JAN BLOCK BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT NIMEGUEN, A. n. 1572

FROM THE MARTYRS MIRROR

About the year 1572, there was burnt at Nimeguen, a young man named
Jan Block, who had wealth, and lived of the same, so that he had not
learned any profession or trade. He associated with a brother named
Symon van Maren, a furrier, born at Hertogenbosch, with whom he
formerly was wont to go to the tavern to tipple, but who, after he was
converted, admonished him to read the New Testament, which advice he
also followed; and the good Lord so opened his heart, that he
understood from it what was right, and joined the church of God. This
done, he could not remain hid, since he led a better life than before;
so that all his property was confiscated, and a price set upon his
apprehension, that whoever would betray him, should receive for it
seventy gold reals. Then he fled out of the city, and in a village
asked a mason for work as a tender, in order that he might earn a
living, since he knew nothing else to do. The mason refused him this,
saying: "They would come here to apprehend you, and this would bring
me into trouble." Sometime after he came into town, where he was
espied by a traitor, who went and reported it to the officer and his
beadles, who came to seek him. The woman of the house had compassion
on Jan Block, and he went and stood upon the bed behind the curtains.
The bailiff looked into the chamber, but did not search very closely,
since he was not a bloodthirsty man, and then turned back again,
saying: "He is not there." The traitor said, "He is there; I saw him
go in." One of the beadles went back, and raising the curtains, saw
him standing there. He was then taken along, as a malefactor. While in
prison he was often visited, and cared for by the God-fearing. 

Finally sentence of death was pronounced upon him, and he was
condemned to be burned at the stake as a heretic. 

While this took place, one of the lords in the court, who, since Jan
Block was of high descent, had formerly associated much with him,
sought, as he pretended, to convert him to the Romish faith before his
end; to whom this valiant witness of Jesus Christ, turning around,
answered: "You should have converted me when we were formerly together
in such and such places (which he named to him) and each of us had a
harlot in his lap." 

Coming upon the scaffold, to be put to death, he showed such a joyful
countenance, as though he had come to a wedding feast or a festival;
for he went to the stake at which he was to offer up his sacrifice,
with as much alacrity as though he had made a leap. 

Having arrived at the stake, he pointed out to the executioner his
carelessness, consisting in this, that the holes where he was to be
fastened were not bored at the proper place. 

Shortly after this, after having commended his soul into the hands of
God, and suffering many tortures, he was burned, and an end put to his
life. 

All this was so affecting, that several of the lords who had sat in
judgment over him shed tears of compassion for this innocent, but
nevertheless well-established and steadfast young man; which we have
deemed necessary to record from the testimony of those who according
to their statement were present on that occasion and witnessed it