Dirk Willems, in the Year 1569

In the year 1569 a pious, faithful brother and follower of Jesus Christ named Dirk Willems was arrested at Asperen, in Holland, and had to endure severe tyranny from the papists. But since he had founded his faith not on the drifting sand of human commandments, but on the firm foundation stone, Christ Jesus, he, in spite of all the evil winds of human doctrine and the heavy showers of tyrannical and severe persecution, remained immovable and steadfast to the end; therefore, when the chief Shepherd appears in the clouds of heaven and gathers His elect together from all the ends of the earth, he too will through grace hear the words: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your Lord." First Peter 5, verse 4; Matthew 24, verse 31; Matthew 25, verse 23.

Concerning his arrest, it is stated by trustworthy persons that when he fled he was hotly pursued by a thief catcher, and since there had been some frost, the said Dirk Willems ran ahead over the ice and got across at considerable risk. The thief catcher who followed him broke through, and Dirk Willems, seeing that the man was in danger of his life, quickly turned back and helped him out, and so saved his life. The thief catcher wanted to let him go, but the burgomaster very sternly called to him to remember his oath, and so he was seized again by the thief catcher, and at that place, after harsh imprisonment and great trials at the hands of the deceitful papists, he was put to death at a slow fire by these bloodthirsty, ravening wolves, enduring it with great steadfastness, and confirming the genuine faith of the truth with his death and his blood, as an instructive example to all pious Christians of this time, and to the everlasting disgrace of the tyrannous papists.

NOTE. In this connection it is related as true, from the trustworthy memoirs of those who were present at the death of this pious witness of Jesus Christ, that the place where this offering took place was outside Asperen, on the side toward Leerdam, and that, since a strong east wind was blowing that day, the kindled fire was driven far away from the upper part of his body as he stood at the stake; and because of this, this good man suffered a lingering death, so that in the town of Leerdam, toward which the wind was blowing, he was heard to cry out over seventy times: "O my Lord; my God," and so on; for this reason the judge or bailiff, who was present on horseback, filled with sorrow and regret at the man's sufferings, wheeled his horse about, turning his back toward the place of execution, and said to the executioner: "Dispatch the man with a quick death." But how, or in what manner, the executioner then dealt with this pious witness of Jesus, I have not been able to learn, except only that his life was consumed by the fire, and that he passed through the conflict with great steadfastness, having commended his soul into the hands of God.

As we have come into possession of the sentence which these rulers of darkness passed upon this friend of God, we have thought it well to add it here for the benefit of the readers, so that in reading it they may be able to see the truth of this matter.

COPY. Whereas Dirk Willems, born at Asperen, at present a prisoner, has, without torture and iron bonds (or otherwise), confessed before the bailiff and us the judges, that at the age of fifteen, eighteen or twenty years he was rebaptized in Rotterdam, at the house of one Pieter Willems, and that he further, in Asperen, at his house, at various hours, harbored and admitted secret conventicles and prohibited doctrines, and that he also permitted several persons to be rebaptized in his aforesaid house; all of which is contrary to our holy Christian faith, and to the decrees of his royal majesty, and ought not to be tolerated, but severely punished, as an example to others; therefore we, the aforesaid judges, having with mature deliberation of council examined and considered all that was to be considered in this matter, have condemned and do condemn by these presents, in the name and on behalf of his royal majesty, as Count of Holland, the aforesaid Dirk Willems, prisoner, persisting obstinately in his opinion, that he shall be executed with fire until death follows; and we declare all his property confiscated, for the benefit of his royal majesty. So done this 16th of May, in the presence of the judges, Cornelis Goverts, Jan van Stege Jans, Adriaen Gerritts, Adriaen Jans, Lucas Rutgers, Jan Jans, and Jan Roefelofs, in the year 1569.

Extracted from the records of the town of Asperen, and after comparison this copy was found to agree [with the original], the 15th of October 1606. Acknowledged by me, the town clerk of Asperen.

T' SHEERENBERGH.