court preacher, and when they had finished speaking, the preacher asked
the brother, if he would leave the country, and not return into it any
more, then they would release him from prison. The brother replied:
“If you will give me a letter, that where I go, they shall freely
receive me, I will leave your country.” They said they could not do
this. Thereupon he answered: “Then I can also not leave your country;
but I will remove out of it, and if I return into it, and do that by
which I merit the sword, then use it.” This pleased them well. Then the
steward of the country again spoke much in Latin to the preacher, and
then said to the brother; “If you will be pious for yourself, or abide
in your belief, and no more seduce any one, we will release you yet.”
The brother answered: “If I am wrong, use the sword, for this is your
office; but if I am right, then it is also right for him that hears
and learns something good from me, and according to this I will govern
myself.” Then the preacher said: “We will not force you to the faith,
but we will always keep you imprisoned, so that you will not seduce
any others.” They then had him brought back to prison; thus he had to
suffer and endure imprisonment quite innocently, only for his faith and
for the sake of the divine truth; and this for about nineteen years.
MATTHIJS BINDER, A. D. 1576.
Matthijs Binder, a minister of the word of God, was apprehended for his
faith and the testimony of Jesus Christ, at Neffen, in the country of
Wurtemberg, and taken to Stuttgart, and thence imprisoned in chains at
Maulbronn, where he was much examined and disputed with, by the first
physician of the Prince, by the chief of the clergy, and the abbott of
Maulbronn, as well as by nobles, the prince’s courtiers, and others
of various stations; but when they could not accomplish their will
with him, he was finally taken to Hohenwithing into the castle, where
brother Paul Glock had long been confined. There they were confined
together for about two years, but in the year 1576 God sent them
deliverance. Through the carelessness of the people in the castle,
there arose a fire, so that the latter burned to the ground; and these
two imprisoned brethren helped to extinguish the flames as much as any
one else, and did not run away, but requested afterward, that they
should be released, since they could well prove that they had harmed
no one, and promised never to avenge their imprisonment. Thereupon an
account was speedily (before the envious priests could prevent it) sent
to the Prince, who acquitted them and gave orders that they should be
released, and some money be given them for their journey.
Thus both Paul and Matthijs returned with a good conscience, in peace
and joy, to their brethren and church.
RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE AND JERONYMUS SCHEPENS, AND OTHER PERSONS, A. D.
1576.
In the year 1576 there were apprehended at Ghent, in Flanders, for the
firm foundation of the truth, a godfearing, pious brother, named Raphel
van den Velde, and with him a brother named Jeronymus Schepens, and
other persons. At said place they were confined in a strong tower with
seven doors, and very strongly guarded. There they remained imprisoned
seven weeks, and were dreadfully tormented by the blood-thirsty
ministers of antichrist, with manifold temptations and threats, which
they, through the grace of God, resisted. Thereupon the servants of
Baal sentenced them to be executed with fire. But as they suffered
all this for the testimony of Jesus, and not for any crime, there is
prepared for them the crown of eternal glory in heaven. And thus they
were burnt alive at said place, confirming the faith of the eternal
truth with their death and blood, as a perpetual and instructive
example to all true believers, to follow them in the footsteps of the
faith.
Here follow the letters which Raphel van den Velde wrote from his
prison, and sent to his wife and friends. Let the reader please read
them with attention.
THE FIRST LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.
