After maltreating them fearfully, he sentenced them to be burned; but
they hoped in the Lord, to remain faithful and steadfast unto the end,
in the divine truth, through the unspeakable riches and power of God.
They were then burned for the faith valiantly testified to the truth,
and obtained the crown of the martyrs of Christ.
PHILIP DE KEURS, A. D. 1537.
In the year 1537, there was at Cassel, in Flanders, a Godfearing pious
brother, whose name was Philip Keurs, a joiner by trade. And since he
had also separated from this present wicked world, and had entered upon
the peculiar way of the cross, which leads to the kingdom of God, he,
like his Lord and Master, Jesus, was hated, despised and persecuted by
the servants of this world, so that he finally fell into the hands of
tyrants, who cruelly maltreated him with severe imprisonment. But as he
was not founded upon drifting sand, but upon the immovable Rock (Matt.
7:24,26; 16:18), he remained steadfast in every respect, as gold which
is tried in the fire, 1 Peter 1:7. And since nothing could move him to
swerve from the truth, he was sentenced to death at said place; in this
manner confirming the faith of the truth with his death and blood. And
as he here became a partaker of the sufferings of his Lord and Master
Christ Jesus, so he shall also, when his glory shall be revealed,
receive and enjoy great gladness and joy, and in eternity the crown of
everlasting glory. 2 Tim. 4:8.
TWELVE PERSONS, MEN AND WOMEN, BURNED AND BEHEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF
JESUS CHRIST, AT VUCHT, NEAR HERZOGENBUSCH, A. D. 1538.
(_Copied from certain very old testimonies._)
In the year 1538, in August, there were apprehended in the town ten or
seventeen men and women, who were said to have been rebaptized, all of
them humble (or poor) people, etc., except a goldsmith, who was among
the number, whose name was Paul Vandruynen, and who was said to be
their teacher.[231]
[231] _Bishop_ says the writer.
This Paul, together with three other men, was strangled alive and
burned, upon a scaffold at Vucht, on the ninth of September.
The other three were named: Michael Stevens of Oosterhont, a potter;
John Block of Ghent, a tape-maker; and Adrain of Gravenhage, also a
tape-maker.
A rope was tied into the mouth of each that they should not speak or
cry aloud.
Two Minorites and two Dominicans were also present, who wanted to say
much to them, and show them a crucifix; but they would not look at it,
saying that they had God in their hearts, and, therefore, would worship
neither wood nor stone; they also prayed for those who put them to
death, and said that the servant was not better than his master, and
that they did willingly die in his name, but would not listen to the
monks.
The trial was conducted by a commissary from the court, named Sir
Adrian van de Grave a licentiate in both laws. He had with him a man of
the aforesaid sect, whose misdeed had been remitted to him (probably an
apostate), who pointed out their residences.
To said commissary seven Judges were added, who together sentenced
them; namely: Sir Goosen van der Stege, Gisbert Heyn, and Matthew
Stooters, in the ring.
The four other Judges were: Hendrick Pelgrim, _alias_ Ketelaer; Sir
Hendrick Luysterisan van der Stege, Heyligengœstmeister, and Govert
Symons, jailer.
On the eleventh of September, at the aforesaid place, three women and
one man were strangled, who were said to be rebaptized; one of whom was
the wife of Paul, the teacher, here also monks were present, to induce
them to renounce. Paul’s wife said: “O Lord, enlighten the eyes of
those who inflict this suffering upon us, that they may see what they
are doing. I thank thee, O God, that thou countest me worthy to suffer
for thy name’s sake.”
The Dominican said to another woman: “Will you not adhere to the holy
church?”
She said: “I adhere to God; is this not holy church enough for me?”
The Dominican then said to the man, John van Capelle: “Ask God to
forgive you for having set a bad example unto us.”
He answered: “I did not err, but dealt with the word of God, and am
sorry that I have been so long in darkness. I entreat you, citizens,
read the Gospel, and live according to it; forsake your drunkenness,
knavery, cursing and crossing yourselves,” etc.
