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MARTYRS MIRROR

JOHN SCHUT, A. D. 1561

In the year 1561 another valiant hero and soldier of Jesus Christ, named John Schut, fell into the hands of the tyrants and persecutors, for following Christ, and living according to God's holy Word, in the city of Vreden, in Westphalia. There he suffered and, through the grace of God, endured, severe imprisonment and threats of death. When brought bound before the lords, to give an account of his faith, he freely confessed the same, saying that he believed according to the Word of God

1. They asked him. concerning his baptism, and what he held in regad to infant baptism. He replied that he was baptized upon his faith, as Christ his faithful Saviour has commanded us in Mark 16, that baptism is to be given only to believers, and not to ignorant children, and that he had never read of infant baptism in the holy Scriptures, and that it could therefore by no means be proved with the Word of God, but that baptism belonged only to those who had amended their sinful life. They angrily asked him, whether he would not give up these views. He answered that it were by no means expedient for him, 'to forsake the Word of God, and die an eternal death, but that he would rather suffer for the truth; though the pain should be as great again.

2. In regard to the Lord's Supper, he also thoroughly confessed before them that it must be observed according to the institution .of Christ, and that we must by it remember, with an humble heart, His bitter sufferings and innocent death, and how He shed His precious blood on the cross for us poor sinners.

3. They all asked him with many words, whether Christ our Saviour was not of Mary's flesh and blood. But as this point is a principal article of our Christian faith, he likewise answered thoroughly upon it; saying that he had never read this assertion of theirs in the Word of God. He asked them, "How could He be of the earth whom God the Father sent down from heaven? But He was conceived of the Holy Ghost by the pure virgin Mary, and became man through the effectual power of the Most High, so that the holy thing which was born of her is called the Son of the most high God, without partaking in the 'least or most of man's polluted or sinful flesh. But the Word, according to the testimony of John, became flesh or man, so that the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father was handled and seen. Thereby the promises of God concerning His proceeding from the seed of David, are completely fulfilled in Christ, through whom we all who were lost have been redeemed and reconciled to God.

4. They asked him concerning their magistracy, whether they were not of God. He replied, "Yes, for the protection of the pious, and the punishment of evil-doers; they are ordained of God to rule their dominions in peace."

5. They asked him what he held in regard to marriage. He replied that a man and a woman are united together in marriage, and that such union may riot be dissolved, save on account of adultery; following herein the teaching of Christ. Matt. 19.

6. They asked him concerning uproar and sedition. But he answered that he did not approve of such evil things; but that he and his fellow brethren, on the contrary, were taught to love their enemies, and to do good to them that do us evil and persecute us. And that with truth nothing else should ever be heard of him and his fellow brethren.

7. They asked him who his captain was. He replied that it was Christ with His doctrine, who had called him in peace. And to this his faithful Saviour, and his blessed doctrine he hoped to adhere, and to confirm it with his death and blood.

Thereupon he was sentenced by these tyrants, and executed with the sword. The chief judge who had passed this sentence, riding by the body of John Schut, a few days after his execution, called out mockingly, "Schut, sing us a song;" for Schut had been cheerful in his tribulation, and sung much in prison and on his way to death. Upon this the judge was struck with apoplexy, and never spoke again, but died in a short time; which by many was looked upon as the vengeance and punishment of God upon him.

Concerning this account, read his own hymn, in the old hymn book; it begins: "O Heer ick magh wel klagen."
 
JAN, HENDRICK, BASTIAEN, FANS, MARIKEN VAN MEENEN, BEETKEN VAN BRUGH, AND LIJNTGEN, THE 15TH OF AUGUST, A. D. 1561

A. D. 1561, there were imprisoned at Antwerp in Brabant, for the testimony of Jesus, seven pious witnesses of the truth, named Jan, Hendrick, Bastiaen, Hans, Mariken van Meenen, Beetken van Brugh and Lijntgen. All these had the house of their faith built so firmly and immovably upon their head and cornerstone Christ Jesus, that neither the philosophy and crafty seduction, nor the tyranny and violence of the papists could in any wise bring them to apostatize, but their faith was found much more precious than gold that erisheth, though it be tried with fire (I Pet. 1 ); so that they, on the 15th of August of said year, at said place surrendered their lives for the truth, and obtained the end of their faith, eternal salvation, through the grace of God, and are waiting now to receive, together with all the pious, the crown of everlasting glory, in eternity.
Read, concerning this, the beautiful long hymn composed for the comforting of these prisoners, and dedicated to them, in the second hymn book. It begins: "Lieve breeders wy groeten a met sangcn."
 
TWELVE CHRISTIANS AT BRUGES: ADRIAEN BRAEL, LUCAS HENDRICKS, MARIJN AMARE, NIKASEN AMARE, HANSKEN LISZ, ANDRIES DE MEULENAER, ANTHONIS KEUTE, HANSKEN PARMENTI$R, JAN N., JELIS OUTERMAN, FRANCIJNTGEN MEULENAERS, MAEYKEN TRAMS, IN THE YEAR 1561

In the year 1561, on the evening before St. Martin's day, some Christians were assembled together, at Bruges, in Flanders, who instructed one another with the Word of the Lord, concerning the amendment of life. When the lords learned of this, they sent thither the servants of the bailiff, who came running in, and cried, "Surrender, or we will run you through; and deliver up all your arms and books." They replied, "We are not a people who seek to avenge themselves; but we leave vengeance to God, who will avenge it in due time." They were then fettered, two and two together, and taken to prison; they walked on boldly, comforting one another with the Word of God. Three escaped, namely, Rutsaert, and his wife, and one named Maeyken; but the others who were imprisoned were joyful. Francijntjen Meulenaers said to Maeyken, "Dear sister, let us remember that the kingdom of heaven is .nigh, and let us be sincerely faithful to our Bridegroom."
Jelis and Hansken Parmentier each sang a hymn for joy. On St. Martin's day they were brought before the lords, where they boldly confessed their faith, as also, that they had been, baptized aright according to the command of Christ.

These ten brethren and two sisters remained in prison for about thirty days, where they praised and thanked God, and prepared themselves to suffer for His name. During this' time they were once more brought before the lords, where they again confessed their faith, and said that they would firmly adhere to it.

Afterwards, on the 10th of December, six of them were offered up, namely Adrian Brael, Lucas Hendricks, Marijn Amare, Nikasen Amare, Hansken Lisz, and Andries Meulenaer, who, boldly comforting one another, said, among other things, "Now the fight is fought, the course almost finished, the faith kept, and henceforth, as Paul says, the crown 9f life .is prepared for us." I Tim: 4:7, 8; Jas. 1:12.
The following day, the llth of December, the other six were put to death, namely, Teunis Keute, Hansken Parmentier, Jan, Jells Outerman, Francijntgen Meulenaers, Maeyken Trams, who.also boldly and joyfully, with ,their lamps, and adorned with their wedding garments, went to meet their. Bridegroom, with such great love that for His sake they did not fear bitter, death. Francij'ntgen called to one of her acquaitances, enjoining her cordially to greet the brethren and sisters in the Lord, and to tell them that she so gladly suffered for the name of the Lord, and would boldly fight, together with her Bridegroom.