Grace and peace from God our heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ, be with you, my dear and in God beloved wife; and the supreme
Comforter, the Holy Ghost, be with you and console you, and lighten
your heart in all your tribulation and affliction, which I well know,
are exceedingly great. Hence I hope to write your love a little, for
your consolation; for I hope that it will be a great comfort to you,
when you will read it, even as also my heart was exceedingly comforted
and rejoiced, when I received your letter, on Wednesday, about five or
six o’clock [P. M.], when in the morning I had been tortured from about
eight until ten o’clock. I thank the Lord, that he kept my mouth, so
that no one need be troubled by it; for when I had been laid upon the
bench, I did not open my mouth to criminate any one, but cried, sighed,
and prayed to God. The lords said: “Hearken to us, and we will shorten
the pain; yea, we are sorry that we must inflict it upon you.” But
when I would not listen to them, lying there bound and ropes tightly
twisted around my shins and thighs, and over my heart, and my arms tied
together behind my back, so that they lay under my loins, and a cord
with knots having been put around my head, which lay on a pebble-stone,
they began winding it with an iron chain, so that I thought nothing
else but that they were winding and crushing my head all to pieces; and
on my thighs and shins, so that it seemed to me, that all my bones,
flesh, veins, and sinews were going to pieces. Then thought I: O Lord,
what torture this is! O Lord, I shall not be able to endure it. O Lord,
succor me now, for the distress is great. Then I composed myself, and
committed the matter to God; and instantly all my members became as
dead, and the lords kept calling: “Tell, tell; and we shall shorten
your pain.” And when I would still not tell, they spoke in Latin to
Master Hans, and then the latter went and made two cords fast to my
great toes, in the form of a double knot, and stretched me out thereby,
which caused me exceeding pain. When I would yet not tell, they caused
the cords on my thighs and shins to be twisted still more tightly, and
the knots pained me so, that I thought that I must die. And still they
kept calling: “Speak, speak; and we shall shorten your pain.” Then
thought I: O Lord, how shall I be able to endure this; must it last
long yet? Then the thought came into my mind, that the eternal pain
should be still greater, and should last forever. Then I took courage
again, and cried to God: Help me in this distress, that I must not
bring my neighbor into the same affliction. And the Lord gave me such
courage, that I resolved rather to die on the bench, and kept silence.
And as they did still not obtain anything from me, to the implication
of my neighbor, Master Hans took water (during the entire time a cloth
had lain on my face), and holding my nose shut with one hand, began to
pour water on my abdomen and thence all over my breast, and into my
mouth, even as one should drink when he is very thirsty. I think that
the can from which he poured out the water held about three pints. And
when I was at the end of my breath, and wanted to fetch such, I drew
the water all into my body, whereupon I suffered such distress, that
it would be impossible for me to relate or describe it; but the Lord
be forever praised: he kept my lips. And when they could still not
obtain anything from me, they caused the cord which was on my thigh
to be loosed and applied to a fresh place, and wound it much tighter
than before, so that I thought he would kill me, and began to shake
and tremble greatly. He then proceeded to pour water into me again,
so that I think he emptied four such cans, and my body became so full
of it, that twice it came out again at the throat. And thus I became
so weak that I fainted; for when I recovered from my swoon, I found
myself alone with Master Hans and Daniel de Keyser. And Master Hans
was so busily engaged in loosing all my cords, that it seemed to me
that they were concerned over me. But the Lord in a large degree took
away my pain every time; whenever it became so severe that I thought it
was impossible to bear it, my members became as dead. Eternal praise,
thanks, honor, and glory be to the Lord; for when it was over I thought
that, by the help of the Lord, I had fought a good fight.
I would write you much more about it, but I leave it till another time.
Hence, my dear wife, let us thank God for his grace. On Monday I did
not think that I was approaching such a happy week, and as regards
the bruises from my torture, I hope that it will be well; but it must
have its time. Be not grieved on account of my sufferings; but praise
God in this matter, for my mind, I hope, is unchanged and immovable;
for though they should torture me twice yet, I hope to endure all they
inflict upon me. But it may indeed be called torture, for it is a great
pain. I also am ready not only to suffer myself to be tortured, but
also always to let my flesh be burnt alive at the stake for the truth.
I must also write you something about the joy and gladness which I now
have in the Lord; how the Lord strengthens, comforts and rejoices my
heart, when I consider the Scriptures, that I, who am such an unworthy
man, may be a partaker of Christ’s sufferings; I can now say with the
apostle, that I bear the marks of Christ in my members. Galatians 6:17.
Further, my dearest, I inform your love, that I received your letter,
whereby my heart was greatly comforted and rejoiced, so that for joy I
could not refrain from weeping; which was a sure sign of godly sorrow,
and the same worketh to salvation. 2 Cor. 7:10. Thus I understood from
it your great grief, much greater than you can say or write. But,
my dearest, I pray you by the mercies of God, that you will to some
extent lay aside your grief concerning me, and remember how, or in what
manner we received each other from the hand of the Most High; was it
not under the condition, that the Lord should always be the dearest,
and that we must leave each other, if it be his holy will? And now
your love well knows, that this is certainly the will of the Lord, and
nothing else; for if it had not been the will of the Lord, I would
have escaped as well as you. Hence, my beloved, let us be moderate,
and be content with such things as we have (Heb. 13:5), as I hope from
your love that you will do, and, if you think it well, rather let the
girl go, and keep your child with you. And in the meantime, teach him
something yourself, and diligently keep him busy at something with you.
