Chapter CXXV: Preface: To Second Part (68)

By me, your dear husband and weak brother in the Lord, who am not worthy of the name; but by the grace of the Lord we can do all things.

J. VAN DORT.

Written on the 18th and 19th of January, in the year 1572. Whatever I can do for you is at your service; do not spare me. Adieu, farewell; put your trust in the Lord alone, and you will find rest for your soul. Amen.

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Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16:2,3.

SEVEN BRETHREN AT BREDA, JAN PIETERSS, GELEYN CORNELISS, PIETER DE GULICKER WITH HIS SERVANT, ARENT BLOCK, CORNELIS GIJSELAER, AND ONE MICHIEL, IN THE YEAR 1572.

In the year 1572, when many exiles were residing in Nieuwvaert, near Breda, where they enjoyed a little more liberty than elsewhere, among whom there were also some who, for the testimony and following of Jesus Christ, had fled thither from other places; it happened in the beginning of the month of August of said year, that, many brethren and sisters having come there from without, from Brabant, from Breda, Sevenbergen, and several adjacent villages, also from Holland, from Leyden, Haerlem and elsewhere, which being discovered, it was reported to the Bailiff, while he was sitting at Gerrit Vorster’s, and drank with the steward, who hearing this, was filled with anger and said: “We will disturb that nest, and exterminate that band at once. Thereupon they gathered an armed force, in the evening of the fifth of August, about nine or ten o’clock, when these assembled to hear the preaching, and to marry a couple, in a house standing on the Voorstraet, in the front part of which resided Pieter de Gulicker, a tailor, and in the back part, Jan Pieterss, a weaver, where about one hundred men and women were assembled together. The steward and the bailiff with their men came twice to the house to listen, without accomplishing anything further; but the third time the steward sent a servant, who found them assembled, by the light of many candles, engaged in their preaching. Thereupon came the steward, stadtholder, and bailiff, with all their servants and people, well armed with pistols, halberds, swords, and other weapons, and thrusting open the doors of the house, they apprehended some whom they could get; but most of them broke through the walls, passages, and the roof of the house, and escaped. In all there were apprehended, Jan Pieterss of Vlaerdinge, who lived in the rear part of the house, and ministered to the assembly with the word of truth; Pieter de Gulicker, a tailor, who resided in the front part of the house, with one of his apprentices, who was but sixteen or seventeen years old; Geleyn Corneliss, a shoemaker of Middleharnisse, near Somerdijck; Arent Block of Sevenbergen; and Cornelis, the son of Koppen de Gijselaer, of Dortrecht; and two or three women. These having been apprehended they were brought to Gerrit Vorster’s house, and the men put in irons; but the women were placed unfettered in a chamber by themselves, whence they made good their escape. The next day in the morning there came to these six prisoners Michiel, the uncle of Cornelis de Gijselaer (married to the widow of Valerius, the schoolmaster, who in the year 1568, about three years prior to this, had been offered up at Brouwershaven), who having come to visit his friends, to comfort them from the word of God in their tribulation, the Bailiff happened upon them and apprehended him likewise, saying: “You also belong to this people; you must also stay here with them.”

All the property of these prisoners was immediately written down and confiscated, so that the women and children had to flee deprived and stripped of everything, which was lamented by many. In consequence of these things the people in Nieuwvaert were so terrified, that many dared not stay there any longer, the more so, as the steward had written to the duke of Alva, and having received a letter in return, had gone thither in person. In all, there fled about thirty, brethren as well as sisters, of those who resided in Nieuwvaert, besides all the others who had come there from other places.

The schoolmaster of Nieuwvaert, called Master Pieter Claess van der Linden, who had disputed five hours with Jan Pieterss (besides that the pastor had also disputed with him two or three times), and was greatly embittered against this people, gives nevertheless this testimony concerning them, that their chief and principal errors are: “That they do not baptize infants; that they cannot believe that Christ had his flesh and blood from Mary; and that they regard themselves as the little flock and the elect of God. But that, with this exception, their life and conversation is better than that of many others, and that they also seek to bring up their children in better discipline and fear of God, than many other people. That he also had of their children in his school, who were apter and learned more readily than any others. That he and many others deeply deplored the great persecution and vexation inflicted upon these people, and especially that on account of the men the poor women and children were so lamentably stripped of all their possessions, and driven away into misery.”

