# The First Letter From Jan Wouterss, To His Brother-In-Law And His Sister, Which Treats Of His Examination And Torture. · Page 1 of 6 [Previous page: TOUCHING THE PERSONS THAT WERE THEN IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SAT IN JUDGMENT IN REGARD TO THIS SENTENCE; THEY WERE THE FOLLOWING:](/en/stories/mm-touching-the-persons-that-were-then-in-the-court-of-justice-and-consequently-sat-in-judgment-in-regard-to-this-sentence/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-2/) The abundant grace of God, the love of Christ, and the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, be constantly multiplied with you beloved, my dear brother-in-law 858and brother in the Lord, and your much beloved wife our dear sister, with all pious saints, who are zealous for righteousness, so that through this zeal and desire the name of God may be magnified; for they that are such are a light in the world, and a joy and pattern to their neighbor, for they constantly seek to please their neighbor in that which is good unto edification, that they may with all the godfearing be found diligent followers of Christ. If we do thus, I have hope in the Lord, that we shall all get where Christ our Lord is, who strengthens us, and helps us to triumph, as may be read hereafter. Amen. After this cordial salutation out of a pure heart, I unworthy one, and least member in Christ, cannot forbear to write you briefly, for a remembrance to you all, and for your comfort and encouragement; for I cannot keep this unspeakable joy of the Holy Ghost to myself alone, but must impart something to your love. But how can joy be a remarkable thing, if one has not experienced anxiety; but I unworthy one have tasted this, the Lord be glorified therein. Amen. First, when I was apprehended for the obedience of Christ, I was interrogated concerning my faith, which I plainly confessed; but afterwards they asked for certain names, namely, for my wife, my mother, my master, and who baptized, and married me, and for other things. Thereupon I replied, that I had resolved in my heart not to name any one, for I intended to answer for myself, and would not be a traitor. The Bailiff threatened that he should make me tell, etc. Having been confined there all the time during the cold winter, I was brought, the Saturday after St. Peter’s day, up to the torture loft, where the instruments stood in readiness. The Bailiff asked me first of all concerning my master, and then regarding others, and said, that I should also have to tell him what he should ask me. They entreated me; they threatened me; and said: “Though we know nearly all, and your master is possibly gone already, we will nevertheless hear it from your lips; hence do not suffer your limbs to be broken, but tell it voluntarily; else we shall deliver you to the executioner, and then you will have to do it.” When they could obtain nothing from me, the upper part of my body was stripped, in the bitter cold, my hands were tied behind my back and made fast to the loft, and also my feet were bound, and I was thus, with my eyes blindfolded, drawn up by my hands, after I had been entreated to have a regard to my fine trade. And he said, that I should spare my members, my members which God had given me, for I had no power over one hair of my head. As I kept silent, I was scourged with rods, and the stripes fell mostly on my abdomen. Having been thus treated, I was let down and again asked; but the Lord be praised, they obtained nothing from me, though I had drank that bitter cup. I was then drawn up again, and scourged as before. O flesh, you must suffer now, I thought. While I was thus suspended in agony, a halberdier ran from the loft and said: “I would rather be dead than that man;” because he only stood there and beheld it. When I did not reply in regard to anything, the executioner said: “What, will you not answer my lords? Reply to my lords; or have you a dumb devil in you?” They asked me whether I would advise with myself until Monday, and then tell them the truth (as they call it), in regard to all. I kept silent and thought, why should I advise with myself; I do not want to tell you anyway. I prayed within myself, that the Lord should not suffer me to be tempted above that I was able. I also openly called upon the Lord, and prayed that he would forgive them. The jailer once thought that I was beside myself; but I know nothing about that. The executioner imagined he would make me tell; he had had [he said] so many of our people under his hands, who eventually had to tell everything; but the faithful Helper in distress kept my lips. They then released me, and themselves gave me a respite that I should advise with myself until Monday; but if I should then not do it, I should be dealt with in an extraordinary manner; and they threatened me much, so that it was dreadful to hear. They said this was yet of the least, that it was only child’s play compared to other, future tortures. But when I looked at myself, and beheld my body which was bloody from the scourging; for that was certainly one of the severest pains, I thought to myself: Is this only child’s play? The jailer went away, and said to his wife: “They will torture the man to death.” In short, I was so tortured that they had to dress and undress me. All this the vile flesh had to bear, which has so often grieved me, and would constantly walk in the crooked path, to gratify its lusts; it had deserved yet more. This having taken place in the afternoon, I was not well able to sleep in the night, but counted the striking of the clock all night, and during the night I moaned most lamentably. But afterwards I received a great, peaceful joy and gladness of the Holy Ghost, so great that I cannot adequately describe it; because the Lord had so faithfully kept my lips, and not suffered me to be confounded in my confidence, which I poor, simple servant had already before I was apprehended; but herein the Lord proved me unworthy servant, praised be his name for evermore. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_858) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: TOUCHING THE PERSONS THAT WERE THEN IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SAT IN JUDGMENT IN REGARD TO THIS SENTENCE; THEY WERE THE FOLLOWING:](/en/stories/mm-touching-the-persons-that-were-then-in-the-court-of-justice-and-consequently-sat-in-judgment-in-regard-to-this-sentence/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+The+First+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Brother-In-Law+And+His+Sister%2C+Which+Treats+Of+His+Examination+And+Torture.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+6&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThe+First+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Brother-In-Law+And+His+Sister%2C+Which+Treats+Of+His+Examination+And+Torture.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+6%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%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.)