thus offered up to God an acceptable, living sacrifice, and escaped the
torment of eternal fire.
NIKASEN VAN AELMEERS, A. D. 1562.
The same year, Nikasen Aelmeers, the brother of the aforementioned
Martijntgen, was apprehended for the faith and the divine truth, at
Bruges in Flanders, and when no pain or torture could draw him from his
faith, he was condemned and burnt, as a true witness of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
KAREL VAN DEN VELDE, WITH PROENTGEN HIS WIFE, FRANCHOYS DE SWARTE, WITH
KLAESKEN HIS WIFE, JASPER THE SHOEMAKER, CHARLO DE WAEL, AND MARTIJNE
AMARE, IN THE YEAR 1562.
In the year 1562, there were apprehended at Honschote in Flanders, for
the testimony of the truth, seven persons, namely, Karel van den Velde,
of Ghent, with Proentgen his wife, Franchoys de Swarte, of Belle, with
Klaesken his wife, Jasper the shoemaker, Charlo, a lad, and Martijntgen
Amare, a young maiden, all of whom steadfastly adhered to the truth and
the word of God. Five of them, namely, the four male persons and the
girl, were very soon after their apprehension burnt for their faith;
but the two women, sisters, were sometime afterwards secretly drowned
in a tub. One of the women, when she saw that they intended to put her
to death secretly, complained of it, since she would have preferred
publicly to testify to the truth with her death; whereupon her sister
said: “It is all the same, for God sees it; he will reward us, and
avenge our wrongs.” 2 Chron. 16:9; Rev. 6:10.
Thus they all passed through the conflict as valiant heroes, and
obtained leave to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God. Rev. 2:7.
JAN GRENDEL, A. D. 1562.
In the year 1562, a man named Jan Grendel, from Kortrijck, in Flanders,
came from Oudewater to Goes, and was the same evening on which he
arrived in town apprehended by bailiff Vijtwijck, who, upon having
taken him to his house, interrogated him concerning his faith, of which
he made open confession, whereupon he was put in prison, where he lay
for about a year. Bailiff Vijtwijck having, for maladministration, been
deposed from his bailiwick, another named Floris Schaeck, stepped into
this office, and under the latter, Jan, after many solicitations and
sufferings, was publicly burnt, or put to death, in the market place,
for his faith, in Lent of the year 1562.
FRANCIS VAN DER SACH AND ANTHONY WELSCH, A. D. 1562.
In the year 1562 brother Francis van der Sach, a native of Rovigo in
Italy, and minister of the word of God (still on trial) and one who
had been sent with him, named Anthony Welsch, were apprehended at
Capo d’ Istria, about one hundred Italian miles from Venice, as they
were about to return to the church in Germany, accompanied by a large
number of people, who, however, were not taken along, but suffered to
go. Francis was ironed on his feet like a malefactor, and they were
separately confined. There at Capo d’ Istria they tempted and assailed
them in a satanic manner, as they are accustomed to do at such times,
and they employed all their might to entrap them into their snares, in
order to cause them to stumble, and to make them despond and apostatize
from God; especially was Francis severely assailed; but they valiantly
resisted it all. Having been heard and examined at Capo d’ Istria
concerning everything, they were left in confinement yet for three
days, ironed hand and foot, and then sent to Venice. On this voyage
they lay still for three days and nights, on account of the tempestuous
sea, in the meantime comforting each other, and admonishing one another
to constancy or steadfastness, so that it seemed as though they
scarcely felt the pains resulting from the iron fetters and from other
causes, which nevertheless hurt them greatly day and night.
Arriving at Venice the first day of September of said year, they were
immediately separately confined in the dark dungeons of the chief
senators, where they lay for a whole month, when they were brought
before three Venetian secular, and also several so-called spiritual,
lords, who sat there in great pomp, most magnificently arrayed, and
they asked brother Francis, whether he still adhered to the belief
which he had indicated to the examiners and lords who had examined him
at Capo d’ Istria in regard to his doings, and whether he still held it
to be the truth. He said to them: “I hold it to be the truth, and it is
the truth.”
