# Several Letters Written In Prison, By Adrian Corneliss, Including A Prayer, An Admonition, And A Confession Of Adrian Corneliss, Glazier, Who Was Imprisoned At Leyden, And Also Put To Death There For The Testimony Of Jesus, In The Year Of Our Lord, 1552.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: SEVERAL LETTERS WRITTEN IN PRISON, BY ADRIAN CORNELISS, INCLUDING A PRAYER, AN ADMONITION, AND A CONFESSION OF ADRIAN CORNELISS, GLAZIER, WHO WAS IMPRISONED AT LEYDEN, AND ALSO PUT TO DEATH THERE FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1552.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

His Prayer to God.

O Lord of heaven and earth, who hast made all
things out of nothing, who hast given me members
after the image of thy Son, I hope to offer them up
now for thy holy name; for thou art the Lord, before
whom every knee must bow, both in heaven
and upon earth: hear my prayer, and let my incense
be acceptable before thee. Take not thy grace from
me, a polluted man of unclean lips; purify my
mouth, that thy name may be praised thereby. Incline
thine ear to me, and thou shalt see how they
fall upon me; but it is better for me to fall into the
hands of men, than to sin in thy sight; for thine eyes
are as a flame of fire, and thy word as a sharp, two-edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
thou art a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart, and there is nothing hid before thine
eyes. Therefore I exclaim with David, thy dear
prophet, that it is better to fall into the hands of
men, than into thy wrath. Matt. 11:25; Gen. 1:27;
Rom. 12:1; Philip. 2:10; Is. 6:5; Susanna 23; Revelation
1:14; Heb. 4:12,13.

O Lord, lead me into the land of Haran, in which
I have not so much inheritance as to set my foot
on, namely, the promised land, which I pray thou
wilt give me, out of grace, and not for my own
works or merits. Acts 7:4,5. Deliver me with Lot
from this generation. Preserve me, Lord, from the
fierce teeth of the lions, which are many, yea, from
the ferocious evening wolves, that let nothing remain
till the morning, whose feet make haste to shed innocent
blood. Zeph. 3:3; Prov. 1:16. O Lord,
preserve me with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
that the fire of blasphemy which proceeds out of
their mouth, may not harm me. Dan. 3:27. O
Lord, let my prayer be heard with that of Tobit
and Sarah; hear my prayer with that of Elijah, and
receive me as a burnt-offering, living, holy and acceptable
unto thee, that the prophets of Jezebel may
be confounded, and seduce thy people no longer.
Tobit 3:1,11; 1 Kings 18:36; 19:4. Lord, preserve
me with Joseph from the wicked woman, that I may
rather suffer myself to be deprived of my garment,
namely, my first body; for we read: “He which is
joined to a harlot is one body with her.” Genesis
39:7; 1 Cor. 6:16. Preserve me, Lord; for I call
heaven and earth to witness, that I die innocently;
for whosoever seeks to save his life, shall lose it;
and whosoever loses his life for thy sake, Lord, and
the Gospel’s, shall preserve it. 1 Macc. 2:37; Matthew
16:25. Hence, I cry with old Eleazer: “I will
rather die gloriously than live stained with abomination.”
2 Macc. 6:19.

O Lord, behold, the burning wrath of a great
multitude is kindled over us, and they shall take
away certain of us, and feed the idle with things
offered unto idols; but thou, Lord, preservest me,
thou givest thy servant bread in time of need, and
water when he is thirsty, and in the day of tribulation
thou forgivest sins. 2 Esdra 16:68; Sir. 2:11.
And thou hast said to thy dear prophet, that though
a mother forget her child to which she herself has
given birth, yet wilt thou not forget us; for it is thy
word, Lord. Is. 49:15. Thou hast spoken through
thy dear apostle Paul: Come out from this wicked
generation, and touch not the unclean thing. Then
thou wilt deliver us, and be our Father, and we
shall be thy sons and daughters. 2 Cor. 6:17,18.
We now also go forth without the camp, and will
help bear thy reproach. Heb. 13:13. Lord, teach
us to pray according to thy will, that we may pray
in spirit and in truth, that we may truly call thee
Father; for a son must honor his father, and a servant
his master. Mal. 1:6. Grant us therefore to be
partakers of the word which declares: These are
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they who have not loved their life, but have delivered
it into death; for those that are slain by men,
have a better hope to expect from God, namely,
that they shall be raised again; for thou provest thy
chosen; thou triest them as gold in the furnace, and
thou receivest them as an offering of burnt sacrifice.
Ps. 66:10. Lord, now let thy servant depart in
peace. Holy Father, sanctify thy Son, that I may
be found unblamable at thy appearing. Keep me,
holy Father for thy holy name’s sake. Amen. Luke
2:29; John 17:11.

An admonition of Adrian Corneliss, to the
friends.

