Edict

The magistrates of the city of Deventer forbid all citizens and residents of their city: that no Mennists, and so on, shall hold any secret or open assembly or meeting where any preaching, ... marriage, or any other exercise of religion is practiced; under whatever pretext it may be done; on pain that those who are found to practice it shall at once be banished from the country forever; and every person who is found at such a place or in the assembly shall forfeit the upper garment and twenty-five guilders in money; the second time, the upper garment and fifty guilders; the third time, to be punished arbitrarily. [n1227-1] And he who lends his house for the purpose of holding such gatherings forfeits a hundred guilders; the second time, two hundred guilders; the third time, he shall be banished forever. See Chron. van den Ondergang, Book 17, for the year 1620, and so on, page 1825, column 1.

For this is thankworthy, if a man endures grief for conscience toward God, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? But if, when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even to this you were called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. First Peter 2, verses 19 to 21.