my baptism, seeing I herein have not followed my own, but the holy
institution of our Lord Jesus Christ; had I been able to find another,
better way to the kingdom of God, it would not have happened; for I was
inclined with my whole heart to seek the Lord my God.” Isaiah 56:6.
_Lady._ “Should they then all err, so many learned men that have been
before you; do you dare be so presumptuous as this?”
_Jacques._ “My lady, in Israel four hundred prophets were against the
single Micaiah, who alone spoke the truth, and was kept imprisoned on
bread and water; which King Ahab experienced in his distress, but too
late.” 1 Kings 22:27; 2 Chronicles 18:5.
The lady finally said: “I find many good things in you; but your
greatest error I consider to lie in your baptism, which does not seem
to me to be of God.”
In this manner she had him brought before her many times; but as he,
young in years, but old in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Wis. 4:8;
1 Corinthians 14:20), had built his foundation upon the rock Jesus
Christ, he valiantly repelled all the subtle devices of Satan--whether
consisting in many severe threats, or in fair promises of the kingdom
of this world (Matt. 4:8)--with the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God; and as nothing could move him to forsake Christ, he was
condemned to death by the rulers of the darkness of this world (Eph.
6:12), and thus testified and confirmed the true faith of the truth
with his death and blood, and, through grace, obtained the crown of
everlasting glory.
Concerning this, see a hymn in the _Gulden Harp_, beginning: _Tot
Leeuwaerden op eenen dagh._
HANS VAN MONSTER, AND BARTEL, AND OLD JACOB, PUT TO DEATH IN THE CASTLE
OF BERCHEM, NEAR ANTWERP.
As it has from the beginning been abundantly heard and seen, that the
truth is envied and trampled upon by its enemies and haters, and that
its pious confessors have had to suffer from them in manifold ways; so,
among many other examples, it was verified, at a certain time after
Mary van Beckum and her sister had been offered up at Delden, in the
case of a faithful brother named Hans van Monster, who lay imprisoned
for the truth, in the castle of Berchem, near Antwerp. And since Jesus
very earnestly teaches and recommends to us the visiting of the sick
and imprisoned, in their tribulation (Matt. 25:36; Heb. 13:3), a
single man named Old Jacob, and another by the name of Bartel, moved by
the spirit and brotherly love, went from Antwerp to Berchem, to comfort
their brother, according to their ability, in his tribulation. When
they arrived there, the enemies watched them, supposing that old Jacob
was a teacher and elder; for at that time the blood-thirsty papists
had put a reward of three hundred guilders upon teachers, to be given
to any who should deliver them into the hands of the executioners; and
as old Jacob was very eloquent, and could defend himself very ably
with the word of God, they hoped to earn said money by him, in which,
however, they failed, as Jacob was no teacher. Nevertheless, they
kept them, and imprisoned them with their fellow-brother; and as they
together were built upon the immovable rock Christ Jesus, they remained
steadfast in all these tempests; and since no torment could induce them
to depart from the truth, they were together put to death in the castle
of Berchem, valiantly offering their lives for the truth, and are now
waiting with all the saints of God, the blessed resurrection unto
eternal life. Rev. 6:11; 1 Thess. 4:16.
In the beginning of the conversion of the beforementioned Bartel,
and another, named Gerrit, it occurred that these two young men were
present when Mary van Beckum and her sister were offered up in the
castle of Delden; and they testified that they heard Mary van Beckum
declare publicly before the people, when she was placed at the stake,
to be burned: “You shall see this stake at which I am to be burned
grow green, by which you may know that it is the truth for which we
here suffer and die.” These two young men, who heard this themselves,
some time afterwards went of their own accord to the stake, and saw it
flourish. Terrified thereby, they went together to Antwerp, to inquire
for such people; and having come to an elder by the name of Hendrick
van Aernem, and Jan Lubberts of B., they related the above to them.
Thereupon Hendrick van Aernem replied: “I would not dare repeat this
after you.” They said: “Should we not tell what we have heard and seen
ourselves?” Thus they adhered to their assertion concerning what had
occurred with regard to Mary van Beckum, and, accordingly, lent their
ears to the truth, repented, became converted, and united with the
church of God. Afterwards Gerrit went to Amsterdam, where he resided
until his death; but Bartel lost his life for the truth, as has been
heard.
