Jan Block Burnt for the Faith

In the Year 1572

About the year 1572 a young man named Jan Block was burned at Nimeguen. He had wealth and lived on it, so that he had not learned any profession or trade. He associated with a brother named Symon van Maren, a furrier, born at Hertogenbosch, with whom he formerly went to the tavern to drink; but after he was converted he admonished him to read the New Testament, which advice he also followed. The good Lord so opened his heart that he understood from it what was right, and joined the church of God. Once this was done he could not remain hidden, since he led a better life than before; so all his property was confiscated, and a price was set on his arrest, that whoever would betray him should receive seventy gold reals for it. Then he fled out of the city, and in a village he asked a mason for work as a tender, so that he might earn a living, since he knew nothing else to do. The mason refused him this, saying: "They would come here to arrest you, and this would bring me into trouble." Some time afterward he came into town, where he was seen by a traitor, who went and reported it to the officer and his beadles, and they came to look for him. The woman of the house had compassion on Jan Block, and he went and stood on the bed behind the curtains. The bailiff looked into the room, but did not search very closely, since he was not a bloodthirsty man, and then turned back again, saying: "He is not there." The traitor said: "He is there; I saw him go in." One of the beadles went back, and raising the curtains, saw him standing there. He was then led away as a criminal. While in prison he was often visited and cared for by the God fearing.

Finally the sentence of death was pronounced on him, and he was condemned to be burned at the stake as a heretic.

While this was taking place, one of the lords in the court, who, since Jan Block was of high descent, had formerly kept much company with him, tried, as he pretended, to convert him to the Romish faith before his end. To him this valiant witness of Jesus Christ, turning around, answered: "You should have converted me when we were formerly together in such and such places (which he named to him), and each of us had a harlot in his lap."

Coming up onto the scaffold to be put to death, he showed such a joyful face, as though he had come to a wedding feast or a festival; for he went to the stake where he was to offer up his sacrifice with as much eagerness as though he had made a leap.

Having arrived at the stake, he pointed out to the executioner his carelessness, namely, that the holes where he was to be fastened had not been bored in the proper place.

Shortly after this, having commended his soul into the hands of God, and having suffered many tortures, he was burned, and an end was put to his life.

All this was so moving that several of the lords who had sat in judgment over him shed tears of compassion for this innocent, yet well established and steadfast young man. We have thought it necessary to record it from the testimony of those who, according to their statement, were present on that occasion and saw it.