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(Translated from the Latin)

To the Rulers and Councilors of the City and Republic of Berne, the Burgomasters and Rulers of the City of Rotterdam wish all happiness and prosperity.

Noble, honorable, highly respected lords, esteemed friends: It is only a few days ago that there was presented to us, from the elders of the church which, from their predecessor,* Menno, is called the church of the Mennonites, a request, in the name of that church, containing long complaints: that their fellow believers, under the odious name of Anabaptists, are proceeded against with such fury in your E. E. city that, because of the edicts, they are not allowed (though they are harmless and not accused of any crimes) to move with their possessions and temporal goods out of your E. E. city and jurisdiction, and go elsewhere; indeed, that some, solely out of hatred against their faith, are deprived of their goods, and confined in prison. [n1276-2]

They, the supplicants, request that we should endeavor, through our intercession, to avert, if possible, the punishments decreed against their brothers; and this request of theirs, being founded upon just arguments, if they are founded on truth at all, we could not ignore, by virtue of our duty and office.

Hence we request your E. E., highly esteemed lords; indeed, we beg your E. E., for the sake of religion and the faith in Christ which we have in common with your E. E., that your E. E. would be pleased either to abolish entirely the aforesaid exceedingly severe decrees enacted against the innocent, erring or wandering ones, or, if your E. E. should not think this compatible with the condition of your state, of which the judgment belongs to your E. E., at least to permit that the afflicted people, after selling their real estate and arranging their affairs, may move with their means to where they may expect more tranquility and safety.

As far as we are concerned, honorable lords, we have held ever since the founding of this city that this class of people can quite safely be tolerated in the state, without injury to the republic.** [n1276-1]

And for this judgment of ours we have to thank Prince William of Orange, of blessed memory, who by his valor established freedom of conscience for us, and whom the entreaties and perverse zeal of a class of evil-disposed men could never move to refuse the Mennonites any civil privileges. And truly, we have not yet regretted it, having never found that the Mennonites, under the cloak of religion (which alone is pernicious for all republics), have ever sought to brew anything in the state; but, on the contrary, that they have always with a cheerful and willing mind rendered custom and taxes, and all that a subject owes to his prince; indeed, that they relieved, with their very liberal contributions, the Reformed who were suffering trouble elsewhere for their faith, and again recently the Vaudois, our fellow believers, when, at the instigation of the pope's ministers, they were miserably mistreated by the duke of Savoy.

It is not hidden from us, highly esteemed lords, that certain madmen, through a wrong and perverse zeal, try to persuade your E. E. by arguments that the tolerating of the Mennonites is injurious to the republic; but they do this with arguments whose weight was never sufficient to induce us to oppress the Mennonites with any severe edicts.

For, that they do not consider the office of magistracy lawful for a Christian, and religiously abstain from the swearing of oaths (the two points with which they are chiefly charged), this cannot be detrimental to the republic, seeing they do not refuse obedience to the magistrates, whom, though they command something burdensome, they consider themselves bound in duty to obey, constrained by their conscience; and they will be so bound by their naked declaration that, when convicted of broken faith and of falsehood, they are willing to submit to the punishment of perjurers.

As long as these things continue unchanged, we cannot see what harm the Republic has to expect from them.

That some, through pious, or even superstitious, fear, abstain from the magisterial office and from the swearing of oaths — what will those say against it who, under the truly glorious name of Reformed, follow the tyranny of the pope, and under the favor of the excellent titles of reformation and purity of faith introduce popery? With regard to the cruelty of it, as it was practiced in former times in this city, especially against the Mennonites, as often as the remembrance of it, preserved in our records, burdens our thoughts, our souls are seized with horror, and we rejoice that through the blood shed in former times our necks have been freed from the yoke of the furious harlot.

All of which, highly esteemed lords, if it is properly considered by your excellencies, we hold the hope that your E. E. will either abolish the severe decrees against the Mennonites, or at least, after the example of those of Schaffhausen, one of the Swiss cantons, and the example of the Roman Catholic prince of Neuburg, grant the afflicted, erring (or wandering) ones sufficient time to arrange their affairs, and to settle down elsewhere.

Which, highly esteemed lords, when it has been done, your E. E. will have performed an act that will be acceptable to God, glorious for the name Reformed, salutary for the erring (or wandering) ones, and pleasing to us, who are united with your E. E. by the close bond of religion, and able to serve as an example to all those who boast of the glorious name of the meek Savior.

We pray God Almighty to enlighten your E. E. persons and republic with the radiance of His truth, and to preserve you in lasting prosperity. In Rotterdam, the 14th of February, 1660,

Your E. E. Excellencies' affectionate friends, burgomasters and rulers of the city of Rotterdam, and in the name of the same.

W. VAN DER AA.

This then was the praiseworthy and good work of our high authorities in this land of the states general, as well as of the authorities in particular cities; far different from the disposition of those who instituted the aforementioned oppressions and persecutions. Therefore we sincerely wish and pray that God the Almighty Lord would be pleased to be their shield and their exceeding great reward.

Truly everyone will receive reward according to his works. The martyrs who suffered for the truth of God, for their faithfulness and steadfastness to the end; the persecutors who afflicted the pious, for their cruelty and tyranny, if they died unconverted and without repentance; the saviors and deliverers (that is, the good authorities) who sought to defend the oppressed and persecuted, to help them, and to rescue them from the claws and teeth of rapacious, bloodthirsty, unreasonable men, falsely so called, for the salvation and deliverance which they in this respect brought about for the harmless and innocent.

In the meantime we wish everyone the best, even our enemies; for by means of their cruelty the pious are tried, made martyrs, and brought into that state which makes truly and infinitely happy, namely, to the eternal and blessed life. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. First Peter 2, verse 19.