The Burgomasters and Council in Groningen

Make it known to all those who shall read or hear this read, greetings. Whereas we have learned that the Mennoniten Mennonites have held, and still intend to hold, meetings and conventiculen secret or unauthorized religious assemblies in various places within this city and its jurisdictions, to propagate their erroneous opinions among the good citizens and inhabitants; And whereas they have recently dared to issue a summons and organize a solemn assembly, for which they invited through messengers and letters not only people residing in this province of the city and country, but also many people of their persuasion from the East and West, out of neighboring lands and provinces, to gather together in order to confer on certain points (initiated and brought forward by one Jan Luits during his lifetime, and driven by Ucke Walles, residing at Noortbroeck Noordbroek, after the former's death), and to prove them from the Scriptures according to their claims. Which points have been circulating and spread among the common people for some time through uncertain rumors, and were held by us at first to be unbelievable: But having caused a further investigation to be made, we have learned and have come into certain knowledge that Ucke Walles not only presided over this assembly but also taught with great vehemence and boldness.

1. That the traitor Judas did well in betraying and delivering the Savior Jesus Christ, such that he cannot be brought to eternal death for that reason, but that he is reconciled through the blood of God, or (as he himself also speaks) redeemed and saved through the blood of Christ.
2. That the High Priests and Scribes likewise did well in delivering the Lord Christ, and did not commit such sin that brought them to damnation.
3. That both murderers who were crucified with Christ were redeemed through the blood of Christ, and were likewise saved through their physical punishment.
4. That he, while promoting these and other harmful and shameful points, dared to assure the people who appeared in that gathered company and questioned the truth of his teaching, that they were thereby speaking against the Holy Spirit, upon which he and his company subsequently banned one Iurjen Toemas as a blasphemer of the Holy Spirit.

Which manner of proceeding in the proposing and driving of such blasphemous points of doctrine has been proven to us through the oral confessions of Ucke Walles, written signatures, and the original act of their assembly confirmed by the hands of 18 men. The aforementioned points strive against God and His Holy Word, and against the sentiment of all beloved Christendom; we therefore judge these opinions to be harmful to the Church of God and to good order, overturning all rules of Christian doctrine and godly living, thereby opening doors and windows to all sins.

So that these harmful and shameful teachings may not be propagated under a mantle of feigned holiness and pretended piety by good and simple people through ambiguous, loose, and idle words, through the threat of their ban, through the prohibition of trade and commerce, and through the separation of married people and closest blood relatives, all with the violation and abuse of God's Holy Name; We have deemed it necessary to provide for this in our official capacity, doing so by these presents.

We forbid all Mennonites, under the name of Ucke Walles or those consenting to these abominable opinions, that they shall not be permitted to hold any meetings, gatherings, or conventicles, whether by day or night, in whatever place it may be, and to appear there to teach their erring doctrine and propagate it in any manner whatsoever. On pain that all those who are found acting contrary to this shall be fined and must pay as a penalty each 50 [guilders]; the resident of the house, barn, or place 300 [guilders]; as also the proclaimer or teacher 300 guilders, half for the Judge and half for the Informer, to be collected from the delinquents immediately without the formality of a trial.

We command our bailiffs, Ampt-Mannen district officials, judges, Schulten local sheriffs, and other officers in this city or its jurisdictions to maintain and cause this our Ordinance to be maintained most earnestly.

Done in Groningen on the 8th of April 1637.