# Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: NOTICE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

It is a fact known to those who have read with
attention the history of Holland for the years 1533,
1534, 1535, and some of the following, that the external
condition of the so-called Defenseless Anabaptists
(Weerloose Doopsgesinden) was very sad
and at the same time in a state of confusion; not
only through the severe persecutions by which they
were scattered into every quarter, but especially
also through the insurrection of such as, without
being defenseless, also taught the baptism of adults;
because these by falling into abominable practices,
furnished cause that all those who opposed infant
baptism were looked upon by the authorities, as
though they also had part or guilt in such improper
and abominable doings. And since all who taught
the baptism of adults were indiscriminately called
Anabaptists, and under this name persecuted alike,
it was sometimes scarcely possible for those who
saved their lives by flight, to know when some were
apprehended or put to death, whether they were of
the number of their defenseless brethren and sisters,
or not; as also, how many they were, and what
were their names.

For this reason there were in those years, and, as
may be inferred from history, also in later times,
and in divers places, many pious witnesses put to
death, whose number and names have not been ascertained
so clearly, that they could be placed
among the number of their fellow combatants in
this book, to serve as patterns of utmost fidelity in
the confession of the truth, to succeeding generations.

In this number there have also been embraced
up to the present time various men and women who
were put to death at Amsterdam; whose sentences
came into our hands, while this Bloody Theatre was
being reprinted; they were obtained from the book
of sentences from said city of Amsterdam, preserved
in the archives there. From these sentences it is
clearly evident that they were not put to death on
account of insurrection or any other misconduct,
but simply because they departed from Romish institutions,
opposed infant baptism, and had adopted
the baptism which is administered upon confession
of sins, and faith in Christ our Lord.

Hence we deem it our duty, to make known here
also these persons, and to place them with those
with whom they in their lifetime valiantly fought
unto the end under one banner of Christ Jesus our
Lord; and with whom they also rest from their labors,
till the time that they shall together, in the
resurrection, be made partakers of the incorruptible
crown of glory.

We heartily wish that we had been able to give
an account also of their valiant deeds, wise discourses,
acts of patience and resignation, and every
thing that took place in connection with their sufferings
and death. However, none of these things
have come to our knowledge, having through the
adverse circumstances of those times, probably never
been divulged by those who could and would have
made them known to those unacquainted with them,
or to posterity; even as those sorrowful times caused
this with regard to many martyrs, since of some it
has scarcely been possible to record their number
and the place of their offering.

Extract from the book of criminal sentences of the
city of Amsterdam, Fol. 48, verso, preserved in
the archives there.

Whereas Grietje Arents, a maiden of Limmen,
has had herself rebaptized, holding pernicious views
concerning the sacraments of the Holy church, contrary
to the faith and ordinances of said church, and
the written laws and decrees of the Emperor, our
gracious lord; and, moreover, was banished by the
Court of Holland, for the aforesaid reason, from
these countries of Holland, Zealand and Friesland,
on pain of death, without that she, the prisoner, has
hitherto manifested a willingness to repent, but has
suffered the time of grace granted by his Imperial
Majesty to pass by; therefore, the judges, having
heard the demand made against her by the Bailiff in
behalf of His Imperial Majesty, and the answer and
confession of the aforesaid Grietje, and having considered
the circumstances of this case, have condemned
said Grietje by sentence to be executed by
water, as has been done by the executioner. Done
the last day of December, A. D. 1534, in the presence
of the whole court.

This Grietje Arents, according to the contents
of the sentence, had first been banished, however,
as clearly appears, for no other reason than that
she did not believe like the Roman church, for
which reason also, since she persisted therein, she
was put to death; but why she returned to the place
from which she had been banished, is not known;
however, we may well infer, since nothing else is
laid to her charge in this sentence, that the cause
thereof was likewise a matter of faith and conscience.

Extract as above, Fol. 49, verso.

