I am not very well at present, for I have pain in the head, and am in
great tribulation for your and the children’s sake, that I can not
assist you in helping to gain a living. Yet I hope that the Lord, who
has taken me from you, will assist you and provide you with what you
shall need, for faithful are the promises which he has made, saying;
Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you. And Peter says: Cast all your care
upon the Lord; for he careth for you. Hence, my dearest love, flee for
refuge solely and entirely to the Lord; for he that gives seed to the
sower will also give you bread for food.
Know further, that I received your letter, and I thank you from the
heart for the comforting treasures you sent me. Know that they greatly
rejoiced me, when I heard your mind, and that you still confirm me in
the truth, to continue valiant in the Lord unto death. I hope so to do
by the grace of God, and to obtain the glorious promises. And I also
pray you, my dear wife, always take heed to yourself, so that we may
hereafter, by the grace of the Lord, rejoice together where joy shall
endure forever. If it can be no more here in this world, that it may
certainly be hereafter, that we may then rejoice eternally; though
we must now sow in tears, that we may then reap with joy. Hence, my
dearest love, be of good courage, and thank God, that we are worthy to
suffer for his name; for thus the saints went before, and we must also
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. It is now my
turn; it may perhaps soon be your turn. Hence, my dear wife, endeavor
diligently to please the Lord and to serve him faithfully, that when he
comes to you, you may be watching; for blessed are those servants whom
the Lord when he cometh shall find so doing: he shall gird himself, and
make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke
12:37. Hence, my dear wife, always continue steadfast in the word of
the Lord, and faint not at my tribulation which is now present; but be
the more diligent to serve the Lord, and always keep yourself pure, my
dear wife, this I pray you, as I hope that you will do. And take great
pains to set the children to work, the best you can; and always conduct
yourself discreetly toward them, so that they may learn discretion;
and thus do in all things the best, this I pray you. I do not know yet
what they will do with me. I now hear reports sometimes, that they will
leave me in confinement till I turn and adopt the Romish religion. But
the Lord, to whom I have committed the matter, can soon bring about
a change, if it is his will; hence I commit my cause to him. Last
Tuesday I had the pastor of Houten here with me, and we had many words
together, but he did not know much to say from the Scriptures. However,
it would be too long to write all that we said; but in parting, as he
was leaving, he said: That if I would hearken, he would soon help me
out. I said that I would do the best; so we parted from each other.
Thus, my very dear and beloved wife, my hope and confidence are fixed
upon the Lord, to serve and obey him all the days of my life, by his
divine help and power.
Herewith, I commend you and my children to the Lord and to the rich
word of his grace. Amen. Greet much in my name all the acquaintances
that live near you, and give this letter to N., your landlord, and
greet him much from me. Nothing more for this time, but farewell. In
haste, on the 5th of March. By me,
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
* * * * *
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye
be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. 1 Pet. 4:12–14.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN; HE THANKS HIS WIFE FOR THE
COMFORTING PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE WHICH SHE HAD SENT HIM, AND INFORMS
HER THAT THE BAILIFF CAME, AND THAT HE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS FROM THE
PRIESTS THAT THERE IS NO HOPE OF FREEDOM, FOR IN THE COUNCIL OF TRENT
ALL COUNTRIES WERE DENIED US, AS BEING THE WORST SECT UNDER HEAVEN.
Grace, peace and love from God the heavenly Father, through his Son
Jesus Christ. Amen. This I wish you, my dear and beloved wife, as an
affectionate greeting in the Lord.
