Karel de Raet, and Grietgen his Wife, Hansken In't Schaeck, Willem de Snijder, in the Year 1568

On the third of May, 1568, some brothers were gathered at Tillegem, near Bruges, in Flanders, to hear the Word of God preached, when they were unexpectedly set upon by some who had come out to get maypoles, and five of them were arrested, namely, Karel de Raet, a shepherd, born at Wingen; Hansken in't Schaeck, called Hansken Koordedraeger, from the Schaeck at Kortijck; Willem de Snijder of Honschote; and two others who, since they did not valiantly hold to the truth, are not worthy to have their names recorded here. The wife of Karel de Raet, and the wife of Willem de Snijder, were not arrested with them, nor had Karel's wife yet united with the church, but she was ready for it. So it happened, when these men had been arrested, that Maerten Lem, a burgomaster of Bruges, went out about twelve o'clock at night with the watchmen, and first arrested Christijntgen, Willem Snijder's wife. Then, while a watchman was trying to turn Maerten Lem away from the house where Grietgen, Karel de Raet's wife, was to be looked for, and they were walking quickly along the fortress, between the Asses Gate and Jerusalem, Grietgen unexpectedly met them with two of her children, which made Maerten Lem say: "See, God gives this whore into our hands;" and he asked her: "Where are you going?" Greatly amazed, she replied: "To church." Then he said: "It is no time now to go to church. Where is your husband?" She answered: "You know it well." He asked whether the two children were baptized. She said: "No." "Do they have no name, then?" he asked. "Yes," she replied. "Well, how is this?" he said; "Do they have a name before they are baptized?" She replied: "Dogs and other animals are given names; how much more should children, who are created after the image of God? I was not aware that my lords of Bruges are still so blind." "If you want to talk this way," said Maerten Lem, "You will be burned." "I know it," she replied; "But then the crown of life is prepared for me." And so these two women were also taken to prison, where much trouble, pain and suffering were inflicted on them, as also on the three men mentioned, to draw them from the faith; but all in vain. So the men were sentenced first, to be burned at the Hillige, near Bruges, where they also boldly offered up their sacrifice; and a few days later the two women also, because they steadfastly held to God and His truth, were sentenced, and burned in the castle in Bruges. And they now wait together for the coming of Him who shall come to avenge all their sufferings.