Young Penn had good advantages for education, and made such early improvement, that, about the fifteenth year of his age, he was entered a student in Christ's Church College, Oxford5, where he continued two years. He delighted much in manly6 sports at times of recreation; but at length, being influenced by an ardent7 desire after pure and spiritual religion, of which he had before received some taste through the ministry8 of Thomas Lee, one of the people denominated Friends, or Quakers, he, with certain other students of that University, withdrew from the national way of worship, and held private meetings for the exercise of religion. Here they both preached and prayed among themselves. This gave great offence to the heads of the college, and young Penn, being but sixteen years of age, was fined for non-conformity, and at length, for persevering9 in his peculiar religious practices, was expelled the college.
Having in consequence returned home, he still took great delight in the company of sober and religious people. His father, perceiving that this would be an obstacle in the way of his son's preferment, endeavored by words, and even very severe measures, to persuade him to change his conduct. Finding these methods ineffectual, he was at length so incensed10, that he turned young William out of doors. The latter was patient under this trial, and at last the father's affection subdued11 his anger. He then sent his son to France, in company with some persons of quality that were making a tour thither12.
[Pg 121]He continued in France a considerable time, and, under the influence of those around him, his mind was diverted from religious subjects. Upon his return, his father, finding him not only a proficient13 in the French language, but also possessed14 of courtly manners, joyfully15 received him, hoping now that his point was gained. Indeed, some time after his return from France, his carriage was such as justly to entitle him to the character of a finished gentleman.
"Great about this time," says one of his biographers, "was his spiritual conflict. His natural inclination17, his lively and active disposition18, his father's favor, the respect of his friends and acquaintance, strongly pressed him to embrace the glory and pleasures of this world, then, as it were, courting and caressing19 him, in the bloom of youth, to accept them. Such a combined force seemed almost invincible20; but the earnest supplication21 of his soul being to the Lord for preservation22, He was pleased to grant such a portion of his power or spirit, as enabled him in due time to overcome all opposition23, and with an holy resolution to follow Christ, whatsoever24 reproaches or persecutions might attend him."
About the year 1666, and when he was twenty-two years of age, his father committed to his care and management a considerable estate in Ireland, which occasioned his residence in that country. Thomas Lee, whom we have before mentioned, being at Cork25, and Penn hearing that he was to be shortly at a meeting in that city, went to hear him; and by the preaching of this man, which had made some impression on his mind ten years before, he was now thoroughly26 and[Pg 122] effectually established in the faith of the Friends, and afterwards constantly attended the meetings of that people. Being again at a meeting at Cork, he, with many others, was apprehended27, and carried before the mayor, and, with eighteen of his associates, was committed to prison; but he soon obtained his discharge. This imprisonment28 was so far from terrifying, that it strengthened him in his resolution of a closer union with that people, whose religious innocence29 was the only crime for which they suffered. He now openly joined with the Quakers, and brought himself under the reproach of that name, then greatly ridiculed30 and hated. His former companions turned their caresses31 and compliments into bitter gibes32 and malignant33 derision.
His father, receiving information of what had passed, ordered him home; and the son readily obeyed. His deportment attested34 the truth of the information his father had received. He now again attempted, by every argument in his power, to move him; but finding it impossible to obtain a general compliance35 with the customs of the times, he would have borne with him, provided he would have taken off his hat, in the presence of the king, the duke of York, and himself.
This being proposed to the son, he desired time to consider of it. His father, supposing this to be with an intention of consulting his friends, the Quakers, assured him that he should see the face of none of them, but retire to his chamber36 till he could return him an answer. "Accordingly he withdrew, humbling37 himself before God, with fasting and supplication, to know his heavenly mind and will, and became[Pg 123] so strengthened in his resolution, that, returning to his father, he humbly38 signified that he could not comply with his desire."
All endeavors proving ineffectual to shake his constancy, his father, seeing himself utterly39 disappointed in his hopes, again turned him out of doors. After a considerable time, his steady perseverance40 evincing his integrity, his father's wrath41 became somewhat abated42, so that he winked43 at his return to, and continuance with, his family; and though he did not publicly seem to countenance44 him, yet, when imprisoned45 for being at meetings, he would privately46 use his interest to get him released. In the twenty-fourth year of his age, he became a minister among the Quakers, and continued his useful labors47, inviting48 the people to that serenity49 and peace of conscience he himself witnessed, till the close of his life.
A spirit warmed with the love of God, and devoted50 to his service, ever pursues its main purpose; thus, when restrained from preaching, Penn applied51 himself to writing. The first of his publications appears to have been entitled "Truth Exalted52." Several treatises53 were also the fruits of his solitude54, particularly the one entitled "No Cross, no Crown."
In the year 1670, came forth55 the Conventicle Act, prohibiting Dissenters56' meetings, under severe penalties. The edge of this new weapon was soon turned against the Quakers, who, not accustomed to flinch57 in the cause of religion, stood particularly exposed. Being forcibly kept out of their meeting-house in Grace Church street, they met as near it, in the open street, as they could: and Penn, preaching there, was apprehended,[Pg 124] and committed to Newgate. At the next sessions of the Old Bailey, together with William Mead59, he was indicted60 for "being present at, and preaching to, an unlawful, seditious, and riotous61 assembly." At his trial he made a brave defence, discovering at once both the free spirit of an Englishman and the undaunted magnanimity of a Christian62, insomuch that, notwithstanding the frowns and menaces of the bench, the jury acquitted63 him.
Not long after this trial, and his discharge from Newgate, his father died, perfectly64 reconciled to his son, and left him both his paternal65 blessing66, and an estate of fifteen hundred pounds a year. He took leave of his son with these remarkable words: "Son William, if you and your friends keep to your plain way of preaching, and keep to your plain way of living, you will make an end of the priests to the end of the world. Bury me by my mother; live all in love; shun67 all manner of evil; and I pray God to bless you all; and he will bless you."