Thus all these, the first as well as the last six, were strangled and burnt for the name of God and His truth. They are now at rest, and wait for the coming of our Lord, who will avenge their sufferings.
 
JAN HULLE, AT YPRES, A. D. 1561

As it is found that the wolf will generally follow his innate ravenous nature, and therefore the sheep can make no firm compact with him, but stand in constant danger of being devoured by him, so it appeared in the year 1561 in the city of Ypres, in Flanders, where a God-fearing lamb of Jesus Christ, namely, an old man named Jan Hulle, was seized and apprehended by these devouring wolves. He there had to undergo and endure many severe conflicts with them, not on account of any crime, but only for living according to the Word of God, from which they by tyranny sought to draw him and make him apostatize.

But as he, as behooves an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, had yielded himself under the voice of his only Shepherd, he fled from these strangers, and would not hear them. On this account he was condemned to death by the lords of this world, and was thus burnt at said place. In all this he, as a valiant soldier of Jesus Christ, armed himself with patience, and, through faith, steadfastly endured all these sufferings inflicted upon him. And as he herein was not ashamed of Christ and His truth but openly confessed Him before lords and princes, and testified and confirmed it with his death and blood; therefore Christ, when He comes in the clouds of heaven, in the glory of His Father, will not be ashamed of him, but confess him before His Father, and set him on His right hand, and bid him with all the blessed to enter into the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning, that is, into the eternal glory of heaven.
 
PIETER VAN MALDEGEM, PIETER VAN MALE, JACQUES BOSTIJN, AND LAUWERENS ALLAERTS, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 four brethren, named Pieter van Maldegem, Pieter van Male, Jacques Bostijn, and Lauwerens Allaerts, were apprehended at Ghent, in Flanders, because they no longer sought to follow the Roman church, but the commandments of God. When they were examined, they freely confessed their faith, and valiantly contended for the truth, with the spiritual sword of the Word of God; and as they in no wise could be moved therefrom, they were sentenced to death, and had to testify with their blood to the name'of Christ. They now rest under the altar, and wait until the number of their brethren be fulfilled, that they may be rewarded, and vengeance taken on their enemies.
 
VIJNTGEN, GOUDEKEN, AND JANNEKEN DE JONKHEER, BETGEN VAN MALDEGEM, AND SIJNTGEN VAN GELDER, A. D. 1562

In the same year there were also apprehended at Ghent three sisters, namely Vijntgen, Goudeken, and Janneken de Jonkheer, and two others, namely, Betgen van Maldegem, and Sijntgen van Gelder. All five freely confessed their faith, and undauntedly adhered to it unto death-which they had to suffer for it-and firmly clung to the love of their Bridegroom Jesus Christ. Hence they shall also, when the cry is made at midnight, go to meet Him with their burning lamps, and with oil in their adorned vessels, and shall, as ready virgins, go in with Him to the marriage of the Lamb.

GULJAME VAN DALE, A. D. 1562

Shortly after, also an imprisoned brother named Guljame van Dale, who adhered so firmly to the truth and love of God that he feared no pain, suffering, fire or sword, had, for following Christ (whom he thanked that he had made them worthy for it), to taste bitter death, at Ghent. Hence Christ shall exalt him, and give him to inherit His eternal kingdom of heaven full of imperishable joy.
 
JELIS STRINGS, WITH PIETER AND JELIS POTVLIET, A. D. 1562

Jelis Strings, a thoughtful young single man, and a man named Pieter Potvliet, with his brother Jelis Potvliet, a young man, all three natives of Tielt, in Flanders, having come to the knowledge of the divine truth, and joined the church of God, finally, after suffering much persecution, took up residence at Wervijck, where they supported themselves by tape weaving. Thus it happened about the middle of the summer of the year 1562, that one night the inquisitor came with many servants, surrounded the house, entered the same, and apprehended these three brethren.

When daylight came, they were put into a wagon, securely bound, the inquisitor and his company riding alongside on horseback. They were thus taken through Meenen to Kortrijck, a distance of about three hours walking, where they remained in confinement for three months, very closely guarded, and had many discussions in reference to the faith, with the inquisitor and other ecclesiastics; but they valiantly and steadfastly adhered to the truth known and accepted.

Hence, the inquisitor and the lord of Everbeke (in whose dominion they had been apprehended), and a great company on horseback and on foot, took these pious witnesses of the truth, in a wagon, back the same way, to Werwijck, where, in the marketplace, called the Steenacker, an enclosure had been prepared, together with stakes and wood, to burn them. But as it had rained excessively, while they were on the way between Meenen and Werwijck, so that the wood and straw, prepared for the purpose, had become very wet, and as the bailiff also was averse to cause them to be burnt, all three were sentenced to be beheaded.

First Jelis Strings was brought forth, who, as he was going to death, said, among other things, "Because I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, born of the Virgin Mary, I' must die." Thereupon a monk, who walked at his side, instantly said, "You lie." Jelis further said, concluding his remark, "And because I believe that the pope is the antichrist." Finally, kneeling down, he' said with a trembling voice, "O heavenly Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." A few moments more, and the executioner had dispatched him, and covered the dead body with wood, that the others who were to follow should not see it lie there.

Pieter Potvliet was next brought forth, who, on his way to death, said, "It has been so before for the name of the Lord." He also quoted, in confirmation of his faith, from Eph. 4:5, that there is one Lord, one faith. one baptism, etc. And having kneeled down, he also exclaimed, "O heavenly Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." The executioner soon wielded his sword, dealing him five strokes, on shoulder, head and neck, before he finished his work on him; whereupon he covered the dead body, as he had done the others.

Jelis Potvliet (still young in years) was the third one brought forth, who, as he was going to death, quoted, among other things, the words of Christ, "Fear not them that kill the body," etc. And kneeling down, he also said, "O heavenly Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit"-but before he had fully uttered the last word, his head was off. Their bodies were placed upon wheels, between Werwijck and Meenen, but soon after secretly taken down and buried by some of their fellow believers.

Of Jelis Strings two letters are still extant, which he wrote while in prison at Kortrijck, and which we have added here for the gratification of the Christian reader.
 
THE FIRST LETTER OF JELIS STRINGS

Grace, mercy and peace from God our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the.Son of the Father, in truth and in love. May He strengthen and confirm you people, who now have to suffer persecution for a little while, and may He grant you to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and that Jesus Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and you be rooted and grounded in love, so that you may be able to comprehend with all the saints of God, the height, and depth, and length and breadth of His mercy, and to rightly walk and remain immovable therein unto the end of your life; this we wish you all who love the Lord, for a cordial greeting, dear brethren and sisters in the Lord.

Further, after all greetings, be pleased to know that we are tolerably well yet, the Lord be praised forever for His grace. Pray the Lord for us that He will order it according to His will. We are of pretty good courage, the Lord be praised.

