Penry, John
, or Ap Henry, commonly known by
his assumed name of Martin Mar-prelate, or Alar-priest,
was born in 1559 in Wales, and studied first at Peterhouse, Cambridge, of which he was A. B. in 1584, and
afterwards at Oxford, in which latter university he took the
degree of master of arts, and was ordained a priest. Afterwards, meeting with some dissatisfaction, as it is said, and
being very warm in his temper, he changed his religion,
and became an Anabaptist, or rather a Brownist. He was
henceforward a virulent enemy to the church of England,
and the hierarchy of that communion, as appears sufficiently by his coarse libels, in which he has shewn his
spleen to a great degree. At length, after he had concealed himself for some years, he was apprehended at
Stepney, and tried at the King’s-Bench, before sir John
Pophain, chief-justice, and the rest of the judges, where
he was indicted and condemned for felony, for papers
found in his pocket, purporting to be a petition to the
queen; and was executed, according to Fuller, at St.
Thomas Waterings, in 1593. It appears, that some violence was put upon the laws, even as they then stood, to
form a capital accusation against him. For his libels be
could not be accused, the legal time for such an accusation having elapsed before he was taken: the papers upon
| which he was convicted, contained only an implied denial
of the queen’s absolute authority to make, enact, decree,
and ordain laws; and implied, merely by avoiding to use
those terms, according to the very words of the lordkeeper Puckering. His execution was therefore in a high
degree unjust. His chief publications are, 1. “Martin
Mar-prelate,” the tract that gave so much offence. 12.
“Theses Martinianae,” 8vo. 3. “A view of publicke
Wants and Disorders in the service of God, in a Petition
to the high court of Parliament,” 1588, 8vo. 4. “An
Exhortation to the Governors and People of Wales, to
labour earnestly to have the preaching of the Gospel planted
among them,” 1588, 8vo. 5. “Reformation no Enemy
to her Majesty and the State,” 1590, 4to. 6. “Sir Simon Synod’s Hue and Cry for the Apprehension of young
Martin Mar-priest, with Martin’s Echo,” 4to. Most of
these, and some others, were full of low scurrility and
petulant satire. Several tracts, equally scurrilous, were
published against him; as, “Pappe with a Hatchet, or a
Country Cuffe for the Idiot Martin to hold his Peace;”
“X A Whip for an Ape, or Martin displaied;” and others of
the same kind. In the composition of these pamphlets,
he is said to have had the assistance of John Udall, John
Field, and Job Throckmorton, who published their joint
effusions at a private printing press. Penry was a man of
some learning and zeal for religion, but in his notions of
government, both of church and state, appears to have
adopted more wild theories than ever his successors, when
in power, attempted to carry into practice. His sentence,
however, was unjust, and the enemies of the hierarchy
have therefore found it no difficult matter to place John
Penry at the head of their list of martyrs. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A treatise containing the aequity of an humble supplication which is to be exhibited vnto hir gracious Maiesty and this high Court of Parliament in the behalfe of the countrey of Wales, that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospell among those people Wherein also is set downe as much of the estate of our people as without offence could be made known, to the end that our case (if it please God) my be pitied by them who are not of this assembly, and so they also may bee driuen to labour on our behalfe. (1587) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
An exhortation vnto the gouernours, and people of Hir Maiesties countrie of Wales, to labour earnestly, to haue the preaching of the Gospell planted among them. There is in the ende something that was not in the former impression.. (1588) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
A defence of that which hath bin written in the questions of the ignorant ministerie, and the communicating with them. By Iohn Penri (1588) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
Th'appellation of Iohn Penri, vnto the highe court of Parliament from the bad and iniurious dealing of th'Archb. of Canterb. & other his colleagues of the high commission: wherin the complainant, humbly submitting himselfe and his cause vnto the determination of this honorable assembly: craueth nothing els, but either release from trouble and persecution, or just tryall.Appellation of John Penri, unto the highe court of Parliament. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
A viewe of some part of such publike wants & disorders as are in the seruice of God, within her Maiesties countrie of VVales togither vvith an humble petition, vnto this high Court of Parliament for their speedy redresse. Wherein is shevved, not only the necessitie of reforming the state of religion among that people, but also the onely way, in regarde of substaunce, to bring that reformation to passe. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
An humble motion vvith submission vnto the right Honorable LL. of Hir Maiesties Priuie Counsell VVherein is laid open to be considered, how necessarie it were for the good of this lande, and the Queenes Majesties safety, that ecclesiasticall discipline were reformed after the worde of God: and how easily there might be provision for a learned ministery. (1590) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
A briefe discouery of the vntruthes and slanders (against the true gouernement of the Church of Christ) contained in a sermon, preached the 8. [sic] of Februarie 1588. by D. Bancroft and since that time, set forth in print, with additions by the said authour. This short ansvver may serue for the clearing of the truth, vntill a larger confutation of the sermon be published. (1590) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
A treatise vvherein is manifestlie proued, that reformation and those that sincerely fauor the same, are vnjustly charged to be enemies, vnto hir Maiestie, and the state Written both for the clearing of those that stande in that cause: and the stopping of the sclaunderous mouthes of all the enemies thereof. (1590) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
