they had gone, a priest remained, who reviled much, and had much to
say, and wanted to dispute with me a whole night; but I would not,
because they had delivered me over already; for he had come of his
own account. Then he went away, and I had to go back to prison;
nevertheless, I am not dismayed. The Lord God has brought me thus far;
I hope through his great grace, that he will help me further, for I
know that he is the One that helps me; without him I can do nothing.
Hence praise the Lord always, and glorify him forever and ever. I
commend you to the Lord, for he is our Redeemer and Helper in all our
tribulation and distress.
Written by me in the twentieth week of my imprisonment.
REYTSE AYSESS.
A LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.
Grace, peace, mercy, love, and unity from God our heavenly Father, be
with you my dear and beloved wife; may the almighty God keep you and
me, and bring us into eternal life. Amen.
See, my dear and much beloved wife, whom I took before God and his
church, I am greatly troubled and grieved on your account, and pray
the almighty God day and night for you, that he will keep you in your
steadfast faith; for when you were with me, you comforted me with the
word of the Lord, wherein I greatly rejoice, with joy unspeakable, and
praise the almighty, eternal God for your faith.
Behold, my dear and much beloved wife, be not troubled on my account,
but console yourself in the Lord, for the Lord is my helper, and he
comforts me. I sometimes scarcely know that I am in prison, when I
think of the promises which God has given us, and thank God that he has
chosen me thereto. If we continue steadfast unto the end, the crown of
life is laid up for us, and we shall be clothed in white raiment, and
shall stand upon Mount Zion, with all God’s chosen saints, and sing the
good new song. O my dear, beloved wife, I could not forsake you for any
riches of this world, but Christ says: He that forsaketh not father and
mother, sister and brother, house and home, wife and child, and his own
life, is not worthy of me. Luke 14:26. Behold, my dear, beloved wife,
we have had each other two years, and have loved each other greatly; if
I could die for you, I think it would not be too hard for me. My dear
wife, though I am imprisoned here, it will not be to your disgrace, but
to the praise of God. I am greatly troubled for you and my dear child.
O that our dear Lord would take it into his kingdom; it would be such a
great joy to me; but if not, may it grow up in the fear of God. My dear
wife, be not troubled on my account, but console yourself in the Lord.
May the almighty God keep you and me, that we may hereafter appear in
eternal life. The Lord keep you and me, and confirm us unto eternal
life. Amen.
By me, your dear husband.
REYTSE AYSESS.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.
Grace, peace, mercy, unity, and love be with you, my dear wife and
sister in the Lord; may the almighty God comfort you in your misery and
tribulation which you have on my account.
Behold, my very dear and beloved wife and sister in the Lord, whom I
took before God and his church, the eternal almighty God console you in
your tribulation and distress which you endure on my account.
Behold, my beloved, though we are to suffer here (for in the world we
shall have tribulation, but our tribulation shall be turned into joy),
let us firmly cleave to the word of the Lord, and depart neither to the
right nor to the left. O dear and much beloved wife, I am so greatly
troubled and concerned for you, and pray the almighty God for you day
and night, that he will keep you, and that you may continue steadfast
unto the end; for he that continues steadfast shall be saved.
My dear, beloved wife and sister, when you were with me you comforted
me with the word of the Lord, so that the castellan’s wife said: “I
could not do this;” and you said I should cleave to the word of the
Lord; wherein I greatly rejoice, and thank the eternal God for your
strong faith. Pray the Lord who has begun this good work in you, that
he will keep it in you unto the end, that you may obtain the salvation
of your soul. My beloved, be of good courage, and be valiant in the
Lord; and we may well say with the prophet: “O Israel, how happy are
we, that God has made known his word unto us.” Bar. 4:4. What thanks
shall we render to the Lord for the good that he has shown us? for our
sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. 1
Thess. 3:9; 2 Cor. 8:9. Hence, my dear and beloved wife, if we suffer
with him, we shall also rejoice with him; if we die with him, we shall
also reign with him. 2 Tim. 2:11,12. O beloved, be of good courage, and
cleave to the word of the Lord, and be firmly rooted in him. Even as
Jacob took hold of the angel, and wrestled with him all night, until
the breaking of the day. The angel said: “Let me go.” Jacob said: “I
will not let thee go, till thou have blessed me.” Genesis 32:24.
