direct themselves by the Rule of Geneva would learn thus to discipline their Tongues with him and imitate his Modesty 91. The Archbishop as from Master Beza so from other famous Men beyond the Seas received many Letters arguing their great love and due respect of him At their request and recommendation he relieved and entertained into his House for many years The Archbishop's kindness and charity to Foreign Divines of the Reformation together divers distressed Ministers out of Germany and France who were enforced to forsake their own Countries some by Banishment others by reason of Wars and extremity which they were put unto And at their departure he dealt bountifully with them as namely Drusius Renicherus Frigevill and Monsieur Buse a French Minister who read weekly a Lecture in Latin in his Chappel And although his French pronunciation and want of good delivery did somewhat blemish the goodness of the matter which he handled yet the Archbishop's property ever was to cherish and encourage him and all others that preached before him and was never heard to give the Preacher distaste but rather would commend or excuse him against other mens Censures saying If he were young better experience would correct his defaults and if he were in years he was in that respect to be born withal alledging for both that some would take exceptions sometimes rather to satisfy their own too much curiosity than for any just cause of dislike in the Preacher 92. Wherein he shewed a Disposition very rarely to be found in that having himself an excellent gift in that Faculty his modesty in prizing himself and his mildness in censuring others was extraordinary and very singular His backwardness to censure other mens Gifts and Performances so that thereby he gave great encouragement unto some whom otherwise his exquisite Judgment might have daunted 93. Neither herein did he as in service of War the Trumpeters use to do who encourage others to fight never taking Weapon in hand themselves or as Plutarch noteth in Aristogiton who Plutarch in vita Phocionis animated others to take Arms but himself in excuse pleaded lameness and came halting to the Musters in pretence thereof But as his continual Endeavours were to reward those of best Gifts and to encourage those of meaner so as often as Church and State-affairs gave him leave he was industrious in propounding wholesome Doctrine unto the People and a worthy Pattern of true Divinity and Diligence unto all others of the Clergy to follow him therein When he was Bishop of Worcester unless The Archbishop a constant Preacher when publick Affairs would admit extraordinary businesses of the Marches of Wales hindred him he never failed to preach upon every Sabbath-day many times riding five or six Miles to a Parish Church and after Sermon came home to Dinner The like he did also when he was Archbishop and lay at Croydon the Queen being in her Progress No Sunday escaped him in Kent as the Gentlemen there can well witness who would exceedingly resort unto him And he would oftentimes preach so early in the Morning in some Parish-Church both in Worcester and Canterbury that he came afterwards to the Sermon in the Cathedral Church 94. His Gift that way was excellent Had an excellent Tallent in Preaching Learned eloquent and judicious His Gesture grave and decent without affectation as if you had heard Saint Augustin himself or some of the ancient Bishops in the Primitive Church His Gesture and Action in the Pulpit so grave and decent his words coming from him so fatherly and comely and though plainly for the most part and without affectation yet always elegantly with special choice and substantial matter full of good and sound Learning plentiful in Authorities out of Scripture Fathers and School-men so singularly applied that he much affected his Auditory therewith Thus he oftentimes stirred and moved mens minds and affections and that not by the force of Eloquence only but by his pious Life answerable to his religious Sentences the opinion and confidence which the People had of his Integrity being very Of great Integrity and unspotted Life great because he did live unspotted of the world and would not any way be corrupted 95. He never preached but he first He wrote the Notes of his Sermons wrote his Notes in Latin and afterwards kept them during his life For he would say That whosoever took that pains before his preaching the elder he waxed the better he should discharge that Duty but if he trusted only to his memory his preaching in time Disapproved trusting only to Memory would become pratling Wherein out of a true religious care and divine wisdom he did express the grave and prudent Counsel that Demosthenes held in his Orations and pleadings in the Court. For as Plutarch saith He would never Plutarch in vit Demosth offer to speak unto the People before he had made briefs of that which he had to deliver alledging that he loved the People well that would be careful before-hand what to say unto them And this preparation saith he doth shew that a man honoureth and reverenceth them too Contrariwise he that passeth not how the People taketh his words it is a plain token that he despiseth them and their Authority and that he lacketh no good-will to use force against them if he could rather than reason or persuasion 96. When he was Bishop of Worcester When at Worcester he treated the Recusants mildly and won many of them over and Vice-president of the Marches he did exceeding good by that his continual preaching as also by his often conference and conventing of the Papists whom he used with mild and temperate speeches and thereby got many of them to conform themselves both Gentlemen and others whereby as at his first coming unto the See of Worcester he found many Recusants so he left very few at his coming thence 97. Immediately after he came to be When he came to be Archbishop he dealt with the Learnedst of them by Authority Ecclesiastical Archbishop he convented before him the chiefest and most learned Recusants throughout all England He also wrote Letters to the Bishops his Brethren within the Province of Canterbury to proceed with the Recusants by their Authority Ecclesiastical and Censures of the Church and called yearly upon them for an account of their doings He sent forth also many Warrants by vertue of her Highness's Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical and thereby had daily brought before him both Recusants and Priests who according to the quality of their Offences were restrained and proceeded against or delivered over unto the Civil Magistrate to be dealt withal as to Justice appertained after the Laws were enacted against Recusants and Seminary Priests 98. Thus this grave and prudent He kept a straight hand over the Seminary Priests and subtle Papists Archbishop always carried a most vigilant eye and straight hand over the subtle-headed