Propositions and principles of diuinitie propounded and disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua, by certaine students of diuinitie there, vnder M. Theod. Beza, and M. Anthonie Faius ... Wherein is contained a methodicall summarie, or epitome of the common places of diuinitie. Translated out of Latine into English, to the end that the causes, both of the present dangers of that Church, and also of the troubles of those that are hardlie dealt vvith els-vvhere, may appeare in the English tongue.Theses theologicae. English (1591) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
To my beloved wife Helener Penry partaker with me in this life of the suffrings of the gospel in the kingdome and pacience of Iesus Christ, and resting with me in vndowbted hope of the glory that shal-be revealed : all strenght and comfort, with all other spirituall graces be multiplyed through Christ Iesus our Lord. (1593) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
I Iohn Penry, doo heare as I shall answere before the Lord my God in that great day of iudgement set downe sumarily the whole truth and nothing but the truth which I hold and professe at this hower eyther in regard of my faith towards my God and dread soueraigne Queene Elizabeth unto whome only of all the potentas in the world I owe all reuerente, dutie and submission in the Lord. (1593) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
The historie of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, & c Numb. 16. Chap. Applied to the prelacy ministerie and church-assemblies of England. By Mr Iohn Penry, a martyr of Iesus Christ. (1609) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
Reformation no enemie, or, A true discourse betweene the bishops and the desirers of reformation wherein is plainely laid open the present corrupt government of our church, and the desired forme of government plainely proved by the word of God.Hay any worke for Cooper (1641) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
Hay any worke for Cooper, or, A briefe pistle directed by way of an Hublication to the Reverend Byshops counselling them if they will needes bee barrelled up for feare of smelling in the nostrills of His Majesty and the state that they would use the advise of Reverend Martin for the providing of their Cooper because trhe Reverend T. C., by which mysticall letters is understood either the bouncing parson of east-meane or Tom Coakes his Chaplaine, to be an unskilfull and a beceitfull Tub-trimmer : wherein worthy Martin Qvits himselfe like a man I warrant you in the modest defence of his selfe and his learned pistles and maketh the Coopers hoopes to slye off and the Bishops Tubs to leake out of all cry / penned and compiled by Martin the metropolitan. (1642) by Penry, John, 1559-1593.
Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges, for it is worthy worke: or an epitome of the fyrste booke, of that right worshipfull volume, written against the puritanes, in the defence of the noble cleargie, by as worshipfull a prieste, Iohn Bridges, presbyter, priest or elder, doctor of Diuillitie, and Deane of Sarum Wherein the arguments of the puritans are wisely prevented, that when they come to answere M. Doctor, they must needes say some thing that hath bene spoken. Compiled for the behoofe and overthrow of the vnpreaching parsons, fyckers, and currats, that haue lernt their catechismes, and are past grace: by the reverend and worthie Martin Marprelat gentleman, and dedicated by a second epistle to the terrible priests. In this epitome, the foresaide fickers, [et]c. are very insufficiently furnished, with notable inabilitie of most vincible reasons, to answere the cauill of the puritanes. ...Oh read over D. John Bridges. Epitome (1588) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
M. Some laid open in his coulers VVherein the indifferent reader may easily see, hovve vvretchedly and loosely he hath handeled the cause against M. Penri. Done by an Oxford man, to his friend in Cambridge. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
A dialogue. VVherein is plainly laide open, the tyrannicall dealing of l. bishopps against Gods children vvith certaine points of doctrine, vvherein they approue themselues (according to D. Bridges his judgement) to be truely the bishops of the Diuell. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
The iust censure and reproofe of Martin Iunior. Wherein the rash and vndiscreete headines of the foolish youth, is sharply mette with, and the boy hath his lesson taught him, I warrant you, by his reuerend and elder brother, Martin Senior, sonne and heire vnto the renowmed Martin Mar-prelate the Great. Where also, least the springall shold be vtterly discouraged in his good meaning, you shall finde, that hee is not bereaued of his due commendations (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
Hay any worke for Cooper: or a briefe pistle directed by waye of an hublication to the reverende byshopps counselling them, if they will needs be barrelled vp, for feare of smelling in the nostrels of her Maiestie [and] the state, that they would vse the aduise of reuerend Martin, for the prouiding of their cooper. Because the reuerend T.C. (by which misticall letters, is vnderstood, eyther the bounsing parson of Eastmeane, or Tom Coakes his chaplaine) to bee an vnskilfull and a beceytfull [sic] tubtrimmer. Wherein worthy Martin quits himselfe like a man I warrant you, in the modest defence of his selfe and his learned pistles, and makes the coopers hoopes to flye off, and the Bishops tubs to leake out of all crye. Penned and compiled by Martin the Metropolitane. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
Theses Martinianae that is, certaine demonstratiue conclusions, sette downe and collected (as it should seeme) by that famous and renowmed clarke, the reuerend Martin Marprelate the great: seruing as a manifest and sufficient confutation of al that euer the Colledge of Catercaps with their whole band of clergie-priests, haue, or canbring [sic] for the defence of their ambitious and antichristian prelacie. Published and set foorthe as an after-birth of the noble gentleman himselfe, by a prety stripling of his, Martin Iunior, and dedicated by him to his good neame and nuncka, Maister Iohn Kankerbury: hovv the yongman [sic] came by them, the reader shall vunderstande sufficiently in the epilogue. In the meane time, vvhosoeuer can bring mee acquainted vvith my father, Ile bee bounde hee shall not loose his labour. (1589) by Penry, John, 1559-1593, attributed name.
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