wolfgang replied: "Not from life to death, but through death into eternal life." Then George and Wolfgang said: "Now since we must die, we die only for the sake of the divine truth, for we have done no evil or wrong to anyone, and there is not a single person here to whom we have done any injury, or who can complain of us; since we must then lose our lives for the faith and for the Word of God, we shall find it again in eternity, as the holy Gospel testifies." They then said to the authorities that they should take better heed from now on, for the innocent blood would cry for vengeance upon those who were guilty of it; but since it was the will of God concerning them, they would willingly die, since our Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer the same death in this world. Then Wolfgang said to George and Hans: "Now, my dear brothers, we will take leave of one another; and let us be joyful, for the Lord is with us." At this Brother George asked the executioner to loosen their hands a little, so that they could give each other the hand and so take leave; to which the executioner consented, doing it willingly. So they took joyful leave of one another. In the meantime a priest came to Brother Wolfgang and urged him to renounce. But Brother Wolfgang answered him briefly, that he should himself renounce his ungodly life and fornication; and he would not tolerate the priest with him. He then went on, and when he came into the marketplace he began to sing joyfully, and then gave praise and thanks to God that they had come to this, that they might be truly refined. And he said further: "Would to God that among this multitude of people there might be someone from our country who could inform our brothers of this; then we would greatly thank God for it. However, we trust that God will send someone who will notify them of this, whether it be by word of mouth or by writing; and this causes our heart to rejoice." This wish was also fulfilled, as the facts show. Then Wolfgang said to the executioner: "Now, Master Christoffel, I shall be more quiet from now on, and contain myself a little; but my heart feels no anxiety at all, but there is only laughter within; and if my brothers, my wife and child, knew this, they would rejoice for our sakes, though they might otherwise, according to the flesh, weep and mourn. And I pray, and also hope, that God will send someone to our country, to our church, who will take leave for us from all brothers and sisters, our wives and children, and all our acquaintances according to the flesh."

While Wolfgang was speaking in this way, they were led out and came to the place of execution. The other two brothers, George and Hans, had been silent for the most part; but when they arrived at the place of execution, all three of them were joyful, took leave of one another again, and offered up their prayer together in quietness.

They were then beheaded, and their bodies laid upon piles of wood and burned.

When the executioner had done this, he said to the people: "These persons would not desist from their faith, nor would they tolerate priests; they also have a much stronger faith than I and all who are here. I would rather execute thirty robbers than these."

Thus these dear brothers testified with their blood to the faith in Jesus Christ and the divine truth, to which end God gave them power and strength, for which praise be to Him forever. Amen.