foris collocatur sic contra pacem Christi ordinationem atque unitatem Dei rebellatur The First fruits of Hereticks and the first Births and Endeavours of Schismaticks are these to admire themselves and in their swelling Pride to contemn any that are set over them Thus do men fall from the Church of God thus is a foreign unhallowed Altar erected and thus is Christ's Peace and God's Ordination and Unity rebelled against For mine own part I neither have done nor do any thing in these Matters which I do not think my self in conscience and duty bound to do and which her Majesty hath not with earnest Charge committed unto me and which I am not well able to justify to be most requisite for this Church and State whereof next to her Majesty though most unworthy or at the least most unhappy the chief care is committed unto me which I will not by the grace of God neglect whatsoever come upon me therefore Neither may I endure their notorious Contempts unless I will become Aesop ' s Block and undo all that which hither to hath been done And how then shall I be able to perform my Duty according to her Majesty's Expectation It is certain that if way be given unto them upon their unjust Surmises and Clamours it will be the cause of that Confusion which hereafter the State will be sorry for I neither care for the Honour of this Place I hold which is Onus unto me nor the largeness of the Revenue neither any worldly thing I thank God in respect of doing my Duty neither do I fear the displeasure of Man nor the evil Tongue of the uncharitable who call me Tyrant Pope Knave and lay to my charge things that I never did nor thought Scio enim hoc esse opus Diaboli ut Servos Dei mendaciis laceret opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet ut qui conscientiae suae luce clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur For I know that this is the work of that Accuser the Devil that he may tear in pieces the Servants of God with Lies that he may dishonour their glorious Name with false Surmises that they who through the clearness of their own Conscience are shining bright might have the filth of other mens Slanders cast upon them So was Cyprian himself used and other Godly Bishops to whom I am not comparable But that which most of all grieveth me and is to be wondred at and lamented is that some of those which give countenance to these Men and cry out for a learned Ministry should watch their opportunity and be Instruments and means to place most unlearned Men in the chiefest Places and Livings of the Ministry thereby to make the state of the Bishops and Clergy contemptible and I fear saleable This Hypocrisy and dissembling with God and Man in pretending one thing and doing another goeth to my heart and maketh me to think that God's Judgments are not far off The day will come when all mens hearts shall be opened In the mean time I will depend upon him who never faileth those that put their trust in him Thus far his Letters 57. After this he linked himself in a After which he is in strict league with Sir Christopher Hatton by means of Dr. Bancroft firm league of friendship with Sir Christopher Hatton then Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen's Majesty and by the means of Dr. Bancroft his then Houshold Chaplain and afterwards Lord Archbishop of Canterbury had him most firm and ready upon all occasions to impart unto the Queen as well the Crosses offered him at the Council-Table as also sundry impediments whereby he was hindred from the performance of many good Services towards her Majesty and the State He had always the Lord Burley then Lord Treasurer Burley his firm Friend Lord Treasurer of England his firm and constant Friend and one that would omit no opportunity for his advancement who prevailed so far that when the Earl of Leicester one of those honourable Personages afore-mention'd was in the Low-Countries the Archbishop The Archbishop sworn of the Privy Council and the Lord Cobham were first sworn Counsellors of State and Thomas Lord Buckhurst was sworn the day after whereat the Earl was not a little displeased The Lord Buckhurst was joined Lord Buckhurst his faithful Friend in like affection to the Archbishop as the other two were and continued after he came to be Lord Treasurer his faithful and loving Friend to the time of his death 58. When the Archbishop was thus established in friendship with these Noble Personages as aforesaid their Favours and his Place wrought him free He has free access to the Queen access to the Queen and gracious acceptance of his Motions in the Church's behalf His Courses then at the Council-board His Oppositions abated were not so much crossed nor impeached as heretofore but by reason of his daily attendance and access he then oftentimes gave impediment to the Sir Thomas Bromeley Lord Chancellor died April 12. 1587. Earl's Designments in Clergy Causes 59. About this time Sir Thomas Bromely the then Lord Chancellor died whereupon it pleased her Majesty The Queen disposed to make the Archbishop Lord Chancellor to discover her gracious Inclination to have made the Archbishop Lord Chancellor of England But he excusing himself in many respects that he was He excuses himself and recommends Sir Christopher Hatton grown into years and had the burthen of all Ecclesiastical Businesses laid upon his back which was as much as one man could well undergo considering the troubles with so many Sectaries that were then sprung up desired to be spared and besought her Highness to make choice of Sir Christopher Hatton who Sir Christopher Hatton made Lord Chancellor Ap. 29. 1587. shortly after was made Lord Chancellor in the Archbishop's House at Croydon thereby the rather to grace the Archbishop His advancement did much strengthen the Archbishop and his Friends and withal the Earl of Leicester and his Designments came soon after to an end For the Year following taking his Journey to Kenelworth he died in the way at Cornbury Park whereby the Archbishop took himself The Earl of Leicester died Sept. 4. 1588. freed from much opposition 60. Upon the death of the said Earl the Chancellorship of Oxford being Oxford desire the Archbishop for their Chancellor in the Earl's room void divers of the Heads and others of the University made known unto the Archbishop their desire to chuse him their Chancellor although he was a Cambridge man To whom he returned this Answer That he was already their Friend whereof they might rest assured and therefore advised them to make choice of some other in near place about the Queen that might assist him on their behalf And both at the Council-board and other Places of Justice right them many ways both for the benefit of the University and their particular Colleges And
it is pacified by the Archbishop so offended his Friends having laboured exceedingly therein on his behalf that being then Lord General of her Majesty's Forces in France he made open profession of his dislike of the Archbishop But upon his return into England finding how firm her Majesty stood for him and that his stirring in the matter must needs call in question her Majesty's Judgment did therefore in a temperate manner expostulate the matter with the Archbishop from whom he received such an Answer as he knew not well whom to be angry withal unless with the Queen her self who thought him too young a man being yet no Counsellor for so grave a Title and fearing happily lest if she should have committed the guiding of that University unto his young Years and unexperienced Judgment some hot and unruly Spirits there like Phaeton's untamed Horses might have carried him in such an headlong course of government as that the sparks of Contention which were then scarce kindled in that University might have broken forth into open flames to the utter destruction and devastation of the whole State Ecclesiastical And besides this she held the Lord Buckhurst being an ancient Counsellor and her Kinsman more fit for the Place a great deal And so much it seemed the Queen had told The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex the Earl in justification of the Archbishop before his questioning of the matter with him for in effect he acknowledged so much and thereupon they parted in no unkind terms but with due respect of each other in very friendly manner