# Five Letters Of Clement Hendrickss, Sent From His Prison In Amsterdam, Where He Laid Down His Life For The Knowledge Of The Truth; Together With Jan Krijnss And Cornelis Janss Mentioned Above.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: FIVE LETTERS OF CLEMENT HENDRICKSS, SENT FROM HIS PRISON IN AMSTERDAM, WHERE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH; TOGETHER WITH JAN KRIJNSS AND CORNELIS JANSS MENTIONED ABOVE.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

First letter, sent to one of his acquaintances, named
Grietgen Dircks.

Know, dear Grietgen Dircks, that I am still of
good courage in the flesh, and that my mind is still
unchanged and fixed to fear the Lord, the Lord be
thanked; I can never thank the Lord enough for it.

I sometimes am much grieved that I unworthy
one have at times grieved you so much. I can
easily imagine that many are grieved on my account,
as I have heard, that it is said that I have apostatized
from my faith, which is not true, the Lord be
praised. So far they have asked me only simple
questions; if they would only not ask more closely,
this I sincerely desire; but I fear that I already am
where I must stay. The Lord grant unto me what
is for my salvation. I trust in him, that he will give
me strength, that I may continue to his praise, and
to the salvation of my soul. Our other three brethren
have already fought the fight; if it is the Lord’s
will, he may also take me home. On Friday I yet
knew nothing to the contrary, but that I should also
offer up my sacrifice; and my mind was quite ready
for it, the Lord be thanked; I can never thank him
enough, that he so faithfully succors me. I trust
only in him, and he that trusts in him shall not be
ashamed; for he does not forsake his own who trust
in him alone. Be so kind and greet all the brethren
very much in my name, and tell them to pray for
me, that the Lord would strengthen me unto my
last extremity; for the prayer of the faithful and
righteous avails much; this is my sincere request.
Acts 12:5,12; James 5:16. Herewith I will commend
you to the Lord, if we should see each other
no more with the eyes of the flesh; take this in good
part, and tell my sister what I have written you; for
she is as yet under the impression that I have apostatized
from my faith—the Lord is the discerner of
all hearts. Acts 1:24.

By me Clement Hendrickss, unworthy prisoner
in the Lord.

The second letter of Clement Hendrickss.

Grace, peace and mercy from God our heavenly
Father, through Jesus Christ his only beloved Son,
who gave himself for us, out of great love, to deliver
us from the bond of death; this fervent love,
with the power and strength of the Holy Ghost, I
wish you my very dear and beloved N., as a token
of gratitude, and for consolation and strength, now
and forever. Amen.

Further, my very dear and beloved, beloved by
God, the heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, out of true Christian, brotherly love I cannot
well forbear to write your love briefly as to
how it still is with me in my bonds. I cannot thank
and praise the Lord sufficiently, that he so comforts
me in my tribulation, and that my mind is still fixed
to fear the Lord with all my heart all the days of
my life, according to my weak ability. Furthermore,
very dear and beloved, I poor and unworthy
one have undertaken to write you a little, though I
am unfit to do so; but it is done out of true Christian,
brotherly love; hence accept it from me in
good part.

O my very dear and beloved, what a beautiful
consolation it is to us, that Christ says: Blessed are
they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:10.
Christ also says: Whosoever doth not take up his
cross, and follow me, is not worthy of me; and he
that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Luke
9:23,24. Paul, further, says all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the
Lord delivereth him out of them all. Ps. 34:19.
Therefore, my very dear and beloved, the prophets
suffered, yea, Christ himself, and also all the pious
witnesses of Jesus Christ even unto the present day.
Hence, let your loins be girded about, and your
lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that
wait for their lord, when he will return from the
wedding, that, when he cometh and knocketh they
may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those
servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find
watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and
will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:35–37.
Hence, my dear and much beloved, what a beautiful
comfort this is to us! For it is written: “Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9. He
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved. Matt. 24:13. And Esdras saw upon the
mount Sion a great people, whom he could not
number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
And in the midst of them there was a young man
of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon
every one of their heads he set crowns, and was
more exalted; at which he [Esdras] marveled
greatly. So he asked the angel, and said: Sir, what
are these? He answered and said: These be they
that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on
the immortal, and have confessed the name of God:
now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then he
asked the angel: What young person is it that
crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their
hands? And he answered and said: It is the Son of
God, whom they have confessed in the world.
2 Esd. 2:42–47.

