# The Second Letter Of Ydse Gaukes.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: THE SECOND LETTER OF YDSE GAUKES.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

We prisoners in the Lord for the testimony of
our dear Lord Jesus Christ, of which we are not
worthy to boast ourselves; grace and peace from
our dear Lord Jesus Christ be with our very dear
and chosen, beloved brethren and sisters, through
the obedience of the Gospel. We wish you, our
much beloved, the true penitent faith which works
by love. To this end may the power of the Holy
Ghost strengthen you. Amen.

After all proper salutation, be pleased to know,
our much beloved, that we are still in good health
according to the flesh, and also according to the
spirit, and unchanged in mind and faith, and, moreover,
have a peaceful conscience, and are sure that
it is the truth, and that no other shall ever be found,
though there are many subtile spirits, who seek another
way than taught by Christ, and in which he
went before them. Hence, rejoice with us, our
much beloved, that our Father has helped us to
triumph. Truly indeed did he say: “Though a
mother forsake her child, yet will he not forsake
us.” You must confess with us, that he has done
this; for which we cannot thank him enough, since
we well know, that of ourselves we have nothing at
all but wickedness: as the apostle says: I know that
in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. Rom. 7:18.
Further, my much beloved chosen brethren and
sisters, know that the Lord can still order it well;
though we are here in the tyrants’ hands, yet we
fare better here than you people think; for the Lord
still sends us every day a Habakkuk (H. Drag. 34),
which is my sister, who can still come to us every
day, and she does not tire of it either; besides, every
third day we have a kind guard, so that many people
can speak with us. Furthermore, dear friends,
I cannot conceal from you the joy which we have,
that they have confined us together in the tower,
each in a small cell about eight feet square and made
of two thick planks. In this place we are confined;
but we see and often speak with one another, which
is a great joy to us, and for which we are also envied
by him who used to be my best friend on earth,
who said that we were confined too close to one another,
and that we strengthened one another still
more. Hence the Lord may well say, when an unclean
spirit has been cast out, he comes and looks
at the house; if he finds it empty and swept, he
takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked
than himself. Matt. 12:43.

Furthermore, my dear friends, be not proud, and
trust not in yourselves, but commit your cause to
the Lord. He who was the strongest and of the
best courage when we were first apprehended, and
with whom to be together was a joy to us, moreover,
who remained very valiant in the torture, lies
now also in the mire; hence trust not in yourselves.
Further, dear friends, they let us lie here, so that in
six weeks no one looked after us, save that the commissary
had our sister Trijntgen brought above,
to ask her concerning one from Ghent whom they
did not know; they also inquired after other friends
from Ghent, but did not obtain their wish. Then we
expected our sentence since we knew nothing else
but that we should offer up our sacrifice. At the last
two Franciscans came to me; however they had not
been sent. They unlocked the doors, and asked
how it was with me. “As God will,” said I.
848“Yes,”
said they, “and as you will too.” We talked of
the Gospel: they asked: “How do you know that
it is the Gospel?” I said: “I know this well, for
Christ has sealed it with his blood.” One of them
became angry. I said: “Be still, or wait a little;
you treat us worse than Jews; for the Jews are tolerated
for tribute, but us you put to death.” Then
he became angry again and said: “Your rascality
puts you to death.” “We have done nothing
amiss,” said I. He wanted to go away, and cried
aloud. “Be meek,” I said. “Yes,” said they, “this
is your word: O Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do.” Then he went off. Once
there came also two Beguines,327 who wanted to say
much to my fellow prisoners. I said: “May one
also baptize something else than men?” “No,”
said they, “no beasts.” I said: “Why then do you
baptize bells?” That was customary they said; “it is
an old custom that when there is a bad storm we
ring the bells; then it passes away.” I said: “Yes,
when the worst is over, you begin to ring, and
thus you think that it helps.” Then they said: “It
is not good for the people to come to him.”

I can also not hide from you, how unmercifully
they dealt with our sister: they tied her clothes together
in the middle, but completely bared the upper
part of her body. Then said our sister (who is still
a young girl): “Never yet was such shame inflicted
upon me.” “You inflict it upon you yourself,”
they said. Further, my dear brethren and
sisters, who shall see or hear read this our brief letter,
we inform you all thereby, that our mind is still
valiant and unchanged; that we do not exhort you
more, is attributable to our little knowledge; for
which I hope you will excuse us. Know, my beloved
friends, that we greatly rejoice with exceeding
joy, because we received letters from you; for it refreshes
our inward man.

