Joris Wippe, Joosten's Son, in the Year 1558

Joris Wippe, while he still lived in the darkness of popery, was a burgomaster at Meenen in Flanders, his native place; but having afterward come to the knowledge of the Gospel, he had to flee the country, and went to live at Dortrecht, in Holland, where he set himself up as a cloth dyer. When he had lived there for a while, and was becoming known, he was summoned, at the instigation of the enemies of the truth, to appear before the lords in the large church. Somewhat alarmed by this, Joris consulted with several drapers, for whom he did his dyeing, and who were men of influence, as to what he should do. They, having full confidence in the magistracy, thought it best that he should appear before them, and hear what they had to say to him.

When he came there, and the lords saw him, they were filled with dismay, and would have preferred that he had taken their summons as a warning and secretly made his escape, since they did not thirst much for innocent blood; but as he had appeared, the bailiff, when Joris was about to leave the church, seized him as one who, by the imperial decree, had forfeited life and goods. This happened on the 28th of April, 1558.

After his arrest, the lords tried every means to save him from death; he was sent to Gravenhage (that is, to the court of Holland), and examined there; but since he was a resident of Dordrecht, and had been arrested there, he was sent back there, and in the end put to death there.

He left behind him a good testimony as to his generosity to the poor; for when he was sentenced to death, the executioner lamented with tears in his eyes that he had to put to death a man who had so often fed his wife and children, and that he would rather give up his office than put to death this man, who had done so much good to him and others, and had never harmed anyone. So he was finally drowned, at night, in a wine cask filled with water, by one of the thief catchers, who, at the command of the lords, performed the executioner's office on him, pushing him backward into the water. Thus he offered up his life to the Lord, on the first of October, being forty-one years old. The next day he was hung by his feet on the gallows, at the place of execution, as an object of mockery to the people, being thus, like his Master, numbered among the criminals. The day after, several criminals were scourged and banished; whereupon the executioner, after he had carried out this punishment, still lamenting the death of Joris Wippe, said: "They have crucified Christ, and released Barabbas."

He wrote several letters in prison, three of which have come into our hands. He doubtless would have written more; but such close watch was kept that he should have no ink, so that he wrote his last letter (to his children) with mulberry juice.

NOTE. Since we, after long search in the archives of this city, found the death sentence of this friend of God, Joris Wippe, and copied it ourselves from the criminal records of this city, we think it well to add it here, so that the truth of the account given above concerning the death of this man may appear the more clearly and beyond contradiction.

Sentence of death of Joris Wippe, given and pronounced in the chamber (of justice), the 4th of August, 1558

Whereas Joris Wippe, Joosten's son, born at Meenen, in Flanders, has dared to have himself rebaptized, and has held* harmful views concerning baptism, according to testimony and truth, and all the evidence which the judges and the council have seen and heard with regard to it, and according to his own confession, therefore he shall, to the honor of God,** and the edification of the lords and the city,*** be drowned in a cask, and his body then be brought to the place of execution, and there be hung on the gallows, and his property shall be confiscated, and placed in the lord's treasury.

Extracted from the book of criminal records of the city of Dortrecht, begun on the last of October, 1554, and ended on the 16th of June, 1573

This is the first death sentence publicly pronounced upon anyone with regard to matters of faith which we found in this book. Whether it was pronounced in the chamber of justice, in the presence of the lords alone, or publicly proclaimed in court, before all the people, is not stated; nor is it of much importance to know. This much is certain, that his death followed from it.

But since, according to the testimony of old writers, the executioner was not willing to put this man to death, and the lords of justice themselves were not a little troubled in this matter, though they had allowed themselves to be persuaded by the priests and monks, the carrying out of the sentence pronounced was put off for over seven weeks, namely, from the 4th of August until the first of October, in the year 1558.

The following night, having commended his soul into the hands of God, he was drowned in a wine cask, by one of the thief catchers, as related above, in the Vuylgate at Dortrecht, where he was imprisoned.

Further Observation. According to John van Beverwijck's account of the government of the city of Dortrecht, the following persons sat in court when the death sentence was passed upon this pious man

Adriaen van Blyenberg Adriaens (who also sat in court when sentence was passed upon Digna Pieters), bailiff of Dortrecht; together with nine judges: Mr. T. Schoock Sir Pieters; Cornelis Krooswijck Jans; Frans Anthoniss; Mr. Aert van der Lede Sir Staess; Willem Boucquet Blasiuss; Adriaen van Nispen Gerrits; Frans Adriaens; Heyman van Bleyenbergh Adriaens; Cornelis van Beveren Claess. [n804-1]

But whether they all unanimously passed this sentence is not stated; however, it appears that the majority agreed to it, which cannot have taken place without grief and pangs of conscience on their part, since only a short time before they had sought to get rid of the doomed man, and for this purpose had sent him to the Hague, to the court of Holland, that he might be judged there; but when he returned they sentenced him to death — certainly a lamentable matter on their part; but on the part of the martyr a matter of rejoicing, since death was for him the entrance to an eternal and blessed life.

The first letter of Joris Wippe, written to his wife, when he was sent from Dortrecht to the Hague

The eternal joy and gladness which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, nor has entered into the heart of man, this same joy and gladness I wish you, my dearest wife and sister, whom I love in God, for a heartfelt greeting. Amen.

My most beloved wife and sister in the Lord, I wish you the joy of the Holy Ghost in your heart, for a heartfelt greeting in God our Savior and Lord; which joy of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law; and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5, verses 22 to 24.

