most severely smitten by God in punishment for his murderous treachery,
in consequence of which he departed out of this world in a most awful
manner, as a solemn and significant warning to all that are inclined
to follow his example in this respect; for he was soon driven from
Leeuwarden, with great reproach and ignominy from the common people, so
that the boatman, who was to convey him away, was with him in danger
of his life, so that he begged most urgently that his life might be
spared; for the traitor was most unmercifully pelted with stones by the
common people and the children, and ignominiously reproached for his
treachery, being called a Judas, rogue, miscreant and arch-heretic. To
his great disgrace and reproach they sang of him the following verses,
which had been composed by Jacques:
“He said: I had to find you--
Now from my oath I’m free;
Submit and let us bind you;
To prison go with me.”
And also:
“And is it right your dealing,
Before the Lord and men?
The time is surely coming
When you will doubtless ken,” etc.
God the Lord had also punished him with severe leprosy, with which
he was likewise most ignominiously taunted. Whenever they had sang a
stanza of said hymn, they would derisively exclaim: “You leprous Judas
and treacherous rogue, do you ken it now?” The stones increased the
longer the more, so that the boatman who was to convey him away, saw
his own life imperiled, and cried out that he had to convey him off
by order of the lord. Thus he was driven from Leeuwarden with great
disgrace and ignominy, and had to roam about from place to place, an
object of scorn and contempt, until he was finally consumed by leprosy,
and, like Antioch and Herod, died a terrible and premature death, an
example to all his followers. 2 Macc. 9:9; Acts 12:23. The reports
among the common people concerning this matter, are of a still much
more horrible nature, than the account we have given here.
CONFESSION OF A WOMAN CALLED CLAESKEN, WHO LAID DOWN HER LIFE FOR THE
TESTIMONY OF JESUS, A. D. 1559.
_Questions and answers between the commissary and Claesken._
The commissary first interrogated me concerning my name, the place I
was from, my age, and other like things. He then asked me: “Are you
baptized?” Claesken. “Yes.” _Com._ “Who baptized you?” _Cl._ “Jelis of
Aix-la-Chapelle.” _Com._ “The deceiver; he himself has renounced his
belief. How did he do when he baptized you?” _Cl._ “He baptized me in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” _Com._ “Where did
you receive baptism?” _Cl._ “At Workum, in the field.” _Com._ “Were
there others present?” _Cl._ “Yes.” _Com._ “Who were they?” _Cl._
“I have forgotten.” _Com._ “What brought you there?” _Cl._ “I have
forgotten.”
I could truthfully give this answer both times.
_Com._ “Are your children not baptized?” _Cl._ “My youngest two are
not.” _Com._ “Why did you not have your children baptized?” _Cl._
“Because I was satisfied with them as the Lord had given them to me.”
_Com._ “Why were you so satisfied with Abraham and Sicke, and not with
Douwe; you had Douwe baptized?” _Cl._ “I did not know it then.” _Com._
“What did you not know then?” _Cl._ “What I know now.” _Com._ “What do
you know now?” _Cl._ “What the Lord has given me to know.” _Com._ “What
has the Lord given you to know?” _Cl._ “That I cannot find it in the
Scriptures, that this ought to be.” _Com._ “How long have you not been
to church?” _Cl._ “Not for nine or ten years.”
These are the questions which he put to me; but he used far more words,
and when I did not readily answer him, he said that I had a dumb devil
in me, that the devil transformed himself into an angel of light in
us, and that we were all heretics. He then read to me the articles I
had confessed, and said it should come before the lords, and that if
I desired it, he would write it differently. I replied: “You need not
change anything.”
_Questions and answers between the inquisitor and Claesken._
_Inquisitor._ “Why did you have yourself baptized?” _Claesken._ “The
Scriptures speak of a new life. John first calls to repentance, Christ
himself also, and afterwards the apostles; they taught the people to
repent and reform, and then to be baptized. Thus did I repent and
reform, and was baptized.” Against this he did not say much. _Inq._
“Why did you not have your children baptized?” Cl. “I cannot find in
the Scriptures that this ought to be.” _Inq._ “David says: ‘I was
shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.’ Ps. 51:5.
