PENRY. 59 science towards the Lord, our prince, andall mankind. And if the number of ignorant and idolatrous priests greatly increase, it is nothing wonderful, seeing there are so many remnants of popery left unbanished from the land : these are their baits and encouragements. F. What are the baits that you mean ? P. I mean the popish offices and livings of archbishops, ,lord bishops, deans, archdeacons, canons, priests, &c. : the continuance ofwhich, and the popish corruptions belonging to them, keepeth the pope and his sworn subjects in daily hope of replanting the throne of iniquity in the land ; but I trust in the Lord, they will be utterly disappointed. If these offices and livings were once removed, the pope and his emissaries would have no hope left, of againsetting up the standard of the man of sin, in this noble kingdom. I wonder not, that the papists dislike our separation ; for they know, that of all the men under heaven, we are the greatest enemies to popery : we would leave them neither root nor branch; but would have the world as much cleared of the remains of antichrist, as it was on that day when the Lord Jesus ascended up on high, and led captivity captive. F. But whydo you refuse a conference, that you may be reformed, in those things in which you err ? P. I refuse none. I most readily and willingly yield to any, as Mr. Young bath it under myown hand to testify. Only my desire and request is, that some equal conditions may be granted to me and my brethren. But if this cannot be obtained, I am ready to yield to any conference, though the conditions be ever so unequal. And 1 beseech you, be a means with her majesty and their honours, that my case may be weighed in an even balance. Imprison- merits, indictments and death, are no proper weapons to convince men's consciences.* Here the examination closed. We leave the reader to makehis own remarks upon it, and proceed in the history of this distinguished sufferer for Christ. It was at first designed to indict Mr. Penry for the books published in his name ; but, by the advice of counsel, he drew up a paper, which proved the means of putting a stop to the pro- ceeding. This paper, dated May 10, 1593, is entitled " Mr. Penry's Declaration, that he is not indanger ofthe law for the books published in his name." In this declaration, Examinations of Barrow, Greenwood, and Penry, p. 25-28.
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