These prisoners were confined in irons, in the house of said Gerrit Vorster, from the fifth of August, when they were apprehended in the night, until noon of the seventh, when they were together taken to Breda, where they were most severely assailed with examinations, promises, threats, and tortures, to cause them to apostatize from their faith, and to name their fellow believers, so that Pieter de Gulicker, unable to resist the same, abandoned the faith and his God, whereby he nevertheless did not obtain a release, but was executed with the sword. But the rest remained steadfast unto the end, however unmercifully they were treated in the torture. For one was very cruelly tortured and wound upon the rack, and while thus lying, urine was poured into his mouth, and his body trampled upon; another was fastened below by his feet, his hands tied behind his back, and he was thus hauled up from behind, and scourged. But Geleyn, the shoemaker, was tortured most cruelly of all. They stripped him naked, and suspended him by his right thumb, with a weight attached to his left foot, and while thus suspended he was burned under his arms with candles and fire, and scourged until the two commissaries of the Duke of Alva, who were present, themselves became tired, and went away and sat down to play cards, the executioner looking on, for about an hour, or an hour and a half. Meanwhile Geleyn was left suspended, who, during all the time that they played, experienced no pain, but was as though he had been in a sweet slumber, or in a swoon; yea, he subsequently himself testified that he never in his life rested on his bed with less pain, than while he was suspended there. When they had finished playing, they said to the executioner: “Seize him again; he must tell us something; a drowned calf is a small risk.” Coming to him, the executioner exclaimed: “The man is dead” (so deep was his sleep or swoon). Then one of the commissaries darted up, and shook him so roughly by one arm as to sprain it, which was not yet healed from the burning. When he began to revive again, he was let down; but he implicated no one, nor did he deny his faith, so that he was finally sentenced to the fire with Jan Pieterss and the young apprentice to be burnt alive. When they were standing at the stakes, and were being burned, the flames were wafted away so much from Geleyn, that the executioner had to hold him into the fire with a fork on the other side of the stake. Thus these, valiantly adhering to the truth, laid down their lives for it.

Shortly after, when Cornelis de Gijselaer and Arent Block were also led to death to be burnt, Arent dropped a letter which he had written, thinking that some one of the friends would pick it up and get it, but unfortunately, it fell into the hands of the tyrants, who immediately had the two taken back to prison, whereupon they were yet most dreadfully tortured; but when they nevertheless constantly remained valiant, named no one, and in no torture apostatized from their God, they were finally, like the three preceding ones, also sentenced and burned; and very soon after also Michiel, the uncle of Cornelis de Gijselaer followed the others with a like sacrifice.

Thus these now lie together under the altar, and wait for the number of their brethren to be fulfilled, that they may then live with them forever in everlasting joy with the Lamb that was slain, and all the friends of God, and sing the new song.

TOUCHING THE COURT PROCEEDINGS AND DEATH SENTENCES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MARTYRS.

We did not spare the pains, to have looked up, through the mediation of certain of our good friends at Breda, in the present archives of the year 1659, by the clerk of the recorder there, every thing that might be noted, and could be found as recorded by the papistic rulers, of the year 1572, concerning the imprisonment, sufferings and death of the aforementioned pious witnesses of Jesus Christ. But soon after search for it had begun to be made, information was received that the archives where these and similar documents had been preserved was destroyed and laid in ruins by a terrible conflagration a few years ago; for which reason nothing could be brought to light in regard to the matter, except the particular reminiscences of old writers, from which the above is recorded. This by way of notice.

MAERTENS JANSS, A CORN PORTER, AND JAN HENDRICKSS OF SWARTEWAEL, A STEERSMAN, BOTH PUT TO DEATH AT THE STAKE, AT DELFT, IN HOLLAND, A. D. 1572.

The city of Delft, in Holland was at this time only a burying place, yea, a dreadful murderers’ den, for the extirpation of God’s saints. This appeared in the case of two very pious, godfearing, and most virtuous lambs of Christ, who had betaken themselves among the flock of the great Shepherd of the sheep, Christ Jesus, to be led and fed by him in the green meadows of the true evangelical doctrine. One was named Maerten Janss, by trade a corn porter; the other, Jan Hendrickss, born at Swartewael, a steersman, who followed the sea for a livelihood.

