himself, and to redeem the perilous time; for Paul says: “Redeem the
time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16. Hence, make good use of
the time, and exhort one another; for necessity demands it; and let
each arm himself well, even as Paul admonishes us: “For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood.” Eph. 6:12. Paul was right when he taught
this. I well experience it now. The Lord be praised, who assists me
so faithfully with these weapons, and, even as he promised to give
us a mouth to speak, when we should be brought before such, has now
opened my mouth, praise to him, so that through the grace of the Lord
I valiantly defend myself with the word of my Lord, and have manfully
resisted my enemies five times, not only my enemies, but the enemies of
the cross of Christ, as you will hear further.
Know, that on the afternoon of the day called St. Thomas, in Babel,
as I was lying in the cell I have always occupied, I saw and heard
that carnal and worldly lords came into the prison, and also the chief
Bailiff. The servants then came and said: “Joos, come out.” Then said I
in my heart: “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth
thy praise.” Ps. 51:15. With this I came in before them. Then Ronse and
Polet both lifted their caps, and said: “Joos, God greet you,” and
nodded their heads to me. I also lifted my cap, saying: “I esteem God
worthy of such greeting, yea, and more, I am ready to give back these
members--which he has given me through his grace--for his name and to
his praise; I deem the Lord worthy of so much; for he has deemed us
of sufficient value in his sight to die a better death for us.” Then
the inquisitors said: “Joos, have you not yet considered the matter?
Will you not yet desist?” I said: “Yes, always from doing evil. Why
did you not ask me this, when I yet ran in wickedness, and practiced
all manner of unrighteousness?” They replied: “You could have gone and
heard the sermons.” They also inquired concerning my faith, which I
freely confessed. Then they said: “Speak to us, and tell us whether
you have not yet considered the matter.” I said: “I will not speak to
you; for you are not of God; how should I believe in you? Christ died
for me; in this I believe; but you would not be willing to die for me;
neither this dean nor that (there were two deans present, Ronse and
Olymaecker); neither this curate nor that, would be willing to die for
me. I am imprisoned for my life; set me free and die for me.” _Ans._
“Who teaches this?” I said: “Christ. He says: The good shepherd loves
his sheep, and gives his life for his sheep. John 10:11. You say that
I shall be damned, if I persist in my purpose.” Ronse said: “Yes.” I
said further: “It is surprising, then, that you should kill me; seeing,
therefore, that I hold a purpose for which I shall be damned; let me go
until I exchange it for a better.” _Ans._ “We will leave you.” “Yes,”
said I, “and deliver me over.” Matt. 27:2. Polet said: “Paul delivered
some into the hands of the devil.” 1 Corinthians 5:5. I said: “So do
you also; you have damned me; hence, be satisfied, without delivering
me into the hands of the judges. Paul did not do so, nor did Christ
teach it in Matt. 28 and Mark 16, where he says: Go, and preach the
gospel to every creature. Christ says not: Them that will not believe
you, shut into cells, or put great fetters on their legs. Did they all
believe Christ, who heard him preach? Did all believe the apostles, who
heard them?” Rom. 10:16. _Ans._ “No.” _Joos._ “Were they put to death,
then, who did not believe the apostles.” _Ans._ “No.” “How comes it
then, that the apostles did not do this, and that you, who say that you
are vice-regents of the apostles, dare put us to death? even admitting
that we were evil, as you say, but you have a better opinion of us,
than you say?” Polet said: “That I will tell you: have you not read how
Elijah put to death the priests of Baal!” I said: “Yes; and this is
just what is wanting yet to subdue you; for you serve Baal even more
than they did, and you carouse and banquet with Jezebel much more than
they did?” _Ans._ “What does that concern you? You are always looking
to our works.” I said: “Christ has taught me to know the tree by the
fruit, and says that a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit, nor a good
tree evil fruit,” etc. And I further said: “Since your works are not
good, I do not believe you to be good.” _Ques._ “Are you good?” _Joos._
“You do not hear me say this; there is none good but God alone, and
though we were to say that we are good, which we do not, you, on the
other hand, say that we are evil, and this for the reason you told me
when we were in the hall of justice, namely, that when men will not
believe us, we kill them.” _Ronse._ “I say this yet.” _Joos._ “Where
did you see this in me; since you say that I taught the people? did I
kill any one or hurt a single hair, on account of my doctrine, which
you say I teach as an opinion?” _Ans._ “We do not know anything of
such a character of you.” _Joos._ “But I know such things of you; you
burn or murder those who will not adhere to your false worship. You
have justly judged yourselves in this matter.” 2 Samuel 12:7. _Ans_.
