Joris, Wouter, Grietgen and Naentgen

Because of the severe and great persecution that was carried on everywhere in the Netherlands against the true Christians, four pious believers, among others, named Joris, Wouter, Grietgen and Naentgen, fled in the year 1551 from Lier in Brabant to Ghent in Flanders. They had not lived long in the latter place when they were betrayed by a Judas, and brought as prisoners from their houses to the castle of the count, where they joyfully thanked God, and sang praises to Him, because they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. When the monks and other sophists assailed them, they freely confessed their faith, from which no subtlety could turn them; but they valiantly withstood, with the truth, the seducers who sought to murder their souls. They were then condemned to death by virtue of the imperial mandate, because they had apostatized from the Roman church, condemned infant baptism, and had been baptized upon faith. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake without being strangled. They thanked the lords, and Grietgen said: "My lords, save three stakes; we can all four die at one, for we are spiritually of one mind." Romans 12, verse 16. They were joyful in the Lord, and thanked God greatly. Naentgen said: "This is the day for which I have longed so much." Eight monks then came to torment them; but they did not accept their advice, and Grietgen said: "Take off your long robes and teach yourselves, before you undertake to teach others." They were led to death like sheep to the slaughter, the monks going with them, to whom they said: "Stay back; leave us in peace, for we know you well, and do not wish to hear you."

When they had gone up onto the scaffold, Joris said to the people: "Let it be known to you that we do not die for theft, murder, or heresy." At this the monks became enraged, and contradicted it.

They then fell upon their knees, prayed to God, and rose and kissed each other with the kiss of peace. But when they spoke to the people with glad faces, the monks went and stood in front of them to hinder them; but one of the people cried out: "You furious antichristians, stand back, and let them speak."

Wouter said: "Citizens of Ghent, we do not suffer as heretics or Lutherans, who hold in one hand a beer mug and a testament in the other, thus dishonoring the Word of God and dealing in drunkenness; but we die for the genuine truth." The executioner then hung each of them by a rope to a stake, but did not strangle them. They then strengthened each other, saying: "Let us fight valiantly, for this is our last pain; afterward we shall rejoice with God in endless joy." Matthew 25, verse 23. As they were hanging in pain, before the fire was kindled, Joris fell through the rope, and Wouter cried: "O brother, be of good cheer!" "O Lord!" exclaimed Joris, "in You I trust; strengthen my faith." Luke 17, verse 5. The fire then began to burn, and they cried out: "O God Father, into Your hands we commend our spirits." So they offered up their sacrifice according to the will of the Lord, and their faith was tried like gold in the fire, and found good, and so accepted by God.