him see that they were all as drunken men and Fools without wit That in the end they should throw all their Books away and be at a great confusion one with another That afterward viz. about the beginning of Easter Term last the Lord brought him to London and how he was made acquainted with Coppinger at that time as hath been afore declared How after his departing out of the City from Coppinger he could not but remember him in his Prayers desiring the Lord to reveal himself extraordinarily to him so that he might be encouraged to go forward in the Action Whereupon as the said Coppinger affirmed he had two extraordinary Seals in very short space after Hacket ' s departure and was wonderfully strengthened to proceed in the Cause Then is told how the Lord commanded him to go from one place to another in and about the City for two days space and how he was commanded to rail against the said two great Counsellors in divers places where he came How being in that time commanded to see the Lyons in the Tower he took the fiercest of them by the Head and had none harm Then is told what Preachers in the City he heard and that going to hear one he saw a Surpless lie in the Church whereupon he would not stay there That he went to certain Preachers in Prison to command them to deal faithfully in the Lord's business And how he was commanded by God to deface the Arms of England in Kaye's House in Knight-Rider's-street Lastly It is said that God hath appointed two others to deal for and with Hacket whom it will stand upon to deal faithfully for the Lord for they know what Hacket is and what shall follow if their Counsels and Directions be not followed Now if any shall marvail how 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 only the effectual but the efficacy it self of illusion and the spirit of slumber falling by God's secret yet always just Judgment upon the Children of disobedience such as be wise in their own conceits and not wise with sobriety that they might believe Lies because they have not believed the Truth And that they might ask and not obtain because they ask not as they ought After Arthington On Thursday morning had ended his aforesaid Treatise of Prophecy being the very day before their rising Coppinger told him that God the night before had enlightned him the said Coppinger who they all three were saying that Arthington had unawares prophesied truly for he was the greatest Prophet of God's Judgments against the whole World that ever was but that they both were greater than he for Coppinger himself was he said the greatest that ever was and last Prophet of mercy and that he must describe the new and holy Jerusalem with the several places of joy that the Elect should enjoy after this Life and that they the said Coppinger and Arthington were ordained to separate the Lambs from the Goats before the Lord Jesus at the last day Whereat it is said they were both astonished considering their own unworthiness and unfitness crying out against themselves and their Sins yet submitting themselves to the direction of God's Spirit which they were assured should sufficiently furnish them to do him that service which himself did command Then Coppinger proceeded to tell further That Hacket was greater than either of them and that they two must obey him in whatsoever he commanded but told not then what nor how great he was other than King of Europe which Title was afore this time concluded of amongst them Hereupon according to Coppinger's commandment Arthington offered to honour Hacket with his Title of the King of Europe and to demean himself toward him accordingly But Hacket himself herein dispensed with him until the time should come that he was to honour him before others bidding him withal to be of good cheer for faith he I serve a good Captain who makes so dear accompt of me that all the Devils in Hell nor Men in Earth cannot take my life from me Then Coppinger for confirmation of the like unto them two also said that Arthington and himself were possessed not only with Prophetical but also with Angelical Spirits which Arthington taking to be true by a great burning that he felt in himself after that time did thereupon fancy to himself that no power in Earth nor Hell could hurt either of them because they had the spirit of Angels and they were subject to no Power but to God alone And that God being the master of the whole Work all things should prosper with them they only seeking his glory which he faith he vowed with himself and to deal throughly in his Office to rebuke the World of Sin and to denounce Judgments against whomsoever the Spirit should move him without fear or favour of Men or of Devils in Hell which Spirit he faith then moved him according to his hatred afore conceived against them and his opinion that they were Trayors against the Queen's Majesty to utter and to declare his detestation he had against the aforesaid three worthy Counsellors being by their places the greatest Subjects 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 Loyal Honourable and Worthy Counsellors as they three are known to the World to be By the way we may note the subtil managing and carriage of this Action by Hacket and Coppinger in this one principal Point which Arthington himself also now observeth Videlicet in that they opened not at any time Hacket's chief pretended Office unto Arthington videlicet to represent and to participate with Jesus Christ's Office of severing with his Fan the good from the bad until the very time they were to go into the Streets to do the Message that Hacket enjoyned them For hereby they prevented a doubt of driving Arthington back who seemed a Man so serviceable for their purpose as that he was worthy to be still retained by them and the rather for that he had not yet finished the writing up of Hacket's History that was to be annexed to the Prophecy until late that Thursday night which was afore their rising for they might have feared if leisure had served him to have considered of it and examined it at full how this could be lest it might have made him at least to stagger and be doubtful of it Besides Hacket kept as Arthington now gathereth that honour wholly to himself to proclaim it to them both together as it were by a Voice from Heaven at that very instant when they should receive their charge of him and thereby have no time to reason against it being straightway to go forward as
foris collocatur sic contra pacem Christi ordinationem atque unitatem Dei rebellatur The First fruits of Hereticks and the first Births and Endeavours of Schismaticks are these to admire themselves and in their swelling Pride to contemn any that are set over them Thus do men fall from the Church of God thus is a foreign unhallowed Altar erected and thus is Christ's Peace and God's Ordination and Unity rebelled against For mine own part I neither have done nor do any thing in these Matters which I do not think my self in conscience and duty bound to do and which her Majesty hath not with earnest Charge committed unto me and which I am not well able to justify to be most requisite for this Church and State whereof next to her Majesty though most unworthy or at the least most unhappy the chief care is committed unto me which I will not by the grace of God neglect whatsoever come upon me therefore Neither may I endure their notorious Contempts unless I will become Aesop ' s Block and undo all that which hither to hath been done And how then shall I be able to perform my Duty according to her Majesty's Expectation It is certain that if way be given unto them upon their unjust Surmises and Clamours it will be the cause of that Confusion which hereafter the State will be sorry for I neither care for the Honour of this Place I hold which is Onus unto me nor the largeness of the Revenue neither any worldly thing I thank God in respect of doing my Duty neither do I fear the displeasure of Man nor the evil Tongue of the uncharitable who call me Tyrant Pope Knave and lay to my charge things that I never did nor thought Scio enim hoc esse opus Diaboli ut Servos Dei mendaciis laceret opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet ut qui conscientiae suae luce clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur For I know that this is the work of that Accuser the Devil that he may tear in pieces the Servants of God with