love, how they dealt with me when I was first apprehended. I had been
invited out in the evening, which was on a Wednesday, and we were
speaking of going home. Then the watch met us, and we had no light with
us, whereupon we were taken up above by the watch, where sat Floris
den Bral, who asked us, whence we came, whether we had not been at a
meeting of the new religion. We said: “No.” He asked whether we would
substantiate this with our oath. I said to him: “Will you not believe
my word; I mean to tell you the truth.” But he insisted on the oath,
and we would not swear, then he said: “Take them back below.” And we
were forthwith taken in the rear, into the dungeon, as though we had
been thieves or rogues. The next morning we were taken above, and they
brought me first before the lords, having bound my hands behind my
back, as though I had been a thief. Then the bailiff asked me and said:
“Clement.” And I said: “Sir Bailiff.” He asked: “How many times have
you attended the meetings of the Mennists?” I kept silence and gave him
no answer. And he insisted hard upon knowing it, whereupon I was led
away into a room by myself. Then the others were brought before the
lords, and asked concerning their faith. They confessed their faith,
and then I was again brought before the lords, and he again asked me,
how often I had attended the meetings. He wanted to know whether I had
been there ten times. I said: “No.” Eight times? “No.” Seven times?
“No.” Three times? “Yes.” Then he asked me, who had been the preacher.
I said: “I am not minded to tell it.” He also wanted me to tell in what
house I had been, and what people had been there. I told him that I was
not minded to tell him. He said that he should make me tell it. I was
then taken back into the dungeon. The day following I was again taken
up before the lords, and the Bailiff asked me, whether I would not yet
tell him, who had been the preacher, where it had been, and what people
had been present. I told him that I was not yet minded to tell it, and
said: “I am in trouble, and I do not wish to bring any one else into
trouble; you have me here, deal with me according to your pleasure.”
Jeremiah 26:14. Then the Bailiff said to the judges: I demand him to
be put on the rack, in order to learn all the particulars. And he
said: “Take him to the rear;” and I was taken to the rack, where I was
stripped, and my shirt tied before my body. Thus I was placed in a
sitting posture on the rack, and my eyes blindfolded. Then the Bailiff
came to me, and asked me whether I would not yet tell it. I told him
that I was not yet minded to tell it. Thereupon I was laid upon the
rack, and tied to it with seven ropes. On my head there were two knots,
which lay on my forehead; and a cord on each of my great toes, and the
others around my body. The ropes were twisted together with billets of
wood, and I expected nothing else but that he would twist in pieces
the ribs in my body. Urine was also poured into my mouth, and as I lay
there in pain, I was also scourged on my breast. The Lord knows how
they dealt with me. Through the severe pain I named four persons; but
I hoped that they were not in town. This lasted about half an hour.
I said to them, that they should put a rope around my throat, and
dispatch me at once. When they loosed the ropes, I was not able to get
up by my own efforts; the servants had to help me up. I was then taken
back into a dungeon. The next day I was again brought above before
the lords, and if it had not been for Joost Buyck, I would have been
tortured again, though I was scarcely able to walk. Then the Bailiff
asked me, whether I would not have a monk to come and see me. I said,
that he might stay away. He said: “You have to hear a dog bark; can
you not hear a man talk?” I was then taken back into the dungeon, and
a priest and a monk came to dispute with me. They began to prate much
of this and that, and to tell many fables; but I kept silence, and let
them prate on; and they got angry because I did not reply to them more,
and one of them said that I had the devil in me. Four days after I
was taken above again, when they told me that I should prepare myself
against Saturday. I said: “Whenever it pleases the Lord I am ready.” I
was then taken back into the dungeon, and expected nothing else than
that I should offer up my sacrifice on Saturday, and even on Saturday I
had no other expectation but of offering up my sacrifice. There came a
priest to me, and would have me confess to him. I said that I did not
want to confess to him, since he could not forgive my sins; I said: The
best confession is to confess to the Lord my God. Then the Bailiff with
two judges came to me, and said, that they would wait with me two weeks
yet; but I was of such good courage to offer up my sacrifice, as though
I had known nothing of death. Phil. 2:17. And so I am still of such
good courage, as though I knew nothing of imprisonment. It began to vex
me that it is deferred so long. I long to be out of the flesh, and am
quite cheerfully resigned to offer up my sacrifice; the Lord does not
forsake his own who trust in him. Furthermore, my dear and much beloved
father, I inform you, that I received your letter, and I was rejoiced
to learn that you are so well content herein.
