Mennonite martyr Hans Landes (or Landis) was born in Switzerland, probably in the 1550s. As an adult he became a preacher of the Menno-nites and also possibly a schoolteacher. This was during the period of intense persecution of the Mennonites by the state (Reformed) church.
He was imprisoned many times over a number of years; occasionally he was released, other times he escaped. In 1614 he escaped again, was recaptured, and was sentenced to become a galley slave. In September he and two com-panions were being transported under guard, either to Lake Geneva or (more likely) to the border to be handed over to the Venetians. Hans escaped again and was recaptured for the last time on September 29, 1614. That same day he was sentenced to death, the sentence to be carried out the following day.
On Friday morning, September 30, his wife and adult children came to the prison, weep-ing. "Please go home," he said, "and remem-ber me as I was." He feared that their pres-ence would make him lose his resolve to meet death nobly and courageously. The headsman begged Hans's pardon for what he was about to do. "You must carry out your orders," Hans replied. "God has already forgiven you, and so do I." He was the last Mennonite martyr to die at Zurich.
Hans was survived by his wife Margarethe (Hochstrasser) and by an unknown number of children, some of whom also suffered persecution as Mennonites.
He was imprisoned many times over a number of years; occasionally he was released, other times he escaped. In 1614 he escaped again, was recaptured, and was sentenced to become a galley slave. In September he and two com-panions were being transported under guard, either to Lake Geneva or (more likely) to the border to be handed over to the Venetians. Hans escaped again and was recaptured for the last time on September 29, 1614. That same day he was sentenced to death, the sentence to be carried out the following day.
On Friday morning, September 30, his wife and adult children came to the prison, weep-ing. "Please go home," he said, "and remem-ber me as I was." He feared that their pres-ence would make him lose his resolve to meet death nobly and courageously. The headsman begged Hans's pardon for what he was about to do. "You must carry out your orders," Hans replied. "God has already forgiven you, and so do I." He was the last Mennonite martyr to die at Zurich.
Hans was survived by his wife Margarethe (Hochstrasser) and by an unknown number of children, some of whom also suffered persecution as Mennonites.
Mennonite martyr Hans Landes (or Landis) was born in Switzerland, probably in the 1550s. As an adult he became a preacher of the Menno-nites and also possibly a schoolteacher. This was during the period of intense persecution of the Mennonites by the state (Reformed) church.
He was imprisoned many times over a number of years; occasionally he was released, other times he escaped. In 1614 he escaped again, was recaptured, and was sentenced to become a galley slave. In September he and two com-panions were being transported under guard, either to Lake Geneva or (more likely) to the border to be handed over to the Venetians. Hans escaped again and was recaptured for the last time on September 29, 1614. That same day he was sentenced to death, the sentence to be carried out the following day.
On Friday morning, September 30, his wife and adult children came to the prison, weep-ing. "Please go home," he said, "and remem-ber me as I was." He feared that their pres-ence would make him lose his resolve to meet death nobly and courageously. The headsman begged Hans's pardon for what he was about to do. "You must carry out your orders," Hans replied. "God has already forgiven you, and so do I." He was the last Mennonite martyr to die at Zurich.
Hans was survived by his wife Margarethe (Hochstrasser) and by an unknown number of children, some of whom also suffered persecution as Mennonites.
He was imprisoned many times over a number of years; occasionally he was released, other times he escaped. In 1614 he escaped again, was recaptured, and was sentenced to become a galley slave. In September he and two com-panions were being transported under guard, either to Lake Geneva or (more likely) to the border to be handed over to the Venetians. Hans escaped again and was recaptured for the last time on September 29, 1614. That same day he was sentenced to death, the sentence to be carried out the following day.
On Friday morning, September 30, his wife and adult children came to the prison, weep-ing. "Please go home," he said, "and remem-ber me as I was." He feared that their pres-ence would make him lose his resolve to meet death nobly and courageously. The headsman begged Hans's pardon for what he was about to do. "You must carry out your orders," Hans replied. "God has already forgiven you, and so do I." He was the last Mennonite martyr to die at Zurich.
Hans was survived by his wife Margarethe (Hochstrasser) and by an unknown number of children, some of whom also suffered persecution as Mennonites.
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