A Letter from Hendrick Verstralen to his Wife, Written in the Year 1571

The abundant great grace of God, which comes to us from the Father through Christ His only Son, and the immeasurable riches of the Holy Ghost, by which we are now kept for eternal life among this wicked and perverse generation — may this only and eternal God of all grace keep you, my dearest wife and sister in the Lord, my flesh, my bone, the dearest among all creatures on earth. For this I have confessed more than once before the lords: if the whole world were mine, I would give it, if I could keep my wife and children with a good conscience; but for the Lord's sake I must now, contrary to nature, forsake everything; the spirit must overcome the flesh. O my Janneken, my lamb, how hard it is for me to part from you and the children. Oh, how deep you are buried in my heart, which is now a great conflict for me. May the Lord help me to gain the victory, so that the crown of life may be prepared for me, with all the elect saints of God, who have forsaken everything for the Lord's sake. O my dear wife, my lamb, my love, I thank you from the depths of my soul for your comforting letter, which you sent me; and may the Lord grant His eternal life to all those who by counsel or deed lent their help in the matter. The letter removed a greater weight from my heart than all the riches on the face of the earth are worth. Oh, what a good thing it is to remember the prisoners. How welcome this Habakkuk was to me, who fed me, a poor prisoner, in my soul, here in the lion's den; for a little morsel that comes from outside strengthens me ten times more than what I have with me. History of the Dragon 33, and so on. [n1033-1]

O my dear wife and sister in the Lord, I ask you for the Lord's sake — I who am now bound for His sake — hold to the truth, as the church at Antwerp and Ghent stands. Keep with those who truly fear God, and the God of all comfort will be with you; indeed, God and His holy church will feed you and my young lambs, and of this I have no doubt. If you continue in the fear of the Lord, and cast all your care upon Him, though you are now poor — my sister and beloved wife, you will have much wealth, if you fear God and avoid sin, as I trust you will. Tobit 4, verse 21.

I ask you further, my dearest wife, take care as long as you live of my young lambs, my Susanneken, my Abrahamken, and my Isaaken, that they may be brought up in the fear of God. Oh, with what scalding tears I pray to my God to let them grow up in His fear, or to take them to Himself in their youth.

O my dearest love on earth, Janneken Verstralen, kiss all my children once for me, and tell my Susanken that it is her father's wish that she be obedient to her mother in the fear of God, and learn to be diligent in helping her dear mother to earn bread for her little brothers; and you, my Janneken, my love, remember me, your imprisoned husband, and bound for the eternal truth, and for the sake of the testimony of Jesus, in your prayers. This I ask of you and of all God-fearing brothers and sisters, to help us pray to God that we may gain the victory of a good fight, that God will now teach my fingers to war and my arm to bend the bow of steel, so that by faith I may break through a troop, and leap over a wall by my God (Psalm 18, verses 34 and 29); so that we may say with Paul: The fight is fought, the course is finished, the crown of life is laid up for us. Second Timothy 4, verse 8. Maeyken and I are determined to use such force in order to take the kingdom of God, that flesh and blood shall remain on the posts and stakes. We are not allowed to stay together; however, we have been together three times, though by strategy — the first time, when the disputer came from Ghent. Then all the lords came too, and I began to tell them with what calamity those would be punished who now stained their hands in the blood of the innocent. Then they cast down their eyes; but a flatterer began to speak, saying that I had most gravely accused all the lords. In short, I felt that he was the one who was to dispute with me; so in the end I pretended that I could not defend myself, and spoke pleasantly to the lords, and asked that they let Maeyken hear it; "for I see," I said, "that you are anxious to help me, and in this way you will have the trouble only once; if you help one you help them both." They therefore consented to it; then we began to defend ourselves, and it lasted until far into the afternoon. After dinner we met again, but Maeyken was not allowed to come to me. We then began to have some very sharp words; so they changed their tactics, and began to speak pleasantly, asking whether I dared not do as Paul did and, contrary to my views, circumcise Timothy and shave my head; indeed, he said secretly, whether I dared not, like Judith, cut off Holofernes' head, though it were not the truth, that I should do all that I promised; whether it were not the same God, and whether one might not now lie as well as then, for the sake of some good end; for it is written, he said

"If it is possible, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12, verse 18. I asked for time to consider whether I could do it with truth and a good conscience. We then parted, and they said they desired nothing else. They came again another time, and asked what conclusion I had come to; and I constantly sought to be with Maeyken, but it could not well be. I then said: "Let us come together; I hope always to do what is possible." Then Maeyken came to me, and I put the matter to her as they had put it to me, at which she said: "How should this be? Should the dog return to his own vomit?" Second Peter 2, verse 22. I then told them that they should let me speak with Maeyken alone, and they permitted it. I then told Maeyken that no living man should persuade me of this, that the priests' matters are right, "they know it well," I said, "but they seek to be rid of us; but we will live and die together." So we said that we would consider the matter, with which they were satisfied.

At another time they took Maeyken alone, but had me come too. When I came and was there, I saw that they showed us great friendship, and promised much — to set us into the street as free as we had ever been, for which they would pledge their souls; so that I finally became frightened, fearing that I might be led astray by their fair speeches. They also had more hope of winning me than Maeyken; so I fell upon my knees and begged them not to trouble themselves with us any more; for I have asked my God with many tears, day and night, that He would keep me in His truth; and so I would live or die with the Lord. Then Maeyken leaped up for joy, for she had thought that I had given it up, since I had come in with a sad face. "Now I am glad," she said, "for I thought that I would have to die alone." But when I saw that Maeyken had such thoughts about me, I fell upon my knees and said: "I am very sorry for this." So we shook hands, and kissed each other, and rejoiced greatly together, but our adversaries were greatly grieved. I would have written these things more neatly, but I cannot make these writing materials do good service.

Furthermore, my dearest wife, my lamb, my love, I let you know that I am little burdened in my conscience — the Lord be praised forever for it; but all my sadness is caused by the bitterness of our parting. But, my dear lamb, this I would like to ask of you, because you have such a good nature that you could well live without a husband: that from now on you stay only with my children; for often great sorrow arises from marrying again. And in whatever way I have ever grieved you through my weakness, I ask your forgiveness, for the sake of the Lord's deep wounds and innocent death. Greet warmly all the God-fearing, and the babes that are nourished at the breasts of Zion, in my name, with the peace of the Lord. Serres, you broken bonehead, and J. van G., help to care for my poor widow and little orphans, knowing that in this you will not serve man, but God. I greet H. C. M., and A., and L., and C. warmly. Oh, how gladly I would write neatly, if I had good materials. Adieu, my flesh and blood; kiss Susanneken for me. [n1033-2] O adieu for me, adieu, adieu, my dear wife. Pray our dear Lord for me for a blessed end.