The Witness of the Tongue Screw

Maeyken Wens, mother and disciple, was arrested and imprisoned during the harsh persecution of the sixteenth century. She was one of the fugitive Christians, called Anabaptists, later called Mennonites.

Maeyken longed to hold her children again in her arms. But she refused to give up her faith in Jesus, the source of her salvation and security.

The day of her execution arrived. Maeyken was led to the town square and chained to a stake. She was unable to sing or testify because of the tongue screw which was painfully clamped on her tongue. When the fire was set, her 15-year-old son, Adriaen fainted. He and little Hans had come to watch.

Later Adriaen returned, kicked through the ashes and found the tongue screw. This symbol of their mother's faith and courage was passed on to the generations that followed.

The tongue screw meant to silence her testimony, still gives witness to her fervent faith and courageous commitment today.

See Mirror of the Martyrs by John S. Oyer and Robert S. Kreider (Good Books, 1990) pp. 52-53,
and The Bloody Theater or Martyrs Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght (Herald Press, 1977) pp. 980-982