This brings us no further; let us dispute about the faith?” _Joos._
“I will not dispute here alone.” Then they said: “Do you acknowledge
yourself vanquished?” and would have delivered me to the judges, had I
said, yes. I replied: “No; wherein have you overcome me? I have said it
not once, but fifty times: Show me a better way, with the word of the
gospel, and I will renounce.”
_Ans._ “Let us begin then.” _Joos._ “Very well, before the hall of
justice, near a big fire, and the one that is overcome shall be cast
into it.” _Ans._ “This will not be granted you.” The under-bailiff then
said: “You seek to make disturbance.” _Joos._ “You have made it by
apprehending me; if you had let me work, Kortrijck would not be in the
condition it is in now; it was not in such a state for seven years.”
_Polet._ “You will not be taken there, and this for the reason that
you may not spread your poison.” _Joos._ “You ought to come before the
hall of justice, and the more people present, the better, for if I
have the lies, and you the truth--are you ashamed of the truth before
the people? Take me there, and show me that I am in the wrong, and you
will stop the mouths of the people, and when you have overcome me, say:
‘This is the man who has taught contrary to the Christian faith; we now
prove to him with the Scriptures, that he is in the wrong,’ and then
throw me into the fire, and the people will be edified. If you will not
do this, you are not willing that the people should know the truth.”
_Ronse._ “You will not be brought thither to speak; when you are
brought there, speaking on your part will be prevented.” _Joos._ “Why?
the people have their five senses, and he that hath five senses, will
hear whether I speak good or evil.” _Ronse._ “You will be prevented
from speaking there.” _Joos._ “Do it then; put me boldly into a bag,
and smother me by night, so that no one will see it; if he sees it,
who searches the hearts and reins, enough people see it; and he will
see it, and avenge himself; I leave it to him, for I am ready any way,
to put off this flesh, whether in the fire or in the water, before the
hall of justice or here in this fire (the fire on the hearth); it is
not big enough, make it bigger.”
They then again proposed to me to dispute, and said that they were
sent from God, and appointed his vice-regents. I said: “This is not
so; for you have bought your benefices, or they have been given you,
or you have gained them by serving; but those whom God has sent, from
the beginning of the world, have been sent differently.” They said
that they would prove it to me by the Scriptures, that they were sent.
I said: “Prove it?” _Ans._ “This is it, that to Peter the key was
given, and he was Pope, and it was given to him and his successors.”
_Joos._ “Show me, that anything is said there about _successors_?”
_Ans._ “This will be shown you.” _Joos._ “Show me then?” Then Ronse
read from a Testament, Matt. 16, from the place where Christ asks:
“Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” to where he says: “I will
give unto thee the keys;” but there was nothing said about successors.
He then said: “You have heard it, have you not, Joos? it is so long:
I would read further, but it is too long a task?” _Joos._ “I desire
that you read on.” _Ronse._ “How far?” _Joos._ “To where it speaks
about successors.” _Ronse._ “You have heard that he says: ‘Upon this
rock I will build my church.’ Hence it is founded upon St. Peter, and
he was Pope.” _Joos._ “Christ is the foundation, as Paul says (1 Cor.
3:11): ‘Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ.’ But Peter is not the foundation, nor did Christ found
the church upon Peter, but upon the confession of his faith where he
confesses: ‘I confess that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God;’ therefore, Christ is the foundation. But,” said I, “let us speak
about the key; you skip from the key to the church; you say that I run
from one thing to another, stick to your text yourselves, and show me,
as you have asserted, that Christ says: ‘I give unto thee the key,
and unto thy successors.’” They replied: “We shall show it to you.
But listen, it is this,” said Polet, and produced a sophism. I said:
“You cannot satisfy me with arguments; show it to me in the book?”
Then Ronse said: “We know it by heart, and so do you; hear us repeat
it from memory?” I said: “Read it?” They replied: “Is it not the same
whether we read or speak it? Joos, hear what I shall tell you?” I said:
“Telling will not satisfy me.”