Behold, my dear and much beloved in the Lord,
what is our life? It is even a vapor, or as a smoke
that is driven by the wind, not knowing whence it
cometh, that appeareth for a little time, and then
vanisheth away. Jas. 4:14. But our dying is nothing
less than an introduction into eternal life, to
reign with God and Christ. Christ says: He that
believeth in me is passed from death unto life. John
5:24. If we die through him, we live in him, for
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living;
801
and Abraham believed in him, and all believers live
in God. Matt. 22:33; Jas. 2:23. Though they
suffered death, they were the friends of God, so
that he says: He that toucheth you, toucheth the
apple of my eye. Zech. 2:8. Behold, what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the
world knoweth you not, because it knew him not.
Therefore, my dear and much beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:1–3. We
know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, that
we may be clothed upon with it. 2 Cor. 5:1,2. Yea,
saith Paul, as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ;
whether it be comfort or tribulation, it is all for our
salvation, if we suffer as the saints suffered, that is,
for the testimony of the word of God. 2 Cor. 1:5,6; Revelation
6:9. Paul further says: If we suffer with
him, if we die with Christ, we shall live with him.
2 Tim. 2:11,12. He further says; that our earnest
expectation is nothing less than the manifestation of
the sons of God, that is, we desire and long so
greatly for the appearing of our Lord in the clouds,
that we may be caught up to him in the clouds, and
become like him. Rom. 8:19; Matt. 24:30; 1 Thessalonians
4:17. While we are in these tabernacles,
we are burdened; for we would rather be clothed
upon with the immortal and heavenly glory with
which Christ shall glorify us. He that hath wrought
us for this selfsame thing is God, who hath given
unto us the earnest of the faith, through faith and
trust in his Son. 2 Cor. 5:4,5.

Hence, my dear and much beloved, even as it is
also written; Though our outward man perish, yet
the inward man is renewed day by day. For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; while we look not at the things which are
temporal, but at the things which are eternal.
2 Cor. 4:16–18. Herewith I commend you to the
Lord; may he bless and keep you, the Lord make
his face to shine upon you and upon us all, and be
gracious unto us. Num. 6:24,25. Greet the brethren
much in my name, where it is convenient. I
will commend you all to the Lord until the appearing
of our Lord. The peace of the Lord be with
you now and forever. Amen.

Written in bonds, on Christmas Monday, by me,

Clement Hendrickss,

Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.

Third Letter of Clement Hendrickss, to his father
and mother.

I wish you, my dear and beloved father, and my
dear and much beloved mother, the Spirit of truth,
and the knowledge of the faith, according to the
mind of Christ Jesus, a clear vision and an open
heart in all divine matters and in the word of God,
thereby rightly to discriminate which is light or
darkness, lies or truth, yea, flesh or spirit; in order
that you may not be deceived, but firmly adhere to
the word of God, so that you may receive a full reward,
and lose none of those things which you have
hitherto wrought through your faith. 2 John 8.

