Joos Jans Put to Death, in the Year 1563

The same year a brother named Joos Jans was arrested at Somerdijck for living according to the truth, and was immediately taken to Zierickzee, where he suffered much examination and hardship, but would nevertheless in no way let himself be moved or turned away from the Word of God and the love of Christ, so that he was finally sentenced to death and beheaded, thus valiantly testifying with his blood to the truth.

NOTE. The repeatedly mentioned decree of Emperor Charles the Fifth, enacted in the year 1550, and confirmed by Philip the Second, King of Spain, in the year 1556 (for which year we have shown the same in detail), as also in the year 1560, was at this time, namely in the year 1564, renewed and established the third time, for the annihilation and destruction of the innocent and defenseless Christian believers, as may be seen in the large book of decrees of Ghent, and cited by William the First, Prince of Orange, in his defense against his adversaries, edition 1599, page 165, and so on.

After this followed no small persecution, as may be seen from the history of the following martyrs.