They then asked him whether he believed all that the holy, Catholic,
apostolical, Christian church believes. He replied: “As far as the
faith is concerned, I believe every article of the apostolical
Christian faith.” They then asked him also concerning baptism, the
sacrament, confession, and many other things; but when he thoroughly
answered everything, they urged him very hard, berating him most
severely, and then remanded him to prison. They also examined brother
Anthony, who likewise made a good confession of faith to them.
Shortly after, they examined Francis again, especially in regard to
infant baptism, but did not accomplish their purpose. After this, they
had them brought before them several times yet, and argued with them.
They also sent monks to them, who when they replied to their questions,
continually called them heretics and gainsayers of so many councils,
and said that if they would not desist, they should have to die, and
with this they had them taken back to prison.
Soon after the lords again sent a monk, an inquisitor, to them, who
was to speak with them concerning the faith. He first asked them
whether they belonged to the transmontane church. Francis replied:
“Yes.” Thereupon the monk said: “This is the first error;” and asked
whether he had also broken bread with them. Francis answering in the
affirmative, the monk said: “This also is an error.” And thus he spoke
with regard to everything; no matter what they answered, the monk
always said that they were heretics and deceivers.
The monk also said: “Tell me, who is the head of the church?” Francis
replied: “Christ.” The monk said: “This, too, is an error.” Then
Francis said: “You call us heretics, but you yourself are a heretic,
and not we, for Christ is certainly the head of his church.” But the
monk said: “The Pope is the head here on earth.” Francis said: “A body
with two heads is a hideous thing.” Thereupon the monk again began
to call him a heretic, and to admonish to him to desist. But brother
Francis told him that he could not desist before he should have proved
this to him by the holy Scriptures. The monk said: “We are not bound
to prove this to you by the Scriptures.” They were then taken back to
prison, where Francis put his confession and defense in writing, and
delivered it.
After this, they lay in prison for a long time yet, in all about two
years, always steadfastly continuing, in many disputations, in the
truth confessed, which they had accepted, and were then sentenced
to death, and, in the year 1564, cast into the sea, at Venice, and
drowned. But the sea will have to give up her dead at the judgment day
of the Lord, when such murderers of the pious will be dearly requited,
and will see with great terror, how heinous an offense against God it
is, thus to touch his believers. See Zech. 2:8; Acts 9:5.
JAN DE SWARTE, KLAESKEN HIS WIFE, KLAES, CHRISTIAN, HANS AND MAHIEU,
HIS FOUR SONS; PERCEVAL VAN DEN BERGE, JAN MAES, PIETER THE SHOEMAKER,
HENDRICK AERTS, THE HATTER, JANNEKEN CABILJAUS HIS WIFE, KALLEKEN
STEENS, AND HERMAN. IN THE YEAR, A. D. 1563.
Jan de Swarte, a very good hearted man, of Nipkerke, with his wife and
adult children, came to the knowledge of the truth, and united with
the church of God. Afterwards he was chosen and ordained a minister
of the church, in which ministry he, according to his ability, and in
simplicity, so conducted himself (not only in the deaconship, by caring
for the poor, but also, according to his gift received from God, in
dispensing the word of the exhortation), that he endeared himself to
all that knew him. 1 Cor. 12:4; 2 Tim. 2:15.
And as the Apostle Paul foretold, that all that will live godly in
Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution, so he also met with it, on
which account he resided in various towns and villages of Flanders,
as in Honschote, Rijssel, Wervick, Meenen, and finally at Halewijn,
supporting himself mostly with tape-weaving. With his wages he was very
benevolent and liberal to the poor, not only to those of the household
of faith, but to all in general (2 Cor. 8:1; Gal. 6:10), by which
especially he left behind him a good name, to the praise and glory
of God, as also by hospitality, as taught in the Scriptures (Romans
12:13), in which he was not negligent, since it appeared that when he
was apprehended, there lodged with him a brother from Doornick, named
Perceval van den Berge, a native of Zwevegem, and another, who had come
from Honschote, whose name was Jan Maes.
