then of Pembroke-Hall much profited in his Learning sent him by the advice and direction of his Uncle the Abbot to Cambridge where he was first of Queen's College but liking not the Education and Disposition of some there went to Pembroke-Hall Dr. Ridley afterwards Bishop of London being there Master who hearing by Mr. Bradford his Tutor of his great towardliness and small means by reason of his Father's Losses at Sea made him Scholar and then Mr. Gurth became his Tutor from thence he was Chosen Fellow of Peter-House May 1555. chosen Fellow of Peterhouse Dr. Pearne being then Master there 7. Whilst he was Fellow of that Had a grievous Sickness House he fell grievously Sick and was by commandment of Dr. Pearne who much tendred him in regard of his good Parts carried to an House near the College whither Dr. Pearne came often to visit him and willed the Woman Dr. Pearne's special Care of him of the House that he should want nothing neither should she spare any cost for his good and the recovery of his Health saying that if he lived he would be able to defray the Charge himself but if he died the said Dr. Pearne would satisfy her and pay for all things 8. When it pleased God to restore him to his former Health he determined Recovering his Health determined to Travel to Travel beyond the Seas purposely to avoid certain Visitors sent in Queen Mary's time to the University to establish Popery and to enjoyn the young Fellows and Scholars to take Primam tonsuram being their first entrance into Popish Orders 9. Dr. Pearne hearing of this his purpose Disswaded by Dr. Pearne talked with him and found him resolute in his Religion yielding as Dr. Pearne often acknowledged afterwards many good and sound Reasons therefore whereupon the Doctor willed him to be silent and not troublesome in uttering his Opinion whereby others might take occasion to call him in question and he for his part would wink at him and so order the matter that he might continue his Religion and not travel out of the University which accordingly the good old Man justly performed For which his Favour the Archbishop carried a loving faithful and true heart towards him unto his dying Day 10. He Commenced Batchelor of Commenced Batchelor of Arts 1553. Master of Arts 1556. Batchelor of Divinity 1562. Doctor of Divinity 1569. Arts in the Year 1553. Master of Arts 1556. Batchelor of Divinity 1562. Doctor of Divinity 1569. at which time he answered the Divinity Act publickly in the Commencement wherein he maintained this Position Papa est Ille Antichristus 11. After he was entered into the Ministry which was upon the Year 1560. being to Preach his first Publick Sermon in St. Mary's he chose His Act-Sermon at St. Mary ' s 1560. on Rom. 1. 16. for his Text that excellent saying of St. Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ c. wherein his singular Method choice of Matter and judicious handling thereof were such that his whole Auditory especially the chief of the University grew into great admiration of those great Parts in so young Years 12. From being Fellow of Peter-house Made Master of Pembroke-Hall Chaplain to the Bishop of Ely Prebendary of Ely Parsâ—n of Teversam he succeeded Dr. Hutton late Archbishop of York in the Mastership of Pembroke-Hall being then Chaplain to Dr. Cox Bishop of Ely by whose means he had a Prebend in Ely and the Parsonage of Teversam near Cambridge 13. He was also chosen Divinity Divinity Reader Reader of the Lady Margaret's Lecture which he discharged with so great liking of the whole University that for his sake they encreased the Stipend from Twenty Marks to Twenty Pounds and afterwards he was made the Queen's Queen's Professor publick Professor of Divinity 14. Whilst he read these two Lectures the publick Schools were frequented with throngs of Students in Divinity Young and Old such was his diligence great learning and extraordinary gifts shewed in the reading thereof insomuch as many of the precise Faction were his daily Auditors and the Lectures themselves so highly accounted of especially those which he read upon the Apocalyps and the Read upon the Apocalyps and the Hebrews Epistle to the Hebrews that through the importunity of divers his honourable Friends then his Pupils and others of great learning and judgment he was persuaded to set down those his Lectures in writing which are like shortly for their excellency and worth to be published for the common benefit 15. His singular and extraordinary 1567. gift in preaching caused him upon the recommendation of Sir Nicholas Bacon the then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and Sir William Cecill principal Secretary afterwards Lord Treasurer of England to be sent for to preach before Her Majesty who took Sent for to preach before the Queen so great liking of him for his method and matter that hearing his Name to be Whitgift she said he had a whitegift indeed And as his Gifts were then esteemed white so his Fortune afterwards proved white and happy his good Name and Reputation white and spotless so that it may be properly said of him that he was gallinae filius albae 16. Her Majesty within four Months Was made Master of Trinity College July 4. 1567. and the Queen's Chaplain after that he was Master of Pembroke-Hall made him Master of Trinity College and caused him immediately after to be sworn her Chaplain 17. IN the College at his first entrance Found Divisions in the College he found much division especially amongst such as laboured innovation in the Church being begun and headed in the government of his Predecessor Master D. Beaumont Yet did he in short time wisely appease these Wisely appeased them Stirs and governed for five years space with great quietness both of the whole Company and himself until Master Thomas Cartwright a Fellow of that College his last return from beyond the Seas 18. The first discontentment of the Cartwright ' s first discontent said Master Cartwright grew at a Disputation in the University before Queen Elizabeth because Master Preston then of King's College and afterward Master of Trinity Hall for his comely Gesture and pleasing Pronunciation was both liked and rewarded by her Majesty and himself received neither reward nor commendation presuming of his own good Scholarship but wanting indeed that comely grace and behaviour which the other had This his no small grief he uttered unto divers of his inward Friends in Trinity College who were also very much discontented because the honour of the Disputation did not redound unto their College 19. Mr. Cartwright immediately after His Self-conceit her Majesty's neglect of him began to wade into divers Opinions as that of the Discipline and to kick against her Ecclesiastical Government he also then grew highly conceited of himself for Learning and Holiness and
it is pacified by the Archbishop so offended his Friends having laboured exceedingly therein on his behalf that being then Lord General of her Majesty's Forces in France he made open profession of his dislike of the Archbishop But upon his return into England finding how firm her Majesty stood for him and that his stirring in the matter must needs call in question her Majesty's Judgment did therefore in a temperate manner expostulate the matter with the Archbishop from whom he received such an Answer as he knew not well whom to be angry withal unless with the Queen her self who thought him too young a man being yet no Counsellor for so grave a Title and fearing happily lest if she should have committed the guiding of that University unto his young Years and unexperienced Judgment some hot and unruly Spirits there like Phaeton's untamed Horses might have carried him in such an headlong course of government as that the sparks of Contention which were then scarce kindled in that University might have broken forth into open flames to the utter destruction and devastation of the whole State Ecclesiastical And besides this she held the Lord Buckhurst being an ancient Counsellor and her Kinsman more fit for the Place a great deal And so much it seemed the Queen had told The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex the Earl in justification of the Archbishop before his questioning of the matter with him for in effect he acknowledged so much and thereupon they parted in no unkind terms but with due respect of each other in very friendly manner The Queen not long after She makes them firm Friends