Lies that he may dishonour their glorious Name with false Surmises that they who through the clearness of their own Conscience are shining bright might have the filth of other mens Slanders cast upon them So was Cyprian himself used and other Godly Bishops to whom I am not comparable But that which most of all grieveth me and is to be wondred at and lamented is that some of those which give countenance to these Men and cry out for a learned Ministry should watch their opportunity and be Instruments and means to place most unlearned Men in the chiefest Places and Livings of the Ministry thereby to make the state of the Bishops and Clergy contemptible and I fear saleable This Hypocrisy and dissembling with God and Man in pretending one thing and doing another goeth to my heart and maketh me to think that God's Judgments are not far off The day will come when all mens hearts shall be opened In the mean time I will depend upon him who never faileth those that put their trust in him Thus far his Letters 57. After this he linked himself in a After which he is in strict league with Sir Christopher Hatton by means of Dr. Bancroft firm league of friendship with Sir Christopher Hatton then Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen's Majesty and by the means of Dr. Bancroft his then Houshold Chaplain and afterwards Lord Archbishop of Canterbury had him most firm and ready upon all occasions to impart unto the Queen as well the Crosses offered him at the Council-Table as also sundry impediments whereby he was hindred from the performance of many good Services towards her Majesty and the State He had always the Lord Burley then Lord Treasurer Burley his firm Friend Lord Treasurer of England his firm and constant Friend and one that would omit no opportunity for his advancement who prevailed so far that when the Earl of Leicester one of those honourable Personages afore-mention'd was in the Low-Countries the Archbishop The Archbishop sworn of the Privy Council and the Lord Cobham were first sworn Counsellors of State and Thomas Lord Buckhurst was sworn the day after whereat the Earl was not a little displeased The Lord Buckhurst was joined Lord Buckhurst his faithful Friend in like affection to the Archbishop as the other two were and continued after he came to be Lord Treasurer his faithful and loving Friend to the time of his death 58. When the Archbishop was thus established in friendship with these Noble Personages as aforesaid their Favours and his Place wrought him free He has free access to the Queen access to the Queen and gracious acceptance of his Motions in the Church's behalf His Courses then at the Council-board His Oppositions abated were not so much crossed nor impeached as heretofore but by reason of his daily attendance and access he then oftentimes gave impediment to the Sir Thomas Bromeley Lord Chancellor died April 12. 1587. Earl's Designments in Clergy Causes 59. About this time Sir Thomas Bromely the then Lord Chancellor died whereupon it pleased her Majesty The Queen disposed to make the Archbishop Lord Chancellor to discover her gracious Inclination to have made the Archbishop Lord Chancellor of England But he excusing himself in many respects that he was He excuses himself and recommends Sir Christopher Hatton grown into years and had the burthen of all Ecclesiastical Businesses laid upon his back which was as much as one man could well undergo considering the troubles with so many Sectaries that were then sprung up desired to be spared and besought her Highness to make choice of Sir Christopher Hatton who Sir Christopher Hatton made Lord Chancellor Ap. 29. 1587. shortly after was made Lord Chancellor in the Archbishop's House at Croydon thereby the rather to grace the Archbishop His advancement did much strengthen the Archbishop and his Friends and withal the Earl of Leicester and his Designments came soon after to an end For the Year following taking his Journey to Kenelworth he died in the way at Cornbury Park whereby the Archbishop took himself The Earl of Leicester died Sept. 4. 1588. freed from much opposition 60. Upon the death of the said Earl the Chancellorship of Oxford being Oxford desire the Archbishop for their Chancellor in the Earl's room void divers of the Heads and others of the University made known unto the Archbishop their desire to chuse him their Chancellor although he was a Cambridge man To whom he returned this Answer That he was already their Friend whereof they might rest assured and therefore advised them to make choice of some other in near place about the Queen that might assist him on their behalf And both at the Council-board and other Places of Justice right them many ways both for the benefit of the University and their particular Colleges And
good Archbishop Whereunto not unaptly may be applied that which Plutarch reporteth Plutarch in vita of Cato Utican When he was Praetor For he would oftentimes go on foot bare legged and without his Gown unto his Praetorian Chair and there give sentence of life and death whereby he rather defaced and impaired the majesty and dignity of his Office than gave it countenance by his manner of proceeding although otherwise he were a good Commonwealth's man and ministred justice uprightly unto all 112. But I return unto our Archbishop His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction again He gave audience unto Suitors twice a day and afforded them set hours for their dispatch at which time he would so courteously entreat them giving them so mild and gentle Answers that even they that sped not of their Suits did depart without discontentment Wherein I may justly compare him unto Titus qui neminem Sueton. in vita unquam à se tristem dimisit he dismissed no man sorrowful from his presence Wherefore he gave also express commandment unto his Officers that Suitors and Strangers should ever be courteously entertained as well for expedition of their Suits as for Hospitality sake 113. He had a desire always to keep His great Hospitality a great and bountiful House and so he did having the same well ordered and governed by his head Officers therein and all things in plentiful manner both for his own service and entertainment of Strangers according to their several Qualities and Degrees He often feasted the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of his Diocess and Neighbourhood And at Christmas especially his Gates were always open and his Hall set twice or thrice over with Strangers Upon some chief Festival-days he was served with great solemnity sometime upon the Knee as well His State for the upholding of the State that belonged unto his Place as for the better education and practice of his Gentlemen and Attendants in point of service 114. Every Year he entertained the His entertainment of the Queen Queen at one of his Houses so long as he was Archbishop and some Years twice or thrice where all things were performed in so seemly an order that she went thence always exceedingly well pleased And besides many publick and gracious Favours done unto him she would salute him and bid him farewell by the name of Black Husband calling also his Men her Servants as a token of her good contentment with their attendance and pains 115. Every third Year he went into He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country Kent unless great occasions hindred him where he was so honourably attended upon by his own Train consisting of Two hundred Persons and with the Gentlemen of the Country that he did sometimes ride into the City of Canterbury and into other Towns with Eight hundred or a Thousand Horse And surely the Entertainment which he gave them and they him was so great that as I am verily persuaded no Shire in England did or could give greater or with more chearful minds each unto other The Fatherly care which he had of his Clergy whom he never charged with visitation but once in twenty Years his Affability amongst the Gentlemen and courteous usage of his Tenants gained him so great a love that he might very far prevail with them yea they never denied him any request that he made unto them 116. At his first Journey into Kent His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity he rode to Dover being attended with an hundred of his own Servants at least in Livery whereof there were forty Gentlemen in Chains of Gold