Tijs van Lindt, in the Year 1550

Tijs van Lindt was a zealous and devout man, a resident of Remunde, in Guelderland, and he walked devoutly in the fear of the Lord, according to the knowledge God had given him. He was especially gifted with a sympathizing and merciful heart toward the poor and needy, so that through the many alms and the help he gave to the poor in general, he was well spoken of by many; for with what God had given him he comforted many in their distress. But because he had forsaken popery, with its idolatry, accepted the evangelical truth, received the saving faith in Jesus Christ, repented of his sinful life (which he had misused in ignorance), been baptized upon his faith, and sought daily to go on in the new and holy life, to the honor of God, the edification of his neighbor, and the enlightening of those who still sat in blindness, so that he might thus present his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, the adversaries of the truth could not bear it, and this pious man was reported and charged with heresy. He was put into prison, where he had to endure many conflicts and assaults; they attacked him severely with torments, so that he would fall away from his faith. But since, in spite of all his sufferings and torments, he steadfastly held to his faith, he was finally condemned under the imperial mandate, and burned to ashes.

Shortly after the burning of this pious witness of Jesus Christ, in Remunde, the city itself caught fire, and was almost entirely reduced to ashes. How it happened is not known, unless it started of its own accord. Many think that it was a punishment for the innocent blood; that judgment we leave to God.