been indicted, arraigned, condemned, and adjudged to suffer death as felons." He then describes what he and his companions had been made to suffer since their condemnation; doubtless for the purpose of shaking their firmness in the profession of the truth: "Upon the 24th [March 1592 -3] early in the morning, was preparation made for our execution: We, brought out of the limbo [dungeon,] our irons smitten off, and we ready to be bound to the cart, when her majesty's most gracious pardon came for our reprieve."

After this feint, the bishops sent their emissaries to endeavor to shake the constancy of these faithful confessors. One of their number seems to have yielded; the other four remained firm. This letter contains the description of another most affecting scene, through which these good men were made to pass on their way to death: "Upon the last day of the third month [March], my brother Greenwood and I were very early and secretly conveyed to the place of execution; where, being tied by the necks to the tree, we were permitted to speak a few words * * Thus, craving pardon of all men whom we had any way offended, and freely for. giving the whole world, we used prayer for her majesty, the magistrates, people, and even for our adversaries. And having, both of us, almost finished our last words, behold, one was even at that instant come with a reprieve for our lives from her majesty; which was not only thankfully received of us, but with exceeding rejoicing and applause of all the people, both at the place of execution, and in the ways, streets, and houses, as we returned !”✶

This affecting letter was probably the last effort of Barrowe's pen. It was addressed to a relative who seems to

* Quoted by Hanbury, pp. 48, 49.

have had access to the queen's person, soliciting this lady to lay his case before her majesty. Whether this was done we know not. But this is on record, that the tyrannical and merciless archbishop Whitgift had intercepted a previous petition from this prisoner, addressed to the queen herself, and had exerted himself to keep the facts of Barrowe's case from the knowledge of her majesty. No wonder that this persecuted and abused prisoner was provoked to speak blunt and harsh truth of this haughty, passionate, ambitious, tyrannical, blood-thirsty prelate.†

On the 6th day of May, 1693, this fearless champion of scriptural truth, with his Christian brother Greenwood, was carried, for the third time to the place of execution, Tyburn; and there hanged, for the crime of non-conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the English church!! At their execution they displayed the same unshaken firmness which they had ever exhibited; and manifested the utmost loyalty towards the queen; praying earnestly for her long and prosperous reign.

Dr. Raynolds attended them in their last moments, of whom the queen sometime after inquired: "What he then thought of those two men, Henry Barrowe and John Green

On one of his examinations before the high commissioners, it being noticed that Barrowe did not pay the same respect to the archbishop and the bishop of London, as he did to the temporal lords, the lord chancellor Hatton, asked if he did not know these two men? pointing to the prelates: Barrowe replied, that he had cause to know them, but did not acknowledge them lord bishops. Being asked what he would call the archbishop; he replied: “He is a monster! a miserable compound; I know not what to make of him. He is neither ecclesiastical nor civil; even that second beast spoken of in the Revelation, [Chap. xiii."]-Hanbury, p. 37; Neal, Vol. I. pp. 524, 525.

wood? He answered her majesty, that it could not avail anything to show his judgment concerning them, seeing they were put to death. And being loath to speak his mind further, her majesty charged him upon his allegiance to speak; whereupon he answered, That he was persuaded, if they had lived, they would have been two as worthy instruments for the church of God, as have been raised up in this age. Her majesty sighed, and said no more: but after that, riding to a park, near the place where they suffered death, called again to mind their suffering of death, and demanded of the earl of Cumberland, who was present when they suffered, what end they made? He answered, 'A very godly end; and prayed for your majesty, the state,' etc."*

JOHN GREENWOOD, Barrowe's companion in tribulation, was a university scholar, and received his degree of B. A. in 1580. "He was chaplain to lord Rich; was married, and had a young son.'" He was first imprisoned in November, 1586, together with his friend and fellow collegian and fellow laborer Barrowe.t

*

He appears to have been arrested at midnight, and drag

Quoted by Hanbury, pp. 61, 62, from the preface of one of Barrowe's works re-printed after his death; Neal, Vol. I. pp. 524527.-Neal puts the execution one month earlier—(6th April.) He does not seem to have been acquainted with Barrowe's letter to the countess; and mentions their being brought out for execution but twice, instead of three times.

+ Neal, I. p. 524, says that "Barrowe was apprehended at the Clink Prison, in Southwack, where he went to visit his brother Greenwood." This would suggest, that they were not imprisoned at the same time: but their examinations were at the same time, and in November of the same year. See back, p. 253, so that there could have been but little if any difference between the time at which the two friends were imprisoned.

ged from his bed to prison. He suffered the same rigorous treatment of which Barrowe complained, and for the same length of time-" well near six years." He was examined at or near the same time with Barrowe, and upon the same general interrogatories; and witnessed the same bold and Christian confession before his persecutors. His sentiments seem to have been very similar to those of his companion in tribulation for the Word's sake. He was a man of learning, an able controversialist, and an unflinching advocate for Congregational principles and doctrines. He was associated with his brother Barrowe in several controversial works. The first of his works, written about the year 1589-90, is an "Answer to George Giffard's pretended Defence of Read Prayers and Devised Liturgies; with the ungodly Cavils and wicked Slanders comprised in the first part of his Book, intituled, A short Treatise against the Donatists of England." Greenwood styles himself—" Christ's poor afflicted Prisoner in the Fleet, at London, for the Truth of the Gospel." In this treatise he distinctly disclaims any discipleship with Browne. "What opinion the 'Brownists' hold of the Church of England, their worship, people, ministry, government,-we," says Greenwood, " neither know nor regard neither is there any cause why we should be charged or condemned for their errors and faults."* He speaks in terms of severity against "the malignant church" of England. He calls upon God's people to come out of her, lest they communicate in her sins, and receive of her plagues. "Let her shipmasters, then, her mariners, merchantmen, enchanters, and false prophets, utter and retail her wares, deck and adorn her with the scarlet, purple, gold, silver, jewels, and ornaments of the true Tabernacle : let them, in her, offer up their sacrifices, their beasts, sheep,

* Hanbury, Chap. 4. p. 66.

meal, wine, oil; their odours, ointments, and frankincense: let them daub and undershore her; build and reform her; until the storm of the Lord's wrath break forth;" **“But let the wise, that are warned and see the evil, fear and depart from the same; so shall they preserve their own souls as a prey and the Lord shall bring them amongst his redeemed, to Zion, with praise,' and 'everlasting joy' shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.'

The next year he produced another work-against "Mr. Giffard's supposed consimilitude betwixt the Donatists and us; wherein it is showed how his Arguments have been and may be, by the Papists, more justly retorted against himself, and the present estate of their church. By Jo. Greenwood, 1591." Giffard appears to have been a conforming Puritan. He fell into rough hands when he attacked Barrowe and Greenwood; and had occasion to remember the wise man's saying, before he was through with the controversy: "He that passeth by and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." Greenwood says: "You term us Brownists and Donatists; whereas I never conversed with the men nor their writings! I detest Donatus' heresies. And if they had been instruments to teach us any truth, we were not therefore to be named with their names; we were baptized into Christ's. Browne is a member of your church; your brother, and all the Brownists do frequent your assemblies."

Greenwood's object seems to have been, to throw off from himself and his friends the obloquy of a bad name. He tacitly admits that he held some sentiments in common with Donatus and Browne ;-indeed, he could not, in truth, have

* Ib. pp. 66, 67.