Part 133
After this they cried as loud as ever, and demanded the young constable, and also the Bailiff and the members of the court. And as the servants were in a story of the tower below the one occupied by the lords of the court, they told the rioters aloud that the lords and the constable had already left the city hall. Deeper silence could not have reigned in a convent, than prevailed at this time among the lords; for though some did not make an outward manifestation of the regret which they felt in their hearts, he that had sharp eyes, could read it in their face. And though it was past noon, and no one had eaten much that day, yet I believe, if there had been an abundance of the most tempting viands, none would have made very great inroads upon them.
But at last, God be praised for it, the tumult and uproar ceased; so that through the faithfulness of Adriaen Jacobs Tromper, councilor of said city, who had left the ark, but returned with an olive twig, and informed the lords of the court, in their anxiety, that the uproar had subsided, and that the rioters had all gone away. Thus, about two o’clock in the afternoon, the lords left the tower; but the city was still in great commotion, and Jan Hendricks, the prisoner that had been cut down, was brought into the house of one Kers Goverts Brouwer, near the city hall, where he remained until about five or six o’clock in the evening, when he was openly put into a boat, and taken out of the city, and it is said that he is still living.
That evening the arquebusiers were ordered on guard. The next day, the 29th of March, a delegation went in behalf of the city to the Hague, to the lords of the council, where they reported the matter, presented an excuse in behalf of the city, and requested that commissioners be sent to inquire into the matter, that the city might be exculpated from the uproar. Next day, Sir Guiljand Zeegers, Lord van Wassenhoven, and Sir Christian de Waert, Procurator-General, arrived here, and made some inquiries concerning the crime, and reported the information obtained to the council. His Royal Majesty, having been informed that full control had been gained over the city, speedily dispatched (since my lord the margrave van Veere was sick) the count of Boussu and my lord of Cruyningen, who passed through here secretly, on Easter eve, on their way to the Hague, where they, on Easter-day, convened the whole council. They wrote to the Bailiff, to close the gates and bars, and to fetch those who had been designated and reported, from their beds, in the night; which was done after the close of Easter-day, and there was apprehended in the night, with the assistance of the arquebusiers, and in presence of the burgomasters, one Chiele Pot. On the following day, the second Easter-day, there arrived in the city the Count of Boussu, my lord of Cruyningen, Sir Gerrit van Assendelft, President of the Council, Guiljand Zeegers, lord of Wassenhoven, Sir Cornelis Zuys, Aernoult Sasbout, Cornelis van Weldam, and Dominicus Boot.
_On the 21st of April, 1558, after Easter._
Whereas Jacob Theunis, _alias_ Mosselman, born at Rotterdam, at present a prisoner, has confessed, without torture and iron bonds, before the count of Boussu, Knight of the order of the Golden Fleece, the lord of Cruyningen, as commissaries from his Royal Majesty, and the court of Holland; that he, the prisoner, after the tumult and uproar in this city of Rotterdam had taken place, went to the city hall, to see what was going on there, and that as he ascended the steps of the city hall, a crutch was thrown at his neck, whereupon he picked it up, went with it into the city hall, where the servants were still in the tower, and threw it up from below at the servants; all of which are things of bad example, and must not go uncorrected, but must be punished, as a warning example unto others; therefore, the aforesaid court, after mature deliberation, in the name of the King of Spain, of England, of France, etc., as Count of Holland, Zeeland and Vriesland, has condemned and does sentence by these presents, the aforesaid prisoner Jacob Theunis, to appear in audience, and there to ask, with uncovered head, on his knees, the forgiveness of the court, on behalf of his Royal Majesty and justice, and to declare that he is sincerely sorry that he threw the crutch at the servants, in the city hall: and that after this is done, he is to be brought upon the scaffold erected in front of the city hall of this city, and to remain standing there until after the execution of the rioters. Done at Rotterdam by Sir Geraerdt van Assendelft, Emskerk, etc., first President of the council, Guiljand Zeegers, lord of Wassenhoven, etc., Knight, Sir Cornelis Zuys, Aernout Sassebout, Cornelis van Weldam, Dominicus Boot, Damas van Drogendijk, Quintijn Weytszoon, and Aernout Nicolai, Councilors of Holland, and pronounced on the 21st of April, 1558, after Easter.
