An affecting case occurred in the north of Holland, early in this year,
which, for its peculiarity, deserves brief mention. A poor Anabaptist,
guilty of no crime but his fellowship with a persecuted sect, had been
condemned to death. He had made his escape, closely pursued by an
officer of justice, across a frozen lake. It was late in the winter,
and the ice had become unsound. It trembled and cracked beneath his
footsteps, but he reached the shore in safety. The officer was not so
fortunate. The ice gave way beneath him, and he sank into the lake,
uttering a cry for succor. There were none to hear him, except the
fugitive whom he had been hunting. Dirk Willemzoon, for so was the
Anabaptist called, instinctively obeying the dictates of a generous
nature, returned, crossed the quaking and dangerous ice, at the peril of
his life, extended his hand to his enemy, and saved him from certain
death. Unfortunately for human nature, it cannot be added that the
generosity, of, the action was met by a corresponding heroism. The
officer was desirous, it is true, of avoiding the responsibility of
sacrificing the preserver of his life, but the burgomaster of Asperen
sternly reminded him to remember his oath. He accordingly arrested the
fugitive, who, on the 16th of May following, was burned to death under
the most lingering tortures.

Almost at the same time four clergymen, the eldest seventy years of age,
were executed at the Hague, after an imprisonment of three years. All
were of blameless lives, having committed no crime save that of having
favored the Reformation. As they were men of some local eminence, it
was determined that they should be executed with solemnity. They were
condemned to the flames, and as they were of the ecclesiastical
profession, it was necessary before execution that their personal
sanctity should be removed. Accordingly, on the 27th May, attired in the