The Train of Clergy and Gentlemen in the Country and their Followers was above Five hundred Horse At his entrance A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church into the Town there happily landed an Intelligencer from Rome of good Parts and Account who wondred to see an Archbishop or Clergy-man in England so reverenced and attended But seeing him upon the next Sabbath day after in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury attended upon by his Gentlemen and Servants as is aforesaid also by the Dean Prebendaries and Preachers in their Surplesses and scarlet Hoods and heard the solemn Musick with the Voices and Organs Cornets and Sagbuts he was overtaken with admiration and told an English Gentleman of very good quality who then accompanied him That Sir Edward Hobby they were led in great blindness at Rome by our own Nation who made the People there believe that there was not in England either Archbishop or Bishop or Cathedral or any Church or Ecclesiastical Government but that all was pulled down to the ground and that the People heard their Ministers in Woods and Fields amongst Trees and bruit Beasts But for his own part he protested that unless it were in the Pope's Chappel he never saw a more solemn sight or heard a more heavenly sound Well said the English Gentleman I am glad of this your so lucky and first sight ere long you will be of another mind and I hope work miracles when you return to Rome in making those that are led in this blindness to see and understand the truth It is said the Intelligencer the chief cause of my coming to see with mine own eyes and truly to inform others Whereupon the said English Gentleman accompanied him to London and so to the Court where he saw and heard many things to confirm the Gentleman's report for the government of the Church and civil carriage of the People in their obedience to the Clergy and Magistrates in the Commonwealth Afterwards this Intelligencer had private The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham speech with Sir Francis Walsingham then principal Secretary to her Majestey who related all this to the Archbishop with due approbation of his Kentish Journy confessing that he should reverence and honour him therefore while he lived And although he were one of the honourable Counsellors before mentioned that seemed to favour the precise Faction yet undoubtedly he was after this time a kind Friend to the Archbishop and did him many good Offices with the Queen 117. Howbeit some of near alliance unto Sir Francis bearing themselves very boldly upon his favour would oftentimes handle the Archbishop very roughly and much provoke him by vain Speeches and brags of their own worth and scholarship and being meer Lay-men would very unmannerly compare themselves with the best conformable Divines for true knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures But the Archbishop smiling at their Vanities would notwithstanding courteously handle and entreat them in his own House according to the true Rule of Hospitality not unlike unto Pericles who being reviled by a leud Plutarch â—n vit Fellow in the Market-place all the day long returned no bad languge but dispatched his Affairs
make herein shall be upon thorns and therefore I am to fear pricking Yet for all this I am not without hope neither is the same grounded but by good warrant The end why I write unto you is this to intreat you to give thanks to those holy men all on my behalf who are now in question I have reaped much benefit from them by their carriage towards me though they know it not For I durst not in regard of danger which might grow Note to them visit any of them since I found my self carried with a zeal to do 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 do and in the mean time do what I can to persuade the Saints that in this Action I seek God's glory and not mine own I have been heretofore put back and dissuaded from attempting any thing lest I marred all by the wisest the learnedest the zealousest and holiest Preachers of this City gene Causes and weighty Reasons moving thereunto But yet this will not make me leave it but still I am enforced by little and little to labour to make my self fit to take upon 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 meet and join together in prayer And if the Lord's Spirit shall assure their Spirits that he hath been is and will be with me in this Action how hard soever it seemeth to be let me by their means be vouchsafed this favour that I may be allowed conference with the Preachers of the City which Sute I make not for that I would seek to have approbation from them or any other living Creature but from God himself Or that I purpose to do that which heretofore I have been advised unto namely acquaint them with the Courses which I purpose by God's assistance to Note take in hand whereby great danger might grow to them and little good to me But that my carriage towards them may witness unto them the humility of my mind and lowliness of my spirit and care and conscience not to enter into the matter without offer to have my Gifts examined and if they shall be supposed to be such as the Church may have use of then let all holy means be used which shall be advised to be fit to be done in such a dangerous time and weighty Action So beseeching God to govern us in all our ways and preserve us in all our dangers and supply us with whatsoever we stand in need of I humbly and heartily commend you to God this 21st day of May 1591. The effect of the Speeches which Coppinger Coppinger incourageth the said Gentleman to persevere in defence of the Cause He declares to him his Revelations and extraordinary Gifts and Calling touching the Reformation of the Church had with him at their Conference as the said Gentleman himself reported was to commend the Cause of the Preachers committed to incourage him to the defence of it adding that it was the truth of God and that in the end it would prevail Then the said Coppinger began to declare unto him his Revelations his great fasting and prayer and how God had indued him with an extraordinary grace of Prayer Persuasion or Prophecy And that God had appointed him as he was persuaded to reveal the will of God touching the reformation of his Church that he had an extraordinary Calling to do good to the Church and what several conflicts he had in himself before he yielded to this extraordinary motion or calling from God Therefore his Request was That by He desires that his Gifts and Calling may be tried and allowed by the Preachers the said Gentleman's means his Gifts and Calling might be 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 than warily so as they might neither as they thought endanger themselves nor kill or discourage the Zeal of that their Brother in so pretended holy a Cause may partly by that which is afore spoken appear and we may then believe them when they shall tell us the whole truth thereof But how slender and cold discouragement A cold Answer from some he found with some Preachers of London with whom he dealt touching his fantastical extraordinary Calling and dangerous Plots may also appear by these words found in a Letter of his viz. Good Master L. as Master E's former carriage in this Action which standeth me much upon to deal advisedly in did somewhat trouble me so his Christian and loving Answer delivered now by you from him unto me doth much comfort me though by reason of some particular business which I must necessarily follow I cannot attend till Friday in the Afternoon or Saturday any part of the day And after in the same Letter thus Satan by his Angelical wisdom which he still retaineth doth many times prevail with the holiest to make them fear good success in the best Causes in regard of the lets and hindrances which himself layeth in the way It cannot be denied but that the Cause is good which I desire to be an Actor in But it is said by some that it is impossible that I should be fit to meddle therein So that here a Christian A further Conference The Course not misliked but Success only doubted from his unfitness and loving Answer to his great comfort is given further conference by speech is offered and the Course not so much misliked as the Success only is doubted by reason of his unfitness that was to be an Actor in it But what Resolution herein was also returned from the Preachers of Foreign Parts to this Case of Conscience propounded by Coppinger may hereby not unprobably be gathered Arthington at one of his Examinations confessed that Penry sent a Letter unto him forth of Scotland wherein he signified Penry writes to A thington from Scotland that Reformation must be set up in England that Reformation for so they speak must shortly be erected in England And herein he said that he took Penry to be a Prophet Now it is sure that Penry conveyed himself privily into England and was lurking about London at the self-same time when these other Prophets arose in Cheapside attending as seemeth the fulfilling of this his Prophecy also by their means How dutifully and advisedly those that be Subjects have dealt which having intelligence hereof did conceal it till it burst forth of it self with apparent danger to her Majesty and the whole State may thus be The concealing of this Design dangerous to the State gathered For by this Conceit of Coppinger's you hear it is pretended and surmised that a commendable Cause a Cause to be defended yea the very truth of God which must prevail