But above all, I pray you, take good heed to yourself, for the Proctor
General questioned me much in regard to you, and at divers times they
asked me concerning my brother, but I did not answer them thereupon;
but they knew it well already, as they said. And Daniel de Keyser
came into my cage, and also asked me much in regard to my brother.
They also questioned me concerning my child, and whether he was not
baptized, which I told them; hence take good heed, or peradventure they
might take him, and greater trouble might result from it. We shall
probably have time to write more about this matter; but now I write
only a little of this and a little of that, for my head is not in a
condition to write much, but I hope that it will improve. To-day I have
been greatly tired with speaking against two Jesuits concerning our
faith; in the presence of the clerk of the criminal court, and Master
Jacob Hesseling, the Proctor General, and a councilor; but the Lord be
forever praised and thanked, they had to give up with ignominy.
I hope by and by to write more fully about every thing. Tell my dear
brother, also to write something, and greet him much for me, as also
his wife, and my dear sister, with the peace of the Lord, and that they
write me something, since I am exceedingly much burdened and concerned
for them. And take good heed, for no one knows what bonds are, except
he that tries them, this I may well say, for which I thank and praise
the Lord with a joyful heart. I hope that I am over the worst and my
heart is much resigned in suffering or affliction, and in death, but
when I begin to think of parting from my love, and my dear son, then
I cannot compose my heart so easily. But this comforts me much, that
my child can keep his mother. And be not over-careful, my love; the
Most high cares for you and also for your child; and our dear Lord has
shown us much grace, that he has permitted us to live together so long.
Yea, be not too careful, this I pray you, my love; but cast your care
entirely and gladly upon the Lord; he will provide for you, and give
you another husband in my place, if it be for your good. Ps. 55:22; 1
Pet. 5:7; Philip. 4:6.
Herewith I will commend you, my dearest wife and sister in the Lord, to
the almighty God and to the rich word of his grace; adieu, my love.
O you have been such a good and excellent housekeeper to me; O my love,
I thank you from the depths of my heart for your great faithfulness
and willing service, which you have so faithfully shown me in all
obedience. And I pray you all, dear friends, that you would diligently
help me pray to the Lord, for it is now time, the conflict is nearing
its height, this I well experience, and I apprehend that Jeronymus,
our brother, will also experience it; the Lord be gracious unto him; I
comfort him now and then, as best I can.
Greet Vintgen from me with the peace of the Lord, and let me know, how
it went with them all. Greet Jan and Klaerken from me; and K., and tell
him to write me something. And also greet in my name all those that
fear God, and always associate with the righteous, and you will become
more righteous still. Adieu, adieu.
Written in the dark, on the 24th of May, A. D. 1576. Adieu, my wife,
adieu, my child.
* * * * *
On Thursday the 24th of May I was brought before the lords once more,
and there sat two Jesuits. I was very feeble from the torturing. They
began and asked me, why I had suffered myself to be so long seduced,
and questioned me concerning my faith. Then I said: “Have I come here
to teach you? by no means. Do you confess your faith to me? I am
come to be instructed.” Then he began to confess his faith, just like
children that are learning. “Well, this is my faith,” he said. Then I
said: “Prove it with the word of God, and I will also believe it.” Then
he began from John 3, that the children must be baptized; also from
Mark 16 and Matt. 28, where he so entangled himself, that he did not
see how he could get out of it; and went from there [he went on] to
circumcision, where he likewise knew not what to do. Finally they had
to confess that it did not apply to baptism which greatly surprised me.
And when they saw that all that they did went backwards, they all began
to talk Latin at the same time, and I sat there and looked on. _Eamus_
(let us go), they said, and wanted to go, for it struck eleven and we
had come together a little after eight. And when they were determined
to go, I said: “I pray you, my lords, write your faith down for me,
so that I can consider it.” But they would not do it. “If you do not
believe our words,” said they, “you would not believe our writing.”
