Ully Wagman, and Another Brother

There was some respite or letup, it appears, between the years 1644 and 1654 in the dominions of Zurich, since we have not learned of anyone dying in prison from bad food or mistreatment (though some of those we mentioned earlier, and also in the margin, had been arrested a considerable time before); but when the year 1654 came, we again learn of the death of a pious Christian there.

They aimed at the leaders of the church, especially at those who ministered in the Word of God. Among these they had arrested and imprisoned at Zurich, in the convent Othenbach, a very dear and worthy man who, out of a faithful heart, and with the gift he had received from God, watched over the church of Jesus Christ and cared for it spiritually; his name was Ully Wagman.

But since he was treated very harshly and severely in his imprisonment, he felt that his death was near, and having committed his soul to God, he departed this life. Compare both of the tracts mentioned before.

Another brother was imprisoned with him, who after Ully's death (since he did not want to apostatize, nor to go to church with his opponents) remained in confinement about two years longer, namely, until the 2nd of October, in the year 1656. But how it ended with him afterward, we have not learned. M. Meyli, Tract, edition of 1658.

In the meantime the former lost his life, while the latter remained in bonds. The Lord will hereafter pronounce a righteous judgment on those who did this and on those who suffered it; the dead who die in the Lord are blessed; those imprisoned for the testimony of Jesus Christ will be brought into the liberty of the children of God; and on the other hand, those who imprisoned others will themselves be imprisoned and bound with the woeful bonds of darkness; those who put the pious to death, or were the cause of their death, and have not repented of it, will, it is to be feared, not escape the second and eternal death. Oh, that those who may be guilty in this matter, and are still living, might repent before their death! Oh, that from persecutors they would become true followers of Christ and of His saints! Oh, that they might be saved! This we also wish them out of pure love and from the heart.

NOTE. Even before the year 1645 they had at various times brought one and another of the scattered flock of Christ to Zurich as a prisoner, and confined them in Othenbach. Among these there were five brothers in particular, namely, Jacob Aussilly, Jacob Gachnauer, Jacob Baumgarter, Hans Huber, and another named Henry. With these it went, one after another, as follows:

Jacob Aussilly, from the county of Kiberg, was imprisoned in Othenbach as early as the year 1644, stripped of his clothes, dressed in a long gray coat, and fastened to a chain.

Jacob Gachnauer, from the Groeningen Bailiwick, was first driven out of the country with his wife, his family broken up, the children expelled and thrust into poverty, his house and furniture sold, and the proceeds delivered into the hands of the authorities. But when he afterward undertook to come back into the country to look for his scattered children, he met the persecutors on the way, who also imprisoned him in Othenbach, took away his clothes, dressed him in a gray coat, fastened him to a chain, and dealt with him as they had with the brother before him.

Jacob Baumgarter, an old man of seventy years, had before this time been imprisoned five times because of his faith, but had escaped every time; but when he was now arrested and also brought to Othenbach, there was no hope of deliverance, for they fastened him to a chain as well, likewise took away his clothes, and, as had been done to the others, dressed him in a gray coat. Moreover, he was for a time fed on bread and water, stripped twice, and put in irons twice, and also in fetters and handcuffs, and so on; his house and homestead were sold for 500 guilders, and the money delivered to the authorities.

Hans Huber, from the Horgerberg, was first imprisoned with eleven other brothers for the sake of the faith, and from those bonds he was delivered along with his companions; but he was afterward arrested again and imprisoned in a strong place at Othenbach; and since he was in fetters and chains, there was no prospect of his being released without the miraculous help of God.

In the meantime his wife and her sister, two aged women, were driven into exile, also because of the faith.

The last one, named Henry, had also been severely persecuted various times for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and had been imprisoned as well; but he was now confined with the others in a way that made deliverance almost an impossibility.

They were all chained, and stripped of their usual clothing, and dressed, in the manner described before, for mockery and reproach, in long gray coats.

So they persevered until the end of August of the year 1645, which was the last time we heard of them; how it went with them after that, we have not been able to find out.

In the meantime the name of pious witnesses of Jesus Christ cannot be withheld from them, since they made a good profession, and, moreover, suffered all this for His name's sake. See Tract, Mang., of the year 1645, completed the 15th of September.