Extract from a Writing by Gerrit van Byler's Own Hand

First of all he states that they, more than twenty-five of them being assembled in prayer to God, on Easter Day, were surprised, arrested, and put into the Queen's prison, where they were held until the third day; that they had to give bail for a large sum of money, and so on, someone going security for it; and we, writes G. van Byler, kept our word.

(From here on we will follow G. van Byler's own words.)

We were then brought before her majesty's bishop, to confess our faith, which we did.

When we came before the bishop, there were assembled there: Mr. George, James King, John Wheelwright, two aldermen, and a French preacher. Again: we came before the lords and their servants; they put four questions to us, and then said: "Say yes or no."

1. Question. Whether Christ had not received His flesh and blood from the virgin Mary?

We replied: "That He is the Son of the living God."

2. Question. Whether infants must not be baptized?

We replied: "That we could not understand it so, since we had not found it in the holy Scriptures."

3. Question. Whether a Christian may administer the [criminal] office of the magistracy?

We replied: "That our conscience did not allow it, but that we recognized it as the servant of God, as we read."

4. Question. Whether a Christian, in case of necessity, may not swear?

We replied: "That our conscience likewise did not allow it, because Christ, in Matthew, had said

'Let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no.' "

Then we kept silent. The bishop said that our crimes in this were very great, so that we should not inherit the kingdom of God. O Lord, do not avenge it!

The bishop then said to us all, that they should take us back into the Mersey, where we had come from, and keep us confined there.

A young brother, who was questioned first and boldly declared the truth, was severely accused for it, and taken from us to Westminster, where he was confined by himself, which grieved us greatly.

While we were thus imprisoned, Mr. George came, and said that if we would hold to the church, he would release us, and free us from our bonds; to this end, he said, he had orders from the bishop. But we held valiantly to the truth of Jesus Christ; He is our Captain, and no other; indeed, in Him is all our trust.

My dear brothers and beloved sisters, let us persevere courageously, until we are taken away from here. The Lord will give us to drink of the new wine. O Lord, strengthen our faith! As we have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so let us go on, valiantly trusting in Him.

When we thought that the conflict was almost over, it was only the beginning of it. We were put in irons, and each of us confined separately, with fetters on our legs. This lasted a little more than three weeks.

In the meantime we had to appear before the lords again, when we were told that we should be burned, which was grievous for the flesh; but we called to God in our distress, that He would strengthen us, as He had strengthened Israel.

On the morning of the day before Whitsuntide we were coupled together two and two, and brought before the lords (which was the fourth time), and we remembered the word of the Lord

"When you are brought before lords and princes, do not fear what you are to speak, for it will be given you in that hour." So we trusted in the Lord.

When we had been brought there, the lords again put to us the four questions mentioned before, and urged us to sign them. But we said that we would hold to the word of the Lord.

We were then taken away and each confined separately, and fettered as before. The women and one young brother were taken to Newgate, from where they were brought on board a ship, and carried away; and the brother was tied to a cart and whipped out of the city.

We were then released from our fetters for about five days; but they were put on us again, and then we looked for the end.

After this, two Dutch preachers, sent by the bishop, came and gave a letter to the jailer.

Then, on the 2nd of June, we were bound again, led out, and brought before the lords, who again put to us the four questions mentioned before; and after this had been done, they sent us into Newgate prison, where the other friends had been confined.

Then we expected our end in a day or two, for which we greatly longed, for the imprisonment was severe; however, it was not yet the Lord's will.

When we had been confined there about eight days, one of our brothers was delivered from the flesh, and died a godly death, at which all of us were called to be present, to witness it.

In the meantime we were confined among many thieves and criminals, to whom the bishop, and a preacher as well, said that they should take care not to be seduced by us.

After many storms Mr. Godfrey and two others came, and we were confined in cages, so that we could not talk with our neighbors.

And like a thunderclap, death was announced to us from day to day, by hanging, burning, and other ways; however, the Lord strengthened us, praise be to His holy name. They also told me beforehand, that when I should be in the heat of the flames, I could not bow or beckon for pardon; so I should do it before, they said, for the less pain the better, so that I should not have to suffer much in death.

So we waited for death from day to day; we thought little of our lives, though it was grievous for the flesh, and comforted ourselves with the thought that once, in any case, we had to die.

My hardest conflict was that I had to leave my dear wife and all my little innocent children. After twelve days two of us were informed that they would have to die by fire on the third day; whereupon on Tuesday a stake was erected in Smithfield; but the execution did not take place.

On Wednesday many people were gathered, to see the death of our two friends; however, they dispersed again. But this was done for the sake of intimidation, to draw our friends and us away from the faith. But on Friday, two of our friends, namely, Hendrick Terwoort and Jan Pieterss, were taken from prison and led out to be offered up.

Jan Pieterss said as he was going out: "This way went all the pious prophets, and also Christ our Savior, which has been so from the beginning of days, from the time of Abel."

These two were put at a stake in Smithfield, and forced their way through, in the midst of the fire, thus becoming a sacrifice before the Lord, which they offered up to Him alive.

NOTICE. Here follows in this writing a hymn, with the remark that Jan Pieterss Wagemaker, who was burned at this time, composed it before his death, in prison. It treats of the sufferings of all the righteous, until Jesus Christ and His apostles, and many martyrs, and begins thus

Hoort Vriendekens al te samen,

Een lied heb ik gestelt, and so on.

And concludes with this stanza

Die dit lied heeft begonnen,

Hy was seer teer en krank:

Had hy den strijd gewonnen

Het ware wel sijnen dank.

Den strijd was in saysoene.

Als hy dit eerstmael sank;

Te Londen was 't te doene

Daer hy was in bedwank.

Then follows another hymn, which concludes thus:

Die dit lied heeft begonnen,

heyblijd was hy al in den geest, [n1141-1]

Uyt liefden was hy daer toe gedrongen,

Als hy lag in benouwen meest.

Tot God was alleen sijn verlangen,

Die hem kan sterken totters end,

Te Londen daer hy lag gevangen,

In Nieuwgeet seer wel bekent.

Again another stanza.

WY zijn, O Heer! nu in den strijd,

Och! wilt ons doch bewaren,

Than ons vyanden, nu ter tijd,

Die ons benouwen aen allen zijd',

O! Heer, ons doch bevrijd!

Op dat wy wel volherden.

O God gy zijt een Heere groot,

Sterkt ons altijd in onsen good.

After that, the following words were written by Gerrit van Byler

Hope of Believers: Though they condemn me here on this earth, I nevertheless firmly believe with the prophet David (Psalm 27, verse 13) that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; so I rejoice in the Lord, and am of good cheer and undismayed, assured that my Redeemer lives. Spes mea in Deo.* [n1141-2]

In Newgate, at London, in September, in the year 1575. Written by me.

GERRIT VAN BYLER.