# Joos Kindt, A. D. 1553. A Letter Or Confession Of Joos Kindt, Imprisoned At Kortrijck, Where He Subsequently Lost His Life At The Stake, For The Testimony Of Jesus, A. D. 1553, Reckoning The Beginning Of The Year From New Year’S Day.

1553 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: JOOS KINDT, A. D. 1553. A LETTER OR CONFESSION OF JOOS KINDT, IMPRISONED AT KORTRIJCK, WHERE HE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST HIS LIFE AT THE STAKE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, A. D. 1553, RECKONING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FROM NEW YEAR’S DAY.

Source heading; not independently verified

Grace be with you, and peace, from God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ; may he comfort
and strengthen us with his Holy Spirit, that we may
be able to stand against the assaults of the devil,
who, as Peter says, walketh about us, as a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour, and resist him
with a firm faith. Know then, dear friends, that I
have such a conflict against the carnal lords, insomuch
that they assail me with their sophistries,
seeking to draw me from the obedience of our dear
Lord; however, I trust that the Lord will succor
me, which I do not doubt; for God, comforting his
own, says through the prophet Isaiah (49:15):
“Though a mother forsake her child, yet will I not
forsake thee;” which the Lord shows in me in a
wonderful manner—let every tongue praise him.
Yea, if I had as much paper as I ever wrote on,
and time to write, I could not describe the joy and
gladness I experience; yea, my joy is unspeakable.

But N. is sick, and asks that you would diligently
entreat the Lord for him; for he is ready to go into
the fire, but he cannot resist the enemies of the
cross; for they assail him with sophisms, for their
teacher, the devil, knows much sophistry, which he
showed when he came to tempt our Savior in the
wilderness, as is written in the Gospel. Now, if he
employed his sophistry on our Savior, I am not cast
down, though I have a little of conflict; for, dear
friends, they could easily be resisted if they used
arguments, but they assail him altogether with lies.
Since their father is a liar, as our Savior also told
them, they have the nature of their father, which
they partly manifested with regard to me, all of
which I cannot communicate to you; but I hope
that the Lord will give me so much grace that
I may write a little about the disputation with the
carnal.

Know then, that Ronse and Polet came into the
prison on Saturday afternoon, and summoned me
before them. When I came to them, I asked them
what they wished of me. They replied: “This will
be told you.” They inquired how old I was. I
replied: “That I do not know; if you want correct
information on this point, you must ask my
mother.”

Ronse. “Tell us as near as you know.”

Joos. “Between twenty and thirty years.” Then
their clerk wrote: “Between thirty and forty.”

Ronse. “When were you to confession last?”

Joos. “Why do you ask this?”

Ronse. “I want to know it.”

Joos. “You did not have me apprehended? you
well know how it is with me.”

Ans. “We do.”

Joos. “Of whom are you, or in whose name have
you come to me?”

Ans. “In the name of God.”

Joos. “I don’t believe this.”

Ques. “Why?”

Joos. “Because you have apprehended me, to
find out how it is with me; for all whom the Lord
has sent to go and teach, imprisoned no one; for
he sent them out, and commanded them, that if
they came to a place, and were not received, they
should shake off the dust from their feet, and depart
from there.” Matt. 10:14.

Polet. “You have doubtless read, that Paul delivered
some to the devil.” 1 Cor. 5:5.

Joos. “Show me where Paul cast them into
prison; this I want to know of you.”

Polet. “I don’t know.”

Joos. “Why then do you undertake to quote
Scriptures to any one, which you do not understand
yourself? yea, more than that, to apprehend
people, to bring them to the faith, even if your faith
were good, which I do not hold to be the case, for
I do not believe that you are from God.”

Ques. “Why?”

Joos. “Because the Lord says: ‘I will have obedience,
and not sacrifice’ (1 Sam. 15:22); and because
ye do not obey him.”

Ques. “Wherein?”

Joos. “Because Christ commanded to point the
erring to the right way; now, you say that I have
gone astray—why then did you not show me what
is right? for I seek nothing but what is right.”

Ans. “For this purpose we have come.”

Joos. “Then you should have come to the place
where I lived.”

Ans. “We did not know where you lived.”

Joos. “You knew it well enough to send the
Bailiff.”

Ans. “Had you been a good sheep, it would not
have been necessary.”

521

Joos. “Christ left the ninety and nine, and went
to seek that which was lost.”

Then Ronse said: “Do you not believe that I
am appointed your superior, by our holy father,
the Pope, and our gracious lord, the Emperor?”

Joos. “I know no superior save Christ.”

Ques. “How; don’t you recognize the Emperor
at all?”

I told him, that I was well content to have him
be my superior according to the flesh. Then they
wrote that I recognized no superior according to
the spirit save Christ, and the Emperor according
to the flesh.

Ronse then said: “When were you to confession
last, tell me this?”

Joos. “I do not wish to speak to you here.”

Ques. “Why?”