The rich grace and peace of God our heavenly
Father, who has purified us by the washing of
regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,
has enlightened our hearts, and opened the eyes of
our understanding through the hope of the Gospel,
and warned us, that denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world, and keep ourselves
unspotted from this world, before God the
Father, who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth, that at the
time of revelation we may have hope and consolation,
and be counted among the number of the elect.
The father and his blessed Son Jesus Christ fit you
for this, now and evermore. Amen. Tit. 3:5;
2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:18; Tit. 2:12; James 1:27;
1 Tim. 2:14.

We, fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the
household of God, built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone, in whom all the building
fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in
the Lord, to the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad through cruel edicts and severe persecution,
greeting. Eph. 2:19–21; 1 Peter 2:6; James 1:1.
Hence, my dear brethren and sisters, do not become
weary because you now suffer for a season, and
have to flee from one city into another; but remember,
my dear friends, that it all conduces to your
happiness, and take for an example Tobit, with his
wife and son, how he had to flee, and to be hid
naked; likewise, Matthias with his sons and those
who loved him, when he said: “Whosoever is
pious and of good cheer, let him make his testament,
and follow me.” Matt. 10:23; Rom. 8:28;
Tobit 1:19; 1 Macc. 2:27.

Take also Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for examples,
who dwelled in tents, and also others; for here we
have no continuing city; they wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, in hunger, want and
affliction, of whom the world was not worthy. Genesis
12. See, my dear friends, think not that you
are the only ones, or that you are forsaken by the
Lord, when some tempest assails you; but remember
that we must through much suffering take the
kingdom of God. Sir. 2:10; Acts 14:22. If the
abovementioned had been mindful of the country
from whence they came out, truly, they might have
had opportunity enough to have returned; but they
declare plainly that they sought a country, a city
which has foundations, whose builder and maker is
God; wherefore God was not ashamed to be called
their God. Ex. 3:6. Thus, also, my dear friends,
will he not be ashamed of us; for he says through
his pious prophet Isaiah: “Can a mother forsake
her own child, to whom she herself has given birth?
Yea, she may forget it, yet will thy God not forget
thee.” Is. 49:15. Consider, therefore, how the
gracious Father has been with all the pious children.
of God, and how he has preserved and upheld them
under his powerful hand, as we may clearly understand
from Abraham; for when he went into a
strange country, he often had God for his comforter.
He gave Jacob courage when he fled before his
brother Esau. He fed Hezekiah three days and three
nights, who complained of the blasphemy of Sennacherib.
2 Kings 19:6. He delivered the Jews
through Judith, when they were besieged by Holofernes.
Judith 13:8. He delivered the three young
men from the heat of the fiery furnace, and was in
the pit with Daniel, so that the lions did not devour
him. Dan. 3:25; 6:22. He delivered Israel from
the bondage of Pharaoh. He delivered Rahab from
the shadow of death. Josh. 6:25. He saved Susanna
through Daniel. He delivered Peter from prison.
He delivered John from the Isle of Patmos. He
comforted Paul by the vision on the way to Damascus.
He comforteth the apostles through the Comforter,
the Holy Ghost. He turned Joseph’s great
sorrow into great joy in Egypt. Thus, God will also
turn the sorrow of every one of you into great joy,
even as he himself declares: “The world shall rejoice;
but ye shall mourn and be sorrowful; but be
of good cheer, God shall turn your sorrow into joy.
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, but as
soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth
no more the anguish, for joy that a child
is born into the world. And ye now therefore have
sorrow: but I will see you again, and your sorrow
shall be turned into joy, and your joy no man
taketh from you. John 16:20–22.

Therefore, my dear friends, be not afraid of the
sons of men, who pass away as grass. “Fear not,
little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32. Be not afraid,
my dear friends, of this tyrannous generation; fear
not them that kill the body; but I will show you
whom you shall fear: fear him who after you are
dead has power to cast into eternal fire. And, my
dear friends, we have here a little suffering of tribulation,
but it is very small in comparison with the
everlasting torment or punishment.

John the Revelator says: Fear God, and give
glory to him. Rev. 14:7. And the prophet Esdras
says: “Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him:
leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities,
to meddle no more with them forever: so shall God
lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.
For behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude
is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain
of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered
unto idols. And they that consent unto them shall
be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under
foot. For there shall be in every place, and in
the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that
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fear the Lord. They shall be like mad men, sparing
none, but still spoiling and destroying those that
fear the Lord. For they shall waste and take away
their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
Then shall they be known who are my chosen; and
they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.” Therefore,
my chosen, behold, the days of trouble are at
hand, but the Lord will deliver you from the same.
Be ye not afraid, neither doubt; for God is your
guide, and the Lord will not leave you orphans; for
he cares for us all, and will preserve us as the apple
of his eye. 2 Esdr. 16:67–75; Wis. 3:6; Jn. 14:18.

Hence, faint not at the tribulation in which we
are, but adhere to the Lord, and the tempest will
soon attack you; but, my dear friends, remember,
as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation
also aboundeth by Christ, since eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him. Eph. 3:13; Matthew
7:25; 2 Cor. 1:5; 1 Cor. 2:9. Let every one therefore,
that has this hope in him, purify himself, even
as he is pure, and go out from this sinful generation,
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it
is a shame even to speak of those things which are
done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved
are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever
doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he
saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 1 John 3:3;
Eph. 5:11–14.