At that time there resided at Halewijn various other godfearing
brethren and sisters, which being greatly envied by N., the priest of
the castle, he betrayed them into the hands of the Dean of Ronse, the
inquisitor in Flanders, who, on a Saturday night, the 7th of March,
1563, quietly came thither with a great number of servants, from
Rijssel, surrounded several houses, entered them, and apprehended the
aforementioned Jan de Swarte, with Klaesken his wife and four sons,
namely, Klaes, Christian, Hans, and Mahieu (who was only about sixteen
years old), and also Perceval van den Berge, and Jan Maes, already
mentioned. Besides these he also apprehended one Pieter the shoemaker,
with Jacomijntgen his wife, which latter did not remain steadfast.
Also, one Heyndrick Aerts the hatter, with Janneken Cabiljaus his wife,
and another sister, Kalleken Steens, the wife of a brother whose name
was Augustijn.
When Jan de Swarte was apprehended, his two younger sons were not
present, but came in the meantime. When they came to the house the
neighbors warned them, that those who apprehended their father and
mother were in the house. The one said to the other: “Do not let us
flee, but let us die with father and mother.” In the meantime Jan de
Swarte was led out of the house a prisoner, and seeing his sons, he
said to them: “Children, do you want to go along to the New Jerusalem?”
They replied: “Yes, father;” and were thus led captive with them.
The inquisitor brought them all prisoners to Rijssel, and there had
them very closely confined in the castle. Jan was put into a hole by
himself, which was called the “Paradise,” and was so small that he
could neither stand upright in it, nor lie down full length.
It happened one day that divers brethren and sisters, prompted by love
and compassion, had come from without the city, and were standing over
against the castle, calling to the prisoners over the fortification,
for their consolation, that among them there was one brother named
Herman, who being noticed by one of the beadles of the town, who came
out secretly, was also apprehended.
After an imprisonment of ten days, the inquisitor delivered these
prisoners into the hands of the secular authorities, who first took
out Jan de Swarte with his son Klaes, Pieter, the shoemaker, Hendrick
Aerts, the hatter, Percival van den Berg, and Jan Maes, all six of
whom, because they valiantly and steadfastly adhered to the divine
truth, they sentenced to death, and took them in a wagon to the market
place, where stood the scaffold, provided with earth and stakes. There
they were taken up one after another, and two and two fastened to a
stake.
As they were going to death, the clock struck. John asked what time it
was. He was told that it was four o’clock. He consoled himself with
this, saying: “At five o’clock we hope to be in our lodging or resting
place.” His son Klaes, said: “We have to die for the reason that we
believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal God, is from heaven
and not of the earth.”
Pieter was gagged, to prevent him from speaking. When they stood at the
stakes, wood and straw were placed around them, to which fire was then
set, and they were thus burnt alive to ashes.
A few days afterwards also Klaesken, the wife of Jan de Swarte, with
her three sons, and Herman, because they adhered immovably to the love
of God, were all five sentenced to death by the authorities, and also
burned alive to ashes, persevering unto the end as valiant witnesses of
Christ.
Almost a year after this, after very long imprisonment, Janneken
Cabiljaus and Kalleken Steens, were sentenced to death, placed alive
into the fire, and burnt to ashes, as valiant and steadfast witnesses
of the divine truth.
It also came to pass that the priest of the castle, N., who had
so spitefully betrayed these dear friends of God, was very sorely
punished by God; for such putrefaction entered his flesh, that it
fell off piecemeal, or was cut off from time to time, from his body,
no physicians being able to cure the disease. Thus it happened on one
occasion, a large piece of putrid flesh having dropped, or been cut off
from his body, that the same was eaten by a dog, while he beheld it
with his own eyes. How he must have felt on this occasion, it is easy
to imagine, especially when viewing it as the fulfillment of a curse
said to have been pronounced upon him. “That he should yet with his own
eyes see the dogs eat his flesh.”
