Joriaen Simons in Bonds

Our most beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, and all who desire to fear and follow the Lord with all their heart, we, the prisoners in the Lord, wish you a valiant and steadfast mind, and perseverance in the truth to the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Greatly beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, let it be known to your love, that through the grace of the Lord we all strive for the best, seeking it with the whole heart, so that we want to offer ourselves up into the hands of the Lord, whether it brings us life or death. We also seek with the whole heart that the Lord will magnify His glorious name through us, and we keep before our eyes the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus. We know that the servant is not greater than his lord. It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him. All the pious witnesses of Christ looked to this, and to His great promises, which we have in the Old Testament, and which were given to the pious fathers, who hoped for the grace that was to come, and who therefore fought valiantly for the law of God; and they would have no dealings with the surrounding nations, and therefore willingly surrendered their lives, because they would not worship or honor their molten or carved images; just as the pious Eleazar did, who would not eat swine's flesh, contrary to the law. Second Maccabees 6, verse 18. By the grace of the Lord we hope to take His wholesome words for our pattern, namely, that it is best to hold fast to the Lord; for even if through hypocrisy (from which God preserve us) we should save our lives, we would still not escape the Almighty hand of God, neither alive nor dead. Therefore we will surrender ourselves entirely into the hands of the Lord, as the pious Maccabean mother and her seven sons did (Second Maccabees 7, verse 1); and as all the pious witnesses of Christ did, who even rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. Acts 5, verse 41. This, beloved brothers, is our mind in the Lord, and nothing else. We trust, by the grace of the Lord, to be an example of piety and steadfastness to the weak babes who still feed on milk.

This was written by me on Monday, after I had been before the lords twice, and had been questioned whether I would hold to my confession.

Our greatly beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, and all who want to fear and follow the Lord with the whole heart, we, the prisoners in the Lord, wish you that the gracious heavenly Father will keep you from all harm within and without, through His dear, beloved Son Christ Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Dearly beloved brothers in the Lord, do not lose heart, though you now have to wander away from friends and relatives, house and home, not knowing where you will go, since the heat of the sun now begins everywhere to scorch the seed that has sprung up. Matthew 13, verse 6. Brothers, do not be cast down; let the seed in you get and keep moisture; sit under the shadow of the Scriptures, and they will be a glorious protection to you. We know that we must enter into the kingdom of heaven through much tribulation. When the head suffers, all the members suffer with it; so if we want to be members of Christ, we must also share in the sufferings of the Head; and if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him.

Therefore, dear brothers, if the Lord lets you live a while longer among this wicked generation, pass the time of your stay here in fear; stand out as lights in this evil, wicked world, and let your faith show itself in works, or else it is dead. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the Captain and Finisher of the faith; He is the only cornerstone in Zion, and no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Hold fast what you have, so that no one takes your crown. We commend you to the Lord; may He guide you into all truth.

I, Joriaen Simons, your dear brother, and my dear fellow prisoners, wish you every good thing, and we seek the best with all our heart.

Since we have obtained, through the secretary of the city of Haarlem, the sentence of death passed upon the aforementioned friends Joriaen Simons and Clement Dirks, we think it good to present it here, so that everyone may be fully assured with regard to the foregoing account. It reads (except the title) as follows:

Sentence of death of Joriaen Simons of Hallmen,

and Clement Dirks of Haarlem

Whereas Joriaen Simons, of Hallmen, in Friesland, and Clement Dirks, of Haarlem, both weavers, and now prisoners, have confessed, without torture and iron bonds, that they have been rebaptized, and that they hold most pernicious views with regard to the worthy, holy sacraments of the altar and confession, and to the circumstances and ceremonies of the holy church, and have also undertaken, the said Joriaen to sell and distribute various false books, and Clement to read and teach them; and since both continue stubborn, obstinate and hardened in the said errors and pernicious views, therefore the lords of the court, having heard the address and conclusion made by Pieter van Zouteland, bailiff of this city, against and concerning these persons, in accordance with the decrees and edicts of his Royal Majesty, last confirmed by his Royal Majesty, our gracious lord, have condemned the said Joriaen Simons of Hallmen, and Clement Dirks, as rebaptized heretics and disturbers of the common peace and of the Christian religion, and hereby sentence them each to be placed at a stake and executed with fire, in accordance with the aforesaid decrees and edicts, and declare the entire property of the said Joriaen, and the property of the said Clement Dirks to the sum of sixty pounds, and no more, if it exceeds that sum, confiscated and forfeited, according to the privilege of this city, for the benefit of his Royal Majesty. Thus resolved, the 26th of April, in the year 1557, by Joost van Hitgem and Dirk van Berkerve, Burgomasters, Wilm Harmans Ramp, Jan Koninks, Jan Matthijss, Jan Raet, and Adriaen Willems, judges, and pronounced in the court the same day in the presence of the bailiff and the aforementioned judges.

Extracted from the first book of criminal records, beginning the 29th of November, 1539, and ending the 27th of October, 1582, in the keeping of the secretary of the city of Haarlem, with which book this copy is found to agree.

By me, the undersigned secretary of the said city, the 10th of July, in the year 1659.

Voll.