True Depiction of the King of Münster, named Johan Bockhold, by trade a tailor, born at Leiden in Holland, who in his

I, Johan, by the grace of God and by the power of the new, future Kingdom in the Temple of God, a servant of justice, etc.

A copperplate engraving depicts a half-length portrait of John of Leiden (Johan Beuckels von Leyden). He is shown as a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a large, ornate hat decorated with feathers and jewels. He wears a heavy mantle over a patterned doublet and holds a scepter in his right hand. A massive gold chain with a medallion hangs around his neck. To his right is a royal orb (globus cruciger) with two crossed swords behind it. To his left rests an open Bible. The portrait is framed by an oval border with the inscription: "JOHAN BEVCKELS VON LEYDEN. King of the Anabaptists, called of Münster in Westphalia. 1535."

Johan Bockhold, born in Leiden in Holland, by trade a tailor, was a sharp-minded, arrogant, and well-spoken man, crafty, nimble, and proud. He was also somewhat well-read in the Holy Scriptures and could present his affairs quite fluently (and under the guise of piety). In sum, he was skillful and accomplished in his teaching; he held himself familiarly with the teachers of the Church, often disputed about infant baptism, and always aspired to high status. He came to Münster in Westphalia in the year 1533, where he was considered an apostle by Johan Mathijs of Harlem, a baker. Bernhard Rotman, who had overcome the priests with his disputation, allowed him (with the consent of the Council) to preach publicly. Now, however, this Johan of Leiden drew several people to him along with this Rotman, so that they later gained the upper hand in the city by force. They began to play the prophets, namely Johan Bockhold, Bernhard Knipperdolling, Johan Mathijs of Harlem, and Gerard Knippenbruch, with others, and prophesied that which served their cause. To speak of it further, this Johan Bockhold let himself be called King and took fifteen wives for himself in marriage, and allowed others to take as many as they wanted, justifying this with Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others, since it is written: "Grow and multiply, and replenish the earth." He was elected by his companions as a King to rule the entire earth. He chose twelve men as councilors, among whom was Bernhard Knipperdolling, the Burgomaster. He dressed sumptuously; he had two crowns made of pure gold, and the sheath of his sword was covered with gold. He held a royal scepter in his hand and a golden chain around his neck; his spurs were adorned with gold rings. In sum, it was nothing but gold, velvet, and precious stones that one saw upon him. When he rode through the streets, many people and nobles followed him, with two horses on which sat a youth, each richly adorned and decorated. The one who sat on the horse in precious golden cloth had a crown and the Bible, and the one on the left side carried a bare sword, the pommel of which was of pure gold and precious stones. The King held a globe in his hand with two swords crossed through it, and in the other, his golden staff. Twelve halberdiers or bodyguards followed him, dressed in green and blue. On the King's belt was written: "God's might is my strength." The station of his principal wife or Queen was just like his own; her halberdiers or bodyguards were all dressed in green and bordered with a brown trim; on the sleeves was a world with a small cross on top, with two more swords made crosswise. In the marketplace, he had a royal throne or chair set high, to which one climbed only three steps. He held a Lord's Supper or "bread-breaking," where over four thousand people came to the table to eat and drink, and the King with his Queen and the court servants served at the table. And as the meal

ended, he gave to each a piece of unleavened bread and said, "Take, eat, proclaim the Lord's death." Then the Queen handed the chalice or cup, saying, "Drink, and proclaim the Lord's death." There was once a soldier sitting at the table among the number who was accused of being a traitor, like Judas was. The King took this man from the table and struck off his head. After the feast, he sat down at the table again and said such was the will of the Father. Item: one of his concubines, named Elisa, did not like these things of his and spoke to her fellow queens that it was not right. When this was told to the King, he had all his queens come together in the marketplace, to kneel in a circle with the named Elisa in their midst. He drew his sword and struck off her head. Afterward, the other queens stood up and danced and sang, "Glory to God in the highest heavens," and the King led the dance and encouraged the surrounding people to dance as well. After his kingdom had lasted for about two years in this way, he was captured along with his companions during the taking of the city by the Bishop. A rider tied him to the pastern of his horse and spurred the horse, so that he had to trot along and was thus led to Dülmen, three miles from Münster. And when the Bishop came to him, he said to him, "O unfortunate man, how have you so shamefully ruined my people?" To which he replied with proud words, "You priest, have I ruined them? I can make you rich again." At this the Bishop laughed. "Yes," he said, "let an iron cage be made, covered with leather, put me inside, and lead me around in the whole land. Whoever wants to see me, let him pay a stuiver a small Dutch coin; you should soon recover your costs," etc. In the year 1536, on the 21st of January, he was tied to a stake on a scaffold or platform in Münster with his companions, and by two executioners, his flesh was torn from his body with glowing tongs (for a full hour). During the first three pinches, he did not open his mouth, but thereafter he began to call upon the mercy of God and confessed to having sinned much. To end his life, he was then pierced through the body with a sword and thus died. Their bodies were thrust into an iron cage and hung up on St. Lambert's tower as an eternal memorial. Whoever desires to know more of this history may read in Sleidanus referring to Johannes Sleidanus, a 16th-century historian and other historians. Thus were these perverse people punished according to their deserts through their arrogance and the honor they sought. And because of them, many innocent people were unjustly accused. To recount more of this is unnecessary. "He who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted," for the Lord takes great pleasure in those who account themselves small.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Matt. 7, verse 13.