Whereas Jan Pauw, block-maker, Arent Janssen
of Gorckum, tradesman, Barent Claessen of Swol,
fuller, Jan van Gink, Hendrich Biesman of Maes
732tricht,
Cornelis Willemsse of Haerlem, cabinetmaker,
Arent Jacobssen, Keyser, of Moonickendam,
and Willen Janssen of Zutphen, have had
themselves rebaptized, and have accepted the covenant
of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views
concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary
to the faith and ordinances of said church, and
the written laws and decrees of his Imperial Majesty
our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having
heard the demand made by my lord the officer concerning
them, and their defense and confession, and
having considered the circumstances of the case,
have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence,
to be executed with the sword and put to death, on
the scaffold erected for this purpose in the marketplace
of this city; and, moreover, their heads to be
placed upon stakes, and their bodies upon wheels,
for an example unto others, as was done immediately
afterwards. Done the 6th day of March,
A. D. 1535; in the presence of the whole court.

Concerning Jan Pauw there is still another, separate
sentence, that on the 29th of December, 1534
he was tortured, by sentence of the judges, in order
to learn from him who had baptized, and who had
been baptized at his house; however, since that
sentence contains nothing but this order to torture
him, we have not deemed it necessary to add it
here verbatim.

Extract as above, Fol. 51.

Whereas Jan Jacobssen, of Normandy; inhabitant
of this city, Adriaen Cornelissen of Sparrendam,
and Gerrit Claessen of Oudenyerop, have entered
into the covenant of the Anabaptists, and been rebaptized,
holding pernicious views concerning the
sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy
Christian faith and the ordinances of said church,
and the written laws and decrees of his Imperial
Majesty our gracious lord; therefore, my lords the
judges, having heard the demand made by my lord
the Bailiff, in behalf of his Imperial Majesty against
the aforesaid persons, and their defense and confession,
and having considered the circumstances
of their crime, have condemned the aforesaid persons
by sentence, to be executed with the sword
and put to death, by the executioner, on the scaffold
erected in front of the city hall, of this city, and,
moreover, their heads to be placed upon stakes,
and their bodies upon wheels, for an example to
others; as was done by the executioner; and we
furthermore declare their property confiscated for
the benefit of his Imperial Majesty as Count of
Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city,
and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred
pounds, according to the privileges of this city.
Done on the 15th of May, A. D. 1535, in the presence
of the Bailiff, Ruysch Janssen and Goossen
Janssen Rekalff, Burgomasters, and all the judges.

In the public histories of that time mention is
made only of the beheading of three men on that
day, without anything evil being laid to their
charge, except simply that they were counted among
the Anabaptists. And since this sentence charges
them with no crime, insurrection, or any misconduct,
which in that time of violence, when that riot
at Amsterdam had but recently happened, would
very probably have been done, had there been any
grounds for it, it can readily be inferred that these
men were pious persons, who are worthy to be
placed with the other faithful soldiers of Christ our
Lord.

Extract as above, Fol. 51. verso.

Whereas Baef Claes, a maiden, Grietje Maes, Gerrit’s
widow, Barbara Jacobs, a maiden of Haserwoude,
Breght Elberts, a maiden, Adriana Ysbrant,
a maiden, Trijn Jans of Munnickendam, and Lysbeth
Jans, a maiden from Benskop, have been
rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the
sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy
Christian faith and the ordinances of said church,
and the written laws and decrees of His Imperial
Majesty our gracious lord, without that they have
hitherto shown any penitence; therefore, the judges,
having heard the demand made by the bailiff in the
behalf of his Imperial Majesty against them, and
their answer and confession, and having considered
the circumstances of this case, have condemned the
aforesaid persons by sentence, to be executed with
water and put to death by the executioner; as was
done by the executioner; and furthermore declare
their property confiscated for the benefit of His Imperial
Majesty as count of Holland, of those who are
not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the
sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges
of this city. Done on the 15th of May,
A. D. 1535; in the presence of the Bailiff, Ruysch
Janssen and Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomasters,
and all the judges.

These seven women, according to the import of
this sentence, were put to death on the same day
with the following nine, and yet public histories
mention nothing about them; which is a matter of
little surprise for the reason that the drowning of
those who were condemned to death on account of
religion took place at night, when they, with stones
tied to their necks, were cast down into the water
from the Herring-packers’ Tower (then called the
Holy Cross Tower), as appears from the description
of Amsterdam, by Dr. Dapper, Fol. 403.

Extract as above, Fol. 52. verso.

