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Burried alive
Alfredo Started conversation May 27, 2004
Today I found out, that the sister of an ancestor of mine, was "burried alive".
It is about 1575 and cities like Antwerpen and Doornick are being occupied by Spanish (catholic) armies.
While my ancestor Steven Janzen flees the enemy, his sister Tanneke is "burried alive" by the Spanish soldiers.
Her name was written for this reason in "The Book of Martyrs".
The source of this story is a handwritten book by familymembers in those days. It seems to be lost, but a historian had it in his home for six months and wrote about it in 1965 and 1966.
It was also written that she was an illegitimate child of her mother.
To honour this woman for whom she was and is;
Her name is; Anneken van den Hoven
She lived and died in the 16th century ,around Antwerp (Belgium)
I won't forget her and keep a sharp eye at the human religious mania that ruined her life and still flourishes around the world today.
Woman are the first victims of religious fanatics.
The word "martyr" can be an obscure word of male dominance.
Burried alive
Alfredo Posted May 28, 2004
Quote;
"It was also written that she was an illegitimate child of her mother".
No one is "illegitimate".
She was an "extramarital" child of her mother and it is only written down here, because it was likely to be in those days a painful aspect of her existence.
memory
Alfredo Posted May 31, 2004
As a memory to Anneken, Steven Janzen changes his family name from "Van Fulpen" into "Van doorn" = Thorn.
But two hundred years later, the family name of "Thorn" leaves the family;
women could not inherit their own family name in these days, as it still happens in may places all over the world.
memory
Alfredo Posted Jun 3, 2004
I did find today "Anneken van den Hove" in a "Martyrs-book" for the Baptist martyrs since 1524.
"Martelaers spiegel der werelose christenen t'zedert Ao. 1524"
(my translation; "A mirror of martyrs of defenceless christians since 1524".
The Book is printed in Haerlem in 1631 and at page 932 and 933 "Anneken van den Hoven" is fully described as one of the martyrs Anno 1597".
She is described as an "Dienstmaeght"="housekeeper" of a familymember. But that is most probably an undercover name for a girl from an extramarital birth.
I still have to translate a lot, because it is written in Dutch, Anno 1631.
Anyhow.
Very moving to read a book, about 350 years old, and being confronted with the very cruel fate of this woman who is also related to my own ancestors.
Anneken van den Hove
Alfredo Posted Jun 4, 2004
Finally, I found many articles at the internet by writing her name properly; Anneken van den Hove.
She was a "voordogter" = daughter from another marriage or relationship.
She was a radical protestant, like the Mennonites in the U.S.A. who feel very inspired by her.
There is even an engraving about her death in a book of 1685 "Martyrs mirror" to write it in my English.
Quote from just a website;
While in prison for two years and seven months, Anneken was severely beaten and tortured but remained steadfast in her resolve to remain faithful to her adopted country.
Her tormentors promised her immediate freedom if she would but apostatize, but she replied with a firm, "No." Two hours later she was told to prepare herself to die.
At eight o'clock that same morning she was marched under guard to an abandoned field outside of Brussels where a grave was prepared for her. She was forced to undress herself and lay in the grave. Her lower limbs were covered with earth and she was asked if she would turn from her faith. She said, "No," but that she was glad that the time of her departure was so near.
In the meantime they continued to throw earth upon her body, up to her throat, while continuing to promise her complete freedom if she would recant. She remained steadfast and answered that she had peace in her conscience, being well assured that she would have eternal life, imperishable life, full joy and gladness in the nation where God reigned in heaven.
Hence, they at last threw much additional earth upon her face and stomped upon it with their feet, in order that she should die sooner.
Quotes from Anneken
Alfredo Posted Jun 4, 2004
And finally here I found a translation of what she herself had written and confessed ánd what the author of the Martyr Book of 1631 wrote about her(there are many different editions of the Martyr book)
Quote from "the Martyrs Book of defenseless christians"
http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/search.htm
"At Brussels, under the reign of the archduke Albert, there was apprehended for her faith and following Christ, a young maiden named Anneken van den Hove (being the servant maid of Nicolaes Rampaert's sister), having been betrayed, as it was said, by the pastor of the Savel church at Brussels.
