person of a great personage since deceased as it were in candle light with a great Bell full of iniquitie That during that time the Lorde shewed him a terrible famine which he would bring vpon a lande but whether this lande or not was not declared That Christ then shewed him his wisedome and prouidence in gouerning the Seas all other waters in their courses and further shewed him the man that should sitte on Christes right hand to iudge both the quicke and the dead whose name he wel knoweth That then he made his petition vnto the Lord who answered him by a voice thus what he would how he would when he would Howe by the extremitie of his torments his eies were fallen downe and his tongue thrust out of his head so as he could not pull it in againe one Barley cornes breadth but the Lorde in that extremitie shewed him that hee would keepe his bodie from bursting and that one haire of his head shoulde not perish That being loosed by his wiues importunitie soone after in a verie raynie daye hee his wife one Richard Dickons and one Palmer ridde altogether thence towarde Oundell thirtie myles that daye and albeit it rayned all the daye verie sore so that great floods came vpon it yet neuer one of them had any droppe thereof fall vpon their clothes That being at Oundell and foreseeing he shoulde bee exercised againe he prayed his wife that no man might come at him for hee woulde keepe his chamber and then the Lorde appeared vnto him and shewed him in what danger the lande was by reason of forreine enemies at the Sea and commaunded him to goe rounde about the Towne and that shoulde be a defence to the land round about That after this he kept him selfe in his Barne about eight daies reasoning with the Lorde touching Praedestination and Reprobation continually begging of him that hee would saue all those that fought ignorantly against the trueth or otherwise sinned through want of knowledge How after this betaking himselfe to his chamber againe the Lord he saith forced him to cry out against two great subiects and Counsellors in this lande That he was againe bounde and tormented there other twentie dayes in eight whereof he neither did eate nor drinke and was continually watched for that they knew the Lord would come and loose him if they left him That during this time Witches vsed their forcerie stongly vpon him That the Lorde then tolde him that he would harden his owne heart against Hackets tormētors How then also 4. or 5. Angels night by night stood by him and watched ouer him like vnto doues and one night spirits innumerable and that a white hande came from the Almightie and tooke him by the hande whereby all venome poison vncleannes and corruption departed from him for a time whereupon the Lorde shewed him three heauens together all the dwelling places contriued in one of them but the highest heauen was shewed to be without ende which glorie he was not able to beholde but was made able to looke vpon the blood of the Saintes which was made round like a waxe cake in very great breadth but the glorie which therewith appeared he could not looke vpon so that he was forced to turne his face vpon the pillowe Howe the Lord also shewed him the murthering of the wicked euen like the slaying of swine the father murthering the sonne and the mother the daughter and euery one another all the day long and no man tooke pitie vpon them That there was then reuealed vnto him a very strange fire from heauen the length whereof he did see consuming all things from the heauen to hell mouth but he did not see the breadth thereof Also that he then did see the breadth of the tormenting place of the damned and what was therein but neither the bottome nor length of the place That he also supposed he sawe his libertie begged by two honourable personages Notwithstanding which deliuerance that he dreamed of he telleth that he was carried afterward to North-hampton gaole where he remained 17. weekes as afore is remembred Furthermore there is declared that in his torments the Lorde shewed him howe he would confound all his aduersaries that were guiltie in any practise against him and that one thing which they went about they should neuer bring to passe for he let him see that they were all as drunken men and fooles without wit That in the end they should throw all their bookes away and be at a great confusion one with another That afterward viz. about the beginning of Easter terme last the Lorde brought him to London and howe he was made acquainted with Coppinger at that time as hath bene afore declared Howe after his departing out of the Citie from Coppinger he could not but remember him in his praiers desiring the Lord to reueale himselfe extraordinarily to him so that he might be encouraged to goe forwarde in the action whereupon as the saide Coppinger affirmed he had two extraordinarie seales in very short space after Hackets departure and was wonderfully strengthened to proceede in the cause Then is tolde howe the Lorde commanded him to goe from one place to another in and about the Citie for two daies space and howe he was commanded to raile against the saide two great Counsellors in diuerse places where he came Howe being in that time commanded to see the Lyons in the Tower he tooke the fiercest of them by the head and had none harme Then is tolde what Preachers in the Citie he heard and that going to heare one he sawe a surplesse lie in the Church whereupon he would not stay there That he went to certaine Preachers in prison to command them to deale faithfully in the Lordes busines And how he was commanded by God to deface the Armes of England in Kaies house in Knight-Rider streete Lastly it is saide that God hath appointed two others to deale for and with Hacket whome it will stand vpon to deale faithfully for the Lorde for they knowe what Hacket is and what shall followe if their counsels