Further, I earnestly pray you, that you will rightly instruct the simple in the faith, concerning all things, and frequently speak of these things in the exhortation, for there is great need of it. They greatly torment those that are imprisoned, when they perceive that they are weak, yea, as much again as them that are sure of their faith. And you that are weak take it well to heart, and be not ashamed to ask questions for the benefit of your souls, until you have a good understanding, before it comes to the test.

Take this warning to heart, for it is such a blessed assurance, if one is sure of his faith. For Sirach says, "A man whose heart is established is like a house which is firmly bound and nailed together; it feareth not though a storm arise." Sir. 22:16. Thus, dear friends, let us also build upon Christ Jesus; this must be the foundation, namely, His Word; for Christ Himself says, "He that heareth my word, and doeth it, I will show whom he is like: He is like a man who proceeded to build his house; but he digged deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock: though floods and rains come against it, it remaineth standing, for it is founded upon the rock. But he that heareth my word, and doeth it not, is like unto a foolish man that buildeth his house upon the sand when the floods come, or the winds blow, it falleth, and great is the fall of it." Matt. 7:24-27. Observe friends, He says, "Great is the fall of it."

Hence, dear friends, dig deep, which, according to my understanding, means, to examine and take well to heart, so that we may not be found fools; for James admonishes us to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso examineth himself in the law of God, and is a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only, this man shall be blessed. Jas. 1:2225. Yea, Christ Jesus says Himself, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28. ,John also, admonishes us, "Blessed are they that hear the words of the prophets, and keep those things which are written therein."

Behold, dear friends, if we hear His word, and keep it well in our hearts, we are entitled to all these promises of blessedness; for it is the true food of the soul, by which all Christians must be fed, if they are to live; for Christ says that man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4. Yea, as the prophet Jeremiah says, in the 15th chapter, verse 16, "Lord, thy word sustains me, since I have obtained it; and thy word is the comfort and joy of my heart." Solomon, also, says, "Every word of God is pure, and they are a shield unto them that put their trust therein.'.' Prov. 30:5. Therefore, dear friends, let us always put our trust in God's Word; it will not deceive us; for John says:

These sayings of God are true; heaven and earth shall pass away, but the words of Cod shall not pass away. Rev. 19:9. O dear friends, let us heed it well, for it is what will judge us in the last day; for Christ says, "I shall not judge you; but the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge you in the last day." John 12:48. O dear friends, if it is that which will judge us, then we must well examine, and constantly prove ourselves, whether our life. accords with the Word of God; and carefully view ourselves in it as in a mirror, whether there is nothing condemnable in us; and if we find aught in us that is unclean, then let us do according to the counsel of the prophet, who says, "Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment; relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." He says, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. 1:16-20.
 
Continued...

Dear brethren and sisters, let us not be disobedient, nor murmur against God, like Israel, who were rejected for it. I Cor. 10:10. If we have heard His voice today, let us not harden our hearts, but let us take care that we do not forsake the promise of entering into His rest, and that none of us be found to remain without; for we have been sufficiently admonished, and invited, as was also Israel; but the Word preached them did not profit them; because they did not firmly believe it. Hebrews 3:7, 6; 4:2. But let us have a steadfast faith, like Joshua and Caleb had, who feared neither the great stature of the Canaanites, nor the strength of their cities, though their walls reached up to heaven. Num. 14:30. Mark, their walls were high, and the inhabitants of the land were like giants; they were only grasshoppers in their sight. But Caleb and Joshua trusted in God, and, said, "God is with us; their defense is taken from them; we shall devour them like bread." Num. 14:9: And by their faith they overcame everything, and entered into the promised land. Joshua 3:17.


Thus, dear friends; also our enemies are great, strong and numerous; but if we have a faith like Caleb and Joshua, so that we do not see our own strength, but go out from ourselves, and rely upon Him with the whole heart, then we shall cone off conquerors; for David says, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he sball bring it to pass." Ps. 37:5. Solomon, too, says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6. Yea, Paul, also, says, "Let.your conversation be without covetousness; and be conten with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man will do unto me." Heb. 13:5, 6; Deut. 31:6. Yea, David says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. .Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Ps. 23:1-4.


O dear friends, where do we find such a God in Babylon? He says, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee,; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Yea, He says, "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Isa. ,43:2; 54:10. Brethren and sisters, if we have such a God, who helps thus in time of need, who are we, that, we should be afraid of men, and of the children of men that must perish like grass. Isa. 51:12. Yea, Christ Himself said, "Fear not them.that kill the body; but fear him that hath power to cast soul and body into damnation." Matt. 10:28. Behold, friends, though the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. II Cor. 1:5.

Therefore, let us sincerely humble ourselves, and keep His commandments, and pray before Him with tears, that He will show us mercy according to His pleasure, so that, as we now have to mourn on account of their pride, we may rejoice after this distress, because we do not follow the sins of our fathers, 'who forsook their God, and went after strange gods, wherefore the Lord delivered them into the hands of their enemies.: I Pet. 1:6; Deut. 32:16. Therefore, dear brethren who are elders, comfort the people with your words, and admonish them to remember that our fathers were tried in many, ways, and had to overcome manifold temptations, in order that they might be proved whether they served God with their hearts. Thus, Isaac, Jacob and Moses remained steadfast, and had to overcome much .affliction; but the others, who would not accept affliction, but impatiently murmured against God,were destroyed by the destroyer and by serpents. But let us remember that we are chastised. of God, to make us better, and not for our destruction, and that the punishment is far less.than our sins.

For whom the Lord loveth lie chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12:6, 8. Hence, dear friends, let us be patient in this tribulation for a little while; for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18. But the God of all grace stablish, strengthen and settle us all, this I wish you all for a greeting. I Pet. 5:10.

I, Peter, greet you much, and earnestly desire that you would see to my wife; she hopes to do her best, she told me. We ask you to pray for us, that we may finish our course to the praise of God and the salvation of our souls. We also enjoin you, that if Pauwels has not moved, he would better do so; we advise it for the best. We would write more explicitly, but we fear that the letter might fall into wrong hands. I, Pieter Potvliet, greet you much, and give you a testament. Continue steadfast and immovable in the work of the Lord; see that your labor be not in vain. I commend you to God. By me, JELIS STRINGS.
 
THE SECOND LETTER OF JELIS STRINGS

Grace, mercy and peace from God the heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and in love. May He stablish, strengthen and settle you who have to suffer for a little while for Christ's sake; and many He grant you, according to the riches of His glory and power, to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and you be rooted and grounded in love, so that you may all be bound together with the bond of love, and thus, through the uniting of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the Lord, according to the Gospel, be built up together harmoniously a holy temple and city of God; this I wish you all who love the Lord, for a cordial greeting, dear brethren and sisters in the Lord.

Further, after all greeting, I hope to write a little again concerning the disputation we had with our adversaries, though it is not very much; for when we were apprehended, we resolved among ourselves, not to dispute, unless we might all come together, which was also observed, so that they should have nothing to lie behind our back, and that if they should hear a word more from one than from another they might not confuse the simple. On account of this they were much incensed; and said that they all depended on me. They often came to dispute; but we would not, unless we might all come together, and in the marketplace.