Hence, my dear friends, if there should be yet
some among you, that are slothful or drowsy, let
them wake up now, or they will be shut out with
the foolish virgins. O, my dear friends, it will not
avail that some of you know the way. O, my dear
friends, knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth:
for it avails not to know the way, but it must be
walked; and though it is strait and narrow, and
fraught with much labor, it must nevertheless be
walked. 1 Cor. 8:1; John 13:17; Matt. 7:14.

Therefore, my dear friends, who have become
partakers of the heavenly calling, make good use
of the time of grace, and look not to those who proceed
so lukewarmly and slothfully; but strive to
enter in at the strait gate; for many will seek to
enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24. Why,
my dear friends? Because they seek to enter in by
another way, which is not commanded us. But
those who enter in by Christ, since he is the way,
they are the ones that shall inherit the city, whom
the Bridegroom will make sit down at the table, and
will serve them. But, my dear friends, the lukewarm,
that are neither cold nor hot, God will begin
to spew out of his mouth, who say they are rich,
and increased with goods, and know not that they
are poor, miserable, naked and blind. Hence, Solomon
says: “Go to the ants, thou sluggard, and
consider their labor; they gather in the summer
their sustenance for the winter.” And Jeremiah
says: “The crane and the swallow observe the time
of their coming; but my people observe not the
time.” O ye ignorant, the ox knoweth his master’s
crib. Ye who say, It will be fair weather to-morrow,
and it cometh to pass; O ye, who can discern the
face of heaven and earth, why can ye not discern
among yourselves that which is right? Matt. 16:3.
Therefore, my dear friends, take heed that none of
you be found slothful; but let your loins be girded,
and have your staff in your hand, to eat the passover;
for we have a passover to eat, which is Christ;
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth. Ex. 12:11; 1 Cor. 7:8.

Hence, my dearly beloved friends, think it not
strange, if you are tried by the fire of tribulation, as
though some strange thing happened to you; but
be partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that in the time
of revelation, you may have hope and consolation.
Let none of you suffer as a thief or murderer;
yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at
the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what
shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Hence, Solomon says: If the righteous are recompensed,
how much more the wicked and the sinner.
1 Pet. 4:12,13,15–18; Prov. 11:31.

Therefore, my dear friends, take heed and flee
the shadow of this world, and seek not to escape the
cross, so that you go into other countries, to obtain
great liberty. O no, my dear friends, but always
submit to the cross; for the children that are under
the rod are therefore obedient, fearing lest their
Lord should come, and find them sleeping; hence,
they are always watchful, that they may not be
found sleeping; for as soon as the flesh obtains
a little freedom, it takes still more of its own accord.
My dear friends, though I have written this thus
boldly, accept it nevertheless in good part; for I
am not your lord in this matter; but I write as my
own flesh testifies. Hence, my dear friends, walk
in wisdom toward them that are without; remain
among the scattered flock of Israel; for where blood
is shed, gain is to be had; there put your pounds
out to usury, each according to the gift received
from God; in honor preferring one another; and endeavoring
to show yourselves tried ministers unto
God. Col. 4:5; 1 Pet. 1:1; Matt. 25:15; Romans
12:10. Lay aside all malice and hypocrisy, and, as
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted
that the Lord is gracious, to whom ye have come, as
unto a living stone; hence, build yourselves up a
spiritual house, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a peculiar people, that ye, as obedient children,
should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you. 1 Pet. 2:1–5,9.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles
of God; fulfill your ministry wisely, that your treasure
be not evil spoken of; and as you were diligent
in going astray from God, so give now so much the
more diligence to turn to the Lord, and abound
therein. 1 Pet. 4:11; Baruch 4:28; Rom. 6:19. Do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are
of the household of faith, and see that you add to
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your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to
knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience;
and to patience, godliness; and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity;
for if these things be in you, and abound, they
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord; but he that
lacketh these things is blind, and gropeth for the
wall, and hath forgotten that he was purged from
his old sins. Gal. 6:10; 2 Pet. 1:5–9. Let it not
be so with you, my friends; make to yourselves
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, and if
you are partakers in the spiritual things, share also
the temporal things with one another, and let this
be done in order, and remember that it is more
blessed to give than to receive; for we read, John 6,
that some followed the Lord, to whom he said: “Ye
follow me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because
ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
Luke 16:9; Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 14:40; Acts 20:35;
John 6:26.

Therefore, my dear friends, labor not for the meat
which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life; for man doth not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God; for “meats for the belly, and the
belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and
them.” Luke 6:27; Deut. 8:3; 1 Cor. 6:13.

Thus, my dear friends, if you live according to
the Gospel, you will be fruitful branches of the true
vine Christ, comely olive branches grafted into
Christ. My dear friends, be not moved away from
the Gospel by the enemies of the cross of Christ,
who would preach the Gospel without the cross. Do
not believe them, for they are those who love your
flesh, and kill your souls, and put pillows under the
arms, or under the head. Avoid them, for such
serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly,
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple. For we are not ignorant of the
devices of the devil; since he can transform himself
into an angel of light; what wonder is it then that
his ministers assume this appearance? Philip. 3:18;
Ezek. 13:18; Rom. 16:17,18; 2 Cor. 11:14,15.

