O God, be merciful also unto us that are still living, that continuing faithful unto the end, we may with her, and all the saints receive thy blessed inheritance.
It was for a long time believed (which originated in the assertions of some adherents of the Reformed Church), that the aforementioned Anneken van den Hove died for the sake of the Calvanistic or so-called Reformed faith; but this was long ago justly contradicted, by written as well as by oral testimonies; among others, through a certain letter, which was written in the month of July (when she was offered up) by some one from Antwerp, to one of his friends; in which it is stated, in papistic style, that she was buried alive outside of the city of Brussels, because she belonged to the Anabaptists.
One year subsequently, namely, 1598, there was published, a printed work called the _Apologia Catholica_, by Franciscus Kosterus, in which, on page 160, these words are found: “Moreover, there was no injustice done at Brussels, to Anneken van den Hove, inasmuch as they proceeded against her in accordance with the old laws of the Emperor’s; nor need the Calvinists complain of the lords; for she was found a Mennonist and Anabaptist, who, Calvin himself confesses, ought to be punished.” See the aforementioned book, printed at Antwerp, by Joachim Trognesius, edition 1598, at the place referred to.
Subsequently, in the year 1601, another tract was printed and published at Antwerp, by Hieronymus Verdussen, entitled: _Brief and true account of the sufferings of some pious and glorious martyrs, etc._; wherein she, near the close, is pronounced an Anabaptist.
Moreover, a certain school teacher and sexton of the papistic church at Aelst, who then resided in Brussels, near the Stone Gate, where she was imprisoned, and who often brought her food, made the verbal statement, according to creditable testimony, that she had such a faith and religion as the Mennonites, etc.
It was also then, and shortly after that time a common saying at Brussels, of those that had any knowledge concerning her views, that she agreed therein with the Anabaptists, etc.