But when she had been delivered of her child, and had gained a little strength, although not yet quite recovered from all the hardships she had suffered, she, when it was not expected, escaped into another district, but since her life had been greatly weakened through the persecution she had suffered she died soon after; which she bore willingly and patiently, with a valiant and steadfast mind, to the praise of the Lord, entering into the saints’ rest, and waiting for the day that shall hereafter comfort her and all the pious. M. Meyli Tract, dated 1658, fol. 8, B., compared with Jer. Mang., Tract of the year 1645, on the name Barbly, etc.
Note.—About this time, 1643, there were also apprehended for their faith, two sisters, namely, Martha Lindne and Annill Blau, very well known and noted women. Martha was imprisoned in Othenbach, and threatened with the executioner, who stood beside her, if she should not reveal the poor fund, which was intrusted to her husband; which when she had pointed out, they took the whole of it and kept it, it amounting to about 1,000 dollars. Annill being enceinte, was fastened to a chain in the hospital till she was delivered. But, as many interceded for her, and especially through the intercession of the chief curate, Printiger, she was released, and went to the Lower Palatinate, where she and her husband, named Moneth Meylich, who, on account of the steadfastness of his faith, had also endured much persecution, tribulation and imprisonment, settled down, and (nothing to the contrary being known) they still live, enjoying prosperity through the blessing of God. Compare tracts of M. Meyli and Jer. Mang., on the names above referred to.
HENRY BOLLER, ABOUT A. D. 1644.
It continued to be a common custom to let people die in prison. This appeared also in the case of a godfearing brother, named Henry Boller,[358] from the Seignioralty Wadischwyl, a man of very great age, and very infirm according to the body.
He was apprehended, and taken to the aforementioned prison Othenbach at Zurich, and there put in bonds.
But as they treated him most unmercifully and without the least compassion, his many years and natural infirmity were not able to bear up under it; hence, having commended his spirit into the hands of God, he died there in prison: but he shall be rewarded for this in the day of resurrection, when there will be fulfilled what the prophet says: “Thy dead men (O God!) shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs.” Is. 26:19. Compare Tract, Jer. Mang., fol. 16, A., with the account of M. Meyli, fol. 6, B., though, through a mistake in copying, instead of Henry, it reads Hans.
Note.—On the 11th of June of the year 1644 there was apprehended an old brother from the Horgerberg, named Conrad Stricke, who, though he had been apprehended outside of the Zurich jurisdiction, was nevertheless imprisoned at Zurich, in the place Othenbach, and put in chains every night.
So was also his wife apprehended, and imprisoned in the same place; however, she, through a certain means, keeping her faith, escaped again; but the aforementioned Conrad, her husband, was not so successful, so that he remained in severe imprisonment until the close of the year 1645, after which time we have learned nothing of him or of his deliverance. See Jer. Mang. Tract, edit. 1645, on the name Conrad.
OF A CERTAIN WRITING FROM SWITZERLAND, TOUCHING THE THREATS MADE BY THOSE OF BERNE AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS IN THOSE PARTS, A. D. 1645.
Now when some brethren and sisters in the Swiss dominions had died in prison, of misery, want, hunger and grief, but five still lived in confinement, the remaining ones who were yet out of bonds, when they were threatened, especially by those of Berne, that they should expel them all from the country, and seize their goods, and sell them, had recourse, next to God, with an humble and friendly letter, to their fellow believers in Holland and elsewhere in the Netherlands, requesting that they should everywhere fervently call upon God the Lord in their behalf, for comfort and grace, to the end that they might patiently endure that which might come upon them according to the flesh, for his holy name’s sake.