Joos. “I shall speak before the lords in full
court.”

“There,” said they, “it would be at the risk
of your life, if you should say anything of consequence.
Tell me,” said he, “what do you think of
infant baptism?” Being urged to speak, I replied:
“Nothing.”

Ronse. “Yea, in what baptism then do you believe?”

Joos. “I know of but one faith, and one baptism.”

Ronse. “How long since you were baptized?”

Joos. “Half a year, or thereabout.” This they
noted down.

Ques. “What do you hold concerning the Roman
church?”

Joos. “I do not hold the least article of all they
hold.”

This was also written down. They asked me so
much, that I said to them: “I have freely confessed
my faith, and am ready to go alive into the fire for
it; hence be content that you know my faith.”
They asked a great deal. I said: “Go away from
me; I regard you as enemies of the cross of Christ;
hence, go away from me, for you know the ground
of my faith, which I have freely confessed to you.
Do therefore to me what you please; for it is through
the grace of the Lord that I have these members,
and I am also ready to give them up by the grace
of the Lord, yea, to present them for his holy
praise.” 2 Macc. 7:11. They spoke much, but I
said: “Go away from me, and come no more where
I am, for you are against God. Matt. 12:30. Do
you not fear the Lord? See what is written Matt. 13,
concerning the tares of the field. Now since you
say that I am evil, the Lord has commanded that
it should be left to grow until the harvest.”

Ans. “If we were to let it grow up, you would
corrupt us all.”

Polet. “Does not Augustine say”—

Joos. “Don’t speak of Augustine, for I do not
know him; I hold no doctrine save that of the
apostles and prophets, and of the words which our
Savior brought from high heaven, from the mouth
of his heavenly Father, and sealed with his precious
blood; for this I want to go into the fire; but Augustine,
Gregory, Ambrose, these I know not.”

Ronse. “Yea, do you not believe that our blessed
Savior is concealed in the holy sacrament?”

Joos. “I do not believe this.”

Ronse. “Where then is he?”

Joos. “At the right hand of his heavenly Father,
and he will at the last descend with the glory of his
Father, to judge the quick and the dead. Fear this
strict judgment, and amend your ways; put on
sackcloth and clothing of hair; repent, and go to
the people, whom you keep running after your false
worship; warn them, for you murder their souls,
since you say that you have the key of the kingdom
of heaven, from the time of St. Peter, and that the
same has always remained in your possession. Well
does Christ say that you have the key, and that you
will not enter yourselves, and those that desire to
go in you hinder.” Matt. 23:13.

Ronse. “Who baptized you? did Jelis the Baptist,
baptize you?”

Joos. “You know how it is with me; be satisfied.”

Polet. “It was Adam Pastor.”

Ronse. “Or David Joris.”

I kept silent.

Ronse. “Joos, tell me who were your sponsors?”

Joos. “I know of no sponsors.”

Ronse. “Your witnesses?”

Joos. “I have told you that it took place; hence
be content therewith; for I have such confidence
in the Lord, that I trust he will keep the door of
my mouth so that I shall tell you nothing, though
you should tear me to pieces.”

They asked me a great deal. I said: “Go away
from me; for you are not of God.” They replied:
“We are.” I said: “Away! go away from me, go
from me, and come no more where I am.” Much
more yet took place, but it would take too long to
write it. Finally they went away, and I was led
back into my cell.

On Sunday I was taken to the house of the
Judges where the court was assembled. There were
also present there Salome, Sir Cornelis, Dean of
Kestenne, Ronse, and Polet. I was placed in the
middle, firmly bound, and held by two thief-catchers.
I said: “My lords, what is your wish?” Ronse.
“This will be told you.” They then read the confession
of my faith, which they had written in prison,
and asked me whether I was still of the same mind.
I replied: “Yes; I am still ready to go into the fire
for it.” Ronse asked whether I did not believe that
Christ had taken his flesh from Mary. I said:
“No.” Then it seemed as though Sir Cornelis
would faint away; he blessed and crossed himself
much, and all were horrified. There was a little
discussion about it; but they, like dragons, breathed
their poison into the judges, each taking a judge,
and said: “True, it is written so; but he has not the
understanding; the Scriptures want to be understood.”
And they adduced many far-fetched sophisms,
and filled the ears of the lords, and asked me
many sophistical questions. I said: “I have confessed
my faith to you; be satisfied therewith; and
I pray you, not that I am worthy of it, but by the
crimson blood of our dear Lord, let me in peace;
you have my faith, and hold me in your hands here:
be satisfied, and do what you please.”

522

Then Ronse asked me whether I had not been
present somewhere, and adjured me three times by
my baptism, that I should tell who was present. I
told him that I would not tell him one word. Ronse
said: “You have denied your baptism; Menno will
take it ill, that you deny your baptism.” I said:
“My faith and baptism I know, but with your adjuration
I have nothing to do; I thereby know that
you are sorcerers.” Then Polet said: “We may
swear.” I replied: “See Matt. 5, whether he does
not prohibit swearing altogether.” They said: “No.”
I said. “Yes.” Then Polet looked into a Bible
which they had brought with them, a large book,
and it read there just as I had said.

