# Further Observation Concerning The Death Of Jan Wouterss Van Kuyck And Adriaenken Jans Of Molenaersgraef.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: FURTHER OBSERVATION CONCERNING THE DEATH OF JAN WOUTERSS VAN KUYCK AND ADRIAENKEN JANS OF MOLENAERSGRAEF.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

When said two persons were led forth to death,
the hall bell was rung (as was generally done at executions
that took place in the name of the city), in
consequence of which a great concourse of the common
people gathered to the place of execution.

The gates of the city were closed, or at least
guarded, that no one could get out or in, except
with the consent of those who kept watch there, and
their names were written down after they had stated
whence they came, and whither they were bound.

When they had arrived at the place of execution,
which was on the northwest side of the city, close
by the water’s edge, and had ascended the height,
or scaffold, some among the bystanders called to
these two valiant persons with a good intention, and
comforted them, because of their courage, in their
impending death. Jan Wouterss turned to them
and exhorted them to amend their life, and to accept
the true faith, declaring that they both were of
good cheer and longed for this holy sacrifice.

Thereupon he was harshly reproved by the under
bailiff, which displeased many, notwithstanding they
had not attained to the true enlightenment.

Both of them were then stripped of their upper
garments and also of their shoes, which were thrown
among the common people, but picked up and
taken away by a certain brother named Dirck
Wouterss.

Forthwith Adriaenken Jans was first placed at
the stake, and strangled without delay, seeing
which and recognizing her, a certain sister of the
church, whose name is well known, and who had
come in the market-boat from Rotterdam, fainted
away, and was therefore not able to witness the subsequent
death of Jan Wouterss.

This took place as already stated. In the meantime
the hall bell was still rung, until about the time that
the (so-called) justice was finished.

Note.—We went to no little trouble to obtain at
the archives of this city of Dortrecht, the old records
of their examinations and death sentences, but
were not able to procure them, as they are no
longer extant; they were also, as it appears, never
put on record in the ordinary’s book of criminal
sentences, which we searched for this purpose. It is
our opinion that these sentences were simply put on
loose sheets of paper and thus read in court and
then destroyed, so that no remembrance of it should
remain, as it seemed that the city should soon
change her government and religion, as actually
took place about three months afterwards, through
the arrival of William I., Prince of Orange.

Nevertheless, we are not without other legal testimony
in regard to this matter.

Johan van Beverwijck, first physician and judge
of the city of Dortrecht, writes concerning it, in the
history attached to his description of Dortrecht, in
the Dort edition, p. 348, for the year 1572, as follows:

“In the city proper there was imprisoned, accused
as a heretic, a man of blameless life and conversation,
as I learned from those with whom he resided,
by the name of Jan van Kuyck Wouterss, a
skillful writer upon glass and painter.

“The authorities; seeing the disposition of the
people, were not in haste with his trial; yea, the
Bailiff, Jan van Drenckwaert Boudewijnss, who was
still young and beardless, had himself painted by
him, in the attitude of Solomon, where he pronounces
his first sentence.

“But the monks did nothing but vehemently
preach against this slackness, and hesitated not to
proclaim from the pulpit, that the Bailiff had apprehended
him merely to have himself painted by him.

“Hence, this poor man, after many tortures,
inflicted upon him in order to extort from him the
names of his master and comrades; was burned on
the 28th of March, A. D. 1572, on the New Fortification,
together with Adriaenken Jans, a woman
from Molenaersgraef.” Thus far, Johan van Beverwijck.

Hence the account of the death of these persons is
certain and reliable, nor is it doubted by any one
that we have ever heard here in this city; the well-disposed
will therefore be satisfied therewith.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17.

857





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