On the 8th Feb., 1527, George Carpenter was burned in Munchen in Bavaria. When he came before the council, his offences were read contained in four articles:—
- That he did not believe that a priest could forgive a man’s sins.
- That he did not believe that a man could call God out of heaven.
- That he did not believe that God was in the bread which the priest hangs over the altar.
- That he did not believe that the very element of the water itself in baptism gives grace.
He refused to recant. Then there came to him a certain schoolmaster saying “My friend George, do you not fear the death and punishment which you must suffer? If you were let go, would you not return to your wife and children?” He answered. “If I were at liberty, where should I go but to my wife and beloved children?” Then said the schoolmaster, “Revoke your former opinion and you shall be set at liberty.” George answered, “My wife and children are so dearly loved by me, that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria, but for love to the Lord I shall willingly forsake them.” When he was led to the place of execution, the schoolmaster spoke to him again, saying — “Good George, believe in the sacrament of the altar, do not affirm it to be only a sign.” He answered “I believe this sacrament to be a sign of the body of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for us.” Then said the schoolmaster “Why do you so little esteem baptism, knowing that Christ suffered Himself to be baptised in Jordan?” He answered showing the true use of baptism, and the end why Christ was baptized in Jordan, and how necessary it was that Christ should suffer and die upon the cross. “The same Christ” said he “I shall confess before the whole world, for He is my Saviour, and in Him I believe.”
After this came Conrade Schuter, the vicar of the cathedral saying, “George, if you will not believe the sacrament, yet put all your trust in God and say “I trust my cause to be good and true, but if I should err, truly I would be sorry and repent.” George Carpenter answered, “God suffer me not to err, I beseech Thee.” Then Conrade began the Lord’s prayer; “Our Father which art in Heaven” Carpenter answered “Truly, Thou are our Father, and no other; this day I trust to be with Thee.” Conrade went on with the prayer saying “Hallowed be Thy name” Carpenter answered, “Oh, my God, how little is Thy name hallowed in this world!” Then said Conrade “Thy kingdom come.” Carpenter answered, “Let Thy kingdom come this day to me that I also may come to Thy kingdom.” Then said Conrade “Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.” Carpenter answered, “For this cause, O Father! am I now here, that Thy will might be fulfilled and not mine.” Then said Conrade “Give us this day our daily bread.” Carpenter answered “The only living bread Jesus Christ, shall be my food.”
Then said Conrade “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.” Carpenter answered “With a willing mind do I forgive all men, both my friends and adversaries. Then said Conrade “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Carpenter answered “O my Lord without doubt Thou shalt deliver me, and upon Thee only, have I laid all my hope.” Then Conrade began to rehearse the creed saying “I believe in God the Father Almighty.” Carpenter answered “O my God in Thee alone do I trust; in Thee only is my confidence, and upon no other.” In this manner he answered to every word.
The schoolmaster asked “Do you believe so truly and constantly in thy Lord and God with all your heart as you so cheerfully confess Him?” He answered “It were a very hard matter for me, if I who am ready here to suffer death, should not believe with my heart, what I openly profess with my mouth, for I knew before that I must suffer persecution, if I would cleave unto Christ who says “Where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also.” Then asked Conrade “Do you think it necessary after your death, that any should pray or say mass for you?” He answered “So long as the soul is joined to the body, pray God, that I be given grace and patience with all humility, to suffer the pains of death with a true Christian faith, but when the soul is separate from the body, I have no more need of prayers. Then he was asked by certain Christian brethren, that as soon as he was cast into the fire, that he should give some sign or token what his faith was. He answered “This shall be my sign and token, that as long as I can open my mouth, I shall not cease to call upon the name of Jesus.”
Behold what an incredible constancy was in this godly man! His face never changed colour, but he went cheerfully to the fire. “In the midst of the town, this day” said he “will I confess my God, before the whole world.” When he was laid upon the ladder, and after the executioner had put a bag of gunpowder about his neck he said “Let it be so in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” When thrust into the fire he cried “Jesus! Jesus!” Then the executioner turned him over, and again he cried “Jesus! Jesus!” and joyfully yielded up his spirit.
from: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs