Susanneken and Kalleken Claes, in the Year 1573

In the year 1573, at Ghent, in Flanders, two sisters, young maidens named Susanneken and Kalleken Claes, or Draeyaerts, were also arrested for following Christ, the former about twenty-six years of age, and the other about twenty-four. While imprisoned in the Saucelet, the city prison, they had to endure many entreaties and afflictions from the enemies of the truth, and through all of it they held steadfastly to their only Shepherd, Lord, and the Author of their faith, to help them bear His bloody banner, His cross and reproach, and, as courageous heroines, to strive valiantly until death, which they had to taste for His name. For since they remained steadfast, and would in no way depart from the divine truth, nor from the true faith upon which they had received baptism according to Christ's ordinance, they were finally sentenced to death as heretics; and on the 4th of December of the aforementioned year, with balls tied into their mouths to prevent them from speaking or confessing with their mouths the cause of their innocent, fearless, voluntary and God-pleasing death and sacrifice, they were brought into the Friday market, and there publicly burned at the stake, going in this way, with burning lamps and the oil of love in their vessels, to meet their Forerunner and Bridegroom, who will let them in, as wise virgins, to His marriage, when the foolish shall knock and not be heard, and, with too late repentance and sorrow of heart, shall have to remain excluded. [n1118-1]