The Second Letter Of Lauwerens Van Der Leyen.

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, my most beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord. Know that I was examined, and that the Margrave wanted to know much from me. I said I wanted to tell him all that concerned my faith. He said: “You shall tell me all.” I said: “What do you wish to know?” He asked me: “What do you think of the baptism you received in your infancy?” I said: “Nothing at all.” He then wanted to know where it was written that infants should not be baptized. I said: “Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19.” Much incensed at me, he asked me: “What do you think of the seven sacraments?” I replied: “I have never read anything about it.” This question he repeated twice or three times. I said: “I have never read about it; but I believe that Christ is sitting on the right hand of his Father, where I hope to be with him, when the time will be fulfilled.”

He then asked me concerning auricular confession. I said: “I acknowledge a confession; but I think nothing of auricular confession; but I confess daily before my heavenly Father.” This enraged the Margrave, and he said that he should have me placed to the stake, or thrown into the water. I told him to do with me as he pleased, since my flesh was at his disposal. He then told me, that he should send other learned men. I replied that I already had the faith I wanted to believe. He said: “You must hearken to them.” I answered: “Though you cut me limb from limb, I trust I shall not deny the Lord my God.” Then the Margrave and his Judges were very angry at me; for one of the latter said, that he should put me on a galley; but I replied: “Do with me as you please.” Then the Margrave said: “I shall not be so lenient to him; but we will have him placed to the stake.” I said: “I remind you of my sentence;” and told him, how, when I was apprehended the last time, I had been prohibited, on pain of decapitation or the stake, from singing any hymns, and that I should take care not to be one of such people. “But” [said I] “I do not say this because I am therefore now the bolder; for even if I had never previously been prohibited from it, I should not want to deny my Lord and God.”

The Margrave then asked me: “Does your mother also belong to them?” I replied: “I wish she did.” And I said: “When I used to gamble and get drunk, and to follow the world, I was left unmolested; but now that I truly confess the name of God, I am persecuted; but it is as the prophet Isaiah says: ‘Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.’ ” Isa. 59:14,15.

One of the Judges then said to me: “Have you also stolen?” I asked him twice or three times: “Did you ever hear that I did?” but he made no reply. They then began to speak very suavely to me, and said: “If you will renounce all that you have said here, we shall tear this paper in pieces, and show you mercy.” And the Margrave said: “You certainly know, how your sister fared on this account, whom I caused to be thrown into the Scheldt.” But I replied that she had died for the truth; and as regards myself: “I do not want to deny my Lord and God, who created and made me; I will rather let you do with me whatever you please.” Then the Margrave said: “Do you think we cannot also read? we, too, daily read the Scriptures; but these cobblers and tailors want to be wiser than we are. I am very glad that you have fallen into my hands; for, doubtless God the Lord sent you into that house, that I might punish you, so that others should take an example from you.” And he applied many ugly epithets to me, and said: “You have often eaten and drank in my house; I am sorry I did not tie up your throat.” And he asked me: “If you were not a prisoner, would you have yourself rebaptized?” I said: “If you will 611 release me to-morrow, I will use diligence to have myself baptized; for this behooves believers.”

He then asked me: Will you confess nothing else?” and interrogated me concerning princes and lords, and the Pope of Rome. I said: “I hold God Almighty to be my Supreme Creator, and my King.” Then the Margrave said: “I have at home a little book, covered with chamois.” I said: “My lord, that book belonged to me, and if you will read it, you will therein find what our faith is.” He replied: “They were first published by the Pope of Rome.” I said: “I do not regard them thus; but it is the Testament, left us by God for a memorial.” He was enraged at me, and said: “I wish I had never seen you;” and irefully said: “Begone; for I and these lords, the judges, came to instruct you; but we shall send you other learned men.” I thanked him much for the trouble they had taken.

My dear friends, I did not fear them, no matter however they threatened me. Luke and Matthew say: Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; but he that loseth it for my name’s sake shall find it. Luke 17:33; Matt. 10:39. They thought they were afflicting me greatly; but I was not afraid of them at all. I hope soon to be released from this flesh. My dear friends, do not fear them that kill the body, but fear him who created and made you, and has power to cast you into the eternal fire of hell. Luke 12:5.

Herewith I commend you to the Lord; and may the mighty hand of God guide and keep you, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord. They also asked me, whether I should be saved, because I had not received baptism. I replied: “Yes, for I trust that the Lord will have respect to my willingness, since he had respect to Abraham’s willingness.” Gen. 22:12. Brethren and sisters, pray for me, that with the help of God I may remain steadfast unto the end. I trust that you regard me as your brother, though I have not attained to perfection.284

Written by me, Lauwerens van der Leyen, July the 10th, 1559, at Antwerp.