It also happened that while the priest was lying sick, a man came to
visit him, who, when the former complained to him of his great misery,
remarked to him: “It is the coals from the fire at Rijssel”--namely,
from the burning of the friends mentioned above;--which did not
please the priest very much; but he had to bear this taunt as well as
the punishment sent him from God. And in this way he at last died
most miserably, even as we read that in former times it happened to
Antiochus and Herod. 2 Macc. 9:9; Acts 12:23.
DIRK LAMBERTS, CHRISTIAN VAN WETTEREN, AND ANTONIJN DE WALE, A. D. 1563.
At Ghent in Flanders there were apprehended, for the faith, three
brethren, namely, Dirk Lamberts, Christian van Wetteren, and Antonijn
de Wale, who contended valiantly and heroically for their faith and
the truth, from which they would not depart for any temptation, pain
or suffering, so that they were finally sentenced to death. First Dirk
Lamberts, and shortly afterwards the other two, had to follow Christ
by entering through death into life; therefore they shall be clothed
in fine linen with all the elect of God, and receive palms into their
hands, and the crown of life upon their heads.
JOOS JANS PUT TO DEATH, A. D. 1563.
The same year a brother named Joos Jans was apprehended at Somerdijck,
for living according to the truth, and was immediately taken to
Zierickzee, where he suffered much examination and hardship, but
suffered himself nevertheless in no wise to be moved or turned away
from the word of God and the love of Christ, so that he was finally
sentenced to death and beheaded, thus valiantly testifying with his
blood to the truth.
NOTE.--The repeatedly mentioned decree of Emperor Charles V., enacted
in the year 1550, and confirmed by Philip II., King of Spain, A. D.
1556 (for which year we have circumstantially shown the same), as
also, A. D. 1560, was at this time, namely, A. D. 1564, renewed and
established the third time, for the annihilation and destruction of the
innocent and defenseless Christian believers, as may be seen in the
large _book of decrees_ of Ghent, and cited by William I., Prince of
Orange, in his defense against his adversaries, edition 1569, page 165,
etc.
Thereupon followed no small persecution, as may be seen from the
history of the following martyrs.
DANIEL KALVAERT, BURNED, A. D. 1564.
Daniel Kalvaert, a native of Thielt, in Flanders, was apprehended, A.
D. 1564, at Armentiers, for the testimony of the truth, and thence
taken to Rijssel, but after being subjected to some solicitations and
torture, he was brought back to Armentiers, escorted by forty beadles,
and there sentenced by the authorities, to be burnt alive to ashes;
which offering he boldly brought, after which his ashes were thrown
into the river Leye.
PIETER VAN OOSTHOVE, A. D. 1564.
Pieter Floriss, called of Oosthove, a native of Nipkerke in Flanders,
was apprehended for the divine truth, at Armentiers, A. D. 1564,
and, through many solicitations and sufferings, was prevailed upon
to apostatize from his faith, induced by the promise that he should
not die, and be released. But when again in his prison, and coming
to himself, he reflected how greatly he had suffered himself to be
deceived, for though he should escape temporal death for a little
while, he should therefor have to taste eternal death. This produced in
him such an agonizing sorrow, that he, like Peter, betook himself with
earnest supplication to Almighty God, and besought him with scalding
tears for forgiveness for the great offense he had committed, and for
a more steadfast mind than he had shown before. His prayer was not
left unheard, for when he was brought before the authorities again, he
utterly renounced his apostasy, and thenceforth boldly confessed his
faith, and steadfastly adhered to it, so that he was finally sentenced
to death, to which he went with glad constancy, and was thus strangled,
and burnt.
STEVEN DE GRAET, AND SIJNTGEN, A. D. 1564.
In the year 1564 there was apprehended at Ghent in Flanders, for the
truth, a brother named Steven de Graet, with Sijntgen, his aged mother.
They were both well confirmed in the faith, and continued in it amidst
all solicitations and sufferings, even unto death, which they, for the
name of Christ, had to suffer publicly; hence they shall also openly
praise the Lord, in the throne of heaven, and help sing the glad new
song, in honor of the Lamb, and of him that sitteth upon the throne.