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
a great Contemner of others that were not of his mind And although the Learning and Qualities of any were never so mean yet if he affected Master Cartwright and his Opinions he should be in great estimation with him according to the saying of the Poet Praecipui sunto sitque illis aurea barba But if he were against him in his fanciful Conceits though he were never so good a Scholar or so good a Man he could not brook or like of him as of Dr. Whitaker and others And although in their Elections of Scholars into that College they made as good choise as any other either before or in their time yet could he never afford the Electors nor Parties elected a good word unless they sided with him in his Fancies 20. And that he might the better Cartwright went to Geneva affected the Discipline of that Church feed his Humour with these conceited Novelties he travailed to Geneva where observing the Government and Discipline of that Church to be by certain Ecclesiastical Superintendents and Lay-Elders or Presbyters as they called them he was so far carried away with an affection of that new devised Discipline as that he thought all Churches and Congregations for Government Ecclesiastical were to be measured and squared by the practice of Geneva 21. Therefore when he returned His opposition to the Established Church-Government in England home he took many exceptions against the Established Government of our Church disallowing the Vocation of our Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and other Ecclesiastical Officers the Administration of our Holy Sacraments and observation of our Rites and Ceremonies and buzzing these Conceits into the Heads of divers young Preachers and Scholars of the University he drew after him a great number of Disciples and Followers And upon a Sunday Doctor Whitgift being from home Master Cartwright with some of his Adherents made three Sermons in that one day wherein they so vehemently inveighed amongst other Ceremonies of our Church against the Surpless as those of Trinity College Preacheth against the Surpless were so moved therewith that at Evening Prayer they cast off their Surplesses though against the Statutes of the House and were all placed in the Chappel without Surplesses three only excepted Doctor Legge Mr. West and the Chaplain By reason of which Stirs both that private College was greatly distracted and the whole University much perplexed and troubled 22. For these his Opinions were now broached not only at home in their College Sermons and Domestical Common-Places but by Master Cartwright himself and his Adherents in the publick Church of the whole University wherein they mightily declamed against the Ordination of our Priests and Deacons and greatly traduced the Heads and Governors of the Colleges because they attended the Service of those Places The Reverend Bishops and Fathers of the Church for their due observing Ecclesiastical Rules and Constitutions were by them much perstringed the Established Church paralling as they termed it the Romish Hierarchy was also much reproached and disgraced 23. Dr. Whitgift after that Master Whitgift preacheth against Cartwright ' s Opinions Cartwright and his Complices had broached this his dangerous Doctrine would always the Sunday following in the same Church answer and confute their Opinions with such commendation and applause as thereby he much quieted and setled the judgment of many that otherwise were enclining to this Innovation and gained a singular opinion of the most Learned and Judicious throughout the whole University 24. When by this course he had Cartwright and his Followers oppose Whitgist somewhat appeased these Stirs Master Cartwright did not yet cease but by secret Instigations set on others of his own humour to continue them who in their College Exercises which they call Common-places and also in their open Sermons would prick at him with the Swords of their Tongues and otherwhiles uncharitably through the Sides of others pierce and wound him sometimes furiously without regard of duty shame or modesty would strike downright at him For it then was and I pray God it still be not a thing too frequent with that Generation to tax their Superiors and to accuse their Government as also to asperse them and it with many unjust Calumniations 25. Notwithstanding so far was he from entring into any rigorous course of proceeding against them as justly he might have done by the Statutes of the College and publick Laws of the State as that with great sufferance he winked at and passed by many of Whitgift ' s gentleness these Wrongs and Enormities and instead of revenge he by gentleness and goodness heaped coals upon the Adversaries heads as also for rough and unseemly Speeches he breathed nothing but sweet breath of love and peace often exhorting them to call to God for Grace that they might have more sober consideration and better judgment of Orders established which then they mistook to be amiss For as a Learned man truly saith of them those fervent Hooker ' s Eccles Policy lib. 5. reprehenders of things established by publick Authority are always confident and bold spirited men but their confidence for the most part riseth from too much credit given to their own Wits for which cause they are seldom free from Errors 26. The state of the University being The State of the University disturb'd by Cartwright in this sort mervailously disquieted by Master Cartwright and his Abettors Doctor Whitgift wisely foresaw that these sparks of Sedition if in time they were not quenched would grow to a great flame to the endangering not only of the University but of the whole Church as every one knoweth it afterward fell out and therefore to cure this Evil if it might be in the beginning he oftentimes sent to Master Cartwright Whitgift adviseth him to be quiet and in friendly and kind manner advised him to surcease from those Courses But finding him always wilfully bent and finally obstinate to prevent further mischief he with the Seniors of the House called him in question Calls him in question and having sufficient matter of Expulsion against him for uttering some Errors in his Lectures and not recanting nor expounding them being by the Master and Seniors so appointed and for exercising the Function of a Minister having no Letters of Orders which he had either torn or suppressed for that he thought it not lawful by his own Doctrine to use them and for transgressing the Statutes of the House in divers other Points he expelled him the House Expells him the House and deprives him of the Lady Margaret's Lecture and being Vice-Chancellor caused him likewise to be deprived of the Lady Margaret's Lecture which then he read 27. Before which course of proceeding with him Doctor Whitgift understanding that Master Cartwright had given it out that his dangerous Assertions were rather repressed by Authority than refelled by Truth and strength of Reason wished him to forbear such disturbance of the publick
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 '
pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King proclaimed him again 105. I am doubtful to speak lest I might seem to detract from others of the great comfort which the common People and Citizens took in the presence of the Archbishop and how heartily they prayed for him at his return as if they nothing doubted but that all went well for the State in that Counsel among whom he was present 106. He was indeed beloved of all sorts of People yea even of some of them who were the most fervent Reprehenders themselves as they have confessed since his death And well worthy was he so to be for that he carried a most mild and moderate hand over them A more particular love also he deserved of many for his affection Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts. unto liberal and ingenious Arts whereof his domestick government and care was no less argument than his publick which I have formerly spoken of For besides the pains which he took himself after he was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury many years with a number of worthy young Gentlemen in reading unto them thrice aday he took into his House besides his Chaplains divers of quality to instruct them in the Mathematicks and other Lectures of sundry Arts and Languages giving them good allowance and Preferments His Liberality great otherwise as occasion was offered And besides the many poor Scholars He kept many poor Scholars in his House whom he kept in his House till he could provide for them and prefer them as he did sundry to good Estates he also maintained divers in the University And maintained divers in the Universities at his own charge and gave liberally to them and others of any towardliness as he heard of their necessity and wants 107. He kept likewise for the exercise of Military Discipline a good Armory Is an incourager of Military Exercises and a fair Stable of great Horses insomuch as he was able to arm at all points both Horse and Foot and divers times had One hundred Foot and Fifty Horse of his own Servants mustered and trained for which purpose he entertained Captains He had also skilful Riders who taught them to manage their Horses and instructed them in warlike Exercises all whom he rewarded in liberal manner By this means he had divers of his own Gentlemen that afterwards proved good Soldiers many whereof became Captains and Commanders and some for their Valour and Service were Knighted in the Field There were also divers others that for Learning Languages and Qualities were fit to be employed by any Prince in Christendom Insomuch as his House for the Lectures and Scholastical Exercises therein performed might justly be accounted a little Academy and in some His House a little Academy respects superior and more profitable viz. for Martial Affairs and the Experience that Divines and other Scholars had being near and often at the Court and chief Seats of Justice from whence they continually had the Passages and Intelligences both for Matters of State and government in Causes Ecclesiastical and Civil By which their continual Experience many of his * Dr. Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Ravis Bishop of London Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Goldisbury Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Parry Bishop of Worcester Dr. Redman Bishop of Norwich Dr. Buckeridge Bishop of Rochester Domestical His Chaplains promoted Chaplains both before and since his death attained unto the chiesest Honours and Dignities in our Church and Commonwealth 108. And here I may not forget his religious care and provident order for the due execution of his Charge and determination of all such Causes as belonged unto his proper cognizance and place To which end and purpose he appointed every Thursday in Term a solemn and set Commission day upon which he had a Sermon in his Chappel by one of his Houshold Chaplains and entertained the Commissioners and their Attendants though to his great expence which he little esteemed in regard of the well guiding and ordering the Affairs then by him undertaken That day you should have had a Senate of the worthiest and greatest Counsellors of State with the assistance of the chief Prelates Justices Judges and sufficientest Lawyers of both Professions that those Times afforded 109. You may then hereby observe the The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes Archbishop's exceeding care and singular wisdom in proceeding with the Advice of so many worthy prudent and learned Men of several Faculties whereby the Subjects came chearfully to the hearing of their Causes and without fear of partiality in any particular Person And howsoever the Cause went the Archbishop could not be impeached of rash or inconsiderate proceeding seeing he had the consent and approbation of all Professions For the Archbishop always gave Sentence and ordered matters as the greater part of the Court did encline beginning at the Junior first although himself would sometimes dissent from them in opinion and so he would tell them but without tartness yea in such kind and loving manner as no man was hindered in delivering his mind By which means he was sure always to have the Cause fully debated and every man's opinion fully known which when he found concurring with his own and the Proceedings ordered according to the Rules of Justice he would go on to sentence and determine the Cause 110. Wherein he carried himself His Resolution in Judgment with great resolution and courage were the Persons never so great that were interested in the same as you may perceive by one Instance among many when himself was yet no Counsellor of State A Gentleman of good Note seeing An Instance how the Court was enclined to order his Cause not according to his desire told the Archbishop that upon another occasion there grew some speech of that Cause before the Lords of the Council and their Lordships were of another opinion than his Grace and the rest of the Commissioners seemed to be what tellest thou me said the Archbishop of the Lords of the Council I tell thee they are in these Cases to be advised by us and not we by them He would upon such like Occasions oftentimes say unto his private Friends towards his latter time when they talked familiarly with him and observed his courage and stoutness That two things did help much to make a man confident in good Causes namely Orbitas Senectus and said he they steed me both 111. This orderly proceeding and He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court course upheld the Reputation and Dignity of the Commission Court which albeit it be of great Authority and dealeth for the most part in matters of great weight and importance yet the want of worthy Assistants and Counsel if the like care should not be continued may make it grow to be of little reputation as experience hath somewhat taught us since the decease of this
Years past These two made semblance and so were Both zealous Professors of the Gospel and hot for Innovation holden to be Professors of the Gospel neither of the coldest or lewk-warm sort as such do untruly term others who be indeed godly wise with a sober moderation but rather of those that more justly may be said to be scalding hot in desire of Innovation which they falsely call Reformation They therefore standing thus affected most willingly They consort with such who spend their zeal in reproaching the Government Ecclesiastical sorted themselves in familiarity with such as by their demeanor may seem to repose a great part of their Christian Profession and Zeal in the only reproacing and odious traducing of Governors and Government Ecclesiastical These two having itching Ears most usually They hear and follow chiefly such Preachers as inveigh against and deprave the Established Ecclesiastical Polity and are for advancing that they call the Discipline heaped to themselves and made choice to hear and follow such Preachers as were thought fittest to feed their humour Which Preachers with their sad looks frequent sighs abroad long and vehement conceived Prayers bitter and plain Invectives in private and privy depraving in publick of the Laws and Policy Ecclesiastical joined with their usual Speeches besides sundry infamous Libels and other Pamphlets spread already for advancing that Government which they strangely term The Discipline may seem so to have inflamed these two Persons as that they thought this Discipline a worthy Subject whereupon they should spend most of their Actions and Cogitations