Thieleman J. van Braght · 88 of 210
Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 26
N. N.
FELISTIS JANS, SURNAMED RESINX, BURNT AT
AMSTERDAM, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
CHRIST, ON THE 16TH OF JANUARY, IN
THE YEAR 1553
On the same day, in the court, and for the same reason, also a certain maiden, named Felistis Jans, and surnamed Resinx, a native of Vreden, in Westphalia, was sentenced to the fire, as appears from the written sentence which we have concerning it, from the original criminal records of the city of Amsterdam, as also the date when she was tortured, all of which we could here adduce verbatim; however to avoid prolixity, we will briefly extract the substance from it, making distinct divisions, so that it may be clearly seen upon what her death was founded.
BRIEF EXTRACT FROM THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
OF FELISTIS, DAUGHTER OF JANS, OR
FELISTIS RESINX
After giving her name, and the place of her nativity, there are presented.first the accusations with which she was charged, comprised in the following divisions
1. That she had resorted to the assembly of the sect of the Anabaptists.
2. That she had separated from the obedience and faith of the (so called) holy (that is, the Roman) church.
3. That she held pernicious views with regard to the of the altar.
4. That she had harbored in her house such persons .as she knew to belong to said sect (that is, to the sect of the so called Anabaptists).
5. That she had seduced several persons from the obedience of the (Roman) church, to her belief.
6. That she herself obstinately adhered to the afore mentioned (so called) errors, refusing to abandon them.
7. That all this was contrary to the of the holy church, and the decrees of his Imperial Majesty.
Thereupon follows the conclusion, namely: That for this she should be executed with fire by the executioner, and that all her property should be confiscated or forfeited, for the benefit of the Emperor.
Thus pronounced, etc., as above.
Then the time is mentioned, when she was tortured, in regard to which these words .are found
"This Felistis was subjected to the torture or rack the 2nd of January, 1553."
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
NOTE. The year in which the death of this Felistis occurred, was not correctly noted* by the preceding writers of the History of the Martyrs, nor
* The year 1551 was given.
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was her full name* given, until we, by means of the afore mentioned sentence, made the necessary corrections.
Besides the above, it is also worthy of note that old writers state that she was a virtuous and honorable young maiden, and that through her long imprisonment she became so intimate with the jailer's wife, that the latter employed her as maidservant, to assist her in her household duties.
When it happened upon a time, that the jailer's wife had some filth to carry out doors, but had no one around her whom she could order to do it, Felistis said: "Shall I do it?" whereupon the jailer's wife replied: "Would you not run away?" Felistis said: "No." But reflecting a little on the matter, and considering the frailness of human intentions, she would not undergo this test, and hence, declined to do it, which was certainly a good resolution on the part of a seemingly weak young maiden.
Shortly after, the old writers state, she was seen coming to the scaffold, to be burnt, cleanly, attired and having on a white apron, as though by her outward garments she meant to indicate how purely and uprightly a Christian virgin ought to be adorned inwardly, in order to be acceptable before her beloved heavenly bridegroom, Christ Jesus.
Thus she offered up her sacrifice, and was numbered among the holy and God pleasing martyrs. Compare this with the Martyrs Mirror o f the Defenseless Christians, edition 1631, page 125.
WOUTER VAN CAPELLE, A. D. 1553
In the year 1553, a God fearing brother, named Wouter Capelle, was apprehended at Diexmuyde, in Flanders, for living according to and following the Word of God, and confessed and sealed the faith of the truth with his death and blood at said place; as an instructive example worthy of imitation to all true believers, to look at his end, and to follow their faith, especially the Captain of the faith, Christ Jesus, blessed for ever. And since this witness of God suffered for the truth and testimony of the Word of God, and not for any crime, he obtained, through the of God, the crown of eternal life, promised by God to all those put to death by men for the Word of God: that they shall be raised up in great glory at the last day.
