Half an hour elapsed: the inquisitors hesitated, and hoped that the prospect of so terrible a death would intimidate these youths. But alone tranquil in the midst of the turbulent crowd in the square, they sang psalms, stopping from time to time to declare boldly: "We will die for the name of Jesus Christ." "Be converted--be converted," cried the inquisitors, "or you will die in the name of the devil."--"No," replied the martyrs, "we will die like Christians, and for the truth of the Gospel." [Sidenote: MARTYRDOM.] The pile was lighted. While the flames were ascending slowly, a heavenly peace filled their hearts, and one of them went so far as to say: "I seem to be lying on a bed of roses."[316] The solemn hour was come; death was near: the two martyrs cried with a loud voice: "_O Domine Jesu! Fili David! miserere nostri!_ O Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!" They then began solemnly to repeat the Apostle's Creed.[317] At last the flames reached them, burning the cords that fastened them to the stake, before their breath was gone. One of them, taking advantage of this liberty, fell on his knees in the midst of the fire,[318] and thus worshipping his Master, exclaimed, clasping his hands: "Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The flames now surrounded their bodies: they sang the _Te Deum_; soon their voices were stifled, and nothing but their ashes remained. [316] Dit schijnen mij als roosen te zijn. Brandt, Hist. der Reformatie, i. 79. [317] Admoto igne, canere cœperunt symbolum fidei, says Erasmus. Epp. i. 1278. [318] Da ist der eine im Feuer auf die Knie gefallen. L. Opp. xviii. 481. This execution had lasted four hours. It was on the 1st of July 1523 that the first martyrs of the Reformation thus laid down their lives for the Gospel. All good men shuddered when they heard of it. The future filled them with the keenest apprehension. "The executions have begun," said Erasmus.[319]--"At last," exclaimed Luther, "Christ is gathering some fruits of our preaching, and has created new martyrs." [319] Cœpta est carnificina. Epp. i. 1429. But the joy Luther felt at the constancy of these two young Christians was troubled by the thought of Lambert. The latter was the most learned of the three; he had succeeded to Probst's station as preacher at Antwerp. Agitated in his dungeon, and alarmed at the prospect of death, he was still more terrified by his conscience, which reproached him with cowardice, and urged him to confess the Gospel. He was soon delivered from his fears, and after boldly proclaiming the truth, died like his brethren.[320] [320] Quarta post exustus est tertius frater Lambertus. L. Epp. ii. 361. [Sidenote: LUTHER'S SYMPATHY.] A rich harvest sprang from the blood of these martyrs. Brussels turned towards the Gospel.[321] "Wherever Aleander raises a pile," said Erasmus, "there he seems to have been sowing heretics."[322]