The third woman said: “O God Almighty, do not lay upon me more than I
can bear,” etc. Thus they gladly died.
The aforesaid Paul and his wife had an infant of nine months, which was
still unbaptized; this they took from the mother in prison and baptized
it. Lord Philip van Doorn, dean of St. John, Postulia, wife of Sir John
van der Stegen, and Anna, wife of Sir Goosen van der Stegen acted as
sponsors to said child.
All of them were then put to death, and on the fourteenth of September,
at six o’clock in the morning, a young man of the above named sect was
also beheaded.
Thus far the old document sent to us from Friesland. Compared with the
account in the _History van den Opgang van’s Hertogenbosch, by Borre
van Uytrecht_, concerning the persons who were brought thither as
prisoners.
NOTE.--It appears that the entire above account was written by some one
who had not yet come to the faith; since he calls the true faith of
said persons who were put to death _a sect_; of whose death he seems
to have been an eye witness; hence we can assume this with the greater
confidence, since it is certain that the opponent of a belief will not
embellish, but much rather speak against it.
LEONHARD LOCHMAIR, AND OFFRUS GREIZINGER, A. D. 1538.
In the year 1538, Brother Leonhard Lochmair, a minister of the word,
in the Earldom of Tyrol, was apprehended, and taken to Brixen, where a
great number of priests practiced all manner of craftiness with him,
until they caused him to apostatize. They then demanded of him, that
he should go about the country for a whole year, with Doctor Gallius,
and preach against and renounce the divine truth. This he would not do;
hence they confined him in prison: for he had been a priest before he
became a brother. He came to himself and repented of his apostasy, and
great fear came upon him, for the judgment of God pressed upon him;
but since God knew his sorrowful heart, he so ordered it that he was
restored again, as will follow in the sequel.
In the same year, 1538, Offrus Greizinger, also a minister of the
word in the Earldom of Tyrol, was apprehended. He was sought on the
mountains and in the valley, and spied on bridges and elsewhere. A
large sum of money was also offered for his apprehension, and spies
and traitors were sent out, who pretended to have a desire to become
pious. When they had apprehended him, he was also brought to Brixen and
put in prison there, his apartment being so near to that of Leonard
Lochmair’s, that they could converse together. There Leonhard greatly
deplored his apostasy to Offrus, and sorrowed greatly on account of it.
Offrus then gave him much consolation, when, after genuine sorrow and
true repentance, he proclaimed to him the remission of his sins in the
name of the Lord; yea, through his intercession, re-established him in
his faith, and received him again as a fellow member and brother.
Not long after, when Brother Offrus, the faithful servant of the Lord
and his church, was sorely tried in manifold ways, and much threatened
with the torture, if he would not point out to them his brethren who
had not yet been driven away, especially those who had harbored him,
and done good to him, he said to them: “I have resolved to endure all
pain and suffering which man can endure, even unto death, through the
power of God, before I shall tell you this, and become a traitor. I
well knew beforehand that this would be my fate. You have me in your
power, do whatever God will permit you to do; if you want to tyrannize
over me, you may do so; God will find you. I have nothing to say or to
show.” They then assailed him with threats, and urged him that if he
had the truth, they would admonish him in the name of the truth, to
show and speak the truth. Then Brother Offrus said: “I know you and
your truth; you have heard what I said.”
They also asked him whether it was not true that if our numbers should
increase, we would rise up against and kill them, if they would not
come over to our side? He told them that if we should do this, we would
not be Christians, but only such in name; adding: “If you were true
Christians you would not torture or kill any one.” Hence they bound
him, and drew him up, but speedily let him down from the torture, and
threatened him, asking why he would have his members thus torn asunder.
He replied: “I am in your hands; do with me whatever God will permit
you to do; you can take from me no more than my life.” They then
despaired of accomplishing anything with him.
Eight days after, they again drew him up, this time twice, yet more
gently: but he said: “I have told you once what I can tell, and be
it known to you that God will find you for your tyranny.” They again
despaired, and thenceforth left him alone, torturing him no further. He
was sick in consequence of the torture, so that he said the less.
After another eight days, they again came to him, called him before
them twice, but did not remain with him long, because he laid before
their eyes their rascality, roguery, and unrighteousness.
After much suffering and tribulation he was then sentenced to death
by the children of Pilate, placed alive into the fire, and burned to
ashes; thus valiantly and steadfastly, as a Christian hero, testifying
to and sealing his life and doctrine, with his blood, on Halloween, A.
D. 1538. And though he had previously wrestled hard with death, yet
when he went forth unto death, he was glad and joyful in his heart.
But as Leonhard Lockmair had formerly been a priest, the priests
prevented his dying together with Offrus; for they intended first to
divest him of their accursed ordination. In this, in order to bring
to naught their counsel, God so ordered it, that the suffragan who
was to do this, died. Thus he was executed with the sword, a few days
after Offrus, and, as a true priest, offered up and gave himself as an
acceptable offering unto God, and testified to his truth unto death.
Rom. 12:1; 2 Tim. 4:6.
MICHAEL WIDEMAN OR BECK, A. D. 1538.
About this time also Brother Michael Wideman or Beck was apprehended
at Ricten in Allgau, together with some other persons, which other
persons, however, were sent home, while this brother was put in
prison for the faith. Many things were resorted to with him, and
he was admonished to renounce, but he had a good assurance of his
faith in Christ, and said: “When I was living with the world in all
unrighteousness, in sins and wickedness, no one admonished me to
renounce, but I was considered a good Christian before the world. But
now that I have become converted, and amended my life, I am told to
renounce; but I have become converted once, and have renounced all
unrighteousness, and in this conversion I will persevere unto the end,
and will not be turned from it, for that in which I stand is the true
foundation.” After being imprisoned almost half a year, he was beheaded
and burned.
MARTIN OF VILGRATEN, AND CASPAR SCHUMACHER, A. D. 1538.
In the year 1538, the brethren Martin of Vilgraten, and Caspar
Schumacher, were both apprehended for the divine truth, at Michelsberg,
in Priesterthal, and, after great steadfastness, sentenced to death,
and executed with the sword; thus manfully persevering in the faith
unto the end. They were of good cheer in their bonds and tribulation,
and held fast to the love of God, from which they could not be
separated through tribulation, fear, persecution, hunger, poverty,
nakedness, or danger. No sword was so keen, no fire so hot, no devil so
wicked, no man so diligent, as to turn them from God and his truth, and
from their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; but they, through the grace
and power of God, kept that which God had given them to know, even unto
death.
JOHN STYAERTS, AND PETER, A. D. 1538.
About this year, there were, in Flanders, two cousins, one named
Styaerts, the other Peter. These two blooming and God-seeking
youths resided with their parents in a village called Mereedor,
in Flanders. And as they were very zealous for God, and searched
the holy Scriptures, they soon perceived, that the believing and
regenerated--according to the doctrine of Christ, as a sign of having
buried the former sins, and risen with Christ, and walking in newness
of life--had to receive Christian baptism, in the water; and since
they were desirous of this, they journeyed to Germany, to seek others
of their fellow believers. But as they could not find such as suited
their wishes, they soon returned to their parents in Flanders, where
they earnestly sought the Lord their God, so that they had a good
report, doing much good to the poor, and saying with Zaccheus, that
if they had defrauded any one, they would restore it fourfold. Luke
19:8. When the blinded papists, who most bitterly hated the light of
truth, perceived this, they took these two young lambs out of the
houses of their parents, at Mereedor, and brought them beyond Ghent,
into a village called Vinderhout, where they most severely imprisoned
them in a dungeon. Jer. 38:6. Once when their sister came to bring them
some fine shirts, they told her that they could not keep them from
the worms, which were in their food, eating it, and in their clothes
and shirts on their bodies. They further said: “Here is a Bible, the
contents of which, as well as the cause of our bonds, will yet come to
light after our death.” The aforesaid John Styaerts was once released
from prison, on account of sickness, and, as is thought, could easily
have obtained his liberty; but he voluntarily returned to prison,
desiring gladly to die with his dear brother for the name of Jesus.
Thus after a certain time they were led to the slaughter. Peter, who
came forth first to die, casting his eyes up to heaven, boldly called
out to John Styaerts: “Fight valiantly, my dear brother; for I see the
heavens open above us. Acts. 7:56. They were together put to death with
the sword at Vinderhout. Thus these young branches in the court of the
Lord (Jer. 17:8; Ps. 1:3), were also devoured by the awful beast which
rose up out of the sea (Rev. 13:1), but they had no power over their
immortal souls, which escaped from them unto God, where they shall
forever live in unspeakable joy. When their parents came from Mereedor
to Vinderhout, and inquired for their children, the villagers told them
that they had already been executed with the sword. And thus they were
deprived of their children by these tyrants.
HANS SEYEL, AND HANS OF WELS, A. D. 1538.
In the same year, 1538, on Wednesday before Christmas, Hans Seyel of
Mur, and Hans of Wels, were apprehended for the faith and the divine
truth, at Sandweid, in Kaernthen. After valiant steadfastness in the
faith, they were condemned to death and executed with the sword; thus,
even unto death, boldly testifying with their blood to the way of
truth, from which they would not depart as long as their eyes were
open, and breath remained in their nostrils.
OF A CERTAIN DECREE PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS, A. D.
1538, AND WHAT FOLLOWED THEREUPON, A. D. 1539.
“After manifold tyranny, persecution and putting to death,” writes P.
J. Twisck, “in various countries and kingdoms, against the Christian
flock, also in England a decree was proclaimed, in December, A. D.
1538, against the believers baptized according to the ordinance of
Christ. By virtue of the same, they, right in the face of cold winter,
were banished from the country, and had to flee whithersoever they
could.
Thus it came, that some of them fled for refuge to Holland, and
having come to Delft, they were there spied out by their enemies, and
fell into the hands of the tyrants; and, after manifold trials, and
steadfastness in their faith, they were sentenced to death for the
truth, at said place, and, on the 7th of January, A. D. 1539, put to
death. Sixteen men were beheaded with the sword, and fifteen women
drowned.
These sixteen men and fifteen women, thirty-one persons in all, who,
in the year 1539, fled from England to Delft, and were there put to
death in the same year, for the true confession of Jesus Christ, must
plainly and positively be distinguished from other twenty seven persons
who lost their lives there one year earlier, namely, A. D. 1538; whose
written examinations and death sentences we have seen; but as we have
not found sufficient light therein, we pass them by, commending them to
God, and thus take our leave of them.
APOLLONIA, WIFE OF LEONHARD SEYLE, A. D. 1539.
In the year 1539, one sister Apollonia, wife of Leonard Seyle, having
been with him in the upper country, was apprehended in the Earldom of
Tyrol, and brought to Brixen; but, through the immutable grace and
power of God, who valiantly aided her womanly heart, she constantly
and firmly continued in the true faith, and in what she had promised
God in Christian baptism, and would depart neither to the right nor
to the left. Hence she was then sentenced to death, and drowned, thus
receiving the martyrs’ crown.
GREAT PERSECUTION IN AUSTRIA, A. D. 1539.
