Hans Koch and Leonhard Meister, Descendants of the Ancient Waldenses, in the Year 1524

From the year 1160 until this time (the year 1660) we have followed, as well as we were able, the trail and footsteps of the ancient Waldenses, whom we have by no means lost sight of until now; nor have we lost sight of them now, but still keep them in view.

This appeared in the case of two pious men of that profession (which agrees with that of the Anabaptists), who, loving the truth of Christ, which they upheld above their own lives, were put to death at Augsburg, in Germany, according to the rigor of the court there, in the year 1524.

Concerning this, we read in Jacob Mehrning's History of Baptism the following words, translated from the German: "From these Bohemian and Moravian Old Waldensian brothers afterwards sprang several excellent men; as, among others, Hans Koch and Leonhard Meister, who were both put to death at Augsburg, in the year .* Bapt. Hist., page 748. [n567-1]

NOTE. The year 1160 was the time when Peter Waldo appeared against popery, at Lyons, in France, and made a sound confession, of which we gave an account in the first book. As regards his descendants, this Hans Koch and Leonhard Meister are counted as none of the least of them; and so also, afterwards, Michael Sattler, Leonhard Keyser, John Hut, and so on. See Jac. Mehr., Bapt. Hist., page 748. [n567-3]