and directions be not followed Nowe if any shall meruaile howe such an absurd and ridiculous lying legend should seduce men of any consideration so earnest for a supposed Reformation and so exercised in praying and fasting let him remember not onely the effectuall but the efficacie it selfe of Illusion and the spirite of slumber falling by Gods secrete yet alwaies iust iudgement vpon the children of disobedience such as be wise in their owne conceites and not wise with sobrietie that they might beleeue lyes because they haue not beleeued the trueth and that they might aske and not obtaine because they aske not as they ought After Arthington on Thursday morning had ended his aforesaid Treatise of prophesie being the very day before their rising Coppinger tolde him that God the night before had enlightned him the said Coppinger who they all three were saying that Arthington had
danger to thine enemies Good Sir and my louing brother in the Lord though such as are admitted to consult with God haue by prayer meditation much familiaritie and acquaintance with his holy maiestie need not doubt of good successe in all things which he setteth them a worke in though Satan his vassals crosse their course hinder their labour by all the means they can yet is it also necessary that while we remain in the felowship communion of the saints that we communicate one with another that as louing children we may all ioyne togither to helpe each other to be doers of our heauenly fathers will here on earth as the angels do it in the heauens The conscience which I had hereof enforced me to write vnto you lately and the like mooued you to speake with mee vpon that letter And truely I did obserue many things in that litle time we spent together were sayd done which might mooue either of vs to prayse our good God to cheere vs vp Note to further so holy an action as now is in hand which must needs speed well in the end because it is the Lords owne worke And if we aduenture our selues to do him seruice here he will reward elsewhere You may be bold for you haue the warrant of the worde the allowance of the state and you walke in your owne calling But I am to be fearfull and circumspect because the dangers I enter into be infinite my course misliked though vnknowen because it is extraordinarie which callings be ceased in all mens opinion of iudgement and haue not of long time bene heard of or to bee hoped for but where the word is not preached at all or the Church in a great waste which no body dare affirme our Church of England to be Wherfore it seemeth that euery step that I shal make herein shall be vpon thornes therefore I am to feare pricking yet for all this I am not without hope neither is the same groūded but by good warrant The end why I write vnto you is this to intreat you to giue thanks to those holy mē all on my behalf who are now in questiō I haue reaped much benefit from them by their cariage towards me though they know it not for I durst not in regard of danger which might growe to them visite any of them since I found my selfe caried with a zeale to doe somewhat in the same cause for which they suffer If by some effects hereafter I may shew it that is it which I desire to doe and in the meane time doe what I can to perswade the saints that in this action I seeke Gods glory and not mine owne I haue bene heretofore put backe and disswaded from attempting any thing least I marred all by the wisest the learnedst the zealousest and holiest preachers of this Citie great causes and weightie reasons moouing thereunto But yet this will not make me leaue it but still I am enforced by little and little to labour to make my selfe fit to take vpon me the managing of it Wherefore if it please you to shew the other letter and this and beseech them from me to lay them before the Lord when they shall meete and ioyne togither in prayer and if the Lords spirite shall assure their spirites that he hath bene is and will be with me in this action how hard soeuer it seemeth to be let me by their meanes be vouchsafed this fauour that I may be allowed conferēce with the preachers of the Citie which sute I make not for that I would seeke to haue approbation from them or any other liuing creature but from God himselfe or that I purpose to doe that which heretofore I haue bene aduised vnto Note namely acquaint thē with the courses which I purpose by Gods assistance to take in hand whereby great danger might grow to them and little good to me but that my cariage towards them may witnes vnto them the humilitie of my mind and lowlinesse of my spirit care and conscience not to enter into the matter without offer to haue my gifts examined if they shal be supposed to be such as the church may haue vse of then let all holy means be vsed which shal be aduised to be fit to be done in such a dangerous time and weightie action So beseching God to gouern vs in all our wayes and preserue vs in all our dangers and supply vs with whatsoeuer we stand in need of I humbly and heartily commend you to God this 21 day of May 1591. The effect of the speeches which Coppinger had with him at their conference as the said gentleman himselfe reported was to commend the cause of the preachers committed to incourage him to the defence of it adding that it was the trueth of God that in the end it would preuaile Then the said Coppinger began to declare vnto him his reuelations his great fasting and prayer and how God had indued him with an extraordinarie grace of prayer perswasion or prophesie that God had appointed him as he was perswaded to reueale the will of God touching the reformation of his Church that he had an extraordinarie calling to doe good to the Church and what seuerall conflicts he had in himselfe before he yelded to this extraordinarie motion or calling from God Therefore his request was that by the sayd gentlemans