find answered by the University of Oxford and seconded by the University of Cambridge The King told his Parliament March 19. 1603. The third which I call a Sect rather than Religion is the Puritan and Novelist who do not differ so far from us in points of Religion as in their confused forms of Polity and Parity being ever discontented with the present Government and impatient to suffer any superiority which makes their Sect unable to be suffered in any well governed Common-wealth And it is one reason why Grotius was so condemned for a Papist among this people because in his Book de Anti-Christo he hath left this Character of them Circumferamus oculos per omnem historiam quod unquam seculum vidit tot subditorum in principes bella sub religionis titulo horum concitatores ubique reperiuntur Ministri Evangelici ut quidam se vocant quod genus hominum in quae pericula etiam nunc opti mos Civitatis Amstelodamensis magistratus conjicerit videat si cui libet de Presbyterorum in Reges audacia librum Jacobi Britanniarum Regis cui nomen Donum Regium videbit eum ut erat magni judicii ea praedixisse quae nunc cum dolore horrore conspicimus I will give it you presently in that Kings English But the King giving them a fair hearing in the conference at Hampton Court partly by his Arguments and partly by his Authority suppressed them for that time Yet this restless people so incensed him by their murmurings and reproaches that he frequently in his Writings and Speeches in Parliament professed both his jealousie of them and caution against them in his Preface to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These rash heady Preachers says he think it their honour to contend with Kings and perturb whole Kingdoms and p. 41. 42. Take heed my Son to such Puritans very Pests in the Church and Common-weal whom no Desert can oblige neither Oaths nor Promises bind breathing nothing but Sedition and Calumnies aspiring without measure railing without reason and making their own Imaginations without any warrant of the word the square of their Consciences I protest before the great God and since I am here as upon my Testament it is no place for me to lye in that ye shall never find with any Highland or border Thieves greater ingratitude and more lies and vile perjuries than with these Fanatick-spirits and suffer not the principles of them to brook your Land if ye like to sit at rest except ye would keep them for trying your patience as Socrates did an evil Wife The good King Charles found this Prophecy to be true for notwithstanding all the care that himself and Arch-bishop Laud who apprehended the approaching danger to suppress them in so much as that Mr. Baxter says in that 7. § That the old Non-conformists being most dead and the latter gone most to America we cannot learn that in 1640. there were many more Nonconformists Ministers in England than there be Counties if so many the Wolves be like had got on the Sheeps Cloathing and not being able to ruine the Church by open force seek to undermine it by secret Arts being got within the Pale In 37. says Mr. Baxter Arch-bishop Laud using more severity than formerly and the Visitations inquiring more after private Fasts and Meetings and going out of their Parishes to hear And in many Places Lectures and Afternoon Sermons being put down which was done only where Faction and Sedition were Sown and there Catechizing a much more useful exercise was injoyned in its room by these things and some other which he there mentioneth the minds of Men were made more jealous than before and fears and jealousies were made the grounds of the War the King and Arch-bishop being reported to be Popishly affected though they both as well in their Life time as at their Deaths gave irrefragable Arguments for the contrary sealing the truth of their Professions with their Blood And after the Imprisonment of some the stigmatizing of others and the removal of many beyond the Seas all which both many and some amounted not to above Three or Four whom though the Parliament received in Triumph and plentifully rewarded yet they found them to be turbulent Persons viz. Prin Burton and Bastwick for I hear not of any removed beyond the Seas by authority these were the causes of Alienating the peoples Minds from the Bishops and made them afraid of Popery more than before and so it is still any restraint from Faction is Condemned for Popery Mr. Baxter tells us there of another Intregue Then was the New Liturgy imposed on the Scots with other changes there attempted which were the resuming of some Lands belonging to the Church and Crown which had been Sacrilegiously withheld during a great part of King James and King Charles's Reign with the fear of losing the Tithes that some great Men there detained from the Clergy whereupon the Scots Armed and Invaded England and some English Lords saith Mr. Baxter took advantage to prevail with the King to call a Parliament once again And here doubtless was the beginning of the War the Scots and such English as were in confederacy and had agreed upon a Covenant for Reformation being the first Aggressors But let Mr. Baxter proceed The Irish observing it is like how the Scots thrived in their Rebellion on Oct. 23. 