you and the flock of Christ) that my Bridegroom will forsake me; think
what he has said: Though a mother should forsake her child, yet will
I never forsake mine elect, whom my heavenly Father has given me. Is.
49:15. Hence if it is his pleasure, I shall soon be delivered. But if
you now deliver me with temporal wealth, you deprive our Bridegroom of
his honor, and believe not that he will deliver me.
Hence, my dear father and mother, grieve me no more about paying the
costs; for you have burdened me greatly, day and night, because I sent
word to you so many times, that you should not ransom me, and you did
not write me an answer.
Hence, my dear father and mother, speak with our friends, so that I may
receive a comforting letter from you or from the others, which would
be to me a great joy; for otherwise I desire no comfort from men, only
from our heavenly Father alone, who is able to provide for us.
O dear friends, if I continue steadfast in that which my heavenly
Father lays upon me, what great treasure I hope to gather thereby,
which will fall to me hereafter, which is a great joy to me. O my dear
father and mother, is this not a greater joy to you, than if I had not
done according to your will, and had gone off with a young man, as you
have doubtless heard of other girls? Hence rejoice and make melody to
the Lord in your hearts, because the Lord has made me, unworthy one,
worthy thereto and you have brought me up to God’s praise. Remember
that there is still more written, where the Lord says: Blessed are ye,
when men persecute and revile you for my name’s sake; rejoice and be
exceeding glad then, for great shall be your reward in heaven. Matt.
5:11,12.
Know, dear father and mother, that I have been before so many lords and
authorities, also priests and Jesuits, who sought nothing but to murder
my soul. But the Lord our God gave me wisdom and understanding, and a
mouth to speak which, I believe, was pleasing to our dear Lord. Very
many times they predicted my eternal damnation, and said to me: “If you
do not forsake your sect, and live according to the holy Roman Church,
as the whole world does, you will, as truly as God is in eternal life,
never attain to repentance.” Then I said to them: “I doubt not, but
trust, that if we finish it by the help of the Lord, we shall through
grace obtain the eternal joy.” Then they said to me: “God has nothing
to do with you; you are a child of the devil; the devil has you by
the throat, who will confirm you even unto the fire. God created you
beautiful, and made you after his own image; and is it not a pity now,
that you will have to die an ignominious death, and hereafter inherit
eternal fire?” I said to them: “I will rather die, than apostatize from
my faith, if it is God’s pleasure. Thus I am ready, much rather to-day
than to-morrow; I will not fear men, who must die; but I will much
rather fear my heavenly Father, who has given me my life; though I now,
for his sake, lose it, he can give it to me again.”
Then they left me. The omnipotent, strong and mighty God, our heavenly
Father, who always helps us to triumph, and does not forsake them that
have put their hope in him, and never turn their faith from him, the
Lord our God, who sits in the highest throne of glory, come to our aid;
he alone is worthy to receive praise and thanks, honor and glory, and
blessing forever and ever. Amen.
Hereby I most heartily greet my dear father and mother, brother and
sister, with the peace of the Lord. Dear friends, when you offer up
your prayers before the Lord, do not forget me, since I shall not
forget you; may the Lord be our helper. Amen.
Once more, in particular I greet father and mother, brother and sister,
and further all believers and lovers of the truth; let all pray
heartily for me. I hope to be diligent, as far as the Lord has given me
grace. God be with us all. Amen.
I had this letter written, when I was in prison for the testimony of
the truth, in the town of Luyck, A. D. 1595. I, a feeble member of the
Christian church, bearing now in my body the marks of my Lord. Adieu,
now, all of you.
MAEYKEN WOUTERS.
ANNEKEN VAN DEN HOVE, 1597.
At Brussels, under the reign of the archduke Albert, there was
apprehended for her faith and following Christ, a young maiden named
Anneken van den Hove (being the servant-maid of Nicolaes Rampaert’s
sister), having been betrayed, as it was said, by the pastor of the
Savel church at Brussels.