meanes his gifts and calling might bee tried and allowed by those godly preachers c. What the preachers and others that were conferred with answered to Coppinger herein and whether more dutifully to the estate then warily so as they might neither as they thought endanger themselues nor kill or discourage the zeale of that their brother in so pretended holy a cause may partly by that which is afore spoken appeare and wee may then beleeue them when they shall tell vs the whole trueth thereof But how slender and cold discouragement he found with some preachers of London with whom hee delt touching his fantasticall extraordinarie calling and dangerous plots may also appeare by these words found in a letter of his viz. Good master L. as master E. former cariage in this action which standeth me much vpon to deale aduisedly in did somwhat trouble me so his Christian and louing answer deliuered now by you from him vnto me doth much comfort me A comfortable change though by reason of some particular businesse which I must necessarily follow I cannot attend till Friday in the after noone or Saturday any part of the day And after in the same letter thus Satan by his angelicall wisdom which he still retaineth doth many times preuaile with the holiest to make them feare good successe in the best causes in regard of the lets and hinderances which himself laieth in the way It cannot be denied but that the cause is good which I desire to be an actor in but it is sayd by some that it is
great part of their Christian profession and zeale in the onely reproching and odious traducing of gouernors and gouernment Ecclesiasticall These two hauing itching eares most vsually heaped to themselues and made choise to heare and follow such preachers as were thought fittest to feede their humour which preachers with their sad lookes frequent sighes abroad long and vehement conceiued prayers bitter and playne inuectiues in priuate and priuie deprauing in publike of the lawes and policie Ecclesiasticall ioyned with their vsuall speeches besides sundry infamous libels and other pamphlets spred alreadie for aduauncing that gouernement which they strangely terme The Discipline may seeme so to haue inflamed these two persons as that they thought this Discipline a worthie subiect whereupon they should spend most of their actions and cogitations Their mindes being thus prepared it happened that some preachers of this Discipline were begun to bee proceeded with in the most honourable court of Starre chamber about the same time that this Coppinger by meanes of one Giles Wigginton came acquainted with William Hacket the third actor and chiefe setter foorth of this tragedie Concerning the sayd Wigginton because this also tendeth to the better vnderstanding of the whole action he was borne or bred vp in Oundel in Northhamptonshire where Hacket dwelt and he often resorted into that countrey by that occasion He was not long since a minister and Vicar of Sedberghe and Dent in the North partes but for his intollerable insolencies and contempts agaynst lawes and the peace of the Church was both depriued of that his benefice and deposed from his ministerie by authoritie of her Maiesties commission for causes Ecclesiasticall a man by report of such as know him best and fauour him not a litle whose zeale neuer came behind knowledge nor bold-hardie forwardnes at any time went after discretion in him This Hacket had dwelt also by a long space in Oundel where first he serued one master Hussey an Esquier by the space of tenne yeeres and after for some time hee serued Sir Thomas Tresham Knight he was a notable bragging and quarelsome fellow yet thought in trueth to be but a very recreant dastard He long together vsed one lewd vngodly practise which was to resort vnto sermons of purpose to gibe mocke and carpe at them and hauing a good memorie which was the onely commendable part in him he vsed in scoffing maner to preach ouer againe in alehouses the sermons that hee had heard most insisting and sporting himselfe and others at such passages thereof which pleased him least or whereat he imagined any likely matter of deriding might be gathered Whiles thus hee serued Master Hussey hee obtained by his masters countenance the mariage of one Moretons widowe of reasonable substance hauing also a good Farme in that towne But hee following loose and licencious companie and an idle course of life without labour or industrie either to get or saue lewdly and riotouslie mispent and wasted in short space all her goods It fell so out that at length hee pretended from a Papist or an Atheist to be couuerted to religion and knowledge of the trueth at what time he grew to be of familiar and inward acquaintance with the said Giles Wigginton and was an especiall follower and disciple of his both at publike sermons and priuate conuenticles Of late times hee was also consorted in partnership of malt-making with Wigginton their great acquaintance and familiaritie may appeare by a letter sent from Hacket vnto him the third of March last and by his lending vnto Hacket of ten pounds the superscription is To the worshipfull Minister of Gods word M. Giles Wigginton at Newgate In the letter thus hee writeth M. Wigginton I desire to communicate my spirit at large with you but I know not your keeper And in the ende thereof thus Good M. Wigginton make my sound heart knowen to master Cartwright master Snape master Vdall master Lord c. By his and such others like affected mens instructions and example of life and behauiour he so profited that in short space hee proued one that professed with the forwardest and practised with the frowardest For falling as fooles doe from one extremitie to an other Qui dum vitant vitia in contraria currunt he grew to a most insolent proude and contemptuous disdaine of all preachers and others whomesoeuer that flew not