The Lad Cornelis van Kulenburgh, in the Year 1552

In the year 1552, a lad called Cornelis was arrested under the administration of the Count of Kulenburgh, for the testimony of Jesus; he was kept in prison at that place about three years, and then burned for the truth of Christ. During his imprisonment he was greatly assailed by priests, monks and prelates, who were gathered in the castle of Kulenburgh. These ministers of that Roman antichrist laid many snares for this youth, to trap his soul; they inflicted severe tortures on him, to make him name his fellow believers, and then plied him again with fine promises of this world, in this following the example of their master, Satan, with our Savior Jesus. But this prisoner, though young in years, yet old in the faith, through the grace of God valiantly resisted this temptation. For this he was [condemned to death] * by that count, who was driven to it by the so-called spirituals (priests), and by his desire to remain a friend of the pope. [n742-2] John 19, verse 12. So this pious youth had to pay for it; he was placed at a stake, and while there the priests still came to him and tried to make him renounce his faith. But he chose far rather to die for the name of Jesus than to depart from the truth, and was therefore burned at the stake, thus becoming a partaker of the sufferings of Christ, for which he will be rewarded with everlasting joy, when the great God shall be revealed.

Concerning this, see the hymn in the History Liedtboeck. [n742-1]