he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the
mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that
we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate
us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his
holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he
would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:68–75. Thus we find
indeed, that the promise is fulfilled; but that Christ is of Mary’s
flesh, this we find nowhere written. The Dean of Ronse asked me: “How
then did he become flesh?” I told them that he who was from everlasting
with his Father, by whom all things were created and made, that are in
heaven and upon earth, visible and invisible, yea, the living Word of
the Father, who was with the Father, came from his kingdom on high,
and became man, and thus came into the world, and saved us with his
own blood. Rev. 1:5. The Dean asked: “Did he then become changed?” I
told him as is written: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
John 1:14. The Dean said to me: “You are the vilest sect that ever was
upon earth.” I told him that he was a rotten sect, in presence of all
the judges, or the court; and (said I) I will prove to you that you
are a sect; for your people cannot prove a single point of all that
you observe, with the word of the Lord; and Christ says: “Every plant
which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matt.
15:13. I then asked him, where he found anything written concerning
the institutions observed by them, such as the christening of bells,
tonsure, the consecrating of water, that one wears shoes with holes,
and another stockings without toes, each in his own way, all of which
is certainly not sanctioned by the word of God.” I further said: “My
lords, I have offered to dispute from the Holy Bible, publicly, before
the whole court.” The Dean said to me: “You will be thrust into a bag,
and suffocated with a ball in your mouth.” I said: “You hypocrite, do
you not fear the word of the Lord, which says that with the breath of
his lips shall he slay the unmerciful? Isaiah 11:4. Again: A man that
doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let
no man stay him. Prov. 28:17. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers,
how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Matt. 23:33. Repent ye, and
believe the gospel; for your days may be brief.” Mark 1:15.
He asked me how I knew that the Gospel is the Gospel. I said to them:
“This is a strange question; but if you will listen to me, I will tell
you. Should I not know, said I, that it is Gospel, that Almighty God
said and taught: Repent ye, and believe the Gospel? and that he came
down from his kingdom above, and suffered so much for our sins; yea,
he who was rich, became poor, that we through his poverty might become
rich; when he called men unto him, that they should follow him, and
commanded his apostles to preach it throughout all the world: He that
believeth it, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth
not, shall be damned.” Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. They asked how I knew
that his apostles had written this; and said: “Other men printed it;
you have never spoken with or seen the apostles--how then do you know
it? there are other evangelists whom you have never seen; how then do
you know whether this is the Gospel? men wrote this to suit themselves.”
O subtle devil, thought I in my heart, and told them that the holy
Scriptures were given through the Holy Ghost, and not without him,
since Paul says: I will not dare speak of any of those things which
Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the gentiles obedient, by word
and deed. Rom. 15:18. And, as the apostle Peter has said, that no
prophets ever produced the Scripture by human will; but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. 1:21. Thus, the Holy
Ghost bears testimony, that the Gospel which we have, is the word of
the living God, which he has given us, that we should live according to
it, and thus be saved at the last day; even as it is written that these
words are written, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
John 20:31. A monk asked me concerning infant baptism, whether I did
not think it good. I said: “Baptism does not belong to children, but
to believers.” Mark 16:16. He said: “Are the children damned, then?” I
replied: “No; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” Matt. 19:14. He
said: “Those who are not baptized are damned.” I said: “This is nowhere
written, neither, that children are to be baptized.” He said; “It is
written.” I said: “It is not; children have no faith; but they are
assured of eternal life.” Matt. 19. He said: “It is written: ‘Except ye
be born of water and of the Spirit, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.’” John 3:5. I said: “They cannot be born again, for they have no
sin.” He said: “They have; for it is written that all are under sin.”
