# Jacob Dircks, With His Two Sons, Andries Jacobs And Jan Jacobs, A. D. 1568. [Previous page: THIS HENDRICK MAELSCHALCK, ON THE 26TH OF JANUARY 1568, WROTE THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM PRISON AT GHENT.](/en/stories/mm-this-hendrick-maelschalck-on-the-26th-of-january-1568-wrote-the-following-letter-from-prison-at-ghent/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: KAREL DE RAET, AND GRIETGEN HIS WIFE, HANSKEN IN’T SCHAECK, WILLEM DE SNIJDER, WITH CHRISTIJNTGEN HIS WIFE, A. D. 1568.](/en/stories/mm-karel-de-raet-and-grietgen-his-wife-hansken-int-schaeck-willem-de-snijder-with-christijntgen-his-wife-a-d-1568/) In this bloody and perilous time of persecution, also pious Jacob Dircks and his two sons, Andries Jacobs and Jan Jacobs fell into the hands of the tyrants. This Jacob Dircks, a tailor by trade, resided with his family at Utrecht, and as he was spied out there as one belonging to the persuasion of the Mennists, and as the lords wanted to apprehend him he from fear of the tyrants fled to Antwerp. His wife, who did not hold these views, still remaining there for some time, the thief-catchers seized their property, and took about half of it. While Jacob Dircks resided with his family at Antwerp, his wife died there, and he and his aforementioned two sons, though having escaped the hands of the tyrants at Utrecht, subsequently fell into the claws of the wolves at Antwerp, where the trial of their faith was found much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire (1 Pet. 1:7); so that they were together condemned to be burnt, each at a stake, only for the divine truth, and living according to it, and not on account of any crime committed. On their way to death, Jacob Dirck’s youngest son, named Pieter Jacobs, met them, who, as he in his great sadness and sorrow, put his arms around his father’s neck, was instantly most cruelly seized by the thief-catchers, and thrown under the feet of the people following. With what sorrow the father and the brothers beheld this is easily imagined. When the father and his two sons had each been placed at a stake, he said: “How is it my dear sons?” Each replied; “Very well, my dear father.” Andries Jacobs being betrothed at the time, his bride and his sister viewed from a distance with sorrowful hearts and weeping eyes this offering, how their bridegroom and brother, forsaking a temporal bride, and temporal relationship, chose the eternal Bridegroom Christ Jesus above all visible things. Thus these heroes were strangled, each at a stake and then burnt, sealing the truth with their death and blood on the 17th of March 1568. Therefore they shall also, for their severe travail, hear the sweet and welcome voice of Christ: Ye good and faithful servants, ye have been faithful over a few things, I will make you rulers over many things; enter ye into the joy of your Lord. And, again, the King will say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:23,34. This narrative is recorded from the accounts of trustworthy persons, who witnessed this offering themselves. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_696) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: THIS HENDRICK MAELSCHALCK, ON THE 26TH OF JANUARY 1568, WROTE THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM PRISON AT GHENT.](/en/stories/mm-this-hendrick-maelschalck-on-the-26th-of-january-1568-wrote-the-following-letter-from-prison-at-ghent/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: KAREL DE RAET, AND GRIETGEN HIS WIFE, HANSKEN IN’T SCHAECK, WILLEM DE SNIJDER, WITH CHRISTIJNTGEN HIS WIFE, A. D. 1568.](/en/stories/mm-karel-de-raet-and-grietgen-his-wife-hansken-int-schaeck-willem-de-snijder-with-christijntgen-his-wife-a-d-1568/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-jacob-dircks-with-his-two-sons-andries-jacobs-and-jan-jacobs-a-d-1568/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Jacob+Dircks%2C+With+His+Two+Sons%2C+Andries+Jacobs+And+Jan+Jacobs%2C+A.+D.+1568.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AJacob+Dircks%2C+With+His+Two+Sons%2C+Andries+Jacobs+And+Jan+Jacobs%2C+A.+D.+1568.%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-jacob-dircks-with-his-two-sons-andries-jacobs-and-jan-jacobs-a-d-1568%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-jacob-dircks-with-his-two-sons-andries-jacobs-and-jan-jacobs-a-d-1568%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1568%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.)