Since children are born with original sin, they must be baptized, if
they are to be saved.” Cl. “If a man can be saved by an external sign,
then Christ has died in vain.” _Inq._ “It is written, John 3:5, that we
must be born again, of water and of the Spirit; hence, children must be
baptized.” Cl. “Christ does not say this to children, but to the adult;
therefore did I become regenerated. We know that the children are in
the hands of the Lord. The Lord said: ‘Suffer little children to come
unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 19:14. _Inq._
“The household of Stephanas was baptized, which probably also included
children.” 1 Cor. 1:16. _Cl._ “We do not depend on probabilities; we
have the certain assurance.” He did not say much against this either.
_Inq._ “What do you think of the holy church?” _Cl._ “I think much of
it.” Inq. “Why then do you not go to church?” _Cl._ “I think nothing of
your church-going.” _Inq._ “Do you believe that God is Almighty?” _Cl._
“Yes, I believe this.” _Inq._ “Do you then also believe that Christ
consecrates himself, and is present in the bread? Paul says: ‘The bread
which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? And the
cup which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?’”
1 Cor. 10:16. _Cl._ “I well know what Paul says, and believe it, too.”
_Inq._ “Christ said: ‘Take, eat; this is my body;’ and Paul likewise.”
Matt. 26:26; 1 Cor. 11:24. _Cl._ “I well know what Christ and Paul say,
and thus I believe.” _Inq._ “Do you believe that Christ consecrates
himself, and is present in the bread?” _Cl._ “Christ sitteth at the
right hand of his Father; he does not come under men’s teeth.” _Inq._
“If you continue in this belief, you will have to go into the abyss of
hell forever. It is what all heretics say. Jelis of Aix-la-Chapelle
has deceived you; he himself has renounced his belief, because he saw
that he had erred.” _Cl._ “I do not depend on Jelis, or any other man,
but only on Christ; he is our foundation, upon whom we have built
ourselves, even as Christ teaches us in his Gospel: Whosoever heareth
my words, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built
his house upon a rock; and though storms come, and beat against the
house, yet it will not fall. Matt. 7:24. These now are the storms that
beat against our house; but Christ is our stronghold, and he will
preserve us.” _Inq._ “You do not understand it; there are many other
writings, of which you know nothing.” _Cl._ “We need no other writings
than the holy Gospel, which Christ himself, with his blessed mouth, has
spoken to us, and sealed with his blood; if we can observe that, we
shall be saved.” _Inq._ “You should suffer yourself to be instructed;
the holy fathers instituted churching[278] fifteen hundred years ago.”
_Cl._ “The holy fathers did not have this holiness; these are human
commandments and institutions. Neither did the apostles practice
this holiness; I never read it.” _Inq._ “Are you wiser than the holy
church?” _Cl._ “I do not wish to do anything against the holy church; I
have yielded myself to the obedience of the holy church.” _Inq._ “You
should think: Do I know better than the holy fathers fifteen hundred
years ago? You should think that you are simple.” _Cl._ “Though I am
simple before men, I am not simple in the knowledge of the Lord. Do you
not know that the Lord thanked his Father, that he had hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and had revealed them to the simple and unto
babes?” Matt. 11:25.
[278] Den Kerck-gang.
At one time there were also two monks with him, who were to instruct
me. They had but little to say, only that we were people of corrupt
minds, reprobate concerning the faith, ever learning, and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 3:7,8. I
replied: “When the day of the Lord will come, you will find it to be
otherwise; take heed lest you then be of those who will say: ‘These
are they whom we had in derision; behold, how they are now numbered
among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.’ Wis.
