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From the court records of the city of Brugge (Bruges) in Flanders -- then under Spanish Imperial rule -- 1558-59. 275

Vincken says that she has lived at Ghent ever since she was eleven years old. About five years ago she accepted another faith, leaving the Roman Church, mass, and the other sacraments, because they are founded on human inventions and idolatries, giving as a reason Matthew 15:13. Later she was rebaptized, about three years ago in the city of Ghent at the home of a person she does not know, on Holstraet. He was Gillis van Haecke, she remembers, who was beheaded at Antwerp. She says she would not like to die as he died, for he gave up his faith. She says she finds nothing in the church which is of God and that she has not had her last child baptized. She also did not have her older children re- baptized because they had not asked for it and were not mature enough yet. Should her youngest child die without baptism, she would not have it baptized before death.

Her husband had been baptized together with her the same day and hour in the same house. She came in contact with this faith through her husband. They listened carefully and finally they joined this sect, to which also belonged Hans van der Broucke her cousin, and Jacob, also arrested, both of them rebaptized, but she does not know exactly when. They call each other brethren and sisters.

Jan Verveste says he was re-baptized at Ghent on Holstraet. He does not know, however, the exact time he left the Roman Church and stopped attending mass. Says his living children have not been re-baptized because they are not yet wise enough. His last child, which died before it was one year old, was not baptized; he believes that Hanskin and Jacob, both in prison, have been re-baptized, but he does not know where or when. Says that he still intends to remain firm in his faith till the end, and still does not believe in the Roman church, the mass, the sacraments, and all the things they do in that church.

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Vincken visited by two sworn municipal midwives, because she had said she was ill. September 11, about noon, she gave birth to a male child. It was taken to a foster mother the same day. September 16, the jailer reported that Vincken had a swollen head and a surgeon should be sent. September 20, Vincken died in the prison from the swelling which descended from her head and suffocated her. She was buried at night, with the authorization of the secretary in the Inquisitor's absence, at St. Jan's in unconsecrated earth because of her impenitence and obstinacy.

Jan died in the castle and was buried, with authorization of the secretary in the absence of the Inquisitor, in the dump at St. Jan's because of his incalcitrance. 52