Two Young Girls, in the Year 1550

About the year 1550 it happened in the bishopric of Bamberg that two young girls, who had betrothed themselves to Christ and received Him by faith, were baptized upon their faith according to the doctrine of Christ, and, rising up from sin, sought to walk with Christ in newness of life. On this account the antichristians sought to hinder them in this good resolution, and to quench their good intention as much as lay in their power. They therefore cast these two young lambs into prison, where they tortured them with great severity, and sought also by other unchristian means to make them fall away; but as they were firmly built upon Christ, they remained faithful and steadfast through the whole trial. Colossians 2, verse 7; Revelation 2, verse 10. Hence the authorities, who in this generally follow the advice of the false prophets, condemned them to death; at which they were joyful and undaunted. When they were led out to execution, their persecutors, by way of reproach and mockery, placed wreaths of straw upon their heads; at which one said to the other: "Since the Lord Christ wore a crown of thorns for us, why should we not wear these crowns of straw in His honor? For this the faithful God will place a beautiful golden crown and a glorious wreath upon our heads." So these two young branches armed themselves with patience, after the example of their Captain Jesus, remained faithful even to death, died steadfastly, and obtained, through grace, the glorious crown with God in heaven.

Their adversaries grant these girls the praise that they died quite undauntedly and steadfastly, and that they had the true foundation and ground of the Christian faith in their Redeemer Christ Jesus, whom they openly confessed and called upon in their distress, and in that firm hope they steadfastly died; so that doubts arose among their adversaries as to whether they themselves were not in greater error before God than these young girls, though these girls were Anabaptists.

Whoever wishes may read, concerning this account, Johannes Manlius, printed at Frankfort in the year 1550.