Papists as fearing lest they conceived an hope of advancing their Cause and Quarrel by help of the aforesaid Contentions betwixt the Bishops and these Sectaries and so soon as they should have found the Forces on both sides sufficiently weakned and enfeebled by a long continuance of the Conflict to have destroyed the Vanquished with the Vanquishers whereby to re establish their Papal Jurisdiction and superstitious Impieties as not long after this Archbishop's death they attempted to do by the divelish Device of that damnable Powder-Treason which if it had succeeded their intendment then was to have put both alike to the Sword 99. You may perceive by the Premisses He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries how untruly some of the uncharitable and precipitate Sectaries traduced him for a Papist and called him The Pope of Lambeth in their Libels and Conventicles and most unjustly reproached him with the Title of Doctor Pearn ' s Servant whom they likewise taxed with Popery and falsly charged him to have infected the Archbishop therewith because of his affection and love unto him for the reasons specified before The truth is as the Archbishop was of his own nature a very loving kind man so he did hate ingratitude He hated Ingratitude in any and could never be taxed with that fault He was likewise as the Gentlemen of Worcestershire and Kent had daily experience very firm Is firm in his Friendships and marvailous constant where he affected and professed love which brought him in great displeasure in the Cause of the late Earl of Essex with whose Life and Actions though I have nothing to do having only taken upon me to report another Man's yet thus much I may truly say that his misfortune drew upon the Archbishop the greatest discontentment and severest reprehension Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex from her Majesty that he had ever before undergone in all his life 100. For after that the Earl began to fall upon Courses displeasing and distastful unto her Majesty nevertheless such was the confidence the Archbishop had in the Earl's Loyaly and his own stedfastness in that Friendship which he had formerly professed unto him that he could not be drawn from being a continual Intercessor for him wherewith her Majesty was so highly displeased The Queen displeased at his inter cession for the Earl which much grieves him and so sharply rebuked him for the same that the good old Archbishop came sometimes home much grieved and perplexed 101. Within a while after the Earl forgetting that unto Princes the highest Tacit. Annal lib 4 judgment of things is given and unto us the glory of obedience is left went out indeed The Archbishop being that Sunday Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Morning at the Court whether by direction or by his own accord I know not hastned home without any Attendant and commanded as many men as he then had in the House to be presently armed and sent them over unto the Court but not to go within the Gates until Master Secretary Cecill or some other by his instruction should appoint them a Leader There were immediately The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence presented unto him Threescore men well armed and appointed who with a Message from the Archbishop shewed themselves before the Court of whose arrival there Master Secretary Cecill with the rest of the Lords of the Council were right glad and said he Well taken at Court was a most worthy Prelate They had speedily a Leader appointed unto them and marched presently and were the first that entred into the Gates of Essex-house and in the first Court made good the place until the Earl yielded himself Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower and was by the Lord Admiral brought to Lambeth-house where he remained an hour or two and was from thence conveyed to the Tower The Archbishop had likewise in readiness that Afternoon Forty Horsemen well appointed and expected Directions from the Court how to dispose of them The next Morning he sent a Gentleman to know how the Queen did and how she rested all night To whom she made answer that she rested and slept the better for his care the day before but I beshrew his heart said she he would not believe this of Essex though I had often told him it would one day thus come to pass 102. After this when her Majesty understood that her own recommendation of the Earl had wrought that good The Archbishop in the Queen 's good opinion and favour to her dying-day opinion of him in the Archbishop and that she now found his readiness for her defence with Horse and Men and the nearness thereof unto the Court to stand her at that time in great stead she began to entertain him in her wonted favour and grace again and ever after continued her good opinion of him unto her dying day 103. Towards which time though Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness by reason of her melancholy Disease she was impatient of others speeches with her yet was she well pleased to hear the Archbishop the then Bishops of London and Chichester