5:3,5. Then they said: “Behold, she judges us.” I replied: “I do not
judge you; but I tell you to take heed unto yourselves. Now our life is
accounted madness, and our end to be without honor; but when the day
of the Lord comes, it will be found quite different.” The sum of the
matter was, that I had a devil, and was deceived. I said: “Is Christ
then a deceiver?” He replied: “No; Christ is no deceiver.” I said:
“Then I am not deceived; I neither seek nor desire anything else than
to fear the Lord with all my heart, and (knowingly) not to transgress
one tittle of his commandments.” After he had talked to me still
further, he said: “I can tell you nothing else; you may consider the
matter.” I replied: “I need not consider it otherwise; I know full well
that I hold the truth.”
When I came before him again, he said: “Claesken, to what conclusion
have you come?” _Cl._ “I have concluded to adhere to that to which the
Lord has called me.” Matt. 20:1. _Inq._ “The devil has called you, who
transforms himself into an angel of light in you people.” When he
examined me the sixth time, he asked me: “When Christ held his supper
with his apostles, did he not give them his flesh to eat, and his blood
to drink.” _Cl._ “He gave them bread and wine, and he gave them his
body for redemption.” _Inq._ “Christ certainly clearly says: ‘Take,
eat; this is my flesh;’ you certainly cannot contradict this.” _Cl._
“Paul says: ‘I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered
unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed,
took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to
his apostles, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken
for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he
took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament
in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the
Lord’s death till he come.’ 1 Cor. 11:23–26. Thus Christ left us his
supper, that we should remember his death by it, that he gave his body
and shed his blood for us. This supper I want to hold with the people
of God, and no other.”
He held to his twaddle: that we must eat Christ’s flesh, and drink his
blood, since this were clearly implied by the words of Christ and of
Paul.
_Cl._ “Since the words are so plain, I can well understand them; but
it is as Paul says: that those who do not turn to the Lord, have a
vail before their hearts; but those who turn to the Lord, from their
hearts the vail is taken away. 2 Cor. 3:14–16. We have turned to the
Lord; nothing is hid to us.” _Inq._ “In the 6th chapter of John (verse
53) Christ also clearly says that we must eat his flesh, and drink his
blood.” _Cl._ “It is also written there: ‘Then the Jews murmured, and
said: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Christ said:
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, ye have no life in you.’
Again, he says: ‘Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life.’ He also said: ‘Flesh and blood profit nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ Those who
believe in God, and walk in all righteousness, they are temples of God,
in whom God will dwell and walk, as Paul testifies.” 2 Cor. 6:16.
When he examined me the seventh time, he said: “Do you not believe that
the apostles ate the flesh of Christ?” _Cl._ “Christ took the bread,
gave thanks, brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and his body he
gave for their redemption.” _Inq._ “Do you not believe otherwise?”
_Cl._ “I do not believe otherwise than Christ has spoken.” _Inq._ “Then
I declare unto you, that I am clear of your blood; your blood be upon
your own head.” _Cl._ “I am well satisfied with this.” _Inq._ “Herewith
I commit you to the lord.”
He afterwards examined me once more, and asked me: “Do you not yet
believe that the apostles ate the flesh of Christ?” _Cl._ “I have told
you.” _Inq._ “Tell it now.” _Cl._ “I will not tell it again.” _Inq._
“Do you still persist in your views respecting baptism?” _Cl._ “You
certainly well know that the penitent ought to be baptized.” _Inq._
“This is true enough, if for instance a Jew comes, who is not baptized
yet. Are you still of the same opinion in regard to infant baptism?”
_Cl._ “Yes.” _Inq._ “Do you not believe otherwise?” _Cl._ “I do not
believe otherwise than Christ has commanded.” _Inq._ “Then I declare
unto you, that you will be tormented forever in the abyss of hell.”
_Cl._ “How dare you judge me so awfully, seeing judgment belongs to the
Lord alone? Acts 17:31. I am not terrified by this; I know better, when
the day of the Lord comes, it will be found different.”
I then asked him: “What does my husband say?” _Inq._ “Your husband also
still persists in his views; may the Lord enlighten you.” _Cl._ “We are
already enlightened, the Lord be praised.”