Their minds being thus prepared it happened Some Preachers of the Discipline prosecuted in the Star-chamber that some Preachers of this Discipline were begun to be proceeded with in the most honourable Court of Star-chamber about the same time that this Coppinger by means of one Giles Wigginton came acquainted Coppinger brought acquainted with Hacket by Wigginton a Puritanical Minister of Northamptonshire with William Hacket the third Actor and chief Setter forth of this Tragedy Concerning the said Wigginton because this also tendeth to the better understanding of the whole Action he was born or bred up in Oundel in Northamptonshire where Hacket dwelt and he often resorted into that Country by that occasion He was not long since a Minister and Vicar of Sedberghe and Dent in the North parts but for Wigginton some time Vicar in the North for his insolences and contempt against the Laws and Peace of the Church deprived ex Officio Beneficio Hacket lived at Oundle Servant to Mr. Hussey afterwards to Sir Thomas Tresham a quarrelsome Fellow his intolerable Insolences and Contempts against Laws and the Peace of the Church was both deprived of chat his Benefice and deposed from his Ministry by Authority of her Majesty's Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical a man by report of such as know him best and favour him not a little whose zeal never came behind knowledge nor bold-hardy forwardness at any time went after discretion in him This Hacket had dwelt also by a long space in Oundel where first he served one Master Hussey an Esquire by the space of ten Years and after for some time he served Sir Thomas Tresham Knight He was a notable bragging and quarelsome Fellow yet thought in truth to be but a very recreant Dastard He long together used one lewd and ungodly practice which was to resort unto He frequently resorted to Sermons to mock and carp at them Sermons of purpose to gibe mock and carp at them And having a good Memory which was the only commendable part in him he used in scoffing manner to preach over again in Alehouses the Sermons that he had heard most insisting and sporting himself and others at such Passages thereof which pleased him least or whereat he imagined any likely matter of deriding might be gathered Whilst thus he served Master Hussey he Married a Widow with Substance but wasted it by Idleness and Lewdness obtained by his Master's countenance the marriage of one Moreton's Widow of reasonable Substance having also a good Farm in that Town But he following loose and licentious Company and an idle course of life without labour or industry either to get or save lewdly and riotously mispent and wasted in short space all her Goods It fell so out that at length he pretended Pretended from a Papist or Atheist to be converted to the Truth got intimately acquainted with Wigginton from a Papist or an Atheist to be converted to Religion and knowledge of the truth At what time he grew to be of familiar and inward acquaintance with the said Giles Wigginton and was an especial Follower and Disciple of his both at publick Sermons and private Conventicles Of late times he was also consorted in Partnership of Malt-making with Wigginton Their great acquaintance and familiarity may appear by a Letter sent from Hacket unto him the third of March last and by his lending unto Hacket of ten Pounds The Superscription is To the Worshipful Minister of God's Word M. Giles Wigginton at Newgate In the Letter thus he writeth M. Wigginton I desire to communicate my Spirit at large with you but I know not your Keeper And in the end thereof thus Good M. Wigginton make my sound heart known to Master Cartwright Master Snape Master Udall Master Lord c. By his and such others like affected mens Grew a forward Professor and great Railer against the Laws and Orders of the Church Instructions and Example of life and behaviour he so profited that in short space he proved one that professed with the forwardest and practised with the frowardest For falling as Fools do from one extremity to another Qui dum vitant vitia in contraria currunt he grew to a most insolent proud and contemptuous disdain of all Preachers and others whomsoever that flew not his pitch or lay not to the level of his pretended zeal But most gladly and with greatest felicity that might be he used to spend his mouth largely in Invectives Railings and Contumelies against Bishops and other Governors of the Church and also against the Laws Orders and whole Government Ecclesiastical not sticking as was probably suspected to procure also sundry lewd infamous Libels against them and other Preachers c. to be framed and set up thereabouts His detestation of Ecclesiastical Orders Despised the Town-Minister for his Conformity commanded was so great that he could not endure to frequent the Sermons which Ray the Minister of that Town did preach because he seemed to him a little more conformable in some few matters by Authority established than Hacket liked of Wherefore on Sabboth days Hacket usually did resort to a Place a Mile off called Stoke where the Minister fitted his Humour better in company of some of like strain to himself and of certain light idle Gossips whereof some of the sincerest were said to love and like him so
the lawful and perfect Calling of a Minister or no To these I find Wigginton's Resolution Wigginton's Resolutions of Coppinger's Questions in the affirmastive made under his own hand to this effect briefly viz. That God hath doth and will from time to time raise up extraordinary Workers and Helpers to his Church a Apostles Evangelists and Prophets where need requireth and as Nazarites Healers Admonishers in special sort and such like that these cannot be known to themselves but by God's Spirit nor to others but by godly effects That he who is so called need not to ask many Questions of mortal men for his Calling yet must be approved godly before he enterprize his Work especially if he have been a known wicked Person before That where the chief Rulers of any House or Country or the most part of any House or Country be ignorant and untaught there it may be truly said that House or Country is out of frame desolate or waste much more then when one part of Thirty or Forty is not well framed rightly taught or guided c. in that House or Country And in another Paper of his own Hand he avoucheth such extraordinary Callings by Such extraordinary Callings justified by two Examples example of one that cried up and down the Streets in Jerusalem before it was besieged and by another which he saith the last Parliament came forth of Yorkshire to London saying he was charged from God by an Angel in a Vision to signify great Vengeance from God upon the whole Realm for certain great Enormities by himself in another man's person untruly and seditiously surmised So that hereby it appeareth that Wigginton is the silenced Preacher meant by Coppinger in the former Letter who resolved him of extraordinary Callings in those days who consented to fast and pray with him and others for a Seal c. of such Calling and who as he afterward affirmed to Hacket would not discourage Coppinger in his Purposes This Conceit hereupon waxing stronger Coppinger waxeth stronger in his Conceit and stronger in Coppinger he often came to Lancaster's House where also Arthington then lay to confer with them specially to know the certainty whether there were any extraordinary Calling in this last Age and how the same might be tried They both told him as is now said that they were meer ordinary men not able to resolve him much less to take trial of his Gifts and therefore willed him to keep his Secrets to himself or else to go to others that could better judge of them Whereupon Coppinger Seeks direction from Divers Puritanical Preachers is assisted by Penry sought for direction to divers Preachers and others in London and elsewhere of what setled disposition may easily be conjectured For resolution also herein by the help of his diligent Fellow-labourer in this business John ap Henry aliâs a Penry he sollicited the Reformed Preachers so these Fellows term them of some Foreign Parts It may also be gathered by some Letters written by him to a Gentleman near about a great Counsellor that he bare the said Gentleman in hand as if he had intelligence touching some matter of great service to her Majesty and the