TWO YOUNG GIRLS, ABOUT A. D. 1550.
[Illustration: TWO YOUNG GIRLS LED TO EXECUTION.]
About the year 1550, it happened in the bishopric of Bamberg, that two
young girls espoused and received Christ by faith, were baptized upon
their faith, according to the doctrine of Christ, and arising from
sin, sought to walk in newness of life with Christ. On this account
the antichristians sought to hinder them in this good resolution, and
to quench their good intention as much as lay in their power. They
therefore cast these two young lambs into prison, where they tortured
them with great severity, and sought also with other unchristian means
to cause them to apostatize; but as they were firmly built upon Christ,
they remained faithful and steadfast during the entire trial. Col.
2:7; Rev. 2:10. Hence, the authorities, who herein generally follow
the advice of the false prophets, condemned them to death; at which
they were joyful and undaunted. When they were led out to execution,
their persecutors, by way of reproach and mockery, placed wreaths of
straw upon their heads; whereupon one said to the other: “Since the
Lord Christ wore a crown of thorns for us, why should not we wear these
crowns of straw in honor of him? the faithful God shall for this place
a beautiful golden crown and glorious wreath upon our heads.” Thus
these two young branches armed themselves with patience, according to
the example of their Captain Jesus, remained faithful unto death, died
steadfastly, and obtained, through grace, the glorious crown with God
in heaven.
To these girls their adversaries accord the praise, that they died
quite undauntedly and steadfastly, and that they had the true
foundation and ground of the Christian faith in their Redeemer Christ
Jesus, whom they openly confessed, and called upon in their distress,
wherein they steadfastly died with a firm hope; so that doubts were
entertained among their adversaries, as to whether they themselves were
not in greater error before God, than these young girls, though they
were Anabaptists.
He that wishes may read, with regard to this account, Johannes Manlius,
printed at Frankfort, A. D. 1550.
A LAD OF FIFTEEN YEARS, A. D. 1550.
At the same time a lad of fifteen years was put to death, suffering it
with great steadfastness, at Leeuwaerden; whose faith is compared to
that of the aforementioned two young girls put to death at Bamberg. See
_Ondergang, page 1130, col. 1_.
OF A DECREE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INQUISITION, A. D. 1550.
It appears that at this time the bitterness of the Romish clergy
increased and broke forth more and more, against those who sought to
follow the evangelical doctrine of Jesus Christ; so that they prevailed
upon the Emperor, through decrees, to revive the inquisition over the
consciences of the inhabitants of the Netherlands, which for a time had
seemingly abated, and to introduce it with greater rigor than before;
which was accordingly done in the manner prescribed, which caused great
dissatisfaction and sorrow to the common people of said countries. In
regard to this, a certain author writes thus:
“Though many severe decrees had been published before at different
times, for the oppression of the evangelical believers, whereby
many thousands were miserably put to death for the faith, in the
Netherlands; yet the hatred and ill-will of the people increased to
an unwonted degree, in the year 1550, in consequence of the decree in
regard to the inquisition, issued by Emperor Charles V., at Brussels,
on the 29th of April; for thereby it was declared, that it was the
intention, from that time forth publicly to introduce the spiritual
inquisition, but to have the cruel and bloody mandates nevertheless
rigorously executed by the secular power.” _Chron. van den Ondergang,
page 1129, col. 1_, compared with _Eman. de Met., lib. 1_. _Pieter
Bor., lib. 1. Oorspronch der Nederlantsche Beroerten, old edition, fol.
5, 6._
_Further Observation._--Though the writer says in the sequel, that some
magistrates would not publish this decree concerning the inquisition,
and that some, by humble petitions to the Emperor, obtained a
mitigation; yet it had come so far, that actual means were secretly
employed to carry out this purpose, through the inquisitors; in
consequence of which, the minds of the people became the more agitated
and disaffected, so that many emigrated from the cities of Brabant,
particularly from West Flanders. _See the authors cited._
REYER DIRCKS, A BOATMAN, BURNT AFTER DREADFUL TORTURE, FOR THE
TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT AMSTERDAM, IN HOLLAND, IN THE YEAR 1550.
