MARBECK, PILGRAM: Anabaptist leader arid author; b. at Rattenberg (23 m. e.n.e. of Innsbruck) about the end of the fifteenth century; d. in cr near Augsburg c. 1547. He was brought up in the Roman Catholic communion, but left it in early manhood and about 1522-23 became a "promulgator of the Wittenberg Gospel." But he found that " where God's word was preached in the Lutheran way a fleshly freedom followed in its trail " and soon became dissatisfied with Lutheranism. About 1525-26 he " accepted baptism as a witness of the obedience of faith, having regard in this solely to God's word and command " (his own account in his disputation with Butzer). He became an expert engineer and in 1525 was appointed by the Austrian government to a responsible position in connection with the mines of that region. Early in 1528 he was in danger of being arrested and punished as an Anabaptist and made his way to Augsburg, where he hoped to find toleration and employment (J. Walch, Dwas fabularum humani generis, Augsburg, 1606). But persecution had already begun in Augsburg and in October he went to Strasburg, where his engineering skill was called into use. At this time Strasburg contained a greater number and a greater variety of Anabaptist leaders than any other city. Marbeck's force of character, attractive personality, intellectual vigor, blameless Christian walk, literary skill, and generosity brought him marked consideration among his fellow believers and at first won the highest praise from the leading Evangelical pastors, Butzer, Capito, Zell, and Blaurer. He gained the friendship of Margaretha Blaurer (q.v.) to such an extent that she protected him as far as she was able from persecuting measures, when Butzer turned against him and rebuked Butzer for his intolerance. Profoundly convinced of the evil of infant baptism, he was zealous in his efforts to win not only the masses but the preachers to antipedobaptist views. The publication of two books in support of his position led to his imprisonment (October, 1531); but because of his engineering skill he was liberated without promising to desist. On Dec. 9, at his own request, he engaged in a discussion with Butzer, the record of which has been preserved. In twenty-eight articles he defended the antipedobaptist position with a logical acumen rarely excelled. But the council decreed his banishment and after an earnest plea for the Anabaptists he departed for Ulm and soon settled again in Augsburg. Until his death he was the guiding spirit of the antipedobaptist congregations in the neighborhood of Ulm and Augsburg. In 1542 he published an exposition of his views on baptism, sin, hereditary sin, divine worship, magistracy, and the Lord's Supper (Vermahnung such ganz klnrer grundlwher and unwidersprechlwher Bericht zu wahrer Christlwher ewig bestandiger Bruder-Veretnigureg). This brought him into controversy with Schwenckfeld and his followers.

A. H. Newman.

Bibliography: J. Loeerth, Zmei biographische Skdzren aus der lViedernufer in Tirol, Innsbruck, 1895; T. W. Rdhrich, ZHT, 1860; C. A. Cornelius, Geschichts des mtanaterischen Aufruhre, vol. ii., Leipsic, 1860; J. W. Baum, Capita and Bucer, Elberfeld, 1860; L. Keller, Bin Apostd der Wiedergtufer, Leipsic, 1882; C. Gerbert, Geschichte der Strassburger Sedenbewegung zur Zeit der Reformation, Strasburg, 1889; A. Ii. Newman, Hint, of Anti-Pedobaptism , pp. 249-253, Philadelphia. 1897. Sidelights are cast by the writings and letters of the contemporary religious leaders, Bucer, Capita, Luther, Zwingli, and others.