was the mean of their entring into further Friendship having oftentimes recommended unto the Archbishop the Earl's many excellent Parts and Vertues which she thought then rare in so young Years And the Earl likewise confessed to the Archbishop that her Majesty's often speech of her extraordinary opinion of him and his worth was the cause of his seeking after the Archbishop and therefore did offer to run a course for Clergy Causes according to his directions and advice and to cast off the Novelists as indeed he did immediately after Sir Francis Walsingham's Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles death which was a special cause of the Archbishop's constancy and firmness to the Earl in his disgrace and trouble afterwards 83. But now to return to our former course The Lord Chancellor's death much troubled and perpexed the Archbishop The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death fearing that new Troubles would befal him and the Church Howbeit things were then so well and firmly setled that he had no great ado afterwards saving with their dispersing New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans of Pamphlets and that some few Persons though thanks be to God not powerful both in Court and Country Attempts in Parliament on their behalf did attempt as much as in them lay by motions in Parliament and Bills there preferred to bring in I know not nor they themselves what kind of new Government in the Church but were prevented by the Wisdom of her Majesty who always suppressed those Bills and Motions and still comforted the Archbishop who was oftentimes The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church much grieved with their causeless Complaints and assured him they should not prevail to do any hurt except it were to hurt themselves For she did see in her Princely wisdom how dangerous they were to her and all Imperial Government And when she found them still bent to pursue such Bills and Motions she to deliver the Archbishop from farther trouble and vexation before it was expected and as it were with silence brake up the Parliament 84. AFter the death of Sir Christopher Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Hatton Sir John Puckering was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England of whom because he lived not long I shall not have occasion to say much But for ought that I ever Upon Hatton ' s death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. heard he shewed himself a Friend to the Church unto the Archbishop and his Proceedings and acknowledged him to have been amongst his other good Friends a Furtherer of his Advancement 85. Sir Thomas Egerton Master of the Rolls succeeded him May 6. 1596. Her Majesty and the State had long experience of his Integrity and Wisdom as may appear by the great Places which he worthily held being first her Highness's Sollicitor and then Attorney General In which time besides his many great and weighty Services he was very careful and industrious in labouring earnesty to suppress the aforesaid Libellers a lover of Learning and a most constant Favourer of the Clergy and Church Government He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement established as also a faithful loving Friend to the Archbishop in all his Affairs insomuch as after his advancement to that Honour and that the Earl of Essex and the Archbishop concurred together being also out of the affection of his most honourable Friend the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer further strengthned by the friendship The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends and love of Sir Robert Cecyll principal Secretary and now Earl of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England he began to be fully revived again and as well fortified by them as ever he was when he was most and best friended And her Majesty finding in him a zealous care and faithful performance of his duty and service towards the Church and her Highness shook off those Clergy Cares and laid the burthen The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him of them upon his Shoulders telling him That if any thing went amiss be it upon his Soul and Conscience to answer it for she had rid her hands and looked that he should yield an account on her behalf unto Almighty God 86. And now though the Archbishop He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions was in this singular favour and grace with her Majesty so that he did all in all for the managing of Clergy-Affairs and disposing of Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Promotions yet was he never puffed up with Pride His great Humility and Lenity nor did any thing violently by reason of his Place and greatness with her Majesty against any man For he ever observed this Rule that he would not wound where he could not salve And I leave to the report of the Adversaries themselves when he had that sway in Government and favour with her Highness whether his Carriage were not exceeding mild and temperate and whether he did not endeavour
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
worse with them than that famous Bishop of Lincoln Robert After the manner of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln his usage of his Kinsman Grosthead dealt with his poor Kinsman in whose behalf when he was sollicited to advance him and thereupon enquiring what course of life he followed and receiving answer that he was an Husbandman Why then quoth he if his Plough be broken I will repair it or rather than fail bestow a new one upon him whereby he may go on in his course of life but so to advance him as to make him forsake his Trade or Condition in which he was brought up that mean I not to do 125. I fear lest I have held the Reader too long in these private matters therefore I will for brevity sake omit to speak of the fair Library which he left behind him with many other memorable things worthy the observation and return again unto his publick Affairs 126. THE Archbishop respecting the welfare of the Church and publick Cause albeit he was very confident of the King 's Princely wisdom by the experience he had thereof being now an ancient Counsellor and well understanding the passages of Matters betwixt his Majesty and state of our Country whereby he did conceive that it was not probable so wise and learned a Prince could be overcome with the Conceits of such Innovators whose Fancies could not stand but with hazard of the State yet he held it most expedient to send that Reverend Gentleman Master Doctor Nevill Doctor Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by the Archbishop and Clergy into Scotland to King James Dean of Canterbury into Scotland to his Majesty in the name of the Bishops and Clergy of England to tender their bounden Duties and to understand his Highness's pleasure for the ordering and guiding of Clergy Causes The Dean brought a most gracious Answer of his Highness's purpose which was to uphold and maintain the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled Which Answer did much The King's Answer that he would uphold the Church comforts the Archbishop comfort the Archbishop and the rather because it did yield full satisfaction unto some others who peradventure might conceive some doubt of alteration by reason of the Puritan brags and their affections unto the Presbyterial Government in Scotland 127. In this mean while the preparations Queen Elizabeth's Funeral April 28. 1603. very sumptuously performed were great for solemnization of the late Queen's Funeral which being performed very sumptuously as became the dignity of so great a Prince the Archbishop as he was the principal in the Custody of the Kingdom and chief in all Councils of State under his Majesty in his absence for there is no interregnum in England as Watson the Priest did trayterously pretend so in this last Solemnity of Obsequy unto his ever honoured Sovereign and Mistress he was the most eminent Person of the whole Land and principal Mourner The Archbishop the chief Mourner who received the Offering and had the Banners presented unto him 128. After this when at his Majesty's King James gives him personal assurance of preserving the setled State of the Church first entrance into England the King had spoken with him at Theobalds whereby he more fully conceived his religious pleasure touching the Affairs of this Commonwealth he was therewith put into heart especially when after his coming to London he did again perceive his Resolution for the continuance of the well setled state of the Church which made him more chearfully prepare himself for performance of his Duty as a thing belonging unto King James's Coronation July 25. 