Brief Lives, Vol. 2

William Penn (1644-1718).

[574]William Penn natus Oct. 14, 1644, horâ 7 mane, Londini.

[575]William Penn[AP], the eldest son of Sir William Penn, knight, [admirall[576] both of the English navy before the restauration of the king, and commanded as captain-generall under the D. Y.[577] in 1665 against the Dutch fleet[578]], was borne in London, at Tower hill, the 14[579] day of October 1644. 'Twas upon a Monday he thinkes; but 'twas about 7 a clock in the morning.

(His father was a very good man, but no Quaker; was very much against his sonne.)

Went to schoole in London, a private schole on that hill, and his father kept a tutor in the house: but first he went to school at Chigwell in Essex.

<He was> mighty lively, but with innocence; and[580] extremely tender under rebuke; and very early delighted in retirement; much given to reading and meditating[581] of the scriptures, and at 14 had marked over the Bible. Oftentimes at 13 and 14 in his meditations ravisht with joy, and dissolved into teares.

The first sense he had of God was when he was 11 yeares old at Chigwell, being retired in a chamber alone. He was so suddenly surprized with an inward comfort and (as he thought) an externall glory in the roome that he has many times sayd that from thence he had the seale of divinity and immortality, that there was a God and that the soule of man was capable of enjoying his divine communications.—His schoolmaster was not of his perswasion.

To Christ's Church in Oxon anno 1660, anno aetatis 16; stayed there about two yeares.

Anno 1662, went into France; stayd there two yeares.

Returnd and was entred of Lincoln's Inne.

About the plague, growing entirely solitary, was again diverted. Was employed by his father in a journey into Ireland to the duke of Ormond's court: the diversions of which not being able to keepe downe the stronger motions of his soule to a more religious and retired life, upon the hearing of one Th<omas> Lowe, a tradesman, of Oxon, at Cork, 1667, was so thoroughly convinced of the simplicity and selfe-deniall of the way of the people called Quakers that from thence he heartily espoused that judgment[582] and beliefe.

Since which time he haz passed a life of great variety of circumstances[583], both with respect to good and evill report, divers controversies orall and written[L.], severall imprisonments[LI.] (one in Ireland, one in the Tower, <a> 3^rd in Newgate).

Travelled into Germany, Upper and Lower, annis 1671 and 1677, where severall were affected with his way[LII.].

Notwithstanding those many odd adventures of his life, he hath severall times[586] found favour from his majestie and also the D. Y.[587], with divers of the nobilitye[588], and men of quality and learning in this kingdom.

His majestie owing to his father 10,000 li., 16—, (which, with the interest of it, came not to lesse than 20,000 li.,) did, in consideration therof, grant to him and his heirs a province in America which his majesty was pleased to name Pensylvania[AQ], the 4th day of March 1680/1, to which he is now goeing this next September 1681.

[589]His patent for Transylvania[590] is from the beginning of the 40th degree to 43 degrees in latitude, and 5 degrees in longitude from Chisapeak-bay.

E. W.[591] <says[592] that there are> 2 or 3 things, e.g. military, mighty necessary <for the colony>—quaere some proposalls.

He speaks well[593] the Latin and the French tongues, and his owne with great mastership. He often declares[594] in the assemblies of his Friends, and that with much eloquence[595] and fervency of spirit—by which, and his perpetuall attendances on K<ing> and P<rince> for the reliefe of his Friends, he often exposes his health to hazard.

He was chosen (ballotted) November 9th, nemine contradicente, admitted Fellow of the Royal Societie, London[596], with much respecte.

[597]August 26, 1682, Saturday. This day about 4 a clock P.M. W. Penne, esq., went towards Deale to launch for Pensylvania. God send him a prosperous and safe voyage.

Last Wednesday in August (scil. Aug. 30, 1682) about noon he tooke shippe at Deale.

He returned into England, October (about the middle[598]) 1684—quaere diem.

[599]W. Penn, esq., married Gulielma Maria Springet, daughter of Sir William Springet, of the Springets of the Broyles in Sussex.

She was a posthuma of her father, a young gent. of religion and courage who dyed at the siege of Arundel. His daughter was his image in person and qualities, virtuous, generous, wise, humble[600]; generally beloved for those good qualities and one more[601]—the great cures she does, having great skill in physic and surgery, which she freely bestows.

She early espoused the same way[602], about anno 1657. She was a great fortune to her husband, being worth de claro above 10,000 li. Her fortune, quality, and good humour gave her the importunity of many suitors of extraordinary condition, e.g. lord Brookes and lord J<ohn> <Vaughan>, etc.; but valueing the unity of beliefe and the selfe deniall of her profession above the glories of the world, resisted their motions till Providence brought a man of equall condicion and ⦻[603] to herself to the syncere embracing of the same fayth, whose mariage haz been crowned with a continued affection.

[Sir William Penn, knight[604],] his father, was a man of excellent naturall abilities, not equalled in his time for the knowledge of navall affayres and instrumentall to the raysing of many families. Bred his son religiously; and, as the times grew loose, would have had his sonne of the fashion, and was therfore extreme bitter at his sonne's retirement. But this lasted not alwayes; for, in the conclusion of his life, he grew not only kind, but fonde; made him the judge and ruler of his family; was sorry he had no more to leave him (and yet, in England and Ireland, he left him 1500 li. per annum). But, which is most remarkeable, he that opposed his sonne's way because of the crosse that was in it to the world's latitude, did himselfe embrace this faith, recommending to his son the plainesse and selfe deniall of it, sayeing 'Keep to the plainesse of your way, and you will make an end of the priests to the ends of the earth.' And so he deceased, desiring that none but his son William should close his eies (which he did). Obiit anno aetatis 49, 4 months.

[606]A Catalogue of William Penn's writings.