Matthias Servaes, of Kottenem, in the Year 1565

Since this Matthias Servaes was an elder and teacher of the church, it happened, in the year 1565, that one evening he had met with some friends at a certain place in Cologne, to minister to them with the Gospel. But there was a Judas who knew of this; he went and fetched the double watch, who came at once fully armed, and entering from the rear the house where the meeting was held, they broke up the meeting and captured the flock, with beating, raging and fury; but those assembled went with them like sheep, to the Beyen tower. There all their names were taken down, and they were brought into other, separate places. They were asked with great insistence who their teacher was; in answer to that question, Matthias Servaes himself confessed that he was the man. They tried to draw him away from Christ and His holy Word, attempting it in various ways, with deception and subtlety, with pleading and threats; and since he repelled all these wiles, he was severely tortured. Yet he was not terrified by any torture or pain, but firmly kept in his heart what God had revealed to him. Afterward, in the morning, he was taken to prison, where also many a snare was laid to catch his soul. From prison he was brought bound before the penal court, where the imperial mandates were read to him, and he was delivered into the power of the executioner, to be put to death by him, according to the mandate.

Matthias was ready, and let himself be led like an innocent lamb to the slaughter. He lifted up his eyes toward heaven, folded his hands, and said: "O my Father, I praise Your name, that I am counted worthy of this."

Many people flocked together to see this; some of them felt sympathy for him, and said: "It is a pity indeed, that this fine man has to die for such a deed."

On the way a young woman happened along, who wanted to speak to him; but they seized her, and thrust her away from him. Also a lad wanted to greet him, and they seized him likewise, but the count ordered them to let him go. Before he arrived at the place of execution, he looked around him and said: "I have many people present on my day. It would be a pity indeed if all these should perish." And when he was now about to die, he said aloud: "O God, You know full well what I have striven for and what I have sought in my life, from the beginning, day and night." And to the count he said, "You well know, sir count, how you have treated me; but I have forgiven you everything; it is all out of my heart." And so ended the life of this pious man, who was executed with the sword. Now, as to what his confession was before and afterwards, what he met with in prison, and how he admonished, comforted and strengthened his brothers and sisters, all this may be found in the following letters written by him.