Concerning my baptism he did not say much, nor about infant baptism;
but the whole of his talk was that we must eat the flesh of Christ,
and drink his blood, and that this had been instituted fifteen hundred
years ago, and that I was simple and had hardly once read the Testament
through. I said: “Do you think that we run on uncertainties? We are
not ignorant of the contents of the New Testament. We forsake our dear
children, whom I would not forsake for the whole world, and we stake
upon it all that we have--should we run on uncertainties yet? we seek
nothing but our salvation; you certainly cannot prove to us by the
Scriptures, that we practice and believe one tittle against the word of
the Lord.” But he only said that we had all from the devil, and that we
were possessed of the devil of pride. I said: “We know that the proud
are cast down from their seats.” Luke 1:52. He talked so long, that he
sometimes already fancied that I would heed him; hence I had to speak
now and then, because I did not want him to think this; I could not
bear to hear him speak so awfully against the truth.
_A letter by Claesken to her friends according to the flesh, and also
according to the spirit, written in prison, the 14th of March, A. D.
1559, at which time, or thereabouts, she, her dear husband, and her
brother Jacques, were put to death for the testimony of Jesus._
The Lord, through his great grace and mercy, grant that all those who
hunger and thirst after righteousness may be filled.
My dearly beloved friends, N., my heartfelt prayer and request of you
is once more, that you will peruse and search the holy Scriptures, and
learn to fear the Lord from the heart; for “the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.” Prov. 9:10. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth
her voice in the streets; she crieth in the chief place of concourse,
in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words,
saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the
scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you
at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused: I have
stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought
all my counsel and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your
calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as
desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress
and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will
not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for
that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their
own devices ... but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and
shall be quiet from fear of evil. Prov. 1:20–31, 33; Isaiah 65:12; Ps.
2:4; Job 27:6.
Behold, my dear friends, lay this to heart, that the Lord will not hear
those who do not fear him now (John 9:31); and how precious the fear of
the Lord is to him that will choose it; for nothing is to be compared
to her. The fear of the Lord is honor, and glory, and gladness, and
a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and
giveth joy, and gladness and a long life. Whoso feareth the Lord, it
shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favor in the
day of his death. The love of God is honorable. Those to whom wisdom
showeth her face, love her through seeing her, and in the knowledge of
her benefits. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; and the fear
of the Lord is true religion. The knowledge of religion shall keep the
heart, and justify it; it shall give joy and gladness. The godfearing
shall prosper in the day of life, and at his end he shall be blessed.
To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom. The fear of God is a crown
of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish. The root of
wisdom is to fear the Lord: but unto the sinner wisdom is a curse. The
fear of the Lord driveth out sin; for he that is without fear cannot
be justified. Sir. 1:11. Be not faithless; for into a malicious soul
wisdom shall not enter, nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
John 20:27; Wis. 1:4.
My beloved friends, lay it to heart, how great a difference there is
between those who fear the Lord, and them that do not fear him. Mal.
3:18. Search well the Scriptures, that you will not be like the cities
concerning which Christ says in the gospel, that because they did not
lay to heart his mighty works, which were done in their presence, it
should be more tolerable for those of Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of
judgment, than for them. Matthew 11:20. Therefore dear friends, the
Lord does yet even now show such mighty works through us before your
eyes; let it strengthen you, as Paul says that many of the brethren
waxed confident in the Lord by his bonds, and were much more bold to
speak the word without fear. Philip. 1:14. My dear friends, consider
well, when the Lord did his mighty works, he did not do them for the
sake of a single individual, as we read in John, when he raised Lazarus
from the dead (John 11:42), but that the people should see his mighty
deeds, and believe in him, though only some believed in him, and some
were offended at him, and said: Could not this man, which opened the
eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
Thus it is also at the present day with those who do not believe; for
though they well see how strong and mighty the Lord is with us, yet
they are offended at it, and say that we do this from stubbornness.
And when we say that the righteous must suffer persecution, they say
that we are persecuted for anabaptism. Thus it is to them a cause of
offense; but those who believe God well know that we must suffer for
righteousness sake; these, I hope, it will strengthen, and to us, be
a trial unto our eternal salvation, through the grace of God. 1 Pet.
