Of the Persecution and Suffering of the Christian Believers, in the Year 1400

That the intelligent and God-fearing J. Tauler called the prelates of the Roman church blind, and leaders of the blind, and taught his fellow believers much about the persecution and suffering of the true Christians, we set forth in our account of Holy Baptism, for the year 1400.

In the meantime some of the sheep of the flock of Christ were devoured by the Roman wolf. Their names, however, are not known to us, except one, and even about him we have not been able to obtain enough information concerning his whole faith, except this much: that in his belief he was opposed to antichrist, that is, the Pope of Rome. For this reason the cruel death by fire was inflicted on him, because he would not apostatize.

About this, the following words, among others, are found in the Chronijck van den Ondergang: "William Santraus also opposed the (Roman) antichrist at this time. He fell into the power and custody of the archbishop of Canterbury, where, after a whole year's imprisonment, he at last, though with great steadfastness, ended his life in the flames." Chron., page 750, column 1.