Christiaen Rijcen, in the Year 1588

This Christiaen Rijcen still lived in these latter days as a faithful witness, at Hontschoten, in Flanders, where he, as a true Christian, was imprisoned for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, in December of the year 1587. And after suffering much trial and temptation there, he was very cruelly tortured, and burned to ashes there, on the seventh day of April, 1588, under the bloody tyranny and reign of the Prince of Parma. And so he steadfastly gave over his corruptible body to death, for the truth of Christ, and now expects a new house in heaven, which God will prepare for him, so that it will endure forever. Second Corinthians 5, verse 1.

Of this friend of God a book has been published, containing fifteen letters, with some hymns, which this true witness wrote from prison to his wife and his friends, for comfort and encouragement; of which the following few are given here to the reader.