and the now Bishop of Worcester with some other Divines give her comfort and counsel to prepare her self to God-ward and most devoutly prayed with them making signs and tokens unto her last remembrance of the sweet comfort which she took in their presence especially when towards her end they put her in mind of the unspeakable Joys she was now going unto where no doubt she remaineth a glorious Saint of God and as a most religious Prince rewarded with a Crown of Immortality and Bliss 104. NOW the much-lamented The Faction take heart on the Queen's death death of this noble Queen gave great hope to the Factious of challenging forth with all exemption from the Censures and subjection of Ecclesiastical Authority But how vain their hopes were the issue hath declared and although the Archbishop was much dejected and grieved for the loss of his dear Sovereign and Mistress who had so highly advanced him yet he with the rest of the Lords repaired immediately to Whitehall and after two hours sitting in Council about the penning of the Proclamation he principally as his Place required with a chearful countenance and the rest of the Lords in like sort accompanying him first at the Court-gate at White-hall with the applause and unspeakable comfort of all the People proclaimed her most rightful Successor JAMES then King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. King of Scotland King of England France and Ireland Afterwards in like chearful sort the Archbishop with the rest of the Lords trooped up to the Cross in Cheapside and there with like acclamation of the Lord Mayor and Citizens Sir Robert Leighe Lord Mayor The People are
for the rest unto the perusal of Doctor Cosin his Book intituled Conspiracy for Pretended Reformation Conspiracy for pretended Reformation wrote by Dr. Cosin Where he shall find their Purposes Plots and Designments with many other markable things at large discoursed and taken truly out of their Conference and Writings under their own hands with their Confessions and Examinations subscribed by themselves before sundry honourable and worshipful Personages of great gravity and wisdom employed in those Affairs By all which together with their temperate direct and pertinent Speech and congruity of Phrase and Matter both before and after their Apprehension it will clearly appear that the said Conspirators were not Mad-men unless it be a kind of Madness to be a violent * Promoters Prosecutor of This Reformation as indeed it is howsoever some of that Fraternity and Sect have so given it out chusing thereby rather to accuse the honourable Justice of the Realm and all the Ministers thereof than that any professing desire of pretended Reformation should be noted with deep Disloyalty as they were charged withal 66. When the Queen and State saw the incredible height of these audacious Attempts so dangerous to the Commonwealth thus knotted and countenanced under pretence of reforming the Church they found it necessary to stop the Fountains of these Proceedings lest it might grow to the like outrage Amongst whom there were very forward to the like presumption Henry Barrow Gentleman and John Greenwood Clerk who were convented before the High Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical in November 1587. for 1587. Barrow and Greenwood their Schismatical and Seditious Positions their Schismatical and Seditious Opinions viz. That our Church is no Church or at the least no true Church yielding these Reasons therefore First That the Worship of the English Church is flat Idolatry Secondly That we admit into our Church Persons unsanctified Thirdly That our Preachers have no lawful Calling Fourthly That our Government is ungodly Fifthly That no Bishop or Preacher preacheth Christ sincerely and truly Sixthly That the People of every Parish ought to chuse their Bishop and that every Elder though he be no Doctor nor Pastor is a Bishop Seventhly That all the Precise which refuse the Ceremonies of the Church and yet preach in the same Church strain at a Gnat and swallow a Cammel and are close Hypocrites and walk in a left-handed Policy as Master Cartwright Wiggington c. Also in Norwich Master Moare Pawmone and Burges that all which make Catechisms or teach and expound printed and written Catechisms are Idol Shepherds as Calvin Ursin Nowell c. That the Child of ungodly Parents ought not to be baptized as of Usurers Drunkards c. nor any Bastards That Set-Prayer is blasphemous 67. The fore said Brochers of these The Ring-leaders on being convened make shew of Conformity but afterwards go back Opinions at this their first Convention made shew of their conformity upon conference with some Divines and in hope thereof were enlarged upon bonds but all in vain For after their liberty they burst forth into further Extremities and were again committed to the Were re-committed July 1588. and proceeded against March 1592. Fleet July 20. 1588. where they pub lished their Scandalous and Seditious Writings for which they were proceeded withal at Justice-Hall near Newgate in London March 21. 1592. 