He was born in Brecknockshire, Wales; Cefn Brith, a farm near Llangammarch, is traditionally recognised as his birthplace. His parents were Meredydd (Meredith) Penry and Eleanor (nee Godley). He matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, in December 1580,[2] 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.[3]
Old photograph of Cefn Brith
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 Welsh, 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.[3]
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.[3]
Return to England and death
Returning to England in September 1592, he joined the separatist, or Brownist, congregation in London, 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 at St Thomas-a-Watering on 29 May at the unusual hour of 4 p.m.,[3] without being granted permission to see his wife, Eleanor, or their four young daughters, Deliverance, Comfort, Safety and Sure-Hope before his death.[4] The signature of his old enemy Whitgift was the first of those affixed to the death warrant.[3]
^"John Penry, The Lives of the Puritans Volume 2, Benjamin Brook, Christian Classics books at BibleStudyTools.com". Bible Study Tools.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Penry, John". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 117.
External links
Welsh Biography Online PENRY , JOHN (1563 - 1593), Puritan author: by Robert Tudur Jones (1959) : short biographical sketch, with references; the Welsh language version (1953-4) is online at National Library of Wales
John Penry by Professor Joseph Black (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) - modern short biography, part of Professor Black's digital resource
The Martin Marprelate Press: A Documentary History
April 28, 2023
john, penry, this, article, about, welsh, martyr, information, about, convicted, killer, johnny, paul, penry, 1563, 1593, executed, high, treason, during, reign, queen, elizabeth, wales, most, famous, protestant, separatist, martyr, contents, early, life, care. This article is about the Welsh martyr For information about the convicted killer see Johnny Paul Penry John Penry 1563 29 May 1593 who was executed for high treason during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I is Wales most famous Protestant Separatist martyr 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career as a preacher and pamphleteer 3 Return to England and death 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in Brecknockshire Wales Cefn Brith a farm near Llangammarch is traditionally recognised as his birthplace His parents were Meredydd Meredith Penry and Eleanor nee Godley He matriculated at Peterhouse Cambridge in December 1580 2 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 3 Old photograph of Cefn BrithCareer as a preacher and pamphleteer EditThere 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 Welsh 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 AEquity 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 3 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 3 Return to England and death EditReturning to England in September 1592 he joined the separatist or Brownist congregation in London 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 at St Thomas a Watering on 29 May at the unusual hour of 4 p m 3 without being granted permission to see his wife Eleanor or their four young daughters Deliverance Comfort Safety and Sure Hope before his death 4 The signature of his old enemy Whitgift was the first of those affixed to the death warrant 3 Notes Edit John Waddington 1854 John Penry the Pilgrim Martyr Penry John PNR580J A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b c d e Chisholm 1911 p 117 John Penry The Lives of the Puritans Volume 2 Benjamin Brook Christian Classics books at BibleStudyTools com Bible Study Tools References Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Penry John Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 21 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 117 External links EditWelsh Biography Online PENRY JOHN 1563 1593 Puritan author by Robert Tudur Jones 1959 short biographical sketch with references the Welsh language version 1953 4 is online at National Library of Wales John Penry by Professor Joseph Black University of Massachusetts Amherst modern short biography part of Professor Black s digital resource The Martin Marprelate Press A Documentary History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Penry amp oldid 1124063801, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
