John George, in the Year 1566

In the year 1566 brother John George, a Count from Italy, who had lived in Germany for several years as a refugee, stayed with the church and conducted himself as a very humble and excellent Christian. He went from Grossenstein back to Italy, where he had left his wife; but there he was denounced and betrayed, so that men came from Venice and arrested him. When they were on the water, on their way to Venice, they threw him into the sea and drowned him. They did away with him in this manner so that it might be done quietly, in case much trouble should arise on his account if they brought him to Venice, since he was of so noble a race. So he had to lose his temporal life for the faith. Through faith he forsook and abandoned all the nobility of this world, choosing rather to suffer reproach with the people of God than to enjoy temporal honor and distinction among his own people; and he counted reproach for the name of Christ great riches, far above the treasures of Egypt or the nobility of this world; for he looked to the future and to the eternal reward, which will be great in heaven, and will not be withheld from him as a witness, follower and valiant soldier of Christ. Hebrews 11, verses 24 and 26.