it.” John 18:21.
_Lords_: “Now we perceive that you are a teacher; for you compare
yourself to Christ.”
_Elisabeth_: “No, my lords, far be it from me; for I do not esteem
myself above the offscourings which are swept out from the house of the
Lord.”
_Lords_: “What then do you hold concerning the house of God? do you
not regard our church as the house of God?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, for it is written: Ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them.”
2 Corinthians 6:16.
_Lords_: “What do you hold concerning our mass?”
_Elizabeth_: “My lords, of your mass I think nothing at all; but I
highly esteem all that accords with the word of God.”
_Lords_: “What are your views with regard to the most adorable, holy
sacrament?”
_Elizabeth_: “I have never in my life read in the holy Scriptures of
a holy sacrament, but of the Lord’s Supper.” (She also quoted the
Scripture relating to this.)
_Lords_: “Be silent, for the devil speaks through your mouth.”
_Elizabeth_: “Yea, my lords, this is a small matter, for the servant is
not better than his lord.”
_Lords_: “You speak from a spirit of pride.”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, I speak with frankness.”
_Lords_: “What did the Lord say, when he gave his disciples the Supper?”
_Elizabeth_: “What did he give them, flesh or bread?”
_Lords_: “He gave them bread.”
_Elizabeth_: “Did not the Lord remain sitting there? Who then would eat
the flesh of the Lord?”
_Lords_: “What are your views concerning infant baptism, seeing you
have been rebaptized?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, I have not been rebaptized. I have been
baptized once upon my faith; for it is written that baptism belongs to
believers.”
_Lords_: “Are our children damned then, because they are baptized?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, God forbid, that I should judge the
children.”
_Lords_: “Do you not seek your salvation in baptism?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, all the water in the sea could not save me;
but salvation is in Christ (Acts 4:10), and he has commanded me to love
God my Lord above all things, and my neighbor as myself.”
_Lords_: “Have the priests power to forgive sins?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords; how should I believe this? I say that
Christ is the only priest through whom sins are forgiven.” Heb. 7:21.
_Lords_: “You say that you believe everything that accords with the
holy Scriptures; do you not believe the words of James?”
_Elizabeth_: “Yea, my lords, why should I not believe them?”
_Lords_: “Does he not say: Go to the elder of the church, that he may
anoint you, and pray over you?” James 5:14.
_Elizabeth_: “Yea, my lords; but do you mean to say that you are of
this church?”
_Lords_: “The Holy Ghost has saved you already; you need neither
confession nor sacrament?”
_Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, I acknowledge that I have transgressed the
ordinance of the Pope, which the Emperor has confirmed by decrees. But
prove to me that I have transgressed in any article against my Lord
and my God, and I will cry woe over me, miserable being.”
The foregoing is the first confession.
Afterwards she was again brought before the council, and led into
the torture chamber, Hans, the executioner, being present. The lords
then said: “We have thus long dealt with you in kindness; but if you
will not confess, we will resort to severity with you. The Procurator
General said: “Master Hans, seize her.”
Master Hans answered: “O no, my lords, she will voluntarily confess.”
But as she would not voluntarily confess, he applied the thumb-screws
to her thumbs and forefingers, so that the blood squirted out at the
nails.
Elizabeth said: “Oh! I cannot endure it any longer.”
The lords said: “Confess, and we will relieve your pain.”
But she cried to the Lord her God: “Help me, O Lord, thy poor
handmaiden! for thou art a helper in time of need.”
The lords all exclaimed: “Confess, and we will relieve your pain; for
we told you to confess, and not to cry to God the Lord.”
But she steadfastly adhered to God her Lord, as related above; and the
Lord took away her pain, so that she said to the lords: “Ask me, and I
shall answer you: for I no longer feel the least pain in my flesh, as I
did before.”
_Lords._ “Will you not yet confess?”
_Elizabeth._ “No, my lords.”
They then applied the screws to her shins, one on each.”
She said: “O my lords, do not put me to shame; for never a man touched
my bare body.”
“The Procurator General said: “Miss Elizabeth, we shall not treat you
dishonorably.”
She then fainted away. They said to one another: “Perhaps she is dead.”
But waking up, she said: “I live, and am not dead.”
They then took off all the screws, and plied her with entreaties.