The Queen not long after She makes them firm Friends was the mean of their entring into further Friendship having oftentimes recommended unto the Archbishop the Earl's many excellent Parts and Vertues which she thought then rare in so young Years And the Earl likewise confessed to the Archbishop that her Majesty's often speech of her extraordinary opinion of him and his worth was the cause of his seeking after the Archbishop and therefore did offer to run a course for Clergy Causes according to his directions and advice and to cast off the Novelists as indeed he did immediately after Sir Francis Walsingham's Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles death which was a special cause of the Archbishop's constancy and firmness to the Earl in his disgrace and trouble afterwards 83. But now to return to our former course The Lord Chancellor's death much troubled and perpexed the Archbishop The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death fearing that new Troubles would befal him and the Church Howbeit things were then so well and firmly setled that he had no great ado afterwards saving with their dispersing New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans of Pamphlets and that some few Persons though thanks be to God not powerful both in Court and Country Attempts in Parliament on their behalf did attempt as much as in them lay by motions in Parliament and Bills there preferred to bring in I know not nor they themselves what kind of new Government in the Church but were prevented by the Wisdom of her Majesty who always suppressed those Bills and Motions and still comforted the Archbishop who was oftentimes The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church much grieved with their causeless Complaints and assured him they should not prevail to do any hurt except it were to hurt themselves For she did see in her Princely wisdom how dangerous they were to her and all Imperial Government And when she found them still bent to pursue such Bills and Motions she to deliver the Archbishop from farther trouble and vexation before it was expected and as it were with silence brake up the Parliament 84. AFter the death of Sir Christopher Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Hatton Sir John Puckering was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England of whom because he lived not long I shall not have occasion to say much But for ought that I ever Upon Hatton ' s death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. heard he shewed himself a Friend to the Church unto the Archbishop and his Proceedings and acknowledged him to have been amongst his other good Friends a Furtherer of his Advancement 85. Sir Thomas Egerton Master of the Rolls succeeded him May 6. 1596. Her Majesty and the State had long experience of his Integrity and Wisdom as may appear by the great Places which he worthily held being first her Highness's Sollicitor and then Attorney General In which time besides his many great and weighty Services he was very careful and industrious in labouring earnesty to suppress the aforesaid Libellers a lover of Learning and a most constant Favourer of the Clergy and Church Government He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement established as also a faithful loving Friend to the Archbishop in all his Affairs insomuch as after his advancement to that Honour and that the Earl of Essex and the Archbishop concurred together being also out of the affection of his most honourable Friend the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer further strengthned by the friendship The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends and love of Sir Robert Cecyll principal Secretary and now Earl of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England he began to be fully revived again and as well fortified by them as ever he was when he was most and best friended And her Majesty finding in him a zealous care and faithful performance of his duty and service towards the Church and her Highness shook off those Clergy Cares and laid the burthen The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him of them upon his Shoulders telling him That if any thing went amiss be it upon his Soul and Conscience to answer it for she had rid her hands and looked that he should yield an account on her behalf unto Almighty God 86. And now though the Archbishop He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions was in this singular favour and grace with her Majesty so that he did all in all for the managing of Clergy-Affairs and disposing of Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Promotions yet was he never puffed up with Pride His great Humility and Lenity nor did any thing violently by reason of his Place and greatness with her Majesty against any man For he ever observed this Rule that he would not wound where he could not salve And I leave to the report of the Adversaries themselves when he had that sway in Government and favour with her Highness whether his Carriage were not exceeding mild and temperate and whether he did not endeavour
pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King proclaimed him again 105. I am doubtful to speak lest I might seem to detract from others of the great comfort which the common People and Citizens took in the presence of the Archbishop and how heartily they prayed for him at his return as if they nothing doubted but that all went well for the State in that Counsel among whom he was present 106. He was indeed beloved of all sorts of People yea even of some of them who were the most fervent Reprehenders themselves as they have confessed since his death And well worthy was he so to be for that he carried a most mild and moderate hand over them A more particular love also he deserved of many for his affection Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts. unto liberal and ingenious Arts whereof his domestick government and care was no less argument than his publick which I have formerly spoken of For besides the pains which he took himself after he was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury many years with a number of worthy young Gentlemen in reading unto them thrice aday he took into his House besides his Chaplains divers of quality to instruct them in the Mathematicks and other Lectures of sundry Arts and Languages giving them good allowance and Preferments His Liberality great otherwise as occasion was offered And besides the many poor Scholars He kept many poor Scholars in his House whom he kept in his House till he could provide for them and prefer them as he did sundry to good Estates he also maintained divers in the University And maintained divers in the Universities at his own charge and gave liberally to them and others of any towardliness as he heard of their necessity and wants 107. He kept likewise for the exercise of Military Discipline a good Armory Is an incourager of Military Exercises and a fair Stable of great Horses insomuch as he was able to arm at all points both Horse and Foot and divers times had One hundred Foot and Fifty Horse of his own Servants mustered and trained for which purpose he entertained Captains He had also skilful Riders who taught them to manage their Horses and instructed them in warlike Exercises all whom he rewarded in liberal manner By this means he had divers of his own Gentlemen that afterwards proved good Soldiers many whereof became Captains and Commanders and some for their Valour and Service were Knighted in the Field There were also divers others that for Learning Languages and Qualities were fit to be employed by any Prince in Christendom Insomuch as his House for the Lectures and Scholastical Exercises therein performed might justly be accounted a little Academy and in some His House a little Academy respects superior and more profitable viz. for Martial Affairs and the Experience that Divines and other Scholars had being near and often at the Court and chief Seats of Justice from whence they continually had the Passages and Intelligences both for Matters of State and government in Causes Ecclesiastical and Civil By which their continual Experience many of his * Dr. Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Ravis Bishop of London Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Goldisbury Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Parry Bishop of Worcester Dr. Redman Bishop of Norwich Dr. Buckeridge Bishop of Rochester Domestical His Chaplains promoted Chaplains both before and since his death attained unto the chiesest Honours and Dignities in our Church and Commonwealth 108. And here I may not forget his religious care and provident order for the due execution of his Charge and determination of all such Causes as belonged unto his proper cognizance and place To which end and purpose he appointed every Thursday in Term a solemn and set Commission day upon which he had a Sermon in his Chappel by one of his Houshold Chaplains and entertained the Commissioners and their Attendants though to his great expence which he little esteemed in regard of the well guiding and ordering the Affairs then by him undertaken That day you should have had a Senate of the worthiest and greatest Counsellors of State with the assistance of the chief Prelates Justices Judges and sufficientest Lawyers of both Professions that those Times afforded 109. You may then hereby observe the The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes Archbishop's exceeding care and singular wisdom in proceeding with the Advice of so many worthy prudent and learned Men of several Faculties whereby the Subjects came chearfully to the hearing of their Causes and without fear of partiality in any particular Person And howsoever the Cause went the Archbishop could not be impeached of rash or inconsiderate proceeding seeing he had the consent and approbation of all Professions For the Archbishop always gave Sentence and ordered matters as the greater part of the Court did encline beginning at the Junior first although himself would sometimes dissent from them in opinion and so he would tell them but without tartness yea in such kind and loving manner as no man was hindered in delivering his mind By which means he was sure always to have the Cause fully debated and every man's opinion fully known which when he found concurring with his own and the Proceedings ordered according to the Rules of Justice he would go on to sentence and determine the Cause 110. Wherein he carried himself His Resolution in Judgment with great resolution and courage were the Persons never so great that were interested in the same as you may perceive by one Instance among many when himself was yet no Counsellor of State A Gentleman of good Note seeing An Instance how the Court was enclined to order his Cause not according to his desire told the Archbishop that upon another occasion there grew some speech of that Cause before the Lords of the Council and their Lordships were of another opinion than his Grace and the rest of the Commissioners seemed to be what tellest thou me said the Archbishop of the Lords of the Council I tell thee they are in these Cases to be advised by us and not we by them He would upon such like Occasions oftentimes say unto his private Friends towards his latter time when they talked familiarly with him and observed his courage and stoutness That two things did help much to make a man confident in good Causes namely Orbitas Senectus and said he they steed me both 111. This orderly proceeding and He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court course upheld the Reputation and Dignity of the Commission Court which albeit it be of great Authority and dealeth for the most part in matters of great weight and importance yet the want of worthy Assistants and Counsel if the like care should not be continued may make it grow to be of little reputation as experience hath somewhat taught us since the decease of this
the lawful and perfect Calling of a Minister or no To these I find Wigginton's Resolution Wigginton's Resolutions of Coppinger's Questions in the affirmastive made under his own hand to this effect briefly viz. That God hath doth and will from time to time raise up extraordinary Workers and Helpers to his Church a Apostles Evangelists and Prophets where need requireth and as Nazarites Healers Admonishers in special sort and such like that these cannot be known to themselves but by God's Spirit nor to others but by godly effects That he who is so called need not to ask many Questions of mortal men for his Calling yet must be approved godly before he enterprize his Work especially if he have been a known wicked Person before That where the chief Rulers of any House or Country or the most part of any House or Country be ignorant and untaught there it may be truly said that House or Country is out of frame desolate or waste much more then when one part of Thirty or Forty is not well framed rightly taught or guided c. in that House or Country And in another Paper of his own Hand he avoucheth such extraordinary Callings by Such extraordinary Callings justified by two Examples example of one that cried up and down the Streets in Jerusalem before it was besieged and by another which he saith the last Parliament came forth of Yorkshire to London saying he was charged from God by an Angel in a Vision to signify great Vengeance from God upon the whole Realm for certain great Enormities by himself in another man's person untruly and seditiously surmised So that hereby it appeareth that Wigginton is the silenced Preacher meant by Coppinger in the former Letter who resolved him of extraordinary Callings in those days who consented to fast and pray with him and others for a Seal c. of such Calling and who as he afterward affirmed to Hacket would not discourage Coppinger in his Purposes This Conceit hereupon waxing stronger Coppinger waxeth stronger in his Conceit and stronger in Coppinger he often came to Lancaster's House where also Arthington then lay to confer with them specially to know the certainty whether there were any extraordinary Calling in this last Age and how the same might be tried They both told him as is now said that they were meer ordinary men not able to resolve him much less to take trial of his Gifts and therefore willed him to keep his Secrets to himself or else to go to others that could better judge of them Whereupon Coppinger Seeks direction from Divers Puritanical Preachers is assisted by Penry sought for direction to divers Preachers and others in London and elsewhere of what setled disposition may easily be conjectured For resolution also herein by the help of his diligent Fellow-labourer in this business John ap Henry aliâs a Penry he sollicited the Reformed Preachers so these Fellows term them of some Foreign Parts It may also be gathered by some Letters written by him to a Gentleman near about a great Counsellor that he bare the said Gentleman in hand as if he had intelligence touching some matter of great service to her Majesty and the Commonwealth to be imparted to the said Counsellor For in the Copy