his pitch or lay not to the leuell of his pretended zeale But most gladly and with greatest felicitie that might be hee vsed to spend his mouth largely in inuectiues railings and contumelies against Bishops and other gouernors of the Church and also against the lawes orders and whole gouernment Ecclesiasticall not sticking as was probably suspected to procure also sundry lewd infamous libels against thē and other preachers c. to be framed and set vp thereabouts His detestation of Ecclesiasticall orders commaunded was so great that he could not endure to frequent the sermons which Ray the minister of that towne did preach because he seemed to him a little more conformable in some few matters by authoritie established then Hacket liked of Wherfore on Sabboth dayes Hacket vsually did resort to a place a mile off called Stoke where the minister fitted his humor better in companie of some of like strayne to himselfe and of certaine light idle gossips whereof some of the sincerest were sayd to loue and like him so little as that she could oft times be content to take the meate off his trencher which hee had cut for himselfe and to eate it vp from him But whensoeuer this deuout flocke came so neere to Stoke Church as they might perceiue the minister to be yet at diuine seruice and prayer then they vsed to stay abroad and rest themselues in the Greene churchyard there without going into the Church vntill they heard the Psalme begun before sermon for feare least they should be polluted by those prayers One most memorable pranke aboue others was played in Oundell by Hacket which is renoumed farre and neere for the vnmanly brutishnesse of it It hapned that M. Hussey his master fell at debate and was offended with one Freckingham an artificer of the towne This Frechingham had a sonne which was a schoolemaster who as in nature hee was bound did take part with his father Now Hacket meeting this schoolemaster in an Alehouse or Inne did louingly as seemed signifie vnto him how sorie hee was that there should bee any breach betwixt his master and him the sayde schoolemaster entertaining him that suspected no trecherie with such good speeches till spying an aduantage hee so grasped both Freckingham his armes as that he might easily hold him and throw him to the ground Thus hauing gotten him down on the ground vnder him Hacket most sauagely and currishly bit off the poore schoolemaster nose with his teeth which when hee had so barbarously performed both the sayd Freckingham and one Clement a cunning Surgion instantly desired the nose of him agayne
a note of his owne hande set vpon the backe of these two copies thus viz. By these letters it may appeare what care I had to carry my selfe in this action But in his letters about this matter written vnto Preachers others of his owne humor he goeth more plainely to worke and declareth another purpose and that it is aspeciall seruice by him to be done to God and his Church and so no ciuill matter as he elsewhere pretendeth For I finde by a letter of another Gentleman of the Laitie P. W. dated the 25. of Ianuarie last and written vnto Coppinger in answere that Coppinger had sent for him vp to receaue aduise of him in some matters of importance tending to the true seruice of God wherein he was labouring in the ende whereof are these wordes viz. you are in a plentifull soile where you may vse the aduise of many godly wise vse the benefite thereof and then as Ioshua saide be bolde and of a good courage feare not to be discouraged for God euen the mightie God will protect and defend you In his solliciting the Preachers to take trial of his gifts extraordinarie calling it appeareth he vsed some more plainnesse without much disguising of the qualitie of the action which he entended and likewise how faintly he was discouraged from it by them For in a letter of his vnto T. L. written the 29. of Ianuary last he reporteth that M. E. a Preacher most Christianly wisely and louingly perswaded him to be careful circumspect ouer himselfe to take heede lest he were deceaued by the subtiltie of Satan and so mislead wherby he might endanger himselfe both for his libertie estate credite and also be an hinderance to the great cause Note which he would seeme to be most desirous to further but withall the said M. E. concluded that he would be loath to quench the spirite of God in him or to hinder his zeale About this time matter Coppinger writ also another letter to T. C. which thing besides the letter it selfe appeareth also by a letter of his written the 24. of February last to one M. H. The whole tenor of the letter vnto T. C. is in mine opinion meete to be here inserted Note in many respects viz. Right Reuerend Sir I haue with much griefe bene put backe from doing some special seruice to God and to his Church which I hope time wil manifest that I am appointed for which if it had bene done by enemies it should not much haue troubled me but being done by persons as much regarded by me as flesh blood can regard men it goeth neere vnto me From you I receaued this message that I should attempt nothing but by aduise of those whom you would procure to counsel me this was done from you in the name of the Lord of heauen earth therefore I obey it with great care and conscience expecting at your hands that Munday being the day appointed for conference that it may hold that I may be iustifiedin my course or condemned The danger that some stand in for their liues is not vnknowen and if I had not bene letted Note I durst haue ventured my life to haue procured their release ere now God helpe vs I see wisdome zeale courage loue are seene but in few those who would gladly vse those graces giftes which God hath giuen them cannot but God seeth what is best to be done and he will by contrary effects bring to passe whatsoeuer pleaseth him If you wil answer my last questions