This Anneken was imprisoned two years and seven months, in which time she suffered much temptation, from priests, monks, Jesuits and others, who thereby sought to make her apostatize from the faith she had accepted; but however great pains they took with her, in the way of examining, tormenting, fair promises, threats, long imprisonment, and otherwise, she nevertheless constantly remained steadfast in the faith in her Lord and Bridegroom, so that finally, on the ninth of July, 1597, certain Jesuits came and asked her whether she would suffer herself to be converted, for in that case she should be released and set at liberty. Thereupon she replied, "No." They then offered to give her six months more time for consideration; but she desired neither day nor time, but said that they might do what seemed good to them, for she longed to get to the place where she might offer up unto the Lord a sacrifice acceptable unto Him. This answer having been conveyed to the judges, information was brought her about two hours afterwards, that if she wanted to die, prepare herself, unless she wished to turn.
Hence the justice of the court, and also a few Jesuits, went out with her about eight o'clock, half a mile without the city of Brussels, where a pit or grave was made, while in the meantime she fearlessly undressed herself, and was thus put alive into the pit, and the lower limbs having first been covered with earth, the Jesuits who were present asked her whether she would not yet turn and recant? She said, "No;" but that she was glad that the time of her departure was so near fulfilled. When the Jesuits then laid before her, that she had to expect not only this burying alive of the body into the earth, but also the eternal pain of the fire in her soul, in hell. She answered that she had peace in her conscience, being well assured that she died saved, and had to expect the eternal, imperishable life, full of joy and gladness in heaven, with God and all His saints.
Page 1094
In the meantime they continued to throw earth and (as has been stated to us) thick sods of heath ground upon her body, up to her throat; but notwithstanding all their asking, threatening, or promising to release her and take her out of the pit, if she would recant, it was all in vain, and she would not hearken to it.
Hence they at last threw much additional earth and sods upon her face and whole body, and stamped with their feet upon it, in order that she should die the sooner.
This was the end of this pious heroine of Jesus Christ, who gave her body to the earth, that her soul might obtain heaven; thus she fought a good fight, finished her course, kept the faith, and valiantly confirmed the truth unto death.
Since she then so loved her dear leader, Christ Jesus, that she followed Him not only to the marriage at Cana, but also, so to speak, even to the gallows-hill, there cannot be withheld from her the honor and name of a faithful martyress, who suffered all this for His name's sake.
Hence she will also afterwards, when going forth as a wise virgin, yea, as a dear friend of the Lord, to meet her heavenly Bridegroom, be joyfully welcomed and received in the heavenly halls of immortal glory, together with all steadfast servants of God.
O God, be merciful also unto us that are still living, that continuing faithful unto the end, we may with her, and all the saints receive Thy blessed inheritance.
One year subsequently, namely, 1598, there was published a printed work called the Apologia Catholica, by Franciscus Kosterus, in which, on page 160, these words are found, "Moreover, there was no injustice done at Brussels, to Anneken van den Hove, inasmuch as they proceeded against her in accordance with the old laws of the emperor's; nor need the Calvinists complain of the lords; for she was found a Mennonist and Anabaptist, who Calvin himself confesses, ought to be punished.
Subsequently, in the year 1601, another tract was printed and published at Antwerp, by Hieronymus Verdussen, entitled: Brief and true account of the sufferings o f solve pious and glorious martyrs, etc.,- wherein she, near the close, is pronounced an Anabaptist."
End printed story and quotations Anneken van den Hove.
Apparently there were many edited versions of the Book and therefore different texts and descriptions.
http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/martyrs159.htm#1093
Picture from Anneken
Alfredo Posted Jun 5, 2004
There is an etching (picture) about the fate of Anneken, made by Jan Luykens; 1649-1712. It was included in the Martyrs Mirror Book that already existed.
Jan Luykens created these original etchings for the second edition of Martyrs Mirror, some of which were later rediscovered in a box that had survived World War II Germany.
Luykens was a 17th century Dutch Anabaptist pastor and writer who also illustrated a classic edition of Pilgrim's Progress
The engraving ("picture") of her fate in a 1685 edition;
http://www.bethelks.edu/services/mla/images/martyrsmirror/mm%20bk2%20p793.jpg
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Burried alive
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