CHAPTER VI.

PENRY'S ARREST AND EXAMINATIONS.-LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY AND CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.

INDICTMENT FOR

PRIVATE NOTES NEVER PUBLISHED. CONDEMNATION AS A FELON. HASTY EXECUTION.

THOUGH John Penry was as guiltless of writing any of the Marprelate tracts as any one of my readers, yet the fact that he was suspected of being "one of the chief authors" was enough to make England a most uncomfortable and unsafe residence for his family and himself; and therefore, probably in the spring of 1588-9, he removed to Scotland. There for a while he found a welcome, and congenial employment. But he was not suffered to remain long in peace. The printers of the Marprelate tracts were discovered in the summer of 1589; the press was seized, and numerous arrests made of persons concerned in the illicit

*Waddington, 49, 54, 59, 68. Collier (v11. 179) represents him to have twice visited Scotland; and "from hence," he says, "he played his libels into England upon Church and State." But Collier's whole account of Penry shows that the high church historian knew and cared very little about the reformer, except to blacken his character; declaring among other things, that he "had a principal share in those scurrilous pamphlets which went under the title of Martin Mar-Prelate."

work. The papers seized, made Penry's connection with this offensive press obvious though no evidence was ever discovered that he had anything to do with the composition or publication of the Marprelate tracts—and the government set their hearts on his arrest. An autograph letter from the queen was sent to King James; a warrant was issued from the privy council, for the arrest of Penry, as an enemy of the State; and the king, in conformity with his "loving sister and cousin's " request, issued a decree for the banishment of Penry from Scotland. But the Scotch ministry,

*This press has been called "a Pilgrim, or vagabond press." It was first set up at Mouldsey in Surrey, near Kingston on the Thames. From thence it was conveyed to [Sir Richard Knightley's house,] Fawsley, in Northamptonshire; from thence to Norton; from thence to the house of John Hales, in Coventry; from Coventry to Wolstan, in Warwickshire; and from thence to Newton Lane, near Manchester, in Lancashire, where it was discovered. Neal, 1. 487; Strype's Ann., vol. 111. pt. 11. pp. 602–6; App., No. 68; Life of Whitgift, 1. 550; Ames' Typographical Antiquities, vol. II. p. 1464. Sir Geo. Paule tells us, in his Life of Archbishop Whitgift, that "in the year 1588, came forth those hateful libels of Martin Marprelate; and much about the same time, The Epitome,' The Demonstration of Discipline,' 'The Supplication,'' Diotrephes,' 'The Minerals,' 'Have you any worke for a Cooper, Martin Junior, alias Theses Martinianæ,' 'Martin Senior More work for the Cooper;' all which were printed with a kind of wandering press, which was first set up at Moulsey, near Kingston upon Thames, and from thence conveyed to Fausly, in Northamptonshire, and from thence to Norton, afterwards to Coventry, from thence to Wolstan in Warwickshire, from which place the letters were sent to another press, in or near Manchester, where (by means of Henry that good earl of Derby) the press was discovered in printing of 'More work for a Cooper.'" - pp. 51, 52.

not sympathizing with the king or his English cousin, protected Penry yet a while in Scotland.* But in September, 1592, he voluntarily left the kingdom and returned to England, with the intention, probably, of presenting a petition, in person, to the queen, in behalf of his favorite plan of evangelizing Wales. Immediately on his arrival in London, he joined himself to the little band of despised and persecuted Separatists, of whom Barrowe and Greenwood were the acknowledged leaders. Though he fully identified himself with the little Congregational church in London, and sometimes preached to them, and even invited them to hold meetings at his lodgings, yet he declined taking office among them; his heart being still set on preaching the gospel to his poor countrymen in Wales. He remained in and about London, actively employed in labors of love among the poor, stricken congregation, and in the use of his pen for their edification, for some six months after his return from Scotland. But the bishops were on his track; and by means of information gleaned from the brethren who had been arrested, finally discovered Penry, at Ratcliffe, parish of Stepeny, in the suburbs of London, and arrested him, on

* Waddington, 57-59, 68. In 1590 he published "A Treatise, where it is manifestly proved that Reformation and those that are sincerely for the same are unjustly charged with being enemies unto her Majesty and the State," etc. In 1591, he published at Edinburgh a translation of Beza's Theses Theologicæ.

↑ Waddington, 82, 84, 92-94, 120.

"the 22d of the third month, March 1592-3." * On the 24th, he was carried before Justice Young, notorious for his cruelty towards the Separatists, and by him committed to the Compter prison, in the Poultry. On the 26th of the same month he was taken again before Justice Young, where he met a " Mr. D. Vaughn and his brother, preachers," both sent, as Mr. Young said, by the lord keeper Puckering, to confer with him. Penry, however, wisely declined any private conference; knowing full well that his words were liable to be wrested and made a ground of accusation against him. He was ready for a public conference on equal terms; but he would not submit to a private, inquisitorial one, such as they proposed to hold with him. Two days after, on the 28th of March, a second attempt was made by "Dr. Balguay, of the Temple," to draw him into a private conference. This Penry repelled; but gave "four special heads, and the conditions" on which he would cheerfully hold a public conference; a copy of which was taken by Dr. Balguay. On the 2d of April, a third attempt was made by the court clergy, by authority, to force Penry into a private discussion; he being visited in prison by Mr. D. Crake, Mr. Greenham, and Mr. Temple. But

* Waddington, 120-22; Strype's Whitgift, 11. 175-6. Strype says, "he was committed a close prisoner in May," 1593. But Penry says, "the third month, March;" he and Barrowe counting the months from January, and not, as was usual at that time, from March.

Penry "refused all private intermeddling in so public an action." He showed them the propositions and conditions already given to Justice Young and Dr. Balguay, on which he would hold a discussion with them, or any person whom the government might appoint. His propositions were: 1. That the questions on both sides should be set down in writing, with the reasons briefly annexed; and that the answers should also be in writing, with like brevity. 2. That he and his friends should have the privilege of conferring together, and the use of books. 3. That the bishops' disputants should none of them act as judges; but that the council themselves should hear the cause; or if they declined, that they should appoint some civilians to act as umpires, and see that both parties kept within their appointed bounds. These terms the inquisitors were not authorized to accept; but Mr. Temple felt authorized to carry off the original · draft of the "heads and conditions," " very injuriously," as Penry felt, whether he would or not, and to retain the original paper, sending back a copy only. On the Wednesday following Penry was called into the Sessions-house, where, he says, "was Mr. George Barnes, as I take it; Mr. Young, Mr. Dale, the Dean of Westminster, and another of the clergy. They offered me an oath, which I refused, because it was against conscience and law, protesting, notwithstanding, that I held it lawful

*Brook, 11. 64, from Baker's MS. Coll. xv. 380.