Concerning What was Done for the Deliverance of the Last Mentioned Prisoners

This edict, having been drawn up and proclaimed everywhere, especially within the borders of Berne, caused very great sorrow, both for those who were already imprisoned and for the rest who were still out of bonds; since, as it seemed, it was now close at hand that the whole remaining light of truth, which had arisen most gloriously in these parts, should be put out, and even the very foundation and root of the lovely flower of the true Christian church utterly uprooted and destroyed.

But in the meantime it happened that the edict mentioned above came to our notice, in the original Swiss language, and also translated into Dutch; and by this there was awakened in us, and in many others of our fellow believers in the province of Holland, who had received reliable information about it, an inward affection, love and compassion for the distressed Swiss friends, who were severely threatened by it.

Hence it was resolved and determined, in February of the year 1660, to send certain persons, fellow believers of our faith, from the cities of Dortrecht, Harlem, Leyden, Amsterdam, Goude, and Rotterdam, to Gravenhage, or the Court of Holland, where their High Mightinesses, the Lords States General, were then holding their special assembly; so that the distress of the Swiss Anabaptists might be made known to them, and favorable letters of recommendation be obtained, to the cities of Berne and Zurich, for the release, or at least the easing of the condition, of the said people who were persecuted there.

Then those sent from the cities mentioned above appeared together in Gravenhage, about the 18th of February of the same year, and very quickly brought into proper form a humble supplication (which had already been drafted, but was not yet signed by all), signed it, and, for the purpose stated above, delivered it to their High Mightinesses.

These, as kind fathers and friendly caretakers of the afflicted, the poor and the oppressed, took such great interest in the matter that they resolved without delay, at once, to grant what was requested in the supplication mentioned above.

Hence three documents were drawn up by the order of their High Mightinesses; the first to the rulers of the city of Berne, for the releasing of the prisoners, and so on. The second to those of Zurich, for the restoring of the property of the imprisoned, deceased and expelled Anabaptists (of whom we have also made mention in this book), which they had kept in their possession ever since the year 1635. The third, as a passport for Adolph de Vrede, who was now to travel to Berne and Zurich in Switzerland on behalf of the Dutch Anabaptists, or at least in the name of those who had drawn up the supplication mentioned above, and had then obtained the letter of recommendation from their High Mightinesses; to deliver the first two documents to the lords there, for the purpose stated above.

These three documents, since we have received true copies of them, we shall present to the well disposed reader, as much as concerns this matter in particular, and give them a place in this book, as a praiseworthy memorial of what the States General of these blessed United Netherlands have done in this matter.