# Joris Wippe, Joosten’S Son, Put To Death At Dortrecht, A. D. 1558.

1558 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: JORIS WIPPE, JOOSTEN’S SON, PUT TO DEATH AT DORTRECHT, A. D. 1558.

Source heading; not independently verified

Joris Wippe, when he still lived in the darkness
of popery, was a burgomaster at Meenen in Flanders,
his native place; but having subsequently come
to the knowledge of the Gospel, he had to flee the
country, and went to live at Dortrecht, in Holland,
where he established himself as cloth-dyer. When
he had lived there for a while, and was becoming
known, he, through the instigation of the enemies
of the truth, was summoned to appear before the
lords in the large church. Somewhat alarmed on
this account, Joris consulted with several drapers,
for whom he dyed, and who were men of influence,
as to what he should do. They, placing entire confidence
in the magistracy, deemed it advisable that
he should appear before them, and hear what they
had to say to him.

When he came there, and the lords saw him,
they were filled with consternation, and would have
preferred that he had taken their summons as a
warning to secretly make his escape, since they did
not thirst much for innocent blood; but as he had
appeared, the Bailiff, when Joris was about to leave
the church, seized him as one who, according to
the imperial decree, had forfeited life and property.
This happened on the 28th of April, 1558.

After his apprehension, the lords tried every
means to save him from death; he was sent to
Gravenhage (that is, to the court of Holland), and
there examined; but as he was a resident of Dordrecht,
and had been apprehended there, he was sent
back thither, and ultimately put to death there.

He left behind him a good testimony as regards
his liberality to the poor; for when he was sentenced
to death, the executioner lamented with tears in his
eyes, that he had to put to death a man who had
so often fed his wife and children, and would rather
forego his office, than put to death this man, who
had done so much good to him and others, and
had never harmed any one. Hence he was finally
drowned, in the night, in a wine cask filled with
water, by one of the thief-catchers, who, at the
command of the lords, performed the executioner’s
office on him, pushing him backward into the water.
Thus he offered up his life to the Lord, on the first
of October, being forty-one years old. The next
day he was hung by his feet to the gallows, in the
place of execution, as an object of derision to the
people, being thus, like his Master, numbered among
the malefactors. The day following, several criminals
were scourged and banished; whereupon the
executioner, after he had executed this punishment,
still lamenting the death of Joris Wippe,
said: “They have crucified Christ, and released
Barabbas.”

He wrote several letters in prison, three of which
have come into our possession. He doubtless would
have written more; but great watchfulness was exercised
that he should have no ink, so that he wrote
his last letter (to his children) with mulberry juice.

Note.—Inasmuch as we, after long search in the
archives of this city, found the sentence of death of
this friend of God, Joris Wippe, and copied it ourselves
from the criminal records of this city, we
deem it well to add it here, so that the truth of the
above account concerning the death of this man may
appear the more clearly and incontrovertibly.

Sentence of death of Joris Wippe done and pronounced
in the chamber (of justice), the 4th of
August, 1558.

Whereas Joris Wippe, Joosten’s son, born at
Meenen, in Flanders, has dared to have himself
rebaptized, and has held273 pernicious views concerning
baptism, according to testimony and truth,
and all the evidence which the Judges and the council
have seen and heard with regard to it, and according
563to his own confession, therefore, he shall,
to the honor of God,274 and the edification of the
lords and the city,275 be drowned in a cask, and his
body then be brought to the place of execution, and
there be hung to the gallows, and his property shall
be confiscated, and placed in the lord’s exchequer.

Extracted from the book of criminal records of
the city of Dortrecht, commenced on the last of
October, 1554, and ended on the 16th of June, 1573.

This is the first sentence of death publicly pronounced
upon any one with regard to matters of
faith, which we found in this book. As to whether
it was pronounced in the chamber of justice, in the
presence of the lords alone, or publicly proclaimed
in court, before all men, is not expressed; nor is it
of much importance to know. This much is certain,
that his death resulted in consequence.