At this time, also Reyer Dircks, a pious hero and valiant soldier,
of Jesus Christ, though of small repute in the eyes of the world,
who gained his livelihood with a little boat on the river Amstel,
enlisted under the bloody banner of his Savior, and united with the
cross-bearing church, contemptuously called Anabaptists. Having been
with them about three years, he virtually experienced that the kingdom
of heaven suffers violence, and that the violent take it by force;
inasmuch as he could not enter the spacious halls of the blessed palace
of God without pressing through the strait gate, so that his flesh, yea
the whole body, remained on the posts, and this in the fire, as food
for the birds and wild beasts.
He was imprisoned at Amsterdam, in Holland, and, though he was most
miserably tortured, he nevertheless refused to depart from his faith,
and the promise which he had made to God in baptism. He was then
condemned to death as a heretic, and very cruelly executed with flaming
fire.
The foregoing may be clearly seen from the following sentence, which
was read on the day of his death, in the court at Amsterdam, by the
ecclesiastical rulers.
_Sentence of Death of Ryer Dircks._
Whereas Ryer Dircks, boatman, citizen of this city, did, about three
years ago, embrace the doctrines, errors, sects, and heresies of
the Anabaptists, and is holding pernicious views with regard to the
sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith,
the ordinances of the holy church, and the written laws and decrees of
his Imperial Majesty, our gracious lord, and, moreover, persists in his
errors and heresies, notwithstanding the instruction given him in the
true faith; therefore, my lords of the court, having heard the demand
made by my Lord the Bailiff, in the name of his Imperial Majesty,
concerning the aforementioned Ryer Dircks, as also his confession, and
having duly considered the circumstances of the case, condemn said Ryer
Dircks, pursuant to the aforesaid decrees, to be executed with fire by
the executioner; and, furthermore, declare his property confiscated
for the benefit of his Imperial Majesty, as Count of Holland, without
derogation and prejudice to the privileges of this city.
Thus pronounced, and committed to the executioner for execution, this
sixteenth day of August, A. D. 1550, in the presence of the Bailiff,
all the burgomasters, and all the judges, with the exception of Jan
Dunen.
Ryer Dircks was examined by torture the ninth of July, A. D. 1550.
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the
secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
A SMITH AT KOMEN, A. D. 1551.
In or about the year 1551, a smith was apprehended for the divine
truth, at Komen, in Flanders. He freely confessed his faith, and as
he would not depart from it, he was sentenced to death in two ways,
namely, if he recanted, he was to be executed with the sword; otherwise
to be burned alive. To this end, two-fold preparations were made; but
seeing the multitude, and fearing trouble, the authorities kept the
brother in prison. Hence, some climbed to the top of the prison and
broke through the roof, to see what was being done with the doomed
man. At last, one knocked at the door of the prison, desiring to
know whether the brother was alive or dead. Having been admitted, he
immediately returned with blood on his hand, which he showed to the
people, saying: “He is dead! He is dead!” The dead man was then brought
out on a ladder, with his head lying between his legs, and the ladder
placed upon the wall of the churchyard, where the priest made a long
speech (a sermon probably), saying among other things, that he had
renounced his heretical belief, and re-accepted the Roman church and
her saving faith; and “holding now a good resolution,” said he, “he
was instantly executed, lest he might fall back into his old error.”
But it was firmly believed that the priest slandered the dead man, and
this the more so, since after relating the sentence, he said that he
obstinately adhered to his previous confession. Thus God constrains the
wicked, in the telling of their lies, themselves, unawares, to reveal
the truth of the matter.
GILLIS AND ELIZABETH, A. D. 1551.
On the 21st of July, A. D. 1551, two pious Christians, a brother by the
name of Gillis, and a sister named Elizabeth, were sentenced to death
as heretics, pursuant to the imperial decree, at Ghent, in Flanders.