Rev. 14:3.
FIERIJNTGEN KETELS, LEENTGEN HER MOTHER, WITH PIERIJNTGEN AND
MARIJNTGEN VAN MALE, IN THE YEAR A. D. 1564.
In the same year four sisters of Christ were apprehended at Ghent,
namely, Pierijntgen Ketels, with Leentgen her mother, and two sisters,
Pierijntgen and Marijntgen van Male. These did not counsel with flesh
and blood, but with God, who was able to strengthen them, for whose
name they, after many assaults and unwavering steadfastness, had to
lay down their lives in the monastery of St. Peter, without the city
of Ghent. Therefore they shall be crowned by the Young Man upon Mount
Sion, and be joyfully received by their bridegroom. 2 Esdras 2:46;
Matt. 25:10.
PIETER VAN DER MEULEN, A. D. 1564.
Shortly afterwards, also one brother Pieter van der Meulen contended so
valiantly, at Ghent, for his faith in Christ, that, with firm faith and
confidence in God, he withstood all who sought to turn him away from
it, even unto death, so that he departed this world, and went with
Christ into peace and rest, to help judge at the last day those who
judged him here. Luke 23:43; 1 Cor. 6:2; Matt. 7:2.
MAEYKEN BOOSERS BURNT TO ASHES FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, IN
THE CITY OF DOORNICK, THE 18TH OF SEPTEMBER, A. D. 1564.
_A confession and letter of consolation of Maeyken Boosers, imprisoned
at Doornick, where she sealed her faith with her death._
The eternal, unfathomable grace of God, and the power of the Holy
Ghost, be with you all, my beloved friends and brethren. I let you know
that I am well according to the flesh; but according to the spirit I
might be better, for I find weakness in me; but my hope is fixed upon
God, who strengthens the feeble, and comforts the afflicted. My heart
constantly longs to be fit in his sight, that I might finish to his
praise that which he has commenced in me. Therefore I pray you, my
beloved brethren, not to forget me, even as I well perceive that you
do not, for which I thank you very much, and hope that the Lord will
preserve you in his holy truth. I further inform you that the lords
wanted to know of me, who were baptized with me, and whether none were
in the city, and what were their names and surnames. I said: “What I
do not know I cannot tell.” But it was all of no avail. They ordered
the executioner to strip me. I felt very much ashamed, and I pleasantly
entreated them to believe me; but it was of no avail. I then said:
“Your will be done,” and undressed myself. They led me to the rack
and bound me to draw and rack me. The commissary said that I should
name them. I told him that I could not do it: whereupon they loosed
me, without my having named any one, for which God on high be praised.
However of Pieter and George they had knowledge already; hence I had
to name them too, but their surnames I did not know. Herewith I will
commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. May the Lord
keep us all in one faith to the end of our lives. Amen.
_Another letter from Maeyken Boosers to her parents._
I greet you from my inmost heart, my beloved father and my much beloved
mother, with all that are in your house. Please know that I am well
and unchanged in purpose, the Lord be praised forever, as I trust
through the goodness of God it is also with you. Further, I thank you
heartily for the kind greeting you wrote me, on account of which I
greatly rejoiced, learning your feelings and affection for me; and for
remembrance’ sake I will write you something about my imprisonment.
In the first place the commissary asked me how old I was when I was
baptized. I replied: “About twenty-three or four years.” They asked me
why I had it done. I said: “Because God had commanded it.” They asked
me whether I did not know that I had been baptized previously. I said:
“I know nothing of it; neither has God commanded it.” They asked me
whether I did not have sponsors. I replied: “It may be;--they may have
died.” They then said that they should send me learned men. I said:
“You ought to be wise enough to talk with me;” but no, they would send
learned men. They then sent the parish priest of Our lady’s church, who
came and asked me why I had not been in his church so long, and that he
had not known of me. I told him that I had quietly kept at home. They
asked me where my church was. I answered: “My church is not known to
you; for if you knew her, you would not let her in peace very long.”