the rack. Think how they dealt with us, and how we felt, and still
feel. Then they half carried, half dragged me from the torture-chamber
up into the jailer’s room, where was a good fire of oak wood. There
they, once or twice, gave me some Rhenish wine to drink, which revived
me in a measure. And when I had warmed myself somewhat, they again half
dragged me up over the porter’s room. There they had such commiseration
for me; they gave me wine again; they gave me spices, and of everything
you had sent me, all of which rendered me very good service. They had
wine brought and helped me to bed. But the sheets were very coarse,
and greatly hurt my shins and thighs; however, soon afterwards the
sheets and pillow you sent me arrived, and there were also two or three
pocket-handkerchiefs. They then covered me with the sheets, which came
very convenient to me, as did also the spices. Had the sheets not come,
I know not how I should have passed the night; but so I slept tolerably
well. But I am hardly able to stand yet, and the lower part of my legs
is as though they were dead from racking; however, it is all well, as I
trust by the grace of the Lord.
We have such a God, so mighty, that he did not suffer me to be tempted
above that I was able to bear, and I hope he will also not in the
future, so firmly I trust in him; for I know assuredly that there will
never be found another way or another truth. Hence be instant, whether
in season or out of season. 2 Tim. 4:2.
I received your letter, and thank you much, that you remember me so
kindly, as you have always done. I wrote you in my first letter, before
I received yours, the right answer to the letter you sent me. I have
still much to write to you, but am not well able to do so now, for it
is too soon.
After me Mattheus was tortured; he named his house and the street in
which we live, and said it was in a gate; however, I am of the opinion
that there are no longer any gates in that street. Hence move away
altogether, if you have not done so yet; for I think the lord will find
his way there. Let therefore no one who stands in any danger go into
the house. He also named R. T.’s house, and the street where F. V. St.
lives. Do herein immediately the best you can. He is very sorry for it.
Cornelis and Hans told nothing. I have much to write yet, but the
time is too short. I hope to write to-day yet, if it is the Lord’s
pleasure. I wish that H. T. would once come out. I greet you all most
affectionately. It was well that J. T. went away yesterday, for the
Margrave came soon after, But I cannot write you much more, for the
time until day-break is too short.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace.
Pray the Lord diligently for us, for he that asketh receiveth. I dare
not let my thoughts dwell much on the children and you; it is so
exceedingly hard for me to part from you and them. Satisfy all the
friends as best you can, for I am tolerably well content, only it
grieves me much on their account; however, the Lord has ordered it so.
By me, your weak husband, Christian Langedul, in prison at Antwerp, the
12th of August, 1567.
I have not fully recovered yet from the torture, as may be imagined;
but I trust it is all well; do not grieve too much about it. If J. T.
could bring along my account book, I should be glad; I should show
him everything, or write it down for him. Bring us something to seal
letters with.
_Another letter of Christian Langedul, in which he shows the
assurance of his mind, the nothingness of his own self, his love to
his son-in-law, J. T., and, lastly, the fear which they had of being
tortured again, and why._
Grace, mercy, and joy in the Holy Ghost, from God our heavenly Father,
through Christ Jesus, this I wish you, my chosen and greatly beloved
wife in the Lord, and all them that love his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8.
Dearly beloved wife in the Lord, I hope you partly know by this time
how it is with me, by the two letters I wrote you yesterday, which
I hope you have already received. In them I wrote to you partly
concerning the state of my mind, which is still unchanged, praise the
Lord forever for his grace, which he gives to me, poor, unprofitable
and exceedingly great sinner; for I deem myself unworthy and unfit for
this glory, to which the Lord now calls me. Of myself or by my own
strength I cannot attain it; hence I hope by his grace to adhere unto
the end to the truth and the faith once delivered to the saints; for I
am assured in my heart, and have certainly known it all the time of my
pilgrimage (which is now about twelve years--true, only a short time,
and imperfectly spent), that there will never be found another. Hence
I hope to adhere to it, only by the strength and grace of the Lord,
and not through my own; and I hope by the grace of God to rejoice, by
my death, all those whom I may at any time in my life have grieved.
