About the year 1550, it happened in the bishopric
of Bamberg, that two young girls espoused and received Christ
by faith, were baptized upon their faith, according to the doctrine
of Christ, and arising from sin, sought to walk in newness of
life with Christ.
On
this account the anti-Christians 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 with other unchristian means to cause them to apostatize;
but as they were firmly built upon Christ, they remained faithful
and steadfast during the entire trial. (Col. 2:7; Rev. 2:10.)
Hence, the authorities, who herein 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; whereupon
one said to the other, “Since the Lord Christ wore a crown of
thorns for us, why should not we wear these crowns of straw
in honor of Him? The faithful God shall for this place a beautiful
golden crown and glorious wreath upon our heads.” Thus these
two young branches armed themselves with patience, according
to the example of their Captain Jesus, remained faithful unto
death, died steadfastly, and obtained, through grace, the glorious
crown with God in heaven.
The
girl’s adversaries remarked 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, wherein
they steadfastly died with a firm hope.
The executioners were so impressed with the
way that they died that afterwards they started to doubt as
to whether they themselves were not in greater error before
God, than these young girls, even though the girls were Anabaptists.