Commonwealth to be imparted to the said Counsellor For in the Copy of a Letter of his of the 28th of January last he thus writeth Your signification Coppinger ' s Letters to a Counsellor pretending some service to the Queen of some service which you heard I was desirous to do in discharge of my duty to her Majesty may give his Lordship cause to suspect that I honour him not so much as I do Your revealing thereof to his Lordship I do assure you doth much trouble me because I am not furnished with such matter as I wish My meaning was therefore to have forborn his Lordship's trouble until I had learned out that which my heart desireth to do c. And in another Letter of his written to the same Gentleman the 1st of February after in this sort If you think he looketh to have me come to his Lordship about any thing which you have put into his head let me understand from you when I may attend his Lordship's pleasure which being known I will according to my duty do it though I wish my self to be freed until I may know that which may give his Lordship cause to think of me as I do desire to deserve c. Now that this matter was the same whereof he desired such resolution may be gathered by a Note of his own Hand set upon the back of these two Copies thus viz. By these Letters it may appear what care I had In his Letters to the Preachers pretends some service to God and his Church meaning in both the same matter to carry my self in this Action But in his Letters about this matter written unto Preachers and others of his own humour he goeth more plainly to work and declareth another purpose and that it is a special service by him to be done to God and his Church and so no Civil Matter as he elsewhere pretendeth For I find by a Letter of another Gentleman P. W. a Lay Gentleman his Letter to Coppinger incouraging him to go on in his Work of the Laity dated the 25th of January last and written unto Coppinger in answer that Coppinger had sent for him up to receive advice of him in some matters of importance tending to the true Service of God wherein he was labouring In the end whereof are these words viz. You are in a plentiful Soil where you may use the advice of many godly wise Use the benefit thereof And then as Joshua said be bold and of a good courage Fear not to be discouraged for God even the mighty God will protect and defend you In his solliciting the Preachers to take trial of his Gifts and extraordinary Calling it appeareth he used some more plainness without much disguising of the quality of the Action which he intended and likewise how faintly he was discouraged from it by them For in a Letter of his unto T. L. written the 29th of January last he reporteth that M. E. a Preacher most Christianly The Preachers advise him to Caution but do not discourage nor reprove him wisely and lovingly persuaded him to be careful and circumspect over himself To take heed lest he were deceived by the subtilty of Satan and so misled whereby he might endanger himself both for his Liberty Estate and Credit and also be an hinderance to the great Cause which he would seem to be most desirous to further but Note withal the said M. E. concluded that he would be loath to quench the Spirit of God in him or to hinder his Zeal About this time and matter Coppinger writ also another Letter to T. C. which thing besides the Letter it self appeareth also by a Letter of his written the 24th of February last to one M. H. The whole tenor
obedient Persons to him in all things Thus that Thursday passed on On Friday morning Coppinger sent his Man Emerson by Five of the Clock in the morning unto Arthington's Lodging but his Wife would not then awake him so he sent for him again at Six and they two then went together unto Coppinger Then Coppinger and Arthington determined that Friday morning being the 16th day of July last between Six and Seven of the Clock in the forenoon to go unto a certain Gentleman's House about the City of good behaviour and they forsooth to honour him to be chief Governor under her Majesty which they also did that Morning and promised unto him accordingly that he should so be Leaving also with him both the said Prophecy and Hacket's History to peruse but the good Gentleman was unwilling to deal either with them or their Papers any way They flayed not there above half an hour From thence they came betwixt Eight and Nine of the Clock in the Morning unto Wigginton's Chamber being Prisoner in the Counter in Woodstreet with whom having much speech and conference part whereof is touched before among other things they signified unto him as Arthington confesseth that they were provoked to pronounce him the holiest Minister of all others for dealing so plainly and resolutely in God's Causes above all Ministers which God would manifest one day to his comfort Wigginton at his examination confesseth such Conference by him at that time to have been had with them and as he was enjoined 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 himself coming to him thither alone as he saith the self-same Friday morning some while after the other two were departed from him It may be gathered by his own Narration that betwixt the time of Coppinger and Arthington's talk with him Wigginton had set down Article-wise and distincted with number the several Heads of their Speeches had with him And after he also enquired and set down in writing Hacket's Opinion likewise unto every of the said Articles severally And albeit it need not be questioned but that both for Circumstance and Matter he would set it down the least that might be either to his own or any his Complices disadvantage yet may it serve for the fuller understanding of the whole Action and for necessary observation besides to touch some chief Points of those Conferences though it be but as himself telleth them The principal Points of Wigginton's Wigginton ' s Report of his Conference and Speeches with Coppinger Arthington and Hacket own Report touching Conference and Speeches had by him to and fro with Coppinger and Arthington and afterward with Hacket the 16th day of July in the Morning 1591. He saith That Coppinger and Arthington came unto him about Eight or Nine of the Clock of the 16th day of July in the Morning full of courage and comfort saying unto him thus We are come to you now to bring you certain News of great comfort which is this viz. That we have 1. seen Jesus Christ this day in lively and extraordinary shape or fashion presented unto us not in his Body for so he sitteth at the right hand of God in Heaven until the last Judgment but in his effectual or principal Spirit whereby he dwelleth in William Hacket more than in any Creature upon the Earth When Hacket came not long after their departure that Morning unto him Wigginton saith That he examined him about the whole Speeches of Coppinger and Arthington uttered before unto him whereunto Hacket answered first generally thus That he approved them no further than he saw they had warrant for their doings but particularly to this first Article thus viz. Hacket's Answer thereof unto Wigginton To the first That he knew not of that their Vision but he accounted himself to be a chief Messenger of God in such sort as followeth Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches to Wigginton That the said William Hacket is the very same Angel forespoken of by the Scriptures who should come before the last Judgment of Christ with a Fan or Sheephook in his hand to separate the Goats from the Sheep Hacket's Answer To the second That he was the only principal Man sent of God to decide the Controversies of the Gospel of Christ in the World or in England or in Europe into which Controversies some bad Persons being Enemies to him and to the Gospel in England and some of them being great Personages had drawn him to enter by their Cruel Unjust and Extraordinary Practices and Treacheries or Sorceries used against him and that by him as by a principal Angel of God with his Fan in his hand God would now separate the Sheep from the Goats and that God would establish the Gospel by him generally either by his death or by his life but quoth he as it were correcting himself by my life it must be Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That Hacket is a Man dearer or nearer unto God in some respects than Moses or John the 3. Divine who wrote the Revelation because