This Anneken was imprisoned two years and seven months, in which time
she suffered much temptation, from priests, monks, Jesuits and others,
who thereby sought to make her apostatize from the faith she had
accepted; but however great pains they took with her, in the way of
examining, tormenting, fair promises, threats, long imprisonment, and
otherwise, she nevertheless constantly remained steadfast in the faith
in her Lord and Bridegroom, so that finally, on the ninth of July 1597,
certain Jesuits came and asked her whether she would suffer herself
to be converted, for in that case she should be released and set at
liberty. Thereupon she replied: “No.” They then offered to give her six
months more time for consideration; but she desired neither day nor
time, but said: They might do what seemed good to them, for she longed
to get to the place where she might offer up unto the Lord a sacrifice
acceptable unto him. This answer having been conveyed to the judges,
information was brought her about two hours afterwards, that if she
wanted to die, prepare herself, unless she wished to turn.
Hence the justice of the Court, and also a few Jesuits, went out with
her about eight o’clock, half a mile without the city of Brussels,
where a pit or grave was made, while in the meantime she fearlessly
undressed herself, and was thus put alive into the pit, and the lower
limbs having first been covered with earth, the Jesuits who were
present asked her: Whether she would not yet turn and recant? She
said: “No;” but that she was glad that the time of her departure was
so near fulfilled. When the Jesuits then laid before her, that she had
to expect not only this burying alive of the body into the earth, but
also the eternal pain of the fire in her soul, in hell. She answered:
That she had peace in her conscience, being well assured that she died
saved, and had to expect the eternal, imperishable life, full of joy
and gladness in heaven, with God and all his saints.
In the meantime they continued to throw earth and (as has been stated
to us) thick sods of heath ground upon her body, up to her throat; but
notwithstanding all their asking, threatening, or promising to release
her and take her out of the pit, if she would recant, it was all in
vain, and she would not hearken to it.
Hence they at last threw much additional earth and sods upon her face
and whole body, and stamped with their feet upon it, in order that she
should die the sooner.
This was the end of this pious heroine of Jesus Christ, who gave her
body to the earth, that her soul might obtain heaven; thus she fought
a good fight, finished her course, kept the faith, and valiantly
confirmed the truth unto death.
Since she then so loved her dear leader, Christ Jesus, that she
followed him not only to the marriage at Cana, but also, so to speak,
even to the _gallows-hill_, there cannot be withheld from her the
honor and name of a faithful martyress, who suffered all this for his
name’s sake.
Hence she will also afterwards, when going forth as a wise virgin,
yea, as a dear friend of the Lord, to meet her heavenly Bridegroom, be
joyfully welcomed and received in the heavenly halls of immortal glory,
together with all steadfast servants of God.
O God, be merciful also unto us that are still living, that continuing
faithful unto the end, we may with her, and all the saints receive thy
blessed inheritance.
FURTHER OBSERVATION TOUCHING THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF ANNEKEN VAN DEN HOVE.
It was for a long time believed (which originated in the assertions of
some adherents of the Reformed Church), that the aforementioned Anneken
van den Hove died for the sake of the Calvanistic or so-called Reformed
faith; but this was long ago justly contradicted, by written as well
as by oral testimonies; among others, through a certain letter, which
was written in the month of July (when she was offered up) by some one
from Antwerp, to one of his friends; in which it is stated, in papistic
style, that she was buried alive outside of the city of Brussels,
because she belonged to the Anabaptists.
One year subsequently, namely, 1598, there was published, a printed
work called the _Apologia Catholica_, by Franciscus Kosterus, in which,
on page 160, these words are found: “Moreover, there was no injustice
done at Brussels, to Anneken van den Hove, inasmuch as they proceeded
against her in accordance with the old laws of the Emperor’s; nor need
the Calvinists complain of the lords; for she was found a Mennonist and
Anabaptist, who, Calvin himself confesses, ought to be punished.” See
the aforementioned book, printed at Antwerp, by Joachim Trognesius,
edition 1598, at the place referred to.
Subsequently, in the year 1601, another tract was printed and published
at Antwerp, by Hieronymus Verdussen, entitled: _Brief and true account
of the sufferings of some pious and glorious martyrs, etc._; wherein
she, near the close, is pronounced an Anabaptist.
Moreover, a certain school teacher and sexton of the papistic church
at Aelst, who then resided in Brussels, near the Stone Gate, where
she was imprisoned, and who often brought her food, made the verbal
statement, according to creditable testimony, that she had such a faith
and religion as the Mennonites, etc.
