The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660

Part 270

Chapter 2703,383 wordsPublic domain

Therefore, ye blessed, inure yourselves to all the hardships of the soldier, for the exercise and strengthening of the mind and body. You are now marching in a good contest, in which the living God is the dispenser of the prizes, and the Holy Ghost the keeper; the coronation is an everlasting jewel, the citizenship angelic existence in heaven, a glory that shall endure forever: therefore, it is Jesus Christ who dispenses the prizes to you, who has given you the unction of the Holy Spirit, and advanced you to this grade of honor; may he withdraw you from lighter work before the day of battle, that you may be assailed with greater violence, and your strength be confirmed; for the combatants have to undergo severe discipline and exercise, in order that, by exertion, their physical powers may be improved. For, for this end they are kept from venery, rich victuals, and strong drink; they are subjected to constraint, tortured and exercised; and the greater preparatory exercise they take, the greater is their hopes of victory. Now they do it, says the apostle (1 Cor. 9:25), to obtain a corruptible crown; but we shall obtain an eternal one. We should, therefore, make the prison a place of trial and exercise, that we may be inured to every misfortune and inconvenience, and so appear with the greater confidence, before the judgment-seat of Christ.

We are not unacquainted with the declaration of the Lord Jesus: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We ought, therefore, not to fear or be dismayed, since the Lord declares that the flesh is weak; but he has told us beforehand, that the spirit is willing and ready, in order that he might know which should be subject to the other, namely, that the flesh should serve the spirit, the weaker submit to the stronger--that the former might also acquire strength of the latter. The spirit should converse about the general eternal salvation, and not about the inconvenience of the prison, but meditate upon the contest, and what greater hardships may still be in reserve. Perhaps the flesh will be terrified at the huge sharp sword, the lofty gallows, the ravenous beast, or the exquisite pain of the flames, and the numerous instruments of torment; then will the spirit and flesh stand in opposition. What though this be great cruelty, numbers have suffered it with great joy; nay, persons have voluntarily desired and longed for it, in order to acquire honor and a name; and not only men but women. Hence, ye blessed, you may know how to deport yourselves according to the measure of your race.

It would consume too much time to mention all who have been executed with the sword, under the influence of a strong desire for such a death. Among females, there is _Lucretia_, who, being ravished, pierced her bosom with a dagger in the presence of her friends, that she might leave behind her the fame of her chastity. _Mutius_ burnt off his right hand, in order, thereby, to acquire a name. How, also, that many other extraordinary inconveniences and tortures have been suffered for the acquisition of worldly honor and fame, we omit for brevity’s sake; and add: If temporal honor is worth so much torture and pain, endured through strength of mind, so that fire, sword, gallows, wild beasts, and torture were contemned for the reward of human fame, I may well say, that this, our affliction, is extremely light in comparison of the heavenly glory and the divine reward. If glass is so valuable, how much more precious are jewels? Who, then; would not much rather suffer so much for a real, substantial good, when so many endure so much for an unsubstantial one. I now dismiss the consideration for temporal fame; still the strife of indignation and that of martyrdom are analogous, etc.

This outward exercise, ye blessed, the Lord has not permitted to enter the world to no purpose; but, for our sakes, to warn us, thereby, that we shall be put to shame and confusion at the last day, if we are afraid of suffering for the sake of truth unto salvation, that which others have endured for the sake of vanity, unto perdition, etc. And in conclusion, let us consider the end or design of the creation of man, at which we must arrive, that such reflection may stimulate us to prepare ourselves resolutely to endure those calamities which equally befall the willing and the unwilling, (namely, the punishment of death, etc.) There is no person who would not still suffer for man’s sake; why then should we hesitate or fear to suffer in the cause of God, who will recompense us with the purest love, and with joy and everlasting glory? Meditate upon this, ye blessed.

INDEX.