1603. by the hands of the Archbishop his Place against the day of Coronation July 25. 1603. 129. At which time the Archbishop with all due Ceremonies and observances for so great a Solemnity crowned and anointed his Sacred Majesty King JAMES in the Collegiate Church of Westminster Then also and there he crowned our most noble and gracious Queen ANN his Majesty's Queen Ann also crown'd at the same time happy and fruitful Wife whose blessed Seed God grant so to encrease and continue as there may never be wanting thereof to rule and reign in this Kingdom 130. The Puritan Faction did not surcease until by their importunity they obtained a Conference before his The Conference at Hampton-Court Jan. 14. 1603. betwixt the Bishops and the Puritans in the King's presence The King satisfied with the Bishops reasonings And orders the reprinting the Liturgy Highness which continued for three days His Majesty having now at full heard their Objections and the Bishops Answers the weakness of the one and the foreible Reasons of the other much confirming his Royal mind in his former Opinion was pleased immediately thereupon to signify publickly his Resolution for the continuance of the Religion and Ecclesiastical Government formerly established highly commending the Wisdom Care and Constancy of his Sister the late Queen Elizabeth in constituting and maintaining all things so well as also approving the Bishops Learning Wisdom and endeavour to uphold so godly and well governed a Church which himself by God's assistance would ever advance and defend Likewise he gave present command touching the new printing of the Common-Prayer-book for the further ratifying of the Liturgy and Orders of our Church 131. The Parliament now growing A Parliament comes on on the Archbishop that he might be the better prepared did appoint a meeting at Fulham at the Bishop of The Bishops have a meeting at Fulham London's House to confer with some of the Bishops and Judges of his Court concerning the Affairs of the Church which were then to be treated upon As he was thus going in his Barge upon an extaordinary cold day and having his Barge-cloath tied up as his custom was to the top of the Bales the Wind blew very sharply so that the young Gentlemen shaking with cold desired to have the Cloath down which he would by no means permit because the Water was rough and he would therefore see his way By reason whereof the flashing of the Water and sharpness of the Air did so pierce the Archbishop being above Threescore and The Archbishop 73 years old is seized with a cold on the Water thirteen years of Age that he complained the same night of a great cold which he had then taken in the mould of his Head 132. Notwithstanding which distemperature for performance of his accustomed duty unto the King's Majesty as formerly unto the Queen he went upon the next Sabbath following being the first Sunday in Lent over unto the Court at Whitehall where Goes to the Court has speech with the King about Affairs of the Church meeting the then Bishop of London they both had long speech with his Highness about the Affairs of the Church both before and after his Majesty's coming from the Chappel For which cause staying long at the Court and having fasted until it was near
These Stirs set on foot at the time of the Spanish Invasion 1588. Ib. The Archbishop's preparation for Defence of his Prince and Country 64 The whole Clergy of his Province Armed Ib. Cartwright the Head of the Puritan Party Ib. Hacket Coppinger and Arthington resort to him 65 Penry and Udall his Consorts Ib. Cartwright's words in the Articles in the Star-Chamber Ib. The Disciplinarians Decree about Books to be printed Ib. Barrow and Greenwood infected by Cartwright 66 Bishop Ravis's Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 1592. Ib. Bishop Androws and Bishop Parrey with others their Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 67 Barrow's Vain-glorious Answer 68 The danger of Innovation Ib. Cartwright withdraws privately 69 Brown the Author of a New Sect of that Name 70 His Positions little differing from Barrow and Greenwood Ib. The Archbishop suppresseth many Schisms and also Controversies in the Universities Ib. He procures Cartwright's Pardon of the Queen Ib. Cartwright's Letters March 24. 1601. acknowledging the Archbishop's Favour 71 The Archbishop tolerates Cartwright to preach publickly without Conformity Ib. The Queen requires his Subscription 72 Cartwright dies Rich Ib. The Earl of Essex favours the Puritans as far as he durst Ib. Upon timely execution of the Laws the state of the Church at quiet 73 Sir Christopher Hatton died Novemb. 20. 1591. Ib. Lord Buckhurst chosen Chancellor of Oxford on the Queen's Letters Ib. Earl of Essex offended at it is pacified by the Archbishop Ib. The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex 74 She makes them firm Friends 75 Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. Ib. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles Ib. The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death Ib. New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans 76 Attempts in Parliament on their behalf Ib. The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church Ib. Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Ib. Upon Hatton's death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business 77 Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. Ib. He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement Ib. The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends 78 The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him Ib. He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions Ib. His great Humility and Lenity Ib. The Earl of Salisbury's Observation on him 80 Many favoured and eased by the Archbishop's intercession Ib. The wisdom of the Queen in her moderate Government 81 The Archbishop follows her Example Ib. The Arcbishop a great lover and encourager of Learned and Virtuous Clergy 83 Was bountiful to Foreigners of Learning and Quality Ib. Theod. Beza his Letters to the Archbishop March 8. 1591. Ib. Approving the Policy of the English Church Ib. Beza his high commendation of the Church of England 84 His great respect to the Archbishop Ib. The Archbishop's kindness and charity to Foreign Divines of the Reformation 85 His backwardness to censure other mens Gifts and Performances 86 The Archbishop a constant Preacher when publick Affairs would admit 87 Had an excellent Tallent in Preaching Ib. Learned eloquent and judicious Ib. His Gesture grave and decent without affectation Ib. Of great Integrity and unspotted Life 88 He wrote the Notes of his Sermons Ib. Disapproved trusting only to Memory Ib. When at Worcester he treated the Recusants mildly and won many of them over 89 When he came to be Archbishop he dealt with the Learnedst of them by Authority Ecclesiastical Ib. He kept a straight hand over the Seminary Priests and subtle Papists 90 He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries 91 He hated Ingratitude Ib. Is firm in his Friendships Ib. Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex 92 The Queen displeased at his intercession for the Earl which much grieved him Ib. Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Ib. The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence 93 Well taken at Court Ib. Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower Ib. The Archbishop in the Qucen's good opinion and favour to her dying-day 94 Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. Ib. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness Ib. The Faction take heart on the Queen's death 95 King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. 96 The People are pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King Ib. Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts Ib. His Liberality great 97 He kept many poor Scholars in his House Ib. And maintained divers in the Universities Ib. Is an incourager of Military Exercises Ib. His House a little Academy 98 His Chaplains promoted Ib. The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes 99 His Resolution in Judgment 100 An Instance 101 He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court Ib. His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction 102 His great Hospitality 103 His State Ib. His entertainment of the Queen Ib. He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country 104 His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity 105 A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church Ib. The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham 106 The Archbishop's good nature 108 His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry 110 Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift 111 His love to Croydon for retirement 112 Chearful and affable in his Family Ib. Liberal to his Servants Ib. Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous 113 After the manner of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln his usage of his Kinsman Ib. Dr. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by the Archbishop and Clergy into Scotland to King James 115 The King's Answer that he would uphold the Church comforts the Archbishop Ib. Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Apr. 28. 1603. very sumptuously performed Ib. The Archbishop the chief Mourner 116 King James gives him personal assurance of preserving the setled State of the Church Ib. King Jame's Coronation July 25. 1603. by the hands of the Archbishop Ib. Queen Ann also crown'd at the same time Ib. The Conference at Hampton-Court Jan. 14. 1603. betwixt the Bishops and the Puritans in the King's presence 117 The King satisfied with the Bishops Reasonings Ib. And orders the reprinting the Liturgy Ib. A Parliament comes on 118 The Bishops have a meeting at Fulham Ib. The Archbishop 73 years old is seized with a Cold on the Water Ib. Goes to Court has speech with the King about Affairs of the Church 119 Is taken with a dead Palsey Ib. Conveyed to Lambeth Ib. The King visits him Ib. He earnestly recommends the Church to his Royal Care 120 He departs this Life Feb. ult 1603. 121 He was Bishop
Note Coppinger ' s Letter to Cartwright about some special service to God and his Church he fancied himself call'd for of the Letter unto T. C. is in mine Opinion meet to be here inserted in many respects viz. Right Reverend Sir I have with much grief been put back from doing some special service to God and to his Church which I hope time will manifest that I am appointed for Which if it had been done by Enemies it should not much have troubled me But being done by Persons as much regarded by me as flesh and blood can regard men it goeth near unto me From you I received this Message That I should attempt nothing but by advice of those whom you would procure to counsel me This was done from you in the name of the Lord of Heaven and Earth and therefore I obey it with great care and conscience expecting at your hands that Monday being the day appointed for conference that it may hold that I may be justified in my course or condemned The danger that Note some stand in for their lives is not unknown And if I had not been letted I durst have ventured my life to have procured their release ere now God help us I see Wisdom Zeal Courage and Love are seen but in few and those who would gladly use those Graces and Gifts which God hath given them cannot But God seeth what is best to be done and he will by contrary effects bring to pass whatsoever pleaseth him If you will answer my last Questions there may much use be made of them I desire them as much in regard of others as my self who are resolved of divers things whereof I crave to be resolved which I do to good purpose And as you commanded me in the name of God to be wise and circumspect and to deal by counsel so as I may I command you in the name of God that you advise the Preachers to deal speedily and circumspectly lest some blood of the Saints be Note shed which must needs bring down vengeance from Heaven upon the Land Return this Letter I beseech you to me that I may shew it amongst other things when the meeting shall be and commend me and my Purposes to God in your holy Prayers that they may so far be blessed as himself is the director of them God keep us ever his this 14th of February There is also this Postscript I am so full of worldly business as I have no time to attend this weighty Action but do only weight upon God for the direction of his Spirit saving my heart and soul are still mindful hereof and to morrow by God's grace I will humble my self before his Majesty in fasting and prayer and hope that God will stir up some other to join with me in spirit though few or none in person do only one I am assured of the Prisoners know it I leave it to them to join or Note not as God moves them but if ever men will fast and pray I think it is now more than time to do it The Superscription was this To my very loving and reverend Friend Master C. He dealt also about this matter with another Gentleman of the Laity in one of J. T. a Lay Gentleman his Letter to Coppinger intimating caution about some singular Course or special Practice whose Letters written in answer to Coppinger's the 18th of the fifth Month meaning thereby May I find these words of some mark I confess saith he I heard some buz 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 bear good will to the holy Cause in this perilous Age of ours to take both your eyes in your hands as they say and to be sure of your ground and Strive to put in execution warrant before you strive to put in execution Besides these and some others he instanted both by word and Letters in Easter Term last about this business a certain Gentleman In his first Letter to the said Gentleman dated the 19th of May last Coppinger promiseth to him in the name of the Coppinger comforteth a Gentleman censured in Star-chamber for the Cause Lord a recompence in the life to come for that in the Star-chamber he feared God more than Man in such a glorious Action so pleasing to God so behoveful to his Church which shall also remain of record here to all posterity And a little after thus If after your own holy private Prayer you find any desire of speech with me let me intreat you either to send this Letter to M. Cartwright or rather if you can carry it unto him c. The second Letter which he writ to the said Lawyer the 21st of May they having in the mean time conferred together was thus word by word Let thy Spirit O gracious Father direct us now and for ever in all our ways especially in those whereby greatest honour may redound to thy glorious Majesty most benefit to thy Church and most danger to thine Enemies Good Sir and my loving Brother in the Lord though such as are admitted to consult with God and have by prayer and meditation much familiarity and acquaintance with his holy Majesty need not doubt of good success in all things which he setteth them a work in though Satan and his Vassals cross their course and hinder their labour by all the means they can yet is it also necessary that while we remain in the fellowship and communion of the Saints that we communicate one with another that as loving Children we may all join together to help each other to be doers of our heavenly Father's will here on Earth as the Angels do it in the Heavens The conscience which I had hereof enforced me to write unto you lately and the like moved you to speak with me upon that Letter And truly I did observe many things in that little time we spent together were said and done which might move either of us to praise our good God and to cheer us up to further so holy an Action as now is in Note hand which must needs speed well in the end because it is the Lord 's own work And if we adventure our selves to do him service here he will reward elsewhere You may be bold for you have the warrant of the Word the allowance of the State and you walk in your own Calling But I am to be fearful and circumspect because the Dangers I enter into be infinite my Course misliked though unknown because it is extraordinary which Callings be ceased in all mens opinion of judgment and have not of long time been heard of or to be hoped for but where the Word is not preached at all or the Church in a great waste which no body dare affirm our Church of England to be Wherefore it seemeth that every step that I shall