68. For suppressing this kind of People which as you see were grown unto a great height of violence and outrage the State held it fit at the next Parliament An Act of Abjuration and Banishment made against Schismaticks following to make a Law of Abjuration or Banishment of such as should either persuade others or be present themselves at these their Conventicles or Meetings which Law is entituled An Act to restrain the Queen's Majesty's Subjects in their due obedience 69 LET the Reader now consider with what Contagion and Leprosy many poor Souls had like to have been infected through the divulging of their wicked Libels and dangerous Positions tending to Innovation and Rebellion had not the stroke of Justice and providence of the State wisely prevented the same selecting as out of an hundred thousand seditious Mutineers for so many they confessed were ready for that purpose only four Only four Persons prosecuted of a very great Number Persons as the chief Ring-leaders whose lot it was to be proceeded withal for the quenching of the fiery outrage of the rest kindled already to the like Attempts as those in Germany of the Great Troubles in Germany just cause of sears here from like Principles and Pretences of Reformation Cabinet-teachers and Reformers both at Mulhusin and Munster in Westphalia Which Seditions could not be appeased till Fifty thousand of them were killed and cut in pieces by the united Forces of most of the Princes of the Empire And though some not of the greatest foresight may think that the fear which our Archbishop conceived of Dangers to ensue out of these Sectaries Attempts was far greater than there was just cause yet the Examples of those foreign Pretenders of like Reformation as is aforesaid compared with these our Reformers Designs taught him not to be without fear or care for preventing these dangerous Events at home For all their Intendments sorted to one end viz. Reformation and to be brought to pass by one and the self-same means viz. by commotion of the unbridled multitude 70. For was it not in their Assemblies The Discipline decreed in their Assemblies to be put in Practice Classical and Synodical concluded That the Discipline should within a time limited be put in practice and erected all in one day by the Ministers together with the People whom these Disciplinarians bragged to be already enflamed with Zeal to lend so many thousand hands for the advancement of their Cause by whom they hoped and said such Reformation must be brought in And how I pray you did they incense the common People not only in their private Conventicles decreeing that the Queen's Authority The Queen's Authority Ecclesiastical to be restrain'd ought to be restrained in Causes Ecclesiastical but in their publick Sermons and Exhortations alienating the hearts of their Auditors from all obedience of the Ecclesiastical Magistrates As namely Master Cartwright who saith That no obedience Cartwright ' s seditious Doctrines ought to be given unto them either in doing that which they command or abstaining from that which they prohibit And that it should not be lawful for any one of the Brother-hood to take an Oath whereby he may discover any thing prejudicial to himself or his Brother especially if he be persuaded the matter to be lawful for which the punishment is like to be inflicted or having taken it he need not discover the very truth And in his Prayer before his Sermons he used thus to say Because they Cartwright ' s charitable Prayer for the Bishops in his Sermons at Banbury 1589. Penry '
worse with them than that famous Bishop of Lincoln Robert After the manner of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln his usage of his Kinsman Grosthead dealt with his poor Kinsman in whose behalf when he was sollicited to advance him and thereupon enquiring what course of life he followed and receiving answer that he was an Husbandman Why then quoth he if his Plough be broken I will repair it or rather than fail bestow a new one upon him whereby he may go on in his course of life but so to advance him as to make him forsake his Trade or Condition in which he was brought up that mean I not to do 125. I fear lest I have held the Reader too long in these private matters therefore I will for brevity sake omit to speak of the fair Library which he left behind him with many other memorable things worthy the observation and return again unto his publick Affairs 126. THE Archbishop respecting the welfare of the Church and publick Cause albeit he was very confident of the King 's Princely wisdom by the experience he had thereof being now an ancient Counsellor and well understanding the passages of Matters betwixt his Majesty and state of our Country whereby he did conceive that it was not probable so wise and learned a Prince could be overcome with the Conceits of such Innovators whose Fancies could not stand but with hazard of the State yet he held it most expedient to send that Reverend Gentleman Master Doctor Nevill Doctor Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by the Archbishop and Clergy into