O my dear friends, a thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill; hence, beware, lest you be deceived
by them, and thus fall from your own steadfastness.
John 10:10; 2 Pet. 3:17. Therefore, hold
that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown; and let him that standeth take heed lest he
fall; for what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
for every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. Rev. 3:11; 1 Cor. 10:12; 4:7; James
1:17.

Therefore, exhort one another daily, my dear
friends, the more so, as the day of Christ is at hand,
and while it is called to-day. Heb. 3:13. And
see that you care for one another; and, my dear
friends, when you assemble together, make not
many inquiries concerning others, or as to where
each particular one lives: in such things be ignorant,
and in malice be children; but in understanding
be old and hoary, and keep the doors of thy
mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom, 1 Corinthians
14:20; Micah 7:5. My dear friends, if you
have understanding, answer your neighbor; if not,
lay your hand upon your mouth, lest you be caught
in an unseemly word, and put to shame. Sir. 5:12.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying,
and may minister grace unto the hearers. And
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4:29,30.

My dear friends, herewith I hope to take leave.
Do not take it amiss that I have written you a little;
I hope it will tend to edification; I have done my
diligence with the little gift the Lord has given me.

By me, Adrian Corneliss, glazier, your unworthy
brother, who am not meet to be called a brother.
1 Cor. 15:9. Written in my imprisonment, sitting
in the stocks, with two fellow-companions, and one
who is separately confined, and two sisters that are
below us. We wait daily for the redemption of our
body; and our pilgrimage, I trust, is half finished.
I hope that we shall soon have completed the rest.

We commend you to the Lord, dear brethren.
Remember the prisoners; we remember you in our
prayers. Heb. 13:3. Salute all lovers of the only
salvation by name; the times are too perilous now,
to mention them; hence we must govern ourselves
accordingly.

Let me inform you, how it went with us in our
last time. When we were to be offered up on Monday,
a priest came to us on Sunday, who talked to
us, and said: “You have to die.”

Answer. “Thus did also the Jews, who said:
We have a law, and by our law you must die. So
must we also, as the decree of the Emperor shows.”
But we asked the priest, whether their things were
right.

He replied: “Not all; for we have also abuses in
our church.”

We then said: “A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump.” 1 Cor. 5:6.

He replied; “It has to be leavened.”

By this we may perceive that their things are not
good. But beware of such; for they are not sent
from God. Jer. 14:15. Salute all lovers of the divine
word.

Confession of Adrian Corneliss before the magistrate
and the priests, together with an account
of the manner of his apprehension.

My dearly beloved brethren and sisters, to the
twelve tribes which are scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, with all
that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, in their
and in our places, greeting. Jas. 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1;
1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:22. I must yet write to you
a little, hoping herewith to take my leave. Let me
tell you how it went in my imprisonment. I had
come to Leyden, and there conversing with a
brother, we wondered how it came that they kept
our friends confined so long. We therefore agreed
that I should go and see Jan of Delft, the Bailiff’s
servant, and ask him, how it stood with the prisoners,
and whether they would not soon be offered
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up. He replied: “I hear nothing at all concerning
it.” I then said: “This long imprisonment gives
you much trouble.”

Jan. “I would be well satisfied to see it come to
an end soon.”

Adrian. “You can hardly get away any more.”

Jan. “Yes, that is so.”

Adrian. “You ought to have some rest.”

Jan. “It would soon be time.”

Adrian. “Jan Jans, I should like to have a little
conversation with you about certain things.”

Jan. “I have something to do yet; I shall speak
with you; just wait here a little while for me.”

I waited a little, and he returned, even before he
had attended to the prisoners or brought them their
food. He came and spoke to me in a friendly way,
and accepted my words with such suavity (Psalm
55:21), that I knew not but that he would also
embrace our faith.

I then said: “Jan Jans, what do you think, will
you abandon this service, and release the prisoners?
I shall see that you will not be a loser by it; for it
is in your power, you have the keys.”

Previous to my saying this to him, he had said
to our friends in prison: “Shall I leave the door
open some time that you can escape?” “Why
should you do this?” replied our friends. On this
account I spoke the more boldly to him, remembering
the words concerning Paul and the jailer (Acts
16:29), if peradventure the Lord had showed like
grace to this man; and having been urged by our
friends, I had a long conversation with him. He
asked me whether I knew those whom he named
to me. I said: “No, but I have heard of them.”
One, however, he mentioned, whom I well knew.
“Yes, I know him well,” I said. He asked me,
where I was from. I replied: “I am a native of
Schoonhoven,” but I did not tell him that I resided
at Delft. But with all my prudence, the devil,
as is well known, was still more cunning. Gen. 3:1.
When we had walked together for a long time, we
arrived again at the prison. He then said: “Do
you want to talk with the prisoners?” I went in
without any fear, and coming to our dear sisters,
we conversed together, without manifesting previous
acquaintance, however. This servant then went off
a little ways, and spoke to another servant. I then
plainly saw what I had got myself into.

