A general discussion of this theme will be found in the article Juridical Procedures. The article Mandates gives further information and contains a fairly exhaustive list of decrees against the Anabaptists including prescription of punishments. The articles on Luther and Melanchthon discuss the changing attitudes of these leading Reformers toward punishment of the Anabaptists. The articles on the individual rulers of the various states which took legal action against the Anabaptists give detailed information on the legal measures taken. See also the article Perse­cution in the Supplement, and the article "Bestrafung der Täufer" in ML v. I, pp. 201-9. The article Punishment of the Anabaptists in the Low Countries treats the punishment of Anbaptists in one area, the Low Countries.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 232. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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