On account of the severe and great persecution which was carried on everywhere in the Netherlands, against the true Christians, four pious believers, among others, named Joris, Wouter, Grietgen and Naentgen, fled, in the year 1551, from Lier in Brabant, to Ghent in Flanders. They had not resided long in the latter place when they were betrayed by a Judas, and brought prisoners from their houses to the castle of the count, where they joyfully thanked God, and sang praises to him, because they were counted worthy to suffer for his name. When assailed by the monks and other sophists, they freely confessed their faith, from which no subtlety could turn them; but they valiantly withstood, with the truth, the seducers who sought to murder their souls, and were then condemned to death by virtue of the imperial mandate, because they had apostatized from the Roman church, contemned infant baptism, and had been baptized upon faith. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake without being strangled. They thanked the lords, and Grietgen said: “My lords, save three stakes; we can all four die at one; for we are spiritually of one mind.” Rom. 12:16. They were joyful in the Lord, and thanked God greatly. Naentgen said: “This is the day for which I have longed so much.” Eight monks then came, to torment them; however, they did not accept their advice, but Grietgen said: “Take off your long robes and teach yourselves, before you undertake to teach others.” They were led to death like sheep to the slaughter, the monks accompanying them, to whom they said: “Stay back; let us in peace, for we know you well, and do not wish to hear you.”
Having ascended the scaffold, Joris said to the people: “Be it known to you, that we do not die for theft, murder, or heresy.” At this the monks became enraged, and contradicted it.
They then fell upon their knees, prayed to God, and arose and kissed each other with the kiss of peace. But when they with glad countenances addressed the people, the monks, to hinder them, went and stood before them; but one of the people cried out: “You furious antichristians, stand back, and let them speak.”
Wouter said: “Citizens of Ghent, we suffer not as heretics or Lutherans, who hold in one hand a beer-mug, and a testament in the other, thus dishonoring the word of God, and dealing in drunkenness; but we die for the genuine truth.” The executioner then hung each of them by a rope to a stake, but did not strangle them. They then strengthened each other, saying: “Let us fight valiantly, for this is our last pain; hereafter we shall rejoice with God in endless joy.” Matt. 25:23. As they were hanging in pain, before the fire was kindled, Joris fell through the rope, and Wouter cried: “O brother, be of good cheer!” “O Lord!” exclaimed Joris, “in thee do I trust; strengthen my faith.” Luke 17:5. The fire then commenced to burn, and they cried out: “O God Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” Thus they offered up their sacrifice according to the will of the Lord, and their faith was tried like gold in the fire, and found good, and so accepted of God.
CATHARINE BURNED AT THE STAKE, A. D. 1551.
Eight days after the sacrifice of the preceding persons, a woman named Catharine was also sentenced to the fire. While yet in prison, she was greatly tormented by the monks, in order to make her apostatize, but she said: “I stand so firmly to my faith that for it, to the honor of God, I will suffer myself to be burned at the stake. What would you do for your faith? not much, I think. Hence repent, before you be brought to shame.”
Having been sentenced to be burned alive, and on her way to death, she was saluted by a brother. When she arrived on the scaffold, her hands were untied at her request. She then knelt down, and prayed fervently to God for strength, which he also gave her; for when she had arisen, and was tied to the stake, she boldly said: “I am put to death for the truth’s sake; whatever you are able to inflict upon me, I am freely ready to suffer.” A seducer then came up, to comfort and strengthen her, as he said, but she replied: “Be still, I am tired of your tormenting; forbear comforting me, and comfort yourself; for he whose name I suffer, shall now be my comfort.”
Thereupon, calling with a firm confidence upon God, she was burned alive in the sight of all men, steadfastly offering up soul and body to God, as a burnt sacrifice.
BROTHER JOHN BAIR, of LICHTENFELS, A. D. 1551.
In the year 1528, on the Wednesday after All-saints-day, Brother John Bair of Lichtenfels, was apprehended for the faith and the divine truth, and was confined for twenty-three years in a tower at Bamberg, in Franconia, on account of his constancy, as is seen from the following letter, written by him from there to the elders of the church. It reads thus: