Another Persecution of These People in the Principality of Mecklenburg, in the Year 1509

In the year 1509, old writers state that the old Waldenses mentioned above, because of the envy of the pope and the papists, could no longer enjoy their liberty in confessing and practicing their true belief, in the principality of Mecklenburg, near Mooren. See the chronicle last mentioned, page 937, column 2, ex Catal. Test., folio 902.

NOTE. In the year 1509. At this time Nicholas Rus vigorously taught and wrote against the pope, saying: 1. That letters of indulgence were nothing but subtle deceptions to rob the plain and simple people of their money. 2. That the pope does not have as much power as people suppose. 3. That the popes, cardinals, bishops, and prelates were leading lewd lives, and so on. 4. That saints ought not to be invoked.* This Nicholas had many hearers in the principality of Mecklenburg, but out of necessity, because of the papists, he was soon forced to leave the place. He went to Wismar, but there too he had no lasting place to stay. See the authors last mentioned, for the year 1509.

In the year 1510. Bernhard Liblinensis taught and wrote at this time: 1. That it is impossible for the whole world to obey a single man, as the pope is. 2. That the popes themselves were not of one mind; for one forbids what another has ordered to be observed. 3. That therefore it is enough to believe in Christ, and to obey Him alone. Chron. van den Ondergang, page 939, column 2, compared with Catal. Test., folio 911. However, what punishment came upon him from the pope on this account is not stated.

In the year 1512. John Picus, John Hilton, and others spoke out vigorously at this time against the abuses of popery, sharply rebuking their (the popes') life, deeds, and doctrine. However, what they suffered because of this is not indicated. See the chronicle last mentioned, page 946, column 1; also Joh. Munst., folio 203, 204. [n563-1]

In the year 1513. William Budaeus, a very learned man in France, wrote at this time in a book: 1. The popes and bishops start wars between princes and rulers, when by rights they ought to advise and help toward peace. 2. They fill the world with pride, greed, gluttony, drinking, lewdness, whoredom, adultery, and other shameful things, surpassing the laity in these vile deeds. 3. They are Epicures, who do not care for eternal life, as they show by their works; and to their hearers they are the cause of eternal damnation. As to the end or death of this man, however, we have likewise found no account. Compare P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 949, column 1, with Catal. Test., folio 908. Joh. Munst., folio 208.

In the year 1520. John Bugenhagius, surnamed Pomeranus, a remarkably kind and upright man, was at this time very well known through his writings. Among other things he says, in a little book dealing with Unborn Infants, that for twelve centuries men were in error concerning infants, whom (by rights) they could not baptize, and yet greatly desired to baptize. Two days before his death there was an eclipse of the sun. He died at Wittenberg, aged 73 years. Compare the chronicle last mentioned, page 985, column 1, with Leonh., book 7. Jac. herh. A f b., folio 28, 30, 32. [n563-2]

The time now draws near when the account of the last of those who suffered death begins in our old Book of Martyrs. We speak of those who gave their lives for the truth since the great Reformation, or at least since the establishment of the worship of God in the year 1524, and from that time forward. In the meantime it will be well for us to notice that the martyrs of whom we are going to speak held the profession of the Waldenses, just as did those before them, of whom we have already spoken. All the labor we took upon ourselves from the middle of the twelfth century onward aimed at following the line of these people. This has been our purpose continually up to the present time, and in this, as we hope, we have not been unsuccessful; indeed, we trust that we have shown it with certainty. In the meantime the discerning, to whom we gladly submit the matter, may judge it. The first work now before us is to join the first martyrs with the last, and to follow up what we have written with what was written before. In order to give no offense to anyone, we intend to leave the old accounts unchanged, except for a few discrepancies and printing errors; likewise what we shall add of our own from the testimonies of old writers, which shall be plainly distinguished. By following this method, we hope to accomplish our purpose successfully.