As early as 1525 the Anabaptists were persecuted at Zurich, where one of their earliest communities sprouted.

Some of the leaders were drowned, others were banished and so spread their tenets elsewhere.

Catholic princes exterminated them by fire and sword.

In Lutheran Saxony no less than thirteen of the poor non-conformists were executed, and many more imprisoned for long terms, or banished.
And yet the radical sects continued to grow.

The dauntless zeal of Melchior Hofmann braved all for the propagation of their ideas.