John Penry
Encyclopedia
John Penry is Wales
's most famous Protestant martyr
.
, Wales; Cefn Brith, a farm near Llangammarch
, is traditionally recognised as his birthplace. He matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge
, in December 1580, being then probably a Roman Catholic; but soon became a Protestant, with strong Puritan
tendencies. Having graduated B.A., he moved to St Alban Hall, Oxford, and gained his M.A. in July 1586. He did not seek ordination, but was licensed as University Preacher.
, and the New Testament
was issued in 1567; but the number printed would barely supply a copy for each parish church
. Indignant at this failure, Penry published, early in 1587, The Æquity of an Humble Supplication "in the behalf of the country of Wales, that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospel among those people". Archbishop Whitgift
, angry at the implied criticism, had him brought before the High Commission and imprisoned for about a month. On his release Penry married a lady of Northampton
, and lived there for some years. With the assistance of Sir Richard Knightley
, he set up a printing press
, which for nearly a year from Michaelmas
1588 was in active operation. It was successively located at East Moulsey
(Surrey
), Fawsley
(Northamptonshire
), Coventry
and other places in Warwickshire, and finally at Manchester
, where it was seized in August 1589. On it were printed Penry's Exhortation to the governours and people of Wales, and View of... such publike wants and disorders as are in the service of God... in Wales; as well as the celebrated Martin Marprelate
tracts.
In January 1590, his house at Northampton was searched and his papers seized, but he succeeded in escaping to Scotland
. There he published several tracts, as well as a translation of a learned theological work known as Theses Genevenses.
, in which he declined to take office, though after the arrest of the ministers, Francis Johnson
and John Greenwood, he seems to have been the regular preacher. He was arrested in March 1593 following his recognition by the local vicar at Ratcliff
and imprisoned in Poultry Compter
while efforts were made to find some pretext for a capital charge. Failing this a charge of sedition
was based on the rough draft of a petition to Queen Elizabeth I
that had been found among his private papers; the language was harsh and offensive, but had been neither presented nor published. He was convicted by the Queen's Bench on 21 May 1593, and hanged on 29 May at the unusual hour of 4 p.m., without being granted permission to see his wife, Eleanor, or their four young daughters, Deliverance, Comfort, Safety and Sure-Hope before his death. The signature of his old enemy Whitgift was the first of those affixed to the death warrant.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
's most famous Protestant martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
.
Early life
He was born in BrecknockshireBrecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
, Wales; Cefn Brith, a farm near Llangammarch
Llangammarch
Llangammarch is a rural parish in Powys, mid Wales, through which flow the rivers Irfon and Cammarch. The main centre of population is the spa village of Llangammarch Wells.Llangammarch railway station serves the village Llangammarch Wells....
, is traditionally recognised as his birthplace. He matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, in December 1580, being then probably a Roman Catholic; but soon became a Protestant, with strong Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
tendencies. Having graduated B.A., he moved to St Alban Hall, Oxford, and gained his M.A. in July 1586. He did not seek ordination, but was licensed as University Preacher.
Career as a preacher and pamphleteer
There is not much evidence for his preaching tours in Wales; they could only have been made during a few months of 1586 or the autumn of 1587. In 1562 an act of parliament had made provision for translating the Bible into WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, and the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
was issued in 1567; but the number printed would barely supply a copy for each parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. Indignant at this failure, Penry published, early in 1587, The Æquity of an Humble Supplication "in the behalf of the country of Wales, that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospel among those people". Archbishop Whitgift
John Whitgift
John Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen...
, angry at the implied criticism, had him brought before the High Commission and imprisoned for about a month. On his release Penry married a lady of Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, and lived there for some years. With the assistance of Sir Richard Knightley
Richard Knightley
Sir Richard Knightley , of Fawsley in Northamptonshire, was an English Member of Parliament and leading patron of the Puritans during the reign of Elizabeth I....
, he set up a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
, which for nearly a year from Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
1588 was in active operation. It was successively located at East Moulsey
East Molesey
Molesey is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England. Situated on the outskirts of Greater London, approximately from Charing Cross, it is a typical suburban area. There are two distinct areas in the town: West and East Molesey...
(Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
), Fawsley
Fawsley
Fawsley is a hamlet and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire, England. The population at the 2001 census was 32....
(Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
), Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and other places in Warwickshire, and finally at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, where it was seized in August 1589. On it were printed Penry's Exhortation to the governours and people of Wales, and View of... such publike wants and disorders as are in the service of God... in Wales; as well as the celebrated Martin Marprelate
Martin Marprelate
Martin Marprelate was the name used by the anonymous author or authors of the seven Marprelate tracts which circulated illegally in England in the years 1588 and 1589...
tracts.
In January 1590, his house at Northampton was searched and his papers seized, but he succeeded in escaping to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. There he published several tracts, as well as a translation of a learned theological work known as Theses Genevenses.
Return to England and death
Returning to England in September 1592, he joined the separatist congregation in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in which he declined to take office, though after the arrest of the ministers, Francis Johnson
Francis Johnson (Brownist)
Francis Johnson was an English presbyterian separatist minister, pastor to an English exile congregation in the Netherlands.-Early life:...
and John Greenwood, he seems to have been the regular preacher. He was arrested in March 1593 following his recognition by the local vicar at Ratcliff
Ratcliff
Ratcliff or Ratcliffe is a former hamlet lying by the north bank of the River Thames between Shadwell and Limehouse. It is now a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and is located to the south of Stepney.-Etymology:...
and imprisoned in Poultry Compter
Poultry Compter
The Poultry Compter was a small compter or prison run by a Sheriff in the City of London from medieval times until 1815...
while efforts were made to find some pretext for a capital charge. Failing this a charge of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
was based on the rough draft of a petition to Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
that had been found among his private papers; the language was harsh and offensive, but had been neither presented nor published. He was convicted by the Queen's Bench on 21 May 1593, and hanged on 29 May at the unusual hour of 4 p.m., without being granted permission to see his wife, Eleanor, or their four young daughters, Deliverance, Comfort, Safety and Sure-Hope before his death. The signature of his old enemy Whitgift was the first of those affixed to the death warrant.