# Hans Knevel, A. D. 1572. · Page 1 of 2 [Previous page: SENTENCE OF DEATH OF SANDER WOUTERSS OF BOMMEL AND EVERT HENDRICKS OF WARENDORP.](/en/stories/mm-sentence-of-death-of-sander-wouterss-of-bommel-and-evert-hendricks-of-warendorp/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: HANS KNEVEL, A. D. 1572.](/en/stories/mm-hans-knevel-a-d-1572/part-2/) As is known to many, the world has become so corrupted through the false teaching of antichrist, and iniquity has, according to the prediction of Christ (Matt. 24:12), so gained the ascendancy, that the princes and kings of the earth have become utterly perverted, through her seductive wine of fornication (Rev. 17:2; 18:3), from their native reasonable nature, who usually are wont to show some love and mercy to their own friends and kindred, and also to those who love and do good to them. This reasonableness seems to have almost ceased in many princes and rulers of this world, so that in place of their native reasonableness they are now like irrational beasts, who by nature are born for taking and slaying. 2 Pet. 2:12; Jude 1:10. This, among many other instances, appeared also, about the year 1572, in the city of Antwerp, where they apprehended a pious follower of Christ, by the name of Hans Knevel. He was a young single man and a cloth-shearer by trade. The circumstances that led to his imprisonment were as follows: It happened that one of his chief friends became known to the margrave and to some one of his servants, whereupon they laid plans to apprehend him. This plot was made known to Hans Knevel, in his shop where he worked. He therefore very earnestly warned his friend with regard to it, and advised him to go away from there, saying that he would go with him. Thus they went together and took up residence at Hamburg, where, after residing for a time, Hans Knevel went back to Antwerp again, there seeking to make a living by selling wool. Hence, about ten o’clock, the margrave with his servants came into the inn where he lodged and asked him: “Is not your name Hans Knevel?” He answered: “Yes.” They said: “You are an Anabaptist; you must go with us.” And he was also able to tell him, that he had gone from there to Hamburg with his special friend Steven Janss Dilburgh. And thus he was confined in a dark dungeon, and on the following Monday brought before the lords, the margrave, bailiff, two judges, and the clerk of the criminal court. Now when this friend of God, Hans Knevel, out of modesty hesitated to sit down immediately, the bailiff said: “Sit down and do what you are told; you obey your people, you must also obey us.” When he asked him what he held concerning their infant baptism, Hans answered that he had read nothing of infant baptism in the New Testament, hence he could hold nothing concerning it. Quest. “Were you baptized upon your faith?” Ans. “Yes.” Quest. “How long ago?” He told them, and that it took place between Chronenburgh and the Oever. This they wrote down as he understood. Ques. “Where have you attended preaching, and whom have you seen there?” He named to them several persons, and some who had already been offered up. Thereupon they said; “You name to us persons that are out of the country, and such as have been burned; we want to know those who live in this place, and who are your teachers, ministers, and informants.” And they said such people as he, the prisoner, was, had no liberty anywhere, and had to roam about everywhere. Hans replied that also Christ himself had no liberty anywhere. This they took ill, that he the prisoner sought to compare himself to Christ. The margrave said: “At Hamburg you people have no liberty either.” Hans replied: “There, however, they deprive no one of property and life, as is done here.” Margrave. “What do they do there then.” Hans. “They are sent out of the city.” Margrave. “Then they have to go into another again.” Hans. “Yes, but they shall not have gone over all the cities of Israel, till their redemption shall beat the door.” Matt. 10:23. At this they laughed. Margrave. “We will send you learned men, and if you will suffer yourself to be instructed, mercy shall be shown you.” Hans. “Yes, you will show me such mercy that I shall have my head cut off.” Margrave. “No, but we should release you.” Hans. “Though it were as you say, you would love my body, but hate my soul.” Margrave. “No, but I love your body, and still much more your soul, since you are young yet, and have been brought to it innocently; but if you will not hear; you shall fare like the rest.” ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_899) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: SENTENCE OF DEATH OF SANDER WOUTERSS OF BOMMEL AND EVERT HENDRICKS OF WARENDORP.](/en/stories/mm-sentence-of-death-of-sander-wouterss-of-bommel-and-evert-hendricks-of-warendorp/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: HANS KNEVEL, A. D. 1572.](/en/stories/mm-hans-knevel-a-d-1572/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-hans-knevel-a-d-1572/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Hans+Knevel%2C+A.+D.+1572.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AHans+Knevel%2C+A.+D.+1572.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-hans-knevel-a-d-1572%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-hans-knevel-a-d-1572%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1572%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)