It was also then, and shortly after that time a common saying at
Brussels, of those that had any knowledge concerning her views, that
she agreed therein with the Anabaptists, etc.
OF THE DESTRUCTION OF SOME TYRANTS OF THIS LAST PERSECUTION.
We will abridge this century with which formerly also our old
_Offerboeck_ was concluded; showing the destruction of some tyrants,
who were no small cause of this last and severest persecution of all.
Even as the old man whom King Antiochus had sent out to Jerusalem,
notwithstanding he set up many abominations, and tyrannized against the
law of God, could nevertheless not suppress the people of God and his
law, but had to behold their increase [even] under the persecution,
and besides see that the country was full of wars and commotions and
resisted the king; even so it also came to pass with the aged Ferdinand
Alvares de Toledo (also called Duke of Alva), whom King Philip II had
sent from Spain into these Netherlands; however much he endeavored to
make every one accept the abomination of idolatry, above God and his
word, and however dreadfully he raged, utterly to exterminate the true
lovers of the divine truth, and ardent followers of the holy gospel,
yet he could not, to the satisfaction of his furious and blood-thirsty
disposition, accomplish his presumptuous undertaking.
For under his severe and bloody persecution, the church of the
godfearing, the pure bride of Christ, still constantly bloomed as a
beautiful rose among pricking thorns, and was fruitful, to the praise
of the Most High.
But he himself, who sought to rule over all Netherland lords, and to
oppress others, met with resistance from some of those whom he sought
to exterminate, who, however, were not of the defenseless sheep of
Christ, so that, after he had for about seven years indulged his desire
for bloodshed, slaying and murdering for the faith (when the country
was full of war on his account), he had to depart in disgrace, and
with him one John Vergas, who was a member of his council of blood;
which many regarded as a punishment of God for his wickedness. But
a still severer fate awaited Jacob Hessel, one of the chief members
of his deadly court, and Jan de Vis, Bailiff of Ingelmunster; who,
some time afterwards, were taken out of prison, without previous
announcement, or sentence having been pronounced conducted without the
city of Ghent, and hanged to a tree. And even as they had sentenced
many others to death unexpectedly, so they also had to yield up their
lives unexpectedly, and thus there was meted to them with the same
measure with which they had measured to others. From this we can easily
perceive God’s just punishment upon those who persecute and kill Christ
and his members. Likewise in the case of the high Bailiff of Halewijn,
named George de la Rave, who also participated in the tyranny over the
children of God, by persecuting, dispersing and apprehending them, and
otherwise. In the year 1571 he assisted in apprehending, among others,
one Adriaen Jans Hoedmaecker (who was burnt at Rijssel on account of
his faith), and in the year following, on the same spot where Adriaen
had been apprehended, he met together with some intoxicated persons,
with whom he and his servants fell into an altercation and fight in
which he was wounded to such an extent, that he had to lie in bed with
the wound for a long time and finally died a painful death in great
distress of mind. Hence he had several confessors come to him, who
could nevertheless not rid him of the gnawing worm of a torturing
conscience; but he had to end his life as a tyrant in misery.
But especially can it be seen, how hard it is to kick against the
goads, in the case of one Pieter Titelman, the Dean of Ronse, who
was probably the chiefest inquisitor in Flanders. He was about this
time in Kortrijck, smitten with a severe disease by God, lice growing
out of his wicked body so abundantly, that he could not be kept
clean therefrom, notwithstanding he was supplied with clean linen,
and otherwise cleansed two or three times a day. No remedy could be
procured and he died a most distressing and miserable death.
Concerning this Dean of Ronse it is also written, that having gone
forth on a certain occasion with a small number of men, to apprehend
these witnesses of God, and thus to deliver them into the hands of the
torturers and slayers, he came; at evening, into an inn, where he met a
bailiff, who had gone out with a great number of beadles, to apprehend
vagrants and wicked men. The bailiff asked Ronse with surprise, how he
dared trust his body with so few servants, to apprehend other people;
for if I were to do so, said he, I would soon lose my life. Thereupon
Ronse replied, that he had no fear in this respect, since he had gone
out to catch only good men, from whom he had no danger to apprehend.
