Of a Certain Decree which Those of Zuerich Published Against the Anabaptists, in the Year 1525

At this time not only the papists, but also the Zwinglians, or so-called Reformed, in the city of Zuerich laid their hands on the innocent and defenseless flock of Christ; yet not, as far as we can learn, punishing them with death, or taking their lives by the executioner, but confining them under severe imprisonment, until at last, as may be gathered, death followed.

However, in order to settle from this time on what course was to be followed in this matter, the magistrate of that city ordained, among other things, the following:

"Therefore we ordain and will, that from now on all men, women, youths, and maidens forsake Anabaptism, and practice it no longer from this time on, and that they have their infants baptized; and whoever acts contrary to this public edict shall, as often as it happens, be fined one mark of silver; and if any prove utterly disobedient and stubborn, they shall be dealt with more severely; for we will protect the obedient, and punish the disobedient as he deserves, without bearing with him any longer. Let everyone act accordingly. All this we confirm by this public document, sealed with the seal of our city, and given on Saint Andrew's day, in the year 1525."

Compare Chron. van den Ondergang, page 1010, column, with Henr. Bull. against the Anabaptists, book 1, chapters 5 and 6; also the open letter of the council of Zuerich, published in the year 1525. [n570-1]

The Zwinglian church at Zuerich, where this decree was made, was at this time only about five years old, and was also subjected to the hatred and persecution of the papists; certainly a lamentable thing, that those who only a short time before had purified themselves in many respects from the leaven of popery, and were opposed to the tyranny of the pope, should nevertheless remain, in this respect, united with the papists; that is, in persecuting others who did not hold the same faith as they did.

Still, it would have been well if they had stopped with this decree, since with one mark of silver a person could have atoned for the first offense of neglecting to baptize a child. But this was not the end of it, for a few years later, especially in the year 1530, when they grew a little bolder, they decreed that the so-called Anabaptists should be punished with death, which we shall show in its proper place.