Cornelis Janss of Haerlem, a Sailor, in the Year 1569

At the same time, and in the same court, Cornelis Janss, a sailor, also received his sentence of death. He was a native of Haerlem according to the body, but born again of God from heaven according to the soul. However, he had not yet received baptism upon his true faith, which (though he had not been able to find an opportunity for it) he greatly lamented even at his very last, since the Lord has said: "Thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3, verse 15.

In short, sentence was pronounced upon him that he should, like the martyrs before him (Willem Janss and Jan Quirijnss), be put to death with fire. Concerning this we have obtained, from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, a true copy of his sentence of death, as well as how he was twice examined by torture, or on the rack, and when all this took place. We will faithfully add that copy here, for the greater confirmation of this matter. It reads as follows

Sentence of death of Cornelis Janss of Haerlem, sailor

Whereas Cornelis Janss, sailor, born at Haerlem, citizen of this city, at present a prisoner here, forgetful of his soul's salvation,* and of the obedience which he owed to our mother, the holy church, and to his imperial majesty, as his natural lord and prince, has apostatized from the holy church, so that he, despising her ordinances, has never in his life been to confession, nor to the holy worthy sacrament; and has also several times attended the assembly of the reprobated and accursed sect of the Mennonists, in this city, as well as lately, before the last frost, in the town of Middleburgh, in Zealand, being then so hardened in that sect that he still, as prisoner, declares that he regrets that he is not rebaptized, and has not received the breaking of bread, adding that he would have done this if he had had a convenient time for it; to which reprobated and accursed sect he, the prisoner, still persistently clings, refusing to return to our mother, the holy church, even though he has repeatedly been urged to this, and instructed, by various clergymen, and also by the court of this city; so that he, the prisoner, according to what has been mentioned, has committed a crime against divine and human majesty, as disturbing the common peace and welfare; therefore my lords of the court, having heard the demand of my lord the bailiff, and seen the confession of the prisoner, and having had regard to his great stubbornness and obstinacy, have condemned the said prisoner, and by this present sentence do condemn him to be executed with fire, according to the decree of his majesty; and declare his property confiscated, without prejudice to the privileges of this city in all other matters. Done in court, in presence, and so on.

Concerning the two torturings of the aforesaid martyr, according to the record in the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam

The aforesaid person was twice tortured, according to the sentence of the judges, namely, on the fourth and the sixth of March, in the year 1569, as appears from the records of the confession.

Thus extracted from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, preserved in the archives of said place. [n983-1]