1641. rose and murdered 200000. Persons and Mr. Baxter is not ashamed to say the News was here reported that they said they had the Kings Commission just as much as the Parliament had to fight by his Authority against his Person whereupon the Parliaments Declarations raised in multitudes of the people a fear that they had partakers in England and when they had done their work there they would come hither And mark the consequence there was no way of safety but to adhere to the Parliament for their own defence i. e. to strengthen the War against the King And in 42. says he the lamentable Civil War broke out but between whom did the Bishops fight against the King or against one another or against the Parliament no such matter How began the War then Mr. Baxter says the Houses of Lords and Commons consisted of such as had been Conformists except an inconsiderable number Some number then were apparently Non-conformists and it seems they had infected many others for Mr. Baxter says they were such as had been Conformists they were not so when the War began and N.B. their fear of being over-powr'd by the Loyal party of whom they thought themselves in sudden danger caused them to countenance such Petitionings and Clamours of the Londoners Apprentices and others as we think disorders and Provocations of the King This doubtless was a beginning of the War of which see the Kings complaint in his Ch. of Tumults Mr. Baxter says farther the first open beginning was about the Militia which by an Act of Parliament is thus determined That the
being established it is his will the Truth should be defended by Action in resisting Tyrants and John Goodwin said as bad of the Doctrine of resistance Mr. Robert Blaire told his Auditors Beloved the Lord hath forsaken our King and given him over to be led by the Bishops the blind brood of Anti-Christ who are hot Beagles hunting for the Blood of the Saints Nor can I forget Mr. Douglas's Sermon at the Coronation who turned the Pulpit into a Scaffold and Acted the Martyrdom of the Father in the sight of the Son After these Scottish Pipes did too many English Presbyters dance whose Sermons were Satyrs and invectives against the best of Kings and his most Loyal Subjects Take the active Covenanters from the greatest to the least and as they thought it their duty so they made it their business to do more than dethrone the King I have said enough of Mr. Marshal already let him that would know more read his Sermon on Curse ye Meroz and not his only but the most of those Sermons Preached to the Parliament especially on their Solemn days of Thanksgiving Mr. Case in a Sermon to the Court-Marshal 1644. says God would have no Mercy shewn where the quarrel is against Religion and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ p. 16. These Men that would bring in Idolatry and false Worship to depose Christ from his Throne and set up Anti-Christ in his place such a generation Christ hath doomed to destruction Luke 19.27 As for these mine enemies bring them forth and slay them before me and p. 18. What severity will God expect from you who are called to judge for God between the Sons of Belial bloody Rebels and an whole Christian Church and State now resisting unto blood for Reformation Let me say to you as God said to Moses concerning the Midianites vex those Midianites and smite them for they vex you with their Wiles Numb 25.17 18. Mr. Th. Palmer said that God saw it good to bring Christ into his Kingdom by a Bloody way p. 13. Dr. Downing of Hackney in a Sermon to the Artillery-men It is lawful for defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church to take up Arms against the King And Mr. Calamy seconds him it is commendable to fight for Peace and Reformation against the Kings command Mr. Love who was chosen as the fittest person to assist at the Treaty at Vxbridge doth no doubt speak the Sense of the Juncto he calls Episcopacy and Liturgy two Plague Soares and tells the Commissioners that while their enemies are going on in wicked practises and they keep their principles they may as soon make Fire and Water to agree yea I had almost said quoth he Heaven and Hell And again it is the Sword not disputes that must end this controversie Wherefore turn your Plowshares into Swords and your Pruning-hooks into Spears to fight the Lords Battles to avenge the Blood of the Saints which hath been spilt it must be avenged by us or upon us See p. 7. and 26. of Englands distemper I have sometime feared always prayed that too much pitty and mercy in our State Physicians may not retard the healing of the Land p. 32. There