Scotland to King James Dean of Canterbury into Scotland to his Majesty in the name of the Bishops and Clergy of England to tender their bounden Duties and to understand his Highness's pleasure for the ordering and guiding of Clergy Causes The Dean brought a most gracious Answer of his Highness's purpose which was to uphold and maintain the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled Which Answer did much The King's Answer that he would uphold the Church comforts the Archbishop comfort the Archbishop and the rather because it did yield full satisfaction unto some others who peradventure might conceive some doubt of alteration by reason of the Puritan brags and their affections unto the Presbyterial Government in Scotland 127. In this mean while the preparations Queen Elizabeth's Funeral April 28. 1603. very sumptuously performed were great for solemnization of the late Queen's Funeral which being performed very sumptuously as became the dignity of so great a Prince the Archbishop as he was the principal in the Custody of the Kingdom and chief in all Councils of State under his Majesty in his absence for there is no interregnum in England as Watson the Priest did trayterously pretend so in this last Solemnity of Obsequy unto his ever honoured Sovereign and Mistress he was the most eminent Person of the whole Land and principal Mourner The Archbishop the chief Mourner who received the Offering and had the Banners presented unto him 128. After this when at his Majesty's King James gives him personal assurance of preserving the setled State of the Church first entrance into England the King had spoken with him at Theobalds whereby he more fully conceived his religious pleasure touching the Affairs of this Commonwealth he was therewith put into heart especially when after his coming to London he did again perceive his Resolution for the continuance of the well setled state of the Church which made him more chearfully prepare himself for performance of his Duty as a thing belonging unto King James's Coronation July 25. 1603. by the hands of the Archbishop his Place against the day of Coronation July 25. 1603. 129. At which time the Archbishop with all due Ceremonies and observances for so great a Solemnity crowned and anointed his Sacred Majesty King JAMES in the Collegiate Church of Westminster Then also and there he crowned our most noble and gracious Queen ANN his Majesty's Queen Ann also crown'd at the same time happy and fruitful Wife whose blessed Seed God grant so to encrease and continue as there may never be wanting thereof to rule and reign in this Kingdom 130. The Puritan Faction did not surcease until by their importunity they obtained a Conference before his The Conference at Hampton-Court Jan. 14. 1603. betwixt the Bishops and the Puritans in the King's presence The King satisfied with the Bishops reasonings And orders the reprinting the Liturgy Highness which continued for three days His Majesty having now at full heard their Objections and the Bishops Answers the weakness of the one and the foreible Reasons of the other much confirming his Royal mind in his former Opinion was pleased immediately thereupon to signify publickly his Resolution for the continuance of the Religion and Ecclesiastical Government formerly established highly commending the Wisdom Care and Constancy of his Sister the late Queen Elizabeth in constituting and maintaining all things so well as also approving the Bishops Learning Wisdom and endeavour to uphold so godly and well governed a Church which himself by God's assistance would ever advance and defend Likewise he gave present command touching the new printing of the Common-Prayer-book for the further ratifying of the Liturgy and Orders of our Church 131. The Parliament now growing A Parliament comes on on the Archbishop that he might be the better prepared did appoint a meeting at Fulham at the Bishop of The Bishops have a meeting at Fulham London's House to confer with some of the Bishops and Judges of his Court concerning the Affairs of the Church which were then to be treated upon As he was thus going in his Barge upon an extaordinary cold day and having his Barge-cloath tied up as his custom was to the top of the Bales the Wind blew very sharply so that the young Gentlemen shaking with cold desired to have the Cloath down which he would by no means permit because the Water was rough and he would therefore see his way By reason whereof the flashing of the Water and sharpness of the Air did so pierce the Archbishop being above Threescore and The Archbishop 73 years old is seized with a cold on the Water thirteen years of Age that he complained the same night of a great cold which he had then taken in the mould of his Head 132. Notwithstanding which distemperature for performance of his accustomed duty unto the King's Majesty as formerly unto the Queen he went upon the next Sabbath following being the first Sunday in Lent over unto the Court at Whitehall where Goes to the Court has speech with the King about Affairs of the Church meeting the then Bishop of London they both had long speech with his Highness about the Affairs of the Church both before and after his Majesty's coming from the Chappel For which cause staying long at the Court and having fasted until it was near
