As it is found that the wolf will generally follow his innate ravenous nature, and therefore the sheep can make no firm compact with him, but stand in constant danger of being devoured by him, so it appeared in the year 1561 in the city of Ypres, in Flanders, where a godfearing lamb of Jesus Christ, namely, an old man named Jan Hulle, was seized and apprehended by these devouring wolves. He there had to undergo and endure many severe conflicts with them, not on account of any crime, but only for living according to the word of God, from which they by tyranny sought to draw him and make him apostatize. But as he, as behooves an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, had yielded himself under the voice of his only Shepherd, he fled from these strangers, and would not hear them. On this account he was condemned to death by the lords of this world, and was thus burnt at said place. In all this he, as a valiant soldier of Jesus Christ, armed himself with patience, and, through faith, steadfastly endured all these sufferings inflicted upon him. And as he herein was not ashamed of Christ and his truth but openly confessed him before lords and princes, and testified and confirmed it with his death and blood; therefore Christ, when he comes in the clouds of heaven, in the glory of his Father, will not be ashamed of him, but confess him before his Father, and set him on his right hand, and bid him with all the blessed to enter into the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning, that is, into the eternal glory of heaven.
PIETER VAN MALDEGEM, PIETER VAN MALE, JACQUES BOSTIJN, AND LAUWERENS ALLAERTS, A. D. 1562.
In the year 1562, four brethren, named Pieter van Maldegem, Pieter van Male, Jacques Bostijn, and Lauwerens Allaerts, were apprehended at Ghent, in Flanders, because they no longer sought to follow the Roman church, but the commandments of God. When they were examined, they freely confessed their faith, and valiantly contended for the truth, with the spiritual sword of the word of God; and as they in no wise could be moved therefrom, they were sentenced to death, and had to testify with their blood to the name of Christ. They now rest under the altar, and wait until the number of their brethren be fulfilled, that they may be rewarded, and vengeance taken on their enemies.
VIJNTGEN, GOUDEKEN, AND JANNEKEN DE JONKHEER, BETGEN VAN MALDEGEM, AND SIJNTGEN VAN GELDER, A. D. 1562.
In the same year there were also apprehended at Ghent three sisters, namely Vijntgen, Goudeken, and Janneken de Jonkheer, and two others, namely, Betgen van Maldegem, and Sijntgen van Gelder. All five freely confessed their faith, and undauntedly adhered to it unto death--which they had to suffer for it--and firmly clung to the love of their bridegroom Jesus Christ. Hence they shall also, when the cry is made at midnight, go to meet him with their burning lamps, and with oil in their adorned vessels, and shall, as ready virgins, go in with him to the marriage of the Lamb.