View source for Lindanus, Wilhelmus (1523-1588)

Wilhelmus Lindanus (Willem Damasz van Lindt), born 1523 at [[Dordrecht (Zuid-Holland, Netherlands)|Dordrecht]] in the Dutch province of South Holland, Dutch inquisitor and bishop, was educated at the University of Leuven (Louvain), [[Belgium|Belgium]], received a doctorate in theology and was made dean at The Hague. As vicar of the Bishop of Utrecht he was made spiritual commissar <em>(geestelijk commissaris)</em>, charged with the control of heresy in Holland, [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]], and [[Zeeland (Netherlands)|Zeeland]]. Although he was energetic and thorough in the assigned task, his calmness distinguished him favorably from his colleague Tapper and others. "He listens well and is not easily angered" <em>([[Martyrs' Mirror|<em>Martyrs' Mirror</em>]]</em>). In 1556 he went to Friesland. Victims of his activity were the high-ranking [[Jacques d'Auchy (d. 1559)|Jacques d'Auchy]], [[Claesken Gaeledochter (d. 1559)|Claesken]], and her husband [[Hendrik Eeuwesz (d. 1559)|Hendrik Eeuwesz]], all of whom were executed at [[Leeuwarden (Friesland, Netherlands)|Leeuwarden]] in 1559. When the new bishoprics were established in 1561 Lindanus was made bishop at Roermond, then at [[Ghent (Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium)|Ghent]], where he died on 2 November 1588. He also wrote numerous books admonishing the Catholic Church to improve the life of its members; e.g., <em>Oprecht Tryakel teghen 'tvenijn alder dolinghen onses tijdts . . . </em>(Antwerp, 1567).
= Bibliography =
Braght, Thieleman J. van. <em>Het Bloedigh Tooneel of Martelaers Spiegel der Doopsgesinde of Weereloose Christenen, Die om 't getuygenis van Jesus haren Salighmaker geleden hebben ende gedood zijn van Christi tijd of tot desen tijd toe. Den Tweeden Druk</em>. Amsterdam: Hieronymus Sweerts, 1685: II, 222.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. <em>The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660.</em> Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 600. Available online at: [http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm].

<em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen</em> (1872): 32, 91-94; (1899): 45, 52; (1906): 68, 84-86.

Glasius, Barend. <em>Godgeleerd Nederland: biographisch woordenboek van Nederlandsche godgeleerden . </em>'s Hertogenbosch, 1851-1856: II, 380-383.

Reitsma, J.  <em>Honderd jaren uit de Geschiedenis der Hervorming . . . in Friesland. </em>Leeuwarden, 1876: 94-106.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 657.
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