Notice to the Christian Reader

It is a fact known to those who have read the history of Holland attentively for the years 1533, 1534, 1535, and some of the years following, that the outward condition of the so-called Defenseless Anabaptists (Weerloose Doopsgesinden) was very sad, and at the same time in a state of confusion; not only through the severe persecutions by which they were scattered into every quarter, but especially also through the insurrection of those who, without being defenseless, also taught the baptism of adults; because these, by falling into abominable practices, gave cause that all who opposed infant baptism were looked upon by the authorities as though they too had part or guilt in such improper and abominable doings. And since all who taught the baptism of adults were called Anabaptists without distinction, and were persecuted alike under that name, it was sometimes scarcely possible for those who saved their lives by flight to know, when some were arrested or put to death, whether they were among the number of their defenseless brothers and sisters or not; and also how many they were, and what their names were.

For this reason there were in those years, and, as may be inferred from history, also in later times and in various places, many pious witnesses put to death whose number and names have not been learned clearly enough for them to be placed among the number of their fellow combatants in this book, to serve succeeding generations as patterns of the utmost faithfulness in the confession of the truth.

In this number there have also been included, up to the present time, various men and women who were put to death at Amsterdam, whose sentences came into our hands while this Bloody Theatre was being reprinted; they were obtained from the book of sentences of the said city of Amsterdam, preserved in the archives there. From these sentences it is clearly evident that they were not put to death for insurrection or any other misconduct, but simply because they departed from Romish institutions, opposed infant baptism, and had adopted the baptism which is administered upon confession of sins, and faith in Christ our Lord.

Hence we consider it our duty to make these persons known here also, and to place them with those with whom they in their lifetime fought valiantly to the end under the one banner of Christ Jesus our Lord; and with whom they also rest from their labors, until the time when they shall together, in the resurrection, be made partakers of the incorruptible crown of glory.

We heartily wish that we had been able to give an account also of their valiant deeds, their wise words, their acts of patience and resignation, and everything that took place in connection with their sufferings and death. However, none of these things have come to our knowledge; through the adverse circumstances of those times they were probably never made public by those who could and would have made them known to those unacquainted with them, or to later generations; just as those sorrowful times caused the same with regard to many martyrs, since of some it has scarcely been possible to record their number and the place of their offering.

Extract from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, folio 48, verso, preserved in the archives there

Whereas Grietje Arents, a maiden of Limmen, has had herself rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the faith and ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of the Emperor, our gracious lord; and was moreover banished by the Court of Holland, for the aforesaid reason, from these countries of Holland, Zealand and Friesland, on pain of death, and whereas she, the prisoner, has up to now shown no willingness to repent, but has let the time of grace granted by his imperial majesty pass by; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made against her by the bailiff on behalf of his imperial majesty, and the answer and confession of the aforesaid Grietje, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned said Grietje by sentence to be executed by water, as has been done by the executioner. Done the last day of December, in the year 1534, in the presence of the whole court.

This Grietje Arents, according to the contents of the sentence, had first been banished, however, as clearly appears, for no other reason than that she did not believe as the Roman church did; and for that reason also, since she persisted in it, she was put to death. But why she returned to the place from which she had been banished is not known; however, we may well infer, since nothing else is laid to her charge in this sentence, that the cause of it was likewise a matter of faith and conscience.

Extract as above, folio 49, verso

Whereas Jan Pauw, blockmaker, Arent Janssen of Gorckum, tradesman, Barent Claessen of Swol, fuller, Jan van Gink, Hendrich Biesman of Maestricht, Cornelis Willemsse of Haerlem, cabinetmaker, Arent Jacobssen, Keyser, of Moonickendam, and Willen Janssen of Zutphen, have had themselves rebaptized, and have accepted the covenant of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the faith and ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the officer concerning them, and their defense and confession, and having considered the circumstances of the case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence to be executed with the sword and put to death, on the scaffold erected for this purpose in the marketplace of this city; and moreover their heads to be placed upon stakes, and their bodies upon wheels, as an example to others, as was done immediately afterwards. Done the 6th day of March, in the year 1535, in the presence of the whole court.

