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Born and raised in an area famous for mining and metallurgy in the Tyrol of Austria, Pilgram Marpeck became a highly qualified mining engineer. When Leonhard Schiemer was condemned to death, as a town councillor he refused to support the action. He also refused to participate in a heresy hunt for Brethren among the local mine employees, and was ejected forthwith from both his council seat and his job. Thus he began, in the manner of Ochino and many others, ''a long and restless life of Christian witnessing''.102 He went first to Augsburg in Germany -- perhaps because he was given some names and addresses there that would be helpful in the circumstances -- and there he was baptized.

Apart from an important three-year period in Strasbourg, he lived in Augsburg as engineer, preacher and writer for the rest of his life.

The only work of Marpeck's available in English is the short piece On The Sword translated by John Horsch, which explains the scriptural basis for Christian non- resistance to evil and non-violence. This work by Marpeck was used in World War II to assist Mennonites in the United States to obtain exemption from military service. 180