A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William Penn
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CHAPTER THREE.
In a dirty, ill-ventilated room in a low sponging-house in NewgateMarket, known as the "Black Dog," two persons were seated. Cobwebs hungfrom the windows and the corners of the ceiling, occupied by huge,active spiders, lying in wait for some of the numerous flies whichswarmed on the dust-covered panes. On the walls were scrawled numerousdesigns, executed by the prisoners who had from time to time occupiedthe room, to while away their hours of durance. The air felt close andsultry, the heat increased by the rays of the sinking sun, which foundtheir way in by the window, through which also entered unpleasant odoursascending from the court-yard below. One of the persons, whose handsomedress contrasted strangely with the appearance of the room, was busywriting at a rickety table. With youth, wealth, talents, a fair fame,the godson of the future monarch of England, he might, had he so willed,have been a peer of he realm, the founder of a noble family. The other,who has been described as Captain Mead, rose from his seat, and walkedup and down with somewhat impatient steps. "I am writing to my dearfather to tell him the cause of my absence," said young Penn, stoppingfor a moment. "I fear that his sickness is very serious, and deep is myregret to be kept away from him; yet do I glory in thus suffering forthe great and noble principles for which we are striving,--liberty ofconscience, liberty of action. What is life worth to man without these?And yet our infatuated countrymen run a great risk of losing both, ifthey refuse to listen to the voice of warning, and to prepare in timefor the threatened danger." Just then a turnkey opened the door, and inan impudent tone of voice said, "Here's a man and a lad come to seeMaster Mead. There, go in and sit as long as you please, till the hourarrives when all visitors must be turned out."
"Ah! friend Christison and thy fine boy, thou art welcome to this oursomewhat sorry abode," said Mead. "I would rather have seen thee at myfamily board this evening, as I had proposed; but we must submit to thepowers that be. I will now make thee known to our friend Master WilliamPenn, whose father thou and I served under in days gone by."
"Ay, marry, I remember him well!" exclaimed Christison. "We were withhim when he chased that piratical, malignant Rupert, and well-nighcaught him. Many a rich argosy would have been preserved to theCommonwealth had we succeeded; but the devil favours his children, andthe rover got off."
"We will not now speak of those times," said Mead. "I am not surprisedto hear thee, old comrade, allude to them thus; but I, now taughtbetter, have laid aside the use of carnal weapons."
"Well, well, I know you will always do as your conscience dictates,"said Christison; "and gladly do I shake hands with the son of my oldcommander."
William Penn rose, and courteously welcomed the visitor, giving a kindsmile and a touch on the shoulder to young Wenlock. "Let my presencenot interfere with you, friend," he said; "but as thou seest I am busilyengaged in writing on matters of importance; thou mayst talk statesecrets to each other, and I shall not hear them; so, pray thee, MasterChristison, make thyself at home with thy old friend." Saying this, heresumed his seat and continued writing, completely absorbed in his work.Captain Mead warmly thanked his old friend for coming to see him.
"And what is it I hear of you," asked Christison; "that you have joinedthe followers of George Fox?"
"Verily, I have deserted all worldly systems, and have united with thosewho believe that the guidance of the Spirit is sufficient to lead usinto all truth: the Holy Scriptures being the only fit and outward rulewhereby to judge of the truth. I pray thee, old friend, do not striveagainst that Holy Spirit, a measure of which has surely been given tothee. That is the light and life of the Holy Word which `in thebeginning was with God, and was God.' That it is which will enlightenthy mind, if thou strivest not to quench it."