I asked him what sins children had. He said: “Original sin.” I asked
him why Christ had died. He said that he had made atonement; but that
we must first be baptized, before original sin is taken away. I said:
“This is speaking contrary to the word of God; for when John saw the
Lord coming to him, he said: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man
which is preferred before me; for he was before me.’ John 1:29,30. Of
whom it is also written that he himself bare our sins in his own body
on the tree. 1 Pet. 2:24. As John tells us, that he was manifested
to take away our sins (1 John 3:5), and as Paul says that they are
justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus. Rom. 3:24. Paul further tells us, that we should thank him who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:12–14. The apostle says
that he upholds all things by the word of his power, and has by himself
purged our sins. Heb. 1:3. Again Paul says: But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, and thus reconciled
to him, we shall be saved from wrath. Rom. 5:8,9. He says: Therefore,
as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation:
even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men
unto justification of life. Ver. 18. Even as the prophet Isaiah says:
He took our sins upon him.” Is. 53:11. They asked me whether I had not
yet changed my mind. I asked them: “In regard to what should I have
changed my mind?” They replied: “In regard to your errors.” I said: “I
do not err; but I trust in the living God, in his holy word, and in
nothing else; and from this I will not depart, for Christ has said: He
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13.
They said: “Shall none be saved but you people, who began but twenty
or thirty years ago, while our church has existed already fourteen
hundred years, and has remained united--shall we all be damned--?” I
said: “The word of the Lord, which was before ever your church existed
shall judge men in the last day; it shall judge all men. Jn. 12:48.
This [word] is given us through his Holy Spirit, that through teaching
we should observe all things whatsoever he has commanded us. Matt.
28:20. Hence, those who will not observe it have no promise of eternal
life, but indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish will come upon
them. Rom. 2:8,9. Yea, he will take vengeance on them that have not
known God, and have not obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction. 2 Thess. 1:8,9. We must
therefore believe that which has been spoken and written through the
Holy Ghost, as it is written that all Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16,17. Therefore we
are assured concerning the holy Scriptures which we have, that they
were written by the apostles through the Holy Ghost, as Peter has said:
We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known
unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye
witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and
glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Should
we not then believe these words, where he says: We have also a more
sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed? and thus
we do take heed to these words.”
They asked me concerning the sacrament of the altar. I told them that I
found nothing written about it; but of a supper which the Lord observed
with his apostles, when the time had come that he was to fulfill that
for which he had come, that it might be fulfilled which was written of
him, and that he should return to whence he had come. When it was two
days yet until Easter, he said: The Son of man shall be delivered up,
to be crucified. And his disciples asked him: Lord, where wilt thou
that we eat the passover? He told them a place to which they should
go, and went with them. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
gave thanks, and brake it, and said: “Eat; this is my body; likewise
he took the cup, saying: Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of
the new testament, which shall be shed for many; this do in remembrance
of me.” Matt. 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14. I also asked them: “Did
each eat his body, as he was with them, in flesh and blood?” They said:
“Yes; they there ate his flesh, and drank his blood.” I asked them once
more: “How did they eat him? just as he was with them? did each eat a
Christ?” They said: “Yes; just as he hung on the tree of the cross.” I
said to them: “But he had only one body, and that had to be given as
a ransom for the sins of the world, and was delivered into the hands
of the Jews, and they hung him to the tree of the cross, and killed
him, and thus he redeemed us with his blood, even as is written. 1
Pet. 1:19. He took upon him our sins, and bare them on the tree.” 1
Peter 2:24. They said that they had also now had him even as he had
hung on the cross. I said to them: “I do not believe that such a great
Lord is eaten of you people, who are utterly contrary to the word of
God, and full of wickedness, and disobedient to the word of the Lord;
but I believe that he ascended to heaven, and is sitting at the right
hand of God his Father in heaven, Acts 1, from whence we also look for
him to come again (Philip. 3:20); and that you do not have him; for
if you had him, he should be crucified once more, hence, you people
cannot be believed, since you all act contrary to the word of God; for
it is found written that the apostles of God held their supper with a
unanimous faith; and were all of one mind, and continued steadfast in
all that they had seen of God (Acts 4:32); nevertheless they did not
teach or say that they ate Christ’s flesh, and drank his blood, just
as he hung on the tree of the cross; but that he ascended to heaven,
and is sitting on the right hand of God, this they taught. 1 Peter
2:2; Mark 16. Yet, all that they taught was through the power of the
Holy Ghost, and they continued steadfast in the faith which God had
commanded them. For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid,
which is Christ, and upon this his apostles laid their foundation, and
I want to remain upon it, without ever departing therefrom.” Hence I
said to them: “If you want to dispute with me publicly, with the Holy
Bible, I shall answer you with the word of God, concerning all that you
shall speak with the word of the living God. He that is right, shall be
hearkened to; but he who is wrong, shall proclaim and confess that to
this day he taught a false doctrine. This is a small part of the words
which we had with the judges, the bailiff, and ecclesiastics
THIRD LETTER OF LAUWERENS VAN DER LEYEN.
