An Edict Published by Those of Berne Against Those Called Anabaptists

The persecution did not stop with the imprisonment of the seven friends at Berne mentioned above; they went still further in forcing consciences, and so in exercising their fury, so that they aimed also at those who were scattered and wandered about like sheep having no shepherd.

Against them, on the 9th of August of the year 1659, in the meeting of the Council of the city of Berne, a certain edict was drawn up, confirmed, and also proclaimed, concerning the bodies and goods of those poor, wandering, and afflicted people mentioned above, teachers as well as those taught. It reads as follows:

Extract of an edict, published by those of Berne against the Anabaptists

The teachers, of whom one or more can be arrested by close search, shall at once be taken by the bailiff here into our orphan house, for safekeeping, so that the necessary steps for their conversion may be taken there, or, if they persist in obstinacy, proper punishment be carried out. In the meantime the officers shall seize their property and deliver an inventory of it to us, or to the directors we have appointed for this purpose.

Now between those who are not teachers, but simply their adherents and followers, and also between the stubborn and obstinate and the simple or weak and inexperienced, this difference shall be made: that with the former more severity is to be used, but with these more gentleness.

Those, however, as well as these, our officers and preachers shall together, kindly, diligently and punctually examine and investigate, concerning their own and their fellow believers' life, conduct and faith; remind them and convince them from the word of God of their error, and then, for the same reason, show them, with proper discretion and prudence, the duty they owe to God, His Word, the preaching of it, holy baptism, the holy Supper and catechizing, and also toward their God-appointed Christian authorities, faithfulness and allegiance toward their country, together with the other things required, and remind them well, so that they may carry these things out at all times.

If then by such kind words, instruction and admonition some have been brought back into the true way, so that there is hope of their reformation and conversion, they shall and may, without any other renunciation, and without taking any oath, be set at liberty with a good admonition, and on paying the expenses, and as converted members be graciously received back into the bosom of the church, without this bringing them any further rebuke, hatred, contempt or the like, but much rather praise for their obedient return.

Then, as soon as these people have returned, the preachers of that place shall so order their sermons as to strengthen them after their conversion, and earnestly admonish all the others in general much rather to honor, praise and love these people because of their conversion, than in any way to hate, despise and revile them for it. Further, they shall set them a good example by a blameless life and conduct, by piety and honesty, in the hope that by this means the rest may be won more easily and, without fear, be brought back into the true way.

But to those who accept no reminding, instruction or admonition, but continue disobedient and stubborn, and will neither renounce nor depart from their error, the penalty of banishment imposed upon them shall be announced, and their immovable obstinacy and reprobacy be made known to the directors we have appointed over the affairs of the Anabaptists, so that our further orders concerning it may be awaited.

And when such obstinate, erring persons have been sentenced by the court upon the report mentioned above, it is our meaning, intention and command that they be conducted under safe escort to the boundary, and, by a promise in place of an oath (since they do not swear an oath), be utterly banished from our country and dominion until they are plainly converted; and if they, in spite of the banishment, return unconverted and are arrested, and still do not recant, but obstinately persist in their error as before, they shall, as often as this happens, be publicly scourged with rods, branded, and again, as before, expelled and banished from the country. This well-deserved punishment rests upon the following reasons and arguments:

1. All subjects are, without contradiction, bound to show faithfulness and allegiance to their natural, God-given authorities, and to attest such fealty or faithfulness with an oath; but those who will not take such an oath of allegiance are not recognized as subjects, nor tolerated in the country. Hence the Anabaptists, who flatly refuse it, neither can nor shall in any way be permitted to remain in the country.

2. Just as little can those be recognized and tolerated as subjects who will not acknowledge (as subjects are bound to acknowledge) that their authorities are from God, and with God, without which acknowledgment there can be no obedience. But as the Anabaptists will not admit that the office of magistracy is compatible with Christianity (or can exist in the Christian church), hence they also cannot be tolerated in the country.

3. All subjects are bound to defend and protect their country, as being our common mother, indeed, to sacrifice their property and blood for it; hence those who, contrary to the command, refuse to do this cannot be permitted in the country; and as the Anabaptists utterly refuse this, they cannot be tolerated in the country.

4. All subjects are bound, according to the teaching of the holy apostle Paul, to render tithes, customs and taxes for the common support of their country; and those who refuse to do this cannot be tolerated in the country. Since, then, the Anabaptists, though they do not refuse to do these things, which is done through fear, yet teach that to take this is not compatible with Christianity, which doctrine, if it should gain the upper hand, might easily produce evil fruit, therefore such people cannot be placed (or tolerated) under a government.

5. Since the magistracy, as the same apostle teaches, is given by God as an avenger upon those who do evil, especially upon murderers, traitors, and the like, the subjects are bound to make the same known to their authorities; but those who will not obligate themselves to do this cannot be counted among the faithful and obedient subjects. Now therefore, as the Anabaptists are such as refuse to make known one of them to the authorities, they cannot be tolerated.

6. Those who refuse to submit to the wholesome ordinances and statutes of the authorities of the country, indeed, who act directly contrary to them, can be tolerated still less. Now the Anabaptists are such people; for they act and offend against the ordinances of the authorities, which are so necessary and no less beneficial, in the following ways:

1. They preach without the calling and confirmation of the authorities.

2. They baptize in their churches without the calling and command of the authorities.

3. They pervert the church discipline (or have other church regulations) contrary to the public ordinances of the authorities.

4. They attend no meetings (of the church) held on Sundays or days of prayer.

Hence, as they will not submit, as faithful subjects should, to such institutions and ordinances as agree with the Word of God, but contemptuously act contrary to them, they are not worthy to live in the country.

For these many and vitally important reasons we are entirely resolved, and would earnestly have it laid to heart by all, that they proceed constantly and without delay with such banishment, and with the penalties belonging to it, against all the adherents and followers of this erring and (because of much evil) very dangerous, wicked sect; so that it may make no progress, much less receive additions, but that it may by every possible means be utterly abolished, and the country be rid of it. On this we graciously rely.

Concerning, then, the property of such disobedient banished people, and also of those who have run away: after the expenses incurred have been computed, it shall be divided with the obedient wives and children; and of that portion, whether real or personal property, after our officers have seized it, an inventory shall be sent into the hands of our directors named above, so that such property may be managed at their discretion, the annual income be drawn from it and, if the banished or fugitive persons do not return again, but die unconverted in their errors, it be adjudged to us with perfect equity; and the same shall be done with the property belonging to the wives and children of Anabaptists who went away with them, though they were not regarded as adherents of the sect.

We herewith also declare and forbid with equal strictness, that no one, whoever he may be, shall lodge or shelter native or foreign Anabaptists, whether they are related to him or not; or help encourage their meetings, preaching, and so on, whether by granting them the use of houses or barns, or by aiding them with means; or, in the future, have any dealings with them at all, whether written or oral; or in any way lend them aid in the way of money, provisions, or the like, neither secretly nor publicly; but, on the contrary, we earnestly admonish every one of our subjects to report at once to the high bailiff whatever they can learn concerning them, by writing, by messengers, or orally, so that he may govern himself according to these our ordinances, and proceed against offenders, for every offense of which they are found guilty, with a fine of one hundred guilders that will not be remitted; or, in case they are not able to pay it, with arbitrary punishment; concerning which last mentioned point everyone shall, until further information, be warned by a special proclamation read from the pulpit.

Given in our council meeting, on the 9th of August, in the year 1659.