Further, my dear and much beloved father and
mother, whom I well remember in my bonds, and
still pray for you every morning and evening, that
the Lord would comfort you in your sorrow, which
you have for me, poor, unworthy man, who am not
worthy that you should sorrow for me. Furthermore,
my dear and much beloved father and mother
I inform your love, that I have undertaken to write
your love a little, as to how it still is with me, and
that it is still my purpose to fear the Lord with all
my heart, with all my strength, and with all my
soul, as long as I remain in the flesh, for which I can
never sufficiently thank and praise the almighty,
great and only wise God for his unspeakable, yea,
incomprehensible grace, which he has hitherto
shown me and still daily shows me through Jesus
Christ and the supply of his Spirit. Philip. 1:19.
For this I thank the almighty God, and bow the
knee of my heart (Prayer of Manasses) before the
Father full of grace, who is a true and righteous
God of mercy, and a God that comforts us all with
his holy word. Therefore, my dear and much beloved
father and mother, sorrow not for me poor,
unworthy man, but much rather rejoice herein, and
praise the Lord for it, that he has called and made
worthy your son, to suffer for his holy word and his
Gospel. And we find, that the apostles and the
prophets, yea, Christ himself, had to suffer according
to the flesh, from evil and perverse men. Hence
my dear father and much beloved mother, do not
grieve too much, and be content herein, as much
as is possible for you, this I most kindly ask you for
the name of the Lord. And always comfort yourselves
with the words of Christ where he says: He
that loveth aught more than me is not worthy of
me; and every one that forsaketh, house, home,
lands, and father and mother, shall receive a hundred-fold.
Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26; Matt. 19:29.
Therefore, my dear and much beloved father and
mother what else can we meet with in this life, than
with great poverty? And what is man’s life? nothing
but as the flower of the field: the grass withereth
and the flower fadeth; and as a vapor, that appeareth
for a little time and then vanisheth away. Isaiah
40:6,7; Jas. 4:14. Further, my dear and much beloved
father, I am of good courage to offer up my
sacrifice, and to suffer for the name of the Lord; for
Christ says: Whosoever therefore shall confess me
before men, him will I confess also before my
Father which is in heaven. Matt. 10:32. Christ also
says: Let your light shine before men. 5:16.
And I fain would, when I am to offer up my sacrifice,
that they would place me on a wagon and
carry me around town, and scourge me four times,
that I might let the light shine before this evil,
blind and perverse generation; for I am not ashamed
to suffer for the Gospel. Rom. 1:16. For I shall
not suffer as a thief, or a rogue, or robber, or evil-
802doer,
but I shall suffer as a Christian. 1 Peter 4:15,16.
For if we suffer for evil-doing, what profit is it
to us? but if we suffer for well-doing, this is acceptable
with the heavenly Father. 2:20. Furthermore
my dear and much beloved father and mother, I inform
your love that they have let me know that I
should commit myself into the hands of the clergy;
then they thought I should get out of here. Thereupon
I sent back word to them, that I had no intention
of doing this, and that they should go to no
trouble about it.

Hence, my dear and much beloved father and
mother, be not dismayed on account of this, I
humbly pray you for the name of the Lord, for of
such things a Christian ought not to be ashamed.
For there was Joseph, who was tempted by the
Egyptian woman; and she had caught him by his
coat or mantle, and wished to commit whoredom
with him; and she would not let him go; but he fled
from her, and left the mantle or coat in her hand,
rather than commit this great sin with her. Therefore,
my dear and much beloved father and mother,
if the whore of Babylon takes hold of our coat or
mantle, that we should commit whoredom with her,
rather let go, through the grace of the Lord, your
coat or mantle, namely, your temporal life, than
that you should commit whoredom with her. Revelation
17:1,2.

Furthermore, my dear and much beloved father
and mother, I ask you very humbly, with weeping
eyes, for forgiveness for all that I have done amiss
against you by word or deed, or by any thoughts,
that you will forgive me. It seems that my time
will soon be here now, when I shall offer up my
sacrifice. Hence my dear and much beloved father
and mother, I will commend you to the Lord, and
bid you adieu till the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The peace of the Lord be with you forever
and ever. Amen.

Written by me, your beloved son, in my bonds.

Clement Hendrickss,

Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.

Fourth letter of Clement Hendrickss, to his father
and mother.

A most friendly greeting to you my beloved father
and mother. I inform you, that I am still of
good courage and well, as I hope that also you are.

Further, my dear and much beloved father and
mother, I inform your love how it is with me, according
to the body, in my bonds. I cannot thank
and praise the Lord enough for it, that he so comforts
me in my tribulation, and that it is still my
fixed purpose to fear the Lord as long as I am here,
though flesh and blood should suffer on this account.