The peace of the Lord be with you. Amen. Grace be to you; and peace,
from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself
for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,
according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory forever
and ever. Amen.
A most affectionate greeting with the peace of the Lord to you, my
dear brother Nathanael, I, your imprisoned brother Lauwerens, wish
you the grace of the Lord for a greeting, and inform you, that I am
of reasonably good cheer, the Lord be praised; which, I trust, will
continue so unto the end through the grace of the Lord; yea, I hope
thus to appear in the day of the Lord. Know that we are waiting for the
redemption of our flesh from day to day. Know further that I send you
two hymns composed by Lauwerens de Huyvemaecker in his bonds. My dear
brother, let us always hold fast those things which we have wrought,
that we receive a full reward (2 John 8); and let us not be moved from
our purpose, since we are certain that we have the truth; and that
no other will ever be found; of this our conscience assures us. I am
heartily sorry that I frittered away my time so long with the wicked
and blind world, and did not improve it better. But though I have not
been long in the better way, and am now a prisoner, I hope nevertheless
to keep what I have, trusting in the grace of the Lord that he will not
forsake me.
Know dear brother, that I should have written you much more Scripture;
but you are yourself taught of God, and know the truth. See that you
continue in it; may the Lord preserve you and all friends therein.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. We
twelve, imprisoned together, greet you all with the peace of the Lord.
Andries Langedul, Sander Hendericks, Anthonis Claes, Hans de Luyckener,
Mattheus de Pottebacker, Lauwerens van der Leyen, Lauwerens de
Huyvemaecker. The women, Adriaentgen, wife of Jochem; Kalleken, wife of
Lauwerens de Pesemaecker; Claertgen, wife of Jan Beun; Catelijntgen,
wife of Lauwerens de Huyvemaecker; Maeyken, daughter of Andries
Langedul; Grietgen Bonaventuers, old Maeyken, and Maeyken de Korte.
_By me_, LAUWERENS VAN DER LEYEN.
Greet all the friends much, especially Tanneken and Pierijntgen, in
the Blind Ass, and Maeyken, daughter of Andries. Greet Tanneken much,
Lauwerens de Huyvemaecker, and his wife, greet Prijntgen with the peace
of the Lord.
I, Lauwerens, your brother, bid you farewell; my dear brother, farewell.
FOURTH LETTER OF LAUWERENS VAN DER LEYEN.
The peace of the Lord be with you. Amen. Grace and peace be with you,
from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the
God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we
may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And
whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation,
which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also
suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and
salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are
partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 2
Cor. 1:2–7.
I affectionately greet you, my dear brothers Nathanael and Lieven,
with the peace of the Lord; I earnestly commend myself to you, and
inform you that I am of tolerably good cheer, the Lord be praised for
his great grace, which he has manifested so richly towards me, in that
he has redeemed me from this present evil world; and that, whereas
you once saw me in so exceeding wickedness, the light of truth is now
revealed to me, for which I greatly thank the Lord, and trust that I
shall continue therein by the grace of the Lord; for, my dear brothers,
know that we have nothing of ourselves, but that all must come from
the Lord, for the Lord says: Whosoever shall seek to save his life
shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my name’s sake,
shall preserve it. Luke 17:33. Seeing then that we have a great high
priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14,16. O my dear brothers, as we have
and know the truth, let us not part from it, but let us always lay our
foundation upon the corner-stone Jesus Christ, so that our building may
be firmly joined together (Eph. 2:20–22), when we are tried as gold in
the furnace, that is, in all manner of tribulation, whether in or out
of bonds; for Satan sometimes torments us greatly. Eph. 6:11. Hence,
let us take heed, that our crown be not taken from us (Rev. 3:11);
that we may be prepared for conflict; that we may have the helmet of
salvation on our head, and have the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17.
