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
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
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
CONSPIRACIE for Pretended Reformation viz. Presbyteriall Discipline A Treatise discouering the late designments and courses held for aduancement thereof by William Hacket Yeoman Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington Gent. out of others depositions and their owne letters writings confessions vpon examination Together With some part of the life and conditions and the two Inditements Arraignment and Execution of the sayd Hacket Also An answere to the calumniations of such as affirme they were mad men and a resemblance of this action vnto the like happened heretofore in Germanie Vltimo Septembris 1591. Prou. cap. 30. v. 12. There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit and yet are not washed from their filthinesse 2. ad Timoth. cap. 3. v. 5. Hauing a shew of godlinesse but haue denied the power thereof turne away therefore from such Published now by authoritie Imprinted at London by the Deputies of CRISTOPHER BARKER Printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Anno Domini 1592. TO THE READER DIVERS haue hitherto diuersly reported of this Action of the Actors in it according to their owne seuerall intelligences attained thereof and to the humours they are led by And albeit the matter falling out not many moneths since might seeme to be in fresh remembrance of many yet sundry there are which hitherto know not the very particular dangerous attempts and outrages into which these men burst out and the most part I thinke haue not heard what was the originall cause of such their discontentment or the maine drift and purpose of all their designments nor of any the wayes and meanes by them vsed for furthering and atchieuing the principall scope they shot at nor of any their counsels and cariage of the action nor yet who were their complices that were made acquainted with the matter in some generall or more speciall termes By want of knowledge of which things sundry peruerse and sinister conceits and misdeemings haue arisen and are blowen abroad amongst the people which seeme meete to be abated and reformed in them For the Papist our common enimie in some late writings from beyond the seas hath as I am informed wrested these mens dealings to another end And sundry at home who would seeme more moderate then many other of their owne iudgement yet in fauour of the persons or which I iudge rather vpon liking of their opinion in matter of church-gouernement haue allowed their meanings to haue bene good though they mislike somwhat they say of the maner Others seek to disguise the very purposes of these mē as if that which in trueth was most had bene least of all entended by them There are some also purposing to extenuate the fault and to preuent that so iust a blot may not fall vpon the meanest fauourer of pretended reformation who will needs make them to haue bene starke madde and such as knew not what they sayd or did And there want not certaine also who vnder pretence of pitie and commiseration towards them are sayd not to spare to mutter abroad that matters are made worse and of greater consequence and perill then they be in deed and that these men with some others were prosecuted with greater vehemencie and sharpenesse then the cause it selfe or qualitie of their seuerall offences might iustly minister occasion All which vntrue surmises and imputations what doe they els but apparantly and directly tend vnto the iniurie deprauation and slaunder of the honorable Iustice of this realme and state for assertion and clearing whereof from such calumniations and to make manifest also the very trueth of these matters vnto all that are desirous to be enformed aright in them it is thought meete that this treatise for good considerations hitherto staied since it was finished should now at length be published Whereby I make no doubt but it will appeare to any that shall be pleased to peruse it with a single eie how important these causes are to be throughly looked into for the weight and danger of them how honorable the proceedings in them haue bene for maner and how exceeding milde and mercifull a course hath bene holden by the state not onely with some of the chiefe dealers but also with sundry others notable concurrents in the Action who though they be sufficiently well knowen yet hitherto haue not bene so much as called into question howe farre soeuer perhaps they may seeme vnto some not vnwise to haue waded therein or to haue entertained intelligence of it both dangerously and vndutifully So farre is her excellent Maiestie and the whole state from aggrauating mens offences yea and from taking aduantage euen when most iust occasion sometimes is offered I pray God this notable rare clemencie may be hereafter answered by those who both in this other matters stande not a litle neede of it howe litle soeuer they acknowledge it with that measure of dutifull remembrance and thankefulnes which it woorthely deserueth at their handes Amen THE PREFACE WHEN in the tyme of professing the trueth of religion such as pretend greatest sinceritie and zeale doe fall into fanaticall fansies and dangerous attempts then some doe thereupon stagger in the doctrine and are scandalized some be quite driuen backe and others are caried euen with open mouth to slander and to reproch the very profession of the Gospell The two first of which are of the weaker but the last are of the wickeder sort For these are straight way ready to make comparisons