of a Letter of his of the 28th of January last he thus writeth Your signification Coppinger ' s Letters to a Counsellor pretending some service to the Queen of some service which you heard I was desirous to do in discharge of my duty to her Majesty may give his Lordship cause to suspect that I honour him not so much as I do Your revealing thereof to his Lordship I do assure you doth much trouble me because I am not furnished with such matter as I wish My meaning was therefore to have forborn his Lordship's trouble until I had learned out that which my heart desireth to do c. And in another Letter of his written to the same Gentleman the 1st of February after in this sort If you think he looketh to have me come to his Lordship about any thing which you have put into his head let me understand from you when I may attend his Lordship's pleasure which being known I will according to my duty do it though I wish my self to be freed until I may know that which may give his Lordship cause to think of me as I do desire to deserve c. Now that this matter was the same whereof he desired such resolution may be gathered by a Note of his own Hand set upon the back of these two Copies thus viz. By these Letters it may appear what care I had In his Letters to the Preachers pretends some service to God and his Church meaning in both the same matter to carry my self in this Action But in his Letters about this matter written unto Preachers and others of his own humour he goeth more plainly to work and declareth another purpose and that it is a special service by him to be done to God and his Church and so no Civil Matter as he elsewhere pretendeth For I find by a Letter of another Gentleman P. W. a Lay Gentleman his Letter to Coppinger incouraging him to go on in his Work of the Laity dated the 25th of January last and written unto Coppinger in answer that Coppinger had sent for him up to receive advice of him in some matters of importance tending to the true Service of God wherein he was labouring In the end whereof are these words viz. You are in a plentiful Soil where you may use the advice of many godly wise Use the benefit thereof And then as Joshua said be bold and of a good courage Fear not to be discouraged for God even the mighty God will protect and defend you In his solliciting the Preachers to take trial of his Gifts and extraordinary Calling it appeareth he used some more plainness without much disguising of the quality of the Action which he intended and likewise how faintly he was discouraged from it by them For in a Letter of his unto T. L. written the 29th of January last he reporteth that M. E. a Preacher most Christianly The Preachers advise him to Caution but do not discourage nor reprove him wisely and lovingly persuaded him to be careful and circumspect over himself To take heed lest he were deceived by the subtilty of Satan and so misled whereby he might endanger himself both for his Liberty Estate and Credit and also be an hinderance to the great Cause which he would seem to be most desirous to further but Note withal the said M. E. concluded that he would be loath to quench the Spirit of God in him or to hinder his Zeal About this time and matter Coppinger writ also another Letter to T. C. which thing besides the Letter it self appeareth also by a Letter of his written the 24th of February last to one M. H. The whole tenor
good Archbishop Whereunto not unaptly may be applied that which Plutarch reporteth Plutarch in vita of Cato Utican When he was Praetor For he would oftentimes go on foot bare legged and without his Gown unto his Praetorian Chair and there give sentence of life and death whereby he rather defaced and impaired the majesty and dignity of his Office than gave it countenance by his manner of proceeding although otherwise he were a good Commonwealth's man and ministred justice uprightly unto all 112. But I return unto our Archbishop His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction again He gave audience unto Suitors twice a day and afforded them set hours for their dispatch at which time he would so courteously entreat them giving them so mild and gentle Answers that even they that sped not of their Suits did depart without discontentment Wherein I may justly compare him unto Titus qui neminem Sueton. in vita unquam à se tristem dimisit he dismissed no man sorrowful from his presence Wherefore he gave also express commandment unto his Officers that Suitors and Strangers should ever be courteously entertained as well for expedition of their Suits as for Hospitality sake 113. He had a desire always to keep His great Hospitality a great and bountiful House and so he did having the same well ordered and governed by his head Officers therein and all things in plentiful manner both for his own service and entertainment of Strangers according to their several Qualities and Degrees He often feasted the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of his Diocess and Neighbourhood And at Christmas especially his Gates were always open and his Hall set twice or thrice over with Strangers Upon some chief Festival-days he was served with great solemnity sometime upon the Knee as well His State for the upholding of the State that belonged unto his Place as for the better education and practice of his Gentlemen and Attendants in point of service 114. Every Year he entertained the His entertainment of the Queen Queen at one of his Houses so long as he was Archbishop and some Years twice or thrice where all things were performed in so seemly an order that she went thence always exceedingly well pleased And besides many publick and gracious Favours done unto him she would salute him and bid him farewell by the name of Black Husband calling also his Men her Servants as a token of her good contentment with their attendance and pains 115. Every third Year he went into He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country Kent unless great occasions hindred him where he was so honourably attended upon by his own Train consisting of Two hundred Persons and with the Gentlemen of the Country that he did sometimes ride into the City of Canterbury and into other Towns with Eight hundred or a Thousand Horse And surely the Entertainment which he gave them and they him was so great that as I am verily persuaded no Shire in England did or could give greater or with more chearful minds each unto other The Fatherly care which he had of his Clergy whom he never charged with visitation but once in twenty Years his Affability amongst the Gentlemen and courteous usage of his Tenants gained him so great a love that he might very far prevail with them yea they never denied him any request that he made unto them 116. At his first Journey into Kent His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity he rode to Dover being attended with an hundred of his own Servants at least in Livery whereof there were forty Gentlemen in Chains of Gold The Train of Clergy and Gentlemen in the Country and their Followers was above Five hundred Horse At his entrance A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church into the Town there happily landed an Intelligencer from Rome of good Parts and Account who wondred to see an Archbishop or Clergy-man in England so reverenced and attended But seeing him upon the next Sabbath day after in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury attended upon by his Gentlemen and Servants as is aforesaid also by the Dean Prebendaries and Preachers in their Surplesses and scarlet Hoods and heard the solemn Musick