Now, some one may ask: Why did you go in?
O dear friends, my flesh and blood did not impel
me to go in there. In vain we run; it is just as the
prophet says: “We may flee, but cannot escape.”
Ps. 139:7. Hence, we must all come whither our
destiny calls us. I had anticipated that my journey
to Leyden would not be a fortunate one.

The other servant then asked me whether I
wished to go above to the others. I thought to
myself that it was now as bad as it could ever become,
and went above. They then shut the door
after me, and one of them went for the Bailiff. Having
been above for a little while, and conversed with
our friends, I went below again. They opened the
door, and the night Bailiff stood before it. He said:
“You will have to remain here a little while.”
I then asked whether I should go above. He replied:
“Yes.” I then said: Christ had twelve apostles,
and one was a Judas; but here were only two,
and one was a Judas. However, the Lord be praised
for his grace. Without much delay, they shut me
up above alone, whereupon I immediately began
to sing the hymn: “O Waerheydt hoe zijt gy nu
vertreden!” Is. 59:14.

I did not, however, enjoy a very long respite;
since much people came, and hence they immediately
came and took from me my testament, and
the hymn about our four friends, which I had composed.
They then shut me up with E. S. Soon
after, the Bailiff came with the whole council. The
gates were shut, and it was reported that there were
a dozen in Leyden; hence they were very assiduous,
thinking they had caught a great gentleman or
captain; but alas! they had not.

The Bailiff then asked: “Where is your rapier?”256

I replied: “My Master has not taught me to
carry a rapier.”

Bailiff. “Who is your Master?”

Adrian. “Christ is my Master.”

Bailiff. “Christ is the Master of us all.”

Adrian. “If Christ were your Master, you would
not dare fight against him; but it will be hard for
you to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:5.

Bailiff. “We are responsible for that.” They
then asked me where I had slept.

Adrian. “I have slept well; did you sleep badly?”

Bailiff. “No, I shall make you tell.” One of the
lords then asked me whether I had been rebaptized.
I replied: “No, I was baptized aright once.”

Bailiff. “Who baptized you?”

I asked him whether he also wished to be baptized.

Bailiff. “Don’t be ashamed to tell; I will tell
you, where and by whom I was baptized: here in
St. Peter’s church.”

Adrian. “If you wish to be also baptized, I will
tell you.”

Bailiff. “I have no desire for it as yet.”

Adrian. “Neither are you fit for it.”

Bailiff. “Where is the servant with the hat, that
accompanied you?”

Adrian. “I know nothing of a servant with a
hat.”

Bailiff. “We saw him walk with you.”

Adrian. “Lord bailiff, you lie; if you are a servant
of Christ, you ought not to lie.” Eph. 4:25.
They then showed me the hymn about the friends
and asked me who had written it.

I replied: “I wrote it.”

Thereupon they asked whether I had also composed
it. I told them I wrote it, but said nothing
about composing. The under bailiff then said:
“You were at my house one Friday, and taught me
a refrain about Mary Magdalene?”

Adrian. “You have also lied; for my Master has
taught me no refrains.”

Under bailiff. “Or an exhortation?”

Adrian. “It is not so.”

The servants and others then said: “The fellow
is drunk.”

512

Yes, dear friends, then I remembered the words
of Peter, Acts 2; as they were drunk, so was I, having
tasted neither beer nor bread all day. They
were then about to leave, but found themselves at a
loss where to put me; for John of Delft, the servant,
said: “It is all right with E. S.; but now this rogue
will spoil him again.” Nevertheless, they put me
with him. All this took place the same Monday on
which I was apprehended.

The following Thursday the Bailiff came, with two
judges, and a commissary from the Hague; they
asked me many questions, which I could not answer,
and also demanded to know where I had slept, which
I would not tell, together with many other things too
tedious to relate. They also asked: “Do you know
Jelis of Aix-la-Chapelle?” I replied: “I never in
my life was at Aix-la-Chapelle.” As they kept on
asking me for a long time, I finally said: “I know
him.” They then asked where I had been with
him. I replied: “I cannot tell you this;” more I
would not say. “We shall make you tell,” said
they. “My lords,” I replied, “I have always been
careful not to know much, so that in case I should
be apprehended, I might not have much to tell.”
They then laid before me the letters I had sent them,
and also the hymn; they readily saw that it was the
same hand-writing; but I did not confess it. I
thought to myself: There is plenty of time yet for
it; for I will have to tell them something any way,
when they torture me. For the matter concerned
myself; hence I did not keep it secret, when I was
tortured; but as regards others, I had no warrant to accuse
them, and hence I did not want to know where
the friends lived, when I talked with any one. And
let me tell you, dear friends, this matter is sadly
overlooked by some, who are continually inquiring
after this one and that one, and take it amiss, if you
do not give them the desired information. O dear
friends, if you knew what suffering it would mean if
you were imprisoned, you would not make such inquiries.
Hence, if you wish to make any inquiries,
inquire after the faith that can save your souls. See,
my dear friends, accept this in good part; for I have
written it out of love. All the torture I have suffered
was inflicted upon me, to make me inform on
others; hence, the less you know, the less you have
to answer. The commissary then examined my testament,
and said: This is a proscribed testament.
I replied: “There you have also lied.” Thereupon
he was silent, and evening came on. They then went
away, promising to consider my case in the daytime.