_Elizabeth._ “Why do you thus entreat me? this is the way to do with
children.”
Thus they obtained not one word from her, detrimental to her brethren
in the Lord, or to any other person.
_Lords._ “Will you revoke all that you have previously confessed here?”
_Elizabeth._ “No, my lords, but I will seal it with my death.”
_Lords._ “We will try you no more; will you voluntarily tell us, who
baptized you?”
_Elizabeth._ “O no, my lords; I have certainly told you, that I will
not confess this.”
Sentence was then passed upon Elizabeth, on the 27th of March, 1549;
she was condemned to death--to be drowned in a bag, and thus offered up
her body to God.
SIX BRETHREN AND TWO SISTERS, NAMELY: PIETER JANS, TOBIAS QUESTINEX,
JAN PENNEWAERTS, GIJSBERT JANS, ELLERT JANS, LUCAS MICHIELS, BARBARA
THIELEMANS, AND TRUYKEN BOENS, ALL BURNT ALIVE AT THE STAKE ON THE SAME
DAY, AT AMSTERDAM, ON THE 20TH OF MARCH, 1549.
In the year 1549 there were imprisoned at Amsterdam, for the truth of
Jesus Christ, about twenty persons, men as well as women, all of whose
names are not known, especially since some of them escaped from prison
in the following manner: One of the prisoners had two brothers living
in Waterlandt, who were rough fellows, and spent much of their time in
taverns. So at a certain time it happened, that as they were sitting
in the tavern, they began to think of their imprisoned brother, and
supposing that the time when he should be offered up, was drawing nigh,
they deliberated among themselves, how they could best liberate him,
and swore an oath that they would shrink from neither labor nor peril,
even though it should cost their lives; in confirmation of which they
held up their fingers, tossed their hats in the air, and called God to
witness. In the morning, when they were awake and had become sober,
their perilous plan somewhat troubled them; but remembering the solemn
oath which they owed to God, as also the sad departure of their dear
brother, they manifested the firmness of Romans, and proceeded in the
following manner. They took a rope with a block, which had been well
greased, so that the dry block should make no noise. This they packed
into a basket, and took it to the house of Jan Jans, who lived opposite
the prison, in the crescent, and said to him: “Jan Jans, may we leave
this basket here, and call for it late in the evening, as it may suit
us?”
Jan Jans assented, without ever thinking of the dangerous plan, till
they came to get their basket.
This Jan Jans had a cousin among the prisoners, named Ellert Jans, who
had a wooden leg and was a tailor whom the Bailiff had taken from his
shop on the new dyke. Therefore these two brothers availed themselves
of a dark evening, and brought a boat hook with them, which they thrust
into the window, and then climbed up by it. They then made fast a rope,
and broke open the windows with a crow-bar. Having thus effected their
purpose, they let their brother down from the window with a rope, and
forthwith, went to other prisoners, all of whom they let down through
the window, except Ellert Jans, who refused to go out, telling them as
his reason, that he was of such good cheer to offer his sacrifice, and
felt so happy that he did not expect even through a long life to become
any better, since he feared that on the way through the long desert his
courage might fail him, and thus he would never get across the Jordan,
and reach the promised land. He also said that he was too well known
by his wooden leg, so that he could easily be described for the purpose
of apprehension.
But Tobias, Pieter, Grietgen, Jan, Lyntgen and Barbartgen were confined
in other dungeons, where they could well hear, but not get to, them.
They remained in confinement till the time of their offering up was
fulfilled, except Lyntgen, who was spared on account of her pregnancy.
She also gave birth to a child while in bonds; but the pain of delivery
so affected her, that she became utterly deranged in her mind; after
this she laid yet for a long time at Amsterdam, in a little house, in
which she also died.
When the day had arrived, on which the aforementioned persons were to
offer up their sacrifices, said Jan Jans stationed himself close to the
tribunal, to see what spirit his cousin Ellert Jans would show in the
last hour of his life. As soon as Ellert Jans perceived his cousin,
he addressed him with such a happy countenance that all the hearers
listened with astonishment. He also handed him a testament through the
iron bars of the tribunal; but the Bailiff cried out like a ferocious
lion: Where is the book? but could not find it out.
