# The First Letter From Raphel Van Den Velde, Written To His Wife.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: THE FIRST LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

Grace and peace from God our heavenly Father,
and our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you, my dear
and in God beloved wife; and the supreme Comforter,
the Holy Ghost, be with you and console
you, and lighten your heart in all your tribulation
and affliction, which I well know, are exceedingly
great. Hence I hope to write your love a little,
for your consolation; for I hope that it will be a
great comfort to you, when you will read it, even
as also my heart was exceedingly comforted and
rejoiced, when I received your letter, on Wednesday,
about five or six o’clock [P. M.], when in the
morning I had been tortured from about eight until
ten o’clock. I thank the Lord, that he kept my
mouth, so that no one need be troubled by it; for
when I had been laid upon the bench, I did not
open my mouth to criminate any one, but cried,
sighed, and prayed to God. The lords said:
“Hearken to us, and we will shorten the pain;
yea, we are sorry that we must inflict it upon you.”
But when I would not listen to them, lying there
bound and ropes tightly twisted around my shins
and thighs, and over my heart, and my arms tied
together behind my back, so that they lay under
my loins, and a cord with knots having been put
around my head, which lay on a pebble-stone, they
began winding it with an iron chain, so that I
thought nothing else but that they were winding
and crushing my head all to pieces; and on my
thighs and shins, so that it seemed to me, that all
my bones, flesh, veins, and sinews were going to
pieces. Then thought I: O Lord, what torture this
is! O Lord, I shall not be able to endure it. O Lord,
succor me now, for the distress is great. Then I
composed myself, and committed the matter to
God; and instantly all my members became as
dead, and the lords kept calling: “Tell, tell; and
we shall shorten your pain.” And when I would
still not tell, they spoke in Latin to Master Hans,
and then the latter went and made two cords fast
to my great toes, in the form of a double knot, and
stretched me out thereby, which caused me exceeding
pain. When I would yet not tell, they caused
the cords on my thighs and shins to be twisted still
more tightly, and the knots pained me so, that I
thought that I must die. And still they kept calling:
“Speak, speak; and we shall shorten your pain.”
Then thought I: O Lord, how shall I be able to
endure this; must it last long yet? Then the thought
came into my mind, that the eternal pain should be
still greater, and should last forever. Then I took
courage again, and cried to God: Help me in this
distress, that I must not bring my neighbor into
the same affliction. And the Lord gave me such
courage, that I resolved rather to die on the bench,
and kept silence. And as they did still not obtain
anything from me, to the implication of my neighbor,
Master Hans took water (during the entire
time a cloth had lain on my face), and holding my
nose shut with one hand, began to pour water on
my abdomen and thence all over my breast, and
into my mouth, even as one should drink when he
is very thirsty. I think that the can from which he
poured out the water held about three pints. And
when I was at the end of my breath, and wanted
to fetch such, I drew the water all into my body,
whereupon I suffered such distress, that it would
be impossible for me to relate or describe it; but
the Lord be forever praised: he kept my lips. And
when they could still not obtain anything from me,
they caused the cord which was on my thigh to be
loosed and applied to a fresh place, and wound it
much tighter than before, so that I thought he
would kill me, and began to shake and tremble
greatly. He then proceeded to pour water into me
again, so that I think he emptied four such cans,
and my body became so full of it, that twice it came
out again at the throat. And thus I became so weak
that I fainted; for when I recovered from my swoon,
I found myself alone with Master Hans and Daniel
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de Keyser. And Master Hans was so busily engaged
in loosing all my cords, that it seemed to me
that they were concerned over me. But the Lord
in a large degree took away my pain every time;
whenever it became so severe that I thought it was
impossible to bear it, my members became as dead.
Eternal praise, thanks, honor, and glory be to the
Lord; for when it was over I thought that, by the
help of the Lord, I had fought a good fight.

I would write you much more about it, but I
leave it till another time. Hence, my dear wife,
let us thank God for his grace. On Monday I did
not think that I was approaching such a happy
week, and as regards the bruises from my torture,
I hope that it will be well; but it must have its time.
Be not grieved on account of my sufferings; but
praise God in this matter, for my mind, I hope, is
unchanged and immovable; for though they should
torture me twice yet, I hope to endure all they inflict
upon me. But it may indeed be called torture,
for it is a great pain. I also am ready not only to
suffer myself to be tortured, but also always to let
my flesh be burnt alive at the stake for the truth.
I must also write you something about the joy and
gladness which I now have in the Lord; how the
Lord strengthens, comforts and rejoices my heart,
when I consider the Scriptures, that I, who am such
an unworthy man, may be a partaker of Christ’s
sufferings; I can now say with the apostle, that
I bear the marks of Christ in my members. Galatians
6:17.