But since, according to the testimony of old writers,
the executioner was not willing to execute this
man, and the lords of justice themselves were not
a little troubled in this matter, though they had
allowed themselves to be persuaded by the priests
and monks, the execution of the sentence pronounced
was postponed for over seven weeks,
namely, from the 4th of August until the first of
October, A. D. 1558.

The following night, having commended his soul
into the hands of God, he was drowned in a wine
cask, by one of the thief-catchers, as related above,
in the Vuylgate at Dortrecht, where he was imprisoned.

Further Observation.—According to John van
Beverwijck’s account of the government of the city
of Dortrecht, the following persons sat in court
when sentence of death was passed upon this pious
man:

Adriaen van Blyenberg Adriaens (who also sat in
court when sentence was passed upon Digna Pieters),
Bailiff of Dortrecht; together with nine judges: Mr.
T. Schoock Sir Pieters; Cornelis Krooswijck Jans;
Frans Anthoniss; Mr. Aert van der Lede Sir Staess;
Willem Boucquet Blasiuss; Adriaen van Nispen
Gerrits; Frans Adriaens; Heyman van Bleyenbergh
Adriaens; Cornelis van Beveren Claess.

But whether they all unanimously passed this sentence,
is not stated; however, it appears that the
majority concurred therein, which can not have
taken place without grief and compunction of conscience
on their part, since but a short time before
they had sought to get rid of the doomed man, and
for this purpose had sent him to the Hague, to the
court of Holland, that he might be judged there;
but when he returned they sentenced him to death—certainly
a lamentable matter on their part; but
on the part of the martyr a matter of rejoicing, since
death was for him the entrance to an eternal and
blissful life.

The first letter of Joris Wippe, written to his
wife, when he was sent from Dortrecht
to the Hague.

The eternal joy and gladness which ear has not
heard, nor eye seen, nor has entered into the heart
of man, this same joy and gladness I wish you my
dearest wife and sister, whom I love in God, for a
heartfelt salutation. Amen.

My most beloved wife and sister in the Lord, I
wish you the joy of the Holy Ghost in your heart,
for a heartfelt greeting in God our Savior and Lord;
which joy of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law; and they that
are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts. Gal. 5:22–24.

Therefore my dear wife in the Lord, take heed to
yourself, that you abound with this precious Spirit;
for of that with which one is filled he will bring
forth. Regard not the joy and pleasure of this
world; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians
6:7,8. O dear sister in the Lord, let us “not
be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall
reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto
them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:9.
Hence, pray always with all prayer, watching and
supplication in the Spirit, in all your requests to the
Lord (Eph. 6:18), and let your modesty and obedience,
and your love to God, be an example and
pattern to all our dear obedient children, whom the
holy Lord has given us, to the praise and glory of
his Father. And use diligence in teaching and
admonishing them; and chastise them, lest the Lord
requires them at your hands. Do your very best,
so that I may see you all again at the resurrection
of the just. Luke 14:14. Be well content, and
always fix your heart and mind upon the living
God; for he will not forsake the widow and the
fatherless; but his eyes behold the afflicted widows
and fatherless, and his ear is open unto their prayer.
Hence, be patient, and commit all your concerns to
the Lord; he will be a kind Protector to you. If
you remain faithful to him, he will be faithful to
you; he will not be wanting on his part.

I further let you know, that my mind and heart
are still fixed upon the living God, and I trust
by his great mercy not to separate from him, and I
daily wait for my redemption. I thought that your
sister had just come in time to witness my offering.
I knew nothing to the contrary for a time; but my
hour had not come yet: the Lord knows how to
reserve his own for the proper time. O dear wife,
pray the Lord for me as long as I am in this poor,
weak flesh. I trust to remember you also in my
prayers, and I most affectionately thank you in the
Lord for sending me so kind an exhortation, which
is food for the soul; I also thank you for the temporal
things.

564

Herewith I commend you to Almighty God, and
to the word of his grace. Amen. Greet all the
brethren and sisters much in the Lord.

Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and
brother in the Lord, imprisoned at the Hague, in
Holland, for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The second letter of Joris Wippe, written to his
wife, when he, through those of Dordrecht,
lay imprisoned at the Hague.