TIJS, A YOUNG MAN, AND BEERENTGE, A YOUNG MAIDEN, A. D. 1553
In the year 1553, a bachelor, named Tijs, and a maiden by the name of Beerentge, were drowned at Leeuwaerden, in Friesland, for the testimony of Jesus. They were two zealous followers of Christ; for this reason they had a great desire, to meet at some time for the purpose of rejoicing with each other in the Word of God. However this could not
* She was simply called Felistis.
well be, since Tijs was lame, and Beerentge was constantly confined to her bed. But at last God permitted them to come together; for the persecutors went out to apprehend the people of Gad, who, having perceived this, escaped their hands for this time: however, the former were not willing to return empty handed, and hence, took with them the afore mentioned two invalid persons, and brought them prisoners to Leeuwaerden, where they were confined together for some time, during which they rejoiced very greatly with each other in the Lord their Creator, so that love, which is stronger than death, and firmer than hell, shone forth most . Cant. 8:6. Sentence of death was therefore then passed upon them, namely, that both should be drowned. This was taken greatly amiss on the part of Tijs; it grieved him much, and he said: "Cats and dogs are drowned." Hence they sought to obtain a transmutation of the sentence and requested to be executed on the place of execution, so that they might obtain the crown with their beloved brethren, and that the people present might hear and see for what cause they died. But this was refused them, and the execution of the sentence was proceeded with. They, about midnight, (ashamed as it were, to put to death such infirm persons) put both together into a bag, with their mouths gagged, threw them into a boat, and had them cast into the moat on the outside of the wall, and having been tied to the boat, the two were dragged along the moat until death ensued. Thus they rid themselves of these pious lights and witnesses of Christ, whom their eyes could not bear to look upon. Wisd. 2:15. But the righteous God, who goes with His people through water and fire (Isa. 53:2), will avenge this deed in due time, and give these worthy children of God rest and peace with Him forever; and this murder, which was perpetrated in the dark, will be justly avenged in His great day, when every secret shall be brought into the light of open day.
Concerning this, see hymn in History Liedtboeck.
SIMON THE SHOPKEEPER, A. D. 1553
About the year 1553 there was at Bergen op Zoom, in Brabant, a shopkeeper, named Simon, who stood in the marketplace, to sell his wares. When the priests passed him with their idol, this Simon did not dare give divine honor to this idol made by human hands (Dan. 3:18), but, according to the testimony of God presented in the holy Scriptures, would worship and serve only the Lord his God. He was therefore apprehended by the maintainers of the Roman antichrist, and examined in the faith, which he freely confessed, rejecting their self invented infant baptism together with all human commandments, and holding fast only to the testimony of the Word of God; hence he was sentenced to death by the enemies of the truth, and was thus led without the city, and burnt for the testimony of Jesus. Many of the people present were therefore greatly astonished when they beheld the great boldness and steadfastness of this pious witness of God, who thus through obtained the crown of eternal life.
The bailiff who had him executed, on returning home from this deed, was laid upon a bed of severe sickness, and constantly exclaimed with sorrow and remorse: "O Simon, Simon!" and although the priests and monks sought to absolve him, they were nevertheless not able to give him the least comfort, but he soon died in despair, an instructive and memorable example to all tyrants and persecutors. II Macc. 9:9, 28; Acts 12:23.
JOOS KINDT, A. D. 1553. A LETTER OR CONFES;
SION OF JOGS KINDT, IMPRISONED AT KORT;
RIJCK, WHERE HE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST
HIS LIFE AT THE STAKE, FOR THE
TESTIMONY OF JESUS, A. D. 1553,
RECKONING THE BEGINNING
OF THE YEAR FROM NEW
YEAR'S DAY
be with you, and peace, from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ; may He comfort and strengthen us with His Holy Spirit, that we may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil, who, as Peter says, walketh about us, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, and resist him with a firm faith. Know then, dear friends, that I have such a conflict against the lords, insomuch that they assail me with their sophistries, seeking to draw me from the obedience of our dear Lord; however, I trust that the Lord will succor me, which I do not doubt; for God, comforting His own, says. through the prophet Isaiah (49:15): "Though a mother forsake her child, yet will I not forsake thee;" which the Lord shows in me in a wonderful manner let every tongue praise Him. Yea, if I had as much paper as I ever wrote on, and time to write, I could not describe the joy and gladness I experience; yea, my joy is unspeakable.
But N. is sick, and asks that you would diligently entreat the Lord for him; for he is ready to go into the fire, but he cannot resist the enemies of the cross; for they assail him with sophisms, for their teacher, the devil, knows much sophistry, which he showed when he came to tempt our Saviour in the wilderness, as is written in the Gospel. Now, if he employed his sophistry on our Saviour, Z am not cast down, though I have a little of conflict; for, dear friends, they could easily be resisted if they used arguments, but they assail him altogether with lies. Since their father is a liar, as our Saviour also told them, they have the nature of their father, which they partly manifested with regard to me, all of which I cannot communicate to you; but I hope that the Lord will give me so much that I may write a little about the disputation with the .
