updated 070809

Introduction

Two perspectives:

1) General overview to recreate historical background

2) Close-up of documents

Thesis statement: The new translations provide evidence that supports and challenges some of Coggins's views regarding the Smyth group's application to the Waterlanders and the ensuing events.

1) Earliest Baptists and Waterlander Mennonites
John Smyth (c. 1570-1612): Anglican-Puritan-Separatist
Amsterdam: Golden Age; religious tolerance
Waterlanders: name, dates, characteristics, leaders
The Amstel settlement: Bakehouse, other English refugees, contact w/ Waterlanders

2) (Four Newly Translated) Letters
Smyth's application to the Waterlanders, Feb 1610 (Nomina Anglorum, Corde Credimus)
Helwys's disagreement (2 letters and Synopsis Fidei)
Waterlander correspondence b/c of consensus

Letter Dated May 15, 1610: Yeme de Ringh: not attend conference, review A Short Confession of Faith, not cause unrest. "From the heart-beloved brothers and fellow servant in Christ Lubbert Gerritsz, Hans de Ries, Renier Wibrants. Your letter with the request to come there to you to discuss the English affair has reached us. ... It seems that they prefer to have first the articles which have been given to you by the English ... I am concerned that they do not take it on the aspect of baptism. ... When we do something without our congregations so we get certainly trouble."

Letter Dated May 18, 1610: Willem Janszoon: answer to request for Latin interpreters. "... I have received your writing and have understood from it as that there have come some zealous hearts from England who there are seeking to unite with you and ... you write to us unworthy ones to come there on May 23 with some of our fellow servants to discuss with each other ... and that I should bring some along who can understand and speak Latin ..."

Letter Dated May 21, 1610: Dirk Pieters declines invitation to May 23 conference, be careful. "... we find it for the best of our conscience not to come according to your desire.... is our simple advice and request that you would indeed deal carefully and thoroughly and not lightly agree to a continuation because of some dangers that may arise over that so that we do not hammer on the one side and break much more on the other side for, dear brother, we see well when already a few separated nations come together how heavily it falls to keep the same peace just as the present situation teaches us all too well ..."

Letter from Amsterdam to Friesland, July 16, 1610: Amsterdam wants to know Friesland's opinion on A Short Confession of Faith and on the group's baptism, Smyth's in particular. Amsterdam is "ashamed before these English, and scarcely know what to answer that this affair is put off such a long time."

Letter from Friesland to Amsterdam, July 18, 1610: Friesland urges Amsterdam to acquaint "all churches in Prussia and the whole of Germany, and wherever established" with the English affair, which "is a completely new and never heard of affair." The Waterlanders's "intemperate zeal is partly cause of" the widespread discontentment over the English alliance with the Mennonite congregations. Friesland does not want to have anything to do with the discussion.

The May 23, 1610 conference: Coggins's hypothesis Smyth group accepted
Strength: a cause for the breakup of the Bevredigde Broederschap
Weakness: letter from Friesland discredits theory; memorandum January 17, 1612 discredits theory

Memorandum Dated January 17, 1612: Written by Claes Claeszoon. "On the 17th of January when Lubbert Gerretsz was in bed very ill, he has asked all servants ... his desire from the heart was ... that Reijnier Wijbrans might be affirmed in full service.... saying also that he had had great happiness that with all those men finally all concepts had been laid down and that one shall deal with everything only according to the Word of God, furthermore, he has desired seriously that one, however, should not postpone the case of the English but complete firstly if it were possible since they had some reservations about the baptism of Mr. Smidt since he had no Scripture for it but now did want to accept all the other English without worry without baptizing again further he desired also from Nittert Obbes that he would lead the voting happening for this ..."

Conclusion: more evidence needed; January 1615 - merger; at great cost.