With many good arguments he admonished every one, principally his
cousin Jan Jans, that he should no longer suffer himself to be
seduced by the adorned woman, the whore of Babylon, but should enter
upon the way to the city of all good things. Yea, he said, that he
never had lived a happier day; which Jan so took to heart, that he
afterwards also took upon him the burthen of the cross. Thus all
the aforementioned friends ended their lives in great joy, and were
burnt alive. Shortly after a lover of the truth composed a hymn in
remembrance of them, the first letter of each verse of which accords
with the first letter of the names. It is found in the old hymn book,
and is the first of those beginning with T: “_’Tis nu schier al
vervult_,” _etc._
* * * * *
The sentence of these six brethren and two sisters, we obtained from
the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, through the
secretary of said place; excepting the title which reads as follows:
SENTENCE OF DEATH OF PIETER JANS, TOBIAS QUESTINEX, JAN PENNEWAERTS,
GIJSBERT JANS, ELLERT JANS, LUCAS MICHIELS, BARBARA THIELEMAUS, AND
TRUYKEN BOENS.
Whereas Pieter, son of Jans, a native of Lininckhuysen, Tobias
Questinex, citizen of this city, shoemakers by trade; Jan Pennewaerts
of Loenen, Gijsbert Jans of Woerden, Ellert Jans, also citizen of this
city, tailors, Lucas Michiels of Dortrecht, glazier by trade, Barbara
Thielemaus of Dortrecht, and Truyken Boens, daughter of William Boens
of Antwerp, have been rebaptized by one Giles of Aix-la-Chapelle, and
have joined the sect and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious
views with regards to the sacraments of the holy church, contrary
to the holy Christian faith, the ordinances of said holy church, and
the written laws and decrees of his Imperial Majesty, our gracious
lord; and, moreover, obstinately persist in their unbelief, errors and
heresies; therefore, my lords the Judges, having heard the demand made
by my lord the Bailiff concerning said persons, together with their
confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of said case,
condemn said persons to be burnt by the executioner; and, furthermore,
declare all their property confiscated for the benefit of his Imperial
Majesty, as Count of Holland and our gracious lord, without prejudice
to the privileges of this city. So pronounced and ordered to be
executed, this 20th day of March, 1549, in the presence of the Bailiff,
Egbert Gabriels and Joost Buyck, Burgomasters, and all the Judges.
Of these delinquents three were subjected to the torture, namely,
Tobias Questinex, on the 14th of February, Pieter Jans, on the 15th of
the same month, and Ellert Jans on the 8th of the present month, March.
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam,
in the keeping of the secretary there.
N. N.
FIJE AND EELKEN AT LEEUWARDEN, A. D. 1549.
In the year 1549, about three weeks before Easter, two beloved men,
named Fije and Eelken, were apprehended at Boorn, in West Friesland.
They were brought before the lords, where they boldly confessed their
faith.
They first interrogated Eelken, saying: “Who has authorized you to
assemble the people, to teach them?”
_Ans._ “God has authorized me.” Heb. 10:25.
_Ques._ “What have you taught?”
_Ans._ “Ask them that heard it, what we taught among ourselves; for you
have apprehended a woman that heard it.”
They then asked the woman what she had heard from Eelken.
_Ans._ “He read the four Evangelists, Paul, Peter, the epistles of
John, and the acts of the apostles.”
Eelken was then asked again: “What do you hold concerning the
sacrament?”
_Ans._ “I know nothing of your baked God.”
_Ques._ “Friend, take care what you say; such words cost necks. What do
you think of the mother of God?”
_Ans._ “Much.”
_Ques._ “What do you say; did the Son of God not receive flesh and
blood from Mary?”
_Ans._ “No: With regard to this, I believe what the Son of God himself
declares concerning it.” John 1:14.
_Ques._ “What do you hold concerning our holy Roman church?”
_Ans._ “I know nothing of your holy church. I do not know it; I never
in all my life was in a holy church.”
_Ques._ “You speak too spitefully; I have compassion for you,” said one
of the lords of the council, “and fear that you will lose your neck.
Are you not baptized?”
_Ans._ “I am not baptized, but greatly desire baptism.”
_Ques._ “What do you think of these false teachers who run about and
baptize the people?”
_Ans._ “Of false teachers I think nothing, but have greatly longed to
hear a teacher sent from God?”