are many malignant humours to be purged out of many of the Nobles and Gentry in this Kingdom before we can be healed It was the Lord that troubled Achan and cut him off because he troubled Israel O that in this our State Physicians would resemble God to cut off those from the Land who have distempered it would you know whom he means he speaks plainly melius pereat unus quam unitas Men that lye under the guilty of much innocent Blood are not fit persons to be at peace with till all the guilt of Blood be expiated and avenged either by the Sword of the Law or by the Law of the Sword else the peace can never be safe or just Are these the principles of Love or can they consist with holiness it will amaze any Christian to consider that though the hand of God might mind him of his sin by the nature of his punishment yet instead of declaring his Repentance a little before his death he professed his hatred to Malignants his opposing the Tyranny of a King saying I did it is true in my place and calling oppose the forces of the late King and were he alive again and should I live longer the cause being as then it was I should oppose him longer In his Speech Sect. 14. Yet how horrid soever this final impenitence appears to be too many that should know and do better things have little sense of it And it is very remarkable that Prideaux the Attorney General repeated most of these passages against Mr. Love at his Trial as Arguments that he ought not to have any mercy shewed him See the Printed Trial. What a sad thing is it saith Mr. Case to see our King in the head of an Army of Babylonians refusing as it were to be called the King of England Scotland and Ireland and choosing rather to be called the King of Babylon on Isa 43.4 p. 18. Those that made their peace with the King at Oxford were the Judas 's of England and it were just with God to give them their portion with Judas saith Mr. Calamy in a Sermon Preached Decemb. 25. 1644. p. 18. Mr. Herle in a Sermon to the Commons Novemb 5.44 Do Justice to the greatest Sauls Sons are not spared no nor may Agag or Benhadad though themselves Kings Zimri and Cosbi the Princes of the people must be pursued into their Tents This is the way to Consecrate your selves to God Strickland at the same time to the same tune You know the Story of Gods message to Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition Brooks to the Commons Decemb. 26. 1648. Set some of those grand Malefactors a mourning that have caused the Kingdom to mourn so many years in Garments Rolled in Blood by the Execution of Justice But though many of those Sons of Thunder had done wickedly there is one exceeds them all as you may read partly in a submissive Petition of Mr. Jenkins and in a Sermon Preached Sept. 24. 1656. Who thus discovers his inward parts to be very wickedness Before the present Parliament Worthy Patriots you that are our Rulers in Parliament it is often said we live in times wherein we may be as good he might more truly have said as bad as we please wherein we enjoy purity and plenty praised for this be that God who hath delivered us from the impositions of Prelatical Innovations Altar-genuflections and cringes with Crosses and all that Popish Trash and Trumpery and truly I speak no more than what I have often thought and said the removal of these insupportable burdens contravailes for the Blood and treasure shed and spent in these late distractions nor did I as yet ever hear of any godly man that desired were it possible to purchase their friends or mony again at so dear
Solemn League and Covenant being read the King Swore that for himself and successors he should consent and agree to all Acts of Parliament injoyning the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant c. in the Kingdom of Scotland as they are approved by the general Assembly of that Kirk and Parliament of that Kingdom And that he should give his Royal Assent to Acts and Ordinances of Parliament passed or to be passed injoyning the same in his other Dominions And in the Declaration set forth at Edinborough in His Majesties name 1650. But penned as it seems by the Covenanters He declares That if the Houses of Parliament of England sitting in freedom shall think fit to present unto him the propositions of peace agreed upon by both Kingdoms he will not only accord to them and such Alterations there anent as the Houses of Parliament in regard of the Constitution of Affairs and the good of his Majesty and his Kingdoms shall judge necessary but do what is further necessary for the Prosecuting the ends of the Solemn League and Covenant Especially in those things which concern the Reformation of the Church of England in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government And p. 107. He doth also declare his firm resolution to manage the Government of the Kingdom of England by the Advice of his Parliament consisting of an House of Lords and an