Nicholas Pieck was the son of John Pieck and Henriea Clavia, devout Catholics. He was sent to college at 's-Hertogenbosch, and as soon as he had completed his classical studies he received the habit of the Friars Minor

Franciscan

Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....

 at the convent

Convent

A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...

 in that town. Nicholas was ordained a priest in 1558, devoting himself to the apostolic ministry. He was appointed guardian of the convent at Gorkum

Gorinchem

Gorinchem , also called Gorkum , is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 21.99 km² of which 3.03 km² is water...

, his native town.

He preached against Calvinism

Calvinism

Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...

. In particular, he preached the dogma of the Real Presence

Real Presence

Real Presence is a term used in various Christian traditions to express belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was previously just bread and wine, and not merely present in symbol, a figure of speech , or by his power .Not all Christian traditions accept this dogma...

. In June 1572, the citadel of Gorkum was taken by the Watergeuzen. Nicholas and eight other Franciscans were captured and tortured. Other priests were captured, bringing the total to 19. They were taken to Briel

Brielle

Brielle , also called Den Briel is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the north side of the island of Voorne-Putten, at the mouth of the New Maas. The municipality covers an area of 31.12 km² of which 3.63 km² is water...

 in July. The commander of the Watergeuzen, William II de la Marck

William II de la Marck

William II de la Marck was Lord of Lumey and initially admiral of the Watergeuzen, the so-called 'sea beggars' who fought in the Eighty Years' War , together with among others William the Silent, Prince of Orange-Nassau...

, promised them freedom if they would renounce the authority of the pope. None did. They were hanged July 9, 1572, and became known as the Martyrs of Gorkum

Martyrs of Gorkum

The Martyrs of Gorkum were a group of 19 Dutch Catholic clergy and friars who suffered martyrdom in the sixteenth century for their faith in the town of Gorinchem .-Events:...

.