Whereas Avicenna Jans, born at Delft, at present a prisoner, has confessed, without torture and iron bonds, before the count of Boussu, Knight of the Golden Fleece, and the lord of Cruyningen, as commissaries of his Royal Majesty and the court of Holland, that he, the prisoner, at the time of the tumult and uproar which recently occurred in this city of Rotterdam, stood at the house of Kors Goverts Brouwer, and that after said uproar was almost over, he, intending to go home, in his consternation went eastward, and again passed the house of the aforesaid Kors, and having seen that the condemned and strangled man, who had been cut down from the stake at which he had been strangled, was brought to the house of the aforesaid Kors Goverts, he, the prisoner also went into the house; and that, while the strangled man was yet lying in the street near the door, and because some of the other bystanders had said to him: “Take the man (meaning the strangled man) further back,” he, the prisoner, also seized hold of him; and that after the strangled man had been lifted up and carried into the house, he, since some had told him to see whether there was yet life in the strangled man, tapped the soles of his feet, and afterwards, in the evening, returned home from the aforesaid house--
Here the account in said book of criminal sentences abruptly ends; so that it remains uncertain what was further done in the matter.
THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.
At Cologne, on the Rhine, a godfearing brother, named Thomas van Imbroeck, a printer’s servant, was apprehended for the truth, in the year 1557, and imprisoned in a tower. When afterwards examined in regard to baptism and marriage, he met them with the word of God, in such a manner that they desisted from examining him further and put him into another tower. His wife wrote him a letter exhorting him to fight valiantly, and to adhere firmly to the truth. For these comforting words he affectionately thanked her, and showed by many Scriptures that the righteous have always suffered, and that he stood with a good conscience void of offense before God, to follow them, forsake wife, children, and all visible things, and take up the cross of Christ, and follow him, for which he prayed God that he might be found worthy. Afterwards there came to him two priests, who disputed with him concerning infant baptism; but they disagreed among themselves; for the one would have that the infants that died unbaptized were damned, while the other admitted that they were saved. They insisted that he should become converted. But he said: “That which I maintain, the Scriptures have taught me, and if any one will teach me a better way from the Scriptures, I will gladly follow him.” They said: “You despise our church, and refuse to be taught by us.” He replied: “That I contemn your church and do not come under your communion, is for the reason that you do not keep your church pure; for perjurers, whoremongers, and the like are pious brethren among you.” They also asked him why he did not have his children baptized. He answered: “The Scriptures teach no infant baptism, and those that are to be baptized according to the word of God, must first believe.” Then they said that he was a heretic, but were not able to prove it. He was then brought to the rack, where he was sharply examined, but not tortured, though the executioner had everything ready for it; for the lords were not agreed among themselves. This happened three different times. After this he was brought into the house of the count, who would gladly have set him at liberty had he not so greatly feared the imperial decree and the displeasure of the bishop. Thomas, however, was bold, of good cheer, and ready to lay down his life for the name of Christ, and to adhere so firmly to the truth and the love of God, that neither fire, water, sword, nor any other thing should move him therefrom. When they took him away from the house of the count, he suffered much temptation all night from the count’s people and others, who undertook to teach and instruct him, but all in vain; for they were such as were themselves not instructed or taught of God.
Finally he was brought before the high court, where he was condemned to death, in presence of the count, who then; for the first time, pronounced judgment, staining his staff with Christian blood. Thus he was beheaded, as a pious witness of Jesus Christ, for his steadfast continuance in the faith, on the 5th day of March, 1558, being twenty-five years old.
From his prison he wrote letters to his wife and brethren, and also a confession of his faith regarding baptism, of which a special book has been published, all of which is very instructive and comforting for the godfearing, as you shall see by the following part, which is here presented to you.
_A letter by Thomas van Imbroeck, written from prison to his wife and brethren._
Much grace and peace from God the heavenly Father, who is a true Father; for he shows his fatherly faithfulness to all his children, according to his promise, when he says: I will be a Father unto them, and they shall be my sons and daughters. May this Father so speak to your hearts, that you may believe me with a good conscience, that you are his children, and it will not fail you.
This grace I wish you, my dear wife, and also the wife of my Lord (you understand whom I mean), through the Author and Finisher of life, Jesus, to whom alone we must take refuge, that we may become conformed to him in this world, according to the words of the prophet, who says: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him.” Is. 53:23.
