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

by Thieleman J. van Braght

DIRK PIETERS SMUEL AND JACOB DEN GELDERSMAN, BURNT ALIVE AT AMSTERDAM, ON THE 24TH OF MAY, A. D. 1546.

After manifold tribulations and afflictions upon the pious followers of Jesus Christ, it came to pass, that the Procurator from the Hague, and the Bailiff of Amsterdam, Waterlandt and Zeevanck, came to Edam with a whole troop of beadles. These came on the 12th of March, that is on the Friday preceding Shrove Tuesday, A. D. 1546, at night, with torches, and lanterns, to the house of Dirk Pieters Smuel and Jacob den Geldersman, both of them citizens of Edam, of one faith, and seekers of the truth. They took them out of their own houses from their beds, and led them from the east end out of the stone portal to the west end, where they were put into a boat, and thus brought prisoners to Amsterdam, whence, after a certain time, they were brought to the Hague, where, on the 16th of May of the same year, they were examined concerning their faith, and as they would steadfastly adhere to the accepted truth, were sentenced, on the 22d of May, in the high court of the lords of this world, to be burnt alive. Thereupon they were again brought to Amsterdam, where, after suffering many trials, they were bound on ladders, and burned alive, enduring it with great steadfastness. They joyfully surrendered and forsook their earthly habitations, and are now awaiting a building of God, which shall endure forever in heaven. 2 Cor. 5:1.

ANDREW SMUEL AND DIRK PIETERS. THE DEFENSE AND CONFESSION OF FAITH WHICH THEY MADE AT AMSTERDAM BEFORE THE COMMISSARIES, AND CONFIRMED WITH THEIR DEATH, IN THE YEAR 1546.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever, Amen. Hear my confession to the princes of this world. In the first place, they inquired concerning my faith. I therefore said to them: “A scribe came to the Lord, and asked him, saying: Master, which is the great commandment? The Lord said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself; this is the greatest commandment, and there is no other. The scribe answered and said: Thou hast answered well, that there is one God, and to love him with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

To this they replied: “We know that there is one God; but do you believe, that when the priest stands at the altar, God is in his hands?”

I said, “No. Stephen said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of the Almighty Father.” Acts 7:56.

They again said: “Then you do not believe that he is there?”

I said, “No.”

Question: “We have been told, that when your pastor went on one side of the street, and you and two others on the other, you gave no honor either to him or to the sacrament; is this true?”

Answer: “Yes.”