And after all salutation, I Christian Rijcen inform you, my dear wife,
that I am in tolerably good health (praise and glory to the Lord for
his grace), as I trust that is the case also with you. Only that I
have a little pain in my throat so that by reason of it my appetite
is not very good, but otherwise it still goes very well with me; it
is still my purpose (the Lord be praised) to obey the Lord and to
continue in his commandments all the days of my life, by the help of
the Lord. Know further, that I received your letter and I rejoice that
you always comfort me by the treasures which you send me; and I thank
you greatly from the heart, that you write these treasures for my
consolation, for they come very convenient to me, since I am thinking
a great deal daily, because of the long time that I must remain here:
sometimes sorrowful, sometimes of good cheer, and thus time passes away
with great desire. O my dearest love, I think that this is also the
case with you. But, my dear wife, let us firmly persevere till we are
taken hence, for now is the time of which it has been told us, that
we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, and
that we must weep and lament, but the world rejoices; we must now be
sorrowful, but our sorrow shall be turned into joy. And Paul also tells
us: “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Cor. 1:5. And Paul further says: “Though our
outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things
that are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16–18. Hence, my dear wife, we must now have respect
unto what Moses had respect, and esteem the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt, and always have respect unto the
reward, and by faith forsake the Egyptian nation, and not fear the
cruelty of the king, but always cleave to the invisible God, as though
we saw him. Thus, my dear wife, I commend you and my children to this
same God, that he will keep you, and provide for you in all your needs,
for I do not know whether I shall be able to write you any more; I
now expect a change soon, for the Bailiff is come, so that it seems to
me, that there may probably be a change in my situation. You wrote me
about that man at Cassel: but I do not think that he was of our faith,
for the priest considers us the worst sect under heaven. Hence, it may
turn out differently with me, than with the man at Cassel, for we are
the filth or offscouring of this world. For the priests said to me:
That in the last council of Trent we were denied all countries, and had
no liberty. Hence, my dear wife, if I must also be one to fulfill the
number, be patient, this I pray you, and do the best with the children,
and commit your matters to the Lord, and hope in him; he will bring it
to pass for Sirach says: The Lord never forsook any that abode in the
fear of God, nor that put their hope in him. Eccl. 2.
Herewith, I commend my dear wife to the Lord, and to the rich word of
his grace. Amen.
Greet the acquaintances that are with you much in my name, and always
keep yourself pure in the fear of God.
Written on the 12th of March 1588, by me, your husband.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
ANOTHER CONSOLATORY LETTER FROM CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN, WRITTEN TO HIS
WIFE, WHEN HE SUPPOSED THAT HIS CASE SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF; AND HOW
SOME CONSOLE HIM WITH THE [CONCLUSION OF] PEACE THAT HE SHOULD THEN BE
RELEASED.
Grace, mercy, peace and love be unto you from God our heavenly Father,
through his Son Jesus Christ, Amen. This I wish you, my dear and
beloved wife, as an affectionate greeting.
And after all salutation, I Christiaen Rijcen, inform you, my dear
wife, that I am in tolerably good health (praise and glory to the Lord
for his grace), as I trust is also the case with you and the children.
Know further, that I received your letter, and I am much rejoiced that
you are of such good cheer, and that you still comfort me, for which
I heartily thank you. And I would also like to write something for
your consolation, that you may be of good cheer; but, my dear wife,
the greatest consolation is the Lord, who has taken me from you; who,
as I hope, will assist you in all your need, and provide for you, if
you do not forsake him. For Paul says: “We are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken.” 2 Cor. 4:8,9. Paul further says
that he will not leave us nor forsake us, so that we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Hebrews 13:5,6. Sirach also says: “Did ever any trust in the Lord, and
was confounded? or did any abide in his fear and was forsaken? or whom
did he ever despise, that called upon him?” Eccl. 2:16. Hence, my dear
wife, put your entire hope in God, and say with Jeremiah: “Lord, thou
art my refuge, my strength, and my comfort in distress.” Jer. 16:19.
And also with David, saying: “If I only have thee Lord, I care not
for heaven or earth; yea, though my body and soul should fail, thou
art the comfort and portion of my heart.” Ps. 73:25,26. And remember
also, that Sara, when she was in great tribulation, said, that she
well knew that all those that will serve God, after temptation, are
delivered, and comforted in sorrow, and after all correction, they find
grace; and after the great storm he makes the sun to shine again, and
after weeping and lamenting, he gives joy abundantly, Tob. 3. Thus, my
dear wife, console yourself with these words; though we must now mourn
and weep, let us have good courage; for the Lord shall see us again,
and our hearts shall rejoice, and no man shall take away our joy. And
Christ says: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they
shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast
out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that
day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven,
for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 6:22,23.