O, thought I, if I could get that, I should have you; I should soon
show to you, that your faith is not contained in the Scriptures.
Further, on the 25th of May there came the penitentiary from the
bishop, and another, and Friar Pieter de Backer, and they approached
me very subtly. They led me upon a very high mountain, and [said that]
if I would yield just a little, all should be well. Master Jacob
Heyselinck said Yes, he should help me, and the matter was in his
power; that I should only seemingly recant a little: “Dear Raphel,
how sorry I am; it pierces me to my very heart.” Then I said: “O my
lords, you say that I should recant a little; This I will gladly do;
yea I will recant altogether, if you can show me something better
than the word of God; but not otherwise, or my faith should not rest
upon the word of God, but upon the words of men, and I well know what
the prophet says: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man. Jer. 17:5.
O my lords, that would not be converting; you would have to prove it
to me with the holy Scriptures, or we shall not do it.” And after
many words we parted once more, and I thanked them for their trouble.
Sometime afterwards the clerk of the criminal court, the Proctor, and
Friar Pieter de Backer came and entreated me again. I said I was sorry
that they entreated me. They said: “But we shall show it to you very
clearly;” and commenced another mystery concerning the incarnation of
Christ. And when I began to answer, he put his Testament away. And many
other things they said. Then I said: “If it is your pleasure, I shall
reply to you upon every thing, one after the other;” and when they
heard how I began to answer them, they slipped away and said adieu, and
I did the same. And Friar Pieter said: “I shall come again in a day or
two.” “If you please.” said I. “O,” said he, “how sorry your mother
must be.” But I said nothing. And in the afternoon they sent me a book,
entitled “The Shield against the Anabaptists,” which I should read; and
in two or three days the penitentiary should come to see me again.
Here, dear brethren and sisters altogether, you may have heard whether
I suffer temptation or not, but I write it only very briefly, else it
would take much too long to write it. But the Lord be thanked for his
great grace, who so faithfully strengthens me and governs my mouth to
his praise. Though the outward man perish, this is small loss; the
inward man is renewed from day to day, for which eternal praise and
thanks be to the Lord, for I may now well say with Pieter van Werwicke:
“_Noyt meerder vreught in my en was,
Als nu tot desen tijden,
Mijn treuren vergaet my alsoo ras,
Godts woordt doet my verblijden:
Als ick dencke op ’t eeuwigh Goedt:
Och dan Krijgh ick sulck eenen moedt._”
I cannot tell it (express the joy); yea, I think that if every one of
the hairs of my head were a tongue, I could not express it. And that
they torment me with examinations, this I deem a recreation, for I
get out of my stinking hole every time, into the pure air, and this
rejoices my heart.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the rich word of his
grace. Always endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace, and purify your souls before the Lord, if peradventure God be
pleased to let you fall into the same trouble; if one is not a good
Christian previously, one can hardly become one here, this I well
experience, O dear brethren and sisters, I pray you by the love of God
and our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will show love to my dearly beloved
wife and my dear child, in all love, in unity, in kindness, and in
patience, Bear one another in love, this I pray you from the bottom of
my heart, and consider in what trouble she now is. Alas, you are sorry
on my account, for which I thank you, for it is godly sorrow; but she
has the greatest reason to be sorrowful. O she has lost so much, and
my son too; but I must resign myself herein, for it is the will of the
Lord; who will hinder it? O, when I think of her and her grief, and
of my child, I cannot restrain myself; but I hope that the Lord will
help me also in this. I beseech you by the love of God. O brethren, my
dear brother, write me once how she is situated, how it is with her
tribulation, and with my dear son.
O my dear son, I am taken from you too soon. O dear brethren, do this
much for my sake; and for the Lord’s sake; you will thereby afford
such great comfort to my heart. O it seems to me that I have not heard
anything for such a long time, and of my son I do not know that I have
had any intelligence; and of our Tanneken. O poor lamb! Adieu my dear
brother; adieu my dear sister; adieu to all your little ones.