of to bring them to pass which they hoped to stir up by their pretence of so great holiness with calling the Realm to repentance in the open Streets of London by offering joys and mercy to the Penitent and by their Proclamation also then made in Cheapside as hereafter cometh to be declared Now that these their two last Purposes were indeed the principal and main ends which they propounded to themselves besides that which by the way is noted already and that which comes hereafter to be mentioned let these few Proofs ensuing suffice First for the alteration of the whole Government Ecclesiastical and erecting of the new Discipline It is confessed that Coppinger Coppinger and Arthington two false Prophets their words to Wigginton the day before the Insurrection and Arthington the two Counterseit Prophets on the 16th of July last being Friday and the self-same day that they arose in Cheapside told Wigginton in the morning these words amongst many others viz. That Reformation and the Lord's Discipline should now forthwith be established and therefore charged Wigginton in the Lord's name to put all Christians in comfort that they should see a joyful alteration in the state of Church-Government shortly To which words Wigginton made no reply nor further demand as of any matter strange unto him how it was so shortly to be compassed Wherein may also be observed that these kind of Persons do reckon and term only those Christians that will take comfort and joy at such an Alteration So that by their Opinions it skilleth not what be attempted or done against all others being but as Heathens and Paynims or at least Idolaters Thus much with their seditious Purposes Their Seditious Purposes appear in Coppinger's Letter to Udal then condemned for writing the Demonstration of Discipline also is plainly implied in a dangerous Letter written by the said Coppinger since Easter last unto one John Udal a condemned man for Felony in the White Lyon in Surrey for writing of the Book termed the Demonstration of Discipline That Letter beginneth thus Right Reverend Sir my forbearing to visit you and the rest of the Saints who suffer for Righteousness sake do give you all cause to think that I have forsaken my first Love and have embraced the God of this World But my Conscience beareth me witness of the contrary The Reasons of my absence being so great and so weighty that hereafter when they shall be examined by your selves who are endued with the spirit of wisdom and discerning of Spirits I doubt not but Note you will allow of my not coming which might bring you into more trouble and danger than it would do me good or breed me comfort And afterward thus You have care and conscience to further the building of the Lord's House which lieth waste and to seek the final overthrow of Antichrist's Kingdom which being the Lord 's own work he will bless it and all the Actors in it And this I dare be bold of mine own knowledge to report that in this great Work he hath divers that lie hid and are yet at liberty who are hammering their heads busying their brains and spending their spirits in prayers to God as much as you or any of you that are in Prison Note and hope in short time to be brought forth into the sight of their and your Enemies to defend the Cause you stand for And again afterward in this wise I beseech you cheer up your selves in the Lord for the day of our Redemption is at hand and pray that the Hand of the Lord may be strengthened Note in them whom he hath appointed to take part with you in this Cause and beseech him that blessing may be upon Sion and confusion upon Babel Pardon my long Letter I beseech you and impart mine humble suit to all the rest to whom I neither dare write nor offer to see I neither put to my Name nor make Subscription The Bringer can report who sendeth the Letter and let that suffice Furthermore that they hated deadly and maligned her Majesty as a principal Obstacle to their Innovation and Kingdom and therefore sought to deprive her Highness of her Sovereignty and Life may be gathered by their own Words and Actions For Hacket confessed before the other two that They usually attend Egerton a Preacher in Black-Frairs at a Sermon of one Egerton's preach'd in the Black-Fryars whither they usually resort he the said Hacket remained uncovered all the Sermon time until the Preacher came to pray for her Majesty but then he said that he put on his Hat And when Arthington demanded why he did so Coppinger streightway answered thus There is a matter in that Likewise when as in their private Prayers amongst themselves Arthington used to pray for the Queen Coppinger Coppinger and Hacket forbear to pray for the Queen would sundry times tell him that his so doing did much grieve Hacket adding that in the beginning himself did also pray for her but Hacket had now drawn him from it saying there