And I hope that all those whom I may have wronged in any way will
forgive me, since I have always been very ready to forgive, whenever
any one wronged me; I hope that all men and the Lord will also do so
towards me. I am greatly concerned for J. T., for I know his kindness;
hence I will let this suffice, and wish him, as I have often done,
true faith. This the Lord must give him; but he must also pray for and
heartily desire it. O that I might die another death for him, and all
the friends, that they might be saved; how gladly I should do it! O!
J. T., how much you have done for me, and, I hope, will yet do for my
weak wife (your mother), and my children, on whom I dare not let my
thoughts dwell much. She (your mother) is a woman who fears God with
all her heart. Associate with her, for she will seek nothing but your
common salvation. I will let this suffice for the present, else I
should not have time to send this letter. I wrote you yesterday that I
hoped to write to you during the day, but I could not do it; Mattheus
and I lay in bed until two o’clock, so greatly were we afraid, because
the Margrave came here to torture Cornelis again, and we feared that
we should also be tortured a second time, of which we had a great
dread, more than of death, for it is an excruciating pain. Cornelis
was tortured and scourged to such a degree the second time, that three
men had to carry him up, and they say that he could scarcely move a
member, except his tongue. He sent word to us, that if they come again
it is his opinion it will finish him. Thus the Margrave did not come
yesterday, but we expect him to-day again; may the Lord help us, for it
is a horrible pain. Yesterday I received a small basket with eatables
and a night-cap from J. T. I have lent the night-cap to Mattheus, and
should like to have another, when convenient, as also a comb, and a
Testament, a hymn book, or something else to read, that we may delight
ourselves a little with the word of the Lord. There is a turnkey here,
by the name of Pieter, who will see that we get it. Enclosed I send you
a little memento, and W. D. B.’s account. Yesterday evening we were
told that J. T. and P. V. D. tried hard to get to me; but it could not
be, because the Margrave had said that he should come again; however,
he did not come, for he attended a great banquet at Mansfeld.
While I am sitting here, and writing, we are informed that the Margrave
will hold a penal court to-day; I hope it is for us. Pray for us. I
hope God will strengthen us by his power, which surpasses everything. O
that we might be delivered thus soon; but I am afraid it will not be.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace.
Always adhere to the truth, which, and nothing else, I have confidence
you will do. I heartily greet you and all the godfearing with the
peace of the Lord; and Mattheus does the same. Greet all the friends,
especially grandmother, most heartily, when convenient. Mattheus would
say to you and all the godfearing, that if he has grieved you in that
he did not guard his lips better, he is sincerely sorry for it. Written
in bonds, at Antwerp, on the 13th of August, 1567, by me, your weak
husband,
CHRISTIAN LANGEDUL.
Do the best, and be of good cheer, and pray for us.
_Another letter of Christian Langedul, in which he exhorts his brother
R. L. to perseverance in the pilgrimage begun; and, being assured in
his mind, requests, for completion, the prayers of the saints; commends
his wife to him, and relates how a little priest came to speak with
him._
The eternal, Almighty God and Father of mercy, through his Son, our
Lord, and Savior, the same almighty, eternal, worshipful, only wise
God and merciful Father of all grace, strengthen and stablish you unto
the end with his Holy Spirit, my dear brother and sister in the Lord,
and also according to the flesh; that you may receive the crown of life
with all the saints and elect children of God; herewith I will bid
you final farewell and greeting in this present time, with all dear
brethren and sisters in the Lord who live with you and know me. Amen.
My dearly beloved brother and sister, whom I love from the bottom of
my heart, I feel prompted now at the close of my life to write you a
little for a memorial. I trust you will accept in good part, so that
it may be a perpetual memento and admonition from this your second
brother now that has been imprisoned here in the city of Antwerp for
the testimony of the Lord, for which I hope to lay down my life by
the grace of God, and hope that you will not faint on account of this
our tribulation which we now suffer for Christ’s sake, hoping that it
happens for the furtherance of the Gospel, and to the awakening of many
who possibly have long walked drowsily and half asleep, (that they may
become awakened and sober); and I hope by the grace of the Lord that
it will not tend to your abatement, but much rather to your greater
edification, and that it will serve you as a perpetual direction in
your pilgrimage which you have yet to take through a dismal wilderness,
in which you may yet meet with many trials. Philip. 1:12; Eph. 5:14; 1
Thess. 5:6; 1 Pet. 2:11. Hence take diligent heed, and lust not after
evil things; neither be like those who murmured; but give diligent care
that you constantly press on to the promised land, with valiant Joshua
and Caleb, so that you may take it by force. 1 Corinthians 16:6,10. And
be content with the word of the Lord, and look to the promise, for he
is so faithful, and you know that the Israelites remained without for
no other reason, than because of their unbelief. Heb. 3:19. Hence, my
dear friends, believe God’s work, and adhere to it unto death, and God
will give you the victory. Though they seem like giants in our eyes,
we shall devour them as bread, and this through our faith, by which we
overcome the devil, hell, death and the world. Num. 13:33; 1 John 5:4.