Whereas Leentgen, Jan van Rheenen’s wife,
Adriana Jans, a maiden from Benskop, Goechgen
Jans, of Lubik, born at Goude, Leentgen Hendrix,
a maiden of Hertogenbosch, Griet Pieters Mollen,
a maiden, Marritge Nadminx, a maiden of Alkmaar,
Aeltje Gillis, a maiden from Benskop, Jannetje Jans,
a maiden of Utrecht, Aeltjen Wouters, born at Asperen,
have been rebaptized, and betaken themselves
to the sect and heresy of the Anabaptists,
holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments
of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian
faith and the ordinances of said church; and to the
written laws and decrees of his Imperial Majesty
our gracious lord, without being willing to repent
of it; therefore, my lords the judges, having heard
the demand made by the Bailiff against them in behalf
of his Imperial Majesty, together with their answer
and confession, and having considered the circumstances
733
of this case, have condemned the aforesaid
persons by sentence, to be executed with water
and put to death by the executioner, as was done by
the executioner; and furthermore declare their property
confiscated for the benefit of the Emperor as
Count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of
this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred
pounds, according to the privileges of this city.
Done on the 15th of May, A. D. 1535, in the presence
of the Bailiff, Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomaster,
and all the judges.

The public writers of those times also make mention
of these women, but without stating anything
more than their number, and that they were
drowned. This sentence, however, not only makes
known their names, but from it also their innocence
is evident.

Extract as above, Fol. 59. verso.

Whereas Pietersen, alias Borrekiek, born at Leyden,
has entered the covenant of the Anabaptists,
and been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning
the sacraments of the holy church contrary
to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said
church, and the written laws and decrees of his
Imperial Majesty, our gracious lord, and, moreover,
had previous knowledge of a meeting held a
certain time ago, at Leyden, by adherents of the
aforementioned sect, without giving information
thereof to the authorities of said city; therefore, my
lords the judges, having heard the demand of my
lord the Bailiff, and having considered the circumstances
of his misconduct, have condemned said delinquent
by sentence, to be executed with the sword,
and put to death on the scaffold, by the executioner,
his head to be put upon a stake, and his body to be
quartered and hanged to a wheel, for an example to
others; as was done by the executioner; and, furthermore,
declare his property confiscated for the
benefit of the Emperor as Count of Holland. Done,
etc., in presence as above in the preceding sentence.

Extract as above, Fol. 70. verso.

Whereas Hendrik van Maestricht, at the time
when the boat, loaded with Anabaptists, was about
to sail to Geelmuyden, has joined the sect of the
Anabaptists, by the imposition of the hand, performed
on him by one Claes Enkhuysen, and has
since allied himself and kept fellowship with said
people, conversed with them at different places, and
advised and induced several others to join the aforesaid
sect, contrary to the decrees ordained and
caused to be published by his Imperial Majesty our
gracious lord against the aforesaid sect and its adherents,
without that the aforesaid Hendrik has,
improved the time of grace, but rejected it; therefore,
my lords the judges, having heard the demand
made by the Bailiff in behalf of his Imperial
Majesty, against the aforesaid Hendrik, together
with his answer and confession, and having maturely
considered the circumstances of this case,
have condemned the aforesaid Hendrik van Maestricht
by sentence, to be executed with the sword
and put to death by the executioner, and his body
to be placed upon a wheel, and his head upon a
stake, unless it be that the lords, out of grace, be
pleased to grant him the church yard; which sentence
was afterwards executed by the executioner.
Done on the 10th of June, A. D. 1536, in the presence
of the Bailiff, all the Burgomasters excepted,
Cornelis Buyk, Syverts, Claes Gerritsse, Mattheus
Claes Doeden, Jan Ryser Janssen, Pieter Willemsse
Kantert, and Symon Marttensse Dircx, judges.

Extract as above, Fol. 77. verso.