They were both imprisoned at Delft, where they, for almost two years, suffered much affliction, anxiety and distress, from secular as well as spiritual [ecclesiastical] persons, to make them apostatize from their faith. But as they were founded upon the immovable corner-stone Christ Jesus, they could in nowise weaken their faith, much less cause them to apostatize entirely from it. Hence the rulers at said place, inflamed, through the instigation of the papistic clergy, with a bitter hatred against them, pronounced, in court, a very cruel sentence upon both of them, namely: That they should be tied to a stake, upon a scaffold to be erected in the market place, and burned until death should ensue.

Thereupon, on the fifth of February, A. D. 1572, both were brought upon the scaffold at said place, to die; whereupon the town clerk read to all the people: That no one was allowed to speak to them, on pain of forfeiting life and property.

Then Maerten Janss’ tongue was seared; yet he nevertheless boldly said: “Thus I must now testify to the truth; for if I had not cared for my salvation, I would have escaped much sore conflict and obtained pardon; but now I have fought a good fight, finished my course, and kept the faith, and henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”

Then he cried: “O Lord, be merciful to me poor sinner! Who am not worthy to suffer for thy name, but thou hast made me worthy thereto.”

Finally he exclaimed: “O Lord, receive my spirit into thy hands.” And with this his life was ended he thus departing this world through fire.

Jan Hendrickss was likewise gagged, to prevent him from speaking; but when he nevertheless spoke, namely: “Now is the time, now the truth must be fully sealed,” etc., a great clamoring, confusion and running arose among the people, so that the lords, filled with fear, caused Jan Hendrickss to be brought inside, until the commotion and turbulence of the people had subsided.

After that he was brought forth completely gagged, and having hurriedly been fastened to the stake, he was deprived of this temporal life by fire, even as his slain fellow brother.

Their dead and half consumed bodies were brought outside of the city, to the common place of execution, called Gallows Hill, where each was separately fastened to a stake, for food to the fowls of the air.

This was the end of the aforementioned two lambs of Jesus, who, though a spectacle and reproach before the world, before God became a holy and acceptable sacrifice.

NOTE.--Having been furnished from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Delft, by the secretary there, with an authentic copy of the sentence of death of the aforementioned friends, just as the same was publicly read in court on the day of their death, we deem it well to add it here, that the reader may be fully assured of the truth of the foregoing account. The contents thereof are word for word as follows:

EXTRACT OF THE SENTENCE OF MAERTEN JANSS, CORN PORTER, CITIZEN OF THIS CITY, AND JAN HENDRICKSS OF SWARTEWAEL, STEERSMAN, PUT TO DEATH WITH FIRE.

Whereas Maerten Janss, corn porter, citizen of the city of Delft, and Jan Hendrickss of Swartewael, steersman, prisoners, have confessed, without torture and iron bonds, to belong to the evil and reprobated sect of the Anabaptists, and consequently to have attended various forbidden and improper meetings; and also confess to be rebaptized, and to have withheld the holy sacrament of baptism from some of their infants: that they also hold very evil views concerning the mass, despising and utterly rejecting the holy sacrament of the altar, as also all other sacraments, services and ceremonies of the holy Roman Catholic Church, and, what is worse still persist and obstinately adhere, to their aforesaid damned reprobated heresy, without in any wise repenting, or being willing to abandon it, notwithstanding all the good admonitions frequently and at divers times addressed to them by various good spiritual Catholic persons; all of which are most enormous, wicked and scandalous matters, which for an example unto others ought not to go unpunished; therefore, the judges of the city of Delft, according to the import of the decrees issued by His Royal Majesty, have ordered, and do order by these present, the aforesaid Maerten Janss and Jan Hendrickss, prisoners, to be led upon the scaffold erected in the market place of this city, and there to be tied to a stake and burned till death ensues, and their dead bodies then to be brought to the Gallows Hill and there placed at stakes. We furthermore declare all their property confiscated and forfeited for the benefit of His Royal Majesty. We further condemn the aforesaid prisoners to the costs of their imprisonment and the expenses of the execution. Done the fifth of February, A. D. 1572, Delft Style.

NOTE.--The original date seems to be in the year 1570, being two years earlier; but it is an error, as appears from various circumstances that follow, as also from the date of the letters which Jan Hendrickss wrote in prison.

Extracted from the first book of criminal sentences, fol. 195, preserved in the archives of the city of Delft, 23d of August, A. D. 1659.

SECRETARY OF DELFT.

A LETTER FROM JAN HENDRICKSS, WRITTEN IN PRISON AT DELFT, TO HIS WIFE.