O dearest friends, you know that all the pious overcame by faith, as
you yourself, my dear brother, know better than I can write it to
you. Hebrews 11. Take good heed, my beloved, that you fall not in the
wilderness, as so many do; for in that case it were better for us not
to have known the truth, yea, never to have been born; for if we lose
our birthright, wherewith will we obtain the blessing again? for it is
written that Esau sought it with tears, but found it not. 2 Pet. 2:21;
Heb. 12:17. Therefore faint not, but firmly persevere, it is the true
grace of God wherein you stand, as I hope you yourselves know. I doubt
not that there will never be found another way. 1 Pet. 5:12.
O brother, were another to be found, than this anxious, narrow and
strait way, how gladly should the flesh put up with it; but it must
pass the strait gate, and O how narrow this is, so that flesh and blood
will adhere to the posts. But, dear and faithful brother, what great
salvation the merciful Father has provided for me, who am so utterly
unworthy; what great thanks shall I give him for it, who has so endowed
me with his grace and provided such a salvation for me. Continue in
it, my dear brother and sister, and pray the Lord for us, that he may
preserve us in our sorest distress, and comfort us when we are most in
affliction, and in extreme need of consolation and help, as I hope he
will do, for he is faithful that promised it. He also will do it, and
will be with us even unto death, and not forsake us; for who was ever
confounded that trusted in him? I hope he will not suffer us to be
confounded, and that he will finish the good work which he has begun
in us, and this through his unfathomable mercy and grace. To this end,
help us to fight, with your prayers to God in our behalf; this is my
desire and the desire of us all; in this you can now aid us the most.
My dear brother, why do you grieve for me; rather take comfort in it,
for the Lord has obviously ordered it so. He loves us, and means to
bring us into rest. I feel that it is all of the Lord, for when I for
a time hear of no deliverance, I receive great joy in my heart and
refreshing from the Lord; but as soon as something comes again, and the
flesh lusts greatly after it, joy departs, and we have great difficulty
to get it back from the Lord. Therefore I hope that you will resign
yourselves better herein, for the Lord intends to deliver us from this
body of death, and to help us out of this anxiety. The Lord be praised
forever for the love he shows me, and that he so helps me. I hope he
will keep also you in his truth; hence be of good cheer, and comfort
yourselves with his beautiful promise, with which also we comfort
ourselves entirely.
Therefore, dear brother, I will herewith conclude my letter; and I
kindly ask you to accept it in good part, for it has been written to
you and your dear wife out of heartfelt brotherly love, for a perpetual
farewell and memorial. I herewith also thank you for the great trouble
and labor you have put yourself to for my sake and for the great
expense you have on my account. I can never repay it to you; but I hope
that the Lord will recompense it to you and yours, now and hereafter;
also as regards that other matter, which you well know. O brother, do
not let it vex you that I was so situated; I should so gladly have done
it for you and yours, as God knows, who is acquainted with every heart.
If convenient for you, lend my wife a little assistance while you are
here, in the things in which she may need your services, and comfort
her in the exceedingly great sorrow in which she now is; this I kindly
request of you.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace;
may he strengthen and stablish you in his truth unto the end of your
lives, to his praise, and to your salvation, and the salvation of us
all.
This afternoon a little, lean priest visited us. I believe he is a
Jesuit, and that he sometimes preaches in Koppeken’s church. There is
very little in the man. The Bailiff accompanied him. He (the priest)
damned us exceedingly, which was about all he had to say. I was
with them about two hours. It would take too long to write all. His
arguments were very weak. It seems strange to me that the lords are not
ashamed to come with such men, who will by no means defend themselves
with the Holy Scriptures, but with the teachers of the Roman church,
with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine, whom [they say] we are to believe.
