Sybrant Jans, Hendrick Gijsbrechts Van Campen, Stephen Benedictus, Femmetgen, Daughter of Egbert, and Welmut, Daughter of Jans.
In the year 1535, three brethren and two sisters named Sybrant Jans, Hendrick Gijsbrechts van Campen, Steven Benedictus, Femmetgen, daughter of Egbert, and Welmut, daughter of Jans, were apprehended at Hoorn, in West Friesland, because they no longer sought to obey the Roman church, but the commandments of God. When they were examined, they freely confessed their faith, principally with regard to baptism. When they were asked whether they had been rebaptized, they answered in the affirmative, saying that they were not sorry for it; that they had been baptized according to the ordinance of Christ, to the remission or burying of their sins, and the putting on of Christ, with the answer of a good conscience towards God. Rom. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:21. The rulers of darkness, perceiving that they were not sorry for it, and intended valiantly to adhere to their faith, sentenced them to death, pursuant to the imperial edict, as the following sentence, which they pronounced upon them clearly shows.
“Whereas M. Anthony Sonck, Bailiff, has entered legal complaint against Sybrant Jans, Hendrick Gijsbrechts van Campen, Steven Benedictus, Femmetgen, daughter of Egbert, and Welmut, daughter of Jans, that, contrary to the written laws, and contrary to our Christian faith, and the edict of his imperial Majesty our most gracious lord, they were rebaptized, without having repented of it, and without having obtained remission therefor, therefore we determine that each and all of them have forfeited their lives and property, and that they be executed, namely; The men with the sword, and their bodies to be placed upon the wheel, and their heads upon stakes, and the women drowned with a stone tied to their necks; and desire that the judges pass sentence accordingly.”
“My lords of the court, having heard the answer and defense of the aforesaid defendants, by which they openly confess that they were rebaptized, without having obtained remission therefor, deem it just, through their sentence, that all the aforesaid persons, according to the edict of his imperial Majesty, and the written laws, have forfeited their lives and property, by virtue of the privileges of this city, and that all are to die, namely: The men to be executed with the sword, their bodies placed upon the wheel, and their heads upon stakes, unless the lords are willing to show them mercy, especially those who renounce and are penitent; and the women to be drowned with a stone tied to their necks or bodies. Passed in the presence of all the judges and three burgomasters, the seventh of June, A. D. 1535.”
This sentence having been given, they were led forth to death; they went boldly to the place of execution, and among other things said: “The servant is not greater than his master; if they have done this in the green tree, what will they do in the dry,” and the like. Having come to the place prepared for this purpose, they were beheaded. The two women were led to the sea, where stones were tied to their necks, and they were cast in, and drowned. Their bodies were ignominiously left to float about for a long time, until the rulers were moved to have them taken out and buried.
Christian reader, here you can clearly see why and for what reasons these people had to die; that what some blind zealots of idolatrous popery say, falsely charge and say is not true, namely: That no one was put to death because of his religion or faith, but on account of their rebelliousness and crimes. But how falsely and shamelessly they act herein may, be judged from this single fact that the same year when these persons were put to death, the siege of Munster took place, and that they were not accused of, much less participated in, this wicked crime. But herein they show the nature of the old Pharisees, who, when they brought Christ to death, did not say that it was on account of his good doctrine that he had to die, but for his blasphemy. This is the way of all tyrants, that, besides inflicting suffering and death upon the innocent, they also heap upon them false accusations. But when the day cometh that shall come, they shall see whom they have pierced, and say with astonishment: “Behold, these are they whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach: we fools accounted their life madness, and their end to be without honor: how are they numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints?” Wis. 5:3–5.
ANDREW CLÆSSEN OF DROURIJP, BEHEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, UNDER THE STADTHOLDER GEORGE SCHENCK, AT LEEUWAERDEN, A. D. 1535.
(Copy of a certain old document.)
“It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,” which our Savior spoke and left for our instruction, saying: “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose it for my sake, or the Gospel’s, shall save it” unto life eternal. Matt. 16:25; Luke 9:24.
This evangelical doctrine, given for admonition and consolation, many faithful witnesses of Christ have taken to heart, who voluntarily surrendered their lives for his holy name’s sake, looking to the promises, and the glorious reward which shall be given them not in this, but in the future world; for in the third chapter of Wisdom we read: “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seem to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality, and having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.” Verses 1–6.
This a glorious testimony, and well accords with the words of the holy apostle Paul, that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:22); as also our Savior says that the way is narrow, and the gate is strait, that leadeth unto life; and that there are few who walk in it; few, when compared to the great multitude and majority who choose the broad way, and walk through the wide gate, to their own destruction and eternal perdition.
Few were found at Sardis, who had not defiled their garments; nevertheless these few were to be crowned as conquerors, clothed in white raiment, and their names were not to be blotted out of the book of life; and the Son of God shall confess their names before his Father and his angels, which is promised to all that overcome. Rev. 3:5. This was taken to heart by those who did not look upon what is visible and perishing, but upon the invisible, as appears in the pious witnesses and martyrs of Christ, who, for Christ’s sake, gladly forsook not only all their property and the distinction which they enjoyed in this world, but also their own lives; for neither persecution, nor any creature in the world could deter them from the love of God and Christ. Rom. 8:39.
Among others, it was seen also in the case of a manful hero and armed soldier of Christ, named Andrew Claessen of Drourijp, a village in Friesland, situated between Leeuwaerden and Franneker; who, A. D. 1535, under the Stadtholder George Schenck, was apprehended, brought to Leeuwaerden, beheaded on the sixteenth of March, and placed upon a wheel. This took place three days after his imprisonment; however, the pious secretly took him down and buried him; and his soul is now also resting under the altar of God.