alledged Whereby upon that which he heard and knew is confessed that he is verily persuaded Hacket menat her Majesty should have been deprived both of Kingdom and Life which he also gathered by Coppinger's Letters albeit he denieth that he was ever made acquainted by what special means it should be done Thus having in some part described the Qualities Persuasions in Opinion Familiarity Inducements unto mutual crediting one of another Exercises and Designments of these Persons It resteth to go on with the Narration of the rest of the Action for better perfiting up of this History Hacket on a time recounting up unto the other two his Torments which he pretended to have endured told how amongst others one Pigg a Preacher did so beat him with Rods at a place in Hartfordshire whilst he lay bound there in a Sink-hole that this cost him the said Hacket more dear than all the rest of his Torments because thereby he was enforced to suffer for all Hypocrites also adding thereunto that all their best Preachers so they term such as thirst after and persuade Innovations were no better in very truth than Hypocrites nevertheless he They account their Puritanical Preachers Hypocrites and Idolaters for their conformity to the Laws of the Church would he said daily hear them preach Hereupon Arthington took occasion to tell him that he could prove all such Preachers to be Hypocrites and Idolaters both albeit of ignorance because they do yield in some sort to the Commandments of the Governors and unto the Laws of this Church that they may be tolerated to preach This pleased Hacket so exceedingly well as that he began highly to esteem of Arthington and hereby the rather he thought good that Arthington should be made acquainted with their Letters For about ten days before their rising Arthington saith that Coppinger did greatly importune him to read the Letters which he and Hacket had written if it were but to see the stile assuring him they tended to nothing else but to make a way to acquaint her Majesty with their Secrets So that when Arthington saw so great Counsellors so resolutely thereby charged with matter of so high quality by Coppinger especially her Majesty's sworn Servant he was induced to believe it and to think they had some very good ground thereof Arthington also with great contentment unto Hacket framed certain Syllogisms I believe in a lewd Mode and in an unperfect and fond Figure to prove forsooth one of the said honourable Counsellors whom he and Coppinger villanously afterward proclaimed Traitors to be such as they do charge him to be This worthy work of Syllogisms therefore being first finished his other Treatise to prove those Preachers to be Hypocrites and Idolaters was straightway set upon the stocks and began to be built on the Monday before their rising after they all had for obtaining good success in this and the rest of their business humbled themselves on the Lord's day Fasting and Prayer on the Lord's-day before the Insurrection afore in fasting and prayer for so be their words This latter Treatise Arthington finished up the Thursday morning next after and termed it A Prophecy of Judgments against England whose skill in this precipitate kind of Pistling the other two so magnified as that they termed him by a Title mentioned in a Psalm viz. The pen of a ready writer Whereas wiser men think they might have looked a little lower and he have better compared it as the Wiseman doth the like where he saith A word in a fool's mouth is like an arrow in a dog's leg because he will never leave wrinching and fisking till he have got it out In this Prophecy he first setteth down Arthington's Prophecy the Third Commandment inferring what Plagues shall light on himself if he offend therein Then cometh he to his nine several Assertions adding to every one of them The Lord to confound him viz. that if he think not himself to be the vilest sinful Wretch living If he take not himself to be the most ignorant in God's Book of any man that hath professed the Gospel so long If he acknowledge not himself most unfit and unworthy of all men to serve the Lord Jesus If nevertheless he be not extraordinarily called to do the Message of God more faithfully than any Preacher in England hitherto hath done If the Scripture do not justify extraordinary Callings before the ends of the World If he know not two Persons within the City of London that have greater extraordinary Callings than himself videlicet Edmund Coppinger and William Hacket If the former be not a Prophet raised up of the Lord to bring a Message of great Mercy to the Land if all the People truly repent of their Sins If the latter be not the holiest Man and of the greatest power to bring fearful Judgments upon the whole Earth that ever was born Christ Jesus excepted If the said Hacket as the Messenger of God's Vengeance where mercy is refused do not bring such great Plagues upon this Realm of England the like whereof was never seen In these and in every of these several Cases he prayeth the Lord to confound His dreadful Imprecations him Whereupon he inferreth that having thus denounced so many fearful Woes against his own Soul as would sink it into the bottomless Pit of Hell if he were guilty in any one of them Then thereupon with chearfulness he cometh to declare his Message to England accusing it to be the most rebellious though it have been most blessed of all other Nations Then he affirmeth the City of London and the Courts of Justice at Westminster and the counterfeit Worship of God with Cross and Surpless to be worse than Sodom and Gomorrah or the Purple Whore of Rome or else desireth to be confounded Nay he preferreth Rome before London because at Rome they sin only of ignorance Of her Majesty he saith she is least guilty of the common Sins but most abused of any Prince that ever was by those whom she hath most advanced Then he speaks to three great Counsellors C. C. T. daring them to protest for their innocencies against themselves as deeply as he hath done and then if they be not swallowed up quick he is contented to be hanged up in Chains at Paul's-Cross Then he threatneth them that they three shall be otherwise Note detected ere long and all those that are their Partakers when her Majesty shall reign and live to see better days if God give her true repentance Then he saith he will leave all other of the Clergy as sufficiently detected already save such as pretend to seek Reformation who he saith are as guilty in two points as any of the other The first point for not crying out continually against Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons and others as wicked Usurpers in the House of God The second for not crying out against the wicked Magistrates of this Land because they keep out the Elderships
dismayed and yet not sought to be revealed by Wigginton unto any Magistrate till upon his examination it was found out Lastly I observe the Coggery of the 6 Reporter or else the lewd lying and contradiction to himself of that wretched Seducer Hacket For in his Answer to the fifth and sixth Articles he knows no degrees of glory in Heaven and yet in his Answer to the eighth he assigneth more honour and higher places in Heaven unto some few that are the most forward than he doth unto others But let us go on with the Narration of the principal Action interrupted by occasion of the Conferences had with Wigginton and of his report of them From Wigginton's Lodging the said Coppinger Hacket ' s History continued and Arthington came directly to Hacket's Chamber in Walker's House at Broken Wharf and there found the Beast in Bed after Eight of the Clock Where being enflamed they say with zeal out of all measure Coppinger began to pray at the Bed's feet and Arthington joined with him wherein they stood much upon their own unworthiness c. but yet offered their obedience to do as the Lord should direct them by his Spirit having already done so much as was enjoined them Whereupon Hacket came out of his Bed and prayed with them in his Shirt twice that the Spirit might direct them and they likewise obey the same in all things to the glory of God only After Hacket's latter Prayer Coppinger offered to go on in his Prayer but the Devilish Spirit moved Arthington to interrupt him and to charge him in the Name of the Lord Jesus to arise and anoint the King with the Holy Ghost Whereupon Coppinger straightway rose up and three times kissed the Boards under his feet rising up after every time and making great reverence with bowed knee and after the third time