betwixt the times and to declaime largely concerning the sweete and golden quiet with agreement in iudgement which they erroneously conceiue to haue continually accompanied the times of superstition and blindnes But though this were vniuersally true which is farre otherwise yet both the one sort and the other are dangerously deceiued and transported into misdeeming by want of due consideration what is the very well-spring and occasion of such accidents vnder the profession of the Gospell For when Sathan the deceiuing enemie of mankind had in the times of Poperie by insensible and as it were obscure degrees vnder a colour of religion and deuotion enuenomed once the very fountaines of doctrine with many pestilent errours much superstition and grosse Idolatrie and had almost quite dammed vp the light of the glorious Gospell then was it no maruell though he here rested his labours as being in some sort arriued vnto the maine ende of all his drifts and purposes In so much as this once atchieued the rest were sufficiently able to goe forward of themselues For vpon corruptiō of faith doctrine must needes ensue either open corruption of life and conuersation or at least corruption masked vnder a vaile of hypocrisie because he that walketh in darknes knoweth not whither he goeth and a corrupt tree cannot bring foorth good fruite Therefore after the victorie gotten that he might more deepely deceiue and surely retaine whome he had caught he thought it requisite at some seasons vpon these corruptions to weaue a vaile of pretended
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
opinion whereby through selfe-loue and illusion of the deuill he thought that hee was reserued of God for somegreat and excellent worke being blowen forward by the shew of zeale and of an earnestnesse for such a reformation could not thus easily be quenched and rooted out of him the rather for that by vse and imitation of such as he most followed conuersed with though otherwise he were wholy vnlettred he had growē to such a dexteritie in conceiuing of extemporall prayers with bumbasted and thundering wordes as that he was thereby meruailed at and greatly magnified by some brethren and sisters as a man greatly vouchsafed with God and adourned with rare and singular endowments from heauen so that through adimiration of such supposed excellencies in him he still continued to fansie vnto himselfe that hee had rare gifts and an extraordinarie calling For hee gaue out to diuers that hee was a Prophet of Gods vengeaunce where his mercy is refused saying that If Reformation be not established in England this present yeere three great plagues shall fall vpon it the sword pestilence and famine Hee pretended also that God had reuealed vnto him most wonderfull things Which he would he sayd vtter to none but such as himselfe knew to be very resolute in Gods cause But he told vnto Arthington and Coppinger that there should be no moe Popes hereafter Vpon confidence of which spirit and gifts in himselfe in places of his resort with an intemperate and fanaticall boldnesse euen as if he had sufficient warrant for it he dared oftentimes to vtter most vile lewd and seditious speaches both of the Queenes Maiestie and of certaine the greatest subiects whom hee thought to be hinderers of his practises Which his outrages being once or twise brought vnto the eares of certaine in authoritie in Northamptonshire and elswhere not sufficiently acquainted with the strange humours of such Anabaptisticall wisards and fanaticall sectaries and perhappes vn willing to let his wordes bee drawen so farre agaynst him as they iustly might they were therefore content to attribute them to some spice of phrenesie in him and in that qualitie to bee corrected rather then to construe them to haue proceeded from any setled and aduised malice as the euent hath since made most manifest they did For in the whole course besides of other the speaches and actions of his life both before and after none alienation of minde or madnesse could bee noted in him At one of the times that hee was brought in question for his seditious and in deed treasonable speaches it happened that hee was conuented before that honourable counseller Sir Walter Mildmay who commaunded him for more safegard to be watched the night before he was to be conueied to Northhampton gaole at what time the counterfait dissembling wretch willed his wife to let him lie alone in the chamber that was to be watched for that he had to conferre with one that would come vnto him that night insinuating vnto her as if he were to haue at that time some special conferences with God or some Angell Wherevpon it was straightway blowen abroad thereabouts amongest the credulous multitude of those that either fauoured him for supposed zeale or feared him for sorceries that albeit there were no candles vsed yet there was a great light that night seene shining in his chamber so that by this tale the erroneous opinions afore conceaued of him were greatly encreased After he had lien in Northhampton gaole a good space and was to come vnto his triall in the absence of Sir Walter from thence the matter is thought to haue bene so handled by some who in fauour of his forwardnes would needes interprete his felonies to be but follies as that none euidence being giuen against him he was dismissed for that pull vpon band entred for his apparance when he should be called for againe Nowe Hacket a man thus qualified as ye heare was of all other men thought by Wigginton most fitte and woorthie to be recommended and straightly linked vnto Coppingers familiar