Let us therefore be followers of God, as dear children in love. Eph.
5:1. O my beloved wife, I have such a great care for you, and am so
much troubled for you. O love, I beseech you from the inmost of my
soul, that you will not forsake the Lord your God all the days of your
life. O love, I am so greatly troubled and grieved for my dear child,
that I do not know whither to turn; and I pray the eternal, almighty
God day and night in regard to it. O my dear and beloved, be of good
courage, and console yourself in the Lord, and be not troubled on
my account--the Lord is my helper. My beloved, if it should please
our dear Lord, that we should meet no more, may we meet hereafter in
eternal life. May the Lord help you and me to this end, and keep us,
that we may be saved.
Written by me, your beloved husband and brother in the Lord.
REYTSE AYSESS.
SENTENCE AND DEATH OF REYTSE AYSESS.
After Reytse Aysess had confessed his faith with all boldness before
the lords and princes, and had taken leave from his good friends,
he was finally brought before the lords and sentenced to death. His
sentence reads as follows:
Whereas it has appeared to the Court of Friesland, that Reytse Aysess,
at present a prisoner, has, by the sentence of the high, worshipful
Lord Bishop of Leeuwaerden, been condemned as an obstinate heretic in
his opinions and errors concerning the holy Church, and as such been
committed into the will and hand of the secular justice, to be dealt
with according to law, according to the full power of the sentence
existing with respect to this; therefore, the aforesaid Court, having
duly regarded and considered all that ought to be considered in this
matter, in the name and in behalf of the King of Spain, etc., Archduke
of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, etc., Count of Holland, Zealand,
and Lord of Friesland, have condemned, and by these presents do condemn
the aforesaid prisoner, to be executed with water, and brought from
life to death; declaring, furthermore, all his property to be forfeited
and confiscated for the benefit of his Majesty. Done the 23d of April,
A. D. 1574.
Upon this, Reytse was very bold and joyful, praising and thanking the
Lord, that he had become worthy to suffer for his name; and in the
evening, at nine o’clock, he was brought into the castellan’s house by
the beadles.
There were some monks there, who tormented and tempted him much, but
they were not able to resist the spirit that was in him; he remained
bold and fearless, and spoke with a person which bears this testimony
concerning it, and sent greetings to all his good friends, especially
to his parents, wife, and nearest kindred, informing them that he
was of good cheer and in greater joy than he had ever been in his
life. Thereupon, about twelve o’clock in the night, the castellan,
the beadles, the executioner, the monks, and others, assembled and
conducted him to the torture tower, whither, he gladly went, singing:
“I call upon thee O heavenly Father,
Be pleased to strengthen my faith,” etc.
When he came into the torture tower, he fell down upon his face,
and called upon the Lord in fervent prayer, after which he rose,
and offered up his sacrifice with all boldness, and was drowned
there. He rests now under the altar, waiting for the number of his
fellow-brethren to be fulfilled.
How signally the faithful God is filled with compassion over his
people, how he comforts and strengthens them by his Spirit, how he
goes with them into water and fire, yea, he remains with them in the
bitterness of death, never forsaking them; and how he also regards
every injury inflicted upon his own, as though the apple of his own eye
were touched; this can clearly be seen and perceived, in both the Old
and New Testaments, in the avenging hand of God, with which he many
times smote bloodthirsty persecutors. Ex. 14:8; 2 Macc. 9:28; Acts
12:23.
The same can also be seen in many tyrants and persecutors of these
latter days, as, among other, instances, may be seen in the case of
a certain nobleman, named Andries Grijpen, who, searching for some
thieves, laid his hands on this aforesaid, godfearing Reytse Aysess.
