GILLIS AND ELIZABETH, A. D. 1551.

On the 21st of July, A. D. 1551, two pious Christians, a brother by the name of Gillis, and a sister named Elizabeth, were sentenced to death as heretics, pursuant to the imperial decree, at Ghent, in Flanders. They were not led forth to death at the usual time, but at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Having ascended the scaffold, they prayed to God. In the meantime, the executioner unlaced the gown of Elizabeth, which, when she arose, fell down, so that she stood there in her shift and linen trousers, which the executioner, by way of mockery, had made her put on. Feeling greatly ashamed on this account, she immediately went to the stake, and then said: “I thank thee, O Lord, that I am worthy to suffer for thy name. I now stand at the touchstone, at which God’s elect are tried. O Lord, strengthen me, and delay not.”

Gillis said: “Dear sister, be patient in your suffering, and comfort yourself in God; he will not forsake you.”

“O dear brother,” said she, “I will never depart from him.”

Gillis then cried: “O Lord, forgive them their sins, who inflict death upon me; for as they do not know thee, they know not what they do.”

Finally they cried out: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” And thus, through fire, they died a blessed death well pleasing unto God.