Saturday morning they all came before eight
o’clock, and took me into the torture chamber,
where the executioner was. They then asked me
whether I had not changed my mind, and would
answer their questions. I began to admonish them.
They said: “We have not come here to be taught
by you; but we ask you whether you will answer
our questions.” But this I did not intend to do.
The executioner then stripped me, and bound my
hands behind my back. There was a windlass there,
and tying a block to my feet, they drew me up and
left me hanging. While thus suspended they interrogated
me, but I did not answer. They then let me
down, and the Bailiff asked me where I had worked
since I left Flanders. At Delft, I replied. Thereupon
they asked me still other questions, and as I
refused to answer them, they drew me up again,
and untied the block. The executioner then placed
a piece of wood or iron between my legs, which had
been bound together, and stood on it. Being let
down again, I was asked by the Bailiff, whether I
and six of my friends had not been at Leyden at a
certain time, which he specified. I did not confess it.
Again the executioner drew me up, they having
blindfolded my eyes, and they took rods and
scourged me. After I was let down, the bailiff said:
“Tell it, or I shall tell you?” I would not accuse
any one. They drew me up again, pulled my beard
and hair, and beat and scourged my back; but as
my eyes were blindfolded, I could not see who did it.
They might also have asked: “Who smote you?”
Luke 22:64. This continued until I had been beaten
with seven or eight rods. When they let me down,
and I did not answer for a long time, they, fearing
that I should faint away, poured water over me,
which they had also done while I was suspended. I
sat down, and as I did not speak for a long time,
the Bailiff said: “You will not tell it; I will tell you:
you slept at Stephen Claess’.”

Adrian. “That is true.”

Bailiff. “You were here before the prison, with
six of your friends, and exhorted the prisoners, that
they should strive valiantly, and adhere to their faith;
and you went and hired a boat for six stivers. Who
was the fellow to whom the boat belonged, and the
one who was in the other boat, who gave the skipper
half a stiver, into whose charge he committed
his chest, because he was to sail with you? And he
knew the fellow’s name, and knew also what we had
done, and that a woman was with us, and how we
had read, and that two, sat there, bareheaded, and
where we had gone up. I then acknowledged that it
was so, and they wrote it down; however, I excused
the two from those that were in the boat; but it was
of no avail, and thus the matter was left. They then
showed me the letters, about four or five in number.
“Yes,” said I, “I wrote them.” Upon this they
said: “This is the placard writer.” “It is certainly
not proper,” said the judges, “that you disparage
the Emperor in such a manner.” I replied:
“I do not disparage the Emperor; however great
the Emperor is, the Supreme Emperor is still
greater. Bring me a Bible; I shall prove to you
what I have written.” Thereupon they said: “Why
did you write these letters?” I replied: “I wrote
them because my grief was stirred, and that you
might no longer stain your hands with blood, and
might repent, as did those of Nineveh.” Jonah
3:5. Thus the matter rested.

They then asked me what I thought of the sacrament
of the altar. I told them that it was good for
nothing.

Ques. “How long have you not been to it?”

Ans. “Not for four years.”

Ques. “Have you belonged to this belief so
long?”

Ans. “No.”

Ques. “Why did you not go, then?”

513

Ans. “Even in my ignorance I knew that it was
good for nothing?”

Thereupon they went away, having been engaged
with me from eight o’clock until half-past eleven in
the forenoon.

This is what I said on that occasion. Dear friends,
be not discouraged, though what I have written
presents rather a gloomy aspect; the Lord helps his
own; if the Lord had not helped me, it would not
have been possible for me to bear it; but we can do
all things through him who strengthens us, that is,
Christ. And as the sufferings of Christ abound in
us, so also our consolation aboundeth by Christ,
1 Cor. 10:13; Ps. 46:1; Philip. 4:13; 2 Corinthians
1:5.

Here I will let this matter rest. I bear in my body
the marks of the Lord Jesus, spoken of by Paul.
Gal. 6:17.

On Sunday morning they came, and read to me
my examination, and asked me whether it was correct.
Then I remembered the words of the prophet:
“They are evening wolves, that let nothing remain
till the morrow, yea, whose feet run swiftly to shed
innocent blood.” Zeph, 3:3; Prov. 1:16. I then
asked the bailiff, whether he was not yet sated with
innocent blood, since he was so diligent in the way
of unrighteousness. He replied: “I do not put you
to death.” I said: “The Emperor’s edict puts us
to death; but you ought therefore be satisfied with
what you have, and not ask for more. By what will
you prove that you may put us to death? It is written:
If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go
and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if
he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or
two more; and if he will still not hear, tell it unto
the church; and if he will then not hear, let him be
unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” Matthew
18:15–17. Here the Scripture says nothing
about putting to death.

