The Second Letter of Lauwerens van der Leyen

Grace and peace be multiplied to you, my most beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord. Know that I was examined, and that the margrave wanted to learn much from me. I said I wanted to tell him all that concerned my faith. He said

"You must tell me everything." I said: "What do you wish to know?" He asked me: "What do you think of the baptism you received in your infancy?" I said: "Nothing at all." He then wanted to know where it is written that infants should not be baptized. I said: "Mark 16, verse 16; Matthew 28, verse 19." Much angered at me, he asked me: "What do you think of the seven sacraments?" I replied: "I have never read anything about it." He repeated this question two or three times. I said: "I have never read about it; but I believe that Christ is sitting on the right hand of His Father, where I hope to be with Him, when the time is fulfilled."

He then asked me about auricular confession. I said: "I acknowledge a confession; but I think nothing of auricular confession; but I confess daily before my heavenly Father." This enraged the margrave, and he said that he would have me put to the stake, or thrown into the water. I told him to do with me as he pleased, since my flesh was at his disposal. He then told me that he would send other learned men. I replied that I already had the faith I wanted to believe. He said: "You must listen to them." I answered

"Even if you cut me limb from limb, I trust I will not deny the Lord my God." Then the margrave and his judges were very angry with me; for one of them said that he would put me on a galley; but I replied: "Do with me as you please." Then the margrave said: "I will not be so lenient with him; but we will have him put to the stake." I said: "I remind you of my sentence;" and I told him how, when I was arrested the last time, I had been forbidden, on pain of beheading or the stake, to sing any hymns, and that I should take care not to be one of such people. "But" [I said] "I do not say this because I am therefore now the bolder; for even if I had never been forbidden it before, I would not want to deny my Lord and God."

The margrave then asked me: "Does your mother also belong to them?" I replied: "I wish she did." And I said: "When I used to gamble and get drunk, and to follow the world, I was left alone; but now that I truly confess the name of God, I am persecuted; but it is as the prophet Isaiah says: 'Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.'" Isaiah 59, verses 14 and 15.

One of the judges then said to me: "Have you also stolen?" I asked him two or three times

"Did you ever hear that I did?" but he made no reply. Then they began to speak very smoothly to me, and said: "If you will renounce all that you have said here, we will tear this paper to pieces, and show you mercy." And the margrave said

"You certainly know how your sister fared on this account, whom I had thrown into the Scheldt." But I replied that she had died for the truth; and as for myself: "I do not want to deny my Lord and God, who created and made me; I will rather let you do with me whatever you please." Then the margrave said: "Do you think we cannot read too? We, too, read the Scriptures daily; but these cobblers and tailors want to be wiser than we are. I am very glad that you have fallen into my hands; for no doubt God the Lord sent you into that house, so that I might punish you, and that others should take an example from you." And he called me many ugly names, and said

"You have often eaten and drunk in my house; I am sorry I did not tie up your throat." And he asked me: "If you were not a prisoner, would you have yourself rebaptized?" I said: "If you will release me tomorrow, I will make every effort to have myself baptized: for this is fitting for believers."

He then asked me: "Will you confess nothing else?" and he questioned me about princes and lords, and the Pope of Rome. I said: "I hold God Almighty to be my Supreme Creator, and my King." Then the margrave said: "I have at home a little book, covered with chamois." I said: "My lord, that book belonged to me, and if you will read it, you will find in it what our faith is." He replied: "They were first published by the Pope of Rome," I said: "I do not regard them that way; but it is the Testament, left to us by God as a memorial." He was enraged at me, and said: "I wish I had never seen you;" and he said angrily: "Go away; for I and these lords, the judges, came to instruct you; but we will send you other learned men." I thanked him very much for the trouble they had taken.

My dear friends, I did not fear them, no matter how they threatened me. Luke and Matthew say: "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it; but he who loses it for my name's sake will find it." Luke 17, verse 33; Matthew 10, verse 39. They thought they were afflicting me greatly; but I was not afraid of them at all. I hope soon to be released from this flesh. My dear friends, do not fear those who kill the body, but fear Him who created and made you, and has power to cast you into the eternal fire of hell. Luke 12, verse 5.

With this I commend you to the Lord; and may the mighty hand of God guide and keep you, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. They also asked me whether I would be saved, since I had not received baptism. I replied: "Yes, for I trust that the Lord will have respect to my willingness, since He had respect to Abraham's willingness." Genesis 22, verse 12. Brothers and sisters, pray for me, that with the help of God I may remain steadfast to the end. I trust that you regard me as your brother, though I have not reached perfection.* [n831-1]

Written by me, Lauwerens van der Leyen, July the 10th, 1559, at Antwerp.