Maerten Pieters and Grietgen Jans, in the Year 1569

In the year 1569, on the 25th of June, there was put to death for the testimony of the truth, in Briel, reckoned to Holland, on the Maese, Maerten Pieters of Maesland, a village situated near Delft in Holland, and with him Grietgen Jans, wife of Adriaen Heynsen, a weaver of Swartewael. Maerten Pieters was beheaded with the sword, and Grietgen Jans was burned at the stake, in the town. Then their dead bodies were taken down and carried out of the town, to the place of execution called the Nieuwe Noordt. Here Maerten Pieters was laid upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake. And Grietgen Jans was tied to a stake again, and so given as food to the birds of the heavens. Psalm 79, verse 2. And all this they suffered for the testimony of the truth. They were in no way charged with any evil works, but accused simply because they had united with those called Mennists, and had, according to the doctrine of Christ, been baptized upon their faith, seeking in this way to please their Creator according to all their ability. Therefore they have a firm and sure promise from God: that all who have been put to death by men for the testimony of Jesus will receive again, in great glory, at the resurrection of the dead, these their members, which are here sown in dishonor, being made like the glorious body of Christ, and will live with Him in unspeakable joy forever and ever. Second Maccabees 7, verse 11; Philippians 3, verse 21; First Corinthians 2, verse 9.

This account of the sacrifice of these pious witnesses of God is taken from the book of criminal sentences of the town of Briel, commenced on Bamis,* in the year 1564, and now, the 3rd of June 1616, extracted from it by the clerk of that town. [n940-2]