This angered them much, and they said, "Where was it ever seen that a disputation was held in the marketplace? You people want to introduce new doctrines." Finally, we consented that we would dispute in prison, provided we might all come together; but they would not have it otherwise than each separately, and this we would not do. Thus they came twice or three times, and we had some conversation with them each time, in order that they might not say that we refused to hear them. Our conversation was about the three persons and the incarnation. The first question he put to me was whether I did not believe that if men believed in Christ Jesus, and henceforth forsook all evil they would be saved. I said, "Yes; all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for us, and through this faith show obedience to the Gospel, shall be saved."

"Well then," said they,"If they believe that children may be baptized, they will be saved, according to your own words." I said, "My lord, it seems to me, that you are like the scribes; they sought to censure Christ by subtlety, and it appears to me that you do the same." Matt. 22:1 5."Yes," said he;"Christ knew how to answer the scribes, and so will you, if you have the Spirit of Christ." I said, "If they show obedience to the Gospel, they will not baptize children, nor cause them to be baptized; for it is not instituted or commanded of God, to baptize children; but you people have planted it, and whatever men have planted shall be rooted up of God, and thus it will go with your infant baptism." Matt. 15:13. He forthwith said that the Anabaptists believed that Christ brought His flesh from heaven.

I said that it was a lie;"are you not ashamed (I said) to sit here and lie in this manner in my presence?" He said, "What you believe, I know not; but others believe thus." I said that it was a lie;"I have never heard," I said,"of any that held such a faith; yet I have had more intercourse with them than you have; are you not ashamed to sit here and lie thus in my preesnce?" Then he became very boastful; three or four other priests and the bailiff were also sitting there, and they said, "Jelis, talk decently." I said, "Then do not lie so." I spoke loudly, that my comrades should hear it.

He then asked, "What is your faith, then?""I believe with all the apostles, that He is the Son of God, as Peter confessed" (Matt. 16:16; John 20; 6:69),"visible and invisible; that the Word by which all things were made became flesh in Mary, through the power of the Most High." He asked whether the Word became flesh like Lot's wife became a pillar of salt, or the water, wine. I said, "No." He asked, "How then?" I said, "It became man, and it continued to be the Word; that is, the Word which was invisible became visible; that which was impalpable became palpable; that which was impossible became possible." He said, "Was the Word not God?" I replied, "It is God and man.""Did God die?" he said. I replied, "He died according to His humanity, as Peter says 'put to death according to the flesh, but quickened according to the spirit.'" I Pet. 3:18.

I then asked him, how he confessed the unity. He confessed three persons and one God. I asked whether the Holy Ghost were a person. He said, "Yes." I said, "When Mary was greeted by the angel, that she should conceive, and she did not know how this should come to pass, as she had never known a man, the angel said: 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee.' Luke 1:26. Now, if the Holy Ghost is a person, then one person conceived another. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is written that when the apostles received the Holy Ghost, He sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3. But a person can sit only upon one man.

I said, "To whom then do you compare them?" They then exchanged a few words in Latin, and said, "We only call them persons: did you think that we considered them three human beings?" I said, "Yes." He said, "If you have taught men so, you must confess that you have slandered us, and that you are a false teacher." I said, "I am no teacher; I have enough to do to teach myself."

I added, "You call them persons; are they not such? Why then do you call them three persons?" He said, "It amounts to the same thing." I said, "It does not; a person is a human being, and you certainly cannot compare them to human beings." Then he said;"God the Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Father; the Holy Ghost is neither the Father nor the Son. And these are three; the one is what the other is not, and though they are three, yet are they but one God." I said, "This is also my faith, and in accordance with it I know but one person, that is Jesus Christ, who was visible and palpable; but the others I do not know what to compare them to." On this point we agreed, and he let go his persons. He then asked again whether God had died.

I said, "You have sat here and acknowledged to me that you do not consider the Word to be the Father, nor the Father to be the Word, though they, according to the Godhead, are one God; but you regard them as three witnesses; and two of these witnesses did not become man, but the Word, by which all things were made, became flesh, as John says in the first chapter [of his Gospel]. Although this Word became man, it therefore does not cease to be one God with the Father; else it could not be God and man."

Then he said: -"Jelis, you err." And they adduced Rom. 1:3 in their Testament where it read"Who became of the seed of David according to the flesh, is declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit." I said that in rendering it became they had mistranslated the word; that it ought to read: born of the seed of David. "Go," I said,"and examine the Testaments which you had printed thirty or thirty-six years ago, see whether in them it reads thus. I have read it therein: born, as it ought to be; but you have now caused it to be altered thus, to deceive the simple hearts." This made them very angry.

I then said"Say it as it ought to be: born; for a woman can certainly not make a child." Then he said, "Be came or assumed is the same thing; as it is written 'He took not on him (the nature of) angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham."' Heb. 2:16. I said, "This also is changed; it ought to read: 'He receiveth not angels; but he receiveth the seed of Abraham as his children; and believers are counted for the seed' (Rom. 9:8); for Paul says (I Cor. 11:8), that the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man." They said, "This is spoken of Adam and Eve." I said, "Here God has plainly shown that the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man, which is in direct opposition to your belief.

Paul speaks still more fully on generation; for he says: 'As the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.' v. 12. This certainly has reference to generation, for Adam was not by Eve." He said that it had to be understood so. I said, "I do not understand it so." We had many more words yet concerning the promises; but I have not the space to write it.

All these words I had with the parish priest of St. Martins, a very crafty customer, craftier than any one I ever heard; all the others are as nothing compared to him. Written in haste, in the dark, with ink made of coals; bear patiently with it. The day before we were delivered to the secular lords, we were brought before the Dean of. Ronse. He asked us whether we had come to a determination. I said, "I am always determined to eschew evil, and to do that which is good, as far as I know." There were three or four judges present, and the under-bailiff. He said it was great arrogance that I pretended to be wiser than all the world; there were Ambrose and Augustine, and other holy men

and they understood it so. I said, "I do not pretend to know anything; but I know the faith to be the truth, and herein I want to abide." Farewell; I commend you to God.

Your weak brother in the Lord,

JELIS STRINGS.
 
HEYNDRICK EEMKENS, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Utrecht, for the testimony of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, a brother named Heyndrick Eemkens, a tailor, who, after all solicitations and pains suffered, finally received word that he was to die, at which he rejoiced that he should also have the privilege of being a witness for the name of the Lord. This message was brought him by the pastor of the Buerchurch and a Franciscan monk named Friar Jan van Herentals, who in a few words informed him of it, and then left him. He said to friar Jan, "You need not come again tomorrow, for I do not need you." In the morning he was brought out from his prison into another room, where he had many words with the monk, who forthwith condemned him. Thereupon he replied, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." Luke 6:37. The monk said, "You confessed that you did not believe that Christ assumed flesh from Mary." He replied, "I have said it once in my confession; shall I tell you again?" and he referred him to John 1.

