Douwe Eeuwouts, in the Year 1571

Those who truly seek to follow the words and commandments of God often have to suffer great contempt and persecution from the learned of this world, as was plainly seen at Leeuwaerden, in Friesland, in the case of a brother named Douwe Eeuwouts, who on the 3rd of January of the year 1571, for the name of Christ, had to leave five little children alone in the house, and let himself be imprisoned in a dark dungeon, where he had to remain confined with criminals for a long time, which he patiently suffered, though he longed to be offered up. Afterwards he was examined by the bishop and others, who tormented him severely, in order to make him recant, but all in vain. They asked him about his faith, which he freely confessed. They also praised the pope's trumpery highly to him; but he said that he would keep to the commandments of God, and let the commandments of men go. He also proved that their hours, mass, confirmation, anointing, exorcising, and other things were not in accordance with the Word of God; and he further begged them that, now that he had confessed his faith, they should not torment him any more, but cut short his sufferings and troubles; for he was ready to give up his life for the truth, knowing that he might then expect the crown of life. Finally the bishop condemned him as a heretic, and handed him over to the secular judges, so that they should deal with him according to the king's decree; for these so-called Christians, like the Pharisees, can put no one to death. But because the bishop handed him over, Douwe Eeuwouts, after a long imprisonment, was sentenced to death on the 12th of October, in the year 1571, to be drowned the following night. When he heard this sentence, he showed himself as valiant as a giant in the faith, not terrified by the death that was coming, but greatly longing for the new Jerusalem; and he sat in the room with his head uncovered, thanking, praising, and praying to his heavenly Father, until the hour of his departure had come. They then took him, and tied him in a bag, and he began to sing "I poor lamb on the heath." Many who were there praised his boldness, that he went to death so willingly and joyfully.

So he most joyfully departed from this temporal sorrow, and ended his life in the water, and now rests under the altar, and there waits for the eternal joy which is promised to all of God's dear children.