Further Observation Concerning the Death of Jan Wouterss Van Kuyck and Adriaenken Jans of Molenaersgraef.
When said two persons were led forth to death, the hall bell was rung (as was generally done at executions that took place in the name of the city), in consequence of which a great concourse of the common people gathered to the place of execution.
The gates of the city were closed, or at least guarded, that no one could get out or in, except with the consent of those who kept watch there, and their names were written down after they had stated whence they came, and whither they were bound.
When they had arrived at the place of execution, which was on the northwest side of the city, close by the water’s edge, and had ascended the height, or scaffold, some among the bystanders called to these two valiant persons with a good intention, and comforted them, because of their courage, in their impending death. Jan Wouterss turned to them and exhorted them to amend their life, and to accept the true faith, declaring that they both were of good cheer and longed for this holy sacrifice.
Thereupon he was harshly reproved by the under bailiff, which displeased many, notwithstanding they had not attained to the true enlightenment.
Both of them were then stripped of their upper garments and also of their shoes, which were thrown among the common people, but picked up and taken away by a certain brother named Dirck Wouterss.
Forthwith Adriaenken Jans was first placed at the stake, and strangled without delay, seeing which and recognizing her, a certain sister of the church, whose name is well known, and who had come in the market-boat from Rotterdam, fainted away, and was therefore not able to witness the subsequent death of Jan Wouterss.
This took place as already stated. In the meantime the hall bell was still rung, until about the time that the (so-called) justice was finished.
Note.—We went to no little trouble to obtain at the archives of this city of Dortrecht, the old records of their examinations and death sentences, but were not able to procure them, as they are no longer extant; they were also, as it appears, never put on record in the ordinary’s book of criminal sentences, which we searched for this purpose. It is our opinion that these sentences were simply put on loose sheets of paper and thus read in court and then destroyed, so that no remembrance of it should remain, as it seemed that the city should soon change her government and religion, as actually took place about three months afterwards, through the arrival of William I., Prince of Orange.
Nevertheless, we are not without other legal testimony in regard to this matter.
Johan van Beverwijck, first physician and judge of the city of Dortrecht, writes concerning it, in the history attached to his description of Dortrecht, in the Dort edition, p. 348, for the year 1572, as follows:
“In the city proper there was imprisoned, accused as a heretic, a man of blameless life and conversation, as I learned from those with whom he resided, by the name of Jan van Kuyck Wouterss, a skillful writer upon glass and painter.
“The authorities; seeing the disposition of the people, were not in haste with his trial; yea, the Bailiff, Jan van Drenckwaert Boudewijnss, who was still young and beardless, had himself painted by him, in the attitude of Solomon, where he pronounces his first sentence.
“But the monks did nothing but vehemently preach against this slackness, and hesitated not to proclaim from the pulpit, that the Bailiff had apprehended him merely to have himself painted by him.
“Hence, this poor man, after many tortures, inflicted upon him in order to extort from him the names of his master and comrades; was burned on the 28th of March, A. D. 1572, on the New Fortification, together with Adriaenken Jans, a woman from Molenaersgraef.” Thus far, Johan van Beverwijck.
Hence the account of the death of these persons is certain and reliable, nor is it doubted by any one that we have ever heard here in this city; the well-disposed will therefore be satisfied therewith.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17.
TOUCHING THE PERSONS THAT WERE THEN IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, SAT IN JUDGMENT IN REGARD TO THIS SENTENCE; THEY WERE THE FOLLOWING:
Jan van Drenckwaert Boudewijnss, aged between twenty-nine and thirty years, being then Bailiff of Dortrecht.
Arent van der Mijle Sir Corneliss, burgomaster of the community, who had gone out of office about the close of the year 1570, but had now, the 6th of March, been re-elected.
