Bekentnusz Thomas Mu[n]tzers etwa Pfarner zu Alsted, vnd ytzt yn dem auffrürische[n] Hauffen zu Francke[n]hausen befunden : geschehe[n] yn der gute Dingstags nach Cantate. 1525. Eyn Sendbrieff Thomas Müntzers
Bekentnuss Thomas Muntzers etwa Pfarner zu Alsted, und ytzt yn dem auffrürischen Hauffen zu Franckenhausen befunden
Eyn Sendbrieff
Summary: A printing of Thomas Müntzer's confession obtained under torture following his capture at the Battle of Frankenhausen in May 1525. Müntzer, the "murderous and bloodthirsty prophet" and the most significant figure in the second, crucial phase of the Peasants' War, one of the bloodiest chapters in the turbulent early history of the German Reformation, which left over 100,000 dead. In this confession Müntzer names many of his co-conspirators, and admits that his plans included beheading Count Ernest von Mansfeld, and seizing the wealth and lands of the aristocracy. This book also includes Müntzer's final letter begging that his wife avoid punishment and inherit his property, and that his followers "flee the shedding of blood".
Signatures: A⁴ (A4 verso blank).
Illustrative and Decorative content: Title within woodcut border (J. Luther, Titeleinfassungen 69) showing a grape arbor populated by a monkey, a stork, and armed putti, first used in 1523 by the printer Michael Buchführer (with his initials.)
Additional details: Marginal annotations in an early hand.
Münzer, Thomas, approximately 1490-1525,
Loersfeld, Johannes
Erfurt (Germany)
German
Peasants' War, 1524-1525
Frankenhausen, Battle of, Bad Frankenhausen, Germany, 1525
Münzer, Thomas,approximately 1490-1525
Germany
Sixteenth century
8 unnumbered pages (final page blank)
Text
books
This work is part of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection.
VD16 B 1550
1525 BEKE
The online edition of this book in the public domain, i.e., not protected by copyright, has been produced by Pitts Theology Library.
Emory University
Pitts Theology Library