The arrest of John Brown of Ashford, a Lollard, in 1517. Wood engraving after Alexander Johnston, 1856.

"Our fourth and last illustration (this week) is Mr. Alexander Johnston's only contribution to the Gallery (p. 513). It is No. 597, and entitled "The arrest of John Brown, of Ashford, a Lollard, and one of the first Martyrs in the early part of Henry VIll's reign." Mr. Johnston found the story in D'Aubigné's "History of the Reformatlon": Brown's wife having been churched that same day, a feast was prepared for their friends, as was usual on such occasions, and they had all taken their seats at table, joy beaming on every face, when the street-door was abruptly opened, and Chilton, the constable, a cruel and savage man, accompanied by several of the Archbishop's apparitors, seized upon the worthy townsman. All sprang from their seats in alarm. The incident is one well adapted for painting, and Mr. Johnston has treated it with a painter's skill."-- Illustrated London news, loc. cit.