The eighth time the Judge came to them, together with three others. After maltreating them fearfully, he sentenced them to be burned; but they hoped in the Lord, to remain faithful and steadfast unto the end, in the divine truth, through the unspeakable riches and power of God. They were then burned for the faith valiantly testified to the truth, and obtained the crown of the martyrs of Christ.
PHILIP DE KEURS, A. D. 1537.
In the year 1537, there was at Cassel, in Flanders, a Godfearing pious brother, whose name was Philip Keurs, a joiner by trade. And since he had also separated from this present wicked world, and had entered upon the peculiar way of the cross, which leads to the kingdom of God, he, like his Lord and Master, Jesus, was hated, despised and persecuted by the servants of this world, so that he finally fell into the hands of tyrants, who cruelly maltreated him with severe imprisonment. But as he was not founded upon drifting sand, but upon the immovable Rock (Matt. 7:24,26; 16:18), he remained steadfast in every respect, as gold which is tried in the fire, 1 Peter 1:7. And since nothing could move him to swerve from the truth, he was sentenced to death at said place; in this manner confirming the faith of the truth with his death and blood. And as he here became a partaker of the sufferings of his Lord and Master Christ Jesus, so he shall also, when his glory shall be revealed, receive and enjoy great gladness and joy, and in eternity the crown of everlasting glory. 2 Tim. 4:8.
TWELVE PERSONS, MEN AND WOMEN, BURNED AND BEHEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT VUCHT, NEAR HERZOGENBUSCH, A. D. 1538.
(Copied from certain very old testimonies.)
In the year 1538, in August, there were apprehended in the town ten or seventeen men and women, who were said to have been rebaptized, all of them humble (or poor) people, etc., except a goldsmith, who was among the number, whose name was Paul Vandruynen, and who was said to be their teacher.[231]
This Paul, together with three other men, was strangled alive and burned, upon a scaffold at Vucht, on the ninth of September.
The other three were named: Michael Stevens of Oosterhont, a potter; John Block of Ghent, a tape-maker; and Adrain of Gravenhage, also a tape-maker.
A rope was tied into the mouth of each that they should not speak or cry aloud.
Two Minorites and two Dominicans were also present, who wanted to say much to them, and show them a crucifix; but they would not look at it, saying that they had God in their hearts, and, therefore, would worship neither wood nor stone; they also prayed for those who put them to death, and said that the servant was not better than his master, and that they did willingly die in his name, but would not listen to the monks.