Dirk Willems

story

told about a Dutch Anabaptist named Dirk Willems, who was condemned to die by the church for refusing to adhere to the church's teachings, specifically on infant baptism.

But Willems managed to escape from where he was being held, and he crept across the frozen ice covering a moat.

A prison guard noticed what was going on and pursued Willems, but he fell through that thin ice into the frigid waters.

He cried out for help.

There was nobody to help him, except for the escaping Dirk Willems, who did not want to see the man perish.

He went back and rescued the man, but he paid a high price for his bravery.

He was recaptured, put in prison again, and was burned at the stake by the church.