They said: “But we have heard that you are a teacher?”
Eelken said: “Who made me a teacher?”
They replied: “We do not know.”
Eelken said: “If you ask me what you do not know yourselves, how should
I know it? I know of no one that has made me a teacher; but God has
given me all for which I have besought him.”
They said: “We have now written down all the articles concerning which
we have interrogated you on this occasion; if there is any thing of
which you repent, we will gladly strike it out!”
_Ans._ “Do you think that I should deny God?”
Eelken and Fije were then both sentenced and brought together; they
embraced each other, yea, kissed one another’s hands and feet with
great love, so that all that saw and heard it were astonished. The
beadles and servants ran to the lords and said: “Never men loved one
another as do these. Eelken said to Fije: “Dear brother, do not take
it amiss, that you have been brought into suffering through me.” Fije
answered: “Dear brother, do not think so, for it is the power of God.”
Their execution was deferred till the third day after the sentence was
passed. Eelken was first executed with the sword. When Fije’s sentence
was read, he did not listen to it, because of his great joy; and,
ignorant of what had happened, or was to happen, to Eelken, he sang and
leaped, praising and thanking God, saying: “This is the only way.”
They led Fije into the boat in which Eelken lay beheaded, and beside
him the wheel upon which Eelken was to be placed, and the stake at
which Fije was to stand, to be burned. In the boat Fije’s hands became
loose, but he sat still nevertheless. The monks then said: “Bind
him again.” The hangman replied: “You bind him.” But the castellan
commanded him to bind Fije again. Some women who beheld it wept
bitterly. But Fije said: “Weep not for me, but for your sins.”
He further said to the executioner: “What are you going to do to me?”
_Ans._ “That you will see.”
“Yea, yea,” said Fije, “do what you will; I have committed myself into
the hands of my Lord.”
The brethren went out with him, together with the common people, and
when Fije saw some of his acquaintances, he cried out: “Friends,
rejoice with me over this marriage feast which is prepared for me.”
When he arrived at the place of execution, some brethren, who greatly
rejoiced with him, spoke to him, saying: “This is the narrow way; this
is the Lord’s wine press; from this depends the crown.” But when the
castellan heard this cry, he called out: “Let no man lay his hands on
him, on pain of life, and property.”
The executioner had forgotten his instruments, and ran to the town to
get them. In the meantime, the castellan and the two monks had Fije in
the confessional, greatly tempting him with bread and wine; but they
could not prevail upon him, for Fije did nothing but sing and speak,
praising and thanking God.
When they could not prevail on him, and the executioner returned,
they said to Fije: “How is it that you are so obstinate, when you say
that you are a member of Christ? Why then will you not do the works
of mercy, and receive this bread and wine as bread and wine, for our
sakes.”
_Ans._ “I do not hunger for your bread and wine; for there is food
prepared for me in heaven.”
When they could not prevail upon him, they said: “Begone, you heretic,
begone!”
The castellan said: “I have seen many a heretic; but in all my life I
never saw a more obdurate one than this.”
Fije, standing prepared for death, said to the executioner: “Master,
have you finished your work?”
He replied: “Not yet.”
Fije said: “Here is the sheep for which you are wanted.”
The executioner then went up to Fije, tore open his shirt, took the
cap from his head, and filled it with gunpowder. Standing at the stake
at which he was to be strangled, Fije exclaimed: “O Lord, receive thy
servant.”
He was then strangled and burnt, and thus fell asleep in the Lord. The
common people cried out, saying: “This was a pious Christian; if he is
not a Christian, there is not one in the whole world.”
JACOB CLAESS OF LANTSMEER, AND CECILIA JERONYMUS HIS WIFE, BURNT IN
GREAT CONSTANCY FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT AMSTERDAM, IN THE
YEAR 1549.[250]
[250] We have had some doubts as to whether these two persons were
not the same ones who, under the names of Jacob and Seli, have been
noticed previously, for the year 1542, and whom we allowed to remain
there; but as we find some contrary circumstances, we took cause to
regard them as not the same, but different persons; hence we have put
them here in their proper place.