Whereas Alberts Reyers, alias Oldeknecht, born
at Bolswaert, in Friesland, has for several years resorted
to the society, intercourse and fellowship of
persons tainted with heresy and evil doctrines, and
has been found with them in divers conventicles,
and has also held such in his own dwelling, where
the writings and sacraments of the holy church,
and the articles of the holy Christian faith were subjected
to improper disputation, teaching and treatment,
so that the aforementioned Albert, having
become infected thereby, spoke and believed evilly
of the holy sacrament of the altar and other sacraments;
also of the ordinances and customs of the holy
church, to the scandal of good Christians, contrary
to the holy Christian faith, and the decrees and
edicts of his Imperial Majesty our gracious lord;
therefore, the judges, having heard the demand
made by my lord the Bailiff against the aforementioned
Albert Reyers, together with his answer and
confession, and having duly considered the circumstances
of this case, have condemned said Albert,
according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence, to
be executed with the sword and put to death by the
executioner, and his body afterwards to be placed
on a wheel, and his head upon a stake; and, furthermore,
declare his property confiscated to the sum of
one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of
this city. So done on the 12th day of April, in the
year 1537, in presence of the Bailiff, Claes Gerritsse
Deymans and Gerrit Meeuwess, Burgomasters, and
Gerrit Meeuwess and all the judges.

Extract as above, Fol. 77. verso.

Whereas Andries Harmans of Gelre, has undertaken
at different times and places to dispute concerning
the Scriptures, and to hold conventicles,
where the Scriptures, and the sacraments and ordinances
of the holy church were subjected to improper
teaching and treatment, whereby the aforesaid
Andries, having fallen into error and heresy,
also taught these views to others, and tainted them
therewith, and has also for a certain time spoken
and believed evilly and heretically, and does still
believe so, concerning the holy sacrament of the altar,
and other sacraments of the holy church, contrary
to the holy Christian faith, and against the
decrees of his Imperial Majesty our gracious lord;
therefore, the judges, having heard the demand
made by my lord the bailiff against the aforesaid
Andries, together with his answer and confession,
and having maturely considered the circumstances
of his misdemeanors, condemn said Andries, according
to the aforementioned decrees, to be executed
734
with the sword and put to death by the executioner,
and afterwards his body to be placed upon
a wheel, and his head upon a stake, for an example
to others; and furthermore, declare his property
confiscated for the benefit of the lord, to the sum
of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges
of this city. So done on the 12th of April 1537, in
presence of the Bailiff, Claes Gerrit Deymans and
Gerrit Andries, Burgomasters, and all the judges.

This execution was performed by the executioner
immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, Fol. 78. verso.

Whereas Thymon Hendricx of Campen, three
years ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized, and entered
into the covenant and heresy of the Anabaptists,
holding pernicious views concerning the holy
Christian faith, and the sacraments and ordinances
of the holy church contrary to the truth of the holy
faith and against the decrees published in regard to
this, by his Imperial Majesty our gracious lord,
therefore, the judges having heard the demand made
by the Bailiff of this city, in behalf of his Imperial
Majesty against the aforementioned Thymon Hendricx soon,
together with his answer and confession,
and having duly considered the circumstances of the
aforesaid case, condemn said Thymon, according to
the aforementioned decrees, by sentence, to be executed
with the sword and put to death by the executioner,
and his body afterwards to be put upon a
wheel, and his head upon a stake, for an example
to others; and, furthermore, declare his property
confiscated for the benefit of the lord. So done on
the 12th of April 1537, in the presence of the Bailiff,
Claes Gerrit Deymans and Gerritt Andries, Burgomasters,
and all the judges.

This execution was performed by the executioner
immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, Fol. 93.

Whereas Jan Janssen van dem Berg in the country
of Cleves, a year ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized
in the city of Delft, by one Claes with the lame
hand and has entered into the covenant and heresy of
the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning
the holy Christian faith, and the sacraments and
ordinances of the holy church, contrary to the
truth of the holy faith, and against the decrees
emitted in regard to this by his Imperial Majesty
our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having
heard the demand made by the Bailiff of this city in
behalf of his Imperial Majesty, against the aforementioned
Janssen, together with his answer and
confession, and having duly considered the circumstances
of the aforesaid case, condemn said Jan Janssen,
according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence,
to be executed and put to death by the executioner,
and his body then to be put upon a wheel, and his
head upon a stake, for an example to others; and
furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the
benefit of the lord. Done on the 7th of July, A. D.
1539, in the presence of all the Burgomasters, Joost
Buyk Sybrant, Jan Willemss, Albert Dirksen, Willem
Stitchel, and Floris Floriss.





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