Further, my dearest, I inform your love, that I
received your letter, whereby my heart was greatly
comforted and rejoiced, so that for joy I could not
refrain from weeping; which was a sure sign of
godly sorrow, and the same worketh to salvation.
2 Cor. 7:10. Thus I understood from it your great
grief, much greater than you can say or write.
But, my dearest, I pray you by the mercies of God,
that you will to some extent lay aside your grief
concerning me, and remember how, or in what
manner we received each other from the hand of
the Most High; was it not under the condition, that
the Lord should always be the dearest, and that we
must leave each other, if it be his holy will? And
now your love well knows, that this is certainly the
will of the Lord, and nothing else; for if it had not
been the will of the Lord, I would have escaped as
well as you. Hence, my beloved, let us be moderate,
and be content with such things as we have
(Heb. 13:5), as I hope from your love that you
will do, and, if you think it well, rather let the girl
go, and keep your child with you. And in the
meantime, teach him something yourself, and diligently
keep him busy at something with you. But
above all, I pray you, take good heed to yourself,
for the Proctor General questioned me much in regard
to you, and at divers times they asked me
concerning my brother, but I did not answer them
thereupon; but they knew it well already, as they
said. And Daniel de Keyser came into my cage,
and also asked me much in regard to my brother.
They also questioned me concerning my child, and
whether he was not baptized, which I told them;
hence take good heed, or peradventure they might
take him, and greater trouble might result from it.
We shall probably have time to write more about
this matter; but now I write only a little of
this and a little of that, for my head is not
in a condition to write much, but I hope that it will
improve. To-day I have been greatly tired with
speaking against two Jesuits concerning our faith;
in the presence of the clerk of the criminal court,
and Master Jacob Hesseling, the Proctor General,
and a councilor; but the Lord be forever praised
and thanked, they had to give up with ignominy.

I hope by and by to write more fully about every
thing. Tell my dear brother, also to write something,
and greet him much for me, as also his wife,
and my dear sister, with the peace of the Lord, and
that they write me something, since I am exceedingly
much burdened and concerned for them.
And take good heed, for no one knows what bonds
are, except he that tries them, this I may well say,
for which I thank and praise the Lord with a joyful
heart. I hope that I am over the worst and my
heart is much resigned in suffering or affliction, and
in death, but when I begin to think of parting from
my love, and my dear son, then I cannot compose
my heart so easily. But this comforts me much,
that my child can keep his mother. And be not
over-careful, my love; the Most high cares for you
and also for your child; and our dear Lord has
shown us much grace, that he has permitted us to
live together so long. Yea, be not too careful, this
I pray you, my love; but cast your care entirely
and gladly upon the Lord; he will provide for you,
and give you another husband in my place, if it be
for your good. Ps. 55:22; 1 Pet. 5:7; Philip. 4:6.

Herewith I will commend you, my dearest wife
and sister in the Lord, to the almighty God and to
the rich word of his grace; adieu, my love.

O you have been such a good and excellent
housekeeper to me; O my love, I thank you from
the depths of my heart for your great faithfulness
and willing service, which you have so faithfully
shown me in all obedience. And I pray you all,
dear friends, that you would diligently help me pray
to the Lord, for it is now time, the conflict is nearing
its height, this I well experience, and I apprehend
that Jeronymus, our brother, will also experience
it; the Lord be gracious unto him; I comfort
him now and then, as best I can.

Greet Vintgen from me with the peace of the
Lord, and let me know, how it went with them all.
Greet Jan and Klaerken from me; and K., and tell
him to write me something. And also greet in my
name all those that fear God, and always associate
with the righteous, and you will become more righteous
still. Adieu, adieu.

Written in the dark, on the 24th of May, A. D.
1576. Adieu, my wife, adieu, my child.

On Thursday the 24th of May I was brought before
the lords once more, and there sat two Jesuits.
I was very feeble from the torturing. They began
and asked me, why I had suffered myself to be so
long seduced, and questioned me concerning my
faith. Then I said: “Have I come here to teach
you? by no means. Do you confess your faith to
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me? I am come to be instructed.” Then he began
to confess his faith, just like children that are learning.
“Well, this is my faith,” he said. Then I
said: “Prove it with the word of God, and I will
also believe it.” Then he began from John 3, that
the children must be baptized; also from Mark 16
and Matt. 28, where he so entangled himself, that
he did not see how he could get out of it; and went
from there [he went on] to circumcision, where he
likewise knew not what to do. Finally they had to
confess that it did not apply to baptism which greatly
surprised me. And when they saw that all that
they did went backwards, they all began to talk
Latin at the same time, and I sat there and looked
on. Eamus (let us go), they said, and wanted to
go, for it struck eleven and we had come together
a little after eight. And when they were determined
to go, I said: “I pray you, my lords, write your
faith down for me, so that I can consider it.” But
they would not do it. “If you do not believe our
words,” said they, “you would not believe our
writing.”

