Weynken, A Widow, Daughter Of Claes, Of Monickendam, Burnt To Death In The Hague, The 20th November, A. D. 1527.

The Dean of Naeldwijck, sub-commissary and inquisitor, read the sentence, in Latin, from a document, and repeating it in Dutch, said briefly, that she was found to be in error with regard to the sacrament, and that she immovably adhered to it; hence he decided that she was a heretic, and delivered Weynken to the secular arm, with the protest that he did not consent to her death. He then retired from the council, together with his two associate ecclesiastics.

The chancellor immediately read, that she, as reported, had been found obstinate, which could not be passed by without punishment, and that she should be burnt to ashes, and all her property be confiscated.

Then Weynken said: “Has all been done now? I beg you all, that if I have harmed or offended any, you will forgive me.”

The monk then said to her: “Now for once kiss your Lord and God.”

She answered: “This is not my Lord.”

As they were leaving the council chamber, the monk said to her that she should call upon our Lady to intercede for her.

She replied: “Our Lady is well content in God.”

Monk: “Call upon her.”

Weynken: “We have Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his Father; he prays for us.” (Romans 8:34.)

On her way from the hall to the scaffold or place of execution, the monk said: “Behold for once your Lord, who died for you.”

Weynken: “This is not my Lord and my God; my Lord God is in me, and I in him.”

Monk: “Consider! will you condemn all these lambs, and are they all condemned?”

Weynken: “Not all; judgment belongs unto God.” (Heb. 10:30.)

Monk: “Do you not fear the severe judgment of God?”

Weynken: “God comes not to condemn sinners, but to give them peace.” (Luke 9:56.)

Monk: “Do you not fear the sentence which you must suffer in the fire?”

Weynken: “No, for I know how I stand with my Lord.”

On the scaffold there stood one who said to Weynken: “Mother, turn to the people, and ask them to forgive you, if you have offended any.” This she did. Then she assisted the executioner to put the powder into her bosom. Here the monk again tempted her with the cross; but she pushed it away with her hand, turned around, and said: “How you tempt me? My Lord and my God is above.” She then went gladly, as though she were going to a marriage; and her face did not once betoken fear of the fire.

The monk said: “Will you not always and firmly adhere to God?”

Weynken said: “Yes, indeed.”

Monk: “Now you will have to go into the fire; do recant.”

Weynken: “I am well content; the Lord’s will must be done.”

Monk: “This is not the will of the Lord; the will of God is your sanctification.”

The executioner said: “Mother, cleave to God and do not suffer yourself to be drawn away from him.”

In the meantime this pious heroine went alone undauntedly to the bench, and stationed herself at the stake at which she was to be burned, saying: “Is the bench firm; will I not fall?”

The executioner then made ready the ropes with which he was to strangle her. The woman took off her neckerchief or veil, and put the strap around her neck.

Then the monk exclaimed: “Mother Weynken, will you gladly die as a Christian?”

Ans. “Yes, I will.”

Ques. “Do you renounce all heresy?”

Ans. “I do.”

Monk: “This is well. Are you also sorry that you have erred?”

Ans. “I formerly did err indeed, and for that I am sorry; this however is no error, but the true way, and I adhere to God.”

When she had said this, the executioner began to strangle her, which when she felt it, she cast down her eyes and closed them, as though she had fallen into a sleep, and gave up the ghost, on the twentieth day of November, A. D. 1527.