--A--

Abraham of Cholchester burned, 332

" put to death, 533

" Picolet, 783

" " letter of, 784

Absalom van Tomme, 560

Address of Zeno to Candidates, 208

" to the worldly minded, 14

" " " young, middle-aged, and old, 14

Ado Trevirensis, baptism, A. D. 1076, 253

Adrian, a bishop punished, 210

" Corneliss and others, 506

" " a prayer, 507

" " an admonition, 508–510

" " a confession, 510–515

" de Rieu, 676

" Willems, 692

Adriaen Brael, at Bruges, 629

" den Burry, 659

" Ol, 783

" van Hee and Joos Meeuwens, 562

" Pan and his wife, 595

" " a letter from, 595

" " another letter, 595

" Pieters and Barber Joosten, 810

" Janss Hoedemaecker burned, 841

" " " 1st letter, 841

" " " 2d " , 842

" " " 3d " , 843

" Rogiers, 900

" " first letter, 904

" " sec’d " , 905

" " third " , 906

" Hoedemaecker, 943

Adriaenken Jans burnt, 855–856

" " letter, 881

" " " to her, 883

Advertisement, 1076

Aechtken of Zierick--zee, 599

Aedesius, brother of Apphian drowned, 175

Aeltgen Baten and Maeyken Wouters, 1033

Agapitus, put to death, 126

Agathonica and others put to death, 111

Agathopus, a deacon, drowned, 175

A lad of fifteen years, 483

Albanus, a teacher, burned, 192

Albert of Gaul martyred, 221–222

Albigenses, confession of, 274

" or Waldenses, distinction of, 293

" a plain distinction, 295

" 180 burned, 295

" 60 " at Casser, 296

" 100 " , 296

" 50 " for the faith, 296

" 400 " at Lavaur, 296

Alexander of Phrygia executed, 112

" the Greek martyr, 114

" of Jerusalem put to death, 127

" burned at Alexandria, 129

" torn by wild beasts, 136

Alcibiades martyred, 113

Alfuard put to death, 258

Algerius, a youth, letter, 548

" offered up, 551

Allert Janss, 807

Aloida and Nunilo put to death, 235

A man burned in London, 297

Ambrose, articles of faith, 154

Ammonaria, 130

Ammonius put to death, 179

Ammon, a deacon, 180

Andrew, the apostle, crucified, 84

" Claessen beheaded, 428

" Kofler beheaded, 456

" Samuel and Dirk Pieters, 458

Andries de Meulenaer, at Bruges, 629

" N., his father and brother, 807

Andries Langedul, 608

Andries N., 807

Andries Pirchner, 1003

Andronicus martyred, 83

" put to death, 141

" first examination, 142

" second " , 144

" third " , 146

" account of death, 147

Anna Maler and Ursula, 421

" of Freiburg, 419

" of Rotterdam, 436

" " " letter to her son, 436

" Cantiana, 480

Anneken and others, 476

" Ogiers drowned, 806

" Heyndricks, 833

" Botson, Janneken, her daughter and Maeyken Pieters, 1005

" van den Hove, 1035

" " " " further observation, 1036

" van Bruyssel, 956

Anpleunis van den Berge, 726

Answer to the question, Whether all the people mentioned in this book confessed the faith of the Anabaptists, 17