Know then, that Ronse and Polet came into the prison on Saturday afternoon, and summoned me before them. When I came to them, I asked them what they wished of me. They replied: "This will be told you." They inquired how old I was. I replied: "That I do not know; if you want correct infoJrmation on this point, you must ask my mother."
Ronse. "Tell us as near as you know."
Joos. "Between twenty and thirty years." Then their clerk wrote: "Between thirty and forty."
Ronse. "When were you to confession last?"
Joos. "Why do you ask this?"
Ronse. "I want to know it."
Joos. "You did not have me apprehended? you well know how it is with me."
Ans. "We do."
Joos. "Of whom are you, or in whose name have you come to me?"
Ans. "In the name of God."
Joos. "I don't believe this."
Ques. "Why?"
Joos. "Because you have apprehended me, to find out how it is with me; for all whom the Lord has sent to go and teach, imprisoned no one; for He sent them out, and commanded them, that if they came to a place, and were not received, they should shake off the dust from their feet, and depart from there." Matt. 10:14.
Polet. "You have doubtless read, that Paul delivered some to the devil." I Cor. 5:5.
Joos. "Show me where Paul cast them into prison; this I want to know of you."
Polet. "I don't know."
Joos. "Why then do you undertake to quote Scriptures to any one, which you do not understand yourself? yea, more than that, to apprehend people, to bring them to the faith, even if your faith were good, which I do not hold to be the case, for I do not believe that you are from God."
Ques. "Why?"
Joos. "Because the Lord says: 'I will have obedience, and not sacrifice' (I Sam. 15:22); and because ye do not obey Him."
Ques "Wherein?"
Joos. 'Because Christ commanded to point the erring to the right way; now, you say that I have gone astray why then did you not show me what is right? for I. seek nothing but what is right."
Ans. "For this purpose we have come."
Joos. "Then you should have come to the place where I lived."
Ans. "We did not know where you lived."
Joos. "You knew it well enough to send the bailiff."
Ans. "Had you been a good sheep, it would not have been necessary."
Joos. "Christ left the ninety and nine, and went to seek that which was lost."
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Then Ronse said: "Do you not believe that I am appointed your superior, by our holy father, the pope, and our gracious lord, the Emperor?"
Joos. "I know no superior save Christ."
Ques. "How; don't you recognize the Emperor at all?"
I told him, that I was well content to have him be my superior according to the flesh. Then they wrote that I recognized no superior according to the spirit save Christ, and the Emperor according to the flesh.
Ronse then said: "When were you to confession last, tell me this?"
Joos. "I do not wish to speak to you here."
Ques. "Why?"
Joos. "I shall speak before the lords in full court."
"There," said they, "it would be at the risk of your life, if you should say anything of consequence. Tell me," said he, "what do you think of infant baptism?" Being urged to speak, I replied: "Nothing."
Ronse. "Yea, in what baptism then do you believe?"
Joos. "I know of but one faith, and one baptism."
Ronse. "How long since you were baptized?"
Joos. "Half a year, or thereabout." This they noted down.
Ques. "What do you hold concerning the Roman church?"
Joos. "I do not hold the least article of all they hold."
This was also written down. They asked me so much, that I said to them: "I have freely confessed my faith, and am ready to go alive into the fire for it; hence be content that you know my faith." They asked a great deal. I said: "Go away from me; I regard you as enemies of the cross of Christ; hence, go away from me, for you know the ground of my faith, which I have freely confessed to you. Do therefore to me what you please; for it is through the of the Lord that I have these members, and I am also ready to give them up by the of the Lord, yea, to present them for His holy praise." II Macc. 7:11. They spoke much, but I said: "Go away from me, and come no more where I am, for you are against God. Matt. 12:30. Do you not fear the Lord? See what is written Matt. 13, concerning the tares of the field. Now since you say that I am evil, the Lord has commanded that it should be left to grow until the harvest."
Ans. "If we were to let it grow up, you would corrupt us all."
Polet. "Does not Augustine say"
Joos. "Don't speak of Augustine, for I do not know him; I hold no doctrine save that of the apostles and prophets, and of the words which our Saviour brought from high heaven, from the mouth of His heavenly Father, and sealed with His precious blood; for this I want to go into the fire; but Augustine, Gregory, Ambrose, these I know not."
Ronse. "Yea, do you not believe that our blessed Saviour is concealed in the holy ?"
Loos. "I do not believe this."
Ronse. "Where then is He?"