The God of all grace, who has called us from the power of darkness into his eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ, and married us with an everlasting love, as the prophet says, the same grant you, my dear wife, according to the riches of his grace and glory, to be strengthened with might by his Holy Spirit in the inner man, that you may stand steadfast and immovable in faith and love, and the peace of God, to the salvation of your soul and the praise of God, that you may receive the undefiled, incorruptible and unfading inheritance, together with the crown of eternal life, Amen, which God has promised to all them that love and serve him with all their heart. This, I Jan Hendrickss wish Lijsbeth Jans my dear wife, from my bonds and in my last time, as a very cordial salutation in the Lord.

Further, after all proper salutation to you my beloved wife Lijsbeth Jans, I inform you that I am still valiant and of good cheer in the Lord, and trust to adhere to his word and truth by his help, without whose aid it cannot be done; and I trust that he will keep my treasure unto the end and deliver me out of the lions’ jaws, that they may not devour me with their teeth. Thus I trust that it also with you, and I sincerely have this confidence concerning you that you are still minded and determined with me to serve him all the days of your life in righteousness and holiness; and I trust that God will strengthen and keep you therein, even as he has hitherto done, for which praise be to him forever.

Furthermore, my dear wife, since the time of my departure, according to human purpose, is very near at hand, I cannot forget you, but must out of love write you a little yet, because of the great love which I have to you, and because you have shown me so much love in my bonds, in various ways by visiting and writing, for which I thank you very much; may God in high heaven, reward you for it. And I thank you most heartily for your last letter, which was very precious, for when we read it we were so much rejoiced by the great consolation that we both wept. And because you love me so, and I you, therefore I must still care for you a little, and admonish you as my most beloved. Not, my dear Jan’s daughter, that I have not the confidence that you will walk in the fear of God; oh no! I am confident that you will do nothing but what is good. But that I exercise this care for you, is done only from pure, clear love, because I love your soul so very much; hence I very often wish that you might be taken before me, since I well see how difficult it is to reach heaven, and how easily man is [led astray], even as Paul warns us 1 Cor. 10:12, saying: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”.

Hence; dear Jan’s daughter, take this in good part, this I pray you, as I trust that you do. And I further admonish and beseech you, that you always walk in true and unfeigned fear of God, since the fear of God is the true foundation to please the Lord, for without the fear of God it is impossible to please him. For by the fear of God we guard against evil and shun that which is wrong; for when we begin to consider that God will punish sinners so fearfully, we fear him on that account; for if this were not so, there would be no need of fearing him. But when we begin to consider it, we consequently shun and avoid that which is wrong; but those that do not fear him commit much ungodliness. In the second place, my dear Jan’s daughter that you firmly cleave to the vine Christ, and abide in him and he in you, and you shall be as a fruitful branch, full of good and beautiful fruit; and thus the Father will purge you, that you may bring forth fruit more abundantly. For he that does not abide in him, but departs from him, the same is cut off from him as a withered branch. For your sins, says the prophet, “have separated between you and your God.” Isaiah 59:2. Behold, dear Jan’s daughter, here we have the clear express scripture, by what a man is cut off from Christ, the vine, and what the separation is whereby we are separated from God, namely, sin; for when we sin, we are by the sin separated from God. Therefore, my dear wife, I beseech you once more, that you firmly cleave to the Lord, and shun sin as you would a serpent, that you do not come too near it, and be devoured by it; for the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men. Sir. 21:2. We must beware of sin; for God does indeed warn man against sin, but he does not prevent him from it, when he is determined to commit it, as we have many examples in the Scriptures, as in Adam and others.

In the third place, I beseech you to be patient in the afflictions that come upon you for Christ’s sake, for patience is a very good thing for Christians, for Christ says: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19, and Paul likewise says: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10:36. Truly indeed may Paul say that we have need of patience, which I have proven in my bonds. Paul further says: “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, [and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Heb. 12:1–3.

