Five Pious Christians, Hans van Munstdorp and Janneken Munstdorp, His Wife

The awful murderer's den of the city of Antwerp, though full of stakes, slain bodies, and the ashes of the saints, was at this time not yet satisfied with the many massacres that were carried out for the sake of the true faith upon the innocent sheep of Christ. This appeared also in the case of five pious Christians, namely, Hans van Munstdorp and Janneken Munstdorp his wife, together with Mariken, Lijsken and Maeyken. About the year 1573, while they were gathered to hear the Word of God, these were arrested together and confined in the prison at Antwerp.

But when they could in no way be turned from the steadfastness of their faith, even though many terrible threats, disputations with worldly, learned men, and other means were used against them, it was determined to put them all to death, and this not in an easy or short way, but by fire, until the life in them should be extinguished.

This was first carried out on Hans van Munstdorp, who, about the month of September of that same year, was taken out of the fold, away from the other four, as a sheep for the slaughter, and, according to the sentence passed, was put to death with a huge fire. This severe and grievous death he steadfastly endured, with a heart full of good cheer.

The reason the other four persons were not put to death with him was chiefly that his wife Janneken Munstdorp was very far advanced in pregnancy, and was soon to give birth, which took place shortly after her dear husband was burned. She gave birth to a little daughter, whom she, since she was now also soon to die, named after her own name, Janneken. She made great haste to get the child (before the priests should lay hands on it) to the friends, to whom she heartily commended it, and she also wrote a testament full of excellent instructions to this little daughter, when she was about a month old, which testament the friends preserved for her.

When the time of her offering up was at hand, she was sentenced on the 6th of October to follow her husband by a like death. The other three women, namely, Mariken, Lijsken, and Maeyken, received the same message, and for it they joyfully and willingly prepared themselves, longing for the hour of their redemption.

This sentence was carried out on them at the time and hour appointed, when they offered up to the Lord a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, for which they shall hereafter be exempt from eternal fire, and permitted to enter into the blessed enjoyment in the paradise of God. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7, verses 16 and 17.

With regard to these sacrificed friends, see a hymn in the Rotterdam Hymnal, beginning

Och vrienden al to samen, hoort, Hoe wy op Bamis dagh waren verstoort, and so on. [n1113-1]

NOTE. It appears to us from all the circumstances that one of these women, the one called Maeyken, bore the surname Wens, and that she is the same martyress who has been noticed previously, as we have also stated in that place.