They were not led forth to death at the usual time, but at 1 o’clock
in the afternoon. Having ascended the scaffold, they prayed to God. In
the meantime, the executioner unlaced the gown of Elizabeth, which,
when she arose, fell down, so that she stood there in her shift and
linen trousers, which the executioner, by way of mockery, had made her
put on. Feeling greatly ashamed on this account, she immediately went
to the stake, and then said: “I thank thee, O Lord, that I am worthy
to suffer for thy name. I now stand at the touchstone, at which God’s
elect are tried. O Lord, strengthen me, and delay not.”
Gillis said: “Dear sister, be patient in your suffering, and comfort
yourself in God; he will not forsake you.”
“O dear brother,” said she, “I will never depart from him.”
Gillis then cried: “O Lord, forgive them their sins, who inflict death
upon me; for as they do not know thee, they know not what they do.”
Finally they cried out: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands we commend
our spirits.” And thus, through fire, they died a blessed death well
pleasing unto God.
JORIS, WOUTER, GRIETGEN AND NAENTGEN, IN THE YEAR 1551.
On account of the severe and great persecution which was carried on
everywhere in the Netherlands, against the true Christians, four pious
believers, among others, named Joris, Wouter, Grietgen and Naentgen,
fled, in the year 1551, from Lier in Brabant, to Ghent in Flanders.
They had not resided long in the latter place when they were betrayed
by a Judas, and brought prisoners from their houses to the castle of
the count, where they joyfully thanked God, and sang praises to him,
because they were counted worthy to suffer for his name. When assailed
by the monks and other sophists, they freely confessed their faith,
from which no subtlety could turn them; but they valiantly withstood,
with the truth, the seducers who sought to murder their souls, and were
then condemned to death by virtue of the imperial mandate, because they
had apostatized from the Roman church, contemned infant baptism, and
had been baptized upon faith. They were sentenced to be burned at the
stake without being strangled. They thanked the lords, and Grietgen
said: “My lords, save three stakes; we can all four die at one; for
we are spiritually of one mind.” Rom. 12:16. They were joyful in the
Lord, and thanked God greatly. Naentgen said: “This is the day for
which I have longed so much.” Eight monks then came, to torment them;
however, they did not accept their advice, but Grietgen said: “Take off
your long robes and teach yourselves, before you undertake to teach
others.” They were led to death like sheep to the slaughter, the monks
accompanying them, to whom they said: “Stay back; let us in peace, for
we know you well, and do not wish to hear you.”
Having ascended the scaffold, Joris said to the people: “Be it known
to you, that we do not die for theft, murder, or heresy.” At this the
monks became enraged, and contradicted it.
They then fell upon their knees, prayed to God, and arose and kissed
each other with the kiss of peace. But when they with glad countenances
addressed the people, the monks, to hinder them, went and stood before
them; but one of the people cried out: “You furious antichristians,
stand back, and let them speak.”
Wouter said: “Citizens of Ghent, we suffer not as heretics or
Lutherans, who hold in one hand a beer-mug, and a testament in the
other, thus dishonoring the word of God, and dealing in drunkenness;
but we die for the genuine truth.” The executioner then hung each
of them by a rope to a stake, but did not strangle them. They then
strengthened each other, saying: “Let us fight valiantly, for this is
our last pain; hereafter we shall rejoice with God in endless joy.”
Matt. 25:23. As they were hanging in pain, before the fire was kindled,
Joris fell through the rope, and Wouter cried: “O brother, be of good
cheer!” “O Lord!” exclaimed Joris, “in thee do I trust; strengthen my
faith.” Luke 17:5. The fire then commenced to burn, and they cried
out: “O God Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” Thus they
offered up their sacrifice according to the will of the Lord, and their
faith was tried like gold in the fire, and found good, and so accepted
of God.
CATHARINE BURNED AT THE STAKE, A. D. 1551.
Eight days after the sacrifice of the preceding persons, a woman named
Catharine was also sentenced to the fire. While yet in prison, she was
greatly tormented by the monks, in order to make her apostatize, but
she said: “I stand so firmly to my faith that for it, to the honor of
God, I will suffer myself to be burned at the stake. What would you do
for your faith? not much, I think. Hence repent, before you be brought
to shame.”