When they would not read it, I addressed the chief Bailiff, and
Roegaergijs, and said: “My lords, I demand that you assist me in this
matter, and compel them to read it; else I say that you are tyrants
and not judges.” Then said they: “Read it to him.” Thereupon they read
Matt. 16. Ronse read, and when he could not find it, he turned as white
as a sheet, and then said: “It is not here.” Polet said: “These words
are not there, but the sense is in Matt. 28.” He then read: “I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” I said: “This is not
where he says: ‘I give unto thee the keys, and unto thy successors.’”
_Polet._ “Would you have just these very words; they are not here; why
make so much ado about it?” _Joos._ “No, but because you will say you
will show it to me.” _Ronse._ “Be silent, you are not worthy to speak.”
_Joos._ “Why should I keep silence, when you with your false mandates
have brought about, that neither proctor, nor attorney, nor friend may
speak for us; if you are not willing to let me speak, you ought to have
let me remain in my cell; but I shall keep silence neither for you nor
any one else; I am neither a thief, nor a murderer, nor a ravisher of
women; why should I forbear speaking? I shall defend myself, because
my life is at stake, and not keep silence as long as I can move my
tongue; but do you N. keep silent; you are not worthy to speak, you
soul-murderers, you enemies of the cross of Christ.” Again they
proposed to me to dispute. I said: “Before the hall of justice, but not
here.” _Ans._ “You will not be taken there.” _Joos._ “Well then, do as
you please; I have confessed my faith to you when I first came here,
and I have told you more than fifty times before, and tell you again,
that I think nothing of all your trumpery, nor of a single point held
by the Roman church.” _Ronse._ “Do you think nothing of the sacrament?
Let us hear what you think of it?” _Joos._ “An idol, a little flour;
and if I had your oil, I would grease my shoes with it.” _Ronse._ “We
can hear that you are audacious enough.”
Then a contention arose, and they thought to fall upon me; but I
defended myself valiantly with the word of the Lord, as behooves a
servant who loves his master. And the Lord gave me such a mouth to
speak, that for three hours I did not make one assertion, which they
were able to refute. Then the incarnation was made the subject of
discussion, which they would carry out to the dead letter. Matt, 1: The
book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David. Thereupon I
said that Matt. 22:41 it was written: “Then Christ asked the scribes
and the Pharisees: What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say
unto him the son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in
spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on
my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then
call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him
a word.” I also told them of the figure of Melchisedec, and the last
chapter of Revelation, that he is the root of David; which they would
not hear, but adhered to their dead text.
When I perceived that they would not acknowledge their error, I said:
“If you want to speak of the incarnation, or of any other matter of the
faith, come before the city hall.” Then Polet said: “Who should judge
there, who is right or wrong?” I said: “These good lords.” Polet said:
“They do not understand the scriptures.” I said: “They understand them
well enough for you, to dispute here, or in the hall of justice; hence
they ought also to understand them, to dispute in the city hall. And if
they do not understand the Scriptures, then they ought to feel ashamed
that they are judges in this matter, when they do not understand the
Scriptures.” So much was said, that as much paper as I could hold in
my hand would not suffice me to write down all their sophistry. I
commend all dear friends, and all brethren and sisters in the Lord,
into his hands, and entreat them all, to arm themselves wisely, for
it is necessary; and when they come as far as I am, not to engage in
disputation, for, if it were possible, they would draw us away from the
truth. Know, that I am of such good cheer, that it would be impossible
for me to describe the joy or gladness I have, and I hope that the
seal of this letter will be the putting off of my body. To this end,
may the Lord give me his grace, that his name may be glorified thereby;
for I seek nothing but the glory of the Lord. Nothing more; I commend
you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Pray the Lord for me; I
will gladly pray him for you also.
They say that Christ by origin is David’s Son;
If he be David’s son, he’s not the Father’s Son:
For no one has two Fathers--’twere unnatural;
He’s God’s only Son, and not creatural.
ELIZABETH AND HADEWIJK; OF WHOM THE FORMER WAS DROWNED AT LEEUWARDEN,
AND THE LATTER ESCAPED DEATH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1549.
