Of a Decree Published by Those of Groningen and Sneeck Against the Anabaptists, in the Year 1601

With the beginning of this century, when the constraint the papists exercised upon the faith and conscience of the pious began to cease somewhat, some who had separated from popery, and yet still kept the disposition of the papists in the matter of oppressing others for their religion, poured out their bitterness not only upon those who had formerly oppressed them, but chiefly upon those who had never done them evil, but always good. It was not, however, to the point of death, nor severe punishment of the body, but lighter and lesser penalties, of which those of Groningen and Sneeck were the inventors, and the first to put them in force. This decree, as far as it is directed against the Anabaptists, we shall copy word for word.