Bailiff. “We have another Scripture, where Paul
says: The powers are not ordained in vain; for God
himself has ordained them.” Rom. 13:1.

Adrian. “Yes, for the protection of the good,
and the punishment of the evil (1 Peter 2:14); but
it seems to me the order is inverted, that they are
for the punishment of the good, and the protection
of the evil.”

Bailiff. “We shall prove to you from books,
that we may put you to death.”

Adrian. “You can not do this with the gospel?”

Under bailiff. “What do you know about the
gospel?”

Adrian. “It is written: Repent ye, and believe
the gospel.” Mark 1:15.

Under bailiff. “There are eight gospels written.”

Adrian. “I am well content with four; if these
cannot teach me, neither can the others.”

Bailiff. “Shall we send you learned men, to instruct
you with the word of the Lord?”

Adrian. “I am willing to be instructed with the
word of the Lord.”

Bailiff. “Well said.”

Adrian. “I will not speak with them except in
the presence of the court, and of those that are imprisoned
with me.”

This did not please them, and they went away,
the bailiff leaving immediately for Delft.

Three weeks after this, the bailiff came into the
prison where we three in number, were sitting, and
asked us whether we were not almost beginning to
get tired of it. We said: “No.” I then said:
James says: “Take it for an example of suffering
affliction.” James 5:10. It surprised them greatly
that we minded it so little. I then said to the Bailiff:
“As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians
1:5.

Bailiff. “I should think it would weary you?”

Adrian. “Don’t you also begin to get weary of
shedding this blood?”

He did not reply. Thereupon he asked whether
they should send us learned men. We replied:
“We are always willing to be instructed with the
words of the Lord.”

Bailiff. “You will not be instructed otherwise
than with the word of the Lord?”

Ans. “We are always willing to give our faith for
a better one, that it may not be said that we are
obstinate; and our adversaries ought to do the
same.”

Bailiff. “That is so; suffer yourselves to be instructed,
perhaps your stay here is but brief?”

Adrian. “You do not know whether your stay
here will be long. Though we are now as forsaken,
the Lord will soon be gracious to us.”

With this it rested. He then said: “We shall
send you some one.” We called to him, as he
descended the stairs, that he should bring a Bible or
Testament with him.

In the afternoon there came a priest with two servants;
he advanced in fine style and laid out his
wares, thinking to sell something, and his words
were full of suavity. And when one of us spoke, he
had much to say. Thereupon I said that the Lord
had warned us of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of
them that go in long clothing.

Priest. “The clothing don’t make it.” I then
told him that their things, as infant baptism, ringing
of bells, mass, and all other trumpery, were good
for nothing. Upon this he replied that holy baptism
of infants was right. I asked where the authorization
for it was to be found.

Priest. “In the 16th chapter of the first epistle to
the Corinthians.”

Adrian. “There it is written: The house of Stephanas
are the first in Achaia who addicted themselves
to the ministry of the saints. These certainly
could not have been infants; infants cannot addict
themselves to the ministry of the saints, but have
themselves to be ministered unto.”

He asked us in regard to the jailer and his household,
whether there were no infants there.

Ans. “No.”

Priest. “How do you know it?”

Adrian. “It is written there: The jailer rejoiced
with all his house, that he had become a believer in
Christ Jesus. Infants cannot rejoice in faith; for they
have no faith.” Then he was at his wit’s end again.
He fared likewise in regard to Lydia, the seller of
purple.

514

Priest. “When I was young, my faith was as
perfect as it is now.”

Adrian. “What did you say then?”

He made no reply. He also said: “When I was
born, I had my hand, and was not conscious of it;
so also, my faith, which was hid in me; and the
original sin which I had was taken away through
the regeneration of the water which takes place in
the font.” I asked him whether the water had been
crucified for him, or Christ.

Priest. “Christ.”

Adrian. “And yet you seek your salvation in
the water?” He was silent. Dirk Jans then asked
him where it was written that bells ought to be
baptized.

Priest. “This is instituted by the holy church.”
He also asked him concerning the reading of mass.
He replied that he had God in the mass, corporeally
in flesh and blood. I then told him that he was a
deceiver.

Priest. “Did not God say: ‘Take, eat; this is my
body; and drink, this is my blood, and as often as
you eat this bread, ye do shew the Lord’s death?’ ”

On this point we had much discussion. I then
asked him whether he had read 1 Tim. 4?

Priest. “Yes.”

Thereupon I inquired as to whether he had
brought a Testament with him.

Priest. “Yes, here is a Latin Testament.”

Adrian. “We have not studied in Latin universities,
but in the highly celebrated school of the gospel,
of which the Spirit of God is teacher.” John
16:13.

He said he could read it in Dutch. He then read
the passage relating to the forbidding to marry, and
the commanding to abstain from meats. 1 Timothy
4:3. I asked him concerning whom this was spoken.
He replied that he did not know.

