# Lauwerens Van De Walle, Antonis Schoonvelt, Kalleken Strings, And Maeyken Kocx, A. D. 1561. · Page 1 of 2 [Previous page: JULIUS KLAMPHERER, A. D. 1561.](/en/stories/mm-julius-klampherer-a-d-1561/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: LAUWERENS VAN DE WALLE, ANTONIS SCHOONVELT, KALLEKEN STRINGS, AND MAEYKEN KOCX, A. D. 1561.](/en/stories/mm-lauwerens-van-de-walle-antonis-schoonvelt-kalleken-strings-and-maeyken-kocx-a-d-1561/part-2/) In the year 1561 several brethren and sisters, after suffering much persecution, took up residence near Ypres in Flanders, at a place called ten Hoogensiecken. Having left money, property, friends and kindred, to follow Christ, and live there in quietness, engaging in tape-weaving, in order to gain a living by their trade, they were spied out while they sat and worked together, and the inquisitor came to apprehend them. He was accompanied by a large force well provided with sticks, swords and ropes, and they arrived just at the time when Antonis, who had made them a visit, and had taken leave, stood at the door, ready to go. As they thus arrived with great noise, Stijntgen Potvliets (who was pregnant) ran out of the house first, and was apprehended. Karel N. also ran out at the door, and master Klaas (who was a great persecutor, and fellow helper of the inquisitor) pursued him, struck at him with a bare sword, and though Karel was wounded by it, yet he escaped. Maeyken Kocx (who was also pregnant) was attacked by the inquisitor, who held a naked sword in his hand, and as she cried aloud to him to spare her child, and he acted in a very bloodthirsty manner, he, like a madman, wounded himself. Lauwerens van de Walle, Antonis Schoonvelt, and Kalleken Strings were also apprehended, but Hendrick N. made his escape. While they were being bound, they comforted one another much with the word of God, and when they were brought out of the house, they cheerfully spoke to the neighbors, saying: “Can anyone complain of us? It is for the name of Christ that this is inflicted upon us; we need not be ashamed of it.” Matt. 10:22; 1 Pet. 4:16. On their way to town, Kalleken commenced to sing a hymn. Then said master Klaas: “The apostles did not sing, as you do; nor do I want to dance; why then do you sing?” Antonis said: “Sister, do not fear these; just sing as much as you want to;” and Lauwerens helped her sing. When they came into the city, there was a great concourse of people, and they made known the word of God by singing and speaking. Among other things, Lauwerens said: “That we are apprehended, is not on account of evil doing, but because we live according to the word of God.” Kalleken Strings said: “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life (Matthew 7:14); repair to it, do good and forsake evil, and fear not the rulers of this world, but buy Testaments, read therein the counsel of God, and follow it.” They were then confined in the court of the prison, where they remained for several months and days, patient and of good cheer, waiting until they should offer up their sacrifice, and being visited and comforted in the mean time by many brethren and sisters. They were also sometimes examined in regard to their faith, which they freely confessed, and from which no pain or suffering could induce them to depart. Finally, having suffered many tortures, on the rack as well as elsewhere, Lauwerens van de Walle, Antonis Schoonvelt, and Kalleken Strings, as they adhered valiantly and steadfastly to the truth, were delivered by the inquisitor into the hands of the secular authorities, to be dealt with according to the import of the royal decree. In delivering them, the inquisitor also, in the hearing of the ignorant people, 628 read severe charges (as he thought) against them, as, among other things, that they confessed the Pope of Rome to be the antichrist. 1 John 2:18. That they held the Roman church to be the whore of Babylon. Rev. 17:5. That they pronounced the sacrament to be an abominable idol, etc. Thereupon Lauwerens commenced to say that he had not said or confessed this without a fuller explanation. He was instantly and savagely told to keep silence, but he said: “Thieves and murderers are allowed to have some one who speaks for them; but you have brought it about that neither a procurator nor an advocate may speak for us; hence we must speak for ourselves.” Kalleken Strings also, who sat there with her head resting on her hand, exhausted from excessive torture, let her voice be heard boldly. On the testimony of the inquisitor, Lauwerens van de Walle and Antonis Schoonvelt were both sentenced by the authorities, to be publicly strangled and burnt at the stake, and to this end a scaffold with two stakes, as also wood and straw, was prepared in the market place. They were brought out with their arms tied together, and coming to the place where they were to be offered up, they fell down upon their knees, and prayed to God. When they had arisen, the executioner asked their forgiveness for what he was about to do, and they kindly forgave him, according to the teaching of Christ. Matt. 6:14. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_628) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: JULIUS KLAMPHERER, A. D. 1561.](/en/stories/mm-julius-klampherer-a-d-1561/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: LAUWERENS VAN DE WALLE, ANTONIS SCHOONVELT, KALLEKEN STRINGS, AND MAEYKEN KOCX, A. D. 1561.](/en/stories/mm-lauwerens-van-de-walle-antonis-schoonvelt-kalleken-strings-and-maeyken-kocx-a-d-1561/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-lauwerens-van-de-walle-antonis-schoonvelt-kalleken-strings-and-maeyken-kocx-a-d-1561/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Lauwerens+Van+De+Walle%2C+Antonis+Schoonvelt%2C+Kalleken+Strings%2C+And+Maeyken+Kocx%2C+A.+D.+1561.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0ALauwerens+Van+De+Walle%2C+Antonis+Schoonvelt%2C+Kalleken+Strings%2C+And+Maeyken+Kocx%2C+A.+D.+1561.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+2%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-lauwerens-van-de-walle-antonis-schoonvelt-kalleken-strings-and-maeyken-kocx-a-d-1561%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-lauwerens-van-de-walle-antonis-schoonvelt-kalleken-strings-and-maeyken-kocx-a-d-1561%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1561%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.)