Andries Pirchner, in the Year 1584

On the 26th of May, in the year 1584, Andries Pirchner was arrested at Laitsch, in Vintschgau, his native land, and from there taken to Soltrain, where he was three times put on the rack and severely tortured. For they wanted to learn from him where and with whom he had lived and had dealings, and that he should name them. But he answered that he would not be a Judas, to betray those who had done good to him, so that any harm would come to them; he would rather lose his life and body, indeed, one limb after another. Nor were these matters that concerned the faith or any article of it. But as for his faith, he would willingly and gladly declare it and not keep silent about what he had done or not done. He had made God in heaven a promise in Christian baptism, and he would hold to it, and not be found a liar before God. Moreover, he would (if it could not be otherwise) patiently suffer death, and would also ask nothing else than that by his blood and suffering he might bring some poor souls to repentance and to the confession of the truth. Then priests were sent to him, to dispute with him. But no matter what they began with him, they accomplished nothing at all, for he at once reproached them for their sinful and lewd life, showing them that they could not lead or point others to a virtuous life, because they were blind themselves. And he said further that they should consider their own ways and turn from their sinful life. He also set before them several passages from the Old and New Testaments, so that they could accomplish nothing with him according to their will, but he constantly persevered firmly in his faith. He was also greatly admonished and urged by many, privately in the house and also in public, that he should give up his faith, since he must see that there was nothing else left for him, or he would have to die. To this he answered: "All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, as the Scripture says. And I will hold to that, and I daily pray to God, my heavenly Father, that His will be done. Now if it is God's will, He can order it that I shall be released; but if it is not His will, I will die patiently." They urged him only to renounce and recant once, and they would let him go; he might then take it up again. But he replied: "No, that cannot be. May God keep me from breaking my promise and being found a liar before Him, for that would be acting like the dog that swallows again what he has once vomited. So it would also go with me. I would have to recant, and brand as a lie what I have long known and confessed as the truth and the will of God; and I would not be able for a long time truly to repent of it, and who knows whether I would be able to repent and obtain grace? So I neither will nor can do it, and I will rather die, and I hope by the help of God to be a living martyr for His truth." After that he was taken from Soltrain to Schlanders, and there, according to the princely and old imperial command and decree, sentenced to death and handed over to the officer, who led him to the place of execution.

When he was led out he spoke with a joyful heart: "God be praised, that it has come so near the end with me; and since this is His will, I will also patiently die." And so he honored his end with many thanksgivings, Christian teachings and remarks to the people, after which he knelt down. And though the weather had been cloudy that day until that hour, the sun began to shine brightly, right into his face, at which he rejoiced, and said: "God be praised, that He shows me His bright sun yet before my end."

When the executioner had drawn the sword, and was about to strike, they called to him to hold still, and the brother was very earnestly urged to renounce, and they would let him live. But he would not. He valiantly lifted up his head, and so the executioner beheaded him, joyfully offering up his spirit to God. Afterwards his body was singed with a small fire of straw.

This took place on the 19th of October of that same year, after he had been imprisoned about twenty-two weeks.