# How Jacques D’Auchy Was Betrayed, Apprehended, And Fell Into The Hands Of The Tyrants, And With What Punishment The Righteous God Visited This Tyrant And Traitor—A Memorable And Instructive Example To All Tyrants And Traitors.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: HOW JACQUES D’AUCHY WAS BETRAYED, APPREHENDED, AND FELL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TYRANTS, AND WITH WHAT PUNISHMENT THE RIGHTEOUS GOD VISITED THIS TYRANT AND TRAITOR—A MEMORABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE EXAMPLE TO ALL TYRANTS AND TRAITORS.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

There was a councilor at Harlingen, by the name
of Mr. de Wael, who very diligently sought Jacques,
addressed him in a friendly manner, and invited him
to his house, saying that he had a letter for him.
When Jacques arrived there, he cordially welcomed
him, and urged him much to be his guest, seeming
to be kindled with great love for old acquaintance’
sake. When he learned that Jacques could not stay,
he, with friendly words, but the heart of a Judas,
asked him to come again, and bring of his wares
and work with him, ostensibly for the purpose of
buying of him, Jacques being a peddler. In the
meantime he secretly sent a messenger to Leeuwarden,
to the council, for a commissary and a bailiff.
When Jacques came again to him, he affably greeted
him, sending in the meantime for the bailiff. When
the latter arrived, the traitor malignantly said:
“Apprehend him, behold, this is the man.” Thus
they handled him with great severity, saying:
“Hold still,” and searched him all over.

Then Jacques said: “O my lord, what have you
done, that you have thus betrayed me, who trusted
you with my life and all my property? Why do you
seek my life, and thirst thus for my blood?” He
replied: “Be content and suffer yourself to be
bound: you must go with me to the prison.” He
said he had to do this, to fulfill his oath, and read to
Jacques his cruel, tyrannous mandate. He also made
very strict inquiry for four other men. Jacques replied
that he would not betray or deceive any one,
but if he had aught against him, or had heard any
one complain of him, he should tell him of it. The
traitor replied that he had not heard anything of the
kind, and that he was not apprehended on account
of any crime, but simply because he had adhered to
heresy; he, moreover, asked him whether he was
not an Anabaptist. Jacques denied having adhered
to heresy, and being an Anabaptist, saying that he
had received but one baptism, according to the word
of the Lord, upon his faith. When asked concerning
the Roman church, Jacques replied that it was not
of God. Upon this the traitor was seen to sigh
deeply, his countenance simulating great sorrow as
he said: “Oh! Jacques, must you fall into my
hands?” Jacques replied: “My lord, I had placed
confidence in you, on account of our old acquaintance,
and because I had intercourse with you so
long; but I will gladly and from my heart forgive
you for this, and it is my earnest desire that the
Lord may have mercy upon you.” He thanked
Jacques for this favor, opining that in this he had
not sinned before God, since he had to act according
to his oath. Jacques said: “Do you consider
this transaction right before God and men? the time
will come when you will find it otherwise.” Wisdom
5:2. He then sent Jacques into the room and said
to him: “You will be examined at Leeuwarden concerning
your faith and doctrine.” While Jacques
was imprisoned there, his wife came to him, upon
which this friend of God was filled with great sorrow
and anxiety, beholding her in such exceeding grief
since she was also pregnant. The turnkey thrust
her from him with great cruelty, but many of the
bystanders most heartily wept with her, and entreated
the turnkey, saying: “O let her go to him;”
but it could not last long. Jacques said to her: “O
my beloved, go home, and comfort yourself in the
Lord; for I am imprisoned here for the word of
God; and it will tend neither to your shame nor disgrace,
since I have injured no one.” She said:
“May the Lord strengthen you in the truth; for
after this conflict there is prepared for you an eternal
crown. O that I could die with you, and inherit
that blissful life with you, then my heart would rejoice.”
Jacques said: “O sister in the Lord, let not
this grieve you, though I must go a little before
you; it is the Lord’s will.” The turnkey could not
bear this, but said: “Begone, quick!” Thereupon
Jacques entreated him, saying: “O let us alone
with God for a little while.” And thus these two
dear lambs were separated, but hope to meet again
at the resurrection of the just, where wailing and
parting will be heard no more forever. Philip. 3:11;
Rev. 7:17; 21:4; Is. 25:8.

Having, through the grace of God, undergone
and endured manifold assaults, by way of numerous
examinations and threats from the bloodthirsty, he
died in great steadfastness for the testimony of Jesus.
He was not put to death at the place of execution,
but secretly murdered by night. Until quite recently
trustworthy persons were still living, who early in
the morning, after the night in the forepart of which
he had been murdered, saw him in his leather clothes,
lying dead in his blood. He now rests under the
altar of Jesus, awaiting, with God’s chosen, a blessed
resurrection and eternal life.

The abovementioned traitor, Mr. de Wael, was
not long after this deed most severely smitten by
God in punishment for his murderous treachery, in
consequence of which he departed out of this world
in a most awful manner, as a solemn and significant
warning to all that are inclined to follow his example
in this respect; for he was soon driven from
Leeuwarden, with great reproach and ignominy
from the common people, so that the boatman, who
was to convey him away, was with him in danger of
his life, so that he begged most urgently that his
life might be spared; for the traitor was most unmercifully
pelted with stones by the common people
and the children, and ignominiously reproached for
his treachery, being called a Judas, rogue, miscreant
and arch-heretic. To his great disgrace and reproach
they sang of him the following verses, which
had been composed by Jacques:

“He said: I had to find you—

Now from my oath I’m free;

Submit and let us bind you;

To prison go with me.”

588

And also:

“And is it right your dealing,

Before the Lord and men?

The time is surely coming

When you will doubtless ken,” etc.

God the Lord had also punished him with severe
leprosy, with which he was likewise most ignominiously
taunted. Whenever they had sang a stanza
of said hymn, they would derisively exclaim: “You
leprous Judas and treacherous rogue, do you ken it
now?” The stones increased the longer the more,
so that the boatman who was to convey him away,
saw his own life imperiled, and cried out that he
had to convey him off by order of the lord. Thus he
was driven from Leeuwarden with great disgrace
and ignominy, and had to roam about from place to
place, an object of scorn and contempt, until he was
finally consumed by leprosy, and, like Antioch and
Herod, died a terrible and premature death, an example
to all his followers. 2 Macc. 9:9; Acts 12:23.
The reports among the common people concerning
this matter, are of a still much more horrible nature,
than the account we have given here.





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