Cared for by a hen
The reformer of Württemberg, Johann Brenz, was to be captured on the orders of Emperor Karl V. A group of Spanish riders was already on their way to Stuttgart when Duke Ulrich received news of it from a relative. Late that night he summoned Brenz to him and told him what his enemies wanted to do; At the same time the Duke said to Brenz: “I don’t want to be responsible for your blood; save yourself however you want and can. I cannot and must not hide you myself, because I must be able to freely affirm with an oath that I do not know where you are. Go in God's name! May He preserve your life!"
As surprising and shocking as this news was for Brenz, he quickly regained his faith, bowed and walked away in silence. The Duke called after him with deep emotion: "If you are dear to God, He will watch over your life."
When he got home, Brenz threw himself on his knees and commended himself to God in earnest prayer. When he got up, it seemed to him as if someone was saying to him: "Take a loaf of bread and go to the upper city, and wherever you find a door open, go in and hide under the roof."
Brenz took this as divine instruction and left. He found all the front doors locked down to the last one. Here he went in and, without being noticed by anyone, got up to the roof, where he hid himself between the stacked wood and the roof, crawling on his hands and feet.
The next day the imperial colonel moved in, had the city gates and all exits occupied and demanded that the Duke hand over Brenz. In response to his sworn statement that he did not know where Benz was, he ordered a strict house search that lasted a full 14 days.
Brenz heard about the progress of the investigation every day from the conversations of people on the street. Finally, on the last day, his enemies came into the house where he was hidden.
Lying on his knees and praying silently, he heard the clash of weapons and how the warriors slowly moved from room to room and from staircase to staircase until they finally approached his hiding place.
They hit the pile of wood with their weapons several times, and he even had to avoid a stab that came from above. It's hard to imagine how he felt when every corner of the attic was searched.
Finally, to his joy, he heard the command word: "Go away - he's not here either!"
Soon afterwards the colonel reported the results of his investigations and added that he did not believe that Brenz was in Stuttgart. As a result, the order to march was given the following day.But how could Brenz have lived for 14 days on just one loaf of bread? God, who once kept the prophet Elijah alive by having him fed by ravens at the Krith stream and then by a widow in Zarath through a miraculous increase in food - this almighty helper and protector had commanded a hen to look after Brenz.
On the first day she sneaked between the woodpile and the roof, laid an egg very close to his feet and then, contrary to the habit of chickens, quietly went away again. Brenz took the egg, cut himself a piece of bread and thanked God heartily for this meal. The next day the hen came back and so for the 14 days, always at the same time, so that Brenz enjoyed his good meal every day.
It was strange that the hen stopped coming on the 15th day, while on the same day Brenz heard people on the street saying:
"Now they're gone!" For security reasons, he stayed until the evening and celebrated the rest of the day with thanks and praise. When it got dark, he crawled out, came out of the house unnoticed and immediately rushed to Duke Ulrich could hardly believe his eyes.
“How have you been, dear doctor?” was his salutation.
"Good!" Brenz replied. "Who has supported you throughout this long time?" Brenz replied: "God!" and told him the incident with the hen.
"And how did you get through to the Spaniards?"
"Good thing too, because God protected me!"
"This time I had given up hope for you!"
"Me too!"
The Duke now led Brenz to the window and asked him to join him in praising God for this visible salvation from the enemy's hand.
Author: Egon Waechter
Source: Samenkörner Nr. 5, Serie A St. Johannes- Druckerei, C. Lahr Dillingen
Image 1: https://unsplash.com/de/fotos/braunes-huhn-BSvRfFDCO7U
Remaining images: https://www.bing.com/images/create
