Jan van Ackeren, in the Year 1573

After manifold persecution, murdering and burning of the Christians, there also fell into the hands of the tyrants, in the city of Antwerp, a valiant hero and soldier of Jesus Christ named Jan van Ackeren, born near Ypres. The only cause of his arrest was that he, according to the counsel of God, had separated from the wicked world and all her false worship that fights against the Word of God, and had yielded his body and spirit under the banner and obedience of Christ. And since the light does not join and mingle with darkness, but is hated and persecuted by it, the rulers of darkness examined and tried this sheep of Christ with harsh imprisonment and many painful tortures. And since he could by no means be brought to fall away, because he was founded upon the Rock, he was put to death by fire in that same place, suffering it with great steadfastness. And so he testified and confirmed the belief of the truth with his death and blood, and trod the wine press of suffering with Christ. Therefore he was not rejected as a bastard, but much rather, through grace, acknowledged and received as an acceptable son by Christ, into his eternal inheritance, where he, with all God's chosen, will live and reign forever and ever.

This friend of Christ sent several letters from his prison, but they did not reach our hands.