In said year, 1539, the church having dwelt for a little while at
Steinborn, in Austria, and having begun to increase there, the old
serpent, the envious and arch-wicked satan, who so miserably tormented
the pious, could not endure or overlook it, but in his wrath stirred
up the children of wickedness, especially the priests, who in all
this are his agents and executors; so that they constantly filled the
ears of King Ferdinand with their unjust accusations of the pious,
and instigated him, so that he complied with their demand, and sent
his Marshal from Vienna, with provosts and a number of horsemen, who
unexpectedly came to Falkenstein, whence they took with them a great
mob, and fell upon the church at Steinborn, on the 6th day of December,
in the evening or at night, in the above-mentioned year. All the men
whom they found, they put into one room, and thus they also did with
the women and maidens. With great tumult and noise they kept watch
during the night, and brought in all whom they could find. Their chief
intention was to apprehend the elders and ministers of the church,
hoping to obtain much money from their people, and thus deprive the
poor people of their sustenance, notwithstanding God would severely
punish such wickedness. But God through his providence prevented them,
so that they could not find a single minister. In every nook and corner
they rummaged for the sustenance of widows and orphans, and persevered
greatly in their ungodly assiduity. But God brought to naught and
folly their counsel, when they thought to find wealth among the poor.
In their tyranny they apprehended sick people, children, and pregnant
women, so that it could have moved a heart of stone to the deepest, and
enduring compassion.
The imprisoned brethren and sisters made themselves ready to offer up
their bodies and lives unto God, whether through fire or through the
sword. On the evening when this persecution took place, some men of
Philip’s people had also come, with the intention of making known to
them the ground of the church, and of their whole life. Thus as many
as a hundred and fifty brethren were together apprehended, and, well
guarded, were brought up to the castle of Falkenstein. Among their
number there were some who had not yet received the baptismal covenant
of grace; as also some who had apostatized from the truth, and were
now penitents. Having all arrived in the castle of Falkenstein, they
conferred with those who had not yet bound themselves in the faith.
These they asked what they purposed to do in this tribulation, and told
them that, if they, for the testimony and honor of God, would firmly
adhere, in all suffering, to the Lord Christ, whatever distress and
anguish might befall them, they would consider them fellow-companions
in the kingdom of Christ, and hope that God would be gracious to them;
however, with this understanding, that with those who through the
providence of God should be released, and return to the church, the
latter should have authority, by virtue of the Lord’s command, to deal
according to their confession, in the proper measure and order; and
since they had this intention and resolution, they would write to the
elders and the churches, and afterwards give them full information.
Thereupon they all indicated their willingness, and, with a joyful
heart and great thankfulness, desired to accept this covenant as a
grace of God. Immediately upon this, the church was informed of it
by letter. A written answer speedily came, that all the believers
were well satisfied with this resolution; since such as had not yet
been incorporated, according to divine ordinance, into the church,
but agreed with it in all things, and desired to show forth an honest
testimony of the truth, to suffer with it and to give their lives for
it in this extremity, might well be received as fellow believers.
When they were again informed of the decision of the church, they
willingly entrusted themselves to the Lord, manifested patience in all
tribulation, as others of the pious, and made a good confession before
many witnesses. While they were yet at Falkenstein, King Ferdinand
sent his Marshal, several doctors from among the priests, and the
executioner, that they should go to them. These, on Christmas night,
which is customarily celebrated in every country, began to deal with
much craftiness with the imprisoned witnesses of the truth; they also
put subtle questions to some of them, as to what was their ground and
hope, and where their treasure or money was. Thereupon they confessed
in truth, that Christ was their Lord and Savior, their only comfort,
their only hope, their dearest heart-treasure and best portion, in
whom they received God’s help and grace. They also treated with them
about other articles, and wanted to instruct, teach, and convert them,
as they said, especially with regard to their sacrament, which they
highly extolled, and would have them believe that the flesh and blood
of Christ were present in it, and that it was our Lord God, as they
said; but the brethren answered that it was a dumb god, and that the
Lord’s Supper had quite a different signification than they perversely
represented, thus shamefully deceiving and seducing the world. With
these and many other confessions the King’s messengers returned to
Vienna; but these imprisoned brethren remained in custody in the castle
of Falkenstein.