Hymnology of the Mennonites in the Netherlands Anabaptists and
Mennonites even in the earliest period sang hymns in their
meetings when it was possible to do so. Mostly it was impossible
to sing together, because in the period of persecution singing
would attract the attention of the government officers, who
eagerly tracked down the Anabaptists, and there are a few cases
of meetings being surprised by the officers because the singing
had betrayed them. But among the earliest Anabaptists many songs
(liedekens) were known. Anneken Jans was arrested in January
1539 at Rotterdam because a "heretical song" that she had sung
in the ferryboat had betrayed her. In prison the martyrs often
took up a hymn to comfort themselves and each other, and of a
number of martyrs it is mentioned that they were singing a hymn
while going to the execution places. As to what kind of hymns
they sang no definite answer can be given. Only in two or three
cases do we have information. Reytse Aysesz, executed at
Leeuwarden in 1574, on th