Anthonis Ysbaerts, in the Year 1573

While the Duke of Alva so terribly persecuted and tyrannized over the believers, there was also arrested and put to death, for his faith and the practice of the truth, at Tielt in Flanders, one Anthonis Ysbaerts, who had been a servant of the High Bailiff of Ghent, and who therefore often attended the executions of the saints. There he did not always look with a sin-desiring, unconcerned, empty mind, nor with blinded eyes, upon the unconquerable steadfastness in the faith, and the joyful peace of mind, of the Christians, who in the midst of their innocent sufferings fearlessly confessed, proclaimed and magnified the name of God; but he was at last so stirred and troubled by it in his heart, that he gave up not only the service of his earthly lord, but also the worship of idols, and from then on set out to become a servant of God, even though he had many times seen what had happened to others on this account, [and knew] that he had to expect the same, as it also happened to him.

As soon as he had begun to hear the word of God, and to follow Christ, and had advanced so far in it that he was considered worthy to receive baptism upon his faith, and to be received as a fellow member of the church of Christ, he had to flee the country, and so went to Vriesland, where, not being trained in any trade, he could earn only a very uncertain living. In the meantime it happened that a brother who had also fled from Tielt (mentioned above) on account of his faith, and had come to live in Vriesland, and who had left much property behind, hired this Anthonis, and sent him to Tielt to settle his unfinished affairs, and to save his goods and bring them to him, as much as he conveniently could. When he had attended to all the things with which he had been charged, and was just about to return to Vriesland, the bailiff of Tielt came to him and asked him whether he did not belong to the same people as those who had sent him out; and when he did not dare deny it, the bailiff sent for his beadles and had him taken to prison, where he had to withstand no little vexation and torment. But when he steadfastly held in all things to the truth he had accepted, he was finally, according to the king's decree, sentenced to death, to be burned alive as a heretic.

When this sentence had been read to him, he asked permission to speak a word, and this being granted, he asked the lords whether they did not think that such a sentence was too cruel for him, who had not done anything wrong to anyone. This caused such a commotion among the judges that they held a consultation and decided that he should first be strangled, and then burned. He thanked them that they had shown him so much mercy.

There was also with him one Friar Pieter de Backer, who sought to talk with him a great deal, in order to make him fall away; but he refused most of what he said, finally saying: "Leave me alone; my heart is of good cheer, my departure is very near at hand, for the bell that is striking now will not strike another time before I hope to have offered up my sacrifice, and to be at home with my Redeemer, in whom all my hope and confidence rests."

He was therefore brought out to die in very poor clothing, for which he had exchanged his own clothes, which were better, giving the latter to a man who was imprisoned for his crime, and was shortly to be released.

When he came to the stake where he was to offer up his sacrifice, he knelt down and offered up an earnest prayer to God, and then willingly prepared himself for death. But when the executioner was to strangle him, he could not find his twisting stick; so the bailiff cut a piece with his sword from the torch which they had to light the fire, that it might be used for a twisting stick. Then, commending his spirit into the hands of God, he sweetly fell asleep in the Lord; and when he had been strangled, the fire was lighted to burn him. And just as this was taking place, there arose such a terrible storm that many people were frightened, and were of the opinion that God meant by it to show His displeasure at the tyranny inflicted upon His elect.