¶Leonard Keyser.
HEre also is not to be passed ouer the maruellous cōstā∣cy of M. Leonard Keyser of the countrey of Bauaria,* 1.1 who was burned for the Gospel. This Keyser was of the towne of Rawbe .4. miles frō Passaw, of a famous house. This man being at his study in Wyttēberge, was sent for by his brethren which certified him, that if euer he woulde see his father aliue, he should come with speed: which thing he did. He was scarsly come thither, when as by the com∣maundement of the Bishop of Passawe, he was taken by his mother & his brethren. The Articles which he was ac∣cused of, for ye which also he was most cruelly put to death, & shed his bloud for the testimony of the truth were these.
That fayth onely iustifieth.
That workes are the fruites of fayth.
That the Masse is no sacrifice or oblation.
Item, for confession, satisfaction, the vow of chastitye, Purgatory, differēce of daies, for affirming only two Sa∣cramentes, and inuocation of Sayntes.
He also mayntayneth 3. kindes of confession.
The first to be of fayth, which is alwayes necessary.
* 1.2The second of charity, which serueth when any man hath of∣fended his neighbour, to whom he ought to reconcile himselfe a∣gayne, as a man may see by that which is written in Math. 18.
The third which is not to be despised, is to aske counsel of the auncient Ministers of the Church.
And for so much as all this was contrary to the bull of Pope Leo,* 1.3 and the Emperours decree made at Wormes, sentence was geuen agaynst him, that he should be disgra∣ded and put into the hands of the secular power. The per∣secuters that sate in iudgement vppon him,* 1.4 were the By∣shop of Passaw: the Suffragans of Ratisbone, & of Pas∣saw: also Doctour Eckius, being garded about with ar∣med men. His brethren and kinsfolkes made great inter∣cession to haue his iudgement deferred and put of, that the matter might be more exactly knowne. Also Iohn Fride∣ricke Duke of Saxony, and the Earles of Schauuēburge, and of Schunartzen, wrote to the Byshoppe for him, but could not preuayle. After the sentence was geuen, he was caryed by a company of harnessed men, out of the Citty a∣gayne, to Schardingham .13. of August. Where Christo∣pher Frenkinger the ciuile Iudge receiuing him,* 1.5 had let∣ters sent him from Duke William of Bauaria, that forth∣with tarying for no other iudgement, he should be burned aliue. Whereupon the good and blessed Martyr early in the morning, being rounded and shauen and clothed in a short gowne, and a blacke cappe set vpon his head all cutte and iagged, so was deliuered to the officer. As he was led out of the town, to the place where as he should suffer, he bold¦ly and hardily spake in the Almayne tongue, turning his head, first on the one side, and then on the other, saying: O Lord Iesu remayne with me, sustayne and helpe me, and geue me force and power.
* 1.6Then the woode was made ready to be set on fire, and he began to cry with a loud voyce: O Iesus, I am thine, haue mercy vpon me, and saue me, and therwithall he felt the fire begin sharply vnder his feet his hands, and about his head: and because the fire was not great enough, the hangman plucked the body halfe burnt, with a long hooke, from vnderneath the wood. Then he made a great hoale in the body, through the which he thrust a stake, and cast him agayne into the fire, and so made an end of burning, This was the blessed end of that good man, which suffered for the testimony of the truth, the 16. day of August, in the yeare of our Lord. 1526. Ex 6. Tomo operum Lutheri.