The monk then asked him whether he would not confess to him. He answered, "I have confessed to God." The monk said, "Have you lived to be so old without ever confessing?""No," said he,"I have indeed confessed to men; but God knows I heartily regret that I submitted so long to your confession." The monk then asked him whether he did not want to hear a mass. He replied, "I have read so many, that I loathe the mass; and even though I do not want to have it, yet if you want to read it, nevertheless, how can I prevent it? Hence, if you want to do it, do so, but not on my account; for I do not wish it."

Then the monk asked him whether he would not have the sacrament; but he said, "No, but if I could partake of the Lord's Supper as instituted and commanded by the Lord, and observed by the apostles and their churcles, this I should heartily desire, and thank the Lard for it, but your deception I do not want." Upon this the monk again damned him two or three times.
The thief-takers then came, and wanted to give him something to drink, but he refused it. Then came one of the jailer's daughters, a wanton girl, and wanted to put it into his mouth with a spoon, as they were sitting and drinking with the thief-takers, but Heyndrick said to her, "I have certainly told you that I do not want it; hence, let me in peace, if it is possible."

Thereupon one of the thief-takers said, "Do you want to go out of this world on an empty stomach?" He said to him, "I thirst for the true wine, of which I shortly hope to drink." But the monk said, "God does not put new wine into old bottles." But he said to the monk, "Because I have become renewed, therefore you hate me." Much more was said yet, which has been forgotten, since he himself could not write. This was written by one who was present when Heyndrick spoke with the monk. Though he was not a brother or fellow member with Heyndrick in thq church, yet his friendly disposition prompted hitn to write down what he remembered of it, just as he saw and heard it, for the remembrance of all lovers of the truth; and the following was seen and heard not only by him, but also by all the citizens generally, who can with him testify to it.

When Heyndrick had ascended the scaffold, he began to speak much to the people, saying, among other things, "Good citizens, repent, and believe only the Gospel and not the traditions of men."

When they led him to the lords, to hear his sentence, he again turned his face to the citizens and said that all the practices observed were only human traditions, and that whoever would not follow them had to be the reproach and offscouring of all men, yea, must thus suffer death. Matt. 15:6; I Corinthians 4:13.

The sentence having been read, many of the people, who pitied him, and did not wish to see him die, went away. But Heyndrick Eemkens fell upon his knees and face, on the scaffold, to pour out his earnest prayer before the Lord. When the executioner saw him fall down, he drew his cloak from his shoulders, and pulled him up by his shirt, so that he could not finish his prayer.

Heyndrick then said to the people, "Dear citizens, repent, for it is more than time. Live according to God's commandments and the words of the holy Gospel." And he called again with a loud voice, "This is the narrow way, and the strait gate;" and named the chapters where it was written, and many other Scriptures having the same bearing. He then stepped of his own accord, with a glad heart, upon the bench where. he was to be strangled and burnt, and said again, "This is the strait gate, press through it; through this pressed the men of God, for he that fights steadfastly unto the end shall be saved; of this I have no doubt." With great courage he put his body and neck to the stake, and said again with a joyful heart, "Dear citizens, repent; believe the Gospel and not men; for this is the narrow way which a Christian must walk."

The executioner then took a chain, putting it around his body, and fastened a little bag of gunpowder to his neck, so that it hung over his breast. Heyndrick spoke boldly to the very last, but his words could not be understood very well, for the executioner took a cord, laid it around his neck, and twisted it tightly. Heyndrick closed his eyes, just as though he had fallen into a swoon, and he was not seen to move any more, save that he cast up his eyes to heaven once more, and then immediately lost consciousness. Thereupon the executioner drew away the bench from under his feet, and seizing a fork, thrust the same into a bundle of straw and held the latter to a pot with fire standing on the scaffold, until it caught fire, whereupon he applied it to the gunpowder. The blaze flashed up to his eyes but did not burn his hair. He lifted up his hands to heaven once more, after which he showed no further sign of life.


Thus did Heyndrick Eemkens offer up his sacrifice, as a valiant witness of the Lord, on the 10th of June, 1562, about between 10 and 11 o'clock, A. M.
 
GEORGE FRIESEN, A CABINETMAKER, AND WILLIAM VAN KEPPEL, A. D. 1562

This George Friesen, a cabinetmaker, and William van Keppel, formerly a mass priest, were both apprehended at Cologne, A. D. 1562, for the evangelical truth. When William was sought and found he willingly went with his captors, who first took him into a tower of the city, where, however, he did not remain long, since they removed him into the count's dungeon, whither those were taken who were condemned to death. In this dungeon he found said Georee Friesen, who was his brother in the Lord, and also a prisoner, and whose company was a great comfort to him.

Manifold were .the nets spread and the snares laid, to catch their souls; but the principal ado and clamor was about infant baptism, which their adversaries claimed to be right; but as they could not prove it by the Word of God, they employed human wisdom, but to God be the praise, with this they could not move these men. Now the lords entreated them, now they severely 'threatened them with torture and death; but the prisoners rejoiced in it. The others said things sweet and things bitter, but this could not move the prisoners, for through the help of the Lord their hearts stood firm as a wall.

The count offered to give George money, and his servant maid to wife, if he would renounce his faith. But George would adhere to the truth and said to the count, "Your servant maid, riches, or money cannot take me to God, but I have chosen something better, for which I hope to strive." There also came to William a subtle individual, who made him fair promises and said that he would take him to England, who would soon have: drawn the net of delusion over his head if the Lord had not succored and preserved him.

When the last hour arrived that they were to be prepared for the offering, for which they greatly longed, they were both brought out of prison-the count's dungeon-to the house of the count, into a hall, at one o'clock in the night. There much arrogant and scornful language was used against them, and they were much tormented, to which George said nothing. William, also, answering but little.

This continued half the night, till break of day or twilight, when the two prisoners were hurriedly taken to the Rhine, where they were to be drowned. When George saw how hurriedly they were taken to the Rhine in the early morning, he called to the count, saying, "Sir count, what becomes of the promise you made us? for you said that you should put us to death in broad daylight." But no one paid attention to these words, but they were hurried to the place where they were to be put to death, namely the Rhine. And thus were fulfilled the words of David, where he says, "They have privily slain the upright." Ps. 11:2. May the Lord forgive them, for they know not what they do.

When they were taken out on the water, in a boat, William divested himself of his clothes, and laid his hands upon his feet, to be bound thus; for he thought that he was to be drowned and get home first. But this was not to be his fate, they made him put his clothes on again, and told him that he should wait.

And thus George was compelled to be the first one, to be made ready for an offering. When he was ready for death, he took brotherly leave from William, and they kissed each other with a holy kiss of love. Then George was thrown over-board, and drowned in the Rhine, thus. testifying with his death that he was a partaker of Christ's sufferings, to receive at His hands, through grace, the crown upon mount Sion, and rejoice forever with Him. II Esd. 2:43.

After George was drowned, the executioner said to William, "Put on your clothes; I will take you to the shore, and there behead you." William, through the grace of God, was willing and ready for it, and said, "You may do with me whatever God wills and permits."

When they came on shore, they set William at liberty. The executioner said to him, "Go your way." Whether they did this because William had been a priest, and they would have had to desecrate him, before putting him to death, and whether they therefore rather released him, than go to such trouble is not known.
 
