# Anthonis Ysbaerts, A. D. 1573.

1573 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: ANTHONIS YSBAERTS, A. D. 1573.

Source heading; not independently verified

While the Duke of Alva so dreadfully persecuted,
and tyrannized over, the believers, there was also
apprehended and put to death, for his faith and the
practice of the truth, at Tielt, in Flanders, one Anthonis
Ysbaerts, who had been a servant of the
High Bailiff of Ghent, and consequently often attended
the executions of the saints, where he did
not always with a sin-desiring, unconcerned, vain
mind, nor with blinded eyes, behold the invincible
steadfastness in the faith, and the joyful peace of
mind, of the Christians, who in the midst of their
innocent sufferings undauntedly confessed, proclaimed
and magnified the name of God; but he
was finally so stirred and troubled by it in his heart,
that he forsook not only the service of his temporal
lord, but also the worship of idols, and betook himself
henceforth to become a servant of God, notwithstanding
he had many times witnessed what had
befallen others on this account, [and knew] that he
had to expect the same, as it also occurred with
him.

As soon as he had betaken himself to hear the
word of God, and to follow Christ, and so advanced
942
therein, that he was considered worthy to receive
baptism upon his faith, and to be received as a fellow-member
of the church of Christ, he had to flee
the country, and thus went to Vriesland, where he,
not being conversant with any trade, could earn
only a very precarious living. In the meantime it
happened that a brother who had also fled from
Tielt (mentioned above) on account of his faith, and
come to live in Vriesland, and who had left behind
much property, hired this Anthonis, and sent him
to Tielt, to arrange his unsettled affairs, and save
his effects and convey them to him, as much as he
conveniently could. When he had attended to all
the things with which he had been charged, and was
just on the point of returning to Vriesland, the Bailiff
of Tielt came to him, and asked him, whether he
did not belong to the same people as those that had
sent him out, which when he did not dare deny,
the Bailiff sent for his beadles, and had him conducted
to prison, where he had to resist not a little
vexation and torment; but when he, in all things,
steadfastly adhered to the accepted truth, he was
finally, pursuant to the king’s decree, sentenced to
death, to be burnt alive as a heretic.

This sentence having been read to him, he requested
permission to speak a word, and this being
granted, he asked the lords whether they did not
think that such a sentence was too cruel for him, who
had not done anything amiss to any one. This produced
such a commotion among the judges, that
they held a consultation and concluded that he
should first be strangled, and then burnt. He
thanked them that they had shown him so much
mercy.

There was also with him one Friar Pieter de
Backer, who sought to converse much with him,
in order to cause him to apostatize, but he mostly
refused all he said, finally saying: “Let me alone;
my heart is of good cheer, my departure is very
near at hand, for the bell which is striking now shall
not strike another time before I hope to have offered
up my sacrifice, and to be at home with my Redeemer,
in whom all my hope and confidence rests.”

He was therefore brought forth to die, in very
mean attire, for which he had exchanged his own
clothes, which were better, giving the latter to one
who was imprisoned for his crime, and was shortly
to be released.

When he came to the stake where he was to offer
up his sacrifice, he kneeled down and offered up an
earnest prayer to God, and then voluntarily prepared
himself for death. But when the executioner
was to strangle him, he could not find his twisting-stick;
hence the Bailiff with his sword cut off a piece
from the torch which they had to light the fire, that
it might be used for a twisting-stick. Thereupon
he, commending his spirit into the hands of God,
sweetly fell asleep in the Lord, and when he had
been strangled, the fire was lighted to burn him.
And just as this was taking place, there arose such
a terrible storm, that many people were frightened,
and were of the opinion that God thereby meant to
show his displeasure upon the tyranny inflicted upon
his elect.





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