Joost Joosten, Burnt at Veer, in the Year 1560

It happened in the year 1560, that at Veer, in Zealand, a young brother named Joost Joosten was arrested, a native of Goes, a small town in Zealand, who was considerably versed in the Latin language. When he was a student of about fourteen years, it happened that King Philip was in Zealand, and that this Joost Joosten was singing the chorale in church, in the organ loft, as is customary in papist churches. The king was so delighted with the boy's singing that he wanted to take him along with him to Spain; on which account Joost kept himself hidden for six weeks, since he did not want to go away. Thus he was afterwards converted to the true faith, and was consequently baptized upon his faith, and so led a Christian life. This the enemies of the truth could not endure; hence they arrested him when he was eighteen years old. He had to suffer many assaults, and at various times attempts were made to draw him from the faith. He disputed with four inquisitors concerning many articles of faith; they made strenuous efforts to draw him over to their religion. When they could not move him by such means, they tortured him dreadfully, especially with instruments called iron teerlingen, which they thrust into his knees so that they came out again at the ankles. But he steadfastly endured all this with great patience, and faithfully kept the treasure which he had in an earthen vessel. Hence the children of Herod sentenced him to death by burning, which they carried out on him on a Monday before Christmas. On his way to death he rejoiced greatly in the Lord, and as he was going into the hut of straw in which he was burned he still sang the last verse of the hymn he had composed himself, which begins like this: "O Lord, You are forever in my thoughts." He also wrote a confession of faith, of five sheets of paper, which, however, has been lost in the course of time.