- complaining that in a land where no papist was touched for religion by death, the blood of these protestants, who perfectly concurred in the faith professed by the realm, should be shed for their ecclesiastical opinions merely. This moved the lord treasurer; and he obtained the reprieve." He then communicated with the archbishop and other ecclesiastical dignitaries, but found them so violently opposed to any acts of mercy, that after first giving the archbishop and the bishop of Worcester "some round taxing words, and used some speech with the queen," finding himself unsupported in his benevolent purposes, he washed his hands of further complicity with these bloody men, and left subsequent proceedings to be attributed, correctly doubtless, to the "malice of the bishops." +

would "refresh and renew her princely spirit and body, as he doth the eagle's bill."-See "A Memorial of the Church to the Lord Mayor, the Magistrates and Judges," from "a few of the poor people falsely and maliciously called Brownists."- Penry, Appendix, p. 257. So Penry subscribed himself, "queen Elizabeth's most faithful subject," and protests that he "never devised nor wrote anything to the discredit or defamation of my sovereign, Queen Elizabeth."- Neal, 1. 532, 533. See also Barrowe's letters to Fisher, and to the Countess, ut sup.

"It is said their reprivall proceeded of a supplication made to the Lo. Tresorer complayning that in a land where no papist was touched for relligion by death theyr blood (concurring in opinion touching fayth wth that was professed in the realme) shold be first shedd," etc. Phelipps to Sterrell, in Hopkins, III.

517, note, from Waddington's manuscript.

† See a contemporary letter of Tho. Phelipps, to William Sterrell, dated April 11th, 1593, in The Hidden Church, 95.-"It is

The reprieve of these faithful and true witnesses was but short; for on the sixth of April, 1593, they were led forth again, early in the morning, to Tyburn, and there once more went through the scene of addressing the assembled multitude, praying for the queen, and bidding each other farewell. This time there was no reprieve; and these two learned and pious men suffered the death of felons, as a testimony against the lordly power and tyrannical proceedings of the bishops of England, and the unscriptural character of their hierarchal establishment.*

Sometime after their execution, the queen one day inquired of Dr. Reynolds, who attended them in their last moments, what he then thought of those two men, Henry Barrowe and John Greenwood. He answered, that it could avail nothing

plainly said that their [Barrowe and Greenwood's] execution proceeding of malice of the bishops to spite the nether house [the Commons], which hath procured them much hatred among the common people affected that way." See also, Hopkins, 111. 513, note. * Brook, 11. 41, 42; Neal, 1. 526; Rapin, Hist. Eng., VII. 528, Lond. 1760, 8vo. ed.; Hanbury (1. 49), says, May 6th, 1593; Stow says the first of April. — Chronicle, p. 765. "On the sixth day of

the same month, presently following, being April, 1593, was he [Mr. Barrowe] and Mr. Greenwood, conveyed again to the place of execution, and there put to death. And this as early and secretly as well they could in such a case ** - Ainsworth's Apology, p. 95. Amsterdam, 1604.

Rapin speaking of these scenes of clerical persecution by Elizabeth, says: "No sooner was she established, but she hearkened to the suggestions of the clergy, who represented the puritans as seditious persons, who rebelled against the laws, and by their disobedience shook the foundation of the government."

then to show his judgment, since they were both dead. Her majesty then charged him on his allegiance to speak. He then replied: "That he was persuaded if they had lived they would have been two as worthy instruments for the church of God. as hath been raised up in this age." Her majesty is represented to have sighed heavily and said no more at that time. But afterwards, riding near the place where they suffered, she demanded of the earl of Cumberland, who was also present at their execution, what end they made? He answered, "A very godly end; and prayed for your majesty, the State," etc. And "finally the queen asked the archbishop what he thought of Barrowe and Greenwood in his conscience. In reply he said, he thought they were servants of God, but dangerous to the State. Alas,' rejoined the queen, shall we put the servants of God to death!'"

The Rev. Edward Philips, of St. Saviour's Church, Southwark, near London, who was, Wood tells us, "by those of his large auditors (mostly zealous puritans) esteemed a person zealous of the truth of God, powerful in his calling, faithful in his message, powerful in his speech, careful of his flock, peaceable and blameless in his life, and comfortable and constant in his death," though a conforming puritan -"having conferred with Mr. Barrowe and beheld his holy preparation for death, said: 'Barrowe, Barrowe, my soul be with thine!" And the learned Hugh Broughton, a contemporary, says: "Though Barrowe and

Greenwood were condemned for disturbance of the State, this would have been pardoned and their lives spared, if they would have promised to come to church."*

* Brook, 11. 42, 162, 215; Pierce's Vindication of the Dissenters, pt. 1. p. 147; Wood's Athena, Oxon, vol. 1. column 739, 4to. Lond. 1813; Hidden Ch., p. 97; Masters' Hist. Corpus Christi Coll., 22729.

CHAPTER IV.

THE WRITINGS OF HENRY BARROWE AND JOHN GREEN

WOOD, 1589-1593.

ONE of the minor hardships to which Mr. Barrowe and Mr. Greenwood were subjected in prison was the prohibition of writing materials. And they were often searched, and stripped of what were found on them. But notwithstanding these precautions, the prisoners contrived to do a very considerable amount of writing, and even publishing, during their long confinement. What they wrote, however, was chiefly on single sheets, or scraps of paper, smuggled in by those who brought them food, or by other friendly visitors; and these were sent out in the same way that they were brought in to prison-sheet by sheet, or scrap by scrap either to be copied legibly by friends, or sent directly to the printers; chiefly to Dort, in Holland; when printed, to be smuggled back to England, and put into circulation.* These publi

The way this business was managed may be learned from the depositions of Messrs. Barrowe and Greenwood, Bowle, Stokes, Studley and Forester, in the Egerton Papers, pp. 166-77. Robert Stokes appears to have been the principal agent in procuring the printing of these works, assisted by the others above named, and by Scipio Bellot.