there may much vse be made of them I desire them as much in regard of others as my selfe who am resolued of diuers things whereof I craue to bee resolued which I doe to good purpose And as you commanded me in the name of God to be wise and circumspect and to deale by counsell so as I may I command you in the name of God that you aduise the preachers to deale speedily and circumspectly Note least some bloud of the saints be shed which must needs bring down vengeance from heauen vpon the land Returne this letter I beseech you to me that I may shew it amongst other things when the meeting shall be and commend me my purposes to God in your holy praiers that they may so far be blessed as himselfe is the directer of them God keepe vs euer his this 14. of Febr. There is also this postscript I am so full of worldly businesse as I haue no time to attend this weightie action but do onely waite vpon God for the direction of his spirit sauing my heart and soule are still mindfull hereof and to morow by Gods grace I will humble my selfe before his maiestie in fasting and prayer hope that God will stirre vp some other to ioyne with me in spirit though few or none in person doe onely one I am assured of Note the prisoners know it I leaue it to them to ioyne or not as God mooues them but if euer men will fast and pray I thinke it is now more then time to doe it The superscription was this To my very louing and reuerend friend master C. He delt also about this matter with another gentleman of the laitie I. T. in one of whose letters written in answer vnto Coppingers the 18. of the fifth moneth meaning thereby Maie I find these words of some marke I confesse saieth he I heard some buzze abroad of a sole and singular course that either you or some other had plotted in his head And a little after thus I would wish you and all that beare good will to the holy cause in this perillous age of ours to take both your eyes in your hands as they say and to bee sure of your ground and warrant before you striue to put in execution Striue to put in execution Besides these and some others he instanted both by worde and letters in Easter terme last about this businesse a certaine gentleman In his first letter to the sayd gentleman dated 19. of May last Coppinger promiseth to him in the name of the L. a recompense in the life to come for that in the Starre chamber he feared God more then man in such a glorious action so pleasing to God so behoouefull to his Church which shall also remaine of record here to all posteritie And a litle after thus If after your owne holy priuate prayer you find any desire of speach with me let me intreat you either to send this letter to M. Cartwright or rather if you can carie it vnto him c. The second letter which he writ to the said Lawyer the 21. of May they hauing in the meane time conferred togither was thus word by word Let thy spirit O gracious father direct vs now and for euer in all our wayes especially in those whereby greatest honor may redound to thy glorious maiestie most benefit to thy church and most
my first loue and haue embraced the God of this world But my conscience beareth mee witnesse of the contrary the reason of mine absence being so great and so weightie that hereafter when they shal be examined by your selues who are indued with the spirit of wisdome and discerning of spirits I doubt not but you will allowe of my not cōming Note which might bring you into more trouble and danger then it would do me good or breede me comfort And afterward thus You haue care conscience to further the building of the Lords house which lieth waste and to seeke the finall ouerthrow of Antichrists king dome which being the Lords owne worke hee will blesse it and all the actors in it And this I dare be bold of mine own knowledge to report that in this great worke he hath diuers that lie hid and are yet at libertie who are hammering their heads busying their braynes 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 he brought forth into the sight of their and your enemies to defend the cause you stand for And againe afterward in this wise I beseech you cheere vp your selues in the Lord for the day of our redemption is at hand and pray that the hand of the Lord may be strengthened in them Note whom he hath appointed to take part with you in this cause and beseech him that blessing may be vpon Sion and confusion vpon Babel Pardon my long letter I beseech you and impart mine humble sute 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 Maiestie as a principall obstacle to their innouation and kingdom and therefore sought to depriue her highnes of her Soueraigntie and life may be gathered by their owne words and actions for Hacket confessed before the other two that at a sermon of one Egertons preaching in the Blacke Friers whither they vsually resort he the sayd Hacket remayned vncouered all the sermon tyme vntill the preacher came to pray for her Maiestie but then hee sayd that hee put on his hat And when Arthington demaunded why he did so Copping streight way answered thus There is a matter in that Likewise when as in their priuate praiers among themselues Arthington vsed to pray for the Queene Coppinger would sundry times tell him that his so doing did much grieue Hacket adding that in the beginning himselfe did also pray for her but Hacket had now drawen him from it saying there was a cause why which Arthington knew not but should know hereafter For saieth he you doe not know this man meaning Hacket who is a greater person then shee and in deed aboue all the princes in the world And when as on the very Sundry before their rising for so themselues haue since termed that action it hapned that Arthington prayed againe for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiestie Hacket not digesting this suddenly with indignation turned his face away from