Aeltgen Baten, and Maeyken Wouters, in the Year 1595

Aeltgen Baten was an aged woman, and Maeyken Wouters a young woman of about twenty-four years. Both were born at Sonhoven, in the lordship of Vogelsnack, which belongs under the territory of Luyck, and they lived there. Through the grace of God they came to the true knowledge of the holy Gospel, believed it, amended their lives according to its requirements, and had themselves baptized upon faith in Jesus Christ, according to His divine commandment and the practice of His dear apostles. But since this could not be tolerated, complaints were brought against them at Luyck, where the Court is held, and orders were given to bring them there as prisoners. This was done in the following manner. The lords of Luyck have certain beadles, called trappers, whom they send through the country whenever they want someone arrested. They sent fourteen of these trappers from Luyck to Sonhoven, to arrest these two women, or any others, and to bring them to Luyck. They first captured Aeltgen, and afterward Maeyken and her brother (who was still very young). These two had made themselves ready, and both of them intended, if their father should be taken, to go with him and not to forsake him; but since they did not catch the father, her brother also escaped the trappers.

So they began to take these two lambs to Luyck; but since on their way to Luyck they had to pass through Hasselt, a town about a league from Sonhoven, many of their acquaintances at Hasselt spoke with these two lambs, and it was greatly lamented that they had to go to Luyck, into prison, and much sympathy and concern was shown them. [n1207-1] Maeyken said to them: "If the Lord has so ordered it, I would rather go to Luyck [namely, for the testimony of Christ] than home." And so they passed on through the city, and went to Luyck, in all a distance of about eight leagues. When they got there, they were imprisoned for ten weeks in the official's tower. During this time they showed each other great love, which seems to have done much for their edification and encouragement; for the young sister would gladly have borne in her own body, if it had been possible to do so, all the hardships which her dear old sister suffered. They endured much vexation, being threatened, frightened, and also entreated, in order to turn them from the faith.

Once the bishop's chaplain came to the young sister with bland words, and brought a can of wine with him, hoping that he would overcome her. With the smoothest words he presented the matter to her; indeed, he got down on his knees, and with folded hands begged her to recant and to believe the Romish church. But Maeyken proved faithful, and repelled the devil's deceit, so that the tempter went away. On another occasion a man from her village, who knew her, came to Luyck. He had heard it reported that she would have to die, and his soul was set on fire, and the matter stirred his carnal sympathy, as he thought: "And must that young girl die?" So he thought to himself that he would talk with her, to see whether he might not move her. He therefore went to her in prison, and called Maeyken out alone, and said

"My dear Maeyken, oh that you would obey, and yield a point, to be released from these bonds. When you get out, you can live as before." Then she replied: "My dear friend (calling him by name), would you advise me to this, that I should forsake God and become a child of the devil?" The man said: "Then you will have to die." Then Maeyken said: "I would rather have this come to pass with us, than enjoy the light of day." When the man heard this, he became silent, so that he turned around with weeping eyes, and said nothing more to her. Both of them were tortured and hung up on Thursday night; but they remained silent and fainted away. Then they poured water over Maeyken, at which she cried aloud; but more than that they did not get from either of them. During the night they lay together quietly. On Friday night they sang with great joy. Having been imprisoned in this way for a long time, they were finally brought into the official's court, and condemned according to their spiritual law. When they heard their sentence, they thanked the Lord with a joyful heart, indeed, with a laughing mouth. They then handed these two persons over to the secular judge, who received them, and put them again in his prison, where they suffered great distress for a few days, because of the uncomfortable condition of the prison. However the Lord ordered it so that they took comfort and courage in the Lord, and Aeltgen's husband sent her money and blankets for her needs. She thought she had no further use for them, and so refused them altogether. She asked her dear sister Maeyken whether she would have them. Maeyken said: "I have as little need of it as you, my dear sister" ; for they trusted soon to live in all fullness and joy with the Lord. "Yes," said Aeltgen, "if the door stood open, I would not wish to go away." And since in all their sufferings they were so joyful in God, they thanked God in heaven in their hearts, and sang praises to Him in prison.

Afterward they wanted to sentence them by the secular law, which, it was said, was done by four judicial persons, or judges, namely, that these two persons should be drowned (for the Word of God), by being cast alive, bound, from the Meuse bridge. On that same Saturday two men from their locality came to them at Luyck, to ask them both whether they had any word yet to send. Coming thus unannounced, they found them in a chamber where the lords sat to sentence them, and the two were standing in their midst; and when Aeltgen saw her acquaintance she said to him: "Nephew, have you come to visit us once more? We trust to offer up our sacrifice within one hour; we thank you heartily for it, and I ask you to please tell my husband to bring up my children in the fear of God." Maeyken also said: "Do give my father and mother many farewells." This they spoke while standing among the lords, waiting for their sentence. As the men waited a little, one of the lords bowed before Maeyken, begging her to recant and to believe in the Romish church; and her life should be spared. Then Aeltgen said: "We want to die, as Christ's apostle did." Now when their last hour was approaching, both were brought out of prison. So, both of them being full of joy, they began to sing and to thank and praise God; but alas, the poor lambs could not long enjoy this; for what is granted to thieves and murderers, namely, to speak, was taken from them. They were led back to prison, where their mouths were gagged, and so, as dumb lambs, they were led to the slaughter and to death. When they arrived on the Meuse Bridge, many and various reports of this matter were going about among the common people. When they came to the appointed place, the executioner began to bind them, but they had to keep silent, until the executioner loosed the cloth that was before their mouths, and tied it over their eyes. Then Aeltgen first said: "O Lord, this is a beautiful city indeed; if only it would repent with Nineveh" ; and as she commended herself to God, the executioner at once cast her from the bridge down into the water, and she was instantly drowned.

The executioner then also freed Maeyken's mouth, so that she was heard to speak, saying to the executioner: "Grant me that in my greatest extremity I may pray to God and call upon Him." The executioner said: "Pray to our lords the magistrates, and believe with us in the Romish church; and you shall save your life." Maeyken said: "I have never wronged the magistrates; so I also do not need to worship them" ; but the executioner gave her a short answer, and giving her no time, cast her down from the bridge at once; she did not sink instantly as Aeltgen did, but with blooming cheeks she drifted on the water a long time, until, it is said, she had reached the lower side of the city.

So these two Christians ended their lives to the honor of God, on the 24th of July, 1595.