Peter Gerrits, Peter Joris, Peter Leydecker, and Johanna Mels, in the Year 1536

In the year 1536, on Saint Margaret's day, in the morning, the Bailiff at Zierichzee arrested three brothers and one sister, named Peter Gerrits, Peter Joris, Peter Leydecker, and Johanna Mels. He took them with him half dressed and put them in prison, where they were held for seven weeks. But no suffering or misery inflicted on them could make them apostatize. When they were examined, and many human institutions were presented to them, which they tried to refute with the Word of God, the Burgomaster said:

"We do not care for your Word of God, but hold to the mandate of the Emperor, and we will shamefully exterminate all those who act contrary to it."

They answered: "Lord Burgomaster, by this you prove yourself to be a protector of the kingdom of Babel and of Bel, for which you will indeed reap some reward here on earth, but afterward, with antichrist and the crowned beast, eternal damnation in the lake of fire." First John 2, verse 18; Revelation 13; Revelation 19, verse 20.

They were then placed upon the rack, though this was contrary to their privileges, for they were only citizens. Still they would not apostatize, though they were tortured so that the blood ran down their feet: but they trusted in and cried to God alone. After being tortured, they were brought up above again, where they comforted each other with the Word of God. First Thessalonians 4, verse 18.

Finally, on the 4th of September, they were sentenced to death. They were brought bound upon the scaffold, yet came forward boldly and humbly, as lambs of Christ, and at last knelt down, saying with Stephen: "Lord Jesus, receive our spirits into Your hands." Acts 7, verse 59. They were all then quickly beheaded, their bodies burned, and their heads set upon stakes. Thus they offered up their sacrifice.