And though their consciences (that is, his own as well as his wife’s
conscience), greatly troubled and accused them with regard to this
deed, so that they said they much deplored that these people were so
exceedingly oppressed; these people who, he said, harmed no one, nor
desired any one’s property, but were well satisfied with what they
had. That these were thus harassed, was a grievous cross to his heart;
and though he felt thus in his conscience, he nevertheless, through
the instigation of his secretary, and because he, like Pilate, would
remain the Emperor’s friend, and not lose his office, set at naught
this conviction of his heart, and bound and ironed the aforesaid Reytse
Aysess, and sent him thus to Leeuwaerden to prison. But the righteous
God, who is not mocked, very soon after this deed, sorely smote the
said lord with his avenging hand, so that the freebooters, coming
from Holland, fell upon his house and completely demolished it, and
subjected him to much affliction and ignominy, taking him with them
to Holland, and setting a ransom of six thousand guilders upon him,
in addition to which he had to give a hundred guilders each week as
personal expenses, until the ransom had been fully paid. In consequence
of this he and his family fell into extreme poverty, so that other
people, filled with compassion, aided and fed him in this his great
need. Besides this he was afflicted with gravel and consumption, of
which he ultimately miserably died. Some others of his kindred also
were taken out of this world in a miserable manner. Moreover, in
these afflictions his conscience greatly accused him of this deed, so
that he penitently prayed to God, desiring that through his temporal
afflictions and suffering, he might, by the grace of God, escape and
turn away the eternal torment of hell, which he seemed to experience
in himself. Hence this ought to serve as an example to all tyrants and
persecutors, carefully to beware of such deeds.
HENDRICK PRUYT, A. D. 1574.
About the year 1574 there was another pious brother, named Hendrick
Pruyt, born at Harderwijck, in Guelderland, and a seaman by occupation,
who came and sailed in the Zuyder Zee, on the coast of Friesland.
And as a Spanish colonel was stationed at Wurckom, who was a zealous
servant of the King of Spain, and a great war was carried on at that
time between Holland and the King of Spain, the soldiers of the latter
came in a yacht, on board of said Hendrick Pruyt’s vessel. And as he
saw no way of escape, he said to his wife: “Trijntjen Jans, lamb,
there comes the wolf;” exhorting her to boldness and to answer without
dissimulation to whatever she might be asked. When these robbers came
on board they asked: “Where does this craft hail from?” They answered:
“From Harderwijck.” Though that place was at that time at peace with
the King, they nevertheless had to go on shore with them, and Hendrick
Pruyt was put in prison at Wurckom. His wife, who came to him, was
greatly concerned how to obtain his release, for they were young people
who greatly loved each other: and as Hendrick Pruyt had little hope
of being released, he asked his wife not to go to much trouble on his
account, but that she should travel to her brother and friends, who
were principally interested in the vessel, that they might see how to
get the vessel released, which was also done. While she went home,
they in the mean time examined Hendrick Pruyt and found that he was a
brother of the Mennistic persuasion.
On account of this they dealt with him so cruelly and tyranically, that
they could not wait until the return of his wife, whom they might then
also have made to tread this way of suffering. But they took this pious
man and cast him into a boat which they had well smeared with tar. They
also tarred the prisoner’s body, and bound his outstretched hands to
the ends of the mast-thwart, and took him thus without the harbor, set
fire to the boat, and started him burning seaward. But as his hands
through the fire had become loosed or disengaged from their bonds, it
seemed probable that he might yet deliver himself from the fire; but
these murderers, seeing this, hastened to him, and thrust him through,
and ended his life. Thus this friend of God passed valiantly through
the conflict, and the seed of God, which he had received in his heart
through the preaching of the divine word, remained in him unto the end,
whereby he through patience overcame his enemies, kept the faith, and
through God’s grace obtained the crown of eternal glory.
When this colonel perceived that Trijn Jans, his wife, hearing this
report, would not readily be willing to run into the hands of these
wolves, he was very much dissatisfied with it, saying: “If I had her
here, she would have to go the same route;” and that if he could at
any time get hold of this woman, though she were buried somewhere in a
city, he would nevertheless dig up her dead body and burn it.
Consider, beloved reader, how such awful bloodthirstiness and tyranny
accord with the word, spirit and example of Christ and his apostles,
whose followers they, without shame, still dare call themselves.