Joos. "At the right hand of His heavenly Father, and He will at the last descend with the glory of His Father, to judge the quick and the dead. Fear this strict judgment, and amend your ways; put on sackcloth and clothing of hair; , and go to the people, whom you keep running after your false worship; warn them, for you murder their souls, since you say that you have the key of the kingdom of heaven, from the time of St. Peter, and that the same has always remained in your possession. Well does Christ say that you have the key, and that you will not enter yourselves, and those that desire to go in you hinder." Matt. 23:13.
Ronse. "Who baptized you? did Jelis the Baptist, baptize you?"
Joos. "You know how it is with me; be satisfied."
Polet. "It was Adam Pastor."
Ronse. "Or David Joris."
I kept silent.
Ronse. "loos, tell me who were your sponsors?"
.loos. "I know of no sponsors."
Ronse. "Your witnesses?"
Joos. "I have told you that it took place; hence be content therewith; for I have such confidence in the Lord, that I trust He will keep the door of my mouth so that I shall tell you nothing, though you should tear me to pieces."
They asked me a great deal. I said: "Go away from me; for you are not of God." They replied: "We are." I said: "Away! go away from me, go from me, and come no more where I am." Much more yet took place, but it would take too long to write it. Finally they went away, and I was led back into my cell.
On Sunday I was taken to the house of the judges where the court was assembled. There were also present there Salome, Sir Cornelis, Dean of Kestenne; Ronse, and Polet. I was placed in the middle, firmly bound and held by two thief catchers. I said: "My lords, what is your wish?"
Ronse. "This will be told you."
They then read the confession of my faith, which they had written in prison, and asked me whether I was still of the same mind. I replied
"Yes: I am still ready to go into the fire for it." Ronse asked whether I did not believe that Christ had taken His flesh from Mary. I said: "No." Then it seemed as though Sir.Cornelis would faint away; he blessed and crossed himself much, and all were horrified. There was a little discussion about it; but they, like dragons, breathed their poison into the judges, each taking a judge, and said: "True, it is written so; but he has not the understanding; the Scriptures want to be understood." And they adduced many far fetched sophisms, and filled the ears of the lords, and asked me many sophistical questions. I said: "I have confessed my faith to you; be satisfied therewith; and I pray you, not that I am worthy of it, but by the crimson blood of our dear Lord, let me in peace; you have my faith, and hold me in your hands here; be satisfied, and do what you please."
Then Rouse asked me whether I had not been present somewhere, and adjured me three times by my baptism, that I should tell who was present. I told him that I would not tell him one word. Ronse said: "You have denied your baptism; Menno will take it ill, that you deny your baptism." I said
"My faith and baptism I know, but with your adjuration I have nothing to do; I thereby know that you are sorcerers." Then Polet said: "We may swear." I replied: "See Matt. 5, whether he does not prohibit swearing altogether." They said
"No." I said: "Yes." Then Polet looked into a Bible which they had brought with them, a large book, and it read there just as I had said.
Thereupon Sir Cornelis said: "The Bible is false; our Latin Bible reads differently." I said: "Do you bring false books to me? Why do you say it is false? And it is privileged why then do you let them circulate with privilege, seeing you examine them?" He replied: "I did not examine them." I said: "Some of the learned men at Louvain." Then Ronse whispered to Sir Cornelis Roose and said: "It is true, they are examined, and were good, but the printer had a boy, who misprinted them, while his master was gone to town. Ronse asked me how it came that I so easily believed a man whom I perhaps would never more see, and suffered myself to be baptized by him; and that I would not believe them, whom I saw daily, yea, them who were present and had instructed me at this time and before, as they said, and why I would not believe my pastor, who daily preached the Gospel. I replied [that I did not believe him] because he was a liar, and that I had heard him preach that it could nowhere be found written that Mary was a mother and a virgin. But (he said) because their church taught it, therefore it had to be believed. Therefore, said I, I will not hear him, since I had read the contrary in Isaiah (7:14), and in Matthew and in other places. Having thus heard lies proceed out of your mouth, I after this heard neither you nor any other, and I hope by the of the Lord I never shall." He said: "No." I said
"Yes, and I offer my body to the rack, against yours." But he had no desire for it, and said
"What! should I go to the rack? You assert that our church is not good, because we are not blameless; are you blameless? There are such of your people that have committed murder, because men would not believe them, nay, would not adhere to their doctrine." I said: "Did you see this in me, or anything else that is unseemly? I am here in the hands of the judges, that they punish me for it." Ronse said: "We know nothing of this kind of you." I said: "Then don't tell me what another does, nor considers me bad on account of the misdeeds of others. No one is to bear, the burden of another; you are not to bear mine, nor I yours. The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Gal. 6:5; Exekiel 18:20.