Now, my very chosen dear brethren and sisters,
we prisoners, beseech you most earnestly, that you
will now take heed to yourselves, and to your walk;
for my much beloved brother and sister, when one
comes to be thus confined, then only he finds, that
the way is narrow and the gate strait, that leads unto
life; yea, many shall strive for it, but not enter in,
because they are not of the right number. Therefore,
my dear and in God beloved brother and sister,
examine daily the inmost of your heart when the
daily fear comes upon you, and do not hide your
sins, lest you sink under them; for you cannot conceal
them from the Lord—he has eyes like flames of
fire. O my chosen, you can deceive no one but
yourselves. We have an example in David, when
he sent the man into the battle, and wrote that he
should be put in the forefront of the hottest battle,
and where there were valiant men opposed to Israel;
in order that he might obtain the wife. What did
Nathan say to the king? There was a man who had
many sheep, and there was a man that had one
only sheep; and he that had many sheep took from
the man that one sheep, and slew it. Then David
himself judged that he [David] was worthy of death;
but he went and watered his couch with his tears.
2 Sam. 11:14; Ps. 6:6. See, my dear brother and
sister, let us ever watch and take heed, and if we
are overtaken by any evil, let us not be too good
to repent, but with David and Manasseh (2 Chronicles
33:12) confess our sins, and we shall find
grace before God. O my dear and chosen brother
and sister, had this been done in Friesland, and
every one looked into his own heart, it would never
have turned out so badly. But when every one is
proud and says: “Show me my guilt;” thinking,
I will not yield, what should the people say? yea, I
will resign my honor and ministry. O friends, had
they taken heed, and every one examined his own
heart, and willingly repented, no one would have
fallen into such great trouble.

Hence, my beloved, always keep in the obedience
of the Gospel, and do not suffer yourselves to be
moved by every wind of doctrine, but abide in that
before which you have bowed your knees; remember
that Paul says: Though an angel from heaven
should come and preach any other gospel, let him
be accursed. Gal. 1:8. And beware of the abominable
marrying out of the church, which some of
you would introduce; and behold Israel, how they
had to forsake the heathen wives. Therefore, my
dear friends, take diligent heed, as long as it is
called to-day; and let us always diligently build on
the temple, with the sword of the Spirit at our side,
that we may resist the enemies, lest they take our
glory. For we have received a talent, which the
Lord shall require again at our hands; and if he
finds us faithful, he will make us rulers over many
things. Hence, my chosen, let us ever take earnest
heed, always diligently to keep the pearl of great
price which we have found, lest robbers take it from
us; for if it is taken from us we are ruined. Hence
keep good watch, and think, dear brethren and sisters,
that if a piece of gold were given you not
larger than a penny, and it were said to you: “Keep
this but three or four years, and there shall come a
dearth, which shall last a year; and keep this piece
so long, and you shall buy for it enough to keep
you from want; but if you lose it, you must die of
hunger;” how closely would you guard it—would
you not every day, when the time drew near that
you would be in need of it, see whether you had
not lost it? I think, every hour. See, my chosen,
you that have received the faith, to you this money
is given, to keep it as long as you live; and if you
keep it unto the end, you shall receive eternal life
for it.

Thus, my much beloved, now that you know that
the day is approaching when you must have it, take
earnest heed lest you lose it; for if you should lose
it the last day, it could avail you nothing; though
one had kept it a hundred years, it could not avail
him anything; as the prophet says: “If a man hath
done good all his life, and walked uprightly, and
turned himself to unrighteousness, all the good that
he hath done before shall avail him nothing, See,
how the Lord requires obedience of us, as the
prophet Samuel said to Saul: “The Lord delighteth
more in obedience, than in sacrifices.” 1 Samuel
15:22. And consider also the man of God, how
he was punished by the Lord because he had hearkened
849
to the false prophet, and not done what the
Lord had commanded him. 1 Kings 13:24. Behold
Israel, when they had sinned, they had to turn
their backs before their enemies: Josh. 7:12. And
Christ himself says: “Ye are my friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14. Yea, he
that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matthew
10:22); for it lies neither in the beginning nor in
the middle. Hence, look diligently before you, lest
ye be deceived; for Christ has truly said, that many
false prophets shall rise and cry: “Here is Christ,
there is Christ.” Matt. 24:11,5. Therefore, my
chosen, beware, lest you be deceived. They went
out from us, says the apostle; but if they had been
of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.
1 John 2:19.

Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and
to the rich word of his grace. Know, that our
brother Claes still suffers great pain in his limbs, on
account of his age; and our sister Lijntgen has also
great pain in her shoulders; but Trijntgen and I do
not ail. Now we prisoners greet you very cordially;
also all the churches and lovers of the truth in the
neighborhood; by name, P. J. and your wife; and
I thank you most heartily for your letter. Greet W.
in my name, and send it to L. J. in Molqueeren, in
Friesland, and also, to Jan de P. and to those of
Amsterdam; I have also written something for him,
which put with it, and see that this also gets to
Embden, to my beloved brother and his wife. My
dear brother, and dear sister, grieve not for us, for
your mother and sister are of very good cheer; and
tell Machtelken, rather to beware of Harmen; he
seeks to bring her into the mire; if he can get out,
I have heard him say, he will make a good Christian
of her. We also salute our scattered fellow-believers.
Now, my affectionately beloved brethren
and sisters, remember us prisoners in your prayers
and assemblies, for the earnest prayer of the faithful
avails much. We expect from day to day to offer
up our sacrifice. And, dear friends, do write us.

Written in great fear and distress, in the prison at
Deventer, after having been imprisoned nine weeks.





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