Anthimus, bishop at Nicomedia, 169

Anthonis Keute at Bruges, 629

" the weaver, 844

" Ysbaerts, 941

" Claes and others, 615

Anthony Keyn beheaded, 457

" van Asselroye, 479

" Welsch, 638

" Hinnelberg, 1065

Antipas burned, 92

Antonis Schoonvelt and others, 627

Anysia, a young girl, slain, 179

A pious brother, 526

Apollonia burned, 129

" wife of Leonhard Seyle, 434

Apostles Creed, 26

Apostolics put to death, 282

Apphian, a youth, drowned, 174

Aquila martyred, 83

Aquilina put to death, 178

Arent Block, 885–886

Arent van Essen and Ursel, his wife, 805

Arent Jacobs, wife and son, 438

Ares put to death, 177

Aristarchus slain at Rome, 83

Arnald, a lector, burned, 281

Arnobius on baptism, 148

Arnold, a teacher, martyred, 204

" Marsilius, Theodoric and others, 284

" " " account of their views, 284

" " " their examination, etc., 285

" " " their constancy, 285

Articles of faith from John Wickliffe, 324

A Smith at Komen, 484

Asterius crucified, 139

Ater burned, 130

Atrocious treatment of Christians, 107

Attalus roasted in an iron chair, 112

Augurius burned, 135

Augustine, the baker, 532

Aurea, a maiden, beheaded, 236

Auxentices, put to death, 179

A youth persecuted, 112

--B--

Babylas of Antioch beheaded, 130

Balthasar Huber and his wife, 448

Baptism _in the first century_, 61

Baptism of John, 61–62

" " Jesus, 62

" commanded by Christ, 62

" practiced by the apostles, 62

" testimony of the apostles, 63

" not to be administered to infants, 63

" testimony of the fathers, 64

" _in the second century_, 97

" Dionysius on, 97

" Justinus ", 97

" Gratianus ", 99

" Clemens Alexandrinus, 99

" of infants not mentioned by Clemens, 99

" further remarks on, 100

" _in the third century_, 114

" Tertullian on, 115–116

" Leonilla and her grandsons, 117

" Origen Adamantius on, 117–119

" Notice concerning the writings of Origen, 119

" P. J. Twisck on different points of the doctrine of Origen, 118

" of Virian, Marcellinus and Justin, 119

" of Pancratius, 119

" " Bassilla, 119

" " Pontus, 119

" " Nemesius, 120

" Testimony of Cyril of Jerusalem on, 120

" Arnobius on, 121

" _in the fourth century_, 148

" of Fusca, 148

" Donatus on, 149

" of Athanasius, 150

" Council of Nice, 151

" of Hilarius, 152

" Views of Hilarius, 152

" of Monica, 153

" Canons respecting, 153

" of infants declared against at Neocesarea, 153

" of St. Martin, 153

" of St. Ambrose, 154

" Ephrem Syrus on, 155

" Gregory of Nyssa on, 155

" Optatus Milevitanus on, 156

" Gregory of Nazianzus, 156

" of Nectarius, 157

" Basilius and Eubulus, 157

" " on, 157–158

" Chrysostom on, 158

" Benefit, etc., of, 159

" of Jerome, 161

" Jerome on, 162

" of Augustine, 163

" of Epiphanius, 165

" Epiphanius on, 165

" of Constantine and Theodosius, 166

" _in the fifth century_, 181

" of infants opposed by Victor, 181

" " Victorinus, 181

" " Synesius Syrenus, 182

" Sedulius on, 183

" Hilarius ", 183

" Prosperus on, 184

" Maximus ", 185

" Cyril of Alexandria on, 185

" Received by a Jew, 186

" Faustus Regiensus on, 186

" Evagrius on, 186

" Eucherius on, 187

" at Carthage, 187

" of Nazarius, 187

" Salvian of Massilia, 188

" of Anthymius, Sisinnius, etc., 188

" Primasius on, 189

" Fulgentius, 189

" Clodovius and people, 190

" _in the sixth century_, 190

" Cassiodorus on, 195

" Mehrning and Montanus on, 197

" Justus Origelitanus on, 199

" Olympiodorus on, 199

" Peter on, 199

" of the Jews, etc., on Easter and Whitsuntide, 200

" of Brunechildis, 200

" Donatus on, 201

" _in the seventh century_, 206

" of Anastasius, Cæsarea, etc., 207

" of Jews and others, 207

" Zeno of Verona on, 208

" Jacob Pamelius, 208

" Bracerensian counsel renewed, 208

" Isadorus on, 209

" J. Pomorius on, 209

" in A. D. 700, 209

" _in the eighth century_, 212

" Germanus on, 213

" Bede on, 213

" Amalarius Fortunatus, 214

" Roman practice favorable to, 215

" of Wittikind, 216

" What was required of catechumens, 216

" Albinus on, 216

" J. Mehrning on, 218

" Sebastian Franck on, 218

" P. J. Twisck’s account of, 218

" _in the ninth century_, 224

" Lamentation, 224

" Haimo on, 225

" Gratian to his contemporaries, 227

" Rabanus Maurus on, 227

" Angelomus on, 228

" Council at Paris on, 228

" Slaves baptized, 229

" Huldricus, complaint, 229

" Hincmar, Bishop Laudun, 229

