Another Confession of Reytse Aysess, Made before the Commissary

After I had been in prison nineteen weeks, I was brought before the commissary of the royal court, who first demanded an oath of me, that I should tell the truth. I said: "The Lord has forbidden us to swear in any way; so I do not want to take an oath." Then he said that I should answer his questions with yes and no. I said: "I do not want to do this, for you might ask me something that it would not be proper for me to tell; so I must first hear what you want to ask me." He then first asked me my age. I answered

"Twenty-four or five years." He wrote it down. He further asked where I was born, where I had last lived, and how many children I had. I said "One." Com. [n1128-1] "How old is it?" Reytse. "Half a year." Com. "Is it baptized?" Reytse. "No, not that I know." Com. [n1128-2] "What is the reason that it has not been done?" Reytse. "Because it is not commanded in the holy Scriptures." Com. "Are you baptized?" Reytse. "Yes, upon my faith, as Christ has commanded." Com. "Were you not baptized in your infancy?" Reytse. "Yes, but I do not recognize that as a scriptural baptism."

He wrote it all down. He asked me who it was that had baptized me, where it had taken place, and who and how many had been at my father's house. I said: "I do not want to tell you this; I hope you will not ask me about it. If you thirst so much for the blood and the life of men, you have me in your hands; do with me as you please, and by the help of the Lord I shall freely offer my neck for it; but I hope of your grace that you will not question me so severely about it." He said that they should indeed question me more severely yet; so you had better tell me willingly than unwillingly. I said: "The Lord my God will keep me, for this I trust His grace." And after he had written everything down, he told me to go.