Statement in Regard to the Old Work

It was our intention to leave the second book, that is, the history of the martyrs from the year 1524 to 1614, unchanged, just as it was published before for the service of our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith; except that we proposed to add a few more martyrs of the same faith, placing them where it might be suitable. But our original plan in this matter has been far exceeded, since we, besides writing the whole first book, have added not only a few but many martyrs to the second book; and since many of the death sentences of the martyred persons, which we have recently obtained, did not agree in date and other circumstances with the respective accounts contained in the old book, some of them differing very greatly from each other; which came from the fact that, when the martyrs were put to death, the rest of the believers of the place were often scattered because of the danger at hand, so that neither the time nor the manner of their death could be recorded: therefore, whenever we discovered such discrepancies, we have rewritten the original accounts and arranged them according to the time and manner given in the death sentences recorded by the papal and other clerks of the criminal court; so that even the adversaries, if possible, might be convinced by their own testimony of the shedding of the blood of the saints.

This was no small task and burden for us; yet we have worked through it and finished it. (Thanks be to the Lord for His grace.) But how this was done, we leave the impartial and intelligent to judge.

However, we consider it certain that we shall not escape criticism; the world, being evil, is in the habit of criticizing everything good. Besides, we have not aimed to please everybody, but to write the truth; and this we think we have done without passion, prejudice, or partiality.*

If anyone is displeased with this book, he may know that we have written it only for ourselves and for the well-disposed. With the evil-minded we have nothing to do. Therefore we shall console ourselves about whatever we may meet with on this account. God and a good conscience shall be our support.

The fault-finders I cannot escape,

Who will always find fault

But yet my heart shall never fear,

Since God knows my purpose.

Yes, Lord! You know all my thoughts;

To You I trust my cause.

I do not care what my haters say,

My conscience is so free.

Far be it from us, however, to clear ourselves of all liability to err. [n21-2] No one in this world is so infallible that he may not err at some time.** We consider it certain, therefore, that here and there (though not on purpose, but innocently) we have erred; and this the more, as we have compiled and written this to a great extent while we were in distress, in severe illness, indeed on the bed of sickness, when death threatened us; for which reason we ought to be excused the more, though for truth's sake we do not seek it. [n21-4]

If anyone, therefore, no matter who, provided he does it in sincerity and good faith, can point out any errors to us,* we will consider the matter, forsake the evil, and follow the good. But if it is clear to us that not sincerity and faithfulness (that is, love of truth), but envy and ill will caused by prejudiced partiality against our faith, are the driving forces in the case, we shall not very easily be persuaded to give it closer consideration; but it shall only confirm and assure us the more of the truth of what we have written and do believe.

No one must expect that if he, in order to refute this book or attack it with the pen, assails it (that is, as far as the work which we have written is concerned) on one point or another, and not in its whole extent, we shall readily answer or oppose him; for we do not consider such a procedure worth the trouble of replying to. But should the whole work be attacked or contested, yet in such a way that no alteration is made in the language and nothing essential is left out, we would state that, if God will spare our health and grant us strength, we will attend to the matter; since, for the sake of our brothers and sisters and companions, we shall, like Paul, not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, either to reply to or refute the things advanced, or to do anything else we may think necessary for the service of the defenseless and oppressed little flock of Christ.

But judgment shall return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Psalm 94, verse 15.