Therefore, my dear wife in the Lord, take heed to yourself, that you abound with this precious Spirit; for of that with which one is filled, He will bring forth. Do not regard the joy and pleasure of this world; "for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6, verses 7 and 8. O dear sister in the Lord, let us "not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint. As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6, verse 9. Therefore, pray always with all prayer, watching and supplication in the Spirit, in all your requests to the Lord (Ephesians 6, verse 18), and let your modesty and obedience, and your love to God, be an example and pattern to all our dear obedient children, whom the holy Lord has given us, to the praise and glory of His Father. And be diligent in teaching and admonishing them; and chastise them, lest the Lord require them at your hands. Do your very best, so that I may see you all again at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14, verse 14. Be well content, and always fix your heart and mind upon the living God; for He will not forsake the widow and the fatherless; but His eyes behold the afflicted widows and fatherless, and His ear is open to their prayer. Therefore, be patient, and commit all your concerns to the Lord; He will be a kind Protector to you. If you remain faithful to Him, He will be faithful to you; He will not be lacking on His part.

I further let you know that my mind and heart are still fixed upon the living God, and I trust by His great mercy not to separate from Him, and I wait daily for my redemption. I thought that your sister had come just in time to witness my offering. I knew nothing to the contrary for a time; but my hour had not yet come — the Lord knows how to reserve His own for the proper time. O dear wife, pray the Lord for me as long as I am in this poor, weak flesh. I trust to remember you also in my prayers, and I thank you most affectionately in the Lord for sending me so kind an exhortation, which is food for the soul; I thank you also for the temporal things.

With this I commend you to Almighty God, and to the Word of His grace. Amen. Greet all the brothers and sisters much in the Lord.

Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and brother in the Lord, imprisoned at the Hague, in Holland, for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The second letter of Joris Wippe, written to his wife, when he, through those of Dordrecht, lay imprisoned at the Hague

Everlasting joy, grace and peace from God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and the joy of the Holy Ghost in your heart and conscience, be with you, my most beloved wife and sister in the Lord. I wish it to you as an affectionate greeting in the Lord, and to all our dear children, whom God has given us; to Him be praise forever and ever. Amen.

My most dearly beloved wife and sister in the Lord, I greet you with a loving heart in the Lord with the greeting of Christ, and also all my dear obedient children, whom the holy Lord has given us to the praise and glory of His Father. My most beloved wife in the Lord, I also tell you with joy that my mind, heart and soul are still fixed upon the living God and Father, through Jesus Christ His dear, beloved Son, our Savior; and I trust, through His fatherly love, which He shows to me, a poor, unprofitable servant, through His great mercy, not to separate from Him and His holy Word; for His Word is truth, and His commandment, life everlasting. He went before us with much misery and tribulation; we must follow in His footsteps, since the servant is not above his Lord. For He has so kindly warned us with regard to this, saying: "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have excommunicated me, they will also excommunicate you; and all these things will they do to you, because they have known neither me nor my Father." John 15, verses 20 and 21.

Therefore, my dear wife, whom I love in God, be well content, and fix your whole heart and hope upon the living God; He will not leave you an afflicted widow, with all your fatherless children; for His eyes are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry, and He will defend the cause of the widow and the fatherless. Psalm 34, verse 15.

Therefore, my dearly beloved wife, take the Almighty God for your Protector, and plant a valiant spirit in your heart, like the Maccabean mother with her seven sons. Second Maccabees 7. Pray the holy Lord for wisdom and understanding, and in all your concerns pray to God with supplication in the Spirit, that you may bring up all our olive plants (Psalm 128, verse 3) to His honor and the magnifying of His holy name, so that they may not be required at your hands. So far you have done your best in admonishing and chastising; keep them so with the Lord's help. Always submit yourself to the elders of the church; for they watch for your souls [as they that must give account], that they may do it with joy. Hebrews 13, verse 17. And if you need counsel or help in any matter, consult with the elders, as we have done until now. Use hospitality, and do not forget to communicate. First Peter 4, verse 9; Hebrews 13, verse 16. Think often of the poor, afflicted widow (Matthew 12, verses 42 and 43), who threw only two mites into the treasury; Truly, said Christ, she has cast in more than they all; that you may be found a true widow before the Lord, who has washed the saints' feet, relieved the afflicted, brought up children in the fear of God, and diligently followed every good work. [n804-5] First Timothy 5, verse 10. Pray the Lord diligently to rule you with His divine Spirit, since He is the true Comforter of all the children of God; that you may live your widowhood to His praise and honor, as long as it is His pleasure. I sincerely thank you people much for the love you have shown me in the kind exhortation you have sent me. I have also very earnestly prayed the Lord for you, and hope to do so as long as I shall be in this temporal life. Remember me also in your prayers, until I have put off this mortal clothing. Second Esdras 2, verse 45.

With this I commend you people to Almighty God, and to the Word of His grace, and take leave forever, until the resurrection of the just. Then, I trust, we shall meet in one fold. Then shall we hear the sweet voice of our Bridegroom: "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25, verse 34. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection; on such the second death has no power. But we shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years; for Christ is the resurrection and the life, and we must be partakers of Him, if we are to hear that voice. Revelation 20, verse 6; Romans 8, verse 11.

Greet the friends much for me in the Lord, especially those of Meenen, and Claes Moykaert and Janneken his wife; and greet Victor Martens — I saw him at Dordrecht, when I lay in the den of lions — and greet all that fear the Lord, and exhort them to diligence, that we may all meet together in the new Jerusalem. The God of peace be with you. Philippians 4, verse 9. Greet your sister much and all that are with her.

Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and brother in the Lord, in bonds at the Hague, in Holland.