him but when hee prayed for other matters then Hacket cast his countenance towardes him agayne which he perceiuing that Arthington also marked by him and purposing as it seemeth to salue vp this matter agayne least Arthington happely might yet haue fallen from them therefore when they had ended their prayers Hacket tooke him with his armes about the middle in very kind sort affirming that hee loued the Queene as well as either of them and desired him not to bee offended for the Lord had commaunded it adding further that there was a matter in it that Arthington as yet knew not Hereupon Coppinger being in hearing thereof sayd that she might bee prayed for in generall termes but not so specially as Arthington did whereby Hacket was grieued nor yet to bee prayed for as a Soueraigne for sayd hee shee may not raigne as Soueraigne Note but this man Hacket and yet saieth hee shee shall liue better then euer shee did albeit shee must bee gouerned by another thereby also meaning Hacket And to the intent they might the more assuredly retaine Arthington without suspicion of their poisonfull malice wherein they boyled against the Queenes highnesse Hacket himselfe once after this time verie subtilly prayed for her Maiestie For proofe that they also meant to depriue her of life the seuerall confessions of Arthington at sundrie examinations may bee alleaged Whereby vpon that which hee heard and knew is confessed that hee is verilie perswaded Hacket meant her Maiestie should haue bene depriued both of kingdome and life which hee also gathered by Coppingers letters albeit hee denieth that hee was euer made acquainted by what speciall meanes it should be done Thus hauing in some part described the qualities perswasions in opinion familiaritie inducements vnto mutuall crediting one of another exercises and designments of these persons it resteth to goe on with the narration of the rest of the action for better persiting vp of this historie Hacket on a time recounting vp vnto the other two his torments which hee pretended to haue endured told how amongst others one Pigge a preacher did so beate him with rods at a place in Hartfordshire whiles hee lay bound there in a sinke hole that this cost him the sayd Hacket more deare then all the rest of his torments because thereby hee was enforced to suffer for all hypocrites also adding thereunto that all their best preachers so they terme such as thirst after and perswade innouations were no better in very trueth then Hypocrites neuerthelesse hee would hee sayd daily heare them preach Hereupon Arthington tooke occasion to tell him that hee could prooue all such preachers to bee Hypocrites and Idolaters both albeit of ignorance because they doe yeeld in some sort to the commaundements of the gouernours and vnto the lawes of this Church that they may be tollerated to preach This pleased Hacket so exceedingly well as that he beganne highly to esteeme of Arthington and hereby the rather he thought good that Arthington should be made acquainted with their letters For about tenne dayes before their rising Arthington saieth that Coppinger did greatly importune him to read the letters which he and Hacket had written if it were but to see the stile assuring him they tended to nothing else but to make a way to acquaint her Maiestie with their secrets So that when Arthington sawe so great Counsellors so resolutely thereby charged with matter of so high qualitie by Coppinger especially her Maiesties sworne seruant hee was induced to beleeue it and to thinke they had some very good ground thereof Arthington also with great contentment vnto Hacket framed certaine Syllogismes I beleeue in a lewd Moode and in an vnperfect and fond Figure to prooue forsooth one of the sayd honourable Counsellors whom hee and Coppinger
vnawares prophesied truely for he was the greatest Prophet of Gods iudgements against the whole world that euer was but that they both were greater then he for Coppinger himselfe was he said the greatest that euer was and last Prophet of mercie and that he must describe the newe and holie Ierusalem with the seuerall places of ioy that the elect should enioy after this life and that they the said Coppinger and Arthington were ordained to separate the Lambes from the Goates before the Lord Iesus at the last day Whereat it is saide they were both astonished considering their owne vnwoorthines and vnfitnes crying out against themselues and their sinnes yet submitting themselues to the direction of Gods spirite which they were assured should sufficiently furnish them to doe him that seruice which himselfe did command Then Coppinger proceeded to tell further that Hacket was greater then either of them and that they two must obey him in whatsoeuer he commanded but told not then what nor howe great he was other then king of Europe which title was afore this time concluded of amongs them Hereupon according to Coppingers commandement Arthington offered to honour Hacket with his title of the king of Europe and to demeane himselfe toward him accordingly But Hacket himself herein dispensed with him vntill the time should come that he was to honour him before others bidding him withall to be of good cheere for saith he I serue a good Captaine who makes so deare accompt of me that all the diuels in hel nor men in earth cannot take my life from me Then Coppinger for confirmation of the like vnto them two also saide that Arthington and himselfe were possessed not onely with propheticall but also with Angelicall spirits which Arthington taking to be true by a great burning that he felt in himselfe after that time did therupon fansie to himselfe that no power in earth nor hell could hurt either of them because they had the spirite of Angels and they were subiect to no power but to God alone And that God being the master of the whole worke all things should