The tribulation, anguish and distress of the beloved friends and
children of God continued; for they did not cease to persecute and
kill them, yea, to put them to death in a dreadful, miserable and
lamentable manner, which, in the year 1549, appeared also in the city
of Amsterdam, in Holland, in the case of two pious and very godfearing
persons, named Jacob Claess of Lantsmeer, and Cecilia Jeronymus of
Wormer, who, as they, after suffering many assaults, conflicts and
tribulations from secular as well as ecclesiastical persons, who sought
to draw them away from the faith, remained constant, were sentenced
to the fire as heretics, which punishment of death they steadfastly
endured, on the 9th of November, A. D. 1549, as appears from the
following two sentences, which were publicly pronounced on the day of
their death, in the court of Amsterdam; true copies of which, obtained
by us through the clerk of the court there, we shall adduce here, for
the further confirmation of said matter.
SENTENCE OF DEATH OF JACOB CLAESS OF LANTSMEER.
Whereas Jacob Claess of Lantsmeer has joined the doctrine, sect and
heresies of the Anabaptists, having been rebaptized, and holding
pernicious views in regard to the sacraments of the holy church,
contrary to the holy Christian faith, the ordinances of the holy
Christian church, and the written laws and decrees of his Imperial
Majesty our gracious lord; and, moreover, obstinately persists in his
errors and heresy, notwithstanding the instruction which has been
given him concerning the true faith; therefore, my lords the Judges,
having heard the demand made by my lord the Bailiff, in the name of
his Imperial Majesty, concerning said Jacob Claess, together with his
confession, and having considered the circumstances of said case,
sentence said Jacob Claess, pursuant to the aforesaid decrees, to
be burnt by the executioner, and, furthermore, declare his property
confiscated for the benefit of his Imperial Majesty, as Count of
Holland. So pronounced, and executed by the executioner, on the 9th
of November, A. D. 1549, in the presence of the Bailiff, Sir Hendrick
Dirks; Burgomaster, Jan Willems; Claes Meeuwess, Simon Claess Kops,
Florus Marts, Jan Claess van Hoppen, and Hendrick Jans Croock, Judges.
Jacob Claess was subjected to the torture on the 22d of October, A. D.
1549.
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the
secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
SENTENCE OF DEATH OF CECILIA JERONYMUS.
Whereas Cecilia, daughter of Jeronymus, of Wormer, has joined the
doctrine, sect and heresies of the Anabaptists, having been rebaptized,
and holding pernicious views in regard to the sacraments of the holy
church, contrary to the holy Christian faith, the ordinances of the
holy Christian church, the written laws and decrees of his Imperial
Majesty our gracious lord, and, moreover, obstinately persists in
her errors and heresies, notwithstanding the instruction which has
been given her concerning the true faith; therefore, my lords the
Judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the Bailiff, in the
name of his Imperial Majesty, concerning said Cecilia, together with
her confession, and having maturely considered the circumstances of
said case, sentence said Cecilia Jeronymus, pursuant to the aforesaid
decrees, to be burnt by the executioner, and, furthermore, declare her
property confiscated, for the benefit of his Imperial Majesty, as Count
of Holland. Done and executed as above.
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the
secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
HANS VAN OVERDAM PUT TO DEATH AT GHENT; ALSO HIS CONFESSION, WRITTEN IN
PRISON, AND AFTERWARDS SEALED WITH HIS BLOOD, IN THE YEAR 1550.
Hans van Overdam, together with his fellow-prisoners for the testimony
of Jesus Christ, wishes all brethren and sisters in the Lord, grace,
peace, and an ardent love, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, to whom be praise, honor, and majesty forever and ever. Amen.
My most dearly beloved, grieve not on my account (Eph. 3:13), but
praise the Lord that he is so good a Father to me, that I can suffer
bonds and imprisonment for the testimony of Christ, for which I also
hope to go into the fire. The Lord give me strength through his Holy
Spirit. Amen. Walk in the fear of the Lord, even as you are called. 1
Corinthian 7:17. And though we see one another no more in the flesh,
may we behold each other hereafter, in the kingdom of our Father, where
I hope soon to be. The peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.
O dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, my heart’s deepest desire
and prayer is (Rom. 10:1), that you may constantly give more and more
diligence to make sure the calling whereunto you are called by God the
Father, through Christ, to the majesty and glory of the kingdom of his
beloved Son, who purchased his church with his own blood, and gave
himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:25–27.