Further, my dear father and mother, I will bid you adieu, if it be the
Lord’s pleasure, till the appearing of our Lord. The peace of the Lord
be with you forever. Amen. By me,
CLEMENT HENDRICKSS, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
_Fifth letter of Clement Hendrickss._
I wish you, my dear and beloved in the Spirit and according to the
truth, as I trust, in the knowledge of the faith, and in the mind of
Christ Jesus, a clear vision, and an open heart, in all divine matters,
and in the word of God, thereby rightly to discriminate which is light
or darkness, lies or truth, yea, flesh or spirit; in order that you may
not be deceived, but adhere firmly to the word of God, so that you may
receive a full reward.
Further, my dear and much beloved, I cannot well forbear to write you
a little, how it still is with me in my bonds, and that my mind is
still fixed to fear the Lord with all my heart, with all my strength,
and with all my soul, for which I can never fully thank and praise
the almighty, great and allwise God, for his unspeakable, yea,
incomprehensible grace which he has hitherto shown me and still daily
shows me, through Jesus Christ, and the supply of the Spirit. For
this I thank the almighty God, and bow the knee of my heart before
the Father full of grace and truth, who is the true Father full of
grace, and the God of all comfort, who can comfort us when we are in
tribulation and distress. 2 Cor. 1:3,4. Hence, my dear and faithful,
keep well this good treasure, which is committed to you, given you of
God through grace; for faith is the gift of God. Rom. 12:3. By it the
elders obtained a good report, and assurance in their hearts, through
the ancient word of the Spirit of Christ, who had testified before with
their spirit, that they were the children of God, and heirs of all
the glorious promises. Heb. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:11. Hence they willingly
forsook everything, and esteemed it nevertheless much more and greater
riches, to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy
all the temporal pleasures of this world; for they had respect unto
the recompense of the reward, and to that which was eternal and not
temporal. Heb. 11:25,26; 2 Cor. 4:18. For faith looks to that which
does not appear here now, nor is seen with carnal eyes, but which is
beheld by the inner, hidden man, and by the eyes of the heart; and
hence they hold it fast, as though they saw it before their eyes, and
could touch it with their hands; for they judge him faithful that
promised, that he also will do it, for he cannot deny himself. Heb.
11:1,11; 10:23; 2 Timothy 2:13. Therefore, my dear and faithful, look
not at the things which are seen; for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18.
And Christ says: He that loveth aught more than me, is not worthy of
me. Matt. 10:37. And in another place he says: Every one that forsaketh
house, home, lands, and father and mother, yea, also his own life,
shall receive a hundred-fold. Matt. 19:29. Hence we must forsake
everything here, and love nothing more than the living God, and show it
with works and by the deed, that we are the children of God, and not
bastards. The righteous must through much affliction enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but the Lord helps them in all their afflictions; he
does not suffer his own to be tempted above that they are able, but has
with the temptation also made a way to escape. Ps. 34:19; 1 Cor. 10:13.
But the ungodly he reserves unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2
Pet. 2:9.
Hence, my dear and much beloved, remember Joseph, who was tempted by
the Egyptian woman to commit whoredom with her; and she had taken hold
of his coat or mantle, and would not let him go; but he fled from her,
and left the coat or mantle, in her hand, rather than commit this great
sin with her. Therefore, my dear and much beloved, if the harlot of
Babylon takes hold of our coat or mantle rather let go, by the grace
of God, your earthly coat, namely, your temporal life, than that you
should be compelled to commit whoredom with her; well knowing that
our mortal clothing must first be put off before the immortal can be
put on. 2 Esdras 2:45. And if our earthly house of this tabernacle be
dissolved, we have a building in heaven, a house not made with hands,
but which is eternal. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Furthermore, my dear and much beloved, I have undertaken to write you
a little yet, of the words of Christ, where he says: If ye love me,
keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter [that he may abide with you forever]; even the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive.... Yet a little while,
and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me, and ye know me,
says the Lord. John 14:15–17,19,20. In another place Christ also warns
us, saying: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them
by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.... Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matt. 7:15–17,19.
Herewith I bid you adieu with the sure word of his grace, until his
coming. The peace of the Lord be with you forever and ever. Amen.
Receive this my brief letter in good part.
Written in my bonds out of love, by me,
CLEMENT HENDRICKSS, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
VEIT GREYENBURGER, A. D. 1570.