Everlasting joy, grace and peace from God our
heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord
and Savior, and the joy of the Holy Ghost in your
heart and conscience, be with you, my most beloved
wife and sister in the Lord; I wish it to you as
an affectionate salutation in the Lord, and to all our
dear children, whom God has given us; to him be
praise forever and ever. Amen.

My most dearly beloved wife and sister in the
Lord, I salute you with a loving heart in the Lord
with the salutation of Christ, and also all my dear
obedient children, whom the holy Lord has given
us to the praise and glory of his Father. My most
beloved wife in the Lord, I also inform you with joy
that my mind, heart and soul are still fixed upon
the living God and Father, through Jesus Christ his
dear, beloved Son, our Savior; and I trust, through
his fatherly love, which he shows to me poor,
unprofitable servant, through his great mercy, not
to separate from him and his holy word; for his
word is truth, and his commandment, life everlasting.
He went before us with much misery and tribulation;
we must follow his footsteps, since the servant
is not above his Lord. For he has so kindly
admonished us with regard to this, saying: If they
have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, if
they have excommunicated me, they will also excommunicate
you; and all these things will they do
unto you, because they have known neither me nor
my Father. John 15:20,21.

Hence, my dear wife, whom I love in God, be
well content, and fix your whole heart and hope
upon the living God; he will not leave you an
afflicted widow, with all your fatherless children; for
his eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are
open unto their cry, and he will succor the cause of
the widow and the fatherless. Ps. 34:15.

Therefore, my dearly beloved wife, take the
Almighty God for your Protector, and plant a
valiant spirit into your heart, like the Maccabean
mother with her seven sons. 2 Macc. 7. Pray the
holy Lord for wisdom and understanding, and in all
your concerns pray God with supplication in the
Spirit, that you may bring up all our olive plants
(Ps. 128:3) to his honor and the magnifying of his
holy name, so that they may not be required at
your hands. So far you have done your best with
admonishing and chastising; keep them thus with
the Lord’s help. Always submit yourself to the elders
of the church; for they watch for your souls
[as they that must give account,] that they may do
it with joy. Heb. 13:17. And if you need counsel
or help in any matter, consult with the elders, as
we have hitherto done. Use hospitality and forget
not to communicate. 1 Peter 4:9; Heb. 13:16.
Think often of the poor, afflicted widow (Matthew
12:42,43), who threw but two mites into the treasury;—Verily,
said Christ, she hath cast more in,
than they all—that you may be found a true widow
before the Lord, who has washed the saints’ feet,
relieved the afflicted, brought up children in the fear
of God, and diligently followed every good work.
1 Tim. 5:10. Pray the Lord diligently to rule you
with his divine Spirit, since he is the true Comforter
of all the children of God; that you may live your
widowhood to his praise and honor, as long as it is
his pleasure. I sincerely thank you people much for
the love you have shown me in the kind exhortation
you have sent me. I have also very earnestly prayed
the Lord for you, and hope to do so as long as I
shall be in this temporal life. Remember me also
in your prayers, until I have put off this mortal
clothing. 2 Esdras 2:45.

Herewith I commend you people to Almighty
God, and to the word of his grace, and take leave
forever until at the resurrection of the just. Then,
I trust, we shall meet in one fold. Then shall we
hear the sweet voice of our Bridegroom: “Come,
ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world.”
Matt. 25:34. Blessed and holy is he that hath part
in the first resurrection; on such the second death
hath no power. But we shall be priests of God and
of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years;
for Christ is the resurrection and the life, and we
must be partakers of him, if we are to hear that
voice. Rev. 20:6; Rom. 8:11.

Salute me the friends much in the Lord, especially
those of Meenen, and Claes Moykaert and Janneken
his wife; and greet Victor Martens—I saw him at
Dordrecht, when I lay in the den of lions—and
greet all that fear the Lord, and exhort them to diligence,
that we may all meet together in the new
Jerusalem. The God of peace be with you. Philippians
4:9. Greet your sister much and all that are
with her.

Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and
brother in the Lord, in bonds at the Hague, in Holland.





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