Upon this the Bailiff, particularly reflecting upon Ronse’s words,
answered: “If you arrest the good people, and I the bad, who then shall
remain free?” Hereby this Dean of Ronse certainly bore testimony of
himself, that he had laid his hands on the just, who had not resisted
him. So it can also be perceived from this bailiff’s remark, that he
himself well knew that the magistracy’s power ought to be used only
for the punishment of the evil, and the protection of the good; and
that therefore this Ronse and his adherents shamefully abused their
authority on these people.
It also happened at Dixmuyden, in Flanders, in the year 1553, when the
pious Wouter Capelle, who is mentioned in this book, was burnt for
the truth, that there was a simple, harmless fellow, who was arrested
by the lords of Dixmuyden. He begged in the streets, and was thus fed
by good-hearted people. And since the aforementioned Wouter Capelle,
(by trade a say-weaver) was very liberal in supplying the poor with
food, communicating to them from the labor of his hands, it occurred,
two or three days before Wouter was apprehended, that this simple
fellow, late in the evening, came to Wouter’s house. Wouter asked
him whether he wanted something to eat. He said: “Yes.” Hence Wouter
brought him a piece twice until he did not wish any more. Now when
it came to pass, that Wouter Capelle was sentenced to be burnt, this
simple fellow cried: “You thieves and murderers, you shed innocent
blood; this man has done no evil but has very kindly fed me.” And this
he cried constantly, and as Wouter was brought forth to be burned, he
also stepped near and wanted to run into the fire with the condemned
man, so that they had to carry him away by force. And when he was
dead, the burnt body having been brought outside of the city to the
gallows-field, this simple fellow daily resorted thither, heeding
neither snow nor rain, and stroked with his hands the burnt body, and
said: “O poor fellow, you have surely done no evil, and yet they have
shed your blood; and you have fed me so kindly.” Finally, when the body
had been almost devoured by the birds, this man on a certain occasion
took off the whole skeleton, laid it upon his shoulders, and ran in
to the gate with it. Hence many people followed him, to see whither
he should take it, but he went with it to the lord burgomaster of the
city, and when the latter had opened his door, he threw the whole
skeleton down into the hall, and said (also other lords being gathered
there): “You thieves and murderers, if you have eaten the flesh of this
man, eat the bones too.” And as the lords of Dixmuyden had erected
an iron stake in the place where the aforesaid Wouter Capelle had
been executed, for a token and lasting memorial, that such a heretic
(as they regarded him) had been burned there; it came to pass that
the burgomaster of said city, into whose house the skeleton had been
thrown, became sick unto death, and his sickness so affected him, that
in his delirium he cried out: That he had seen the angel of God fly
over the stake with the soul of the burnt Wouter Capelle. And this he
constantly cried, till the lords caused the iron stake to be removed;
then he ceased his cry; but died most miserably shortly afterwards. In
consequence of this, it seems, those of Dixmuyden were so frightened
that afterwards they shed no more innocent blood.
Concerning this avenging hand of God, which he very signally exercised
upon blood-thirsty tyrants and persecutors of his people, you may also
read in an epistle of Menno Simon’s, S. G. folio 133,[348] which the
latter wrote in his time to Martin Mikron, and which partly related to
the aforementioned Menno himself. It reads as follows:
[348] English Edition 2d part page 419.
“It is now about eighteen or nineteen years since that a very eminent
and distinguished man, who was highly esteemed by the world, but whose
name and country I will not mention, wickedly advised, how they should
extirpate me and the pious. He had scarcely finished his words and
wicked thought, when the avenging hand of the Most High touched him.
He dropped at the table, and thus in a moment ended his impenitent,
blood-thirsty, wicked, ungodly life in a most dreadful manner, O
terrible judgment?” This happened about the year 1539.
“About the same time it happened to another man, who thought that he
would so set his trap for me, that I could not escape, that he, in like
manner, at the same meal he was eating, while speaking the words, was
suddenly pierced by an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, being smitten with
a severe disease, and thus had to give an account before the almighty,
avenging God, and was buried within eight days from the time he had
spoken these words.
“Still another, who was to become an officer to the Emperor in a
certain place, fancied that he should exterminate this people, if there
was any virtue in the imperial authority. He came to the place where
he was to be located and serve in his capacity; and four or five days
thereafter, the bell was tolled and the requiem sung over him.