Adrian. “If you are a teacher you ought to
know this?”

Priest. “It relates to the end of the world.”

Adrian. “It speaks there of the latter times;
now do you mean to say that these are not the latter
times?”

Upon this he replied nothing, but said that he
had not forbidden marriage, nor meats.

We said: “Your father, the Pope, has done it,
and you exerted yourselves with Haman to obtain
mandates to put us and our people to death, and
contributed in giving the Emperor ten thousand
pounds of silver?”

Priest. “I did not.”

Adrian. “Are you Christians? Christians ought
not to persecute any one.”

Priest. “We do not persecute you.”

I then asked him, whether the Christian church
persecuted, or suffered persecution.

Priest. “It suffers persecution.”

I asked him wherein he suffered persecution,
whether we were not the ones that suffer persecution.

Priest. “We suffer persecution from the devil.”

We then demanded to know where it was written
that we might be put to death for our faith. He replied
that it was ordained on account of the evil
sects. We said: “We belong to no sect.”

Priest. “It is suspected that it might also be the
case with you.”

Thereupon Dirk Jans said: “Is a man hanged
because he is suspected of having stolen, though he
has not done so? So neither may we be put to death
before we are convicted.”

The priest finally went away. We had silenced
him in many things concerning which he had no understanding.
I also said that he was one of those
who rob God of his glory by their confession, presuming
to forgive sins. Herein he was likewise defeated,
whereupon he went away. I hope that we
shall soon offer up our sacrifice together.

O my dear friends, see that you exercise a care
for one another, and walk prudently; because men
are so incensed, and make such strenuous efforts to
apprehend our brethren, wherever they find them.
Hence, walk a little more wisely herein, than some of
you do for, dear friends, if the Lord permitted it,
they would deal roughly with them if they had them.
Therefore, take it in good part; for there are so few
laborers in the harvest; hence, take good care of
them that are in it. Moreover, dear friends, when
you meet to speak of the word of the Lord, spend
not your time in idle talk, and old wives’ fables, but
exercise yourselves in godliness, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and stand protected
in all things; and always give diligence, in honor to
build up the spiritual temple until the appearing of
the Lord. 1. Tim. 4:7; Eph. 6:13; 1 Pet. 2:5. He
that is holy let him become holier still; he that is pure,
let him become purer still; as Paul writes to the Thessalonians,
that they need not that he should write
unto them, but he said that they should increase
more and more. Rev. 22:11; 1 Thess. 4:9,10.
Thus also you, my dear brethren. Read the exhortation
I have written you, which will no doubt be
shown you. Salute all the friends in the Lord, especially
our brother G., who is a faithful minister;
all that are in bonds salute him, and they also greet
all lovers of the truth. We commend you to the
Lord; know, that we are all of good cheer yet; the
Lord be praised always.

My dear friends, I must write you yet a little
more. The paper was not sufficient before, for, dear
friends, paper is a precious article when we are in
bonds; but as Habakkuk brought me some more, I
write you a few additional lines, concerning certain
things that occurred in our imprisonment, which
were forgotten before. It happened that the servant
who had betrayed me, came to bring us our food. I
then asked him to forgive me, if I had injured him
in any way, and thus I often talked to him as kindly
as I could, which we are commanded to do. Matthew
5:44. He replied: “You have not injured me,
nor have any of your people.” My kind words, and
the love I manifested, caused him to feel ashamed
that he had betrayed me, and that I spoke to him
so affectionately. Rom. 12:20.

A few more things about the priest that came to
instruct us. I asked him whether he had faith.
“Yes,” he replied.

515

Adrian. “If you should sit here in prison with us
for a month, I think you would deny your faith.”

Priest. “Possibly not.”

He then commenced speaking about faith, and
said that faith was incomprehensible.

I said: “If faith is incomprehensible, how then
can we be saved?” Then he was beaten. Thereupon
we touched upon the calling of preachers, and the
words of Paul, that teachers must be blameless, and
following the passage further on, “given to hospitality.”
I then said: “You would rather be a guest,
than entertain one, and receive strangers;” adding:

“If I should come to your house, would you receive
me?”

Priest. “Possibly.”

We also discussed infant baptism, which he
would prove by the households. I asked him to
whom the scriptures speak; do they not speak to
them that have ears to hear, and hearts to understand?

Priest. “Yes.”

I then asked him whether any scripture belonged
to infants.

Priest. “No.”

Adrian. “If no scripture belongs to infants, neither
does baptism.” Then he was caught and had
nothing more to say about his infant baptism. He
also spoke in regard to eating the flesh of Christ,
and drinking his blood, how Christ gave his apostles
flesh from his flesh, and blood to drink outwardly.
I then said that he was worse than the Jews.

Priest. “Why?”

Adrian. “The Jews murmured and said: ‘How
can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ but you now
come and would eat it.” “Be assured,” said I to
the priest, “Christ did not speak this passage in the
sense in which you adduce it.” In short, he would
gladly have retreated, could he have done so honorably,
for there was no market for his merchandise.





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