Martyrs Mirror 782EXAMINATION, TORTURE, AND SENTENCE OF AN 4 NETGEN ANTHEUNIS, STIJNTGEN JANS, EVERT NOUTS, AND PIETER VAN EYNOVEN, AT ROTTERDAM, IN THE YEAR 1558*

On. the 20th o f February, 1558 stilo coj., in presence of Adriaen Fijck, Adriaen Adriaens, Adriaen Robberts, Pieter Hendricks, Cornelis Joosten, and Willem Muylwijck, judges, there was orally examined, Annetgen Antheunis, aged over thirty years, born at Buuren.

She says that she always lived at Buuren, except one year that she resided here in the city, which she afterwards left, but returned about last St. Victor's day, and has since resided here until the present time.

She says that she did not inquire the name of the people where she formerly worked.

She says that she and another woman, named Stijntje van Ick, or Maurick near Buuren, have lived here in the city since St. Victor's day, and that she came here with said woman, from Buuren.

She says that Evert is from Antwerp, and that he came to her yesterday, at the house where she was apprehended.

She says that she learned to know said Evert only about two or three months ago, and that he came in the daytime, to the house of Arent Willems, in the woodyard, to buy a cheese.

She says that she did not go to confession either at last Easter or Christmas.

She says that she observes all that God has commanded.

She says that she was baptized according to the command of the Lord, but does not know the exact day; but that it took place at the house of the aforesaid Axent Willems, in the woodyard, and that she did not inquire the name of him that baptized her.

On the 20th o f February o f said year, in the presence o f the above mentioned, there was orally examined, one Jan Hendricks, of Utrecht, aged 28 or 29 years.

He says that he has lived here in the city since Bamessche, in the house of Maritgen Jancheelen, in the fishmarket, and last in Willem Reyer's house, where he was apprehended.

He says that at Dordrecht he lived near Starke Neele.

He says that he does not want to tell where or from whom he heard the doctrine.

He says that he thinks much of the sacrament, but nothing of the sacrament of the priests, and that, since he embraced this doctrine, he has never been to the sacrament.

* Extracted from a certain book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam.

He says that he was baptized since he believed, a certain time ago, and that he does not wish to tell when, where, or by whom it was done.

He says that his child was washed a little by the priest, but does not want to tell when.

On the aforesaid day, in the presence of the aforesaid judges, there was orally examined, Stijntgen fans, aged 40 years, from Maurik, in Guelderland.

She says that she has been here in the city about two or three years, with Annetgen Theunis, anal that they lodged in the woodyard, and afterwards resided in a house where lace is made, and which stands behind a stable.

She says that she has no faith in the sacrament which the priests administer, but esteems the sacrament as God has instituted it, and that she cannot believe in the sacrament of the church, because she cannot comprehend it.

She says that she was baptized at a certain time, not yet twelve years ago, and not here in this city, but at Utrecht.

On the same day, and in the presence o f the above, there was orally examined, one Evert N'outs o f Antwerp, aged about 27 years.

He says that it is about three months since he came here into this city, and that he lodged for a time in the woodyard, and wove lace near the house called the Falcon.

He says that he believes in the sacrament so far as the Scriptures speak of it, but does not believe that God is in the sacrament of the altar, since the Scriptures do not assure him of this; but he believes concerning it in this manner that it is so, as far as it goes.

He says that he was baptized according to the doctrine of Christ, a little over three years ago, just outside of Antwerp, in a certain place, by one Gillis of Aix la Chapelle, as he heard him called, who was executed this summer at Antwerp.

On the same day, and in presence o f the abovementioned judges, there was orally examined one Pieter van Eynoven, born at Antwerp; aged 28 years.

He says that he has worked here in the city, at his trade of silk weaving, since fourteen days before Christmas, in the house of one Christian, whose wife is named Anneken.

He says that he believes on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

He says that he believes that the administration of the sacrament in the church is, a great abomination before God.

He says that he was baptized according to the doctrine of Christ, about two years ago, but does not want to tell by whom or where it was done.

On the 19th of March, 1558, stilo coj. in the presence of Adriaen Fijck Dirks van Hove, Adriaen Adriaens, Adriaen Robbertszoon, Pieter van

Neck Hendricks, Cornelis loosten, Willem Corneliss Muylwijk, and Dirk Dirks, judges, there was examined by torture, in the morning, at six o'clock, in the city hall, Pieter van Eynoven, born at Antwerp, aged about 28 years.

Pieter, when tortured on the rack, said that he was baptized at Antwerp, about two years ago, by one Leendert, whose surname he does not know, nor whence he is, and he had never seen him, except when he baptized him.

He says that several others, whose names he does not know, were present when he was baptized.

When asked concerning the women with whom he spoke at the time of his apprehension, he said that he did not know where they were going, or who they were.

He says that he who baptized them, is called a teacher among them.

He says that before he was baptized he had heard that he had to live according to the command of Christ, and that he took a Bible and Testament, and read therein, and found that it was as had been told him; but he does not know the names of those who had previously instructed him herein, because they often do not inquire the names of others, nor want to know them, so as not to bring their brethren into trouble.

He says that his master, Christian, and his wife, had the same faith as he, but does not know whether they are baptized.

Jan Hendricks o f Utrecht, aged 28 years, severely tortured on the rack.

He says that he was baptized by one Leenert, but does not know whence he is, nor had he ever seen him previously, and that he was baptized by him here in the city, in the woodyard, a year and a half ago.

He says that his child was baptized by the priest, at the font, at Dortrecht, and that no others whom he knows were present when he was baptized.

Stijntgen Tans, aged about 40 years, o f Utrecht

Stijntgen says that he who baptized her is named Leenert, and that it took place in Utrecht, five or six years ago, in the house of one Gerrit, and that she does not know the surname of the aforesaid

Leenert, nor whence he is, because they do not inquire nor have much desire to know the names or surnames of their fellow members, so as not to bring them into trouble.

She says that others were baptized with her, but she did not know them.

The judges being .all assembled, resolve to postpone the matter of the aforesaid prisoners to a limited day, until the executioner's .return, in order that said prisoners shall consider the matter, and that it may be seen whether they can be induced by kind means: and that they shall then comply with the wishes of the bailiff, by expediting the matter and justice, if the judges are all at home.

On the 28th of March. The judges resolve, since Cornelis Joosten and Dirk Dirks, judges, are not at home, to postpone the case of the aforesaid prisoners, until the former return.

The bailiff protests costs and interests, since the judges will not consent to limit a day for said prisoners.

The judges protest and say that since Cornelis JOosten and Dirk Dirks, of their number, are absent, and they have agreed together to be present in full number to consider the case of said prisoners, they adhere to their former decision.

On the 26th of March all that they had orally confessed at torture was read to the aforesaid five prisoners, who publicly, in front of the city hall, acknowledged it to be true, in the sight of everyone, and a day, namely, Monday, the 28th of March, was limited for them, by the bailiff, Gerrardt van der Mersche. Done as stated above, in presence of Adriaen Fijck, Adriaen Adriaens, Adriaen Robbrechts, Pieter Hendricks, Cornelis Joosten, William Corneliss, and Dirk Dirks, judges.