Copy of the Confession Made by Faes Dircks Imprisoned Here in Thiendewegs Gate

First Examination

On the 11th of May, 1570, the bailiff of Gouda brought the person named below to examination, there being present Gijsbert Jan Maertenss and Gerraert Huygen, burgomasters, Dirck Andries, Mr. Heyndrick Jacobs, and Mr. Cornelis Heyndricks, judges.

Faes Dircks, chairmaker, about thirty-one years of age, says that he is a native citizen of Gouda, and that on last Easter Day he heard the pastor of Gouda preach that those who go to the Lord's table do not receive roasted, boiled or raw meat, but that they receive the roasted flesh of our Lord, roasted on Good Friday, on the tree of the cross. So, hearing this, he went out of the church, since he did not feel well about it, nor think himself worthy to receive it, and he did not go to the Lord's table.

He says and confesses that he does not consider the sacrament of the altar real flesh and blood, and this for the reason that there is only one God.

He also confesses that about a year ago he was baptized at Rotterdam, and that he did not know the one who baptized him, but that this man delivered an exhortation, saying that the Lord had said

"That all who believe and are baptized shall be saved."

He says further that the one who baptized him baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that water was poured over his head out of a basin, and that there were ten or twelve persons present, one of whom was named Wiert Claess, of Gouda.

When asked whether Euwout the barber, and Dirck Jacobs, the shoemaker, or others from Gouda were not also present with him at Rotterdam, he says, "No," but that Wiert Claess was present there, and that to his knowledge Wiert was not baptized at that time.

NOTE. Here follow some more questions and answers, which are dealt with in the following examination; so we have not placed them here. In conclusion the secretary wrote: Done on the days and in the presence stated above, in the Thiendewegs Gate; I being present as secretary of Gouda.

JORIS JACOBS.

Second Examination

On the 19th of May, 1570, the bailiff brought Faes Dircks to examination the second time, in the presence of the pastor of Gouda, Mr. Joost Boorgoos, Gijsbert Jan Maertenss, Jan Gerritts Pels, and Gerrit Huygen, burgomasters, Gerrit Gerrit Bouwenss, Dirck Andriess, Mr. Heyndrick Jacobs, Floris Gijsberts, and Mr. Cornelis Heyndricks, judges.

Faes Dircks, named above, when he was asked whether he still persisted in and held to what he had said and confessed on the 11th of this month, replied that he still held to it.

He says that he believes in Almighty God, and in Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary. He also says that infants cannot be regenerated, since they have no understanding to believe, and that water cannot save them.

When he was asked whether he did not believe that Christ Jesus is in the holy sacrament, he says, "No," since there is not more than one God, and He is in heaven, and not here in the sacrament. He says that he considers himself a sheep of Christ, and that he regards Christ as his Shepherd, and that he knows no other shepherd.

When he was asked who baptized him, he says that he does not know, and that he never saw the one who baptized him, either before or since; and that no one was present there from Gouda except Wiert Claess, who brought him there, and that he [Faes Dircks] arrived in the place one evening, and stayed there the whole night and the following day, until the evening when he was baptized. This took place at Rotterdam, in a house, in a large garret.*

NOTE. Here follow again some questions and answers, which are explained more fully in the third and last examination, and which we have left out in order to avoid repetition. The secretary then, after stating the time when, the place where, and the persons in whose presence this took place, again signs himself with the name of Joris Jacobs, secretary of Gouda.

Third examination on the rack

On the 27th of May, 1579, Johan Pieterss, mayor of Gouda, in the name of Sir Cornelis Mylo, castellan and bailiff of the city of Gouda, brought Faes Dircks to the torture, in the presence of Gijsbert Jan Maertens, Gerritt Huyge Hapkooper, burgomasters, Gerrit Gerrit Bouwenss, Dirck Andriess, Dirck Janss Lonck, and Mr. Cornelis Heyndricks, judges. [n998-1]

Faes Dircks, being asked whether he still holds to the confession which he made on the 19th of this month, says that he still holds to it.

When he was brought to the torture, and asked in whose house he was baptized, he said that he did not know, but that he afterwards understood that it took place at the house of a shoemaker named Michael, living near the East Gate, at Rotterdam.

He says that when he was baptized, about eight or nine others were baptized with him, among whom were Dirck Jacobs, a shoemaker, and Jan Adrienss, a tanner, and that the wife of Michael, the shoemaker, and Wiert Claess were present when the baptism took place, but that Wiert was not baptized.

When asked whether Euwout the barber, Jan Aertss, the weaver, and Jan de Bagijn were also present when he was baptized, he says, "No," and he says further that Dirck Jacobss and the tanner came into the house where they were baptized early in the morning, before daylight.

He says that the one who baptized him had a strange language, and talked somewhat loud.

He says that a woman named Maertjen Philips, living in the Cingel, is of his faith, and also Willem Janss, cutler, Wiert Claess, and Jan Aertss, weaver.

When asked whether Euwout the barber was of the same persuasion and faith as he, he says that he does not know, and that he has not had any conversation with him in regard to matters of faith, but that he has been at his house. He says that he does not know whether Jan de Bagijn is also of the same faith as he who is speaking, or not.

Again: The above confession was then read to the said Faes Dircks, under the blue sky, without torture and iron bonds, and when he was asked whether he held to it, he replied that he did, and that he desired mercy, and not justice. Done in the presence of the full court.

JORIS JACOBS.

NOTE. Since not only the three examinations named above, but also the sentence of death of this friend of God, were sent to us by the present secretary of the town of Gouda, we will add the latter here, as it reads in the original, so that no one may in any way doubt what has been related.