View source for Figken, Benedikt (1625-1693)

Benedikt Figken, a Protestant clergyman in [[Danzig (Poland)|Danzig]], was the author of a peculiar book, <em>Historia Fanaticorum oder eine vollkommene Relation und Wissenschaft von den alten Anabaptisten und newen Quäkern, with a Zugabe was mit etzlichen Quäkern hiesiges Ortes . . . passiert ist</em> (Danzig, 1664; second edition, 1701). This book is the translation of an English book by R. Blome, <em>The Fanatic History or an Exact Relation and Account of the Old Anabaptists and New Quakers</em> (London, 1660), the first 65 pages of which are a reprint of an anonymous booklet published in London in 1642, <em>A Short History of the Anabaptists of High and Low Germany</em>. This book presents utter nonsense as historical truth, relating with relish and in great detail the abominations of [[Münster Anabaptists|Münster]]; it does not mention [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]], and barely touches [[Hoffman, Melchior (ca. 1495-1544?) |Melchior Hoffman's]] work. It tells terrible but contradictory stories about the Mennonites in [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]] and [[Switzerland|Switzerland]]. It is incomprehensible that all of this could be printed, and it is regrettable that the book is cited and used as an authentic source.


= Bibliography =
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon, </em>4 v. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 643.


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