with the Voices and Organs Cornets and Sagbuts he was overtaken with admiration and told an English Gentleman of very good quality who then accompanied him That Sir Edward Hobby they were led in great blindness at Rome by our own Nation who made the People there believe that there was not in England either Archbishop or Bishop or Cathedral or any Church or Ecclesiastical Government but that all was pulled down to the ground and that the People heard their Ministers in Woods and Fields amongst Trees and bruit Beasts But for his own part he protested that unless it were in the Pope's Chappel he never saw a more solemn sight or heard a more heavenly sound Well said the English Gentleman I am glad of this your so lucky and first sight ere long you will be of another mind and I hope work miracles when you return to Rome in making those that are led in this blindness to see and understand the truth It is said the Intelligencer the chief cause of my coming to see with mine own eyes and truly to inform others Whereupon the said English Gentleman accompanied him to London and so to the Court where he saw and heard many things to confirm the Gentleman's report for the government of the Church and civil carriage of the People in their obedience to the Clergy and Magistrates in the Commonwealth Afterwards this Intelligencer had private The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham speech with Sir Francis Walsingham then principal Secretary to her Majestey who related all this to the Archbishop with due approbation of his Kentish Journy confessing that he should reverence and honour him therefore while he lived And although he were one of the honourable Counsellors before mentioned that seemed to favour the precise Faction yet undoubtedly he was after this time a kind Friend to the Archbishop and did him many good Offices with the Queen 117. Howbeit some of near alliance unto Sir Francis bearing themselves very boldly upon his favour would oftentimes handle the Archbishop very roughly and much provoke him by vain Speeches and brags of their own worth and scholarship and being meer Lay-men would very unmannerly compare themselves with the best conformable Divines for true knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures But the Archbishop smiling at their Vanities would notwithstanding courteously handle and entreat them in his own House according to the true Rule of Hospitality not unlike unto Pericles who being reviled by a leud Plutarch â—n vit Fellow in the Market-place all the day long returned no bad languge but dispatched his Affairs
in hearing the Suppliants and determining their Causes and when night came on the Party followed him still railing upon him till he came to his own House It being now dark Pericles as he entred in commanded one of his Servants to light him home 118. You see now of what an excellent The Archbishop's good nature Nature this Archbishop was how far from giving offence how ready to forgive a wrong merciful compassionate and tender-hearted Yet was he not void as no man is of infirmities The Holy Scripture noteth of Elias that James 5. 17. he was a man subject to the like passions as we are But as Horace saith optimus ille Serm. lib. 1. sat 3. Qui minimis urgetur So may it be confessed of this Archbishop that the greatest or rather only fault known in him was Choler and yet in him so corrected not by Philosophy alone as Socrates confessed of his Faults but by the Word and Grace of God as it rather served for a Whetstone of his Courage in just Causes than any Weapon whetted against the Person Goods or good Name of any other So that it may as I am verily persuaded be rightfully said of him That he was such a Magistrate as Jethro advised Moses to take in judging the People of God and such a Bishop as St. Paul requireth in the Church of Christ Provide saith Exod. 18. Jethro among all the People men of courage fearing God dealing truly hating covetousness and appoint such over them to be rulers And a Bishop saith St. Paul 1 Tim. 3. must be unreproveable the husband of one wife watching temperate modest harbarous apt to teach not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but gentle no fighter not covetous one that can rule his one house honestly He may not be a young Scholar lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil He must also be well reported of even of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the Devil 119. And now what is there that the Devil himself with all his Imps Popish or Schismatical Libellers can rebuke or condemn in this good Archbishop's Saintly Life Let them examine his Actions in all his carriage and course if so they can convince him in any thing that was not agreeable to the directions of Jethro for a Magistrate and answerable unto the Rule of Saint Paul for a Bishop 120. As for good Works whereof His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry the Papists so vainly brag as particular effects of their superstitious Doctrines yea for which Heaven it self is a due reward by condignity many Towns Cities and Counties can yield a plentiful Testimony for him in this behalf namely Lincoln Worcester the Marches of Wales Kent and Surry wherein he lived and in particular that notable Monument of our time his Hospital of the Blessed Trinity in Croydon which he built very fair and College-wise for a Warden and Eight and twenty Brothers and Sisters He builed also near unto it a goodly Free school with a Schoolmaster 's House allowing unto the Schoolmaster Twenty pounds by year for ever All which he performed with such alacrity and good success that he hath been heard divers times to profess with great comfort that notwithstanding the charge of the Purchase and Building was not small unto him in comparison of his Estate who neither impaired House-keeping nor Retinue at that time yet when he had finished and done that whole Work he found himself no worse in his Estate than when he first began which he ascribed unto the extraordinary blessing and goodness of God 121. After the finishing of this Hospital among many other his good Deeds the French Lieger Embassador in England called Boys Sisi enquired what Works the Archbishop had published for that he would willingly read his Books who was reputed The Peerless Cambden Britan. in Comit. Lincoln Prelate for Piety and Learning in our days and whom in conference he found so grave godly and judicious when it was answered that he only published certain Books in the English Tongue in defence of the Ecclesiastical Government although it be very well known to many who were near unto him that he left divers learned Treatises in Written-hand well worthy the printing and that it was thereupon incidently told the Embassador that he had founded an Hospital and a School he used these words Profectò Hospitale Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift ad sublevandam paupertatem Schola ad instruendam Juventutem sunt optimi Libri quos Archiepiscopus conscribere potuit Truly an Hospital to sustain the Poor and a School to train up Youth are the worthiest Books that an Archbishop could set forth 122. And albeit the Archbishop had His love to Croydon for retirement ever a great affection to lie at his Mansion house at Croyáon for the sweetness of the Place especially in Summer time whereby also he might sometimes retire himself from the multiplicity of Businesses and Suitors in the Vacations yet after he had builded his Hospital and his School he was farther in love with the Place than before The chief comfort of repose or solace that he took