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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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not to deny <strong>the</strong> heresy <strong>of</strong> which one was suspected<br />

when one was questioned, although one had never<br />

uttered it. The monster <strong>of</strong> whom we have made<br />

mention above one day arrested Robert Ogier <strong>of</strong><br />

Ryssel, with his wife and two sons. The crime <strong>of</strong><br />

which <strong>the</strong>y were accused was that <strong>of</strong> not go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

mass, and <strong>of</strong> practis<strong>in</strong>g worship at home. The civil<br />

judges before whom Titlemann brought <strong>the</strong>m<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong>m touch<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> rites <strong>the</strong>y practiced <strong>in</strong><br />

private. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sons answered, "We fall on our<br />

knees and pray that God may enlighten our m<strong>in</strong>ds<br />

and pardon our s<strong>in</strong>s; we pray for our sovereign,<br />

that his reign may be prosperous, and his life<br />

happy; we pray for our magistrates, that God may<br />

preserve <strong>the</strong>m." This artless answer, from a mere,<br />

boy, touched some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> judges, even to tears,.<br />

Never<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>the</strong> elder son were<br />

adjudged to <strong>the</strong> flames. "O God," prayed <strong>the</strong> youth<br />

at <strong>the</strong> stake, "Eternal Fa<strong>the</strong>r, accept <strong>the</strong> sacrifice <strong>of</strong><br />

our lives <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> thy beloved Son!" "Thou<br />

liest, scoundrel!" fiercely <strong>in</strong>terrupted a monk, who<br />

was light<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fire. "God is not your fa<strong>the</strong>r; ye<br />

are <strong>the</strong> devil's children." The flames rose; aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

boy exclaimed, "Look, my fa<strong>the</strong>r, all heaven is<br />

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