Concerning Jan Pauw there is still another, separate sentence: that on the 29th of December, 1534, he was tortured, by sentence of the judges, in order to learn from him who had baptized, and who had been baptized, at his house. However, since that sentence contains nothing but this order to torture him, we have not thought it necessary to add it here word for word.

Extract as above, folio 51

Whereas Jan Jacobssen of Normandy, inhabitant of this city, Adriaen Cornelissen of Sparrendam, and Gerrit Claessen of Oudenyerop, have entered into the covenant of the Anabaptists, and been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff, on behalf of his imperial majesty, against the aforesaid persons, and their defense and confession, and having considered the circumstances of their crime, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence to be executed with the sword and put to death, by the executioner, on the scaffold erected in front of the city hall of this city; and moreover their heads to be placed upon stakes, and their bodies upon wheels, as an example to others, as was done by the executioner; and we furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of his imperial majesty as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May, in the year 1535, in the presence of the bailiff, Ruysch Janssen and Goossen Janssen Rekalff, burgomasters, and all the judges.

In the public histories of that time mention is made only of the beheading of three men on that day, without anything evil being laid to their charge, except simply that they were counted among the Anabaptists. And since this sentence charges them with no crime, insurrection, or any misconduct, which in that time of violence, when that riot at Amsterdam had only recently happened, would very probably have been done had there been any grounds for it, it can readily be inferred that these men were pious persons, who are worthy to be placed with the other faithful soldiers of Christ our Lord.

Extract as above, folio 51, verso

Whereas Baef Claes, a maiden, Grietje Maes, Gerrit's widow, Barbara Jacobs, a maiden of Haserwoude, Breght Elberts, a maiden, Adriana Ysbrant, a maiden, Trijn Jans of Munnickendam, and Lysbeth Jans, a maiden from Benskop, have been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord, and whereas they have up to now shown no penitence; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff on behalf of his imperial majesty against them, and their answer and confession, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence to be executed with water and put to death by the executioner, as was done by the executioner; and furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of his imperial majesty as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May, in the year 1535, in the presence of the bailiff, Ruysch Janssen and Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomasters, and all the judges.

These seven women, according to the import of this sentence, were put to death on the same day as the following nine, and yet the public histories mention nothing about them; which is little to be wondered at, for the reason that the drowning of those who were condemned to death on account of religion took place at night, when they, with stones tied to their necks, were cast down into the water from the Herring packers' Tower (then called the Holy Cross Tower), as appears from the description of Amsterdam, by Dr. Dapper, folio 443.

Extract as above, folio 52, verso

Whereas Leentgen, Jan van Rheenen's wife, Adriana Jans, a maiden from Benskop, Goechgen Jans, of Lubik, born at Goude, Leentgen Hendrix, a maiden of Hertogenbosch, Griet Pieters Mollen, a maiden, Marritge Nadminx, a maiden of Alkmaar, Aeltje Gillis, a maiden from Benskop, Jannetje Jans, a maiden of Utrecht, and Aeltjen Wouters, born at Asperen, have been rebaptized, and have betaken themselves to the sect and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord, without being willing to repent of it; therefore my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff against them on behalf of his imperial majesty, together with their answer and confession, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence to be executed with water and put to death by the executioner, as was done by the executioner; and furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of the emperor as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May, in the year 1535, in the presence of the bailiff, Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomaster, and all the judges.

The public writers of those times also mention these women, but without stating anything more than their number, and that they were drowned. This sentence, however, not only makes their names known, but from it their innocence is also evident.

Extract as above, folio 59, verso

Whereas Pietersen, alias Borrekiek, born at Leyden, has entered the covenant of the Anabaptists, and been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty, our gracious lord; and moreover had previous knowledge of a meeting held some time ago, at Leyden, by adherents of the aforementioned sect, without giving information of it to the authorities of said city; therefore my lords the judges, having heard the demand of my lord the bailiff, and having considered the circumstances of his misconduct, have condemned said offender by sentence to be executed with the sword, and put to death on the scaffold, by the executioner, his head to be put upon a stake, and his body to be quartered and hung on a wheel, as an example to others, as was done by the executioner; and furthermore declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the emperor as Count of Holland. [n960-1] Done, and so on, in presence as above in the preceding sentence.