acquaintance as most aptly consorting with his humorous conceite long ere this apprehended by him whereof it seemeth Wigginton was not ignorant nor misliked Their acquaintance was wrought in this manner as Hacket testifieth in that discourse which they since call Hackets historie enlarged endited by himselfe written by Coppinger and afterwarde copied out faire by Arthington as it should haue gone to the presse being annexed to Arthingtons prophesie For there it is said that the Lord brought Hacket to London about the beginning of Easter terme last to see what would be done against Iob Throgmorton and partly to recken with M. Wigginton about the making of malte betweene them together At what time Wigginton said that there was a Gentleman in the Citie a very good man but Hacket as the Lorde knoweth did not thinke that there had bene one godly man in the land and supposed the twelfth Psalme belonged to this time When Wigginton was describing the man and the matter that he was entring into viz. that the man whome he spoke of had a message to say to his Soueraigne concerning some practise entended against her from dealing wherein the Preachers in London had wonderfully discouraged him then Hacket answered thus did you so also No saith Wigginton then said Hacket encourage him in any wise for what know you what matter it is he hath to say Hereupon Wigginton sent for the said Edmund Coppinger to come to the Counter to speake with him who by Gods prouidence came foorthwith Wigginton willed thē to take acquaintance one of the other assuring Coppinger that he knew Hacket to be a man truely fearing God and such a person as by whose conference God might minister some comfort to Coppinger whereupon they two viz. Coppinger Hacket went from thence presently vnto Hackets chāber at the signe of the Castle without Smith field barres so soone as they were entred the chamber Coppinger desired that before any speeche should passe betweene them they might first pray to God together which they did Hacket speaking to the Lord first After which praier Coppinger deliuered vnto Hacket how he had bene very strangely extraordinarily moued by God to go to her Maiestie to tel her plainly that the Lords pleasure was that she must with all speede reforme her selfe her family the Cōmon-wealth the Church that the Lord had further told him by what meanes al the same should be done but that secret he would not then deliuer vnto Hacket Then Copp also praied vnto God desiring him if he would be with him blesse that busines which he had cōmitted to his charge that then he would both furnish him with gifts fit for soweightie an action knit the heart of Hacket his so together as Dauids Ionathans Moses Aarons for answer hereof Hacket tooke further time til the morning at which time in the morning apraier being first made Hacket laid al the
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
their places for so he saide God had giuen in commandement vnto him According to which plots by a tumult of the people at Mulhusin he procured the olde Officer to be deposed and a new Magistrate to be set vp in his place and himselfe to bee chosen a Senator of that Citie albeit he was stil a Preacher and seemed to mislike this course in other men Nowe when as by these and other like meanes great multitudes of men to the number of fourtie thousand had taken vp armes throughout Franconia and Sucuia then he thought opportunitie serued him to set forward his purposes by adioyning himselfe vnto them and in this action one Phyfer a neere companion of his and like affected to him did also ioyne But when the rebellious Rout wanted victuals and many other necessaries whereby their courages began to faile then hee comforted them in his Sermons and assured them as from God that their cause and quarrell was so good that the frame of the whole worlde should sooner be changed then they should be forsaken or left destitute of him And when the Princes armie gathered to subdue them being greater and better furnished then theirs were was ready to ioyne in battell hee still most resolutely assured them of some euident miraculous helpe to bee manifested from Heauen for the ouerthrowe of their enemies saying that God woulde so enfeeble all their enemies shot that Muncer himselfe would receiue them al without harme into the lap of his coate before they should light for a token hereof it happened that they had taken the signe of a Raine-bowe for their ensigne he shewed them as it fell out the selfe same time a true Rainebowe in Heauen as an vndoubted signe that they should obtaine the victorie Whereupon they courageously at first set forward singing a song for ayde by the holy Ghost but being neuerthelesse all put in Rout and discomfited Muncer fledde away and disguised himselfe Yet by meanes of certaine letters that were found with him he was afterward in a house discouered and taken Being brought before the Magistrates he stoutly defended his fact affirming that Princes who refused to establish the puritie of the Gospel were in that sort to be bridled When he was brought to the place of execution saw no hope of escape which before he hoped for he grewe to be very much deiected perplexed in minde in so much as without helpe of a godly Prince which then stoode by he could not repeate so much as the articles of his Christian faith I shall not neede to dwell long in the application and resemblance of these poynts vnto this late tragedie the very reading of them ouer giuing sufficient light vnto the same For the sharpe and angrie zeale of some vnaduised Preachers which pretend neither to