Part 2-108-THREE SISTERS, NAMELY, ELIZABETH BACHMANNI, ELSSA BETHEZEI, AND SARAH WANRIJ, ABOUT A....
THREE SISTERS, NAMELY, ELIZABETH BACHMANNI, ELSSA BETHEZEI, AND SARAH WANRIJ, ABOUT A. D. 1643
The army of God, which at this time prepared itself for the conflict and the sufferings of Jesus Christ, consisted not only of men, who are sometimes judged to be strongest, but also in women, for God's power is made strong in weakness, which appeared in the case of three pious heroines of God, namely, Elizabeth Bachmanni, from the Groeningen Bailiwick, the wife of Hans Jaggli, of Bartschwyl; Elssa Bethezei, from the Knonow Bailiwick, the wife of Jacob Isselme; Sarah Wanrij, from'i the Horgerberg, the wife of Hans Phisfer, all of whom, imprisoned and bound in the dungeon Othenbach and in the hospital, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, lost their lives through want, hardships, and misery. All this they endured in the fear of God as well as patiently. They counted their departure from this life as the beginning of the future. And so, their unrest was truly the entrance to the rest of the saints, who shall hereafter, for this brief suffering, which they endured for the name of the Lord, rejoice forever. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17. Compare the above with Tract, Meyli, dated 1658, fol. 8, A., Numbers 1, 2, 3.
VERENA LANDIS, A. D. 1643
An old sister, named Verena Landis, was surprised in the night in her own house, with dreadful raging and storming; in consequence of which she was so frightened that she fainted, yea, became sick, and hence could not go with the thief-catchers.
When they could not get her away, she had to promise to remain a prisoner in her house, which promise she kept.
But as they treated her very harshly, and provided her with very bad food, certain death ensued a short time afterwards, and she thus departed this life with a joyful hope and cheerful heart; for which the Lord hereafter, because it was done for His name's sake, shall crown her with the life of bliss, and deliver her from eternal death. “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4. Jer. Mang., Tract, fol. 15, B., compared with Tract, M. Meyli, fol. 8, A.
BARBARA NEEFT, ABOUT A. D. 1643
This woman was very near her confinement, when she was driven hither and thither through the persecution.
After she was delivered and had lain in three days, she was betrayed and apprehended.
She was forthwith, in the bitter cold of winter, taken to prison, a distance of four hours' walk; in which, on account of the intolerable cold, her health became irrevocably ruined, so that she, though she was released from prison previous to her death, died soon after, and is now resting with her soul under the altar of God. Compare Jer. Mang., Tract of the year 1645, fol. 16, A., with M. Meyli, Tract, fol. 8, after the three women first mentioned, Numbers 1.
BARBLY RUFF, ABOUT A. D. 1643
The persecutors did not rest, but continued, so that having hastily entered into the Knonow Bailiwick, they fell upon another sister, namely Barbly
Ruff, who was likewise enceinte; in consequence of which this good woman was so exceedingl, frightened, it happened so unexpectedly, that thi pains of travail came upon her, and she was there fore not able to accompany her captors.
Therefore she was fastened to a chain in the house of her brother-in-law, and the family o servants there enjoined to guard her well.
But when she had been delivered of her child and had gained a little strength, although not ye quite recovered from all the hardships she had suf fered, she, when it was not expected, escaped intc another district, but since her life had been greatl3 weakened through the persecution she had sufferec she died soon after; which she bore willingly anc 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, Printlger, 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. Meylz 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 God-fearing brother, named Henry Boller, [In the last tract he is called Hans Boiler, but in the first, Henry, which we have followed in our account. It must also be noticed, that in the Swiss manuscript the time of this occurrence is not exressly noted for the year 1644; but from the circumstances we have inferred, that it took place about said year, as we have also noted.] 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.” Isaiah 26:19. Compare Tract, Jer. Mang., fol. 16, A., zu:th 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 afore-mentioned 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.