Nicholas Felbinger and John Leytner

In the year 1560 brother Nicholas Felbinger, or Schlosser, a willing minister of the Word of God, who was still on trial, was arrested, together with another brother named John Leytner, not far from Neumarkt, in Bavaria, where they had come on the first day after Judica,* in Lent, fleeing on account of the faith. [n842-1] They were taken to Neumarkt, where they were examined twice by the judge and his assessors, and questioned especially about infant baptism. But they showed clearly and thoroughly that Christ had not commanded it, but only the baptism of adults, who hear, understand, believe, and accept the Word of God. So early next morning they were placed in a cart and, escorted by horsemen and guards, sent to Landshut, where each was imprisoned separately, and Nicholas kept chained. Afterwards the council met and summoned them to appear. They spoke with them at length, but could accomplish nothing.

They then sent two learned men, namely, two Dominicans, to them, who talked with them about the sacrament, about infant baptism, and about why they had left the papal church; but the brothers answered them from the Word of God, that they had to leave it.

So then they tried them by torture, racking them severely, and most severely of all when they wanted to know where they had lodged and where they intended to go. But Nicholas said: "We are not bound to tell you these things." They asked: "Why?" He said: "Because you confiscate their property, torture and kill them for it, and sin against them. Should we betray those who do us good? We do not betray even our enemies—why then our friends?" They said:* "Then we will not stop torturing you until you tell us," and they left them lying on the rack a long time, until the executioner himself spoke up on their behalf and said: "Do stop. Even if they are tortured all day, you will get nothing out of them."

Then the judge became enraged, and called them rogues and condemners of others. But Brother Nicholas said: "We condemn no one; but your sins condemn you, if you do not turn from them. This we testify according to the truth."

The superior judge asked: "What is truth?" The brother replied: "You would not understand it even if I told you. For you know as much about what truth is as Pilate did, who asked the same question." John 18, verse 38.

After this, two doctors were sent to them from the monks, a distance of over nine leagues. They tried in many different ways to turn them, but were not able to do it. Likewise the chancellor and the lord of Landshut came to them once, and assailed them; but they found them steadfast in their faith, and had to leave them steadfast, being unable to win them by their false and seductive counsels.

Two priests and a doctor of the Scriptures then came to them, and argued fiercely with them about infant baptism; but Nicholas vigorously withstood them with the Scriptures, and drove them away from him.

After these, the chancellor and several Dominicans came to them, and sought to move them with smooth words; but they valiantly withstood all the gates of hell, fully assured that they stood in the divine truth, which they faithfully and thoroughly defended, and said they meant to hold to it in the simplicity of Christ. Thereupon the chancellor said to Brother Nicholas: "Are you simple? I cannot believe this. A hundred might come before there would be one who could defend himself as you do; but I consider you an enthusiast, like many who are found at present, who roam about without reason." But they boldly confessed and defended their faith, and God gave them a mouth and wisdom which the others were not able to resist. Luke 21, verse 15.

After all this, they were sentenced to death by the children of Pilate, and Brother Nicholas' tongue was tied fast, so that he could not speak to the people at the place of execution. Toward the end, however, his tongue was freed enough that the two brothers could talk together.

John Leytner, whom the executioner proceeded to execute first, said to Nicholas: "Dear brother, if my death should terrify you, go forward first, and I will wait until last." But brother Nicholas said: "Oh, no, oh, no; I do not dread it." And so John valiantly offered his neck to the sword, and was beheaded, Nicholas watching it with fearlessness and boldness, as though it did not concern him. He then stepped forward too, knelt down, and offered his head, which was struck off for his faith, as had been done to the other. So these two testified to the divine truth with their blood, which took place on the 10th of July, 1560.