GOVERT, GILLIS, MARIKEN, AND ANNEKEN, A. D. 1550.
On the last of January 1550, there were offered up for the faith, at Lier, in Brabant, four pious Christians, named Govert, Gillis, Mariken and Anneken, who, as sheep for the slaughter, had been apprehended without violence. When they were brought before the council, and questioned concerning their faith, they made a frank and unfeigned confession of it. The bailiff then said: “You stand here to defend yourselves?”
Govert replied: “As regards my faith, I have freely confessed it, and shall turn to no other; though it cost my life, I will adhere to it.”
Forthwith the imperial edict was read to them, and the bailiff asked them whether they understood its contents.
Govert said: “God has commanded us through Christ, as is recorded in the sixteenth chapter of Mark, that all who believe and are baptized shall be saved, and that those who do not believe shall be damned; but the Emperor, in his blind judgment, has commanded that whoever is baptized upon his faith, shall be put to death without mercy. These two commands militate against each other; one of the two we must forsake; but every one ought to know that we must keep the command of God; for though Satan teaches that we are heretics, yet we do not act contrary to the word of God.”
When they were led to the tribunal, Govert said to the priests: “Take off your long robes, put on sack cloth, put ashes on your heads, and repent, like those of Nineveh.”
In the court the bailiff asked him whether he desired no favor.
He replied: “I will not ask for your favor; for what I cannot do without the most high God will give me.”
The bailiff said also to Anneken: “Do you not desire a favor, before sentence is passed upon you?”
She answered: “I shall ask favor of God, my refuge.”