In a similar strain Mead continued putting forth and explaining to hisold friend the doctrine held by the Quakers. He spoke to him of theunity of the Godhead. "We believe," he added, "that their light is one,their life one, their wisdom one, their power one; and that he thatknoweth and seeth any one of them knoweth and seeth them all, as ourblessed Lord says, `He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' Webelieve, too, though most wrongfully accused of the contrary, that Godthe Son is both God and man in wonderful union; that He suffered for oursalvation, was raised again for our justification, and ever liveth tomake intercession for us. He is that Divine Word that lighteth thesouls of all men that come into the world with a spiritual and savinglight, as none but the Creator of souls can do. With regard to ourworship, we hold that `God is a Spirit, and desires to be worshipped inspirit and in truth,' not only on one day, but on all days of the week;not only when meeting together, but in the daily concerns of life; andthe man who worships not then, will render poor worship when heassembles with his fellow-men at the time he may think fit to set apartfor that purpose. As we acknowledge no other Mediator than the Son ofGod, who came on earth and died for our sins, and, having risen from thegrave and ascended into heaven, is now seated at the right hand of God;so we require no person to pray for us, or allow that it is according toGod's will that persons should receive payment for praying, exhorting,or preaching, or in any other way spreading God's truth. We believe,too, that the water-baptism, so generally administered, is not accordingto God's mind; that the baptism spoken of in the Scriptures is that ofthe Spirit,--the answer of a good conscience towards God by theresurrection of Jesus Christ; that by one Spirit we are all baptisedinto one body; while, with regard to the Lord's Supper as it is spokenof, we do indeed deem that the supper of the Lord is needful, but thatit is altogether of a spiritual nature. We object altogether to oaths,because our Lord says, `Swear not at all.' We hold war to be anabomination to God, and contrary to that new commandment given us byChrist, `That ye love one another, even as I have loved you.' We hold,too, that a civil magistrate has no right to interfere in religiousmatters, and that though `Friends' may admonish such members as fallinto error, it must be done by the spiritual sword; and as religion is amatter solely between God and man, so no government consisting offallible men ought to fetter the consciences of those over whom they areplaced."
"No, indeed," exclaimed Christison. "To the latter principle I havelong held; and it seems to me that there is much sense and truth in theother tenets which you have explained. I, as you know, am a blunt man,not given to book learning; but, in truth, old friend, I should like tohear from you again more at large of these matters."
"There seems every probability that thou wilt know where to find me forsome time to come," answered Mead; "and I shall be heartily well-pleasedfurther to explain to you the principles we hold to be the true ones forthe guidance of men in this mortal life."
"Father," said young Wenlock, as he and the elder Christison werereturning to their lodgings; "I should like to take service with youngMaster Penn, should he require a secretary. Your old friend, CaptainMead, has also taken my fancy; but yet I feel I would go anywhere withso true-hearted and noble a man as the other."
"You have formed a somewhat hasty judgment, Wenlock," said his father."We have been but a couple of hours in his society, during which time hespoke but little; and though, I grant you, he is a true gentleman, andwould have made a fine soldier, yet his temper and habits may be verydifferent to what you suppose."
"Oh! no, no, father. I know I could trust him; I watched him all thetime he was writing. He said he was addressing his father, and I sawhis change of countenance; sometimes he was lost in thought, sometimeshe seemed to look up to heaven in prayer; and more than once I saw hiseyes filled with tears, and a firm, determined look came over hiscountenance; yet all the time there was nothing stern or forbidding,--all was mild, loving, and kind. I have never seen one I would morewillingly serve."
"I hope that you may see him frequently, Wenlock," said his father, "andyou may thus have an opportunity of correcting or confirming yourjudgment. I purpose visiting my old friend Mead whenever I can."
Captain Christison kept to his word. The result of those frequentinterviews wi
th the worthy Quaker, as far as Wenlock was concerned, willbe shown by-and-by.
The first of September, 1670, the day fixed for the trial of WilliamPenn and Captain Mead, arrived, and the prisoners were placed in thedock to answer the charge brought against them. Christison and his sonwere at the doors some time before they opened, that they might, withoutfail, secure a place. "Now most of these people, I warrant, fancy thatthey have come simply to witness the trial of the son of one ofEngland's brave admirals for misdemeanour. The matter is of far moreimportance, Wenlock. Master Penn disputes, and so do I, that this`Conventicle Act' is legal in any way. We hold it to be equally hostileto the people and our Great Charter. Is an edict which abolishes one ofthe fundamental rights secured to the nation by our ancientConstitution, though passed by Crown and Parliament, to be held aspossessing the force of law? If this court cannot show that it is, thequestion is, will a jury of Englishmen, when the case is made clear tothem, venture to convict?"
On entering the hall they found ten justices occupying the bench, SirSamuel Starling, the Lord Mayor, at their head. As soon as the courtopened, the clerk ordered the crier to call over the jury. Havinganswered to their names, of which the result showed that they had everyreason to be proud, they were sworn to try the prisoners at the bar, andfind according to the evidence adduced. If Wenlock had been inclined toadmire William Penn before, much more so was he now, when, standing up,he replied to the question whether he was guilty or not guilty. Ofcourse he and Mead pleaded not guilty. The court then adjourned. Afterit had resumed its functions the prisoners were brought up, but were setaside in order that several cases of common felony might be disposed of;this being done for the purpose of insulting Penn and his friend.Little progress having been made in their case, they were remanded totheir abominable dungeons in Newgate, and the court adjourned for twodays.