2:6,8; Matthew 5:10.
My dear friends, lay to heart how great glory is promised to those who
fear the Lord with the whole heart, and what great anguish shall come
upon every soul of man that has not obeyed the gospel; these shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 1:8,9. Therefore become obedient to the truth, and be
transformed in your mind, that you may prove what is that acceptable
and perfect will of God. 1 Pet. 1:22; Rom. 12:2. Meditate day and night
in the law of the Lord, and do not suffer yourselves to be prevented
from praying without ceasing, as the Scriptures teach us in many
places; He that asketh receiveth: to him that knocketh it shall be
opened. Ps. 1:2; 1 Thess. 5:17; Matt. 7:8. Hence, my dear friends, have
your hearts transformed, and the Lord will give you even before you ask
him; for blessed are those who are of a good will. Luke 2:14. “Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall
be filled.” Matt. 5:6.
Therefore desire with a sorrowful heart for the Lord, and say: Shew me
thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach
me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the
day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses;
for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor
my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy
goodness’ sake. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach
sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek
will he teach his way. Ps. 25:4–9. Therefore, my dear friends, repent
sincerely, and confess your sins before the Lord with all your heart;
the Lord is found of them that are of a broken heart and a contrite
spirit. Is. 66:2. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand
of God; that you may be exalted in eternity. 1 Pet. 5:6. Herewith I
commend you to the Lord; may he guide you into all truth.
My dearly beloved friends, lay it to heart, for it is done out of
sincere, ardent love, which I have for your souls, because I am certain
and assured, that there is no other way by which we can be saved;
hence I warn you out of a pure heart, and it will never be found
otherwise. Therefore, though some have much to talk or say, they do
this because they do not want to take upon them the cross of Christ,
and be persecuted for it, as Paul says (Gal. 6:12); but [let us] take
for an example, that we are to follow Christ’s steps, and that all
the Scriptures constrain us, to submit ourselves to and prepare for
suffering, even as also Paul says: “If we suffer with him, we shall
also rejoice with him; and as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so
our consolation also aboundeth by Christ; and we also read that all the
holy men of God were tried by many tribulations and sufferings (Judith
8:25), and how that they would joyfully receive sufferings; yea, that
they greatly rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for
the name of God; but those who do not truly love the Lord want to be
exempt from suffering, and love this temporal life more than their Lord
and God, although Christ says: Whosoever shall seek to save his life
shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the
gospel’s, the same shall save it forever. Mark 8:35. Not that we must
all die for the word of the Lord; but the mind must be in such a state,
that we would rather die, than once knowingly and willingly transgress
one of the Lord’s commandments; hence Christ says: “He that loveth
aught more than me is not worthy of me.” Matt. 10:37.
Therefore, my dearest friends, whom I love with all my heart, do not
regard what men say, but look only to Christ Jesus, how he went before
us in tribulation and suffering. Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your power and strength; yea, though the whole
world should rise up against and assail you, no one can harm you, if
you have God for your Father, and if you have true love to God and his
saints; for love can do all things (1 Cor. 13:7); but where there is no
true love, there will soon be confusion, when persecution and distress
come (Matt. 13:21); but for him that commits himself to the Lord, and
is possessed of love, nothing is difficult; had I not experienced this
myself, it were impossible for me to know that it is so easy. Hence
Christ says: “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:30.
Yes, dear friends, thus I am still minded, and I so love my Lord and
God, that if I could save my life by a thought, and would know that it
did not please the Lord, I would rather die than think such thought.
Not that I am boasting; the Lord well knows how vile I have shown
myself before him; but it is through the great grace and mercy and
love shown us that we are elected to his heavenly kingdom. Eph. 2:7.
Now only do I feel within me the inexpressible grace and mercy of God,
and his love, and how we therefore ought to love him in return (1 John
4:19); yea, this grace and love are so great before my eyes, that my
sorrow is turned into joy.