AN ADMONITION WHICH GEORGE FRIESEN SENT FROM PRISON

I proclaim unto you, O men, one and all, a new message and glad tidings, through the Word of the Lord, which is, that you shall turn from your sinful life to God that your sins may be forgiven; cleanse your hearts, and forsake the world and its false show to which it lends so beautiful an aspect.

Behold, I proclaim unto you much joy, which I experience, as Christ the Son of God promised, saying, "I will not leave you comfortless." Those who trust in me, them will I help bear their sorrow, and deliver them out of all distress. For He Himself bound up our putrefying wounds, and healed them, which none other could do. Luke 10: 34. He healed us without merit on our part; when we were yet enemies, He washed' us with clean water, and sent us the Comforter, the Holy Ghost -as the faithful gracious Saviour Christ promised-who shall bring to our remembrance all that we have heard. Rom. 5:10; Ezek. 36:25; John 14:16. If we firmly abide in Him, and bring forth good fruits, He will give us a mouth and wisdom, as His divine Word says, if we diligently live according to His will; yea, such a mouth He will give us, that none of the wise of this world, who are yet in sin, and fail of the truth, shall be able to contradict us. Luke 21:15.

I daily find that, as the raging waves of the sea, driven by fierce winds, cast up their mire and dirt, and cannot rest, so it is also with these; if there were anything good in them, it would come to light. Isaiah 57:20. Now, even as the flowers of the field drop off, so it goes with those who consider too late; for the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth; but the Word of God abideth forever. Isa. 40:8:

I find still another matter which concerns me greatly, namely, that so many shall knock and say, "Lord, open unto us, and let us enter in also; to whom the Lord shall say: I know you not;" and that it will avail them nothing to say, "Did we not believe that thou art the true God, and that he whom thou anointest, and whom the Jews mocked is thy Child?" Luke 13:25.

If they persist in their evil deeds, anguish shall come upon them, so that they shall cry, woe, woe, .upon all the priests of Baal who have deceived them here, and who now sit in Moses' seat, persecute Christ, and .honor Baal, saying, "Do according to our words, and not after our works; by which they show that they do not walk aright." Matt. 23:2. O generation of vipers, who hath made you believe that you shall escape the wrath of God and the damnation of hell? Can the Lord not say to them,-"If you were so wise as to know me, why then did you not seek me by following the kingdom of my Father. Therefore, depart from me, all ye hypocrites, to the devil and his angels, into the lake of fire, and eternal damnation." Matt. 7:23.

But you, brethren and sisters, who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), make yourselves sincerely ready in these latter times, for the marriage supper; and do not suffer yourselves to be deprived of the food that is set before you, lest you perish with hunger; cling firmly to Jesus Christ; see that you lose not those things which you have wrought; and let no one lead you astray on this earth, nor be afraid of the princes of this world; for when they shall appear before the face of Christ, they will all be put to shame. II John 8'; Matt. 24:4; 10:28.

Betake yourselves now to the Lord, for now is the right time; and let not the world confound you, lest you be deceived. Watch, you that are on the ocean, lest you perish; believe in the Lord with all your heart, and you, will weather the tempest. May the King of kings, to whom all things are known, uphold us with His mighty hand, that we may on account of no adversity depart from Him, but may faithfully adhere to His Word even unto death. Hereby I will, gladly resign my life at.this time, and enter this narrow way through .Christ; by His help I will gladly bear His yoke, and in this yoke alone pull my plow. Ch God, that I might be so fortunate as to see the work begun in me brought to such a happy end, to the salvation of my soul and to Thy glory, and this solely through Thy powerricher or more highly exalted as a 'mortal I could not become! I should praise. and magnify Thee for it through Christ Thy,Son. Dear brethren and sisters, I have written this in my severe imprisonment, and give it to you for an admonition: I, George Friesen, have composed this in the night, while others slept; I hope. that ,daylight will soon shine brightly.

O Lord that 'thou wouldst speedily come to me in prison, deliver me from my chains, and free me from my bonds, and protect me from the wicked-O then I should stand well before The,e! My brethren, if you would rejoice in the spirit, and herein understand me thoroughly, then beware of sin, and you will see clearly. And if you would spiritually understand the divine law, go to the Lord, and He will help you in it.
 
MARTIJNTGEN AELMEERS, 'A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Honschote, in,Flanders, a young girl named Martijntgen Helmeers, of Steenwijcke, because she had been baptized upon her faith, and ordered her walk and conversatiori'according to the doctrine of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
After great steadfastness she was sentenced to death, and burnt, and thus offered up to God an acceptable, living sacrifice, and escaped the torment of eternal fire. .

NIKASEN VAN AELMEERS, A. D. 1562

The same year, Nikasen Aelmeers, the brother of the afore-mentioned Martijntgen, was apprehended for the faith and the divine truth, at Bruges in Flanders, and when no pain or torture could draw him from his faith, he was condemned and burnt, as a true witness of our Lord Jesus, Christ.
 
KAREL VAN .DEN VELDE, WITH PROENTGEN HIS WIFE, . FRANCHOYS DE SWARTE, WITH KLAESKEN HIS WIFE, JASPER THE SHOEMAKER, CHARLO DE WAEL, AND MARTIJNE AMARE, IN THE YEAR 1562

In the year 1562, there were apprehended at Honschote in Flanders, for the testimony of the truth, seven persons, namely, Karel van den Velde, of Ghent, with Proentgen his wife, Franchoy& de Swarte, of Belle, with Klaesken his wife, jasper the shoemaker, Charlo, a lad, and Martijntgen Amare, a young maiden, all of whom steadfastly adhered to the truth and the Word of God. Five of them, namely, the four male persons and the girl, were very soon after their apprehension burnt for their faith; but the two women, sisters, were sometime afterwards secretly drowned in a tub. One:of the women, when she saw that they intended to put her to death secretly, complained of it, since she would have preferred publicly to testify to the truth with her death; whereupon her sister said: ."It ,is all the same, for God sees it; He will reward us, and avenge our wrongs." II Chron, .16:9; Rev. 6:10.

Thus they all passed through the conflict as valiant heroes, and obtained leave to eat of the tree of life,' which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7.
 
JAN GRENDEL, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562, a man named Jan Grendel, from Kortrijck, in Flanders, came from Cludewater to Goes, and was the same evening on which he arrived in town apprehended by bailiff Vijtwijck, who, upon having taken him to his house, interrogated him concerning his faith, of which he made open confession, whereupon he was put in prison, where he lay for about a year. Bailiff Vijtwijck having, for maladministration, been deposed from his bailiwick, another named Floris Schaeck, stepped into this office, and under the latter, Jan, after many solicitations and sufferings, was publicly burnt, or put to death, in the marketplace, for his faith, in Lent of the year 1562.
 
