Louwerens Janss Noodtdruft, of Delft, in the Year 1577

After manifold persecution, slaying, and burning of the true followers of Christ, there was also a pious brother by the name of Louwerens Janss, a shoemaker by trade, who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season with the unbelieving; hoping afterward to enjoy liberty in heaven with all the true children of God; indeed, rather to die here for a little while to his flesh and the pleasures of this world than afterward to have to pay for it with an eternal lamentation in the torment of hell. He was therefore arrested by the persecutors and enemies of the truth in the month of August, in the year 1576, at Antwerp, where he endured severe imprisonment and, through the grace of God, resisted much temptation. And since he could by no means be brought to apostatize, but was firmly built upon Christ, the lords and rulers of this world, at the instigation of priests and monks, condemned him to death. And so, in the month of January, in the year 1577, he was burned alive at that place, and testified to and confirmed the genuine faith of the truth with his death and blood; therefore he has obtained, through grace, for this broken, earthly house of his, a building of God, a house not made with hands, but one that will endure forever in heaven. Second Corinthians 5, verse 1.

And since this friend of Christ could obtain no writing materials, he wrote and made known to his beloved friends his affectionate mind upon two tin spoons, with a pin.

On the one spoon was the following: I wish all my brothers and sisters much grace from God our Father; and the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which passes all understanding, rule in all your hearts; and the love of God, which passes all knowledge, increase with you all, so that you may abound and be steadfast, and continue in the work of the Lord. O my dear friends, take good heed to yourselves, this I pray you, I, unworthy prisoner in the Lord. Second Corinthians 1, verse 2; Philippians 4, verse 7; First Corinthians 15, verse 58; Hebrews 10, verse 24.

On the other spoon was written: Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, my very dear and in God beloved sister in the Lord, Weyndelken, and her daughter M.; this I wish you from the depths of my heart before God, who searches the hearts and the inward parts, that you may walk before Him unharmed and unhindered, in His truth, to which He has called you; and always look to Christ and to all the righteous. Adieu, in this time, adieu.

LOUWERENS JANSS NOODTDRUFT, of Delft.