William Parry

William Parry (or Parrie) (died 2 March 1585) was a Welsh courtier and spy. He planned to assassinate Elizabeth I of England, and was executed for treason.

Early life He was the son of Harry ap David, a gentleman of Northop, Flintshire, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Pyrs or Peter Conway, Archdeacon of St Asaph and rector of Northop. Harry ap David, by his son's account, was in the guard to Henry VIII, and died about 1566, leaving fourteen children by his first wife and sixteen by his second, Parry's mother. Parry was originally named William ap Harry.

Parry was apprenticed to John Fisher of Chester, who had some legal knowledge; he attended a grammar school and made attempts to escape from his master. In about 1560 he went to London to seek his fortune. Perhaps in the hope of pardon, he pleaded guilty, but he subsequently declared his innocence, said that his confession was a tissue of falsehoods, and that Tolomeo Gallio, the former Archbishop of Manfredonia, had never given any countenance to the murder. He was condemned to death by being hanged, drawn and quartered, and was executed on 2 March 1585 in Westminster Palace Yard.

After Parry's death a work, published, probably, at the instance of the government, and entitled A true and plain Declaration of the Horrible Treasons practised by William Parry, charged him with various atrocious crimes. It also made remarks on his birth and parentage.

Epigram An epigram on his death, quoted by Holinshed, was reproduced in The Worm Ouroboros: It was pittie One so wittie Malcontent: Leaving reason Should to treason So be bent. But his gifts Were but shifts Void of grace: And his braverie Was but knaverie Vile and base.