prosper with them they onely seeking his glory which he saith he vowed with himselfe to deale throughly in his office to rebuke the world of sinne to denounce iudgements against whomsoeuer the spirit should moue him without feare or fauour of men or of diuels in hel which spirit he saith then moued him according to his hatred afore conceiued against thē and his opinion that they were traitors against the Queenes Maiestie to vtter and to declare his detestation he had against the aforesayd three woorthie Counsellors being by their places the greatest subiects in the land But herein may be said with the Poet Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditione querentes Verrem de furto who can with any patience indure such seditious companions as these to appeach others of treason but especially so loiall honourable and woorthie Counsellors as they three are knowen to the world to be By the way we may note the subtill managing and cariage of this action by Hacket and Coppinger in this one principall point which Arthington himselfe also now obserueth videlicet in that they opened not at any time Hackets chiefe pretended office vnto Arthington videlicet to represent and to participate with Iesus Christes office of seuering with his fanne the good from the bad vntill the very time they were to goe into the streetes to doe the message that Hacket enioyned them For hereby they preuented a doubt of driuing Arthington backe who seemed a man so seruiceable for their purpose as that hee was woorthie to bee still retained by them and the rather for that hee had not yet finished the writing vp of Hackets historie that was to bee annexed to the Prophesie vntill late that Thursday night which was afore their rising for they might haue feared if leisure had serued him to haue considered of it and examined it at full how this could be least it might haue made him at least to stagger and be doubtfull of it Besides Hacket kept as Arthington now gathereth that honour wholy to himselfe to proclaime it to them both together as it were by a voyce frō heauen at that very instant whē they should receiue their charge of him and thereby haue no time to reason against it being straight way to go forward as obedient persons to him in all things Thus that Thursday passed on On Friday morning Coppinger sent his man Emerson by fiue of the clocke in the morning vnto Arthingtons lodging but his wife would not then awake him so he sent for him againe at sixe and they two then went together vnto Coppinger Then Coppinger and Arthington determined that Friday morning beyng the 16. day of Iulie last betwixt sixe and seuen of the clocke in the forenoone to go vnto a certaine Gentlemans man 's house about the Citie of good behauiour and they forsooth to honour him to be chiefe Gouernour vnder her Maiestie which they also did that Morning and promised vnto him accordingly that he should so be Leauing also with him both the sayd Prophesie and Hackets historie to peruse but the good gentleman was vnwilling to deale either with them or their papers any way They staied not there aboue halfe an houre From thence they came betwixt 8. and 9. of the clocke in the morning vnto Wiggintons chamber being prisoner in the Counter in Woodstreete with whom hauing much speech and conference part whereof is touched before among other things they signified vnto him as Arthington confesseth that they were prouoked to pronounce him the holiest minister of all others for dealing so plainly and resolutely in Gods causes aboue all ministers which God would manifest one day to his comfort Wigginton at his examination confesseth such conference by him at that time to haue bene had with them and as hee was enioyned by those who examined him hath reported it by writing somewhat largely He therein also setteth down a conference had by him about the same matters with Hacket himselfe comming to him thither alone as he saith the selfe same Friday morning some while after the other two were departed from him It may be gathered by his owne narration that betwixt the time of Coppinger and Arthingtons talke with him Wigginton had set downe article-wise and distincted with number the seuerall heads of their speeches had with him And after he also enquired and set downe in writing Hackets opinion likewise vnto euery of the sayd articles seuerally And albeit it need not bee questioned but that both for circumstance and matter he would set it downe the least that might bee either to his owne or any his complices disaduantage yet may it serue for the fuller vnderstāding of the whole action and for necessarie obseruation besides to touch some chiefe points of those conferences though it be but as himself telleth thē The principall points of VViggintons owne report touching conference and
earth But Hacket willed him to keepe silence telling him he was too outragious whereupon hee straightway in very duetifull manner obeyed for he called Hacket his Captayne and sayde That hee would doe whatsoeuer he commaunded him to doe When the saide Iones in searching about Arthington found a writing in his sleeue Arthington sayde That fell out as hee would haue it for now it would be seene for he had made he said an Epistle to the Queene and shee woulde not receiue it and therefore shee was hee sayde no longer Queene but was depryued of her Crowne Hacket saying nothing thereunto There was found also in Hackets Chamber hidden at the beds feete many writings and Walker the owner of the house brought also vnto the said Iones other writings of theirs out of a stable And when Master Heiney parson of the Church of Saint Mary-Somersets an honest and learned Preacher looked on one of the sayd papers Hacket reprouing him said that it appertayned not vnto him but vnto the Magistrates to looke on them Arthington in speeches with the sayd Heyney sayd amongs other