like of the Pope nor of the present state of the Church for want of some puritie as they fansie hath it not incensed and made to boyle ouer not onely the foule mouthes of Martinists but also the traiterous actions of these Conspirators And albeit the common multitude whom the Disciplinarians bragge to bee already inflamed with zeale ready to lend a hundred thousande handes for the aduancement of their cause and by whom they hope and say such Reformation must at last bee brought in did better keepe themselues out of this action then was expected Yet the danger thereof was as great and if it had once taken head would happely as hardly as the other haue bene subdued Were not the treaties of these men also in priuate houses at night-fasts and the Consultations concerning it at Classicall Conuenticles and like assemblies Did not these likewise shoote at the ouerthrowe of the whole state Ecclesiasticall and at the displacing of her Maiesties most honorable Counsel and that vnder pretence of Reformation to aduance the preaching of the Gospel in euery congregation throughout this land Made not these the like complaints of wicked Counsellors Noble men and Magistrates for keeping out the Discipline for persecuting sincere Preachers afflicting Gods people like lyons and Dragons And doe they not pretend this to bee a speciall grieuance of theirs that the common people of euery Congregation may not elect their owne Ministers that the people are brought vnder the yoke of the lawe Ceremoniall by paying tythes c. and is not the hand and head of Satan as plainely in this action to seeke the ouerthrowe of sound professors by others of the same profession vnder pretence of greater sinceritie Doe not these likewise almost appropriate to themselues and their fauorites the tennes of Gods Church of Christian brethren and of true reformed Preachers Is any speech more rife in their mouthes then that they will only be tried and iudged by Gods booke and by his spirit Do they not taxe all other men not so farre gone as themselues of loose liues of Antichristianisme of Hypocrisie Idolatrie in the meane time neuer looking at their owne treasons disloyalties and other vices Make they not great ostentation of loue and fidelitie to her Maiesties Person and of care of her safetie euen when they secretly nourished a fansie of forfeiture of her Crowne sought to ouerrule her by Hacket their imagined Soueraigne King of Europe Had they not their Cabinet Preachers their table-end teachers their guides of Fasts c. that teach pray for attend extraordinarie callings by visions dreames reuelations enlightnings Was not Giles Wigginton some others vnto them as Thomas Muncer Phifer were to the Germanes men of supposed great austeritie of life holinesse fauour with God resolutenesse in his cause singlenesse and vprightnesse of heart Did not Wigginton resolue them by examples he gathered touching extraordinarie callings in these dayes by reason of the great waste of this Church of England Had not hee and they likewise learned of the same Deuill in the prayers at fasts to aske signes and seales of God for their extraordinarie callings Doth not Arthington say that he importuned God in his prayers and Coppinger that hee had leaue giuen to talke more familiarly with God then afore Did not Hacket in praying for the pretended possessed Gentlewoman sawcily expostulate with God charge him with his promise as if he dealt not well with him Did he not at his Arraignement and Execution shewe such anger in his prayers against God thinking belike as those did to be excused by his feruencie of zeale Did not both hee and Coppinger pretend conference with God by sundrie reuelations and dreames Fenneri theol Doe not they and the rest of the Disciplinarian humor exact and seeke to square out euen in Hypothesi all ciuill policies and iudgements in causes Criminall especially vnto the Iudicials of Moyses giuen for the people of the Iewes Is there any thing they stand more vpon or condemne the contrary deeper then to haue an equalitie amongs all persons Ecclesiasticall Doe they not inueigh sharpely against Prince and Nobles for
Father had laid vpon him the sinnes of the whole multitude so that now they were cleansed and freed from all vice which was the deliuerance which he promised vnto them therewith they were to holde themselues contented When the Bishops strength by common supplies from the Princes of the Empire were much reēforced matters in the town grewe to that extremitie that by meanes of two persons who conueyed themselues secretly forth of the towne it was at last surprised by the assaylants though with much adoe and bloodshed euen after they were entred Their King with Cuipperdoling and Crecliting their two false prophets were taken aliue but Rotman their Reformed preacher seeing no hope to escape desperately ranne in amongs the thickest of the armed companies and by them he was cut in pieces The three persons aforenamed were caryed about the countrey as a spectacle to sundry the Princes and others thereabouts and after were brought backe againe vnto Munster The Bishoppe of Munster demaunded of the King by what authoritie he tooke vpon him to rule in that Citie who asked the sayde Bishoppe againe by what authoritie he the sayd Bishoppe claymed any power there When he answered that he had it by meanes of election of the Chapter and by consent of the people the King replying sayde that himselfe had his authoritie from God After two dayes had bene bestowed with them to reduce them by godly perswasions from their errours Leyden their King confessed his sinne and