Maeyken Wens (Anabaptist martyr - Burned at the stake at Antwerp, Belgium, on October 6th 1573).

Maeyken Wens (Anabaptist martyr - Burned at the stake at Antwerp, Belgium, on October 6^th 1573).

On October 5^th 1573, Maeyken was sentenced to die by burning at the stake. The next day Adriaen took his little brother Hans and slowly made his way to the square in Antwerp where he knew the stakes would be prepared. When she was brought out, with five other Anabaptists from their congregation, her mouth had been sealed. The jailers had put a tongue screw through her tongue so that she could not speak and witness to the crowd. Adriaen watch as she walked resolutely to the stake. As they began to tie her he was so overwhelmed with the horror of what was happening that he crumpled to the ground in a faint and lost consciousness.

Some time later Adriaen regained consciousness and looked around. Three-year-old Hans was standing there quietly watching him. He looked toward the stake and saw only a smoking pile of ashes. His mother was gone. He sat for some time and wept. Then picking up a stick he went over to the ashes and stirred around until he found the iron tongue screw. He wrapped it in a kerchief and carried it home.