Together with (according to the law of said city) nine judges: Cornelis Sir Hendricks; Adriaen van Mosyenbroeck Sir Govertss; Adriaen Koninck Dirckss; Arent Hendricks; Gijsbrecht Janss, treasurer; Michiel van Beveren Sir Pieterss; Mr. Jan van Muylwijck Sir Franss; Pieter Kool Sir Huygenss; Damas Sir Wouterss, surrogated by Jan Adriaenss.
These we have extracted from the register of the lords of justice of the city of Dortrecht, who reigned in the year 1572, according to the account of the aforesaid Johan van Beverwijck, in the book referred to, where he treats of the government of the city, for the year 1572.
But whether they all together concurred in this sentence, or only some of them, by a majority of votes among them, is not expressed, nor do we consider it of much importance to know, since it is sufficient for our improvement and edification to have learned the unwavering faith and steadfast death of the aforesaid martyrs, who died under their reign.
Concerning the death of these friends two hymns were composed at that time, in the first of which the following words among others were sung, touching the cause and time of their imprisonment:
Terstond daer na zijn Brieven gekomen,
Te Dordrecht aen den nieuwen Schout,
Die seer jonk is van jaren, etc.
Right after, letters came:
To the new Bailiff at Dordrecht,
Who is very young of years, etc.
In the other this is sung concerning their death:
Adriaenken Jans is eerst omgebrocht,
’t Welck Schout Jan Drenkwaert heeft versocht.
First Adriaenken Jans was put to death
Who requested the bailiff Jan Drenkwaert.
And afterwards:
Jan Wouterss sprak, met goed bescheyd,
Dit is den dag der saligheyd.
Swygt, sprak den Onderschout.
Waerom soude ik (seyde hy) ’tspreeken laten,
Myn woorden zijn niet quaed, noch stout.
Adriaenken look haer oogen voorwaer,
Om haren Bruydegom te behagen klaer;
Die rust nu in den Heer,
En is de pyn van den brand ontgaen,
Alleen door sijn genade meer.
Jan Woutersz heeft hem aen den pael gerecht,
Doen lachre by [van vreugd’] als een vroom knecht,
En beval soo God
Synen geest in Syne handen,329
Die was sijn Toevlucht, Borgt, en Slot.
Oorlof heeft hy geroepen aldaer,
Aen Broeders en Susters in’t openbaer,
Met woorden soet,
U wil ik den Heer bevelen,
Die voor ons heeft gestort sijn bloed.
Dees twee schaepkens zijn door, voort tempeest,
Wat heeft al [haer] lijden mi geweest?
Sy hebben de Kroon
Der Martelaren verworven,
Die hebben sy nu voor haer loon.
Jan Wouterss clearly spake:
This is the day of salvation.
Be silent, said the underbailiff.
Why should I, he said, forbear to speak?
My words are neither bad nor bold.
Adriaenken too looked forward,
To please her Bridegroom.
She rests now in the Lord,
And has passed the fire’s pain,
Through his bountiful grace alone.
Jan Wouterss placed himself at the stake,
Then laughed for joy, as a pious servant,
And thus commended his spirit
Into the hands of the Lord,
Who was his Refuge, Fortress and Castle.
Farewell, he sweetly called
To the brethren and sisters openly:
I will commend you to the Lord,
Who shed for us his blood.
These two lambs have now passed through,
Away tempest!
What were now all their sufferings?
They obtained the martyr’s crown,
Which now they hold as their reward.
In the same hymn is also mentioned, how their mouths were gagged, how they prayed to God, how they prepared themselves for death at the place of execution, etc.; but we deem the foregoing sufficient for a memorial of their sacrifice.
Note.—As there have come into our hands all the letters, testaments and confessions, twelve in number, of Jan Wouterss van Kuyck, as also a letter of Adriaenken Jans of Molenaersgraef, with the answer of her husband, J. A. of Dort, all of which we have, upon perusing them, found to be full of sound and edifying teachings we have deemed it well to add the same here for edification and perpetual remembrance, so that every one may see the active and living faith upon which the aforementioned friends laid down their lives.