Martyrs Mirror 1205ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW

We poor prisoners, named Hendrick Terwoort and Jan Pieterss, lying in bonds in the Mersey, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and from there sentenced to death, to be burnt to ashes at the stake, whereunto we have willingly prepared ourselves here, this 10th of April, A. D. 1575, in London.

Further, we poor prisoners kindly ask, that you will accept in good part our simple writing to your honor; for the reason that we do this, is because we are very sorry that your honor is not well satisfied with the simple answer made by us; which has caused us briefly to write your honor, in order that you may better understand and know what views we have in regard to it. Hence we have also briefly written our confession concerning it.

This is the confession of our faith of God our heavenly Father.

1. We believe in one only God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and of the earth, as is written, Gen. 1:1 ; in whom Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the prophets believed. Heb. 11 .

2. We further believe in Jesus Christ the only Son of the Father, who was in the beginning with God. Mic. 5:2 ; John 1:1 ; I John 1:1 . And when the fullness of the time was come, which God had promised, this Word became flesh, and was born of the house of David, Rom. 1:3 , of the pure virgin Mary, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, who is blessed above all other women. We believe that this true Son of God, by many signs and miracles which He did, proclaimed to us the word of His Father. And after that He was delivered up to the Jews, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died and was buried. Matt. 27:1 ; Mark 15:1 ; Luke 23:1 ; John 18 .

3. We also believe that this same Jesus Christ is true God and man, and suffered for our sins. Isaiah 53:5 . And when we were His enemies, He suffered a bitter death for us, that those who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 .

4. We also believe that this our Saviour was raised up from the dead, Matt. 28:6 ; Mark 16:6 ; Luke 24:6 ; John 20:9 , even as He had foretold. Matthew 17:9 ; Mark 9:9 ; Luke 9:22 . And is sitting at the right hand of His Father. Mark 16:19 ; Acts 7:55 .

5. We furthermore believe in the Holy Ghost, even as is written, I John 5:7 , saying that there are three that bear record in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.

6. We also believe in the communion of the saints, whose prayers avail much for us, I John

1:3;* James 5:16 . We also believe in a holy church, in which are those who believe in Jesus Christ, who by one Spirit are baptized into one body, even as Paul says, I Cor. 12:13 . And Jesus Christ is the Head thereof, namely of the holy church, even as it is written, Eph. 5:23 ; Col. 1:18 .

We believe and confess, that this holy church has power to close and to open, to bind and to loose, and whatever is bound upon earth is also bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed upon earth is also loosed in heaven. Matt. 16:18 , 19 . We also believe that God has ordained in this holy church, apostles, prophets and teachers, I Cor. 12:28 , bishops and deacons. I Tim. 3 .

7. We believe in and confess also a baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, even as the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us and ordained ( Matt. 28:19 ), and as the apostles practiced ( Acts 2:38 ), and as they wrote with regard to it ( Rom. 6:3 ; I Cor. 12:13 ; Galatians 3:27 ; Eph. 4:5 ; I Pet. 3:21 ). And we believe that all those that have received this baptism are members of the body of Jesus Christ, in the holy church. I Cor. 12 : i 3.

8. As further regards the holy Supper of Jesus Christ, we believe and confess even as Christ said with reference to it, as is written, Matt. 26:26 : As they were eating the supper, Jesus took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave it to His disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body." And He also took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: "Drink, and divide it among yourselves; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins: this do in remembrance of me." Matt. 26:26 ; Mark 14:24 ; Luke 22:17 , 19 . We believe as Paul declares, saying: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of Ahe blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?' " I Cor. 10:16 . "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up, at the last day." John 6:54 .

9. We also confess and believe in a marriage state, as being an ordinance of God, as we read, Gen. 2:24 . A man and a woman joined together in the name of the Lord, in the holy church. I Corinthians 7:2 . For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph. 5:31 . Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matt. 19:6 . For marriage is honorable in all, and. the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. 13:4 .

10. We further believe and confess that magistrates are appointed and ordained of God. Wisd. 6:3 ; Sir. 17:17 ; Rom. 13:1 , for the punishment of the evil, and the protection of the good; to which magistrates we desire from the heart to be

* In the margin.

obedient, even as is written ( I Pet. 2:13 ): "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." "For they bear not the sword in vain." Rom. 13:4 . And Paul further teaches us, that, first of all, we are to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved. I Tim. 2:1 . He further teaches us, that one should be subject to principalities and powers, obey magistrates, and be ready to every good work. Tit. 3:1 . Hence we would kindly beg your majesty, that you would rightly understand our meaning that is, that we do not despise the august, noble, and gracious queen, and her wise council, but esteem her majesty worthy of all honor, and we also desire to be subject to her in all that we can; for we confess with Paul as stated above; for she is the minister of God; and that whosoever resists this power resists the ordinance of God; for rulers are not a terror to them that do good, but to those that do evil. Hence we confess that we owe, and are ready to give, to the secular power, custom, tribute, honor and fear, even as Christ Himself taught us, saying: "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God,the things that are God's." Matt. 22:21 . Hence, since she is a minister of God, we would kindly entreat her majesty, that she would be pleased to show mercy to us poor prisoners, even as the heavenly Father is also merciful to us.

We hereby do not consent at all to those who would resist the higher powers, but confess with all our heart, that one must be obedient and subject to them, as we have stated above,

11, Furthermore, to the question put to us, whether we would not be willing to swear any oath, we reply that we do not find ourselves free in our conscience, that we may do this, because, as is written, Christ says ( Matt. 5:33 ): "Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Further, also James teaches us ( Jas. 5:12 ), saying: "But above all things, my brethren, swear not; neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay." For these reasons we dare in no wise swear.

12. We further believe in the resurrection of the dead, as is written Isa. 26:19 ; Job 19:25 ; Daniel 12:2 ; John 5 ; I Cor. 15:12 ; I Thess. 4:16 . That men shall rise from the dead in their own body,

Job 19:26 ; Isa. 26:19 ; I Cor. 15 , when the Lord shall come in the clouds, with His angels, when He shall judge every man according to his deeds, Matthew 25:31 ; Rom. 2:6 .

13. We furthermore believe all that is contained in the holy Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament. And we poor prisoners make humble entreaty, if we have in any wise done amiss to her majesty, or her subjects, praying them, to forgive us for it, and be merciful unto us, even as the heavenly Father is merciful; for we are a poor, simple people, of humble knowledge and understanding, and we are sorry that we cannot write more courteously. Hence we beg your highness, that your majesty would accept our simple writing in good part.

Herewith we will commend your royal majesty to the Lord for this time; the Lord be with you and us all. Amen.

Written in our imprisonment, in London, on the 21st of July, in the year of our Lord 1575, by

HENDRICK TERWOORT, JAN PIETERSS. A clear account of the foregoing "tatters is contained in the following letter, written by one Jaques de Somere (a member of the Calvinistic church, resident at that tune in London), and sent to his mother, Tanneken van der parent, residing at Ghent, in Flanders; in which city he subsequently became a pensionary, while the Reformed ruled at Ghent, before the city was delivered up to the [Duke of] Parma, in the year 1584.