Christ further says: “Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall
laugh,” v. 21. With these words comfort yourself.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and as regards my case, I know
nothing special to write you. I expected this week, that they would
dispose of the matter; but it seems to me, that God has not given them
the power yet. There are some, as I think, that would have it; but it
seems that the Lord does not permit them. Some console me with the
[conclusion of] peace, that they shall then release me. Thus, my dear
wife, I have committed it to the Lord. Do you so also, and greet all
acquaintances much in my name, and always keep yourself pure in the
fear of God, and always do your best with the children. Nothing more
for this time, but farewell. In haste, this 19th of March 1588.
By me, your beloved husband.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN EXHORTS HIS WIFE FIRMLY TO TRUST IN THE LORD, AND
INFORMS HER, THAT HE WAS ASSAILED ONCE MORE THIS WEEK BY THE PASTOR
AND A FRANCISCAN FRIAR, WHO TEMPTED HIM BY THREATS AND FAIR WORDS TO
APOSTATIZE; AND OF THE TERROR THAT CAME UPON HIM THE FOLLOWING NIGHT.
Grace, peace and love be unto you from God our heavenly Father, through
his Son Jesus Christ. Amen. This, I wish you, my very dear and beloved
wife, as an affectionate greeting in the Lord.
And after all salutation, I inform you, my very dear and beloved wife,
that I am still well according to soul and body, praise, glory and
thanks be forever to the Lord, for his great goodness, who has called
me to this time, and kept me, that I am worthy to suffer a little for
his name; and I also trust by the grace of the Lord, that you and the
children are also well, though I understand from your letter, that you
have had the ague. I hope in our dear Lord, that he will succor you;
and not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but that
with this temptation he will also make a way to escape, so that you
will be able to bear it. O my dearest love, trust with all your heart
in the Lord, and do not forsake your friend, that loves your soul,
since you have found him, as the bride in Canticles (3:4); but cleave
faithfully to him, and take him for your Husband, and for a Father
for my children, and diligently instruct my children, that they obey
this Father all the days of their life; and you too, my dear wife, be
also faithful to your Husband Christ, and do not forsake him in any
distress, for his promises are, that he will also not forsake you. I
must now leave you with sorrow; but, my dear wife, I hope that we shall
find each other in life eternal, where we shall part no more. O my dear
wife, I would like it so much, if the fight here were fought, so that
I might say with Paul: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for us the
crown of life. 2 Tim. 4:7. O then my heart would rejoice; but there is
conflict here yet sometimes. This week I have had with me the pastor
and a Franciscan friar once more, who came to see whether I would not
hearken. The pastor said that the recorder had told him, that letters
had come from the Court, [to the effect that] if I would not hearken,
and repent, they knew what they were to do with me. I told the pastor,
that I wanted to wrong no one; but as regards my faith, I said, I have
received it from the Lord, and I cannot forsake it. Then they used fair
words and said: “If you will hearken, you may live here with us, and be
a man of honor.” I said: “I want to do well, like a man of honor, and
to wrong no one; and that if I should do wrong to any one, that they
should punish me twice as much as another that had done the same thing
as I.” Against this they did not say very much. We had many words,
which it would take too long to write. I therefore do not know what
they will do with me.
My dear and beloved wife, you must know yet, that the night after the
pastor had been with me, a great terror came upon me, inasmuch as I
thought that they should put me in irons, or place me upon the rack,
which so terrified me, that the perspiration issued from my body, so
that I was wet from it; which made me very sorrowful, but I remembered
Christ, when his sufferings came upon him so that his sweat rolled from
him as drops of blood, down to the ground; wherein I consoled myself
a little, and it also seems to me, that the Lord sent it to me, that
I should not boast of myself, but that I should rely only upon the
Lord and not upon my own strength, as I also hope to do. And I pray my
dear wife, that she will help me pray to the Lord, that the Lord will
strengthen and confirm me with his Spirit, that I need not fear men,
nor the children of men, since they shall perish as grass.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the rich word of his grace.