Having been sentenced to be burned alive, and on her way to death, she
was saluted by a brother. When she arrived on the scaffold, her hands
were untied at her request. She then knelt down, and prayed fervently
to God for strength, which he also gave her; for when she had arisen,
and was tied to the stake, she boldly said: “I am put to death for the
truth’s sake; whatever you are able to inflict upon me, I am freely
ready to suffer.” A seducer then came up, to comfort and strengthen
her, as he said, but she replied: “Be still, I am tired of your
tormenting; forbear comforting me, and comfort yourself; for he whose
name I suffer, shall now be my comfort.”
Thereupon, calling with a firm confidence upon God, she was burned
alive in the sight of all men, steadfastly offering up soul and body
to God, as a burnt sacrifice.
BROTHER JOHN BAIR, of LICHTENFELS, A. D. 1551.
In the year 1528, on the Wednesday after All-saints-day, Brother
John Bair of Lichtenfels, was apprehended for the faith and the
divine truth, and was confined for twenty-three years in a tower at
Bamberg, in Franconia, on account of his constancy, as is seen from
the following letter, written by him from there to the elders of the
church. It reads thus:
“Dear brethren, I have received the writing tablets and the account of
the doctrine and faith of our religion, as also six candles and pens;
but most important, the Bible, I did not receive, as is written in the
fore part of the tablets; but it is my request, that you will send it
to me, if it can still be found; for I would like to have it above all
things; if it can be according to the will of God; for I am sadly in
want of it, and suffer great hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord
these many long years. To God and his church I make this complaint;
the days of my miserable imprisonment are twenty years, wanting eight
weeks; the Wednesday after All-saints-day will be the anniversary. I,
John Bair of Lichtenfels, the most miserable of the miserable, and the
most forsaken of the forsaken, captive in Jesus Christ our Lord, again
make the complaint to God and his angels, and to all his laborers and
churches. Now, my most dearly beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord,
pray to God for me, that he will deliver me from this peril and great
distress, a distress which is unspeakable; this God knows, and I poor
man, and you know it with me. Adieu.”
Written at Bamberg, in a dark dungeon, in the year 1548.
After this writing, he remained in prison three years longer, that is,
twenty-three years in all; when, in the year 1551, he cheerfully fell
asleep in the Lord, in his prison, and obtained the martyr’s crown.
JEROME SEGERS, WITH HIS WIFE LIJSKEN DIRCKS, AND BIG HENRY, A. D. 1551.
In the year of our Lord 1551, Jerome Segers, with his wife Lijsken
Dircks, and Big Henry fell into the hands of the tyrants, for the
testimony of Jesus, at Antwerp in Brabant. They suffered many severe
torments and sharp examinations, but, through the grace of God,
endured them all. And as they, through faith, were so firmly bound
to their Captain Christ Jesus, that nothing could induce them to
apostatize, they brought Jerome Segers and Big Henry to the slaughter,
on the second day of September, A. D. 1551. Both, each at a stake,
surrendered their bodies in great steadfastness to God as a well
pleasing sacrifice. Lijsken Dircks, the wife of Jerome Segers, who
was pregnant, was (after her delivery) thrust into a bag early in the
morning, between three and four o’clock, and murderously thrown into
the Scheldt and drowned, before people were up. Nevertheless; there
were some that saw it, who testified to her firm and steadfast faith
unto death. They now rest together under the altar. Read the following
beautiful letters written by them, which attest their strong faith,
firm hope and ardent love to God and his holy truth.
A LETTER FROM JEROME SEGERS, WRITTEN IN THE PRISON AT ANTWERP, TO HIS
WIFE LIJSKEN, WHO WAS ALSO IMPRISONED THERE, A. D. 1551.
_Always fear God._
In narrow prison walls I lay, well guarded and confined;
Because for Christ I testified, sore troubles I did find;
But it cometh from the Lord,
Who to me doth strength afford.
Grace, peace, joy, gladness, consolation, a firm faith, and good
assurance, together with an ardent love to God, I wish to you, my most
beloved wife, Lijsken Dircks, whom I wedded before God and his holy
church, and thus took to wife, according to the command of the Lord;
may consolation, gladness and joy be increased and multiplied to you my
dear wife.