Stephen Zehender of Byrmensdorf

On the 23rd of September of the same year, 1639, a God-fearing brother, advanced in years, was brought bound to Zurich. His name was Stephen Zehender, a member of the church at Knonow, but by descent from Byrmensdorf. There he was imprisoned for sixteen weeks, in iron bonds, in the convent prison, a very damp and unwholesome place, called Othenbach. He was stripped in his bonds, fed on bread and water, and kept very hard in every respect, until he could endure it no longer; and, broken in body, he was overtaken by severe suffering according to the flesh, and at last by death, after he had with a patient and steadfast mind commended his soul to God. See Jer. Mang., Tract, folio 7, B., compared with the account of M. Meyli, folio 6, B., number 6.

NOTE. About this time an old sister named Catharina Grobin lived in hiding (on account of the persecution) with her daughter, in the Knonow Bailiwick. But the preacher of the church at Risterschwyl, knowing this, came and wanted to arrest her, even though he was alone. The daughter, however, out of love for her mother, wanted to save her, but he (Oh, what cruelty from a preacher!) gave her such a thrust that the pains of labor came upon her, and she gave birth to a dead child. In the meantime the mother escaped the hands of this ungodly man. Tract, M. Meyli, compared with that of Mangold, about the year 1639.