Furthermore, my dear and much beloved father
and mother, I inform your love, how they dealt
with me when I was first apprehended. I had been
invited out in the evening, which was on a Wednesday,
and we were speaking of going home. Then
the watch met us, and we had no light with us,
whereupon we were taken up above by the watch,
where sat Floris den Bral, who asked us, whence we
came, whether we had not been at a meeting of the
new religion. We said: “No.” He asked whether
we would substantiate this with our oath. I said to
him: “Will you not believe my word; I mean to
tell you the truth.” But he insisted on the oath,
and we would not swear, then he said: “Take them
back below.” And we were forthwith taken in the
rear, into the dungeon, as though we had been
thieves or rogues. The next morning we were taken
above, and they brought me first before the lords,
having bound my hands behind my back, as though
I had been a thief. Then the bailiff asked me and
said: “Clement.” And I said: “Sir Bailiff.” He
asked: “How many times have you attended the
meetings of the Mennists?” I kept silence and gave
him no answer. And he insisted hard upon knowing
it, whereupon I was led away into a room by myself.
Then the others were brought before the lords,
and asked concerning their faith. They confessed
their faith, and then I was again brought before the
lords, and he again asked me, how often I had attended
the meetings. He wanted to know whether
I had been there ten times. I said: “No.” Eight
times? “No.” Seven times? “No.” Three times?
“Yes.” Then he asked me, who had been the
preacher. I said: “I am not minded to tell it.” He
also wanted me to tell in what house I had been,
and what people had been there. I told him that I
was not minded to tell him. He said that he should
make me tell it. I was then taken back into the
dungeon. The day following I was again taken up
before the lords, and the Bailiff asked me, whether
I would not yet tell him, who had been the preacher,
where it had been, and what people had been present.
I told him that I was not yet minded to tell it,
and said: “I am in trouble, and I do not wish to
bring any one else into trouble; you have me here,
deal with me according to your pleasure.” Jeremiah
26:14. Then the Bailiff said to the judges: I demand
him to be put on the rack, in order to learn
all the particulars. And he said: “Take him to the
rear;” and I was taken to the rack, where I was
stripped, and my shirt tied before my body. Thus
I was placed in a sitting posture on the rack, and
my eyes blindfolded. Then the Bailiff came to me,
and asked me whether I would not yet tell it. I told
him that I was not yet minded to tell it. Thereupon
I was laid upon the rack, and tied to it with seven
ropes. On my head there were two knots, which
lay on my forehead; and a cord on each of my
great toes, and the others around my body. The
ropes were twisted together with billets of wood,
and I expected nothing else but that he would twist
in pieces the ribs in my body. Urine was also
poured into my mouth, and as I lay there in pain,
I was also scourged on my breast. The Lord knows
how they dealt with me. Through the severe pain I
named four persons; but I hoped that they were
not in town. This lasted about half an hour. I said
to them, that they should put a rope around my
throat, and dispatch me at once. When they loosed
the ropes, I was not able to get up by my own efforts;
the servants had to help me up. I was then
taken back into a dungeon. The next day I was
again brought above before the lords, and if it had
803
not been for Joost Buyck, I would have been tortured
again, though I was scarcely able to walk.
Then the Bailiff asked me, whether I would not
have a monk to come and see me. I said, that he
might stay away. He said: “You have to hear a
dog bark; can you not hear a man talk?” I was
then taken back into the dungeon, and a priest and
a monk came to dispute with me. They began to
prate much of this and that, and to tell many fables;
but I kept silence, and let them prate on; and they
got angry because I did not reply to them more,
and one of them said that I had the devil in me.
Four days after I was taken above again, when they
told me that I should prepare myself against Saturday.
I said: “Whenever it pleases the Lord I am
ready.” I was then taken back into the dungeon,
and expected nothing else than that I should offer
up my sacrifice on Saturday, and even on Saturday
I had no other expectation but of offering up my
sacrifice. There came a priest to me, and would
have me confess to him. I said that I did not want
to confess to him, since he could not forgive my
sins; I said: The best confession is to confess to the
Lord my God. Then the Bailiff with two judges
came to me, and said, that they would wait with me
two weeks yet; but I was of such good courage to
offer up my sacrifice, as though I had known nothing
of death. Phil. 2:17. And so I am still of such
good courage, as though I knew nothing of imprisonment.
It began to vex me that it is deferred so
long. I long to be out of the flesh, and am quite
cheerfully resigned to offer up my sacrifice; the
Lord does not forsake his own who trust in him.
Furthermore, my dear and much beloved father, I
inform you, that I received your letter, and I was
rejoiced to learn that you are so well content herein.

Further, my dear father and mother, I will bid
you adieu, if it be the Lord’s pleasure, till the appearing
of our Lord. The peace of the Lord be
with you forever. Amen. By me,

Clement Hendrickss,

Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.

Fifth letter of Clement Hendrickss.