Amen.
And greet your landlord in my name, and give him for this time this
hymn; and greet from me also all the others that live near you.
Nothing more for this time, except that I heartily thank you for your
comforting treasures, which you send me to my great consolation, for
they come very convenient to me. Farewell and console yourself in the
Lord, for these, my bonds shall be no disgrace to you, for I have done
nothing amiss to any one (the Lord be praised) that can say anything
evil of me, wherein I greatly rejoice.
Thus, my dear wife, be faithful to the Lord, for he that shall continue
faithful unto death, shall have the crown of eternal life.
Written on the 27th of March, A. D. 1588, by me, your beloved husband.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN INFORMS HIS WIFE, THAT HE HAD EXPECTED TO RECEIVE HIS
SENTENCE, AND THAT HE HAD AN IRON ON HIS LEG FOR EIGHTEEN OR NINETEEN
DAYS, WITH A LOG, UPON THE STRAW, BUT THAT NOW AGAIN HE HAD A LITTLE
MORE COMFORT.
I must inform you of something yet, my dear wife, namely, that I
constantly hoped last week, that I should receive my sentence: but it
did not come; hence I longed much the more for it, so that I daily
waited for comfort, which did not come, as I think, my dear wife,
that you have also done. But I have now committed it to the Lord, and
hope to wait with patience for the day that shall comfort us; and I
pray you, my dear wife, that you do likewise. I further inform you,
my dear wife, that about eighteen or nineteen days I was confined
with an iron on my leg, with a log, upon the straw, which was quite
uncomfortable, and always in my clothes. But the Lord be praised, it
did not grieve me, but I thought that we must follow the Lord through
want and adversity, even as the saints went before; but now I have good
comfort and am very well according to the body, and Joost shows me
great friendship, more than I shall be able to repay him. And, my wife,
I pray you, make as few words with those of Hontschote as you can, lest
peradventure the authorities should hear that you were there, and send
word of it to those of Bergen. But if you can speak to N., [do so;]
he often comes to Bergen. But, my dear wife, if you have any word to
send me, tell it to N. or N., who will deliver the message to me; and
neglect by no means to write to me how it is with you and the children,
and how you get along. Nothing more for this time, but be commended to
the Lord, and to the rich word of his grace. Amen. By me, your husband.
CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.
PIETER SAYMER, A. D. 1588.
In the year 1588, Pieter Saymer was apprehended at Freiburg in Bavaria;
having staid there over night, in an inn, with a landlord, and about
to proceed on his way in the morning, a beadle seized and apprehended
him. He was then conducted to Berckhausen, and very briefly examined,
and continuing steadfast, was taken back to Freiburg. The third day
after, the judge himself had him brought out of prison, and advised
him to renounce. But he answered: “I cannot renounce the true faith in
Jesus Christ, nor the keeping of God’s commandments, though it should
cost me body and life.” Then his end was announced to him, and the
staff broken over him, which caused his heart to leap for joy, and he
greatly thanked and praised God, saying then: I have one head, and if I
had two, or still more, I would rather suffer them all to be cut off,
than to renounce my faith.
There was much people present, and some wept over him when he was led
out; but he said: “You need not weep over me, for I am of good cheer
in God;” and he sang for joy, which the priests would not tolerate,
neither the actuary. There came a simple man, a fisherman, to him
and said: “Dear Pieter, renounce, and spare yourself.” But he said:
Be silent, you neither know nor are able to comprehend what there
is at stake for me. He then knelt down and offered up his prayer to
God in heaven, and while he thus kneeling performed his prayer, the
executioner struck off his head, which when it fell down to the ground,
rolled about wonderfully, and finally lay still with the face turned
toward the executioner, at which the people greatly marveled.
