Conclusion of the Fifteenth Century

We long to take our leave of this century, since we can no longer look upon this misery. However, we have only reached the summit of the mountain of martyrdom. In our ascent we have met scarcely anything but skulls, thigh bones, and charred skeletons. In our descent we are threatened by deep pits, pools, and blood red rivers, into which the bodies of the saints are thrown; to say nothing of the dark prisons, dungeons, torture chambers, and countless instruments of torture.

But the merciful Lord, who has led us by the hand and helped us this far, will lead and help us still further. His love shown to me in this matter has been wonderful. For when the bands of death were around me, because of a half year of severe sickness that attacked me in the midst of this work, His gracious hand restored me, so that I have completed the work this far, though not without anxiety and labor. So, though still in the grasp of severe fevers, I wrote, for my own remembrance, to the praise of my Creator, and to dedicate this book to my brothers and sisters, these words:

My heart beat with anxious fear,

That I would not complete this work;

Since God had touched me with His hand,

And sickness brought me near my end.

Now I thank God with joyful song,

Whose constant presence made me strong,

Until I had come to the end,

By ways often sad and wearisome.

My brothers and sisters, take this book, I pray,

With ardent love and favor, indeed,

Which burns for the truth of God;

For this my soul greatly yearns.

It is time to proceed, so that we may reach the end. We will conclude this first book, comprising fifteen centuries, the whole of which we had to bring up from the very depths; and proceed to the second, where our labor will not be so great, since the living memoirs of old writers and their accounts will serve us there. Moreover, the entire work can be comprised in one great century; relying upon this, we take our leave, and turn to the following work, for which may the Lord be pleased to grant us His grace, as much as is necessary. Amen.