Peter Titelmann

Peter Titelmann, (1501 - 1572) served as the Dean of Ronsen, in Flanders, until 1546 when he was raised to the rank of Inquisitor.

Titelmann worked in both Flanders and Artois, hunting out and exterminating Mennonites and other supposed heretics. Titelman reportedly showed no leniency to his victims and was unafraid of them, as he said, “the innocent and virtuous, who make no resistance, and let themselves be taken like lambs”.

The Spanish crown, although well aware of Titelmann's cruel methods, did nothing to stop him. In 1565, King Philip II of Spain wrote to his half-sister, the Duchess Margret of Parma, that he had "heard how insubstantial are the objections raised by the inhabitants of Bruges against Titelman; you would do well not to permit anything to be done to undermine his authority. I am sure that being well-informed of what happens (as I believe you are) you won't fail to take the necessary steps."