Lenaert Plovier, Jenneken and Maeyken of Aix La Chapelle, in the Year 1560

There was a pious man named Lenaert Plovier, about thirty-six years old, who was a native and resident of Meenen, in Flanders, and a woolen draper by trade. Since he was well spoken of by everyone, he was elected appraiser of woolen cloths.

So this Lenaert Plovier, through the grace of God, came to the knowledge of the truth about the year 1555. Having been re-elected, because he was competent, to continue as appraiser, he refused to take the oath; but his fellow drapers were satisfied with him nevertheless, saying,

"Just come with us to the city hall, and show yourself." For they thought that the bailiff would pay no attention to the matter. But the bailiff could not endure his views, and from that time on Plovier had to suffer much persecution, and live in hiding. Afterward, about the year 1558, he fled with his wife and children to Antwerp, where they made their living by dealing in silk. But since a great persecution was raging there too, he resolved to take up his residence in Friesland. He sent his wife and their four children on ahead, after a stay of a little over a year at Antwerp, intending to follow them as soon as he had finished his business. He then traveled with his merchandise to the cold Ypres fair, and from there he returned to Antwerp, where, stopping a while, he learned that the margrave was about to go out to arrest those who would not live according to their institutions. Lenaert left the city in order to warn some of his fellow believers by night. He met the margrave and his troop, who spoke to him and saw from his answers that he was not like them, and so asked him whether he did not have a testament with him. He replied,

"Yes." Then they arrested him, and so he was taken to Antwerp and imprisoned there. When his parents heard of this, and also his father-in-law, who lived at Meenen and was a prominent man, they came to Antwerp in haste, with Lenaert's mother. The father thought to obtain his release from prison by shrewdness, or by bribing the margrave, claiming that his son-in-law was not a resident of Antwerp, but had only come there to transact his business. The margrave gave them fair words, saying to the mother, who had spent several nights in prison with her son,

"Go home. Your son will soon be released from prison." So they left, supposing that the promise given them would be kept. When the parents had gone away, Lenaert was examined and questioned about his faith, and whether he was baptized, which he freely confessed, declaring his determination to hold to the truth he had accepted, without regard for his wife and his four children, whom he nevertheless dearly loved, as appears from six letters he wrote to them from prison. Two of these letters are given here.

After a short imprisonment, this pious brother Lenaert, with two young women named Janneken and Maeyken of Aix la Chapelle, was sentenced to death, to be drowned, which was done in the following manner: they were put into bags, and thrust into wine casks, and so drowned in prison by night, about two weeks before Easter, in the year 1560 (reckoning the beginning of the year from New Year's Day). Some of his fellow believers, having learned that the pious Lenaert Plovier and Janneken and Maeyken of Aix la Chapelle were to offer up their sacrifice in the night, came to listen at the door of the prison. Among them were Joost Nose and Kestine van Damme, who gave a good testimony concerning it. They both died at Franeker, in Friesland. So the three pious witnesses of Jesus Christ named above were tried as gold in the fire, and since they were found upright, they shall receive the eternal crown of honor and joy, with all the saints of God. Amen. This was written by the son of the Lenaert named above, and testified to be true.