Pauwels Vermaete, an Anabaptist martyr, was born about 1498 at Sluis, Dutch province of Zeeland. He was a widower and a basketmaker at Gistel, Flanders, Belgium, and a preacher of the Mennonite congregation of Bruges. He had been baptized in 1537 or 1538 by Jan van Tricht or Jan Matthijsz van Middelburg. He was seized with a number of members when a meeting of the congregation held near Bruges was surprised by the officials and he was imprisoned for some time. It is said that when he was arrested he had a New Testament, a book containing the Psalms of David, and a martyrbook(?), which were taken away from him. During the examination by the inquisitors he remained steadfast. Together with Martin van de Walle, Jehan de la Beecke, and Hansken van den Brouck he suffered martyrdom at Bruges on 15 October 1558. His daughter Calleken Vermaete, 18 years old, recanted.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 127. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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