In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Utrecht, for the testimony of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, a brother named Heyndrick Eemkens, a tailor, who, after all solicitations and pains suffered, finally received word that he was to die, at which he rejoiced that he should also have the privilege of being a witness for the name of the Lord. This message was brought him by the pastor of the Buer church and a Franciscan monk named Friar Jan van Herentals, who in a few words informed him of it, and then left him. He said to friar Jan: “You need not come again to-morrow, for I do not need you.” In the morning he was brought out from his prison into another room, where he had many words with the monk, who forthwith condemned him. Thereupon he replied: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.” Luke 6:37. The monk said: “You confessed that you did not believe that Christ assumed flesh from Mary.” He replied: “I have said it once in my confession; shall I tell you again?” and he referred him to John 1.
The monk then asked him whether he would not confess to him. He answered: “I have confessed to God.” The monk said: “Have you lived to be so old without ever confessing?” “No,” said he, “I have indeed confessed to men; but God knows I heartily regret that I submitted so long to your confession.” The monk then asked him whether he did not want to hear a mass. He replied: “I have read so many, that I loathe the mass; and even though I do not want to have it, yet if you want to read it, nevertheless, how can I prevent it? Hence, if you want to do it, do so, but not on my account; for I do not wish it.” Then the monk asked him whether he would not have the sacrament; but he said: “No, but if I could partake of the Lord’s Supper, as instituted and commanded by the Lord, and observed by the apostles and their churches, this I should heartily desire, and thank the Lord for it, but your deception I do not want.” Upon this the monk again damned him two or three times.
The thief-takers then came, and wanted to give him something to drink, but he refused it. Then came one of the jailer’s daughters, a wanton girl, and wanted to put it into his mouth with a spoon, as they were sitting and drinking with the thief-takers, but Heyndrick said to her: “I have certainly told you that I do not want it; hence, let me in peace, if it is possible.” Thereupon one of the thief-takers said: “Do you want to go out of this world on an empty stomach?” He said to him: “I thirst for the true wine, of which I shortly hope to drink.” But the monk said: “God does not put new wine into old bottles.” But he said to the monk: “Because I have become renewed, therefore you hate me,” Much more was said yet, which has been forgotten, since he himself could not write. This was written by one who was present when Heyndrick spoke with the monk. Though he was not a brother or fellow member with Heyndrick in the church, yet his friendly disposition prompted him to write down what he remembered of it, just as he saw and heard it, for the remembrance of all lovers of the truth; and the following was seen and heard not only by him, but also by all the citizens generally, who can with him testify to it.
When Heyndrick had ascended the scaffold, he began to speak much to the people, saying, among other things: “Good citizens, repent, and believe only the Gospel and not the traditions of men.”
When they led him to the lords, to hear his sentence, he again turned his face to the citizens and said that all the practices observed were only human traditions, and that whoever would not follow them had to be the reproach and offscouring of all men, yea, must thus suffer death. Matt. 15:6; 1 Corinthians 4:13.