Netherlands and Scandinavia
199
Naturally eloquent, though possessing a limited education, he was a
man of unwavering integrity, of humble spirit and gentle manners, and
of sincere and earnest piety, exemplifying in his own life the precepts
which he taught, and he commanded the confidence of the people. His
followers were scattered and oppressed. They suffered greatly from
being confounded with the fanatical Munsterites. Yet great numbers
were converted under his labors.
Nowhere were the reformed doctrines more generally received
than in the Netherlands. In few countries did their adherents endure
more terrible persecution. In Germany Charles V had banned the
Reformation, and he would gladly have brought all its adherents to the
stake; but the princes stood up as a barrier against his tyranny. In the
Netherlands his power was greater, and persecuting edicts followed
each other in quick succession. To read the Bible, to hear or preach
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it, or even to speak concerning it, was to incur the penalty of death
by the stake. To pray to God in secret, to refrain from bowing to an
image, or to sing a psalm, was also punishable with death. Even those
who should abjure their errors were condemned, if men, to die by the
sword; if women, to be buried alive. Thousands perished under the
reign of Charles and of Philip II.
At one time a whole family was brought before the inquisitors,
charged with remaining away from mass and worshiping at home.
On his examination as to their practices in secret the youngest son
answered: “We fall on our knees, and pray that God may enlighten our
minds and pardon our sins; we pray for our sovereign, that his reign
may be prosperous and his life happy; we pray for our magistrates,
that God may preserve them.”—Wylie, b. 18, ch. 6. Some of the
judges were deeply moved, yet the father and one of his sons were
condemned to the stake.
The rage of the persecutors was equaled by the faith of the mar-
tyrs. Not only men but delicate women and young maidens displayed
unflinching courage. “Wives would take their stand by their husband’s
stake, and while he was enduring the fire they would whisper words
of solace, or sing psalms to cheer him.” “Young maidens would lie
down in their living grave as if they were entering into their chamber
of nightly sleep; or go forth to the scaffold and the fire, dressed in their
best apparel, as if they were going to their marriage.”—Ibid., b. 18,
ch. 6.