A VERY PLAIN AND DISCREET ANSWER TO MARTIN MICRON'S ANTI-CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, AND UNTRUE ACCOUNT OF THE DISCUSSION OF 1553, ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH AND POWER OF THE HOLY, DIVINE SCRIPTURES.
How and when the so called English came to us, and what faithful love our brethren showed them.
IN the year 1553, a little before midwinter, it happened that it was told the brethren that a ship-load of people had arrived from Denmark, who, on account of their faith, were driven from England, and that they lay a short distance from the shore, frozen up in the ice.
When the brethren heard of this, they were moved by christian mercy on their account, as was proper. They counseled together and concluded to lend them their assistance to help them out of the ice and properly escort them to the city, without any commotion, as they also did; although they conjectured that it might cause trouble with their governments, as was also the fact.
They met them with wheat bread and wine, so that if there should be any sick among them, they might refresh and stimulate them therewith. And after they had escorted them into the city they made a collection of twenty-four thalers out of their poverty, and presented that sum to the leading ones of them, to be distributed among the needy if such there should be among them. They refused the money, and said they had enough; but would like that labor might be procured for some of their number; in which our brethren assisted them as much as they could.
One of our number offered to take the children of John A'Lasco into his house, and to do the best he could for them. To which Herman Backereel answered: No, this can not be granted; for John A'Lasco is a man who has dealings with lords, princes and other high personages. It might (oh! reader observe) injure his reputation if his children should sojourn with such people. On hearing this, I observed that we had not met with the true, plain and humble pilgrims of Jesus Christ.
Behold, thus was their arrival and reception by us; and such faithful love have our brethren shown them, which was, not long afterward, taken quite amiss by ungrateful Herman; and as appears, is not touched upon in Micron's account, merely out of hatred of the truth and out of disfavor to the brethren, lest piety should be ascribed to them.