In the year 1570, Veit Greyenburger, a brother, was apprehended at Wald
in Vintschgau as he was traveling through there. He had been spied
out, and a prize set upon his capture. When he arrived at the inn, and
the peasants noticed him, but did not well know him, they came into
the inn by night, and when they saw him pray before eating, they put
their heads together and said: “He is the man, or he looks like him;”
and acted as though it were wrong to pray--so plainly could the devil
be seen in them. Hence they watched him in the inn, and sent word to
the judge in the castle at Niedersol, who came with many footmen and
servants, bound his hands behind his back, and took him to the prison
in the castle of Niedersol. Very soon after he was examined, and led
back into prison. Five weeks afterwards the Grand Bailiff came from
Saltzburg, who took him with two servants and two footmen to the
castle at Saltzburg, and there put him in prison in chains. A long
time, namely, two years and a half, afterwards, priests came, namely,
the preacher of the Cathedral at Saltzburg, also the ecclesiastical
judge and other fellows. Each had before him ink and paper, and they
addressed brother Veit, and urged him to make his defense. The brother
said: “What shall I say: You are accusers and judges, and what you
are not able to carry out yourselves, the judge, the beadles, and the
executioner must do in your stead. You tell it to the Prince, the
Prince tells it to the judge, the judge to the beadles, the beadles to
the executioner, who must finish it; this is your high priest who helps
you to gain the victory.” Among other things the brother also said to
them: “The Spirit says plainly what you are; for Paul writes: ‘That
in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing Spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry,
and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be
received with thanksgiving.’” 1 Tim. 4:1–3. Then one of the priests
said to him: “We do not forbid marriage; moreover, I have eaten meat
to-day.” But the brother said: “Ah! it is well known that you forbid
marriage and permit whoredom.” But when the priest had well bethought
himself he said: “Do you know what Christ says: The Scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you
observe, that observe and do”? Matt. 23:2,3. Then brother Veit asked
them: “Do you think that you are the same?” They replied: “Yes, we are
they by the will of God.” The brother said; “You are they indeed, since
you confess it; but Christ pronounces many woes upon them, and calls
them serpents and a generation of vipers, hypocrites, fools and blind
guides, and such are you, as your own mouth testifies.” Matt. 23. Then
he was called an Anabaptist and the like.
Thereupon brother Veit asked them, whether they also considered Paul an
Anabaptist. They said: “No.” Then he asked: “Why then did he baptize
again those who had already been baptized with John’s baptism, which
was certainly from heaven, but, was nevertheless not sufficient to
salvation? How much less then can infant baptism, which is from men, be
sufficient?” Then they were silent and brother Veit said: “You allow
midwives to baptize; where is this written?” But they did not know,
and sat there as dumb as dogs. Thereupon they asked him, whether he
belonged to the Huterite society. He replied: “Huter was a teacher.”
They asked: “Is he then your Messiah?” He answered: “Huter was a pious
man, who was burnt at Innsbruck for his faith and the divine truth; but
our Messiah is Christ. (John 1:21; 4:25.) But what kind of a Messiah
and father have you at Rome, and also here in this town?” Then they
said that the Pope had nothing to do with them. Then the brother said:
“Then you have a superior here in town?.” The priests said that he was
not their father. The brother rejoined: “You certainly said yourselves
before, that your father had sent you forth.” Then they did not know
what to say. In this manner he was examined several times; hence,
Christ did not in vain say to his own: When they shall bring you into
their synagogues, council houses, before magistrates, powers and the
learned, take no thought how or what ye shall say: for I will give you
a mouth and wisdom, which they shall not be able to gainsay or resist.
Luke 21:12, etc.
Having been imprisoned upward of six years at Saltzburg, suffering
much misery and tribulation, brother Veit, in the year 1576, through
the help of God, escaped through a window of his prison. The people in
the castle said that it was beyond the power of man to get out; but
with God all things are possible. Matt. 19:26. Thus he returned to his
brethren and the church, on the 9th of August of said year.
FOUR FRIENDS OFFERED UP IN MAESTRICHT;--ARENT VAN ESSEN; URSEL HIS
WIFE; NEELTGEN, AN OLD WOMAN; AND TRIJNTGEN, HER DAUGHTER, IN THE YEAR
1570.
During the time of freedom following the destruction of the images,
the church at Maestricht grew and flourished, increasing in number.
But when the Duke of Alva came into the country, many fled out of the
city whithersoever they best could: some, however, remained, among whom
there was also a brother who was an elder and also a school teacher.
His name was Arent van Essen, and he had a wife whose name was Ursel.
