FURTHER OBSERVATIONS TOUCHING THE PERSON AND THE DEATH OF HANS LANDIS.
Having through our good friends B. Louwr and H. Vlaming come into possession of a certain extract from a letter dated, A. D. 1659, July 19–29, from one of the preachers at Zurich, who witnessed the death of the aforementioned martyr, we have deemed it well to add it here, that is, as much of it as is necessary to be given here for fuller information.
“Further you remember,” he writes, “that Hattavier Salr. witnessed the beheading of Hans Landis, which I also still remember well, having seen it myself in the Wolfsstadt, the whole transaction being as fresh in my recollection, as though it had happened but a few weeks ago.”
Continuing, he speaks of his personal appearance and the manner of his death, saying,
“Hans Landis was a tall, stately person, with a long black and gray beard, and a manful voice.
“When he, cheerful and of good courage, was led out, by a rope, to the Wolfsstadt (being the place made ready for his execution), the executioner, Mr. Paull Volmar dropped the rope, and lifting up both of his hands to heaven, spoke these words:
“ ‘O that God, to whom I make my complaint, might have compassion; that you, Hans, have come into my hands in this manner; forgive me, for God’s sake, that which I must do to you.’
“Hans Landis comforted the executioner, saying that he had already forgiven him: God would forgive him too; he well knew that he had to execute the order of the authorities; he should not be afraid, and see that there was no hindrance in his way.
“Thereupon he was beheaded. After his head had been struck off, the executioner asked: ‘Lord Bailiff of the Empire, have I executed this man rightly according to imperial law and sentence?’ Otherwise it was customary to say: ‘This poor fellow,’ etc. As though he believed that he died saved and rich.
“The people were of the opinion, that the executioner by dropping the rope meant to indicate to Hans that he should run away, it was also generally said: that if he had run away, no one would have followed him, to stop him.” So far the aforementioned extract.