When Heyndrick had ascended the scaffold, he began to speak much to the people, saying, among other things: “Good citizens, repent, and believe only the Gospel and not the traditions of men.”
When they led him to the lords, to hear his sentence, he again turned his face to the citizens and said that all the practices observed were only human traditions, and that whoever would not follow them had to be the reproach and offscouring of all men, yea, must thus suffer death. Matt. 15:6; 1 Corinthians 4:13.
The sentence having been read, many of the people, who pitied him, and did not wish to see him die, went away. But Heyndrick Eemkens fell upon his knees and face, on the scaffold, to pour out his earnest prayer before the Lord. When the executioner saw him fall down, he drew his cloak from his shoulders, and pulled him up by his shirt, so that he could not finish his prayer.
Heyndrick then said to the people: “Dear citizens, repent, for it is more than time. Live according to God’s commandments and the words of the holy Gospel.” And he called again with a loud voice: “This is the narrow way, and the strait gate;” and named the chapters where it was written, and many other Scriptures having the same bearing. He then stepped of his own accord, with a glad heart, upon the bench where he was to be strangled and burnt, and said again: “This is the strait gate, press through it; through this pressed the men of God, for he that fights steadfastly unto the end shall be saved; of this I have no doubt.” With great courage he put his body and neck to the stake, and said again with a joyful heart: “Dear citizens, repent; believe the Gospel and not men; for this is the narrow way which a Christian must walk.” The executioner then took a chain, putting it around his body, and fastened a little bag of gunpowder to his neck, so that it hung over his breast. Heyndrick spoke boldly to the very last, but his words could not be understood very well, for the executioner took a cord, laid it around his neck, and twisted it tightly. Heyndrick closed his eyes, just as though he had fallen into a swoon, and he was not seen to move any more, save that he cast up his eyes to heaven once more, and then immediately lost consciousness. Thereupon the executioner drew away the bench from under his feet, and seizing a fork, thrust the same into a bundle of straw and held the latter to a pot with fire standing on the scaffold, until it caught fire, whereupon he applied it to the gunpowder. The blaze flashed up to his eyes but did not burn his hair. He lifted up his hands to heaven once more, after which he showed no further sign of life.
Thus did Heyndrick Eemkens offer up his sacrifice, as a valiant witness of the Lord, on the 10th of June 1562, about between 10 and 11 o’clock, A. M.
GEORGE FRIESEN, A CABINET-MAKER, AND WILLIAM VAN KEPPEL, A. D. 1562.
This George Friesen, a cabinet-maker, and William van Keppel, formerly a mass priest, were both apprehended at Cologne, A. D. 1562, for the evangelical truth. When William was sought and found he willingly went with his captors, who first took him into a tower of the city, where, however, he did not remain long, since they removed him into the count’s dungeon, whither those were taken who were condemned to death. In this dungeon he found said George Friesen, who was his brother in the Lord, and also a prisoner, and whose company was a great comfort to him.
Manifold were the nets spread and the snares laid, to catch their souls; but the principal ado and clamor was about infant baptism, which their adversaries claimed to be right; but as they could not prove it by the word of God, they employed human wisdom, but to God be the praise, with this they could not move these men. Now the lords entreated them, now they severely threatened them with torture and death; but the prisoners rejoiced in it. The others said things sweet and things bitter, but this could not move the prisoners, for through the help of the Lord their hearts stood firm as a wall.
The count offered to give George money, and his servant-maid to wife, if he would renounce his faith. But George would adhere to the truth and said to the count: “Your servant-maid, riches, or money cannot take me to God, but I have chosen something better, for which I hope to strive.” There also came to William a subtle individual, who made him fair promises and said that he would take him to England, who would soon have drawn the net of delusion over his head if the Lord had not succored and preserved him.
When the last hour arrived that they were to be prepared for the offering, for which they greatly longed, they were both brought out of prison—the count’s dungeon—to the house of the count, into a hall, at one o’clock in the night. There much arrogant and scornful language was used against them, and they were much tormented, to which George said nothing, William, also, answering but little. This continued half the night, till break of day or twilight, when the two prisoners were hurriedly taken to the Rhine, where they were to be drowned.