Circa 1569:

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From Scroll Publishing:  "Probably no scene from The Martyrs Mirror is quite as memorable as that of Dirk Willems turning to save the life of the drowning deputy who had been sent to arrest him. Despite his act of Christian love, the Catholic authorities still ordered the deputy to arrest Dirk, who they later burned at the stake. Yet, in the end, Dirk Willems has outlived his executioners."