Know, dear brother N., and sister N., that I give you a hymn for remembrance, and will hereby commend you to the Lord, until we come upon mount Zion, and there sing the new song with all God’s chosen. 2 Esdr. 2:42. Dear brother and sister, when I composed this hymn, a great torment and temptation came upon me, so that I was very sorrowful, and it seemed to me that the Lord had utterly forsaken me. I fell down upon my knees, and wept bitterly before the Lord, and prayed for strength and power. And the Lord heard my prayer and lifted me up again; for he does not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, and will with the temptation make also a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13. I then received such grace and joy, that for joy I composed this hymn, to the edification of my fellow men. Greet J. de H. much with the peace of the Lord, and you, N., greet your master likewise much with the peace of the Lord, and say good night to your wife; I cannot offer her peace, for it is written: “Woe unto them that comfort men with a vain hope.” Know, dear friends, that I greatly rejoiced when I went to the court, so that it seemed to me that there could be no joy like this, that I should confess my Lord and God, before the world. The Bailiff asked me whether I was rebaptized. And the Holy Ghost spake through my mouth and said that I was baptized according to the doctrine of Christ, and that they were Anabaptists,[265] since they baptize against Christ, hence the name by which you call us, belongs to you. And I asked them to let me go to my brethren, since we had the same faith, but they gave me no answer. Thus, my dear friends, we will await you under the altar.
[265] The reader will understand this otherwise obscure assertion, when we state that it is based upon an ingenious application of the Dutch adverb _weder_, _weer_, the first part of the word _Weerdoopers_, (Anabaptists),--which may mean _against_ as well as _again_. _Translator._
JERONYMUS, LAURENS VAN GUELDERS, PIETER THE MILLER, JACOB VAN YPERES AND MAERTEN THE WALLOON, A. D. 1557.
In the same year, 1557, there were also apprehended at Antwerp, five brethren of Christ, named Jeronymus, Laurens van Guelders, Pieter the miller, Jacob van Yperes, and Maerten the Walloon, who trusted so firmly in the promises of God, and were so fervently united to the love of Christ, that they were not to be drawn away therefrom by any man, nay, not even by great promises, severe persecutions, perilous temptations, or threatenings with the sword; for which reason all five were beheaded in prison, for the testimony of their faith, and firm adherence to the same; and even as they lost their heads for the truth, so God shall set them as heads to convict and judge those who judged them.
MARGRIETE, WIFE OF JERONYMUS, KLAERKEN AND JANNEKEN OF DEXTELAER, A. D. 1557.
In the year 1557, there were drowned in prison, at Antwerp, three women, namely, Margriete, wife of the aforementioned Jeronymus, and Klaerken and Janneken of Dextelaer, because they steadfastly adhered to the truth, and would not depart from it. After being drowned, they were ignominiously thrown naked into the Scheldt; but they shall be clothed, and enter in honor, with their bridegroom, to the marriage of the Lamb, where they, together with all the chosen of God, shall joyfully sing the new song, and live in eternal, imperishable joy.
ALGERIUS, A YOUTH, A STUDENT OF PADUA, MISERABLY BURNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, AT ROME, A. D. 1557. A CONSOLATORY LETTER FROM HIM.[266] AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SACRIFICE.