George Friesen, a Cabinetmaker, and William van Keppel, in the Year 1562

This George Friesen, a cabinetmaker, and William van Keppel, formerly a mass priest, were both arrested at Cologne in the year 1562, for the evangelical truth. When William was sought and found, he went willingly with his captors, who first took him into a tower of the city. He did not remain there long, however, for they moved him into the count's dungeon, where those were taken who were condemned to death. In this dungeon he found the said George Friesen, who was his brother in the Lord, and also a prisoner, and whose company was a great comfort to him.

Many were the nets spread and the snares laid to catch their souls; but the chief fuss and clamor was about infant baptism, which their adversaries claimed to be right. But since they could not prove it by the Word of God, they used human wisdom; and, to God be the praise, with this they could not move these men. Now the lords pleaded with them, now they severely threatened them with torture and death; but the prisoners rejoiced in it. The others said things sweet and things bitter, but this could not move the prisoners, for through the help of the Lord their hearts stood firm as a wall.

The count offered to give George money, and his servant maid for a wife, if he would renounce his faith. But George would hold to the truth, and said to the count: "Your servant maid, riches, or money cannot take me to God, but I have chosen something better, for which I hope to strive." There also came to William a crafty man, who made him fair promises and said that he would take him to England, and who would soon have drawn the net of delusion over his head if the Lord had not helped and preserved him.

When the last hour came that they were to be prepared for the offering, for which they greatly longed, they were both brought out of prison, the count's dungeon, to the house of the count, into a hall, at one o'clock in the night. There much arrogant and scornful language was used against them, and they were greatly tormented, to which George said nothing. William, too, answered but little. This continued half the night, until break of day or twilight, when the two prisoners were hurriedly taken to the Rhine, where they were to be drowned.

When George saw how hurriedly they were taken to the Rhine in the early morning, he called to the count, saying: "Sir count, what has become of the promise you made us? For you said that you would put us to death in broad daylight." But no one paid attention to these words; they were hurried instead to the place where they were to be put to death, namely the Rhine. And so were fulfilled the words of David, where he says: "They have secretly slain the upright." Psalm 11, verse 2. May the Lord forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

When they were taken out on the water in a boat, William took off his clothes, and laid his hands upon his feet, to be bound in that way; for he thought that he was to be drowned and get home first. But this was not to be his lot; they made him put his clothes on again, and told him that he should wait.

And so George was compelled to be the first one, to be made ready for an offering. When he was ready for death, he took brotherly leave of William, and they kissed each other with a holy kiss of love. Then George was thrown overboard, and drowned in the Rhine, thus testifying by his death that he was a partaker of Christ's sufferings, to receive at His hands, through grace, the crown upon mount Sion, and to rejoice forever with Him. Second Esdras 2, verse 43.

After George was drowned, the executioner said to William: "Put on your clothes; I will take you to the shore, and behead you there." William, through the grace of God, was willing and ready for it, and said: "You may do with me whatever God wills and permits."

When they came on shore, they set William free. The executioner said to him: "Go your way." Whether they did this because William had been a priest, and they would have had to desecrate him before putting him to death, and whether they therefore rather released him than go to such trouble, is not known.