PENNY, Thomas | British History Online

Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database. Originally published by Centre for Metropolitan History, London, 2004.

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Thomas PENNY

Biography


Name	Thomas PENNY
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	non-medical clergyman (Clergyman. Botanist. Herbalist. Entomologist. Physician (MPD). Poet.)
Period of medical practice	1571-1589
Place of birth	England (b Gressingham, Eskrigg, Lancashire (son of John Penny))
Date of birth	c. 1530
Date of death	1589
Address	St Andrews Undershaft, Leadenhall Street (will 1589).
Other notes	Ca 1546 BA 1552 MA 1559. Fellow of Trinity 1553. Examined & rejected 10 Jan 1571; then member of Lord Chancellor's household. Rejected again 24 July 1571. FRCP by 25 June 1582. Nonconformist.

Known London address


	Leadenhall Street, St Andrews Undershaft
Parish	St Andrew Undershaft [incl St Mary Axe, 1565]
Ward	Aldgate
Date	1589
	Household of Sir Henry Mildmay
Date	1571

College membership


Date of BA	1552
Date of MA	1559
Date of MD	not known
Date became Fellow	by 1581
Date of Fellowship	1581-1589
Offices held	FRCP presum between 15/11/72 & 30/09/81.
In trouble before membership	Yes
Other notes	Ca 1546. F of Trinity 1553. FRCP by 25/06/1582. MD where?
Date of birth	c.1530
Date of death	1589

Censorial hearings


	20 Sep 1570
Entry	'Thomas Penny who claimed to have taken a doctor's degree appeared before the President and Censors: he was sent away until September 23 when he was asked to bring letters testimonial to be read by the Censors: he agreed to do this on the day appointed.'
Action taken	To reappear with letters testimonial.
	23 Sep 1570
Entry	P brought his letters testimonial, 'but for important reasons he was sent away until later when he could be recalled, if the President so desired; in the interval his case could be discussed at further length.' [ob graues causas ... in quo reuocari denuo possit ...]
Attitude of the accused	asked for College membership
Action taken	Deferred for in-depth discussion of his case.
	10 Jan 1571
Entry	'Dr. Penny was examined in the fundamentals of medicine but was considered to have given inadequate answers. Therefore he was by common consent rejected and prohibited from practising medicine in future. The same man was put into prison for contempt of the Fellows' decision in continuing to practise medicine. He was freed from prison by a letter from that most worthy man Sir [Walter] Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the Lord Mayor of London, on condition however that he did not bring a lawsuit against us in the Exchequer Court because he was a member of the household of the above- mentioned Lord Chancellor.'
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	Examined and rejected. Forbidden to practise. Imprisoned & freed.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Forbidden to practise; imprisoned when he ignored this
	24 July 1571
Entry	'Thomas Penny was again examined but not admitted into the College, nor was he approved.'
Action taken	Examined and rejected.
	21 July 1583
Entry	P was asked for £10. (In list of 6 people asked for money.)
Action taken	To pay £10.