O, thought I, if I could get that, I should have
you; I should soon show to you, that your faith is
not contained in the Scriptures.

Further, on the 25th of May there came the penitentiary
from the bishop, and another, and Friar
Pieter de Backer, and they approached me very
subtly. They led me upon a very high mountain,
and [said that] if I would yield just a little, all should
be well. Master Jacob Heyselinck said Yes, he
should help me, and the matter was in his power;
that I should only seemingly recant a little: “Dear
Raphel, how sorry I am; it pierces me to my very
heart.” Then I said: “O my lords, you say that I
should recant a little; This I will gladly do; yea I
will recant altogether, if you can show me something
better than the word of God; but not otherwise,
or my faith should not rest upon the word of
God, but upon the words of men, and I well know
what the prophet says: Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man. Jer. 17:5. O my lords, that would
not be converting; you would have to prove it to me
with the holy Scriptures, or we shall not do it.”
And after many words we parted once more, and I
thanked them for their trouble. Sometime afterwards
the clerk of the criminal court, the Proctor,
and Friar Pieter de Backer came and entreated me
again. I said I was sorry that they entreated me.
They said: “But we shall show it to you very
clearly;” and commenced another mystery concerning
the incarnation of Christ. And when I began to
answer, he put his Testament away. And many
other things they said. Then I said: “If it is your
pleasure, I shall reply to you upon every thing, one
after the other;” and when they heard how I began
to answer them, they slipped away and said adieu,
and I did the same. And Friar Pieter said: “I
shall come again in a day or two.” “If you please.”
said I. “O,” said he, “how sorry your mother
must be.” But I said nothing. And in the afternoon
they sent me a book, entitled “The Shield
against the Anabaptists,” which I should read; and
in two or three days the penitentiary should come
to see me again.

Here, dear brethren and sisters altogether, you
may have heard whether I suffer temptation or not,
but I write it only very briefly, else it would take
much too long to write it. But the Lord be thanked
for his great grace, who so faithfully strengthens me
and governs my mouth to his praise. Though the
outward man perish, this is small loss; the inward
man is renewed from day to day, for which eternal
praise and thanks be to the Lord, for I may now
well say with Pieter van Werwicke:

“Noyt meerder vreught in my en was,

Als nu tot desen tijden,

Mijn treuren vergaet my alsoo ras,

Godts woordt doet my verblijden:

Als ick dencke op ’t eeuwigh Goedt:

Och dan Krijgh ick sulck eenen moedt.”

I cannot tell it (express the joy); yea, I think
that if every one of the hairs of my head were a
tongue, I could not express it. And that they torment
me with examinations, this I deem a recreation,
for I get out of my stinking hole every time,
into the pure air, and this rejoices my heart.

Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and
to the rich word of his grace. Always endeavor to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
and purify your souls before the Lord, if peradventure
God be pleased to let you fall into the same
trouble; if one is not a good Christian previously,
one can hardly become one here, this I well experience,
O dear brethren and sisters, I pray you by
the love of God and our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you will show love to my dearly beloved wife
and my dear child, in all love, in unity, in kindness,
and in patience, Bear one another in love, this I
pray you from the bottom of my heart, and consider
in what trouble she now is. Alas, you are
sorry on my account, for which I thank you, for it
is godly sorrow; but she has the greatest reason to
be sorrowful. O she has lost so much, and my son
too; but I must resign myself herein, for it is the
will of the Lord; who will hinder it? O, when I
think of her and her grief, and of my child, I cannot
restrain myself; but I hope that the Lord will
help me also in this. I beseech you by the love of
God. O brethren, my dear brother, write me once
how she is situated, how it is with her tribulation,
and with my dear son.

O my dear son, I am taken from you too soon.
O dear brethren, do this much for my sake; and for
the Lord’s sake; you will thereby afford such great
comfort to my heart. O it seems to me that I have
not heard anything for such a long time, and of my
son I do not know that I have had any intelligence;
and of our Tanneken. O poor lamb! Adieu my
dear brother; adieu my dear sister; adieu to all your
little ones.

Adieu, adieu; may God grant grace, that we may
rejoice hereafter. Written by me, Raphel, your
weak brother in the Lord, with many tears and
sighs; not on my own account, as though my mind
were ill at rest—God forbid, it was in eleven years
never better, the Lord be thanked; but it is my
weak nature. If I have written too little or too
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much in any thing, excuse me, since my mind is
much engaged, and my mind is getting confused
from all the troubles. Written the 25th of May, in
the year 1576.

Raphel van den Velde.





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