But what says the Scripture: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
Hence I deem it necessary for us, O wife of the Lord, to reflect on this; for though we are now the reproach of all men, yea, as the filth and offscouring of every one, so that they say: “Away with him, for he is not fit to live;” they shall in due time confess and say: “Behold, how are they now numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. We accounted their life madness, and their end to be without honor.” Wis. 3:5,4. Now we sigh, but when he shall come for whom we wait; then they shall sigh, and be distressed with great pain; who shall be without hope; for their worm shall never die, and their fire shall not be quenched.
Hence, there is a great difference between the pious and the ungodly; for the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God, and there shall no torment touch them, for their hope is full of immortality. Wis. 3:1,4.
This, my brethren, we are to consider well; for if we look back, we still look upon deadly or mortal things, and there cannot apply to us the comforting words of Paul, where he says: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” 2 Cor. 4:17,18.
Now I know that wife and children are visible, and though they are dear to me, yet I will count them but dung, and say: “Henceforth know I no man after the flesh; but the knowledge of the spirit abideth forever.” Philip. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:16. And thus I hope to know you all when we shall appear together in the eternal joy, which is prepared from the beginning for them that are not ashamed of Christ; but this is not to be ashamed, when we, as malefactors, go without the gate, for Christ’s sake, and help him bear his reproach, without the camp. Heb. 12:13.
Hence I desire that the rich seek no excuse, and say: “Yea, I cannot forsake everything, it would create great wonderment and sensation before the world, if I should so completely forsake my rank. Yea, they should imagine that they were doing too much in this. Ah no! he who is over all, God blessed forever, humbled himself much more than this; for he was King over all, and Lord of the whole world, even as David in spirit calls him Lord: he came not to be ministered unto, but to minister unto all; for he became the servant of us all, that he might make us free. Rom. 9:5; Philip. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; Matt. 20:28; John 8:36.
If we therefore have received freedom through him, let us be grateful, and not cast it from us; for it has a great reward, though some say we ought not to serve God for the reward. This view, I say, is not right; for I say with Paul: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Cor 15:19.
Yet, let no one think, that he shall be justified and saved by his good works alone; for this we must wholly ascribe to the grace of God, and to the merits and innocently shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who works the good in us.
Therefore, my dear brethren, beware of such spirits; for they would experience greater perfection, but fail in those things which are least. Adhere to the doctrine you have learned. One thing I desire and request: that the simple may be better and more thoroughly instructed, lest your labor be burned in the fire; for the scripture says not in vain: “In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted; for experience brings perfect wisdom, even as Paul says: Blessed be ... the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For, as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ; yea, through him, I say, we shall gain the victory; for he is our life, and to die is gain for us, since he says: “Though you were dead, yet shall you live.” Heb. 2:18; 2 Cor. 1:3–5; John 11:25; 2 Tim. 2:11.
Hence it is good to die with Christ; for he was raised up by the glory of his Father, and, hence, will draw unto him all that the Father has given him. Rom. 6:4; John 12:32. Therefore, my brethren, and my dear wife, let us be valiant; for the apostle says: “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9. Hence I deem it good, to be in weakness, (mark) if it be followed by being in reproach, distress, persecution, and fear for Christ’s sake.
Yea, if the Lord should count me worthy to testify with my blood to his name, how greatly would I thank him, for I hope not only to bear these bonds with patience, but also to die for Christ’s sake, that I may finish my course with joy; for I would rather be with the Lord, than live again in this abominable, wicked world; however, his divine will be done. Amen.
And if anything should be defective yet in my life, that I may not have been diligent enough (which I confess), may the Lord blot it out and purge it, through the fire of his love and mercy, in the blood of Jesus Christ through which everything must be purified, and purged. 1 John 1:7.
Dear brethren, I desire that you will all pray to God for me, that he will keep us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
_Another letter by Thomas van Imbroeck, written in prison to his wife._
May grace, peace and mercy from God the heavenly Father, and the pure love of his Son Jesus Christ, be perfect in your heart, my dear wife, that you may thereby be drawn from all visible things to the invisible and eternal, through the help and co-operation of his Holy Spirit, who is the Governor and Guide of the children of God; to him be glory and praise forever and ever, Amen.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for his great and unspeakable grace, which he has imparted to us through his gracious goodness, and has drawn us into the kingdom of his Beloved Son, through whom we have received redemption from all our sins, in his blood. Eph. 1:3.
Hence it is right and just that we ought not to cease constantly to serve him with great humility as grateful and obedient children, and not disesteem the grace which has been given us, but diligently consider why and for what purpose it has been given us, namely, that we should use it and get gain by it, that we may hear the sweet voice which says: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” Matt. 25:21.
