The Holy Martyrs of Gorcum

IN the sixteenth century Holland and Belgium were unwillingly subject to Spain. Protestantism was professed by large numbers of the inhabitants, and the Protestant leaders, making use of the people's natural enmity towards Spain, a staunch Catholic power, strove to impress upon their minds the idea that in order to be lovers of their own country they must belong to the Protestant party, and that the Catholics must necessarily be the friends of Spain, and enemies of their fatherland. This must be born in mind while reading the following narrative of the sufferings and glorious death of the noble martyrs of Gorcum. There were in all eleven Capuchins, two Premonstratensians, one Dominican, one Regular Canon of Saint Augustine, and four secular priests. Their names were: St. Nicolas Pik, Guardian; St. Jerome de Werder, Vice Guardian; St. Thierry Embden, St. Nicaise Johnson, St Willald, St. Godfrey of Merville, St. Antony of Werden, St. Antony of Hornaer, St. Francis of Roze, all Capuchin priests; St. Peter of Assche, St. Cornelius of Wyck, Capuchin lay brothers; St Leonard Wichel, St. Nicolas Poppel, St Andrew Walter, and St Godfrey van Duynen, secular priests; St John of Oosterwyck, Canon Regular of St. Augustine; St Andrian Becan, and St James Lacop, Premonstratensians, and St John of Cologne, Dominican.