In the same house with them there lived another couple, of whom the
wife’s name was Trijntgen; and the name of her mother, an old women
of about seventy-five years, was Neeltgen. These persons having been
betrayed and reported to the authorities, one of the burgomasters of
the city, a man of furious disposition, came violently, about twelve
o’clock in the night, with his servants, called beadles, to the house
of the schoolmaster, and with great noise apprehended this man Arent,
and the latter was led in the night to the council house, called the
Landskroon. About an hour after, the burgomaster with his beadles
again went to the house of the aforesaid schoolmaster, to apprehend
two women yet, whom he had not seized before. Arriving there he also
found Neeltgen the old woman, who had come to see how it was with
her daughter Trijntgen and the others; for she had heard that Arent
had been taken away and imprisoned. He also apprehended these three,
and took them likewise to the Landskroon, to the man, so that in
the morning all four were together, rejoicing together in God, and
comforting one another.
When they were brought before the lords, they each separately freely
confessed their faith (1 Peter 3:15), and that they had received
baptism upon their faith, and what else belongs to godly doctrines; in
which, it seems, Ursel, though weak, according to the flesh, was not
the most timid; for they separated her from the rest and delivered her
to the lords (that is, to the Bailiff and the judges), who judge in
cases of capital punishment. And thus she was taken to the Dinghuys, a
place thus called; where she was greatly harassed with many threats,
all of which she meekly bore and suffered. Thus it went also with her
husband, Arent, whom they likewise delivered to the lords, and brought
him to the prisoners’ gate, which is the highest prison, where also
manifold wiles were employed to cause him to apostatize.
When this old woman Neeltgen and her daughter Trijntgen, were also
delivered to the lords, and conducted to the Dinghuys, and came into
the street on their way thither, both of them being joyful and of good
courage, Trijntgen for joy began to sing, thus she was kindled in the
Lord.
During their imprisonment in the Dinghuys they were frequently assailed
by the lords, and also by monks and priests, who sought to move them to
renounce their faith; but God preserved his sheep from the terrible
rage of the wolves. After this they began first to torture Arent.
Yea, it was said, that he was seven times severely tortured, so that
he fell into despondency in consequence of all these tortures: but
the Lord extended to him his hand, strengthened him, and gave him new
courage, so that he manfully fought through, as we shall hear. Ursel
his wife was likewise brought from the Dinghuys to the prisoners’ gate,
where she exhorted her husband not a little, to the strengthening
of his heart. There Ursel was also twice tortured on the rack; but
she faithfully adhered to the truth. But it did not stop with this
torturing in her case; for the executioner tied her hands together,
and drew her up, and as she was hanging there he cut open her chemise
with a knife baring her back, and severely scourged her with rods; this
was done twice in one day. (It was said that a Jesuit advised this
scourging.) But all this was patiently borne by Ursel, who, as said
above, was also tender of body, so that before her imprisonment, she
had to turn her stockings inside out, and put them on and wear them
thus, because she could not bear the seams of the stockings inside on
her limbs; but now, through the help of God, she was able to endure
torturing and scourging. Neeltgen the old woman was also led to the
torture, and when she came to the rack or ladder, she went and lay
down upon it of her own accord; but the lords considering her age and
feebleness, she was not tortured. They said to her: “It is not your
first time, namely, that she lay on the rack; for they knew that she
had also once in her youth been imprisoned and tortured for the truth,
from which imprisonment she had been delivered in a remarkable manner.
But her daughter Trijntgen was treated far less gently, for she was
tortured very severely; and when she was taken from the rack almost in
a fainting condition, she was laid upon a bed for a little while; but
as soon as she was recovered a little she had to go on the rack again.
And when she was tortured severely she cried aloud: “O Lord, succor
me, and keep my lips.” For she was severely tortured, that she should
name others; for they were thirsting for more blood. And God heard her
prayer, and kept her lips, so that they could obtain nothing from her
which implicated her neighbor. When Trijntgen was tortured the last
time, she said: “I praise and thank the Lord.” Mother Neeltgen, who was
not far off, hearing her daughter speak, asked: “Is that my child?”
Hearing this, Trijntgen replied: “Yes, my mother;” and fell on her neck
and kissed her.
On the 9th of January, in the year 1570, Arent and Ursel his wife were
notified in the name of the lords, that each was to be put to a stake
and burned, in which message they greatly rejoiced, because they were
to be counted worthy to die for the name of Christ; and were full of
joy that day and night, thanking and praising God, and thus waited for
the day of their redemption.