In February, 1670, Penn was preaching at a meeting in Wheeler street, Spitalfields, when he was pulled down, and led out by soldiers into the street, and carried away to the Tower, by order of Sir John Robinson, lieutenant68 of the Tower. He was examined before Sir John and several others, and then committed, by their orders, to Newgate, for six months. Being at liberty at the expiration69 of that time, he soon after went to Holland and Germany, where he zealously70 endeavored to propagate the principles of the Quakers.
In March, 1680, he obtained from Charles II. a grant of the territory which now bears the name of[Pg 125] Pennsylvania. This was in compensation of a crown debt due to his father. Having previously72 published an account of the province, inviting emigrants73 to accompany him thither, he set sail in June, 1682, with many friends, especially Quakers, and after a prosperous voyage of six weeks, they came within sight of the American coast. Sailing up the river Delaware, they were received by the inhabitants with demonstrations74 of joy and satisfaction. Having landed at Newcastle, a place mostly inhabited by the Dutch, Penn next day summoned the people to the court-house, where possession of the country was legally given him.
Having invited the Indians to meet him, many chiefs and persons of distinction, appointed to represent them, came to see him. To these he gave several valuable presents, the produce of English manufactures, as a testimony75 of that treaty of amity76 and good understanding, which, by his benevolent77 disposition, he ardently78 wished to establish with the native inhabitants. He made a most favorable impression upon the savages79, and thus secured to Pennsylvania their favor. He then more fully16 stated the purpose of his coming, to the people, and the benevolent object of his government, giving them assurances of the free enjoyment80 of liberty of conscience in things spiritual, and of perfect civil freedom in matters temporal. He recommended to them to live in sobriety and peace one with another. After about two years residence in the country, all things being in a thriving and prosperous condition, he returned to England; and James II. coming soon after to the throne, he was taken into[Pg 126] favor by that monarch81, who, though a bigot in religion, was nevertheless a friend to toleration.
At the revolution, being suspected of disaffection to the government, and looked upon as a Papist or a Jesuit, under the mask of a Quaker, he was examined before the Privy82 Council, Dec., 1688; but, on giving security, was discharged. In 1690, when the French fleet threatened a descent on England, he was again examined before the council, upon an accusation83 of corresponding with King James, and was held to bail58 for some time, but was released in Trinity Term. He was attacked a third time the same year, and deprived of the privilege of appointing a governor for Pennsylvania; till, upon his vindication84, he was restored to his right of government. He designed now to go over a second time to Pennsylvania, and published proposals in print for another settlement there; when a fresh accusation appeared against him, backed by one William Fuller, who was afterwards declared by parliament to be a notorious imposter. A warrant was granted for Penn's apprehension85, which he narrowly escaped at his return from the funeral of George Fox, the founder86 and head of the Quakers. He now concealed87 himself for two or three years, and during this recess88, wrote several pieces. At the end of 1693, through the interest of Lord Somers and others, he was allowed to appear before the king and council, when he represented his innocence so effectually that he was acquitted.
In 1699, he again went out to Pennsylvania, accompanied by his family, and was received by the colonists89 with demonstrations of the most cordial welcome.[Pg 127] During his absence, some persons endeavored to undermine the American proprietary90 governments, under pretence91 of advancing the prerogative92 of the crown, and a bill for that purpose was brought into the H. of Lords. Penn's friends, the proprietors93 and adventurers then in England, immediately represented the hardships of their case to the parliament, soliciting94 time for his return, to answer for himself, and accordingly pressing him to come over as soon as possible. Seeing it necessary to comply, he summoned an assembly at Philadelphia, to whom, Sept. 15th, 1701, he made a speech, declaring his reasons for leaving them; and the next day he embarked95 for England, where he arrived about the middle of December. After his return, the bill, which, through the solicitations of his friends, had been postponed96 the last session of parliament, was wholly laid aside.
In the year 1707, he was unhappily involved in a suit at law with the executors of a person who had been formerly97 his steward98, against whose demands he thought both conscience and justice required his endeavors to defend himself. But his cause, though many thought him aggrieved99, was attended with such circumstances, that the court of chancery did not think it proper to relieve him; wherefore he was obliged to dwell in the Old Bailey, within the rules of the Fleet, some part of this and the ensuing year, until such time as the matter in dispute was accommodated.
In the year 1710, the air of London not agreeing with his declining constitution, he took a seat at Rushcomb, in Buckinghamshire. Here he experienced[Pg 128] three successive shocks of apoplexy in 1712, the last of which sensibly impaired100 his memory and his understanding. His religious zeal71, however, never abated, and up to 1716, he still frequently went to the meeting at Reading. Two friends calling upon him at this time, although very weak, he expressed himself sensibly, and when they were about to take leave of him, he said, "My love is with you; the Lord preserve you, and remember me in the Everlasting101 Covenant102."
After a life of ceaseless activity and usefulness, Penn closed his earthly career on the 13th of May, 1718, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was buried at Jourdans, in Buckinghamshire, where several of his family had been interred103.
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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incensed
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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humbling
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| adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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42
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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50
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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51
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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52
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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treatises
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| n.专题著作，专题论文，专著( treatise的名词复数 ) | |
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54
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dissenters
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| n.持异议者，持不同意见者( dissenter的名词复数 ) | |
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57
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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indicted
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| 控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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64
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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67
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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68
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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70
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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71
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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72
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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76
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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78
ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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81
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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85
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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88
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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94
soliciting
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| v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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95
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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impaired
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| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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101
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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102
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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