things that the Iudgements of God ouer that Citie were very great and that the time was now come that God would reforme his Church vniuersally and roote out all Idolatrous priestes and that the Ministers of that Citie were no better affirming him selfe to be a Prophet sent purposely from God to denounce his Iudgements and that Coppinger was a greater Prophet then hee that Cartwright was a great learned man and a Saint of God but Wigginton was lesse learned then he yet farre before him in dignitie for his zeale alwayes concluding his speeches with these wordes of imprecation against himselfe viz. else God confound me When the sayd Preacher demaunded of Hacket why he had seduced Arthington to bring him into such blasphemies his answere was that abundance of zeale did cause him to exceede in that sort Then he asked Hacket how he liked that Arthington ascribed vnto him an Office peculiar to Christ To which hee would not directly answere but sayd that God had a great worke to bring to passe by himselfe in this lande affirming that himselfe also was a Prophet and had endited that prophesie which Arthington writ to be sent to the Queene or Counsell and that hee prayed to God to direct Arthingtons penne therein This strange accident being quickely blowen through the citie all was in a buzze and in a kinde of astonishment what to thinke of the matter and beeing speedily brought to her Maiesties eares then lying but at Greenewich two of her honourable Counsell were presently dispatched vnto London to take further notice of the whole matter About one of the clocke in the afternoone Coppinger was sent for whiles Hacket and Arthington were brought before those honourable Counsellors and others at the L. Maiors to be examined but as is informed they would not shew any token of duetie or reuerence vnto those honourable persons not so much as by putting off their hattes vnto them Then their hattes were plucked off by others and they were tolde their dueties and were asked whether they did not know before whome they stoode To which they answered that they knew them right well neuerthelesse they would yeelde them no duetie nor reuerence insomuch as themselues they sayde were greater persons then those before whom they were conuented yet they seemed well content to stande bare-headed so their hattes were taken off by force and not put off by their owne willes This course of insolent behauiour towardes all that examined them both Hacket and Arthington helde on at sundry other their examinations Neuerthelesse Arthington that was so scrupulous to yeelde any reuerence to the Queenes Counsell and Officers at one time when hee sawe Hacket presently fell downe groueling vpon his face on the ground and honoured him according to the Conuention among them mentioned before And albeit both these continued still resolute in their former fansies conceiued of their extraordinarie callings and Offices and sought most absurdly to defende it by Scripture but chiefely by most terrible imprecations vnto them selues praying to bee confounded and damned if they sayde not true yet to all questions that were asked of them they answered though most cōfidently yet pertinently and directly to purpose saying that Hacket vsed the matter somewhat more craftily when any question of especiall danger was propounded vnto him For then would he by cunning euasions by cauils and by frustratorie kindes of answeres goe about to put off such interrogatories seeming when hee was pressed somewhat hard to bee wearie of his part and person put on if hee could haue then tolde how to haue shaken it off and bene ridde of it againe with any honestie Coppinger soone after his first examination finding the euent of things not to answere their expectations seeing also the matter somewhat warmely taken as there was good cause and thereby gathering the danger which hee and his complices stoode in and perceiuing also by the questions asked the intercepting of their writings and Letters whereby their dealings were at full discouered and brought to light beganne either by his owne voluntarie choise as some perhappes not vnprobably haue imagined or through anxietie in deede of minde growing foorth of the badnesse of the cause to behaue himselfe as a man distracted of his wits Insomuch as comming at one time to be examined finding Hacket there at his sight he presently roared out in a very strange and horrible kinde of voyce which Hacket willing to turne to the best straightway said It was no marueile though Coppinger did now so behaue himselfe for that he had giuen him ouer already vnto Sathan By perusall of their writings and Letters and by their examinations all the plots of treason and lewdnesse afore mentioned fell out very euidently and more at full against them Touching the Queenes armes defaced at Kayes house Hacket did confesse at the times of his examination that hee did it none other beeing present and that hee was mooued thereunto inwardly by the spirit to take away her whole power of her authoritie and that hee would haue done worse had it not bene for disquieting his hostesse where he lay because when shee found it she was very angrie therewith for he was not sorie neither is sorie as hee then saide for doing the acte because hee was commaunded by God to doe it and durst doe none otherwise Hee confessed also that he was likewise moued to put out the Lyons and the Dragons eyes in the armes but being asked why he did so he bitterly and maliciously answered that hee did knowe that Lyons and Dragons did afflict Gods people Hee did also rase out the crosse that was pictured on the toppe of the Crowne Hee further confessed that he meant also her Maiesties Counsell should bee remooued because they were hee sayde wicked and that hee himselfe beeing mooued by the spirit would haue placed certaine other new Counsellors whome hee then