he must as it were bring an accomplishment unto their Prophesies and hath a more excellent spirit or work to do than they in some respects Hacket's Answer To the third That God would do a greater Work by him the said William Hacket than ever he did by any of all the Prophets for the establishment of his Gospel to the confusion of Satan and Antichrist Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That the said Hacket had laid two several Charges in the name of Christ upon them two 4. which they must needs perform or execute the one upon Arthington of Prophecy concerning the end of the World the other upon Coppinger of painting out the good and bad in the World or in these parts of the World and one of them had in purpose or charge to read over the whole Bible for proof of their Office and Business Hacket's Answer To the fourth That God had sent Arthington to be the said Hacket his Writer or Pen and the said Coppinger to be the Expounder of his Mind or Deliverer of his Message to the old Magistrates which were almost gone and to the New and to the World Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That they had some sight of the glory of the 5. World to come where they found that the Queen was highly in God's favour because she had cut off much of Antichrist's Force or Train but c. That M. Cartwright had done more against 6. Antichrist than any in the World before him since the Apostles time and that Wigginton was Mutuùm muli scabunt comparable unto him and M. Lancaster meaning a Schoolmaster in Shoe-Lane was above them both in the state of heavenly glory because he had kept himself undefiled from the common Corruptions of these Times and had a most single heart to God Hacket's Answer
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
in hearing the Suppliants and determining their Causes and when night came on the Party followed him still railing upon him till he came to his own House It being now dark Pericles as he entred in commanded one of his Servants to light him home 118. You see now of what an excellent The Archbishop's good nature Nature this Archbishop was how far from giving offence how ready to forgive a wrong merciful compassionate and tender-hearted Yet was he not void as no man is of infirmities The Holy Scripture noteth of Elias that James 5. 17. he was a man subject to the like passions as we are But as Horace saith optimus ille Serm. lib. 1. sat 3. Qui minimis urgetur So may it be confessed of this Archbishop that the greatest or rather only fault known in him was Choler and yet in him so corrected not by Philosophy alone as Socrates confessed of his Faults but by the Word and Grace of God as it rather served for a Whetstone of his Courage in just Causes than any Weapon whetted against the Person Goods or good Name of any other So that it may as I am verily persuaded be rightfully said of him That he was such a Magistrate as Jethro advised Moses to take in judging the People of God and such a Bishop as St. Paul requireth in the Church of Christ Provide saith Exod. 18. Jethro among all the People men of courage fearing God dealing truly hating covetousness and appoint such over them to be rulers And a Bishop saith St. Paul 1 Tim. 3. must be unreproveable the husband of one wife watching temperate modest harbarous apt to teach not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but gentle no fighter not covetous one that can rule his one house honestly He may not be a young Scholar lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil He must also be well reported of even of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the Devil 119. And now what is there that the Devil himself with all his Imps Popish or Schismatical Libellers can rebuke or condemn in this good Archbishop's Saintly Life Let them examine his Actions in all his carriage and course if so they can convince him in any thing that was not agreeable to the directions of Jethro for a Magistrate and answerable unto the Rule of Saint Paul for a Bishop 120. As for good Works whereof His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry the Papists so vainly brag as particular effects of their superstitious Doctrines yea for which Heaven it self is a due reward by condignity many Towns Cities and Counties can yield a plentiful Testimony for him in this behalf namely Lincoln Worcester the Marches of Wales Kent and Surry wherein he lived and in particular that notable Monument of our time his Hospital of the Blessed Trinity in Croydon which he built very fair and College-wise for a Warden and Eight and twenty Brothers and Sisters He builed also near unto it a goodly Free school with a Schoolmaster 's House allowing unto the Schoolmaster Twenty pounds by year for ever All which he performed with such alacrity and good success that he hath been heard divers times to profess with great comfort that notwithstanding the charge of the Purchase and Building was not small unto him in comparison of his Estate who neither impaired House-keeping nor Retinue at that time yet when he had finished and done that whole Work he found himself no worse in his Estate than when he first began which he ascribed unto the extraordinary blessing and goodness of God 121. After the finishing of this Hospital among many other his good Deeds the French Lieger Embassador in England called Boys Sisi enquired what Works the Archbishop had published for that he would willingly read his Books who was reputed The Peerless Cambden Britan. in Comit. Lincoln Prelate for Piety and Learning in our days and whom in conference he found so grave godly and judicious when it was answered that he only published certain Books in the English Tongue in defence of the Ecclesiastical Government although it be very well known to many who were near unto him that he left divers learned Treatises in Written-hand well worthy the printing and that it was thereupon incidently told the Embassador that he had founded an Hospital and a School he used these words Profectò Hospitale Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift ad sublevandam paupertatem Schola ad instruendam Juventutem sunt optimi Libri quos Archiepiscopus conscribere potuit Truly an Hospital to sustain the Poor and a School to train up Youth are the worthiest Books that an Archbishop could set forth 122. And albeit the Archbishop had His love to Croydon for retirement ever a great affection to lie at his Mansion house at Croyáon for the sweetness of the Place especially in Summer time whereby also he might sometimes retire himself from the multiplicity of Businesses and Suitors in the Vacations yet after he had builded his Hospital and his School he was farther in love with the Place than before The chief comfort of repose or solace that he took was in often dining at the Hospital among his poor Brethren as he called them There he was often visited by his entire and honourable Friends the Earl of Shrewsbury Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Bishop of London and others of near place about her Majesty in whose company he chiefly delighted 123. In the absence of his Friends Chearful and affable in his Family he would be exceeding chearful and affable with his own Gentlemen and Servants though his Bounty towards them and the Poor did not consist in words but in deeds for he was very liberal in Liberal to his Servants rewarding them both with Leases Offices and otherwise with Supplies as their Occasions required out of his Purse and would I make no question have done much more for them out of his own Estate if he had had ability and time after his Sickness first seized upon him to dispose of his worldly Affairs 124. As his Bounty was very great Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous towards his own for in that number likewise he always accounted the poor Society of his Hospital so were his Hands every-where reached out to the necessities of all sorts Yea such was his Charity that if he had seen poor men addicted to labour he would have given them Money and waste Ground to employ in gardening or some such use as might be for their relief Or if he heard that any of his poor Neighbours were decrepit or destitute of means to follow their Trade he would supply their needs either with Money or Fewel and sometimes poor Watermens wants with Boats and such like wherein he dealt no