# Lenaert Plovier, Janneken And Maeyken Of Aix-La-Chapelle, A. D. 1560. 1560 · Historical source Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: LENAERT PLOVIER, JANNEKEN AND MAEYKEN OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, A. D. 1560. Source heading; not independently verified There was a pious man named Lenaert Plovier, about thirty-six years of age, who was a native and resident of Meenen, in Flanders, and by occupation a woolen-draper; and as he was a man of good report among all, he was elected appraiser of woolen cloths. Thus said Lenaert Plovier, through the grace of God, came to the knowledge of the truth, about A. D. 1555. Having, on account of his competency, been re-elected, to continue his appraisership, he refused to take the oath; but his fellow-drapers were nevertheless satisfied with him, saying: “Only come with us to the city hall, and show yourself;” for they thought that the Bailiff would pay no attention to the matter. But the Bailiff could not endure his views, and from that time on Plovier had to suffer much persecution, and dwell in secrecy. Afterwards, about the year 1558, he fled with his wife and children to Antwerp, where they gained their livelihood by dealing in silk. But as a great persecution was raging also there, he resolved to take up his residence in Friesland. He sent his wife and their four children ahead, after a sojourn of a little over a year at Antwerp, intending to follow them as soon as he had finished his business. He then traveled with his merchandise to the cold Ypres fair, whence he returned to Antwerp, where, stopping a while, he learned that the Margrave was about to sally forth for the purpose of apprehending those who would not live according to their institutions. Lenaert left the city in order to warn some of his fellow-believers by night. He met the Margrave and his troop, who, accosting him, perceived from his answers that he was not like they, and hence asked him, whether he did not have a testament with him. He replied: “Yes.” Thereupon they apprehended him, and he was thus taken to Antwerp and imprisoned there. When his parents heard of this, as also his father-in-law, who resided at Meenen, and was a prominent man, they came to Antwerp in haste, with Lenaert’s mother. The father thought to procure his release from prison by shrewdness, or by bribing the Margrave, representing that his son-in-law was not a resident of Antwerp, but had only come there to transact his business. The Margrave gave them fair words, saying to the mother, who had been several nights in prison with her son: “Go home; your son will soon be released from prison.” They therefore departed, supposing that the promise given them would be kept. When the parents had gone away, Lenaert was examined and questioned concerning his faith, and whether he was baptized, which he freely confessed, expressing his determination to adhere to the truth he had accepted, not considering his wife and his four children, whom he nevertheless dearly loved, as appears from six letters which he wrote to them from prison; two of which letters are given here. After a brief imprisonment, this pious brother Lenaert, with two young maidens, named Janneken and Maeyken of Aix-la-Chapelle, was sentenced to death, to be drowned, which was done in the following manner: They were put into bags, and thrust into wine casks, and thus drowned in prison by night, about a fortnight before Easter, in the year 1560 (reckoning the beginning of the year from New Year’s day). Some of his fellow-believers having learned that pious Lenaert Plovier and Janneken and Maeyken of Aix-la-Chapelle were to offer up their sacrifice in the night, they came to listen at the door of the prison. Among them were Joost Nose and Kestine van Damme, who gave a good testimony concerning it; they both died at Franeker, in Friesland. Thus the aforesaid three pious witnesses of Jesus Christ were tried as gold in the fire, and as they were found upright, they shall receive the eternal crown of honor and joy, with all the saints of God. Amen. This was written by the son of the aforesaid Lenaert, and testified to be true. --- Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-lenaert-plovier-janneken-and-maeyken-of-aix-la-chapelle-a-d-1560/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Lenaert+Plovier%2C+Janneken+And+Maeyken+Of+Aix-La-Chapelle%2C+A.+D.+1560.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0ALenaert+Plovier%2C+Janneken+And+Maeyken+Of+Aix-La-Chapelle%2C+A.+D.+1560.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-lenaert-plovier-janneken-and-maeyken-of-aix-la-chapelle-a-d-1560%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-lenaert-plovier-janneken-and-maeyken-of-aix-la-chapelle-a-d-1560%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1560%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)