FRANCIS VAN DER SACH AND ANTHONY WELSCH, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 Brother Francis van der Sach, a native of Rovigo in Italy, and minister of the Word of God (still on trial) and one who had been sent with him, named Anthony Welsch, were apprehended at Capo d' Istria, about one hundred Italian miles from Venice, as they were about to return to the church in Germany, accompanied by a large number of people, who, however, were not taken along, but suffered to go. Francis was ironed on his feet like a malefactor, and they were separately confined. There at Capo d' Istria they tempted and assailed them in a satanic manner, as they are accustomed to do at such times, and they employed all their might to entrap them into their snares, in order to cause them to stumble, and to make them despond and apostatize from God; especially was Francis severely assailed; but they valiantly resisted it all.

Having been heard and examined at Capo d' Istria concerning everything, they were left in confinement yet for three days, ironed hand and foot, and then sent to Venice. On this voyage they lay still for three days and nights, on account of the tempestuous sea, in the meantime comforting each other, and admonishing one another to constancy or steadfastness, so that it seemed as though they scarcely felt the pains resulting from the iron fetters and from other causes, which nevertheless hurt them greatly day and night.

Arriving at Venice the first day of September of said year, they were immediately separately confined in the dark dungeons of the chief senators, where they lay for a whole month, when they were brought before three Venetian secular, and also several so-called spiritual, lords, who sat there in great pomp, most magnificently arrayed, and they asked brother Francis, whether he still adhered to the belief which he had indicated to the examiners and lords who had examined him at Capo d' Istria in regard to his doings, and whether he still held it to be the truth. He said to them, "I hold it to be the truth, and it is the truth."

They then asked him whether he believed all that the holy, Catholic, apostolical, Christian church believes. He replied, "As far as the faith is concerned, I believe every article of the apostolical Christian faith." They then asked him also concerning baptism, the sacrament, confession, and many other things; but when he thoroughly answered everything, they urged him very hard, berating him most severely, and then remanded him to prison. They also examined Brother Anthony, who likewise made a good confession of faith to them.

Shortly after, they examined Francis again, especially in regard to infant baptism, but did not accomplish their purpose. After this, they had them brought before them several times yet, and argued with them. They also sent monks to them, who when they replied to their questions, continually called them heretics and gainsayers of so many councils, and said that if they would not desist, they should have to die, and with this they had them taken back to prison.

Soon after the lords again sent a monk, an inquisitor, to them, who was to speak with them concerning the faith. He first asked them whether they belonged to the transmontane church. Francis replied, "Yes." Thereupon the monk said, "This is the first error;" and asked whether he had also broken bread with them. Francis answering in the affirmative, the monk said, "This also is an error." And thus he spoke with regard to everything; no matter what they answered, the monk always said that they were heretics and deceivers.

The monk also said, "Tell me, who is the head of the church?" Francis replied, "Christ." The monk said, "This, too, is an error." Then Francis said, "You call us heretics, but you yourself are a heretic, and not we, for Christ is certainly the head of His church." But the monk said, "The pope is the head here on earth." Francis said, "A body with two heads is a hideous thing." Thereupon the monk again began to call him a heretic, and to admonish him to desist. But Brother Francis told him that he could not desist before he should have proved this to him by the holy Scriptures. The monk said, "We are not bound to prove this to you by the Scriptures." They were then taken back to prison, where Francis put his confession and defense in writing, and delivered it.

After this, they lay in prison for a long time yet, in all about two years, always steadfastly continuing, in many disputations, in the truth confessed, which they had accepted, and were then sentenced to death, and, in the year 1564, cast into the sea, at Venice, and drowned. But the sea will have to give up her dead at the judgment day of the Lord, when such murderers of the pious will be dearly requited, and will see with great terror, how heinous an offense against God it is, thus to touch His believers. See Zech. 2:8; Acts 9:5.
 
JAN DE SWARTE, KLAESKEN HIS WIFE, KLAES, CHRISTIAN, HANS AND MAHIEU, HIS FOUR SONS; PERCEVAL VAN DEN BERGE, JAN MAES, PIETER THE SHOEMAKER, HENDRICK AERTS, THE HATTER, JANNEKEN CABILJAUS HIS WIFE, KALLEKEN STEENS, AND HER MAN, IN THE YEAR, A. D. 1563

Jan de Swarte, a very good-hearted man, of Nipkerke, with his wife and adult children, came to the knowledge of the truth, and united with the church of God. Afterwards he was chosen and ordained a minister of the church, in which ministry he, according to his ability, and in simplicity, so conducted himself (not only in the deaconship, by caring for the poor, but also, according to his gift received from God, in dispensing the Word of the exhortation), that he endeared himself to all that knew him. I Cor. 12:4; II Tim. 2:15.

And as the apostle Paul foretold, that all that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution, so he also met with it, on which account he resided in various towns and villages of Flanders, as in Honschote, Rijssel, Wervick, Meenen, and finally at Halewijn, supporting himself mostly with tapeweaving. With his wages he was very benevolent and liberal to the poor, not only to those of the household of faith, but to all in general (II Cor. 8: 1; Gal. 6:10), by which especially he left behind him a good name, to the praise and glory of God, as also by hospitality, as taught in the Scriptures (Romans 12:13), in which he was not negligent, since it appeared that when he was apprehended, there lodged with him a brother from Doornick, named Perceval van den Berge, a native of Zwevegem, and another, who had come from Honschote, whose name was Jan Maes.

At that time there resided at Halewijn various other. God-fearing brethren and sisters, which being greatly envied by N., the priest of the castle, he betrayed them into the hands of the Dean of Ronse, the inquisitor in Flanders, who, on a Saturday night, the 7th of March, 1563, quietly came thither with a great number of servants, from Rijssel, surrounded several houses, entered them, and apprehended the afore-mentioned Jan de Swarte, with Klaesken his wife and four sons, namely, Klaes, Christian, Hans, and Mahieu (who was only about sixteen years old), and also Perceval van den Berge, and Jan Maes, already mentioned. Besides these he also apprehended one Pieter the shoemaker, with jacomijntgen his wife, which latter did not remain steadfast. Also, one Heyndrick Aerts the hatter, with janneken Cabiljaus his wife, and another sister, Kalleken Steens, the wife of a brother whose name was Augustijn.

When Jan de Swarte was apprehended, his two younger sons were not present, but came in the meantime. When they came to the house the neighbors warned them, that those who apprehended their father and mother were in the house. The one said to the other, "Do not let us flee, but let us die with father and mother." In the meantime Jan de Swarte was led out of the house a prisoner, and seeing his sons, he said to them, "Children, do you want to, go along to the New Jerusalem?" They replied, "Yes, father;" and were thus led captive with them.

The inquisitor brought them all prisoners to Rijssel, and there had them very closely confined in the castle. Jan was put into a hole by himself, which was called the"Paradise," and was so small that he could neither stand upright in it, nor lie down full length.

It happened one day that divers brethren and sisters, prompted by love and compassion, had come from without the city, and were standing over against the castle, calling to the prisoners over the fortification, for their consolation, that among them there was one brother named Herman, who being noticed by one of the beadles of the town, who came out secretly, was also apprehended.