he came towards Hacket as he lay in his Bed who put out his hand and took Coppinger by the hand and said You shall not need to anoint me Blasphemy for I have been already anointed in Heaven by the Holy Ghost himself Then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Go your way both said he as Arthington reports and tell them in the City that Christ Jesus is come with his Fan in his hand to judge the Earth And if any man ask you where he is tell them he lies at Walker ' s House by Broken Wharf and if they will not believe it let them come and kill me if they can for as truly as Christ Jesus is in Heaven so truly is he come to judge the world Then Coppinger said it should be done forthwith and thereupon went forward and Arthington followed so readily the said Prophet of Mercy that he had no leisure to take his Gloves with him and ere Arthington could get down the Stairs Coppinger had begun in the House below to proclaim News from Heaven of exceeding great Mercy That Christ Jesus was come c. as above is said with whom Arthington also cried the same words aloud following him along the Streets from thence by Watling-street and Old Change towards Cheapside they both adding beyond their Commission these words Repent England Repent But surely either their Commission was delivered them at one time or other more largely than the one of them now reporteth or else they went beyond and exceeded it in many other material Points besides this For after they both had thus come with mighty concourse of the common multitude as to such a novelty of hearing two new Prophets in these days arisen was likely with an uniform cry into Cheapside near unto the Cross and there finding the throng and press of People to encrease about them in such sort as that they could not well pass further nor be conveniently heard of them all as they desired therefore they got them up into an empty Cart which stood there and out of that choise Pulpit fur such a purpose made their lewd and traiterous preachment unto the People wherein they stood not only upon the words of their former cry but so near as I could learn from so common an Auditory and in so confused an Action they reading something out of a Paper went more particularly over the Office and Calling of Hacket how he represented Christ by partaking a part of his glorified Body by his principal Spirit and by the Office of severing the Good from the Bad with his Fan in his hand and of establishing the Gospel in Europe which as it seemeth they took to be all the World or else supposed that all Europe did profess Christianity and of bringing in that Discipline which they so often babble of and which they mean by the term of Reformation and the holy Cause That he was now come and all these things were presently to be performed by him telling also the People where they saw him where he lay and remained That they were two Prophets the one of Mercy the other of Judgment sent and extraordinarily called by God to assist him in this great Work and were Witnesses of these things confirming the same upon their own Salvation and wishing themselves confounded and damned for ever if these things they spoke were not true And thereupon the one of them pronounced Mercy great Comfort and unspeakable Joys to all that should repent presently be obedient and embrace this acceptable Message and opportunity offered And the other denounced terrible Judgments if they repented not which should even presently also fall upon them and especially upon that City of London affirming that all that believed them not were condemned Body and Soul This Judgment against London as Arthington the pretended Prophet of Judgment saith he gathered out of Hacket's History was that men should there kill and massacre one another as Butchers do kill Swine all the day long and no man should take compassion of them There was then and there further delivered by them or by the one of them that Hacket was King of Europe and so ought to be obeyed and taken and that all Kings must hold of him and that the Queen's Majesty had forfeited her Crown and was worthy to be deprived Which most traiterous Point amongst others Hacket enjoined them to publish as in the one of his Indictments is contained Lastly In very unmannerly and sawey terms they prayed to God to confound two great Lords of her Majesty's Counsel for these two together with a certain Knight they then and there openly and most lewdly accused in general terms of Treason This outrage was done the sixteenth day of July aforesaid about Ten of the Clock or something after in the Forenoon By which their Proclamation being laid together with their former Conferences Letters and Purposes against the Queen and Counsel and for advancing of Hacket and for altering the State with the very time when so many Soldiers were about the City it is evident to any who hath but half an eye to
other had a former Fast at the aforesaid Lancaster's House about one Week afore that time and that her Majesties Counsel that now are must be Tryed by this King whether they are to be remov'd from her Majesty or not and that she is to have to be about her to attend her Person for the time such as himself should assign which shall be those whom he hath named in a Letter of his that is found with him and some others also he said were meant to have been assigned also for that purpose There fell out also upon some of Arthington's Examinations while he remained obstinate certain other points not unworthy to be remembred One was that whereas he in writing of a treatise against the state of this Church as it now standeth observed as he saith therein his old want to abstain from bitter speeches and raylings as a thing which he naturally abhorred yet within these few Months and after he had entred into these actions he had altred his opinion and was moved in spirit to follow another sharp and biting course of Writing as being more convenient in his judgment Also when some that examined him stood greatly upon this point to persuade him that he was seduced in those things wherein he seemed so resolute and reasoned against such their pretended extraordinary callings gifts and offices then he for better confirmation thereof said that it should very shortly appear to the world that they were no such seduced persons as was imagined For whereas a godly Gentlewoman in London so he termed her had been by the space of 14 years possessed with a Devil as is afore touched that for a sure sign of their vocation the said Devil should be thrown out of her by all or some of their three means very shortly He also persisted wilful in his former fancies until the very time that he knew Hacket was hanged for until that day he very confidently affirmed that he was most assured by the Spirit of God and by the joys and comfort he inwardly felt that Hacket did participate with Christ in a part of his office and was indeed King of all Europe on whom her Majesty and all other must hold their crowns and scepters and must govern if they would continue their government by such Laws as he should prescribe and set forth That all they three should shortly be dismissed and should go over-Sea with Hacket to take possession of all those his other Kingdoms abroad and to perform their Offices But when the vanity and danger of this strange fancy was opened unto him his answer was to this effect You think saith he somewhat pleasantly as it were pitying their error and misconceit that we have incurred the danger of laws herein and that we shall therefore be put to death but as sure as God is in Heaven the sword shall not come near to hurt us neither shall any man be able to touch the least hair of any of our heads Thus the mean time for the most part Hacket comes to his Tryal thereof from Friday the 16th of July until Monday sevennight after being spent in examinations it was thought good that Hacket should then come to his Tryal on which day being the 26th of July he was brought from Bridewell to the Sessions-house near Newgate before the Lord Mayor the Lord Wentworth Sir Gilbert Gerrard Knight Master of the Rolls Sir Walstane Dixie and Sir Richard Martin Knights Mr. Sergeant Fleetwood Recorder of London Mr. Daniel and others in that Commission where after the Grand Jury was Empannelled the Witnesses that should give evidence Sworn and two several Indictments against him found Hacket was willed to hold up his hand which he did then the first