Behold, dear Jan’s daughter, thus are we exhorted to patience, for with patience and resignation we can overcome much tribulation and affliction; but he that is impatient cannot stand in the sufferings of Christ. Hence Sirach may truly say; “Woe unto those that have lost patience, and have turned aside into perverse ways! how will it go with them when the Lord shall visit them?” Sir. 2:14. Dear Jan’s daughter, take heed to the holy Scriptures, and in “all things approve yourself as the minister of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well known; as dying, and, behold we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:4–10. See, my most beloved, mark these words, and watch for the coming of the Lord; for he shall come as a thief in the night; and always have oil in your lamp and do not suffer it to go out but always be ready with the wise and good virgins to let the Lord your bridegroom in; and constantly have a burning light in your hand, and stand with your loins girded to wait that you may not be surprised; constantly and at every moment walk as you hope to appear before him, and do not lie down to sleep with a troubled or gnawing conscience, but purify your heart before God and your neighbor, and always act and walk according to the right rule of the Scriptures, for the Scriptures always point to Christ, and you cannot be confounded, nor deceived, nor err. And if you do this, the God of peace shall be with you, and abundantly minister unto you an entrance into eternal life. Rom. 15:33; 2 Pet. 1:10,21.

Hence my dear Jan’s child, be patient in all tribulation and distress and take for an example the afflictions and long suffering of Christ, and the prophets, who have spoken to you in the name of the Lord. “Behold,” says James, “we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”. James 5:11; 1:12.

Behold, dear Jan’s child, he that overcometh shall inherit all things and he shall not be hurt of the second death. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, as Christ has testified of his father. And to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it; he that overcometh shall inherit all things. Rev. 21:7; 2:11,26,27; 3:21; 2:17: In short, dear Jan’s child, the Scriptures are full of the great reward of the righteous; hence set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth, for they who mind earthly things, their end is destruction. Col. 3:2; Philip. 3:19. Strive therefore after imperishable treasures, which thieves cannot steal, namely, after heavenly riches, which cannot perish, and will endure forever with the Father.

Let your meditation be in the word of the Lord, day and night concern yourself in his commandments and statutes, and watch for his coming, and long for it, and avoid all appearance of evil, and act not as though you might live many years yet, but walk before the Lord just as if you were to die immediately. And let the voice or sound of the angels’ trumpets constantly be in your ears, when the dead shall have to rise and appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:10. For the Lord himself, says Paul, shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16,17.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words, my most beloved; for the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness? 2 Peter 3:10:11. Mark well, my dear Jan’s child, what manner of persons we ought to be, says Peter; let it therefore not grieve us though we must now suffer much affliction for the name of Christ. If any man suffer as a Christian, says Peter, let him not be ashamed, but let him commit his cause to God. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4:17,18. The Proverb also says: If the righteous be recompensed here, how will it go with the sinner? Prov. 11:31. And if they do these things in a green tree, says Christ, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 23:31. Behold, my most beloved, if Christ the eternal truth had to suffer before he entered into the kingdom of his Father, how much more his members? For he himself says: The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. John 15:20,21. And if the righteous must suffer here, where shall the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator, says Peter. 1 Pet. 4:19. Thus, my dear Jan’s child, be resigned as much as you can; though men separate us here, hereafter they shall have no power. Then shall we stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted us and they shall say: “These are they whom we so often had in derision, and a proverb of reproach. We fools have missed the right way, and the way of truth hath not appeared unto us.” Wis. 5:1.

Charles with his bloody decrees, and all that help to confirm them, shall then have no more power. The blood-thirsty priests shall then no more hate the people of God; but we shall live with the Lord forever and ever, and go in and out as calves of the stall. Mal. 4:2. Then the great sorrow shall all be forgotten, since it shall be turned into great joy, which shall never end, for a thousand years shall seem to be but as one day because of the great joy. 2 Pet. 3:8.

Therefore, my most beloved, comfort yourself with these promises for he is faithful that promised; and wait for them with patience and long suffering: and I hope to wait for you under the altar. Hebrews 10:23; Rev. 6:9,11.

Herewith I will commend you to God, who brought Israel through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness, till they were in the promised land; may he bring you into his eternal kingdom. I would from the heart that I might take you with me, but you must bide the time with patience.

Herewith I write you adieu for this brief span of time, since I do not intend to write you any more after this; but I hope to speak orally with you in the throne of heaven.

Adieu, dear wife, a thousand times adieu; acquit yourself valiantly in the truth, and walk truly in the narrow way, until the Lord comes. I thank you very much from the heart for the exceedingly great love you have shown me; in time of need love is appreciated best.

