Rudolf Suhner, in the Year 1643

They also apprehended a young lad named Rudolf Suhner, who, though young in years, was old in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

He was kept confined nearly two years in Othenbach, and during that time he was forced to do hard labor.

In the meantime they made his life so bitter to him, by severe threats and terrible representations, that through fear of the distress hanging over him he consented to go to church with those who had imprisoned him, and then he was released. But soon afterward, reflecting on his fall, he felt great sorrow, sincerely wept over his sins, and again prepared himself for the conflict set before him.

Then he was apprehended again and confined in the place mentioned before, but kept much more harshly than before. For all food was denied him for a time (just as had been done to Felix Landis), so that some criminals who were confined close to him, filled with compassion for him, poured some warm liquid food to him through a crevice in the wall.

Finally, because he had suffered hunger so long, he was so weakened that he could not live any longer, and he asked once more that in his great distress they would allow him a little warm food, which the jailer made known to the lords. But they all together refused to grant it, in order to make him apostatize if they could. Finally one of the lords, seeing his misery, gave permission that they should give him something to eat again. When this was done, he could no longer eat it or bear it, and so he died of starvation in his bonds; for which the Lord shall hereafter, at His heavenly table, reward him with eternal fullness. "Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be filled." Luke 6, verse 21. Compare Jer. Mang., Tract, folio 14, A., with Tract, M. Meyli, folio 7, number 8.