Indictment was read being of this tenour being turned into English viz. The Jury do present for the Queen That The Indictment London ss William Hacket late of Oundel in the County of Northampton Yeoman as a false Traytor against the most excellent and Christian Princess our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. his natural and Sovereign liege Lady having not the fear of God in his heart nor weighing his due allegiance but seduced by the instigation of the Devil maliciously and traiterously compassing imagining devising and intending the deprivation and deposing of our said Sovereign Lady Elizabeth from her honour and royal name of the Imperial Crown of this Realm of England on the 21st day of July in the 33d year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth now Queen of England at London that is to say in the Parish of St. Brides in the Ward of Farringdon extra London and divers other days and times betwixt the 12th of February last past and the 25th day of July in the said 33d year of her Majesties Reign as well in the Parish and Ward aforesaid as elsewhere in London aforesaid of his own perverse and traiterous mind and imagination maliciously expresly advisedly directly and traiterously in the presence and hearing of sundry faithful Subjects of our said Sovereign Lady these false malicious and traiterous English words following concerning our said Sovereign Lady the Queen's Majesty falsly maliciously advisedly expresly directly and traiterously said rehearsed published and spoke viz. That the Queen's Majesty meaning thereby our said Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth was not Queen of England and that the Queen's Majesty meaning thereby our said Sovereign Queen Elizabeth did represent all hypocrisy and had forfeited her Crown and was worthy to be deprived and that he had been of that opinion this four years and that he defaced her Arms in Kayes house thereby meaning the house of one Ralph Kayes situate and being in Knightrider-street in the Parish of St. Gregory near Pauls in the Ward of Baynard ' s Castle London to take away her whole power of her Authority and was moved thereunto by the spirit and that he neither was nor is sorry therefore to the great scandal and derogation of the person and Royalty of our said Sovereign Lady the Queen and to the subversion of the State of this Realm of England and contrary to the form of a statute in this case made and provided and also against the peace of our said Sovereign Lady her Crown and dignities c. Being asked whether he were guilty to this Indictment or not he confessed and He pleaks guilty pleaded guilty adding this All must be as you will Whereupon Mr. Attorney-General desired for the Queen his confession of the Indictment might be entred Then Hacket being again bidden to hold up his hand he did so accordingly whereupon the second Indictment was read being in English as followeth viz. The Jury presents for the Queen That William Second Indictment London ss Hacket late of Oundel in the County of Northampton Yeoman as a false traitor against the most excellent and Christian Princess our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace
of God of England France and Ireland Queen desender of the Faith c. Having not the fear of God in his heart nor weighing his due allegiance but seduced by the Instigation of the Devil and intending wholly to withdraw put out and extinguish the hearty love and the true and due obedience which a true and faithful subject of the Queen's should bear and by law is bound to bear towards our said Sovereign Lady the Queen the first day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the said Queen at London in the Parish of S. Gregory near Paul ' s in the Ward of Castle-Baynard London falsly maliciously and traiterously intended imagined went about and compassed the said Queen his Sovereign and natural liege Lady not only from her Royal state title power and government of this Realm of England utterly to deprive depose cast down and disherit but also to bring and put the said Queen's Majesty to death and final destruction and sedition in the said Realm of England to raise up levy and make and also wholly to subvert and destroy the state of this whole Commonwealth being in and throughout every part thereof well constituted and ordered And to the intent be might fulfil and bring to pass those his aforesaid traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents the said William Hacket afterward that is to say the said first day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is did come to the mansion house of one Ralph Kayes situate and being in Knight-rider-street in the said Parish of St. Gregory in the Ward aforesaid and then and there maliciously devilishly and traiterously raced and defaced the Arms of the Queen's Majesty then and there in the said house being with this intent traiterously to take away put down and overthrow the power of Authority of the said Queen And that the said William Hacket for further accomplishing and effecting of his said traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents the said first day of July in the said 33d year of her Majesties reign in the house of the said Ralph Kayes situate in the parish and ward aforesaid did traiterously raze a certain Picture of the Queen's Majesty then and there in the said house likewise being and then and there did maliciously and traiterously put in and thrust an Iron Instrument into that part of the said Picture that did represent the Breast and Heart of the Queen's Majesty And afterward that is to say on the 16th day of July in the 33d year of the reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is the said William Hacket traiterously came to the house of one John Walker situate and being in the Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the Ward of Queen-hith in London aforesaid with intent traiterously to confer and treat with one Edmund Coppinger Gent. and Henry Arthington Gent. concerning his traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents aforesaid And that the said William Hacket afterward that is to say on the 16th day of July in the 33d year of the Reign of the Queen's Majesty that now is at London aforesaid in the house of the said John Walker in the foresaid Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queenhith in London of his own perverse and traiterous mind and imagination maliciously advisedly expresly and traiterously did treat and had conference with the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington by what ways means and manner the said traiterous purposes imaginations compassings and intents might be accomplished and brought to pass And thereupon on the said 16th day of July in the said 33d year in the said house of John Walker aforesaid situate and being in the said Parish of Saint Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queenhith London in the presence and hearing of the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington being then and there in the said house the said Hacket these false traiterous English words following of our said Sovereign Queen Elizabeth falsly maliciously advisedly expresly directly and traiterously said rehearsed published and spoke viz. That the Queen's Majesty meaning our said Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth had forfeited her Crown and was worthy to be deprived And that furthermore the said William Hacket thereupon the said 16th day of July in the said 33d year in the said house of John Walker situate in the Parish of St. Mary Somerset in the said Ward of Queen-hith London maliciously and traiterously moved and stirred up the said Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington traiterously and openly to publish and declare in London aforesaid that the Queen's Majesty that now is had forfeited her Crown to the great offence and derogation of the person of the Queen's Majesty and to the subversion of the state of this Realm of England and contrary to the peace of our said Sovereign Lady her crown and dignities c. And being likewise asked whether he were guilty to this Indictment or not To this he answers perversly belike perceiving that he was already plunged in far enough he began then to answer more perversly saying to the Bench You have wit enough to judge for me and your selves too Being asked the same again he said Few words