Furthermore, I bid all the friends an earnest farewell, to name them individually according to the flesh, their number is too great. And bid my son, Heyndricks Janss, farewell; and tell him to become a good child; and to fear our dear Lord, for bold and ungodly children shall not enter into heaven, but go to hell, and that he learn and go to school, and not run and play with naughty children, but obey his mother and his grandfather and grandmother, and not learn to speak evil or lie, for the mouth that lieth slayeth the soul. Wis 1:11. Further, Lijsbeth Jans, the letters at Delft you may let her keep, and thus you will have no trouble with them, since she intends to let the readers read them first, as they write me. I send you with this letter, three pieces of money, of which each of you shall have one for a medal of remembrance, you one, my son one, and my daughter one; to my daughter, however, you may give the smallest one, if you please to do so. You may excuse the woman from paying for the bed and the cloak, and I thank him much. Now, my dear Jan’s child, acquit yourself valiantly. I herewith write you adieu, adieu, dear Jan’s child; be as resigned as you can; you would have had to resign yourself to it, if I had been lost at sea; once we must part. You may return home. Pray the Lord for me; I hope not to forget you. Greet the friends, wherever it is convenient. Adieu, my dear Jan’s child; you know why I suffer.

Written on the 4th of February, A. D. 1571, by me,

JAN HENDRICKSS.

SOME EXAMINATIONS OF JAN HENDRICKSS.

Since some brethren have requested me to write them something concerning what the lords have asked me touching my faith, when I was before them, I can therefore not refuse to write them a little in regard to the answer which I gave them according to the simple fisherman’s understanding which the Lord has given me; the Bailiff also did not ask me very much or very thoroughly, as you will yet hear. Further, when I had been in confinement forty weeks, on the fifth of June, A. D. 1570, if I remember rightly, I was taken down the first time to appear before the lords, and when I entered the sheriff’s hall, the judges with the Bailiff and also the burgomasters were assembled there. I uncovered my head and bade them good day, and they did the same to me. The Bailiff then told me to sit down upon a bench, which I did, whereupon he asked me how old I was. I said that I did not know it accurately; “but,” said I “you may write twenty-eight years;” and so it was written. “Where were you born?” “At Swartawael.” “How long have you resided in the Haven?” I said: “Five years, counting the time I have been confined here.” “Yes, that is all the same,” said the Bailiff.

He then asked me why I had not my children baptized. I said: “Because I have never read that the apostles baptized infants, nor is it found in the Scriptures.” And so it was written: “Jan Hendrickss has confessed to us that he has not had his children baptized, and this because he has never read in the Scriptures that children were baptized.” The Bailiff then asked me how many children I had, whether I did not have more than the two whom he had caused to be baptized. I said: “None.” “How old are the children?” _Ans._ “The older is three years, and the other about one year.”

Then the Bailiff asked me whether I had been aware that children were baptized. I said: “Yes, I have seen it myself.” _Ques._ “Why then did you not have your children baptized? Or are you better or wiser than your forefathers?” _Ans._ “That I have not had my children baptized, is because I have never read that infants are baptized.” Then they said that whole households were baptized. _Ans._ “Whole households are indeed spoken of, but it is written that they all rejoiced that they had come to believe in the Lord, which infants can not do.” This some of the lords admitted. The clerk then asked me where it was forbidden to baptize infants. I asked him where it was forbidden to throw dice. He said that it was forbidden enough, but he could not prove it to me. Then I said: “It is nowhere forbidden; yet every one knows that it is an evil practice,” and they also admitted that it was not good. I further said that the Scriptures do not forbid everything that is evil, and that no one should institute the practice of baptizing infants, unless he is able to prove it from the Scriptures. The Bailiff then asked me whether I had had myself baptized. _Ans._ “I had myself baptized once, and I know of but one baptism. Then the Bailiff asked me whether I had received more than the baptism administered to me in my infancy. _Ans._ “I had myself baptized once according to the Scriptures, the last day of March, ’63.” Then the Bailiff said: “It was in ’64; you confessed so to me yourself, when I apprehended you.” “It was in ’63, said I; but I shall not deny it, whether it is a year more or less.” Then the Bailiff said: “We may have misunderstood each other;” and he had it written thus: “Jan Hendrickss had himself baptized the last day of March, ’63, and this according to the Scriptures.” “Then you were not very old yet,” said the Bailiff. “This is true, I said.”

