# Willem Janss From Waterland, After Terrible Tortures Burned Alive At Amsterdam, For The Testimony Of Jesus Christ On The 12th Of March, 1569. 16th century (source section) · Historical source Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: WILLEM JANSS FROM WATERLAND, AFTER TERRIBLE TORTURES BURNED ALIVE AT AMSTERDAM, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE 12TH OF MARCH, 1569. Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned About two weeks after the death of the aforementioned hero of God, Pieter Pieterss Beckjen, there was also (entirely for his sake) put to death, in the same place at Amsterdam, another valiant champion and soldier of Christ, who loved the truth more than his own life, named Willem Janss, born in Waterland, and residing at Doornickendam, the 795 circumstances which led to his death being as follows: This Willem Janss having heard that his dear fellow brother Pieter Pieterss Beckjen was about to offer up his sacrifice, and to deliver his body to the fire, for the truth, at Amsterdam, he made great haste also to appear at this time at the place of execution, at Amsterdam, in order that he might witness the death of his brother, and, if possible, strengthen him in the faith in his extremity. However, when he arrived at the city, he was a little too late, the bar having already been let down on account of the execution. But his zeal was so great, that he had no rest till he might see his beloved friend either alive or dead: hence he, for a certain sum of money, had the bar unlocked and made haste to be present at said offering. When Pieter Pieters Beckjen was brought forth to die, this valiant hero and friend of God, standing over against the place of execution, on the steps of the weighing office, called to him with a loud voice, saying: “Contend valiantly, dear brother.” He was immediately also seized by the persecutors, thrown into prison, twice severely and horribly tortured, and, when he would in no wise apostatize, he was two weeks after the death of his dear brother, sentenced to the fire, to be burned alive, at the same place where his brother had died; which was also done to him after he had commended his soul into the hands of God. The foregoing was recorded long ago, from credible witnesses, though the date, or time when it occurred was not correctly stated;315 which we have corrected according to the import of the following sentence, which was pronounced upon him on the day of his death, in the court at Amsterdam, in which also all the circumstances upon which the rulers of darkness at that time founded his death are expressed. It reads as follows: Sentence of death of Willem Janss from Waterland. Whereas Willem Janss, from Waterland, residing at Doornickendam, present here as a prisoner, unmindful of his soul’s salvation, and the obedience which he owed to our mother the holy church, and to His Royal Majesty, as his natural lord and prince despising the ordinances of the holy church, has never been to confession; and only once in his life, about eight years ago, to the holy, worthy sacrament; has further undertaken several times to go to the assembly of the reprobated and accursed sect of Mennonists or Anabaptists; also, about six or seven years ago, rejecting and renouncing the baptism received by him in his infancy of the holy church, been rebaptized, and afterwards received the breaking of bread three or four different times, after the manner of the aforementioned sect, has also exhorted said sect as a teacher; and on the 26th of February ultimo, when one Pieter Pieterss Beckjen, bargeman, was to be executed in this city, on account of said sect, he, the prisoner, standing among the people, undertook yet to strengthen said Pieter Pieterss in his obstinacy, calling with a loud voice these or similar words: “Contend valiantly, dear brother,” and though he, the prisoner, by my lords of the court as well as by divers clerical persons, has been urged and repeatedly admonished to leave the aforementioned reprobated sect, and to return to our mother the holy church, he nevertheless refuses to do the same, continuing in his stubbornness, and obstinacy, so that he, the prisoner, according to what has been mentioned, has committed crime against divine and human majesty, as by disturbing through said sect the common peace and welfare of the land, according to the import of the decrees of His Majesty existing in regard to this, which crimes, for an example unto others, ought not to remain unpunished; therefore, my lords of the court, having heard the demand of the lord Bailiff, and having seen the confession of the prisoner, and having had regard to his stubbornness and obstinacy, have condemned said prisoner, and, by these presents do condemn him to be executed with fire according to the decrees of His Majesty; and declare all his property confiscated for the benefit of His Majesty aforesaid. Done in court, the 12th of March, A. D. 1569, in presence of all the judges, by advice of all the burgomasters. Of the twofold torturings of the aforesaid martyr according to the record of said secretary. This delinquent was tortured twice, according to the sentence of the judges, namely, the 26th of February, and the last of the same month, A. D. 1569, as appears from the records of the confession. Thus extracted from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, preserved in the archives of said city. N. N. --- Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-willem-janss-from-waterland-after-terrible-tortures-burned-alive-at-amsterdam-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-on-the-1/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Willem+Janss+From+Waterland%2C+After+Terrible+Tortures+Burned+Alive+At+Amsterdam%2C+For+The+Testimony+Of+Jesus+Christ+On+The+12th+Of+March%2C+1569.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AWillem+Janss+From+Waterland%2C+After+Terrible+Tortures+Burned+Alive+At+Amsterdam%2C+For+The+Testimony+Of+Jesus+Christ+On+The+12th+Of+March%2C+1569.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-willem-janss-from-waterland-after-terrible-tortures-burned-alive-at-amsterdam-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-on-the-1%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-willem-janss-from-waterland-after-terrible-tortures-burned-alive-at-amsterdam-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-on-the-1%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)