was in often dining at the Hospital among his poor Brethren as he called them There he was often visited by his entire and honourable Friends the Earl of Shrewsbury Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Bishop of London and others of near place about her Majesty in whose company he chiefly delighted 123. In the absence of his Friends Chearful and affable in his Family he would be exceeding chearful and affable with his own Gentlemen and Servants though his Bounty towards them and the Poor did not consist in words but in deeds for he was very liberal in Liberal to his Servants rewarding them both with Leases Offices and otherwise with Supplies as their Occasions required out of his Purse and would I make no question have done much more for them out of his own Estate if he had had ability and time after his Sickness first seized upon him to dispose of his worldly Affairs 124. As his Bounty was very great Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous towards his own for in that number likewise he always accounted the poor Society of his Hospital so were his Hands every-where reached out to the necessities of all sorts Yea such was his Charity that if he had seen poor men addicted to labour he would have given them Money and waste Ground to employ in gardening or some such use as might be for their relief Or if he heard that any of his poor Neighbours were decrepit or destitute of means to follow their Trade he would supply their needs either with Money or Fewel and sometimes poor Watermens wants with Boats and such like wherein he dealt no
of God of England France and Ireland Queen desender of the Faith c. Having not the fear of God in his heart nor weighing his due allegiance but seduced by the Instigation of the Devil and intending wholly to withdraw put out and extinguish the hearty love and the true and due obedience which a true and faithful subject of the Queen's should bear and by law is bound to bear towards our said Sovereign Lady the Queen the first day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the said Queen at London in the Parish of S. Gregory near Paul ' s in the Ward of Castle-Baynard London falsly maliciously and traiterously intended imagined went about and compassed the said Queen his Sovereign and natural liege Lady not only from her Royal state title power and government of this Realm of England utterly to deprive depose cast down and disherit but also to bring and put the said Queen's Majesty to death and final destruction and sedition in the said Realm of England to raise up levy and make and also wholly to subvert and destroy the state of this whole Commonwealth being in and throughout every part thereof well constituted and ordered And to the intent be might fulfil and bring to pass those his aforesaid traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents the said William Hacket afterward that is to say the said first day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is did come to the mansion house of one Ralph Kayes situate and being in Knight-rider-street in the said Parish of St. Gregory in the Ward aforesaid and then and there maliciously devilishly and traiterously raced and defaced the Arms of the Queen's Majesty then and there in the said house being with this intent traiterously to take away put down and overthrow the power of Authority of the said Queen And that the said William Hacket for further accomplishing and effecting of his said traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents the said first day of July in the said 33d year of her Majesties reign in the house of the said Ralph Kayes situate in the parish and ward aforesaid did traiterously raze a certain Picture of the Queen's Majesty then and there in the said house likewise being and then and there did maliciously and traiterously put in and thrust an Iron Instrument into that part of the said Picture that did represent the Breast and Heart of the Queen's Majesty And afterward that is to say on the 16th day of July in the 33d year of the reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is the said William Hacket traiterously came to the house of one John Walker situate and being in the Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the Ward of Queen-hith in London aforesaid with intent traiterously to confer and treat with one Edmund Coppinger Gent. and Henry Arthington Gent. concerning his traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents aforesaid And that the said William Hacket afterward that is to say on the 16th day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is at London aforesaid in the house of the said John Walker in the foresaid Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queenhith in London of his own perverse and traiterous mind and imagination maliciously advisedly expresly and traiterously did treat and had conference with the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington by what ways means and manner the said traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents might be accomplished and brought to pass And thereupon on the said 16th day of July in the said 33d year in the said house of John Walker aforesaid situate and being in the said Parish of Saint Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queenhith London in the presence and hearing of the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington being then and there in the said house the said Hacket these false traiterous English words following of our said Sovereign Queen Elizabeth falsly maliciously advisedly expresly directly and traiterously said rehearsed published and spoke viz. That the Queen's Majesty meaning our said Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth had forfeited her Crown and was worthy to be deprived And that furthermore the said William Hacket thereupon the said 16th day of July in the said 33d year in the said house of John Walker situate in the Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queen-hith London maliciously and traiterously moved and stirred up the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington traiterously and openly to publish and declare in London aforesaid that the Queen's Majesty that now is had forfeited her Crown to the great offence and derogation of the person of the Queen's Majesty and to the subversion of the state of this Realm of England and contrary to the peace of our said Sovereign Lady her crown and dignities c. And being likewise asked whether he were guilty to this Indictment or not To this he answers perversly belike perceiving that he was already plunged in far enough he began then to answer more perversly saying to the Bench You have wit enough to judge for me and your selves too Being asked the same again he said Few words are best it is good to know much and to say little And being divers times asked he still repeated these words Then being told that if he should persist in that sort not to plead directly as by Law he ought it could not serve his turn for that alone was sufficient of it self to condemn him of the Treason and being asked again whether he were guilty or not he said Ambo But some further good advertisements being given unto him at last after much ado he pleaded Not At last pleads not guilty guilty to that second Indictment Thereupon being asked by whom he would be Tried he said By the Country But being told he ought to say By God and by the Country he said That he would be tried by the Jury And therewithal burst He blasphemes out into such blasphemous and hellish words against the Majesty of God in truth not to be heard by Christian ears and therefore not to be uttered or repeated here that they were to the great astonishment and horror of all and detestation of him with all the hearers It may be that he Intending to induce the Court to believe him mad hoped thereby to induce the Judges to an opinion that he was mad and furious albeit in his countenance gesture attentiveness to that which was spoken silence when he ought holding up his hand when he was commanded perceiving the effect of all was spoken pertinent though sometimes perverse answers through all that action no tokens of any fury or madness at all could be noted in him Some have imagined that the Illusion of the Devil was so strong to persuade him of an immunity from all danger according to his former conceived Opinions that thereby he grew to such a