I wish you, my dear and beloved in the Spirit
and according to the truth, as I trust, in the knowledge
of the faith, and in the mind of Christ Jesus,
a clear vision, and an open heart, in all divine matters,
and in the word of God, thereby rightly to discriminate
which is light or darkness, lies or truth,
yea, flesh or spirit; in order that you may not be
deceived, but adhere firmly to the word of God, so
that you may receive a full reward.

Further, my dear and much beloved, I cannot
well forbear to write you a little, how it still is with
me in my bonds, and that my mind is still fixed to
fear the Lord with all my heart, with all my strength,
and with all my soul, for which I can never fully
thank and praise the almighty, great and allwise
God, for his unspeakable, yea, incomprehensible
grace which he has hitherto shown me and still
daily shows me, through Jesus Christ, and the supply
of the Spirit. For this I thank the almighty
God, and bow the knee of my heart before the Father
full of grace and truth, who is the true Father
full of grace, and the God of all comfort, who can
comfort us when we are in tribulation and distress.
2 Cor. 1:3,4. Hence, my dear and faithful, keep
well this good treasure, which is committed to you,
given you of God through grace; for faith is the
gift of God. Rom. 12:3. By it the elders obtained
a good report, and assurance in their hearts, through
the ancient word of the Spirit of Christ, who had
testified before with their spirit, that they were the
children of God, and heirs of all the glorious promises.
Heb. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:11. Hence they willingly
forsook everything, and esteemed it nevertheless
much more and greater riches, to suffer affliction
with the children of God, than to enjoy all the temporal
pleasures of this world; for they had respect
unto the recompense of the reward, and to that
which was eternal and not temporal. Heb. 11:25,26;
2 Cor. 4:18. For faith looks to that which does not
appear here now, nor is seen with carnal eyes, but
which is beheld by the inner, hidden man, and by
the eyes of the heart; and hence they hold it fast,
as though they saw it before their eyes, and could
touch it with their hands; for they judge him faithful
that promised, that he also will do it, for he cannot
deny himself. Heb. 11:1,11; 10:23; 2 Timothy
2:13. Therefore, my dear and faithful, look
not at the things which are seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which
are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18. And Christ
says: He that loveth aught more than me, is not
worthy of me. Matt. 10:37. And in another place
he says: Every one that forsaketh house, home,
lands, and father and mother, yea, also his own
life, shall receive a hundred-fold. Matt. 19:29.
Hence we must forsake everything here, and love
nothing more than the living God, and show it with
works and by the deed, that we are the children of
God, and not bastards. The righteous must through
much affliction enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but the Lord helps them in all their afflictions; he
does not suffer his own to be tempted above that
they are able, but has with the temptation also made
a way to escape. Ps. 34:19; 1 Cor. 10:13. But the
ungodly he reserves unto the day of judgment to be
punished. 2 Pet. 2:9.

Hence, my dear and much beloved, remember
Joseph, who was tempted by the Egyptian woman
to commit whoredom with her; and she had taken
hold of his coat or mantle, and would not let him
go; but he fled from her, and left the coat or mantle,
in her hand, rather than commit this great sin with
her. Therefore, my dear and much beloved, if the
harlot of Babylon takes hold of our coat or mantle
rather let go, by the grace of God, your earthly
coat, namely, your temporal life, than that you
should be compelled to commit whoredom with her;
well knowing that our mortal clothing must first be
put off before the immortal can be put on. 2 Esdras
2:45. And if our earthly house of this tabernacle be
dissolved, we have a building in heaven, a house
not made with hands, but which is eternal. 2 Corinthians
5:1.

804

Furthermore, my dear and much beloved, I have
undertaken to write you a little yet, of the words of
Christ, where he says: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter [that he may abide
with you forever]; even the Spirit of truth, whom
the world cannot receive. . . . Yet a little while,
and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see
me, and ye know me, says the Lord. John 14:15–17,19,20.
In another place Christ also warns
us, saying: Beware of false prophets, which come
to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. . . . Every tree that bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matt. 7:15–17,19.

Herewith I bid you adieu with the sure word of
his grace, until his coming. The peace of the Lord
be with you forever and ever. Amen. Receive this
my brief letter in good part.

Written in my bonds out of love, by me,

Clement Hendrickss,

Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.





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