Willem the Cabinetmaker, Beheaded in Cleves, in the Year 1551

(Copied from an old Writing*) [n732-1]

Willem the cabinetmaker lived in Weesz, a village belonging to the country of Cleves. He was a very peaceable and pious man, who because of the Christian faith had to leave his native country. When he would not conform to the world, he was brought as a prisoner from Weesz to Cleves, and after about a year in prison there he was finally beheaded. He wrote several letters from prison.

When Willem the cabinetmaker was to be condemned by the judges at Cleves, Claes Meselaer, one of them, would not sit in court to condemn him, but pretended to be sick and went to bed. The Burgomaster therefore came to his bedside with the six judges, to get his consent to the sentence. He said he did not want to condemn so pious a man. At this the Burgomaster said: "By this you will incur the great displeasure of our gracious Prince and lord." Claes replied: "I would rather incur the displeasure of Duke William than of the Most High." "Then I will take it upon myself," said the Burgomaster, who was afterward visited by the avenging hand of the Lord, so that he was tormented by lice, and lost his speech for a time, and so died in great misery. But Claes Meselaer resigned his office of judge, and died a brother in the church. Besides him, another brother, named Windel Rauens, was put to death at Cleves. Like the one mentioned before, he exchanged his life for death, after he had commended his soul into the hands of God.