I then confessed that it could not be proven with the apostolical
writings that the apostles baptized infants; also, that baptism
belonged to believers, and that infants had no faith. But he constantly
asserted that the ancient teachers had written it, and that the holy
Roman church so observed it, hence also we had to observe it. A poor
argument. The others had something at least, but he was too wretchedly
deficient. Hence it would be too tedious to write about it.
Herewith I commend you to God. Written at Antwerp, in prison, by
me, your weak brother in the Lord, and also according to the flesh,
Christian Langedul, imprisoned for the testimony of the Lord and my
conscience, the 10th of September 1567.
_Christian Langedul’s leave and last adieu to Maeyken Raedts, his wife
after he was sentenced to death._
Grace and peace from our heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus, this I
wish you, my dear and chosen wife and sister in the Lord; and may the
Comforter, the Holy Ghost comfort you in your tribulation, as he will
do according to his promise. And I trust, my wife, that all (whether
tribulation or sorrow), will tend to salvation to the Christian, as
I also trust it will conduce to your salvation, and also to mine,
although no tribulation for the present seems to be joyous, and this
according to the words of the apostle. Heb. 12:11. However, afterward,
my beloved, it will work the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them
that by good works seek eternal life, as we have done according to
our weakness, for thus I may well say, and I speak it from the heart.
Nevertheless, I expect to inherit salvation through the grace of the
Lord, and am of good cheer herein; I will therefore thank the Lord
forever for his love. O my love, the wine-press must now be trodden;
and I am quite ready for it, the Lord be praised. Truly, he is a God
of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation. O that I could
fully thank the Lord for all the comfort and strength he grants to me,
unworthy one.
Therefore, my beloved, comfort yourself in the Lord, and in his word;
therein you will find such great consolation and refreshment; and may
the Holy Ghost dwell in you with all wisdom as I doubt not that the
Spirit of God does dwell in you, and that he will guide you into all
truth and righteousness.
Your letter I received this noon; I thank you very much for it. J. was
here, but we could scarcely speak together. I felt somewhat sorry on
account of it afterwards, when I parted from him; but the jailer drove
us away, saying that the lord was coming, which I half thought was not
so; nor was it so, for the lord did not come. I would fain not have
parted from him in this manner, but the Lord disposes. Tell J. T. and
his wife; that I wish their salvation from all my heart, and that he
and she, and all men, might know the truth. If I promised it to him in
weakness, I hope, by the grace of God, tomorrow to demonstrate it in
power. J. told me that you were writing me another letter. O my love,
you put yourself to too much trouble, I fear; do rest, for it will soon
be over with me.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Greet
all the friends most cordially with the peace of the Lord; greet warmly
R. Langedul; also your sister, and all the friends, whenever it is
convenient, and bid them all adieu. Adieu, my dear lamb, adieu. Written
on the 12th of September 1567, by me, Christian Langedul, your husband
and weak brother in the Lord, imprisoned and sentenced to death for the
testimony of Christ, and for our conscience. All four of us greet you
very much in the Lord. We are of good cheer and courage in the Lord, as
Kalleken, who visited us, will tell you. Thank R. most heartily in my
name for his letter; it rejoiced my heart, the Lord be praised. Amen.
NOTE.--As there has been put into our hands a letter written by Hans
Symons, (who was burnt at Antwerp, A. D. 1567, together with Christian
Langedul and two others of our fellow believers) to his wife, shortly
before his death, we deem it well herewith to insert the same; the copy
of the letter reads as follows:
COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY HANS SYMONS TO HIS WIFE, IN HIS BONDS OR
IMPRISONMENT AT ANTWERP, IN SEPTEMBER, IN THE YEAR A. D. 1567.
Grace, peace and mercy from God the heavenly Father; also steadfastness
in the faith, and constant adherence to God in all temptations and
tribulations, by the power and operation of the Holy Ghost; unto him,
blessed forever, be praise and thanks. This I wish you, my most beloved
wife and sister in the Lord, whom I love after a godly manner, as my
own flesh, yea, have loved more than my own self, as evidenced by many
favors and acts; this is my heartfelt greeting to you, and that it may
go well with you, both in soul and body. Amen.