Dear brothers, he that overcometh shall inherit all things; yea, he
that overcometh shall be clothed in white linen raiment; then the crown
of life will be prepared for us. O, dear brothers, fear not them that
kill the body; but much rather fear him who after he has killed the
body, can also cast the soul into hell. Luke 12:5.
My dear brethren, you know that I have had this written to you out
of love. Excuse my little understanding. I send you a hymn. Herewith
I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace, and bid you
farewell; farewell, my dear brothers, farewell. All my fellow prisoners
greet you most cordially. Hans de Luyckener greets his brother most
affectionately, and Anthonis Claes greets Elsgen Aerts much. Greet
all the friends much, all that fear the Lord, and remember them that
are in bonds, as bound with them. Matt. 25:36; Hebrews 13:3. Dear
brothers, greet also Tanneken, wife of Lenaert de Lettersetter, very
affectionately, and bid her farewell in my name.
Written the 25th of October, A. D. 1559, by me, Lauwerens van der
Leyen, imprisoned at Antwerp for the testimony of Christ.
NOTE--The very severe decree of Emperor Charles V., made in September
A. D. 1550, and renewed and confirmed six years afterwards by Philip
II., King of Spain, against the Baptists (as we have circumstantially
shown for the year 1556), was now, A. D. 1560, again renewed by
said Philip II., and proclaimed everywhere in the Netherlands. See
aforementioned defense of William I., Prince of Orange, against his
adversaries, edition 1569, page 165, extracted from the large book of
decrees of Ghent, etc.
It appears that in consequence thereof the bloodshedding, slaying
and burning of the saints increased the more, as is evident from the
following martyrs.
ANTHONIS CLAES, JORIS TIELEMAN, AND HANS DE BACKER, A. D. 1560.
In the year 1560 three brethren, named Anthonis Claes, Joris Tieleman,
and Hans de Backer, were apprehended, examined and tortured; but they
adhered unswervingly to their faith and the truth they had learned and
accepted, and thus walked in the narrow path to the new Jerusalem;
wherefore they were condemned to death by the enemies of the truth, and
drowned in a tub. But even as they had to drink in the temporal death,
so eternal life will be poured out to them by God.
PETER OF SPAIN, GOMER THE MASON, AND JACOB THE GOLDSMITH, A. D. 1560.
In the same year three other pious brethren sealed the truth with their
death at Antwerp. One of them was Peter, a Spaniard, to whom, a few
years previously, while yet in Spain, a brother from Amsterdam, named
Jacob Jans Ruytenburgh, had spoken, and conversed with him different
times about God and his word. He finally came with the brother, by
ship, to Antwerp, leaving his wife and children at St. Lucas, with
the intention of returning to them after a while, or to come and get
them. After his arrival at Antwerp, he, through ignorance, was at first
shunned by the brethren, who feared treachery, since he was a Spaniard;
however, upon sufficient examination and instruction, he was admitted
not only to the assembly, but also as a brother and fellow-member of
the church of God, and received baptism upon confession of his faith,
which he truly and frankly declared before the congregation. Shortly
after, when he was about to return to Spain, to gain his wife and
children, as also, some of his friends and acquaintances, and to bring
them to the true knowledge of the truth, he was apprehended by the
Margrave, who was himself astonished to have a Spaniard fall into his
hands. He was kept imprisoned for a long time, and the Spaniards took
great pains with him; but he, orally as well as in writing, clearly
demonstrated the truth to them, in his own language, notwithstanding
which they sought to induce him to apostatize. But as nothing could
move him, remaining steadfast, he finally boldly sealed the truth and
his love to God with his death, with Gomer the mason and Jacob the
goldsmith, who were together drowned in a tub, for the name of Christ.
