Leonhard Boltzinger, in the Year 1591

In the year 1591, on a Friday, the 8th of March, Leonhard Boltzinger, a brother, was executed for the Christian faith not far from Plunaven, in Bavaria, after he had been in prison twenty-three weeks; for he was arrested there the day before Saint Michael's, in the year 1590, and taken from there into the town of Brauna, and put into a dark dungeon. They also tortured him severely, to make him fall away from his faith. Once he was drawn up by ropes, and the other time stretched very miserably on the rack; but he would not depart from the truth. Finally he was taken back from Brauna to Ulba, the place where he had been arrested, where on that same Friday they led him out to the place of execution. He rejoiced greatly when he saw that he was so near his end, though they urged him hard to recant; but he answered: "I stand in the right faith, and therefore, though I had ten heads for one, I would rather have them cut off one after another than renounce my faith.

The executioner then beheaded him with the sword and burned his body.

So he persevered steadfastly in the love of God, and refused to be parted from it. To this end God gave him power, comfort, and strength, so that though his sufferings were severe, he counted them as lightly as if they had been no sufferings at all; so firm was his hope of entering into the glory of God, into everlasting joy, that he took no account of this short and passing affliction.