Part 2-089-OLIVIER WILLEMSS, OF NIMEGUEN, BURNT ALIVE FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH, ...

OLIVIER WILLEMSS, OF NIMEGUEN, BURNT ALIVE FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH, TOGETHER WITH TWO YOUNG MAIDENS, AT ANTWERP, A. D. 1574
Olivier Willemss, born at Nimeguen, educated in the schools, and having become pastor of Leeuwen, a village between Nimeguen and Tiel, began at times to evince scruples in reading the mass, and about other Romish institutions. This exciting suspicion, he, by the advice of well meaning friends, fled to the country of Cleves, and having entered into the communion of the Anabaptists there, married a certain widow from Antwerp (likewise a fugitive on account of persecution), and in the hope of greater freedom through mitigation of the bloody decrees; returned with her to Antwerp and settled down in the Steenhouwdersvest.
His wife in the meantime giving birth to two sons, the report of it, together with the circumstance that the children were not brought to baptism, brought them into rumor and suspicion of heresy, so that they, after accusation, in the beginning of the year 1574 (the children being then a year and three months old), were put into prison.
A few days afterwards, on Friday, the 22d of January, this good and upright man, Olivier Willemss, was, because of his faith, because of having received baptism in adult years, and because of having sold certain good and edifying books, proscribed by the papists, condemned to death and the fire, to be burnt alive, which he steadfastly suffered the following day, having commended his soul into the hands of God.
His wife, through a certain occasion, not necessary to be related here: escaped out of prison, and ultimately fell asleep in the Lord, a God-fearing and godly woman, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.
FURTHER OBSERVATION TOUCHING THE PERSON OF OLIVIER WILLEMSS, AS ALSO CONCERNING HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH
It is stated of him, that besides his upright faith and virtuous conversation, he had a very sagacious and penetrating understanding, as also, that he was so well versed in the three chief languages, namely, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, that he daily read them at home; and explained them to his household.
In prison great threats of the torture were made against him, which he bore steadfastly, immovably and unchangingly before- God and men. He had been in prison only three days, when his trial was concluded; whereupon sentence followed, and the next day, death.
He was burnt alive between two young maidens, who to all appearance had confessed the same truth, according to the testimony of those who said that they witnessed it with their own eyes.
NOTE.-As there have come into our hand, not only the foregoing copy and this last notice touching Olivier Willemss, but also the criminal demand of the bailiff of Antwerp, made concerning said person, and what the judges advised thereupon, according to the original record of the secretary there, we shall properly add the same here, so that every one may be fully assured of it.
EXTRACTS FROM THE COURT RECORDS OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS OF THE CITY OF ANTWERP
The bailiff vs. Olivier Wilhemssen, of Nimeguen, since he has dared attend divers forbidden conventicles, to sell books that are proscribed, and to have himself, in said forbidden conventicles, rebaptized, though he received baptism in his infancy, all of which is contrary to the prohibitions and decrees of his majesty; concludit capitaliter, that the defendant be punished according to the aforesaid decrees, the defendant having openly confessed that with which he was charged by the bailiff. Judicatum, that the plaintiff have his full demand granted.
This copy having been compared, by us the undersigned, secretary of the city of Antwerp, with the aforesaid court records; is found to accord with it.
PH. VALCKENISSEN.
The words, concludit capitaliter, translated into Dutch [English], mean substantially, that the bailiff demands [the prisoner's] life and property forfeited in his behalf. The word judicatum means, that the lords pass sentence. This certifies the same.
PH. VALCKENISSEN.
NOTE.-I have another authentic copy of this demand made by the bailiff of the judges, against Olivier Willemss, on which is inscribed in the margin, Executio: as though it were said: Execute, or punish, him according to your demand, that is, burn him alive, for this was the punishment of steadfast Anabaptists, according to the imperial decree; upon which the bailiff had founded his demand