He then asked whether I did not know that I was baptized in my infancy, “I have heard it said,” said I, “but I do not remember it.” “This indeed I believe” said the Bailiff. “What man was it that baptized you, and where was he from, and what was his name?” _Ans._ “I did not ask him what his name was, I had never seen him, nor have I ever seen him since that time, as far as I know.” This was written exactly as I confessed it to them. _Ques._ “Where does he reside?” _Ans._ “I do not know.” _Ques._ “Do you not know where he was from?” _Ans._ “I do not want to tell you this; I do not wish to name any one.” _Ques._ “Why?” _Ans._ “Because I do not wish to bring any one into trouble; there are enough in trouble now, and you have trouble enough with us.” _Ques._ “Was no one present when you were baptized?” _Ans._ “Yes.” _Ques._ “Who were they and what were their names?” _Ans._ “I do not wish to tell.” _Ques._ “Where did it occur and in what place?” _Ans._ “In Holland.” Then the Bailiff said; “Holland is large; in what place?” Then I said: “Why would you ask me much for the place; if I were to tell you the place, you would demand to know still more; but I do not wish to implicate any one.”

Finally I told them the place, and said that it had taken place in Delfshaven. _Ques._ “In what house.” _Ans._ “I do not wish to tell.” _Ques._ “What was the name of the people that were in that house?” _Ans._ “I do not wish to name any one.” _Ques._ “Why are the people in that house so sacred that they may not be named?” _Ans._ “If you knew them, you would not leave them in peace; and I do not wish to implicate any one; you have trouble enough with us.” Then the Bailiff began to ask how long I had had my wife, and where I had married her. _Ans._ “About five years,” and I told them that I had married her before the Christian church. _Ques._ “Before what church? you certainly did not marry her before the church that stands in Delfshaven?” _Ans._ “No.” And so it was written that I had married her before the Christian church. _Ques._ “Who was present?” _Ans._ “I do not wish to tell you.”

Then the Bailiff said that I should name the persons, or he would torture me. _Ans._ “Sir Bailiff, who taught you this?” Then the Bailiff said that he had power to do thus with me, and threatened me greatly, and when he heard that I would name no one, he told the clerk to write: “Jan Hendrickss has confessed to us such and such things (such as I told them), but he has named no one, and this because he did not wish to implicate any one;” and so it was written. When the Bailiff had thus interrogated me, and wished me many miles away, I said to them, “I would fain be in Hitland.” Then the Bailiff said: “Where is that, where the busses catch the herring?” “Yes,” “I indeed would that you were there, said the Bailiff, with all those that are of your persuasion.” Then one of the lords who, I was told was a burgomaster, wanted to speak to me concerning baptism, and asked me; If a man should lead a Christian life, but did not have himself baptized, whether he could not be saved; whether it would be an obstacle in the way of his salvation? I replied: “No; else salvation would be by the water; but baptism is a command of Christ, hence it must be practiced.” Then I think he said, that it was our view that infants ought not to be baptized, and asked me when they were to be baptized, and how old they had to be. Thereupon I replied to him that the Scriptures specify no year, whether they were twenty, or thirty, or fifty, or a hundred; whenever they repented, and requested it, it might be done; and so we use it, but not sooner, said I, and so did Christ teach, and the apostles practice it. Then they said that at that time it had to be so, that adults were baptized, but now the infants must be baptized, for then was the beginning or commencement; this was their pretense. I then asked the burgomaster whether Christ, Matt. 28 and Mark 16, had not commanded to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and whether the apostles had not observed the same, and had first taught the people and then baptized them? This he admitted; for we find, he said, that about five thousand were baptized at one time. Thereupon I think I asked him whether he confessed that adult persons were baptized at that time. “Yes,” he said. “Well then, we certainly find clearly enough, that the apostles lived more than ten or twenty years in the world, and they first baptized adult persons, as you confess yourself; and this had therefore to be done so at that time, because it was in the beginning: now, since we find that they lived in the world so long, infants enough must have come into the world in this long period of years;” this he also acknowledged. Then I said: “Now show me once where the apostles in this long time baptized infants; and transferred baptism upon infants; for you say that then adult persons had to be baptized, but now infants. If the apostles had wanted to change baptism, or wanted that it should be changed, they had time enough themselves, for they were long enough in the world, for Paul says: ‘I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God’” (Acts 20:27); but they could not prove it to me. Then the oldest judge said that they would prove it to me, but it was not done; and the same judge said that God created man once, and no more; and he commanded circumcision to Abraham once and no more; and he commanded baptism once, and no more. _Ans._ “This is true. Now, if God created the man Adam once, and no more, and commanded them circumcision once, and no more, and commanded them baptism once, and no more, and they observed the same, and did not change it, why then have they changed baptism from adult persons to infants?” Then they said: “Who has changed it?” _Ans._ “The Pedobaptists.” Then they told and begged me to consider the matter well, that it was not a convenient thing to be burnt. I replied: “I know that well; I have no desire to be burnt--it is not convenient to be burnt; if I did not know that I am right, I would rather ignominiously yield; than honorably lose my life; for it is no small matter to suffer one’s self to be burnt at the stake; I am not so desirous of death, I would rather keep my life, if it were God’s will.” “Yes,” said they, “consider it well.” Then the Bailiff said: “Jan Hendrickss, you have confessed this to us (and he had my confession read before my eyes, all that I had confessed); now if you will yield, my lords will do their utmost to procure your release.” _Ans._ “My lords, I am quite open to conviction; if you can prove to me that I am wrong, and when I can feel that, I will desist from that which is evil.” That was well, they said, and they told me to ask the Lord for grace, that he would grant me a good understanding. “That I will gladly do,” said I. This lasted about an hour and a half, whereupon they had me conducted up above again. These are the principal questions which they asked me, and which I have remembered, and these are my simple fisherman’s answers which I made, as far as I can remember, for it was written six weeks after I was before the lords; for there was a man confined with us, and for this reason we dared not write, but to write the words exactly as they were spoken, would be impossible for me, for my memory is weak.