OLIVIER WILLEMSS, OF NIMEGUEN, BURNT ALIVE FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE
EVANGELICAL TRUTH, TOGETHER WITH TWO YOUNG MAIDENS, AT ANTWERP, A. D.
1574.
Olivier Willemss, born at Nimeguen, educated in the schools, and
having become pastor of Leeuwen, a village between Nimeguen and Tiel,
began at times to evince scruples in reading the mass, and about other
Romish institutions. This exciting suspicion, he, by the advice of well
meaning friends, fled to the country of Cleves, and having entered
into the communion of the Anabaptists there, married a certain widow
from Antwerp (likewise a fugitive on account of persecution), and in
the hope of greater freedom through mitigation of the bloody decrees,
returned with her to Antwerp and settled down in the Steenhouwdersvest.
His wife in the mean time giving birth to two sons, the report of it,
together with the circumstance that the children were not brought to
baptism, brought them into the rumor and suspicion of heresy, so that
they, after accusation, in the beginning of the year 1754 (the children
being then a year and three months old), were put into prison.
A few days afterwards, on Friday, the 22d of January, this good and
upright man, Olivier Willemss, was, because of his faith, because of
having received baptism in adult years, and because of having sold
certain good and edifying books, proscribed by the papists, condemned
to death and the fire, to be burnt alive, which he steadfastly suffered
the following day, having commended his soul into the hands of God.
His wife, through a certain occasion, not necessary to be related
here, escaped out of prison, and ultimately fell asleep in the Lord, a
godfearing and godly woman, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.
FURTHER OBSERVATION TOUCHING THE PERSON OF OLIVIER WILLEMSS, AS ALSO
CONCERNING HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH.
It is stated of him, that besides his upright faith and virtuous
conversation, he had a very sagacious and penetrating understanding, as
also, that he was so well versed in the three chief languages, namely,
Hebrew, Greek and Latin, that he daily read them at home, and explained
them to his household.
In prison great threats of the torture were made against him, which he
bore steadfastly, immovably and unchangingly before God and men. He had
been in prison only three days, when his trial was concluded; whereupon
sentence followed, and the next day, death.
He was burnt alive between two young maidens, who to all appearance had
confessed the same truth, according to the testimony of those who said
that they witnessed it with their own eyes.
NOTE.--As there have come into our hand, not only the foregoing copy
and this last notice touching Olivier Willemss, but also the criminal
demand of the bailiff of Antwerp, made concerning said person, and what
the judges advised thereupon, according to the original record of the
secretary there, we shall properly add the same here, so that every one
may be fully assured of it.
EXTRACT FROM THE COURT RECORDS OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS OF THE
CITY OF ANTWERP.
The bailiff vs. Olivier Wilhemssen, of Nimeguen, since he has
dared attend divers forbidden conventicles, to sell books that are
proscribed, and to have himself, in said forbidden conventicles,
rebaptized, though he received baptism in his infancy, all of which is
contrary to the prohibitions and decrees of His Majesty; _concludit
capitaliter_, that the defendant be punished according to the aforesaid
decrees, the defendant having openly confessed that with which he was
charged by the Bailiff. _Judicatum_, that the plaintiff have his full
demand granted.
This copy having been compared, by us the undersigned, secretary of the
city of Antwerp, with the aforesaid court records, is found to accord
with it.
PH. VALCKENISSEN.
The words, _concludit capitaliter_, translated into Dutch [English],
means substantially, that the bailiff demands [the prisoner’s] life and
property forfeited in his behalf. The word _judicatum_ means, that the
lords pass sentence. This certifies the same.
PH. VALCKENISSEN.
NOTE.--I have another authentic copy of this demand made by the Bailiff
of the judges, against Oliver Willemss, on which is inscribed in the
margin, _Executio_: as though it were said: Execute, or punish, him
according to your demand, that is, burn him alive, for this was the
punishment of steadfast Anabaptists, according to the imperial decree;
upon which the Bailiff had founded his demand.