In the morning a town beadle came to Ursel, and enjoined her in the
name of his lords, that she should not speak in the street on her way
to execution; this the beadle said in the presence of the lords. Ursel
said to the lords: “And may I not sing a little, and say something
now and then?” But this they would not permit her, and said among
themselves: “We hear now what her intentions are.” They further said
to the executioner: “Do as you are commanded, and stop her mouth.” The
executioner had a piece of wood, which he put in Ursel’s mouth, and
tied up her mouth with a cloth. And as they had been taken back from
the prisoners’ gate, where they were tortured, to the Dinghuys, whence
they were to go to execution, and where also Neeltgen and Trijntgen
were still imprisoned, Trijntgen, when Ursel was led away from the
Dinghuys, had come to a window above, and when she saw Ursel being led
forth to death, she cried aloud over all the people, saying to Ursel:
“Dear sister, contend manfully, for the crown of life is prepared for
you.” Thus Ursel, with her mouth gagged, went to the Vrijthof (the
place where she was to be offered up), the people complaining greatly,
because her mouth had been gagged so that she could not speak one word.
When Ursel arrived at the scaffold which had been erected, she
ascended it quietly as a lamb, and went directly into the hut, and the
executioner immediately set fire to the same; and thus she was burned
to ashes, and became a burnt offering unto the Lord.
Very shortly after, Arent, Ursel’s husband, was also notified to
prepare himself for death, which he willingly received, and prepared
himself accordingly. Before he was led forth to death, they also
stopped and tied up his mouth, which presented a pitiful sight. They
had erected a scaffold in another place than where Ursel had been put
to death, namely, in the Friday or cattle market, near the Poel. What
the lords sought by putting them to death separately was not really
known; but common report had it, that the lords did it in order that
Arent and Ursel might not derive any comfort from each other. When
Arent was thus led, with his mouth gagged, to this place, a joyful and
undismayed mind could be perceived. Having ascended the scaffold, he
fell upon his knees, and fervently offered up his prayer.
He then arose and went into the hut, where he divested himself of part
of his clothing; but as this took up some time, the Bailiff, who was
present on horseback, called out to the executioner:. “Go on with your
work;” which the latter immediately did, and lighted the fire, and thus
this martyr was likewise burned to ashes, as a witness of Jesus Christ.
Above we said, that the old woman Neeltgen, and Trijntgen her daughter,
remained still imprisoned in the Dinghuys. On the 23d of January of
the same year, these two also received notice from the lords, that
they should have to die as the others; which notice they so joyfully
received, that time seemed very long to them before that day arrived.
For they sought rest above in heaven with their dear heavenly Father,
who, though he suffers his own to be tempted here, yet does never
depart with his mercy from them, but delivers them out of all their
distress. Hence, they were rejoiced in the Lord above measure, thanked
and praised him the whole night, and thus waited longingly for the
day of their redemption. In the morning, when they were to be led to
execution, the executioner put a piece of wood into the mouth of each,
and tied it up with a cloth; and thus they joyfully went (escorted)
to the Vrijthof. On the way Trijntgen put her hands up to the cloth
with which her mouth was tied, and began to draw it away and to say
something, and to call out why they died. But this they would in no
wise tolerate; hence the executioner went up to her and laid his hand
upon her mouth, and ordered her to go into the hut; for most of this
was done on the scaffold. And thus Trijntgen and her dear mother were
led into the hut, and both burned to ashes, having commended their
souls into the hands of God; which took place on the 24th of January,
A. D. 1569.
ANNEKEN OGIERS, DAUGHTER OF JAN OGIERS, AND WIFE OF ADRIAEN BOOGAERT,
DROWNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT HAARLEM, A. D. 1570.
The misery of persecution continued, so that almost nowhere liberty
could be found for an upright Christian soul. Herein also those of
Haarlem, in Holland, incurred guilt; which appeared in the year of our
Lord 1570, for then they laid their hands (which they had previously
several times imbrued in the blood of the saints) on a godfearing
woman named Anneken, the daughter of Jan Ogiers, and wife of Adriaen
Boogaert, who thirteen years previously had betaken herself from the
darkness of popery to the true light of the Gospel, and, in proof
that she desired to be a disciple of Jesus, had been baptized upon
her faith, leaving and renouncing the Pope and the Romish church,
and, on the other hand, accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as the
Son of God, and his church (namely, the cross-bearing church of the
Anabaptists) as his beloved bride, wife and own body, by which she was
then recognized as a member and fellow-sister.
When she in her imprisonment could by no means be turned from her
faith, the rulers of the city of Haarlem concluded her trial, and, on
the 17th of June, A. D. 1570, publicly in court, pronounced sentence
of death upon her, namely, that she should be drowned and buried under
the gallows. The sentence (excepting the title) reads word for word as
follows:
SENTENCE OF DEATH OF ANNEKEN, JAN OGIERS’ DAUGHTER.