Adieu, adieu; may God grant grace, that we may rejoice hereafter.
Written by me, Raphel, your weak brother in the Lord, with many tears
and sighs; not on my own account, as though my mind were ill at
rest--God forbid, it was in eleven years never better, the Lord be
thanked; but it is my weak nature. If I have written too little or
too much in any thing, excuse me, since my mind is much engaged, and
my mind is getting confused from all the troubles. Written the 25th of
May, in the year 1576.
RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE WRITTEN TO HIS BRETHREN AND
SISTERS.
I Raphel, wish you my dear B. and C. and K. my dear sister in the Lord,
a steadfast mind, constant, immovable in the fear and love of God,
that you, by such a constant, strong, firm, and immovable faith, hope,
and love to God and your neighbor, may continue in the love of God,
and in the patience of Christ, so that you may possess your souls with
patience, meekness and long-suffering, in order that you may willingly
bear whatsoever is imposed upon you by the Lord; and be not grieved
nor faint because of the tribulation, which is very great now. And I
thank your love, that you so faithfully exhort and comfort me by your
consolatory letter; and I would do the same for you, according to my
little ability, which is very little, but to the hungry soul every
bitter thing is sweet. Prov. 27:7. Hence it is my hope and trust of
your love, though it is not so consolatory, sweet or affectionate,
that it will nevertheless taste quite sweet to your hungry soul. It is
therefore my cordial and affectionate salutation and greeting to you
all, my much beloved brethren and sisters, that my mind is still well
composed and that I am also well content with whatever is at hand (Heb.
13:5), whether it be suffering or dying for the Lord’s holy truth;
and I fear not what man shall do unto me, for I am willing rather to
be present with the Lord in the eternal rest, than to live longer.
2 Cor. 5:8. For though I were free, as one would desire and wish, I
find in myself, that I should many times also be sorrowful, when I
well consider how perilous it now is to live in the world, which often
heartily grieves me, when I think of you, and of my dear wife, and my
child. O it costs me so many a tear, since you are still in much the
greatest distress and peril; may the Lord help, comfort, and strengthen
you, so that you may overcome in everything, as I hope that you shall;
for when the conflict is the severest, then the Lord helps the most,
which I may well say, for I have surely proved it, for which I cannot
now ever fully thank the Most High.
Hence, my heartily beloved friends, faint not because of the
tribulation, nor for any affliction, for we must know this, and
certainly trust in it, that he will not suffer us to be tempted above
that we are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape; and also that not a hair of our head shall be harmed, unless
it be his will. 1 Cor. 10:13; Matthew 10:30. Understand well the
expression, _unless it be his will_. Hence, my dear friends, do not
despond nor grieve, nor grow weary in the way of the Lord, but endure
willingly; for the Lord beholds all your steps, and all your distress,
and your labor which you do with all diligence, to magnify his holy
name. Hence receive the chastening of the Lord with a willing heart,
for they that are partakers of the Lord’s chastisement, are his
children, sons and daughters; but those who will not endure it, are
bastards, and a bastard has no part in his father’s possessions. Heb.
12:5.
Therefore, my dearest, let us willingly suffer all that comes upon
us for his holy name: rather than that we should have to forego his
eternal riches. O think how great and glorious he will make us; if we
continue steadfast unto the end. For once at all events we must die,
and we cannot die more blessedly or honorably, than for the name of our
God, who suffered so much for us. I should have written you more, but I
hope of your love, that you are all taught of God, much more than I can
write you, and I also have not always convenient time to write you. I
also trust to God and your love, that you have not begun this good work
so far, to let it rest here; but that you will be diligent unto the
end, so that you may receive a full reward. 2 John 8.
Further, dear B. and S. and K. S., I pray your love, that you will
take good heed to yourselves, for this new president proceeds very
severely--the Lord change his heart and open his eyes. Rather leave
the city, for they will watch their time even if it should be a year
after this. They have very many on paper, but who they all are I do not
know. They read them all in an undertone, and questioned me in regard
to some, but I did not know them by their names. And when Jeronymus my
friend was examined, they read aloud: Boudewijn Tijncke, Pouwels Ketel,
Gijselbrecht, and others, whom he did not know by name, and at last
also they again read inaudibly.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.