Thus, he testified with his blood to the faith and the divine truth,
and obtained the crown of eternal life, which occurred on the 8th of
July, 1588.
JOOST DE TOLLENAER, MICHIEL BUYSE, AND SIJNTGEN WENS, A. D. 1589.
On the 13th of January, A. D. 1589, at ten o’clock in the night, there
were apprehended at Ghent, in Flanders, for the practice of the truth
and following Christ, two brethren and one sister, namely, Joost de
Tollenaer, Michiel Buyse, and Sijntgen Wens; who, after much temptation
and torment (in which they constantly remained steadfast), were finally
publicly sentenced to death as heretics, but secretly, with locked
doors, in the count’s castle, strangled at the stake, after which the
two brethren were suspended from the gallows without, and the woman
buried under it, which happened on the 13th of April of the aforesaid
year 1589.
And as several letters of Joost de Tollenaer have come to our hands, we
have added them here, for the benefit of the reader.
THE FIRST LETTER OF JOOST DE TOLLENAER.
Grace and peace from God our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ his
beloved Son, our Lord and Savior; may he, Lowijs, my dear brother in
the Lord, and also Janneken, Jacomijntgen, and Sijntgen, my dear
sisters in the Lord, together with all beloved brethren and sisters in
the Lord, strengthen and confirm you with his Holy Spirit in the inner
man, so that you may obtain the end of your faith, to the salvation of
your souls, and to the praise, glory, honor of, and gratitude to, him
that lives forever and ever. Amen.
After all affectionate and Christian salutation to you my dear brethren
and sisters in the Lord, I inform you, that I am in good health
according to the flesh, the Lord be thanked; and according to the
spirit, my mind is fixed, by the grace of the Lord, to adhere to the
holy Christian truth, since there is no other salvation to be obtained,
neither in heaven nor upon earth, than through Jesus Christ, who is the
truth and the life. Hence, know, my dear brethren and sisters, that I
am of very good cheer in the Lord, with my fellow prisoners, though all
three of us are confined separately, and the jailer has strict orders,
not to allow us to come together, nor to speak. It is a little close
now, but there are Habakkuks who sometimes assist us, and though it is
a little distressing, we have a very great consolation, namely, the
Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the same helper and succorer that comforted
the holy apostles in their tribulation. Hence, I pray and supplicate
day and night to the Lord my God, that he would graciously assist me,
and help me to triumph, so that his holy name may be eternally praised
through me poor one; and that he would take from me that which might
hinder me; and thus I have committed myself to the eternal, almighty,
strong God, through Jesus Christ our eternal Savior.
Thus, my dearest friends, the Lord has heard my voice, and looked
upon me miserable, imperfect man, who am but dust and ashes, and too
unworthy for all this mercy, that he has called me to have tribulation,
bonds, affliction, and temptation for his name; so that I have such
courage and joy, that I could not express to you with the mouth the joy
and gladness which the Lord is giving me by his Spirit, so that I often
think in my heart: “O Lord, is this sorrow and tribulation, affliction
and bonds, or grief?” For in all the time that I unworthily walked in
the truth, I never had such joy and gladness. But when I think of the
eternal joy, of the great and comforting promises of happiness, which
the Lord has prepared for his chosen, and for all those that continue
steadfast unto the end--that they shall follow the immaculate Lamb
Christ Jesus, with shining white raiment, and branches of palm in their
hands, and shall moreover be crowned with the crown of eternal life;
that he shall lead them to the fountain of eternal life, and thus wipe
away all tears from our eyes; then it seems that my heart would burst
with joy, when I behold all this in the spirit; so mighty is the Lord,
and so can he comfort those that surrender themselves with all their
hearts. For, friends, it has now come so far, that I count all that is
temporal and perishable loss for Christ’s sake; and the Lord has given
me grace, so that I am not hindered by temporal affairs, which I accept
as a great gift from the Lord.