" Hincmar, Bishop of Rheims, 229–230

" Paschasius on, 230

" Remigius on, 231

" P. J. Twisck on, 231

" _in the tenth century_, 238

" Giselbert on, 240

" Ansbert on, 241

" Smaragdus on, 241

" Theophilact, 242

" of Theridates, 244

" " Namesius, 244

" " Olympius, 244

" " Placidus, his wife and two sons, 245

" Fulbertus of Carnotanses on, 245

" _in the eleventh century_, 249

" Jacob Mehrning on, 250

" Anselm on, 250–251

" Algerus on, 251

" Buchard of Worms on, 252

" Lanfrancus writes, 252

" Bruno bishop of Angiers, 252

" Berengarius, deacon, 252

" Beroldus on, 253

" Ado Trevirensis on, 253

" Juo Carnotensis on, 253

" A. D. 1090, 254

" _in the twelfth century_, 260

" Waldenses on, 261

" Rupert Tuiciensis on, 261

" D. J. Vicecomes, 262

" Ludovicus Vives on, 263

" Petrobrusians, 263

" Arnulph, Bishop of Lyons, 263

" Hildebert, Bishop of Mayence, 263

" Arnald of Brescia on, 263

" Henricus Petri Tholossanus, 263

" _in the thirteenth century_, 288

" Jacob Mehrning from Cent. Mag., 289

" Peter de Bruis on, 289

" Henry of Toulouse, 289

" of the true, 290

" Principal points of doctrine, 290

" Account of Sebastian Franck, 290

" Gerard Sagarellas on, 291

" Form or mode of, 291

" Alexander on, 291

" Probus, Bishop of Tullo, on, 291

" _in the fourteenth century_, 309

" Jacob Mehrning on, 309–310

" Views on, 310

" Dulcinus and Margaret, 310

" Views of heretics (so called) on, 310

" John Wickliffe on, 311–312

" William Swinderby and Walter Brute on, 313

" Nicephorus Callistus on, 313

" Charles, Bishop of Milan, 313

" _in the fifteenth century_, 321

" of the Taborites, 325

" D. Balthazar Lydius, 325

" Jacob Mehrning on, 326

" Extract from History of Baptism on, 326

" _in the sixteenth century_, 351

" Ludovicus Vives on, 353

" Nicephorus on, 354

" Thomas van Imbroeck on, 355

" Jacob de Roore on, 359

" John Wouters van Kuyck on, 359

" Christian Gasteiger on, 359

" Bartholomew Panten on, 360

Barba slain, 104

Barbara Thielemans, six brethren, etc., burned, 465

" Meylin and others, 1053

" Kolbin " " , 1053

" Neeff " " , 1062

Barbel put to death, 506

Barbelius slain, 104

Barbelken Goethals, 830

" " letter, 830

Barber Jans, 807

Barbly Ruff, 1062

Barnabas put to death, 73

Barsimaeus slain, 104

Bartel and others put to death, 481

Bartholomeus Panten, 1025

" " first letter, 1025

" " second letter, 1026

" " discussions, 1027

" " testament to his daughter, 1029

Bartholomew tortured and flayed, 85

Bartholomew, the potter, 529

Basilides beheaded, 124

Basileus, Bishop at Pontus, burned, 180

Beerentge, a maiden, 519

Belief of these people, 312

" " William Swinderby, 313

Believers put to death, 454

Benefit, virtue and operation of baptism, 159

Benjamin, a deacon, put to death, 193

Berengarius, a deacon, condemned, 258

" followers anathematized, 260

Berengarians banished, 280

" burnt, 281

Betgen, Neelken and Mariken Franss, 594

Biblis, Aquilina and Fortunata, 178

" put to death, 178

Big Henry, Jerome Segers, etc., 485

Blandina persecuted, 112

Blasius Beck beheaded, 457

Bloody oppression of believers, etc., 194

Brother Alda, 423

Bruno, bishop of Angiers, condemned, 258

Bruyn and others, 844

Burckhardt Aman, 1054

--C--

Calapodius put to death, 126

Carius Prader and others, 417

Carpus and others put to death, 111

Casper Tauber, 399

Cassian put to death by his scholars, 170

Catharina, a maiden, beheaded, 177

" Mulerin, 1052

Catharine of Thou, 329

Catharine burnt at the stake, 485

Cecilia put to death, 126

Charge of William I. to the magistrates of Middelborgh, 1001

Charles, Bishop of Milan, 313

Charlo de Wael, 637

Christian from Eukeraet, and others, 506

Christian executed with the sword, 529

Christian Langedul, 76

" " first letter, 676

" " second letter, 677

" " third letter, 678

" " another letter, 679

" " last adieu, 680

Christians burned at Toulouse, 301

Christians during the fourth persecution, 114

Christiaen Gasteyger, 1006

" Rijcen, 1007

" " examined by, etc., 1008

" " another letter, 1009

" " " " , 1009

" " " " , 1010

" " " " , 1011

" " consolatory letter, 1011

" " exhorts his wife, 1012

" " letter to his wife, 1013

Christina Harring, 425

Christoffel from Geistens, and others, 506

Christoffel Buyze, Laurens van Rentergen, Joost Meerssenier and Grietgen Baets, 727