are best it is good to know much and to say little And being divers times asked he still repeated these words Then being told that if he should persist in that sort not to plead directly as by Law he ought it could not serve his turn for that alone was sufficient of it self to condemn him of the Treason and being asked again whether he were guilty or not he said Ambo But some further good advertisements being given unto him at last after much ado he pleaded Not At last pleads not guilty guilty to that second Indictment Thereupon being asked by whom he would be Tried he said By the Country But being told he ought to say By God and by the Country he said That he would be tried by the Jury And therewithal burst He blasphemes out into such blasphemous and hellish words against the Majesty of God in truth not to be heard by Christian ears and therefore not to be uttered or repeated here that they were to the great astonishment and horror of all and detestation of him with all the hearers It may be that he Intending to induce the Court to believe him mad hoped thereby to induce the Judges to an opinion that he was mad and furious albeit in his countenance gesture attentiveness to that which was spoken silence when he ought holding up his hand when he was commanded perceiving the effect of all was spoken pertinent though sometimes perverse answers through all that action no tokens of any fury or madness at all could be noted in him Some have imagined that the Illusion of the Devil was so strong to persuade him of an immunity from all danger according to his former conceived Opinions that thereby he grew to such a
to be bridled When he was brought to the place of Execution and saw no hope of Escape which before he hoped for he grew to be At his Execution is dejected and poplexed very much dejected and perplexed in Mind insomuch as without help of a Godly Prince which then stood by he could not repeat so much as the Articles of his Christian faith I shall not need to dwell long in the application The Story applied to our Disciplinarians and the Parallel alike in all particulars and resemblance of these points unto this late Tragedy the very reading of them over giving sufficient Light unto the same For the sharp and angry Zeal of some unadvised Preachers which pretend neither to like of the Pope nor of the present state of the Church for want of some purity as they fansy Hath it not incensed and made to boil over not only the foul Mouths of Martinists but also the traiterous actions of these Conspirators And albeit the common multitude whom the Disciplinarians brag to be already inflamed with Zeal ready to lend a hundred thousand hands for the advancement of their Cause and by whom they hope and say such Reformation must at last be brought in did better keep themselves out of this Action than was expected Yet the danger thereof was as great and if it had once taken head would happily as hardly as the other have been subdued Were not the Treaties of these men also in private Houses at Night-Fasts and the Consultations concerning it at Classical Conventicles and like Assemblies Did not these likewise shoot at the Overthrow of the whole State Ecclesiastical and at the displacing of her Majesty's most Honourable Council and that under pretence of Reformation and to advance the preaching of the Gospel in every Congregation throughout this Land Made not these the like Complaints of wicked Counsellors Noblemen and Magistrates for keeping out the Discipline for persecuting sincere Preachers and afflicting God's People like Lyons and Dragons And do they not pretend this to be a special Grievance of theirs That the common people of every Congregation may not elect their own Ministers That the People are brought under the Yoak of the Law Ceremonial by paying Tythes c. and is not the hand and head of Satan as plainly in this Action to seek the overthrow of sound Professors by others of the same Profession under pretence of greater Sincerity Do not these likewise almost appropriate to themselves and their Favourites the Terms of God's Church of Christian Brethren and of true and reformed Preachers Is any Speech more rise in their mouths than that they will only be tried and judged by God's Book and by his Spirit Do they not tax all other men not so far gone as themselves of loose Lives of Antichristianism of Hypocrisy and Idolatry in the mean time never looking at their own Treasons Disloyalties and other Vices Make they not great Ostentation of Love and Fidelity to her Majesty's Person and of Care of her Safety even when they secretly nourished a fancy of Forfeiture of her Crown and sought to over-rule her by Hacket their imagined Sovereign King of Europe Had they not their Cabinet Preachers their Table-end Teachers their Guides of Fasts c. that teach pray for and attend extraordinary Callings by Visions Dreams Revelations and Enlightnings Was not Giles Wigginton and some others unto them as Thomas Muncer and Phifer were to the Germans men of supposed great Austerity of Life Holiness Favour with God Resoluteness in his Cause Singleness and Uprightness of heart Did not Wigginton resolve them by Examples he gathered touching Extraordinary Callings in these days by reason of the great Waste of this Church of England Had not he and they likewise learned of the same Devil in the Prayers at Fasts to ask Signs and Seals of God for their extraordinary Callings Doth not Arthington say that he importuned God in his Prayers And Coppinger That he had leave given to talk more familiarly with God than afore Did not Hacket in praying for the pretended possessed Gentlewoman sawcily expostulate with God and charge him with his Promise as if he dealt not well with him Did he not at his Arraignment and Execution shew such Anger in his Prayers against God thinking belike as those did to be excused by his Fervency of Zeal Did not both he and Coppinger pretend Conference with God by sundry Revelations and Dreams Do not they and the rest of the Disciplinarian Humour Fenneritheol exact and seek to square out even in Hypothesi all Civil Policies and Judgments in Causes Criminal especially unto the Judicials of Moses given for the People of the Jews Is there any thing they stand more upon or condemn the contrary deeper than to have an Equality among all Persons Ecclesiastical Do they not inveigh sharply against Prince and Nobles for upholding the State Ecclesiastical and in this respect intended to have them brought to Repentance when their Opinions grew to a Ripeness Was not this their principal pretended purpose to plant the Gospel and their Reformation by rooting out wicked Magistrates and Counsellors as they judged and by setting others in their places Did Hacket's fancied Fan instead of Christ to sever the good from the bad import any thing else or should it have served any other turn than for the killing up of all that thought not well of their Discipline and Reformation Did they not pretend the Will of the Lord so to be And was it not plainly meant this to be effected by tumult of the common people Did not these likewise bear one another in hand that all things should succeed and prosper with them that no violence could harm them nor any man had power to hurt them as having Angelical Spirits and being in most high favour with God And Hacket accordingly even in going to execution did he not call for and expect a miraculous deliverance from heaven out of the hands of those whom he called his enemies Did he not likewise for a certain sign of his favour with God make Coppinger believe that he could and did obtain rain and could stay it at his pleasure Was not the chiefest of their plots and conspiracies detected by their letters found with them Did not they likewise when they were convented before the Magistrate stoutly and resolutely defend their dealings and maintain that the Princess had for seited her right and was now to be bridled and over-ruled by others and lastly Was not that impious Wrech Hacket as irresolute dejected and base-minded towards his death as Muncer or any man either could be or as so bad a cause might procure Not long after those former Rebellions in Another like Commotion of the Anabaptist's in Munster Germany another strange and memorable Commotion happened in Munster the principal City of Westphalia a Province also of Germany which is not unmeet to be in some points also touched in this place for the