Be admonished by this, that the merchant sold all that he had, and bought the field in which lay the treasure. Matt. 13:44. Thus you should also think now, that you willingly give your husband to the Lord, like Jephtha, who offered up his daughter to the Lord; or remember also Abraham, the pious father of all the faithful, who did not become weak in faith, but willingly delivered up his son Isaac to show obedience to the mighty God, who gives life and breath to all men, Judg. 11:39; Heb. 11:17.
Remember also patient Job, who in his trial with all meekness said: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21.
O, James may well say: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord.” Jas. 5:11. And also Paul says: “Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” Heb. 12:3 He knew no sin; but we must confess that we deserve more punishment than we suffer, though the same is profitable, as is written that he chastises us for our benefit, and that all things work together for good to us. Rom. 8:28.
Hence I desire of you, my dear friend, that you be of good cheer in the Lord, and do not grieve, for I have well perceived that you have lost flesh and become emaciated. Rejoice with me, and thank God that we are not bastards, but that he receives us as a Father, yea, as children and fellow heirs of his kingdom, who here on earth receive like reward with his Son, and this for the sake of his testimony.
Why should we not suffer the evil, seeing we have received the good from him? However, if we would sorrow, we have cause enough for it, for godly sorrow I mean; for we may with truth lament, that we are still very unfit; even as you write me, that you cannot pray well, even as I also, alas! am imperfect. Jas. 4:3. But the reason of it, in my opinion, is this, that we are not sufficiently displeased with ourselves, and also, that we do not perceive the thorns that are in our flesh.
May the Lord have compassion upon us, and open the eyes of our understanding, so that we may hate sin, even as God himself hates it; for then he takes pleasure in us, even as also holy David when he says: “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed; but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.” Ps. 6:2–4,6.
But where are the tears which we have shed, my dear wife, over our past sins, when our souls were wounded even unto death, yea, sunk in hell? True, we sing: “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me:” but it were far better for us, to lament from deep distress of heart, and to pray with a broken, contrite and fervent heart, if we experience the same, now that tribulation and suffering happen to us in the flesh.
Thus also Esther learned to pray, where she says: “O my Lord, thou only art our King: help me, desolate woman, which have no helper but thee; deliver us and help me; for thou knowest all things; O Lord, thou knowest that I hate the glory of the unrighteous, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised, and that I abhor the sign of my high estate.” 2 Esther 14:3,15.
We must observe here that the pious woman had an aversion for the costly apparel, and hated it more than she loved it. Do you also beware of it, and reprove it sharply in those whom you see given to it: for it proceeds not from a humble heart. The proverb says: “Don’t put moths into the fur;” neither must we give the flesh occasion for sin, since it is, alas! evil enough without that. Gal. 5:13.
Therefore, my dear sister, do not respect persons; for the faith of Jesus does not suffer respect of persons (Deut. 1:17; Jas. 2:1); but reprove that which is evil with all kindness and humility, out of love, and show yourself in all things a pattern of good works and sobriety to all women, with piety and silence; for he that bridles not his tongue, deceives his own heart, and his religion is vain.
Hence I affectionately exhort you, while you have time now, that you will use all diligence; for it is not enough, that we confess the name of the Lord with the mouth in prison, but we must first demonstrate our confession in power; for we know that he who transgresses out of prison, sins just as much as he that sins in prison, though through weakness, while the other, sins from wantonness.
Therefore take heed to yourselves, and be always prepared; for we know not the hour. Watch therefore, and keep your garments clean, lest you walk naked, and your shame become manifest. Be always ready for conflict; for David says; “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” Ps. 34:19,20. “He saveth the poor from the sword of the ungodly, and the needy from the hand of the mighty.” Job 5:15. Job further says: “Happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” 5:17,18.
Paul also says, that he wants to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means (he says) I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:10,11. Hence we must mourn with him, that we may also rejoice with him. Does not Christ say: “Blessed are they that mourn and lament; for they shall be comforted; yea, the tears shall be wiped away.” Matt. 5:4. And the Lord does not forsake the widow that is oppressed, as it is written: “He hears the prayer of the distressed and oppressed, and he does not despise the prayer of the widows, if they pour it out before him with lamentation and sighing; yea, their tears ascend to heaven, and the Lord will hear them.” Sir. 35:24.