was a cause why which Arthington knew not but should know hereafter For saith he you do not know this man meaning Hacket who is a greater Person than she and indeed above all the Princes in the World And whenas on the very Sunday before their rising for so themselves have since termed that Action it happened that Arthington prayed again for the preservation of the Queen's Majesty Hacket not digesting this suddenly with indignation turned his face away from him but when he prayed for other matters then Hacket cast his countenance towards him again which he perceiving that Arthington also marked by him and purposing as it seemeth to salve up this matter again left Arthington happily might yet have fallen from them therefore when they had ended their Prayers Hacket took him with his Arms about the middle in very kind sort affirming that he loved the Queen as well as either of them and desired him not to be offended for the Lord had commanded it Adding further that there was a matter in it that Arthington as yet knew not Hereupon Coppinger being in hearing thereof said that she might be prayed for in general terms but not so specially as Arthington did whereby Hacket was grieved nor yet to be prayed for as a Sovereign For said he she may not reign as Note Sovereign but this man Hacket and yet saith he she shall live better than ever she did albeit she must be governed by another thereby also meaning Hacket And to the intent they might the more assuredly retain Arthington without suspicion of their poisonful malice wherein they boiled against the Queen's Highness Hacket himself once after this time very subtilly prayed for her Majesty For proof that they also meant to deprive her of life the several Confessions of Arthington Arthington confesseth that Hacket and Coppinger design'd the Queen's deprivation of Government and Life at sundry Examinations may be
dismayed and yet not sought to be revealed by Wigginton unto any Magistrate till upon his examination it was found out Lastly I observe the Coggery of the 6 Reporter or else the lewd lying and contradiction to himself of that wretched Seducer Hacket For in his Answer to the fifth and sixth Articles he knows no degrees of glory in Heaven and yet in his Answer to the eighth he assigneth more honour and higher places in Heaven unto some few that are the most forward than he doth unto others But let us go on with the Narration of the principal Action interrupted by occasion of the Conferences had with Wigginton and of his report of them From Wigginton's Lodging the said Coppinger Hacket ' s History continued and Arthington came directly to Hacket's Chamber in Walker's House at Broken Wharf and there found the Beast in Bed after Eight of the Clock Where being enflamed they say with zeal out of all measure Coppinger began to pray at the Bed's feet and Arthington joined with him wherein they stood much upon their own unworthiness c. but yet offered their obedience to do as the Lord should direct them by his Spirit having already done so much as was enjoined them Whereupon Hacket came out of his Bed and prayed with them in his Shirt twice that the Spirit might direct them and they likewise obey the same in all things to the glory of God only After Hacket's latter Prayer Coppinger offered to go on in his Prayer but the Devilish Spirit moved Arthington to interrupt him and to charge him in the Name of the Lord Jesus to arise and anoint the King with the Holy Ghost Whereupon Coppinger straightway rose up and three times kissed the Boards under his feet rising up after every time and making great reverence with bowed knee and after the third time he came towards Hacket as he lay in his Bed who put out his hand and took Coppinger by the hand and said You shall not need to anoint me Blasphemy for I have been already anointed in Heaven by the Holy Ghost himself Then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Go your way both said he as Arthington reports and tell them in the City that Christ Jesus is come with his Fan in his hand to judge the Earth And if any man ask you where he is tell them he lies at Walker ' s House by Broken Wharf and if they will not believe it let them come and kill me if they can for as truly as Christ Jesus is in Heaven so truly is he come to judge the world Then Coppinger said it should be done forthwith and thereupon went forward and Arthington followed so readily the said Prophet of Mercy that he had no leisure to take his Gloves with him and ere Arthington could get down the Stairs Coppinger had begun in the House below to proclaim News from Heaven of exceeding great Mercy That Christ Jesus was come c. as above is said with whom Arthington also cried the same words aloud following him along the Streets from thence by Watling-street and Old Change towards Cheapside they both adding beyond their Commission these words Repent England Repent But surely either their Commission was delivered them at one time or other more largely than the one of them now reporteth or else they went beyond and exceeded it in many other material