Further, my dear and much beloved wife, and sister in the Lord, know
that I have received your letter, which comforts me in my bonds,
because I learn that you still remember me and my fellow prisoners in
the Lord, in your prayers, that the Lord would strengthen and comfort
us, and help us finish the good work by him begun in us, to his praise
and the salvation of our souls.
O dear lamb, I also beseech you on high from the bottom of my heart, to
keep you from all error of unbelief, and to help finish, to his praise
and honor, and to the salvation of your soul, the good work which he
has begun in you.
Let us pray together with a broken heart, an humble spirit and a pure
conscience, lifting up holy hands, without contention or strife,
praying to God steadfastly in the faith, then will our prayer be a
sweet savor and an acceptable offering to God; for every gift comes
from the Father of lights.
O my dear wife, lay to heart the virtues which the Lord has caused to
be proclaimed to you, as the prophet says: “He hath showed thee, O man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6:8.
Always remember those who have walked the way before you through much
tribulation, and have always remained valiant in the faith, with a firm
confidence. Who was ever confounded that trusted in the Lord? says the
prophet. Hence, dear wife, do not slightly esteem the great grace which
the Lord has shown you. Always persevere steadfastly, and trust in the
Lord with a firm confidence; he will not forsake you, nor will he leave
you without comfort; for in time of need he succors his own, and says:
“A mother may forget her child, yet will I never forget thee.”
Be of good cheer, I pray you, in your trial, which the Lord sends you,
and take Job for an example, how patient he was; and the Lord blessed
him.
I trust the Lord will let his merciful eyes rest upon you and upon all
sorrowing and afflicted hearts, to comfort them by the Spirit by which
he himself was comforted in his sufferings.
I am much troubled and afflicted in my heart, when I think of you, and
of my four poor little lambs, whom I must all leave.
I pray you, Tanneken, remember them in your heart as long as you live.
Do not forget my request of you, namely, that you walk in the law of
your Lord all the days of your life, and that you be to my and your
children, whom the Lord has given us during the time of our wedlock, a
pattern in all humility and obedience, in instruction in righteousness;
and take for remembrance the Maccabean mother, how she strengthened her
children, that they should not forsake the law of God.
I commend them to you, my dearest wife, and to the Lord. He will help
you; his hand is not shortened, that he cannot help us. For better
is one child that fears God, than a thousand ungodly children; yea,
it were better to die childless, than to leave ungodly children
behind. I pray you, exercise good care over them: I commit them to
you, and to the Lord, for I am taken from you and them, which greatly
troubles me according to the flesh; but I remember that it is written:
Whosoever forsaketh not everything, father, mother, sister, brother,
wife, children, property, lands, yea, also his own life, the same is
not worthy of me; in short, whosoever loveth aught more than me, is
not worthy of me. I do not know what the Lord has seen in me, when I
consider that I am so miserable and unworthy to suffer for his name.
I can praise and thank the Lord for the great benefits which he has
shown me in my bonds. Well do I now find, that the Lord has helped us
unworthy ones, especially me.
According to the Spirit, my heart rejoices in the hope of future glory.
I hope that I shall soon put off this mortal garment, and put on the
immortal; may the Lord direct our hearts thereto, for we need help from
the Lord of hosts, in our tribulation. See, my dear and much beloved
wife and sister in the Lord, take this, with your little children, as
a testament and as a remembrance from him who has lived with you in
the bonds of wedlock for about five years. We must now part, because
of the covenant which we made with God, never to depart therefrom;
hence I must now depart from the marriage covenant, for the sake of
the covenant which we made with God; I now go (though unworthily,)
the way which the prophets, Christ, and his apostles went, through
much tribulation and pain, with many tears, and must drink the cup of
bitterness which they all drank. Though the Lord himself said: “Holy
Father, if it be possible that this cup pass from me, let it be done;
but if not, Holy Father, thy will be done;” yet he was given us for an
example, that we should follow his footsteps in obedience; for Christ
entered into his glory through much suffering, thereby leaving us an
example that we should follow his steps.