Extract as above, folio 70, verso

Whereas Hendrick van Maestricht, at the time when the boat, loaded with Anabaptists, was about to sail to Geelmuyden, joined the sect of the Anabaptists by the laying on of the hand, performed on him by one Claes Enkhuysen, and has since allied himself and kept fellowship with said people, conversed with them at different places, and advised and induced several others to join the aforesaid sect, contrary to the decrees ordained and caused to be published by his imperial majesty our gracious lord against the aforesaid sect and its adherents, and whereas the aforesaid Hendrik has not improved the time of grace, but rejected it; therefore my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff on behalf of his imperial majesty against the aforesaid Hendrik, together with his answer and confession, and having fully considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid Hendrik van Maestricht by sentence to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body to be placed upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, unless the lords, out of grace, be pleased to grant him the churchyard; which sentence was afterwards carried out by the executioner. Done on the 10th of June, in the year 1536, in the presence of the bailiff, all the burgomasters excepted, Cornelis Buyk, Syverts, Claes Gerritsse, Mattheus Claes Doeden, Jan Ryser Janssen, Pieter Willemsse Kantert, and Symon Marttensse Dircx, judges.

Extract as above, folio 77, verso

Whereas Albert Reyers, alias Oldeknecht, born at Bolswaert, in Friesland, has for several years resorted to the society, company and fellowship of persons tainted with heresy and evil doctrines, and has been found with them in various conventicles, and has also held such conventicles in his own dwelling, where the writings and sacraments of the holy church, and the articles of the holy Christian faith, were subjected to improper disputation, teaching and treatment, so that the aforementioned Albert, having become infected by it, spoke and believed evilly of the holy sacrament of the altar and of the other sacraments; also of the ordinances and customs of the holy church, to the scandal of good Christians, contrary to the holy Christian faith, and to the decrees and edicts of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff against the aforementioned Albert Reyers, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned said Albert, according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body afterwards to be placed on a wheel, and his head upon a stake; and furthermore declare his property confiscated to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. So done on the 12th day of April, in the year 1537, in presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerritsse Deymans and Gerrit Meeuwess, Burgomasters, and Gerrit Meeuwess and all the judges.

Extract as above, folio 77, verso

Whereas Andries Harmans of Gelre has undertaken at different times and places to dispute concerning the Scriptures, and to hold conventicles, where the Scriptures, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church, were subjected to improper teaching and treatment, whereby the aforesaid Andries, having fallen into error and heresy, also taught these views to others, and tainted them with them, and has also for a certain time spoken and believed evilly and heretically, and still believes so, concerning the holy sacrament of the altar, and the other sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith, and against the decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff against the aforesaid Andries, together with his answer and confession, and having fully considered the circumstances of his misdeeds, condemn said Andries, according to the aforementioned decrees, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and afterwards his body to be placed upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, as an example to others; and furthermore declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. [n960-2] So done on the 12th of April 1537, in presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerrit Deymans and Gerrit Andries, burgomasters, and all the judges.

This execution was carried out by the executioner immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, folio 78, verso

Whereas Thymon Hendricx of Campen, three years ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized, and entered into the covenant and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the holy Christian faith, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church, contrary to the truth of the holy faith and against the decrees published in regard to this by his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff of this city, on behalf of his imperial majesty, against the aforementioned Thymon Hendricx, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of the aforesaid case, condemn said Thymon, according to the aforementioned decrees, by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body afterwards to be put upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, as an example to others; and furthermore declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord. So done on the 12th of April 1537, in the presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerrit Deymans and Gerritt Andries, burgomasters, and all the judges.

This execution was carried out by the executioner immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, folio 93

Whereas Jan Janssen van dem Berg, in the country of Cleves, a year ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized in the city of Delft, by one Claes with the lame hand, and has entered into the covenant and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the holy Christian faith, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church, contrary to the truth of the holy faith, and against the decrees issued in regard to this by his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff of this city on behalf of his imperial majesty, against the aforementioned Janssen, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of the aforesaid case, condemn said Jan Janssen, according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence, to be executed and put to death by the executioner, and his body then to be put upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, as an example to others; and furthermore declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord. Done on the 7th of July, in the year 1539, in the presence of all the burgomasters, Joost Buyk Sybrant, Jan Willemss, Albert Dirksen, Willem Stitchel, and Floris Floriss.