Points besides this For after they both had thus come with mighty concourse of the common multitude as to such a novelty of hearing two new Prophets in these days arisen was likely with an uniform cry into Cheapside near unto the Cross and there finding the throng and press of People to encrease about them in such sort as that they could not well pass further nor be conveniently heard of them all as they desired therefore they got them up into an empty Cart which stood there and out of that choise Pulpit fur such a purpose made their lewd and traiterous preachment unto the People wherein they stood not only upon the words of their former cry but so near as I could learn from so common an Auditory and in so confused an Action they reading something out of a Paper went more particularly over the Office and Calling of Hacket how he represented Christ by partaking a part of his glorified Body by his principal Spirit and by the Office of severing the Good from the Bad with his Fan in his hand and of establishing the Gospel in Europe which as it seemeth they took to be all the World or else supposed that all Europe did profess Christianity and of bringing in that Discipline which they so often babble of and which they mean by the term of Reformation and the holy Cause That he was now come and all these things were presently to be performed by him telling also the People where they saw him where he lay and remained That they were two Prophets the one of Mercy the other of Judgment sent and extraordinarily called by God to assist him in this great Work and were Witnesses of these things confirming the same upon their own Salvation and wishing themselves confounded and damned for ever if these things they spoke were not true And thereupon the one of them pronounced Mercy great Comfort and unspeakable Joys to all that should repent presently be obedient and embrace this acceptable Message and opportunity offered And the other denounced terrible Judgments if they repented not which should even presently also fall upon them and especially upon that City of London affirming that all that believed them not were condemned Body and Soul This Judgment against London as Arthington the pretended Prophet of Judgment saith he gathered out of Hacket's History was that men should there kill and massacre one another as Butchers do kill Swine all the day long and no man should take compassion of them There was then and there further delivered by them or by the one of them that Hacket was King of Europe and so ought to be obeyed and taken and that all Kings must hold of him and that the Queen's Majesty had forfeited her Crown and was worthy to be deprived Which most traiterous Point amongst others Hacket enjoined them to publish as in the one of his Indictments is contained Lastly In very unmannerly and sawey terms they prayed to God to confound two great Lords of her Majesty's Counsel for these two together with a certain Knight they then and there openly and most lewdly accused in general terms of Treason This outrage was done the sixteenth day of July aforesaid about Ten of the Clock or something after in the Forenoon By which their Proclamation being laid together with their former Conferences Letters and Purposes against the Queen and Counsel and for advancing of Hacket and for altering the State with the very time when so many Soldiers were about the City it is evident to any who hath but half an eye to
themselves praying to be confounded and damned if they said not true yet to all Questions that were asked of them they answered though most confidently yet pertinently and directly to purpose saying That Hacket used the matter somewhat more craftily when any Question of especial danger was propunded unto him For then would he by cunning Evasions by Cavils and by frustratory kinds of Answers go about to put off such Interrogatories seeming when he was pressed somewhat hard to be weary of his Part and Person put on if he could have then told how to have shaken it off and been rid of it again with any honesty Coppinger soon after his first examination finding the event of things not to answer their expectations seeing also the matter somewhat warmly taken as there was good cause and thereby gathering the danger which he and his Complices stood in and perceiving also by the Questions asked the intercepting of their Writings and Letters whereby their dealings were at full discovered and brought to light began either by his own voluntary choise as some perhaps not unprobably have imagined or through anxiety indeed of mind growing forth of the badness of the Cause to behave himself as a Man distracted of his Wits Insomuch as coming at one time to be examined and finding Hacket there at his sight he presently roared out in a very strange and horrible kind of voice which Hacket willing to turn to the best straightway said It was no marvail though Coppinger did now so behave himself for that he had given him over already unto Sotan By perusal of their Writings and Letters and by their Examinations all the Plots of Treason and