PENRY. . 49 any Other books," he said, " was not preaching the word of God, and so the ordinary means of salvation was wanting." During his examination, the Bishop of London asking him what he had to say against nonresidents, he said, " They are odious in the sight of God ; because,' to the utmost of their power, they deprive, the people of the ordinary means of salvation, which is the wordpreached." When the bishop demanded whether preaching.was theonly means of salvation, Mr. Penry replied, " It is the only ordinary means." This he endeavoured to confirm, from the following portions of scripture : " How shall they hear without a preacher ?-It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe.-In whom also ye trusted, after ye heard the word of truth." Having, for a considerable time, discussed Mr. Penry's assertion, that the word is the only ordinary means of salvation, the Bishop of Winchester arose, and said, 44 I assure you, my lords; it is an execrable heresy." " An heresy !" replied Mr. Penry, "I thank God that I ever knew that heresy. It is such a heresy; as I will, by the grace of God, sooner leave any life than leave it." The bishop then said, " I tell thee, it is a heresy ; and thou shalt 'recant it as a heresy.." " Never," replied, Mr. Penry, C4 God willing, so long as I live. ' Though his lordship afterwards endeavoured to defend himself against what is here ascribed to him, he seems to have been very unsuccessful.. It also appears, that Whitgift supported his brother of Winchester in his assertion, that Penry's opinion was an execrable, heresy, and that he should recant it as such ; adding, " that such heathenish untruth is to be pitied rather than answered."+ Mr. Peary was, therefore, committed to prison ; and, after about a month's confinement, was discharged without any further proceeding. But presently after his release, they sent their pursuivants with warrants to apprehend him, and commit him to prison. Walton, one of their pursuivants, went immediately,to Northampton ; and upon entering Mr. Penry's house, ransacked his study, and took away all the books and papers which he thought proper; but Mr. Penty was not to be found.# Upon the publication of Martin Mar-Prelate, and other satirical pamphlets, a special warrant was issued from the council, in1590, under several hands, of which Whitgift's was one, to seize and apprehend Mr. Penry, as an enemy to Strype's Annals, vol. iii. p. 573, 574. f Strype's Whitgift, p. 306. 1 MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 487. (2.) VOL. U.
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