devilish impatience against God when as now he saw himself to be brought to more apparent danger than happily he supposed there ever would be cause for him to fear Which thing seemeth more probable to have been the occasion thereof for that immediately after his Blasphemy he also used these words God Almighty is above and will he not revenge But seeing he could not be brought to any other Plea the Queen's Attorney-General desired in behalf Not pleading as he ought the Queen's Attorney demands Judgment to be enter'd No Evidence being heard of the Queen That Judgment thereupon might be entred And seeing he pleaded Guilty to the one and stood mute to the second in that he answered not as Law would whereupon he was to be convicted of both the Indictments so that none Evidence which was there ready needed either to be used or by the Queen's Council Learned to be opened or enforced Nevertheless for better satisfaction of the World it was by them thought meet somewhat to shew both how hainous and how evident for Proof his Treasons were And albeit I am not able in any tolerable sort to repeat the grave wise and pithy Discourses that were made in this behalf by those two worthy Gentlemen Master Attorney-General and Master Sollicitor to her Majesty yet I hope they will pardon me to set down only some few heads of their Speeches as they were noted briefly from their mouths and afterward brought unto me Master Attorney declared That the Original of The Substance of Mr. Attorney's Speech these Plots and Conspiracies came from and were for the Sectaries of this time That Coppinger in a Letter to Udall prayeth him and the rest in Prison not to faint That he and others had taken a course for their speedy deliverance and desired pardon for not coming to him which he said might be dangerous for that they should be the sooner suspected or to that effect That there were Letters dispersed in the streets five or six days before the Action That there were found in Wigginton's Chamber printed Pamphlets which should be sent to a great number of Women whom I quoth Master Attorney forbear to name as is touched before That in other Letters was contained That the Queen should command her Counsellors to their Chambers because of the stir and danger which then should be That Hacket himself had afore confessed besides the other Points of the Indictments how he sent Arthington and Coppinger to do and proclaim as they did Then Master Sollicitor very excellently The Substance of Mr. Sollicitor's Speech also discoursed How there was no Treason more dangerous than that which is practised under other colours as it were in the clouds and none wounded so deep as those that were shadowed under the cloak of Religion and Zeal for of it commonly followed greatest destruction and calamities This he exemplified by the Anabaptists at Munster in Westphalia and some others That in like sort as they did this Hacket also affirmeth he was sent from God was a principal Angel sent before the Judgment that he doth participate with horror I rehearse it said Master Sollicitor of the Human Nature of Jesus Christ and the two other are Prophets one of Mercy and the other of Judgment That the Queen had forfeited her Crown That the Council was wicked and must be over-ruled and by whom but by him c. Then he shewed what Hacket was viz. a Bankrupt that he had married a Widow and had spent all Which done Master Recorder of London gave Judgment upon Hacket as in like Mr. Recorder gave Judgment for Execution cases is accustomed From thence Hacket was carried to Newgate and there remained till Wednesday next after being the appointed day for his Execution that in the mean while he might by godly counsel be brought to Repentance and to provide for his Soul's health Certain Preachers so travelled with him in the mean time that albeit for some while he thought to advantage himself and to respite his execution by giving through dissimulation froward and lewd Answers yet at length they brought him as it then seemed to a serious consideration of his own state and of the grievousness of his Treasons Insomuch as Master Richard Young of London coming He is visited by Preachers is brought to sober Temper also unto him thither on the Tuesday being the 27th of July betwixt the hours of six and seven in the Afternoon sundry others also being in company he found him in outward appearance well affected For when Master Young wished him to submit himself and to confess his fault towards Almighty God he presently with good words did it accordingly Then Master Young told him that God had appointed Death unto all men but unto divers in divers sorts and wished him to take patiently that which God had laid upon him This Hacket said he would unfainedly do and withal asked the Queen's Majesty Confesses the Fact seems sorry and asks the Queen's Forgiveness Forgiveness saying he was very sorry for the words he had spoken and that it was a gracious and happy turn that their Treasons were in time revealed For otherwise it would have cost a number of innocent men their bloods and himself he thought should nevertheless also have been slain amongst them But now trusted in God that the others would confess also their Treasons and that her Majesty was a gracious Prince and would forgive them if they asked mercy And if it would also please her Highness to be so gracious unto him as to pardon him he would henceforth become a good Subject Furthermore because he had no Money he then desired Master Young either to give or to lend him some Money saying he would repay it again if ever he were able who thereupon did his devotion towards him Then Hacket thanked him and desired Master Young to pray for him Thus he continued in good Temper that night and the next morning until looking out at one of the Windows into the Street leading towards Cheapside he saw all the street even filled as it were up with people expecting his Execution There Seeing the Multitude waiting his Execution he raves and blasphemes upon he began to answer such as exhorted him very desperately and blasphemously And when as coming down the Stairs one of the Sheriffs wished him to be mindful of Christ's Death who suffered for him he thereupon uttered most execrable Blasphemy against Christ's blessed Passion He was brought from Newgate towards the place of Execution the Eight and twentieth day of July being Wednesday after Ten of the Clock in the Morning albeit by reason of the incredible multitude then in the streets but especially in Cheapside from one end thereof unto another the like whereof at no assembly in memory hath been seen it was very long ere the Officers with all they could do could get him to the very place All the way that he was dragged upon the Hurdle he