History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

laid his hand upon his breast, and calling on God,
solemnly declared that "he believed from his heart
that the Romish religion was the most certain way
to salvation." "You did not always think so,"
replied Arent Dirkson, a man of seventy years, and
known to be learned and judicious; "you knew the
truth formerly, but you have maliciously rejected it,
and you must answer for it at the great Day of
Judgment." The words of the old man found a
response in the conscience of the apostate. The
bishop shook and trembled before his own
prisoner. Nevertheless he went on with the
condemnation of the four men, delivering them to
the temporal arm with the usual prayer that the
magistrate would deal tenderly with them. Upon
this, the grey-haired pastor again burst out, "Quam
pharisaice! How pharisaically do they treat us!"
They were sent back to prison. The same night they
celebrated the Lord's Supper for their mutual
consolation, and continued till break of day in
singing psalms, in reading the Holy Scriptures, and
in prayer. The hour of execution being come, the
father of one of the martyrs, mingling in the crowd,
waited till his son should pass to the stake, that he
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