This Elizabeth was of a noble family, and had in her youth been put by
her parents into the convent of Tieng, near Lier near East Friesia,
there to learn various arts, and also the Latin language. There she
accidentally, or rather through the direction of God, came into
possession of a Latin testament, by the constant reading of which and
meditating upon it she obtained so much knowledge of the will of God,
that she became distressed on account of her state of life, and seeing
no chance to alter her life according to the rule of said word in the
convent, much less under the parental roof, she resolved, after much
conflict and reflection, secretly to escape from the convent, trusting
to the fatherly providence of Almighty God for help and guidance. To
this end, she made an agreement with a milk-maid of the convent, that
she should change clothes with her, and thus assist her to escape
from the convent early in the morning, in the guise of a milk-maid;
which having been accomplished, she first came to Lier, and without
her knowing it, to a certain house, in which there lived Anabaptists,
who, upon learning her circumstances and condition, took her in, and
instructed her still more fully in the way of God, and, after some
time, fearing that search might be made for Elizabeth, brought her to
Leeuwarden, and there left her with a pious sister of the Anabaptistic
church, named Hadewijk, with whom she was afterward apprehended.
This Hadewijk was married to a certain drummer of the company quartered
at Leeuwarden, who, having neither to go marching, nor to mount
guard, etc., worked in a certain shop to gain a livelihood for his
wife and children. There was working there together with him a very
pious Anabaptist brother[260] who at that time was put in bonds and
condemned to death for the sake of his religion. Said company having
been ordered to the place of execution, when this pious brother was
to be offered up, to form a circle around him, to prevent an uproar,
the aforesaid drummer objected to serve in his capacity as drummer
at that time and under such circumstances which he also indicated to
his wife Hadewijk, who opposed him in this matter, and advised him to
proceed in the discharge of his duty. This then he resolved to do; but
as he was first also to get himself partially intoxicated, in order
to feel less of compassion for the innocently doomed man, but this
intoxication, instead of depriving him of his sense of compassion,
only increased it, and he became so bold that he told the spectators
of the piety and virtues of this martyr so well known to him, why he
was so maltreated, how wickedly the authorities, instigated by the
clergy, acted in this matter, and that it were better to apprehend
and treat after this manner, wicked men, whoremongers, adulterers,
unrighteous, and such like, of whom there were plenty in the city, yea,
even among the clergy. Some laughed, others laid it to heart; some
said: “The drummer is drunk;” others: “He is crazy,” etc. But when he
had become sober and was himself again, he reflected on what he had
done, and what in all probability he now had to expect, and resolved
to leave the city of Leeuwarden, his company, and the Roman church. He
entreated his wife to go with him, but she could not approve of it,
and after his departure, never knew whither he had gone. But, coming
to reflection some time after, she inquired after the Anabaptists,
found opportunity to attend the exhortations, embraced the faith, and
was not only baptized upon her faith, but also suffered herself to be
apprehended together with Elizabeth. Being confined in a separate room
from Elizabeth, it was announced to her that on the following day she
should be examined and have to defend herself in a considerable number
of articles, which caused her exceeding great distress and anxiety of
heart, especially since she could neither read nor write, and was more
pious and willing than experienced. Hence, she earnestly importuned
God, that the exceeding good and man-loving Father would be pleased to
look with compassion upon her, his poor handmaiden, whose inability
and unfitness he knew best, and not to try her above her ability, but
to deliver and save her by his divine hand, whereupon a voice came
to her while she was thus engaged in prayer, exclaiming: “Hadewijk!”
