CONFESSION OF A WOMAN CALLED CLAESKEN, WHO LAID DOWN HER LIFE FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, A. D. 1559.

Questions and answers between the commissary and Claesken.

The commissary first interrogated me concerning my name, the place I was from, my age, and other like things. He then asked me: “Are you baptized?” Claesken. “Yes.” Com. “Who baptized you?” Cl. “Jelis of Aix-la-Chapelle.” Com. “The deceiver; he himself has renounced his belief. How did he do when he baptized you?” Cl. “He baptized me in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” Com. “Where did you receive baptism?” Cl. “At Workum, in the field.” Com. “Were there others present?” Cl. “Yes.” Com. “Who were they?” Cl. “I have forgotten.” Com. “What brought you there?” Cl. “I have forgotten.”

I could truthfully give this answer both times.

Com. “Are your children not baptized?” Cl. “My youngest two are not.” Com. “Why did you not have your children baptized?” Cl. “Because I was satisfied with them as the Lord had given them to me.” Com. “Why were you so satisfied with Abraham and Sicke, and not with Douwe; you had Douwe baptized?” Cl. “I did not know it then.” Com. “What did you not know then?” Cl. “What I know now.” Com. “What do you know now?” Cl. “What the Lord has given me to know.” Com. “What has the Lord given you to know?” Cl. “That I cannot find it in the Scriptures, that this ought to be.” Com. “How long have you not been to church?” Cl. “Not for nine or ten years.”

These are the questions which he put to me; but he used far more words, and when I did not readily answer him, he said that I had a dumb devil in me, that the devil transformed himself into an angel of light in us, and that we were all heretics. He then read to me the articles I had confessed, and said it should come before the lords, and that if I desired it, he would write it differently. I replied: “You need not change anything.”

Questions and answers between the inquisitor and Claesken.