A few days after I was taken below again before my lord the Bailiff and a young priest, the chaplain of the Old Church, and thus three of us were in the sheriff’s hall. The priest then began to relate how he had had a conversation with a man, and that they had had many words together concerning the holy-Scriptures, and about this burning and killing, for there had recently four priests been put to death in the Hague, and the priests had said to one another that there were many different views in the world concerning the holy Scriptures, and each died for his belief, and yet there was but one true. This the priest told me, and said to me that they had many words; and the man had requested the priest that he should talk with me; so the priest said. I then asked: “What kind of a man was it?” “He was of your persuasion,” he said, “a sailor, and a man like you are.” Then it occurred to me who it was, but he is not of our persuasion, for I had already heard of him; and thus we fell into an animated conversation, and the priest asked me, whom I acknowledge as true, for there are so many persuasions. I said: “What have I to do with another, I have enough to do with myself.” He asked whether there was more than one faith that was true. “No,” said I. And there fell very many words, and the Bailiff listened, and greatly strengthened the priest in what he said; and whenever I quoted Scripture against them, the priest was immediately on hand to obscure what I said, so that I could not finish my remarks, and he frequently said to me: “You are forever coming with the holy Scriptures.” “Yes,” said I, “with what should I come? I have nothing else.” “Yes,” said he, “I well know that you always come with the Scriptures, and much with the passage, 2 Thess. 2:15, where Paul says: “Mark therefore, dear brethren, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or epistle.” Mark well the term word; by that he frequently wanted to prove that there was more Scripture than was written, which we were also bound to observe, as far as I could comprehend his assertion, for he frequently made it before I could really understand it. But it is only a stumbling-block--how can we observe more than what is written? Their sole aim is to obscure the understanding of the Scriptures, since they are well aware that with the Scriptures they will fall short; and they also cannot well bear it that we quote the Scriptures of the New Testament, for whenever we do this, their first question is why we quote more from the Testament, than from other writers, and whereby we know that the Testament is true; and they then come with many sophistical questions, which are not edifying, and skip from one thing to another. But when they can find any Scriptures in the Testament that are on their side, these must stand, yea, then the word of God must stand forever. For we came to speak of the breaking of bread, where Paul says: “Take, eat; this is my body.” 1 Cor. 11:24. This language had to stand just as it was. I asked him more than once, whether the bread which they gave men was the body of Christ. He said: “Yes; when we have pronounced the words over it, it is his flesh and blood, yea, soul and body:” it is the truth what I write. Thereupon I said: “I have eaten the bread with you people, but I could not feel in my mouth, that it became flesh, but it remained bread even as it was.” And we had many words with regard to it. I said that Christ himself says: “Flesh and blood profit nothing; but the words that I speak are spirit and life.” John 6:63. He then came with a sophism, asking whether the flesh of Christ was not good for anything.