desired for giuenesse at Christes handes But Cuipperdoling and Crecliting would confesse no fault but defended their course and opinions with great obstinacie So all three being tyed vnto postes were dismembred by peece meale and pulled in small peeces with hotte burning pinsers and tongs and afterward their carkases were hanged vp there in yron cages but the King in the midst and much higher then the other two as his place required Besides certaine especial opinions which these Anabaptists held namely the yong childrē were not to be baptized touching lawfulnesse of Poligamie or hauing many wiues Of communitie of goods and that Christ tooke not flesh of the virgin Mary c. they also taught and defended many other strange erroneous and hereticall positions and yet they shewed as much deuotion outward holines and puritie as might be As for example they held these folowing viz. that a perfit Christiā might not exercise the office of a Magistrat nor might take an oth before him that God doth now oftētimes shew his will by extraordinarie reuelations dreames and visions That the common people haue an especiall authoritie in determining and establishing of Chruch causes That before the day of iudgement the kingdome of Christ shal be such as that the godly and elect shall ouerthrow subdue all the wicked and then they alone shall rule in the earth That it is lawfull for the people to depose and put downe the Prince or Magistrate That Ministers and others godly affected ought to establish though it were by force a Reformation in all Countries That Princes and Magistrates ought not to pursue this kinde of persons for that they are innocents and the beloued people of God That the seate of Dauid which was fallen downe must bee reestablished and that Christ nowe in the latter ende of the worlde shall reigne externally vpon the earth That the time of besiege they then liued in was that whereof Esaie prophecied wherein the iust and godly were afflicted and persecuted That the time of their deliuerance and enlargement was at hand which should be like to that deliuerance of the Israelites from the thraldome vnder the Babylonians And that then the wicked and vngodly shall receiue the guerdon and recompense of all their impieties committed against the saints all the vngodly being ridde out of the way the seate of righteousnesse should bee prepared and aduanced That there is none efficacie or force in that baptisme wherewith infants are baptized All which they obstinately defended and yet whensoeuer they were charged they pretended that they woulde acknowledge and confesse their errors if they shoulde bee shewed vnto them by the Scriptures to be errours Nowe as I haue done afore in the Historie of Thomas Muncer I must craue leaue that with the readers patience I may also briefly compare and resemble some of the dealings and errours of the Anabaptists of the Citie of Munster with the actions and opinions of these late conspirators of their Disciplinarian schoolemasters from whom they haue sucked like poyson For did not Hacket the most ignorant of all the three being but an vnlettered Maltster in like sort take vpon him to rule the other and to mannage the whole action and are not the most ignorant of such as be of this humor most presumptuous to direct all others and to discusse deepest doubts Haue not their mutuall cohortations and seditious instructions with their conceiued prayers and hypocriticall Fasts that they practised in priuie conuenticles and assemblies giuen greatest strength to his faction to the seduction of numbers Haue not the Magistrates now as great cause to looke into these proceedings before they make head vpon confidence of their multitudes Haue not all the stayed and sounde Preachers of this land by sundrie Maleperts and nowe againe by Arthington bene most insolently challenged vnto disputation Hath not the cause of this pretented Discipline beene neuethelesse quashed oftentimes in Pulpits in publike disputations in the vniuersities and by learned treatises written whereby the weakenesse and meagernesse of their childish collections haue beene fully displayed Will they make any haste or dare they to offer disputation if such conditions assistants and indifferent and learned Iudges as are fit shall bee set downe and appoynted and being beaten from their ordinarie meanes haue not these Conspirators and such as haue animated them betaken themselues vnto pretended extraordinarie callings rauishings in spirite caryings into Heauen reuelations dreames and visions Haue they not seditiously filled our streetes with their like hypocriticall outcries of Repent Repent c. and by gathering of Routes tending to vproare and popular tumult If their purposes had succeeded and their prophecies of killing and massacring men like swine in London streetes had come to passe woulde the outrages in haynousnesse haue come any whit behinde those of Munster If this sort of persons haue bene gratified with any indifferent toleration coulde their restlesse busie heads though they haue promised otherwise cease to hammer by long hand and secretely the bringing to full effect of their designements viz. That they might gouerne in the Church with Christes scepter and administer his kingdome for so they blasphemously terme the Discipline which they haue forged Was not the displacing of her Maiesties Counsell plotted by the Confederates and had they not assigned other Counsellors in their roomes Should those whome themselues had thus chosen and assigned haue remained long in place if their King Hacket had bene once inuested as fully and royally