Behold, thus God the Lord annihilates the designs of the ungodly who
assail his holy mountain, and brings to naught all those that hate his
truth and are inimical thereto.
“In the year 1554, it also occurred that three of our brethren were at
Wisbuy in Gotland, for the purpose of earning a livelihood there. A
preacher of that city, whose name was Laurentius, who was led by the
spirit of his Father [the devil], cried after them on the street, and
reviled them as much as he could, saying that they should not practice
their religion there, though it should cost him all that was inside
of his coat, namely, body and soul. A few days afterwards he came
to converse with one of these brethren, another preacher also being
present, who was somewhat more reasonable in disposition. He reviled,
and carried on dreadfully; but the great Lord smote him in the presence
of them both, so that he was suddenly deprived of his speech, and
within twenty-one hours (alas!) was numbered with the dead. O terrible
punishment and judgment of God!
“A case almost similar occurred the same year at Wismar, where they
had accepted a crier, named Doctor Smeedesteed, who said that he would
rather have a hat full of our blood, than a hat full of our gold. He
persuaded the magistrates (who gladly have and want to hear such pillow
makers) to proclaim just before cold winter, to the poor children, to
clear the place before St. Martin’s day; or they should be put where
they should not like to be. Smeedesteed was very joyous that he had
accomplished the fulfillment of his heart’s desire; but to his sore
judgment; for that very day the almighty, great Lord laid the hand of
his wrath upon him, and within six or seven days took him away by an
awful and severe sickness. Yet the hardened, blind and stupid world did
not perceive it.
“A. D. 1555, it occurred again in that city, that there was a preacher,
named Vincentius (who still lives there), who never grew tired of his
ungodly reviling and severe reproaching. On the day they call the
Lord’s Ascension day, he read from the Scriptures (Mark 16:16): ‘He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,’ and said he should
reproach and revile us, as long as his mouth was open. Instantly the
strong power of God closed it, and bound his tongue, and he fell down
in the pulpit, and was carried out by some of those present, as one
punished of God, and taken into his house a dumb man. Behold, thus he
can punish those who would touch and injure the apple of his eye.
“If I were to relate all the incidents which in my time befell the
enemies of the saints, it would require a separate volume.” _Thus far
from Menno Simons._
It is appropriate to add here, what happened to the said godfearing
Menno Simons himself. A traitor sold him for a certain amount of
money, binding himself to deliver him into the hands of the tyrants,
or he would lose his own head in stead; in which, however, to his own
injury he did not succeed, though he put forth his utmost diligence to
accomplish it. He repaired to their meeting, and diligently spied out
a place where they assembled; but Menno in a miraculous manner escaped
his hands.
It occurred also, that the traitor and the officer, who had gone out
to seek and apprehend Menno, unexpectedly met him in a small boat on a
canal. The traitor kept silence, till Menno had passed on a piece, and
then jumped on shore, to escape with less peril. Then the traitor said:
“See there, the bird has escaped us.” The officer called him a villain,
and upbraided him for not speaking in time. The traitor replied: “I
could not speak, for my tongue was held.” This was taken so amiss by
the lords, that they severely punished the traitor, for a rigorous and
instructive example to all bloodthirsty traitors.
Thus there can, by these and similar examples mentioned in divers
places in this book, as also in both Testaments, in murderous Cain,
Pharaoh, Jezebel, Antiochus, Herod, and many similar ones, be
manifestly seen and perceived the avenging hand of the almighty God,
and how grievously they offend against the God of heaven and earth,
who here afflict, persecute and kill his people; and what intolerable
punishment they have to expect at the coming of Christ from heaven; of
which this temporal punishment is but a beginning and foretaste, seeing
the Son of God, in the day when he will arise to avenge Zion, will
regard all that has been inflicted upon his own, as though the apple
of his own eye had been touched. Then shall all persecutors be sorry
with too late repentance, and groan for anguish of spirit, who here
condemned and killed the just, who did not resist them. Wis. 5:3; James
5:6.
Hence the wise woman Judith says in her song of praise: “Woe to the
nations that rise up against my kindred! for the Lord Almighty shall
judge them, and visit them in the day of judgment; for he shall put
fire and worms in their flesh, that they shall burn, and feel it for
ever.” Judith 16:17.