JACOB THE COBBLER AND HIS WIFE, GRIETJEN VAN BRUYSSEL, ANNEKEN VAN
BRUYSSEL, TANNEKEN WALRAVEN, A. D. 1575.
In the year 1575, on the eve of Whitsuntide, there were also burnt
alive, with their tongues screwed fast, at Antwerp, in Brabant,
the following witnesses of Jesus: Jacob the Cobbler and his wife;
Grietjen van Bruyssel, a widow; Anneken van Bruyssel, a young maiden;
and Tanneken Walraven, the mother of Jacques Walraven, of Amsterdam.
These died together, except the wife of Jacob the Cobbler, who, being
_enciente_, had to wait until her delivery, and thus following the
footsteps of her husband, she willingly delivered up her life for the
testimony of Jesus.
Every reader ought further to notice, how directly these papists
followed the footsteps of the envious and truth-hating scribes and
Pharisees, who stopped their ears, that they should not hear the words
of truth which were declared to them by that faithful witness of
God, Stephen. So did also these scribes, with still greater tyranny
deal with these friends of God, taking instruments invented for this
purpose by the monks, in which they screwed fast the tongues of these
prisoners, to deprive them of the power of speech, that they, on their
way to death, should not be able to proclaim to the by-standing people
the truth from the word of God, and the innocence of their death. How
will these persecutors answer for their course before the judgment-seat
of Christ, who knowing that Christ pronounced so many woes upon the
scribes and Pharisees, who killed and stoned the prophets sent to them,
nevertheless followed their works; hence they may expect the same
reward from the righteous Judge, who shall reward every one according
to his works.
On the other hand, these witnesses can in truth console themselves,
that to them, whose tongues were bound here, and who had to suffer
for the truth a little while, it will yield the peaceable fruit of
righteousness, when in the revelation of Christ their mouths shall be
filled with laughter, and their tongues with praise, and they shall
stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted them,
and made no account of their labors, being thus under the blessed
promise of Christ, who said: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And Peter:
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.” 1 Pet. 1:6;
Heb. 12:11; Ps. 126:2; Matt, 5:10; 1 Pet. 4:14.
These witnesses wrote many letters from their prison, but they were
lost through the Spanish insurrection, which occurred at Antwerp on the
4th of November, A. D. 1576.
CLAES VAN ARMENTIERSS, AND LIJNTGEN, A YOUNG MAIDEN, A. D. 1575.
In the year 1575 there was burnt alive at Antwerp, for the faith of the
truth and the testimony of Jesus, a god-fearing, pious brother, named
Claes van Armentiers, a lace-maker; and with him, a young maiden, named
Lijntgen, a servant-maid. Claes van Armentiers, having been imprisoned
first, said Lijntgen called to him into prison: “Strive valiantly,
my dear brother, for you have the genuine truth.” Being apprehended
upon this, she was offered up four or five days afterwards, both being
burnt alive together. And as they, for the truth of Christ (as behooves
obedient sheep of their only, eternal Shepherd), patiently and in true
obedience suffered temporal burning in their temporal and corruptible
bodies, they are hereby saved and delivered from the eternal and
unquenchable fire of hell prepared for the devil and all his followers.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
2 Thess. 1:9; Mark 9:44. On the other hand, these faithful followers of
the truth may expect to hear from the mouth of Jesus: “Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.” At that time they shall again in great glory, receive these
members, which they here for the testimony of Jesus delivered to the
burning, being like, in immortality unto the glorious body of our Lord
Jesus, and shall live with him in unspeakable joy and glory, forever
and ever. Philip. 5:21; 1 Cor. 2:9; Wis. 5:16.
TWENTY PERSONS AT LONDON, IN ENGLAND, NAMELY, FOURTEEN WOMEN DRIVEN
FROM THE CITY: A YOUTH SCOURGED BEHIND A CART; ONE DIED IN PRISON; TWO,
NAMED HENDRICK TERWOORT AND JAN PIETERSS, BURNT ALIVE AND TWO OTHERS,
AFTER ENDURING MUCH MISERY, ESCAPED FROM PRISON; ALL OF WHICH TOOK
PLACE UNDER THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, IN THE YEAR 1575.