After an imprisonment of ten days, the inquisitor delivered these prisoners into the hands of the secular authorities, who first took out Jan de Swarte with his son Klaes, Pieter, the shoemaker, Hendrick Aerts, the hatter, Percival van den Berg, and Jan Maes, all six of whom, because they valiantly and steadfastly adhered to the divine truth, they sentenced to death, and took them in a wagon to the marketplace, where stood the scaffold, provided with earth and stakes. There they were taken up one after another, and two and two fastened to a stake.

As they were going to death, the clock struck. John asked what time it was. He was told that it was four o'clock. He consoled himself with this, saying, "At five o'clock we hope to be in our lodging or resting place." His son Klaes, said, "We have to die for the reason that we believe!!that Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal God, is from heaven and not of the earth."

Pieter was gagged, to prevent him from speaking. When they stood at the stakes, wood and straw were placed around them, to which fire was then set, and they were thus burnt alive to ashes.

A few days afterwards also Klaesken, the wife of Jan de Swarte, with her three sons, and Herman, because they adhered immovably to the love of God, were all five sentenced to death by the authorities, and also burned alive to ashes, persevering unto the end as valiant witnesses of Christ.

Almost a year after this, after very long imprisonment, Janneken Cabiljaus and kalleken Steens, were sentenced to death, placed alive into the fire, and burnt to ashes, as valiant and steadfast witnesses of the divine truth.

It also came to pass that the priest of the castle, N., who had so spitefully betrayed these dear friends of God, was very sorely punished by God; for such putrefaction entered his flesh, that it fell off piecemeal, or was cut off from time to time, from his body, no physicians being able to cure the disease.!!Thus it happened on one occasion; a large piece, of putrid flesh having dropped, or been cut off from his body, that the same was eaten by a dog, while he beheld it with his own eyes. How he must have felt on this occasion, it is easy to imagine, especially when viewing it as the fulfillment of a curse said to have been pronounced upon him."That he should yet with his own eyes see the dogs eat his flesh."

It also happened that while the priest was lying sick, a man came to visit him, who, when the former complained to him of his great misery, remarked to him, "It is the coals from the fire at Rijssel"-namely, from the burning of the friends mentioned above; which did not please the priest very much; but he had to bear this taunt as well as the punishment sent him from God. And in this way he at last died most miserably, even as we read that in former times it happened to Antiochus and Herod. II Macc. 9:9; Acts 12:23.
 
DIRK LAMBERTS, CHRISTIAN VAN WETTEREN, AND ANTONIJN DE WALE, A. D. 1563

At Ghent in Flanders there were apprehended, for the faith, three brethren, namely, Dirk Lamberts, Christian van Wetteren, and Antonijn de Wale, who contended valiantly and heroically for their faith and the truth, from which they would not depart for any temptation, pain or suffering, so that they were finally sentenced to death. First Dirk Lamberts, and shortly afterwards the other two, had to follow Christ by entering through death into life; therefore they shall be clothed in fine linen with all the elect of God, and receive; palms into their hands, and the crown of life upon their heads.

JOOS JANS PUT TO DEATH, A. D. 1563

The same year a brother named Joos Jans; was apprehended at Somerdijck, for living according to the truth, and was immediately taken to.Zierickzee; where he suffered much examination and hardship, but suffered himself nevertheless in no wise to be moved or turned away from the Word of God and the love of Christ, so that he was finally sentenced to death and beheaded, thus valiantly testifying with his blood to the truth.

NOTE - The repeatedly, mentioned decree of Emperor Charles V, enacted in the year 1550and confirmed by Philip II, King of Spain, A. D. 155.6 (for which year we have circumstantially shown the same), as also, A. D. 1560, was at this time, namely, A. D. 1564, renewed and established the third time, for the annihilation and 'destruction of the innocent and defenseless Christian believers, as may be seen in the. large book of decrees of Ghent, and Cited by William I, Prince of Orange, in his defence against his adversaries, edition 1599, page 165, etc.

Thereupon followed no small persecution, as, may be seen from the history of the following martyrs.

DANIEL KALVAERT, BURNED, A. D. 1564

Daniel Kalvaert, a native of Thielt, in Flanders, was apprehended, A. D. 1564; at Arm' entiers, for the testimony of the truth, and thence taken to Rijssel, but after being subjected to some S*olicitation and torture, he was brought back to Armentiers, escorted by forty beadles, and there sentenced by the authorities, to be burnt alive to ashes; which offering he boldly brought, after which his ashes were thrown into the river Leye.

PIETER VAN OOSTHOVE, A. D. 1564

Pieter Floriss, called of Oosthove, a native of Nipkerke in Flanders, was apprehended for the divine truth, at Armentiers, A. D. 1564, and; through many solicitations and sufferings, was prevailed upon to apostatize from his faith, induced by the promise that he should not die, and be released. But when again in his prison, and coming to himself, he reflected how greatly he had suffered himself to be deceived, for though he should escape temporal death for a little while, he .should therefor have to taste eternal death. This produced in him such an agonizing sorrow, that he, like Peter, betook himself with earnest supplication to Almighty God, and besought Him with scalding tears for forgiveness for the great offense he had committed, and for a more steadfast mind than he had shown before. His prayer was not left unheard, for when he was brought before the authorities again, he utterly renounced his apostasy,' and thenceforth boldly confessed his faith, and steadfastly adhered to it, so that he was finally sentenced to death,to which he went with glad constancy, and was thus strangled and burnt.
 
STEVEN DE GRAFT; AND SIJNTGEN, A. D.: 1564,

In the year 1564 there was apprehended at Ghent in Flanders, for the truth; a brother named Steven de Graet, with Sijntgen, his aged mother. They were both well confirmed in the faith; and continued in it amidst all solicitations and sufferings, even unto death, which they, for the name of Christ, had to suffer publicly; hence they shall also openly praise the Lord; in the throne of heaven, and help sing the glad new song, in honor of the Lamb, and'of, Him that sitteth upon the throne. Rev. 14:3.

FIERIJNTGEN. KETELS, LEENTGEN HER MOTHER, WITH PIERIJNTGEN AND MARIJNTGEN VAN MALE, IN TIDE YEAR A. D. 1564

In the same year four sisters of Christ were apprehended at Ghent, namely, Pierijntgen Ketels, with Leentgen her mother, and two sisters, Pier i j ntgen and Mari j ntgen van Male. These did not counsel with flesh and blood, but with God, who was able to strengthen them, for whose name they, after many assaults and unwavering steadfastness, had to lay down their lives in the monastery of St. Peter, without the city of Ghent. Therefore they shall be crowned by the Young Man upon Mount Sion, and be joyfully received by their bridegroom. II Esdras 2:46; Matt. 25:10.

PIETER VAN DER MEULEN, A. D. 1564 .

Shortly afterwards, also one brother Pieter vdn der Meulen contended so valiantly, at Ghent, for his faith in Christ, that, with firm faith and confidence in God, he withstood all who sought to turn him away from it, even unto death, so that he departed this world, and went with Christ into peace and rest, to help judge at the last day those who judged him here. Luke 23:43; I Cor. 6:2; Matt. 7:2:
 
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