Thereupon Sir Cornelis said: “The Bible is false;
our Latin Bible reads differently.” I said: “Do
you bring false books to me? Why do you say it is
false? And it is privileged—why then do you let
them circulate with privilege, seeing you examine
them?” He replied: “I did not examine them.”
I said: “Some of the learned men at Louvain.”
Then Ronse whispered to Sir Cornelis Roose and
said: “It is true, they are examined, and were
good, but the printer had a boy, who misprinted
them, while his master was gone to town. Ronse
asked me how it came that I so easily believed a
man whom I perhaps would never more see, and
suffered myself to be baptized by him; and that I
would not believe them, whom I saw daily, yea,
them who were present and had instructed me at
this time and before, as they said, and why I would
not believe my pastor, who daily preached the
gospel. I replied [that I did not believe him] because
he was a liar, and that I had heard him
preach that it could nowhere be found written that
Mary was a mother and a virgin. But (he said) because
their church taught it, therefore it had to be
believed. Therefore, said I, I will not hear him,
since I had read the contrary in Isaiah (7:14), and
in Matthew and in other places. Having thus heard
lies proceed out of your mouth, I after this heard
neither you nor any other, and I hope by the grace
of the Lord I never shall.” He said: “No.” I said:
“Yes, and I offer my body to the rack, against
yours.” But he had no desire for it, and said:
“What! should I go to the rack? You assert that
our church is not good, because we are not blameless;
are you blameless? There are such of your
people that have committed murder, because men
would not believe them, nay, would not adhere to
their doctrine.” I said: “Did you see this in me,
or anything else that is unseemly? I am here in the
hands of the judges, that they punish me for it.”
Ronse said: “We know nothing of this kind of
you.” I said: “Then don’t tell me what another
does, nor consider me bad on account of the misdeeds
of others. No one is to bear the burden of
another; you are not to bear mine, nor I yours.
The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Gal. 6:5; Ezekiel
18:20.

Much more yet was said by them, but it is not
worth while to write it. They also said that Christ
had said that the scribes and the Pharisees sat in
Moses’ seat, and that he had commanded us to do
after their commandments, but not after their works;
therefore, said they, do what we advise you, but do
not after our works, since Christ teaches this. Matthew
23:1,2. I asked: “Who did Christ say sat in
Moses’ seat?” Ans. “The Pharisees.” I asked
again: “Does this Scripture belong to you?” Ans.
“Yes.” I said: “Then you confess that you are of
their generation?”

Then Sir Cornelis, the parish priest, asked me
why I did not believe in one article of the Roman
church. I doubtless believed that Christ was crucified,
which the Roman church also believes, which
was certainly an article; and why I believed that
Matthew’s gospel was gospel, which was nowhere
written; [he also said that] he would show me that
Paul wrote before the evangelists. I then said:
“Show me that Paul wrote before Matthew.” Sir
Cornelis said: “What have you to do with that?”
I replied: “Should I have nothing to do with it?
my life and soul are at stake, according to what you
say.” Sir Cornelis said: “He is overcome.” I said:
“Be silent, you are not worthy of being spoken to,
and see that you do not say in my absence, that you
overcame me, or that I have the devil in me, or
condemn me among the simple people, and deceive
them still more.” Then Ronse said: “You are
damned, if you remain so.” I said: “Why?”
Ronse replied: “Because you believe not.” I said:
“I do believe, and I adhere so firmly to my faith,
that I would rather go into the fire, than transgress
a single point.”

Much more took place which would be too long
to write. Finally I was led back into prison, where
two shackles were put on me. I said: “I am ready,
not only to suffer myself to be shackled, but also to
die the most ignominious death for the name of the
Lord.” Acts 21:13.

On Monday Polet and the fat-monger came, and
asked me how it was with me. I told them that it
had never been as well, for which I praised the
Lord. They said that they were very glad of it.
Polet then said: “Joos, how can your cause and
your church be good—the Germans have a congregation,
and the English have one; but where are
the members of your congregation? You alone are
not a church. Let us hear whether you are also a
flock, and who your members are.” Then said I
five or six times: “Get thee behind me, and depart
from me, Satan;” whereupon they both ran away.
Then I said: “Now you speak; at the judgment
another shall speak.” Thus I saw them no more.
I have heard that I am to be severely tortured; for
they think to obtain from me all the particulars;
but I trust the Lord, that he will keep my lips.
Hence, pray the Lord for me, that he will succor
me, for they thirst for much blood; but they can do
no more than the Lord permits them. Therefore I
commend myself into the hands of the Lord; and
anything you may hear which is not in this letter,
regard as lies. In token of the truth I hope to
seal this letter with my blood. To this end may
God give his grace, that his name may be praised
thereby.

523





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