Looking up and around her, and seeing no one, she continued in her
fervent prayer. A second time she heard the voice, but again seeing
no one, she persevered in her supplications until the same voice said
to her the third time: “Hadewijk, I tell thee, come out!” Seeing the
door open, she put on her hood, and went out of the prison, but did
not know where to conceal herself. She went provisionally into the
church, where she soon heard those who came there relate that the
gates the city had been closed because a certain Anabaptist woman had
escaped from prison, no one knowing how, there being great reason to
suspect sorcery in the matter, for which reason very diligent search
was being made for her everywhere. Just as she left the church she
heard the drummer in the street exclaim that whoever could point out
her person, should receive one hundred guilders, but whoever concealed
her should forfeit one hundred and fifty guilders, which increased her
fear more and more. Trusting herself by no means into her own house,
and yet compelled to seek shelter somewhere, she went to the house of
her former master and mistress, whom she, before she was married, had
served very faithfully for some time, and who therefore thought much of
her. These she entreated whether they would not please give her shelter
in this distress, but they refused to do it; whereupon she went away as
in despair, and came before the priest’s house, where lived a certain
half-witted fellow, well-known to her, whom she, as he was standing at
the door, addressed, asking him to conceal her; which he did, taking
her up into the garret, and providing her with food and drink; but in
the night he came to her, and made indecent advances to her. Here the
embarrassment was greater than ever; she had to deal with one who was
strong of body and passions, with whom reasoning had little influence;
if she made an outcry her life was in danger; she therefore lifted
up her soul, and betook herself to her Redeemer, and called upon him
for help in this great distress, and also entreated this fellow to
desist from so evil a deed, because it would be adultery and she had a
husband; and adulterers and adulteresses had to burn forever in hell;
whereupon he left her in peace and went away, saying: “The jade is too
wise in the scriptures; I have no chance with her. The next day he
went to the Zuypmarkt, to Hadewijk’s brother-in-law, who daily brought
buttermilk there for sale, and told him that he had, unknown to any
one, concealed his sister-in-law in the priest’s house, and advised
him to come with his boat to the back stairs of the priest’s house,
there to take her into the boat, and carry her out of the city through
the flood-gate, which he did, and thus this lamb Hadewijk, through the
miraculous hand of God, escaped the claws of the ravening wolves, fled
to Emden, and lived the remainder of her life in the meeting-house of
the Anabaptists, where she fell asleep in the Lord.
[260] It is supposed that this was probably Sikke Snijder.
Remmeltje Wubbers, from whom I have this account, heard it not only
frequently from her parents and others, but also from the woman who
attended Hadewijk in her last sickness, to whom Hadewijk related it
with her own lips.
OF A PIOUS BROTHER WHO WAS PUT TO DEATH FOR THE WORD OF GOD, IN THE
CITY OF VUREN IN FLANDERS, A. D. 1553.
About the year 1553, there was put to death with the sword, in the city
of Vuren, in Flanders, for the testimony of Jesus, a godfearing, pious
brother, who had to endure many severe conflicts from the papists, the
adversaries of the truth; but as a valiant hero of Christ he would
not fear them that kill the body, but sought much rather to please
Him who after this temporal death has power also to cast into hell,
into everlasting fire, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched. He therefore comforted his sorrowful wife, who was pregnant,
and whom he loved dearly, with the word of God, fearing that adversity
was in store for her; that she should not regard the torments inflicted
upon him for the word of God. They sentenced him to be executed with
the sword; hence he took affectionate leave from all his brethren,
and, as a humble lamb, following the footsteps of his Leader Jesus,
ascended the scaffold; but the evening wolves, which let nothing
remain until the morning, by which and other fruits they may be known,
retained their wolfish nature, so that they killed this friend of God
with seven cruel blows, and finally sawed off his head, so that through
great sorrow many a tear was shed by the people who were present and
witnessed this martyrdom. His poor, pregnant wife lamented greatly,
so that she died with her fruit from excess of grief. Many witnessed
this heinous murder, perpetrated by the bloodthirsty; but the great
and faithful God, who regards the sufferings of his own, as though the
apple of his eye had been touched, will avenge this in due time. O how
will these bloodthirsty men excuse themselves, when the chief Shepherd
shall appear in the clouds, and require an account of this matter!
But those faithful heroes and adventurers of God, who did not dare
deprive their Creator of his divine honor, but would serve him rightly
according to his word, and gave their lives therefor, they have the
promise from the mouth of Jesus, that he will confess them before his
Father in heaven, that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give this
little flock his glorious kingdom, and that all who here suffer with
Christ for righteousness’ sake, shall rejoice forever with God. Matt.
10:32; Luke 12:8,32; Matt. 5:10.
Concerning this, read hymn in the old hymn-book.
PIETER WITSES, A MASON, STRANGLED AT THE STAKE, AT LEEUWARDEN, AND HIS
CONFESSION WHILE IMPRISONED IN THAT CITY WHERE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, IN THE YEAR 1553.
_In Questions and Answers._