Much more yet was said by them, but it is not worth while to write it. They also said that Christ had said that the scribes and the sat in Moses' seat, and that He had commanded us to do after their commandments, but not after their works; therefore, said they, do what we advise you, but do not after our works, since Christ teaches this. Matthew 23:1, 2. I asked: "Who did Christ say sat in Moses' seat?" Ans. "The ." I asked again: "Does this Scripture belong to you?" Ans. "Yes." I said: "Then you confess that you are of their generation?"
Then Sir Cornelis, the parish priest, asked me why I did not believe in one article of the Roman church. I doubtless believed that Christ was' crucified, which the Roman church also believes, which was certainly an article; and why I believed that Matthew's Gospel was gospel, which was nowhere written [he also said that]he would show me that Paul 'wrote before the evangelists. I then said
"Show me that Paul wrote before Matthew." Sir Cornelis said: "What have you to do with that?" I replied: "Should I have nothing to do with it? my life and soul are at stake, according to what you say." Sir Cornelis said: "He is overcome." I said
"Be silent, you are not worthy of being spoken to, and see that you do not say in my absence, that you overcame me, or that I have the devil in me, or condemn me among the simple people, and deceive them still more." Then Ronse said: "You are damned, if you remain so." I said: "Why?" Ronse replied: "Because you believe not." I said
"I do believe, and I adhere so firmly to my faith, that I would rather go into the fire, than a single point."
Much more took place which would be too long to write. Finally I was led back into prison, where two shackles were put on me. I said: "I am ready, not only to suffer myself to be shackled, but also to die the most ignominious death for the name of the Lord." Acts 21:13.
On Monday Polet and the fat monger came, and asked me how it was with me. I told them that it had never been as well, for which I praised the Lord. They said that they were very glad of it. Polet then said: "Joos, how can your cause and your church be good the Germans have a congregation, and the English have one; but where are the members of your congregation? You alone are not a church. Let us hear whether you are also a flock, and who your members are." Then said I five or six times: "Get thee behind me, and depart from me, Satan;" whereupon they both ran away. Then I said: "Now you speak; at the judgment another shall speak." Thus I saw them no more. I have heard that I am to be severely tortured; for they think to obtain from me all the particulars; but I 'trust the Lord, that He will keep my lips. Hence, pray the Lord for me, that He will succor me, for they thirst for much blood; but they can do no more than the Lord permits them. Therefore I commend myself into the hands of the Lord; and anything you may hear which is not in this letter, regard as lies. In token of the truth I hope to seal this letter with my blood. To this end may God give His , that His name may be praised thereby.
ANOTHER LETTER OR CONFESSION OF JOGS KINDT
To the praise of the Father.
I, Joos Kindt, imprisoned for the testimony in Jesus Christ, entreat and admonish all dear friends, and all dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, with the of the Father, the Son, and the , entreating by this , that they not only heed or live according to my entreaty or admonition, but that each (as I hope by the help of God) will heed the warning of the Lord, and that each endeavor to amend his sinful life, which I doubt not everyone does who fears the Lord with all his heart; for the Scripture says: "He that feareth the Lord will do good; yea, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Sir. 15:1; 1:14. Since then the fear of God guides' us to virtue, let us fear the Lord; for Christ Jesus requires this of us with His blessed lips, when He says: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but fear him which. after he hath killed, hath power to cast soul and body into eternal damnation." Matt. 10:28. Therefore I admonish you with these words, and not with them alone, but with the whole sum of the Scriptures, that each will strive to keep them (Luke 12:28); for Christ says: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." Matt. 7:24-27.
Therefore, let everyone strive to give diligence to take heed to himself, and to the perilous time; for Paul says: " the time, because the days are evil." Eph. 5:16. Hence, make good use of the time, and exhort one another; for necessity demands it; and let each arm himself well, even as Paul admonishes us: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood." Eph. 6:12. Paul was right when he taught this. I well experience it now. The Lord be praised, who assists me so faithfully with these weapons, and, even as He promised to give us a mouth to speak, when we should be brought before such, has now opened my mouth, praise to Him, so that through the of the Lord I valiantly defend myself with the Word of my Lord, and have manfully resisted my enemies five times, not only my enemies, but the enemies of the cross of Christ, as you will hear further.