1549
ELIZABETH DIRK‘S parents put her in a convent as a girl. We don’t know why, but that decision brought her to Christ—and to death. In the convent, Dirks* learned to read both Latin and her native Dutch. She pored over a Latin Bible. Becoming convinced monasticism was not biblical, she looked for a way out.
Help came from a friendly milkmaid, who exchanged clothes with her. Elizabeth walked away in the simple disguise and came to nearby Lier. She sought refuge at a house that turned out to be home to some Anabaptists. They instructed her in Christian faith and then took her to Leeuwarden to live with an Anabaptist named Hadewijk. Hadewijk’s husband was gone. Forced to witness the burning of a godly Anabaptist, he had spoken in his defense then fled town to escape a similar fate. His wife never heard from him again. At the time she was still a Catholic and had refused to leave with him.
Dirks labored with the local Anabaptists. Authorities observed her with Anabaptist leader Menno Simons so often they mistook her for his wife. In January 1549 they arrested Hadewijk and Dirks. They knew they had come to the right house when they found a Bible. Hadewijk miraculously escaped but Dirks underwent interrogation.
When the town council tried to get her to take an oath, she would not. Jesus taught us that our “yes” must mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no,” she said. Authorities demanded she tell who baptized her and name her “accomplices.” Dirks refused. “No, my Lords, do not press me on this point. Ask me about my faith and I will answer you gladly.”
“We will make you so afraid that you will tell us,” they threatened.
In answer to questions, she explained what Anabaptists believed about the Lord’s Supper and baptism. She discussed the nature of the true church, and the authority of priests. Asked if baptism saved her, she replied, “No, my Lords. All the water in the sea cannot save me. All my salvation is in Christ, who has commanded me love the Lord, my God, and my neighbor as myself.” Most of her answers quoted the Bible.
To get her to inform on other Anabaptists, they carried through their threats of torture. First they applied thumbscrews until blood spurted from under her fingernails. She cried out to Christ, but did not betray fellow Anabaptists, because the Lord took the pain from her. Her tormenters then discussed crushing her leg bones with screws. She begged them not to touch her body, as she had always been modest. They promised to respect her. Although they crushed her legs until she fainted, she did not name any other Anabaptists. When she passed out, her tormenters thought she had died.
When she came to, they ended the interrogation. Seeing they could get nothing from her, they condemned her to die. On this day, 27 May 1549, they drowned Elizabeth Dirks in a bag. The transcript of her interrogation remains to show her courage, modesty, and faith.
1564
On this day, May 27, 1564, the church bid farewell to one of its most illustrious reformers, John Calvin. Born in Noyon, France, on July 10, 1509, Calvin’s profound influence on Protestant theology and his legacy as a tireless servant of the Gospel remain unparalleled. His monumental work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, laid the foundation for Reformed theology, articulating doctrines such as the sovereignty of God and predestination. Calvin’s insistence on the authority of Scripture and his clear exposition of biblical truths have earned him the title “the theologian” by Philip Melanchthon and high praise from Charles Spurgeon, who said Calvin “propounded truth more clearly than any other man that ever breathed.”
Despite facing numerous challenges, including exile from Geneva and the loss of his wife Idelette and their children, Calvin’s steadfast dedication to the faith never wavered. His return to Geneva marked a period of significant theological and educational advancements, including the establishment of the Geneva Academy in 1559, which trained countless ministers who would spread Reformed teachings across Europe.
Calvin’s personal struggles, such as chronic health issues and the infamous trial of Michael Servetus, did not deter him from his mission. His final years were marked by a relentless commitment to preaching and teaching until his last sermon on February 6, 1564. His successor, Theodore Beza, and countless others have continued to build on his profound legacy.
Today, we honour the memory of John Calvin, a humble servant whose life’s work continues to inspire and guide believers around the world. As he said, “My heart I give Thee, Lord, eagerly and earnestly.” Let us remember his contributions and strive to uphold the truths he so passionately defended.
1661
Archibald Campbell, the first marquess and eighth earl of Argyle, lifted a paper. He still had several more to sign before he died if his estate was to be properly settled. But for a moment, on this day, Monday, May 27, 1661, the papers in front of him no longer seemed to matter. A new thought came to him:
“Here I am, setting my affairs in order,” he exclaimed, “but God is sealing my charter to a better inheritance, and saying to me, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’ “
He returned to his papers and completed them. Among them was a letter to King Charles II of England, asking him please to protect his wife and children.
Just two days before, it had looked as if Argyle would escape death. But letters were brought in, showing that he had conspired with Oliver Cromwell against King Charles I, during the war between Parliament and the king. He was pronounced guilty; his head must roll.
Whether you are for king or Parliament in that war, you have to admire the bravery of men and women on both sides. King Charles went to his execution with courage and faith. Now one of his enemies would go with similar courage and faith.
Argyle was a leader of the Scottish Covenanters, a group who insisted that the King of England had no right to dictate the way they should worship. He showed just how strong his faith was after the death sentence was pronounced. His wife met him outside the court, weeping. “The Lord will pay them back for this!” she said.
“Control yourself, Dear. Truly, I pity them. They don’t know what they are doing; they may shut me in where they please, but they cannot shut God out from me. For my part, I am as content to be here as in the castle, and as content in the castle as in the Tower of London, and as content there as when at liberty, and I hope to be as content on the scaffold as any of them all.”
After they had allowed him two hours with his papers, the guards came and took the marquess to the scaffold. Argyle spoke calmly for a few minutes. His pulse was steady–a physician checked it. Then his head was lopped off by “the maiden” a machine like a guillotine in which an axe blade slid down between grooves from a height of ten feet.