Christoffel Fierens, 914

Chrysostom’s views respecting baptism, 158

Chrysostom’s views on articles of faith, 160

Church of Christ, 38

Claudine le Vettre and a brother, 707

" " " and a brother, further account, 708

Cladius crucified, 139

Claes Roders and Pieter Claes Jans, 447

" Lecks, 463

" Gerbrants and others, 515–516

" de Praet, confession of, 533–538

" Opreyder, 844

" van Armentierss, 956

Claesken, confession of before the commissary, 588

" " " before the inquisitor, 588

" a letter, 592

" another letter, 592

Clement of Scotland burned, 221–222

Clement Hendrickss, 797

" " first letter, 800

" " second letter, 800

" " third letter, 801

" " fourth letter, 802

" " fifth letter, 803

Cointha stoned, 129

Coming of Christ, 37

Command to teach and baptize, etc., 62

Conclusion, 56

Conclusion to the fifteenth century, 326

" of " " " , 338

Conclusion of the sixteenth century, 1040

Confession, first, 26

" second, 32

" third, 36

" of the Waldenses and Albigenses, 274

" of faith, ancient, 313

" of faith, etc., 332

" of faith, 360–395

" of Claes de Praet, 533–538

" of Claesken, 588

Conrad Feichter and others, 425

" Koch, 659

" " first letter, 660

" " second letter, 661

Conversion of Euvodius, 164

Cornelis Gijselaer and one Michael, 885–886

Cornelis van Kulenburgh, a lad, 517

Cornelis Claess, 676

" the shoemaker, letter, 684

" Jan of Haerlem burned, 797

Cruelties practiced by Nero, 77

" instituted by Regnerus, 232

Cruelty and misery of this persecution, 128

" of Emperor Aurelian, 137

" of the Arian King, Honoricus, 193

" of Elvelid, the Mohammedan, 220

Cyrenia, 176

Cyril, points of faith, 186

Cyrilla put to death, 179

--D--

Damian of Algau, 449

Daniel Kopf, with two brethren and four sisters, 419

" Verkampt, 560

" Kalvaert, 640

" de Paeu, 696

" van Vooren and Passchier Weyns, 696

David and Levina, 528

Deaf Betgen, Betgen of Ghent and Lijsken Smits, 615

Decree of Pope Lucius III against the Waldenses, 286

" Ilphonsus, king of Aragon, against the Waldenses, 287

" first and second, of Frederic II against the Waldenses and Albigenses, 304

" third of Frederic II, 305

" published in England, 328, 434

" " by the Romanists, 397

" against the Anabaptists, 399

" " Menno Simon, 449

" for the introduction, etc., 483

" against the Anabaptists, 1007

" " " " , 1043

" further observation, 1043

Decrees, renewal of, 530–532

Defense and confession of Andrew Smuel and Dirk Pieters, 458

Defense and confession of Anabaptists, 1048

Demetrius put to death, 179

Derthuin, Bertherius, Anobert, etc., 220

Didius put to death, 179

Dieuwertgen, and others, 477

Digna Pieters drowned, 530

Dileman Snijder, and others, 565

Dingentgen of Honsschoten, 900

Dionysia beheaded, 130

Dionysius Areopagita martyred, 104

" bishop at Alexandria exiled, 135

Dioscorus, greatly tormented, 130

Dirck Mieuwess, 832

Dirk Pieters Krood, and Pieter Trijnes, 447

" " Smuel burnt, 458

" " " testament of, 460

" " " letter of consolation, 461

" Jans and others, 506

" Lamberts, Christian Wetteren and Antonijn de Wale, 640

" Willems, 710

" Anoot and Willem de Zager, 727

" Andriess, 741

Discordance of Papistic writers, 49

Divine judgments, etc., 55

Doctrines of Origen, 118

Document to the city of Berne, 1073

" " " " " Zurich, 1073

" " " cities of Switzerland in behalf of Adolph de Vrede, 1073

Donotian beheaded, 180

Donuina put to death, 139

Douwe Eeuwouts, 850

Dulcinus and his wife Margaret, etc., 316

--E--

Edict against the Christians, in the years 284 and 302, 139

" of Theodosius and Honorius against the Anabaptists, 191

" first version--second version, etc., of above, 191

" second by those of Zurich, 422

" by Charles V, 426

" against Mennonists, 1047

" " Anabaptists, 1063

" " " , 1070

" what was done for mitigation of same and for the release of the prisoners, 1072

" concerning the, against the Anabaptists, 1076

Eighteen persons burned at Salzburg, 411

Election of the Pope, 50

Eleven and then seven, 478

Elias put to death, 177

Elizabeth drowned, 464

" and Hadewijk, 525

" Meylin, 1053

" Hilzin, 1053

" Bachmanni, 1061

Ellert, Jans, six brethren, etc., burned, 465

Elssa Bethezei, 1061

Ennathas, a maiden, burned, 177

Epaphras slain under Nero, 83

Epimachus burned at Alexandria, 129

Epipodius martyred, 114

Epolonius of Antioch beheaded, 130

Ethiopian put to death, 102

Eucratis, a maiden, died in prison, 172

Eugenia beheaded at Cordova, 246

Eugenius, Auxentius, Maodatius, etc., 179

Eulalia burned with torches, 170

Eulogius burned, 135

Eunus burned at Alexandria, 129

Euphratesia, seven brothers and others put to death, 178

Euplius beheaded, 172

Eusebius and others put to death, 126

Eustace Kuter, 620

Evert Nouts, examination, tortured and sentenced, 552–556

" Hendricks of Warendorp burnt, 898

Expulsion of the Christians from Metz, and burning their books, 288

Extracts from book of criminal sentences of city of Amsterdam, 731–734

Extracts from book of criminal sentences of the town of Gouda, 809

--F--

Faes Dircks and two others, 808

" " confessions, 808

" " first examination, 808

" " second examination, 809

" " third examination, 809

" " execution, 809

Fall of man, 37

False and true church, 42

Father Abraham of Cholchester, burnt, 332

Faustina and Jacobita put to death, 105

Faustus put to death, 179

Feanchoys van Elstlandt, 628

Feet-washing, 30–39

Felician thrown to beasts, 174

Felicitas and her seven sons at Rome, 106

" " others, 123

Felistis, Jans, burned, 518

" " death sentence, 518

Felix, bishop at Thibaris, put to death, 173

" Mantz, 400

" Landis and his wife Adelheid Egli, 1060

Fierijntgen Ketels, Leentgen, her mother, with Pierijntgen and Marijntgen van Male, 640

Fifty-four persons burned, 942

Fije and Eelken, 466

Florentin put to death, 137

Fortunata put to death, 178

Forty youths burned, 176

" women and others burned, 180

" Christians slain A. D. 566, 205

" two persons put to death, 675

Four brethren and four sisters, 419

Four God-fearing women, 130

Four persons banished, 280

" " " , 1044