Lewdness afore mentioned fell out very evidently and more at full against them Touching the Queen's-Arms defaced at Kaye's House Hacket did confess at the times of his examination that he did it none other being present and that he was moved thereunto inwardly by the Spirit to take away her whole Power of her Authority and that he would have done worse had it not been for disquieting his Hostess where he lay because when she found it she was very angry therewith For he was not sorry neither is sorry as he then said for doing the Act because he was commanded by God to do it and durst do no otherwise He confessed also that he was likewise moved to put out the Lions and the Dragons Eyes in the Arms but being asked why he did so he bitterly and maliciously answered that he did know that Lions and Dragons did afflict God's People He did also raze out the Cross that was pictured on the top of the Crown He further confessed That he meant also her Majesty's Counsel should be removed because they were he said wicked and that he himself being moved by the Spirit would have placed certain other new Counsellors whom he then named to wait upon the Queen and to reform Religion It is also confessed by him that he told Arthington and others that he was the anointed King of Europe By the Depositions of the said Kaye and his Wife it appeareth that they finding about a fortnight before Hacket's departure from them the Queen's Majesty's Picture pricked with some Bodkin or Iron Instrument in the very place representing her Royal Heart did in great anger charge Hacket with it Whereunto he answered that he had done it and must and would answer it adding he had greater Matters to answer than that and therefore said he you need not make such ado for it But Hacket at all his Examinations either denied this Point slatly or said he did not remember it This Noble Heart which thereby he so trayterously despited God of his infinite mercy long bless and continue still most happy and hearty in his love and fear within her Majesties sacred breast maugre all such execrable fiery spirits and hell-hounds in earth and all the damned devils in hell Amen Likewise he confessed that he moved and sent forth Coppinger and Arthington to go whither God should send them and to declare and publish that there lay a Man namely he the said Hacket at Walker's House which made claim to the Crown of England and that her Majesty had forfeited her Crown in that her Ministers have used extraordinary means to set up Religion This he confessed on the 21st and 23d of July But at his former examination on the 19th of July being demanded whether he would acknowledg that the Queen's Majesty is Lawful Queen of England or not he subtilly then said he would not answer to that Question but said she was Queen of England yet if she had not forfeited the same And he further confessed on 23d of July that he First published in Hamp-shire about Three or Four Years past and afterwards in Hartford-shire and in Northampton-shire that her Majesty was not Queen and that she had forfeited her Title to the Crown And that he told Arthington so much in Trinity Term. All these aforesaid were confessed by him without any Torture but being Tortur'd he then Sang another Song and confessed her Majesty to be his lawful Queen and affirm'd that he Honoured her and was Sorry for his Offence adding that if Coppinger Wigginton and one other whom he named were well sifted and straightly examined they would utter and declare sundry matters of Treason It fell out besides upon deposition of Kayes that Coppinger being told how Hacket had used the Queens Picture and the Arms at the first seemed to mislike with it saying that if he were such a fellow he had done with him but saith he you must bear with him for some great men have also born with him and he is with you but as it were a Prisoner Coppinger himself also at that his examination which was taken the 19th of July confessed that the Letter then shewed to him and inferted afore was the Copy of a Letter which he sent to the said John Udall about ten weeks then past and that the cause why he wrote to Udall that he used not to repair unto him and the rest who were in prison so often as he was wont to do for doubt of more trouble and danger that might grow to them thereby was in respect of this action which he had to do He also then affirmed that the Queens Majesty Queen Elizabeth is not Queen of England neither is he as he said now her servant for Hacket is the only King of the World and that Hacket was commanded by God to deface her Majesties Arms which were in the House where he then lay and that Hacket also prick'd the Picture of the Queens Majesty at the Heart That himself Wigginton and one other the very Week afore Wigginton was committed had a Fast together where they Prayed that if any of them should have any extraordinary calling they might have some extraordinary seal of it about the which time he the said Coppinger was called in a Dream And that he together with Arthington and one
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