DEAF BETGEN, BETGEN OF GHENT, AND LIJSKEN SMITS, A. D. 1560.
A. D. 1560, also three imprisoned sisters, namely, Deaf Betgen, Betgen
of Ghent, and Lijsken Smits, were sentenced to death and drowned in a
tub, in the city of Antwerp, because they could not be brought from the
truth and the love of their Savior.
LENAERT PLOVIER, JANNEKEN AND MAEYKEN OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, A. D. 1560.
There was a pious man named Lenaert Plovier, about thirty-six years
of age, who was a native and resident of Meenen, in Flanders, and by
occupation a woolen-draper; and as he was a man of good report among
all, he was elected appraiser of woolen cloths.
Thus said Lenaert Plovier, through the grace of God, came to the
knowledge of the truth, about A. D. 1555. Having, on account of his
competency, been re-elected, to continue his appraisership, he refused
to take the oath; but his fellow-drapers were nevertheless satisfied
with him, saying: “Only come with us to the city hall, and show
yourself;” for they thought that the Bailiff would pay no attention to
the matter. But the Bailiff could not endure his views, and from that
time on Plovier had to suffer much persecution, and dwell in secrecy.
Afterwards, about the year 1558, he fled with his wife and children to
Antwerp, where they gained their livelihood by dealing in silk. But as
a great persecution was raging also there, he resolved to take up his
residence in Friesland. He sent his wife and their four children ahead,
after a sojourn of a little over a year at Antwerp, intending to follow
them as soon as he had finished his business. He then traveled with
his merchandise to the cold Ypres fair, whence he returned to Antwerp,
where, stopping a while, he learned that the Margrave was about to
sally forth for the purpose of apprehending those who would not live
according to their institutions. Lenaert left the city in order to warn
some of his fellow-believers by night. He met the Margrave and his
troop, who, accosting him, perceived from his answers that he was not
like they, and hence asked him, whether he did not have a testament
with him. He replied: “Yes.” Thereupon they apprehended him, and he
was thus taken to Antwerp and imprisoned there. When his parents heard
of this, as also his father-in-law, who resided at Meenen, and was a
prominent man, they came to Antwerp in haste, with Lenaert’s mother.
The father thought to procure his release from prison by shrewdness,
or by bribing the Margrave, representing that his son-in-law was
not a resident of Antwerp, but had only come there to transact his
business. The Margrave gave them fair words, saying to the mother, who
had been several nights in prison with her son: “Go home; your son
will soon be released from prison.” They therefore departed, supposing
that the promise given them would be kept. When the parents had gone
away, Lenaert was examined and questioned concerning his faith, and
whether he was baptized, which he freely confessed, expressing his
determination to adhere to the truth he had accepted, not considering
his wife and his four children, whom he nevertheless dearly loved, as
appears from six letters which he wrote to them from prison; two of
which letters are given here.
After a brief imprisonment, this pious brother Lenaert, with two young
maidens, named Janneken and Maeyken of Aix-la-Chapelle, was sentenced
to death, to be drowned, which was done in the following manner: They
were put into bags, and thrust into wine casks, and thus drowned in
prison by night, about a fortnight before Easter, in the year 1560
(reckoning the beginning of the year from New Year’s day). Some of his
fellow-believers having learned that pious Lenaert Plovier and Janneken
and Maeyken of Aix-la-Chapelle were to offer up their sacrifice in the
night, they came to listen at the door of the prison. Among them were
Joost Nose and Kestine van Damme, who gave a good testimony concerning
it; they both died at Franeker, in Friesland. Thus the aforesaid three
pious witnesses of Jesus Christ were tried as gold in the fire, and as
they were found upright, they shall receive the eternal crown of honor
and joy, with all the saints of God. Amen.
This was written by the son of the aforesaid Lenaert, and testified to
be true.
A LETTER FROM LENAERT PLOVIER TO HIS WIFE.