House of Commons there All which His Majesty hath punctually performed and the Parliaments of both Kingdoms having rescinded the Covenant and condemned it as an unlawful Oath and settled the ancient Government of the Catholick Church I speak with all humble submission His Majesty is not at all obliged by that Covenant thus taken much less to make any alteration in the Government of the Church of England unless he would act not only contrary to the established Laws but contrary to that very Oath and Declaration by which the Non-conformists suppose him to be obliged which oblige him to agree to such alterations as the Houses of Parliament in regard to the Constitution of Affairs and the good of His Majesty and his Kingdoms should judge necessary and to manage the Government of the Kingdom of England by advice of his Two Houses of Parliament And this will answer the first Question in the Negative that neither the King who was injuriously and unlawfully as is acknowledged drawn to declare for it and consequently no other person that took it afterward are bound by it to make any alteration c. If any alteration be found necessary there are lawful means to be used for that end But there is no obligation from this Covenant being so repealed to use even lawful means much less such unlawful ones as the Covenant implies i. e. for Subjects to reform without and against the Magistrate and his Laws By this also a second question is resolved p. 215. which Mr. Baxter calls the main question Whether every Minister must or may become the Judge of all other Mens Consciences and Oligations in three Kingdoms For let it be remembred that the case is only whether they are obliged by the Covenant to endeavour any alteration c. Any lawful endeavours are not denyed but the Covenant being Condemned as an unlawful thing cannot lay an obligation on any to act against the Laws whereby the Church Government is established Against this a third question is urged whether this League and Covenant were a Vow to God and not only a League and Covenant with Men which cessante occasione and by consent of Parliaments doth cease Mr. Baxter affirms that it was a Vow to God and a League and Covenant of Men with one another that they will perform it and instead of Proof he says it is notorious to any Man that readeth it with common understanding Answ 1. The Title of it is a Solemn League and Covenant there is no mention of a Vow to God And in the Preface a mutual League and Covenant 2. And in the Renunciation it is to be declared that there lyes no Obligation from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant If any part of it be a Vow to God that is not mentioned to be disclaimed for 3. The particular Case wherein its Obligation is to be disclaimed is to endeavour any alteration c. Now how can it consist with the nature of a Vow to God to make unnecessary alterations against the Laws of the Land Would not this cause the Christian Religion in a short time to be exploded out of all Kingdoms 4. It is notoriously known that the few things that make the Contract as Mr. Douglas calls it or Covenant between the Rebel Scots and English to seem as a Vow to God were used only as a pretence to draw on that part of the Covenant which is acknowledged to be unlawful and which is the greatest part of the Covenant the intent whereof was to strengthen the Rebellion against the King as by the negative Oath and the general actings of both Nations which followed doth evidently appear And what Rebellion or Heresie may not be Covenanted for under pretence of such Vows If therefore there had been any thing of a Vow to God in the Covenant it was a horrid Profanation of Gods name to make it subservient to such unlawful ends And it is rightly observed that it binds to the Extirpation of Bishops out of other Churches as well as out of ours alone 5. The most part of those who took the Covenant when it was first imposed had declared their approbation of the established Government and sworn Obedience to the Bishops so had generally all the Assembly and fixed Ministers and as I presume Mr. Baxter himself and whatever contrary Oaths they took afterward are rightly esteemed to be as Null the pretence of a Vow notwithstanding 6. It is inconsistent with the nature of a Vow to be forced as the Covenant generally was as hath been observed from Mr. Baxter That the Scots taking advantage of the straits to which the King had reduced the English Parliament brought in the Covenant as the condition of their help and that the House of Lords complained of the Parliament as Mr. Baxter calls the House of Commons which tyed them to meddle with nothing but what they offered to them And though the Covenanters pretended for this Vow the Example of Gods people in other Nations and the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times yet there never was the like Oath for matter and manner taken by any people fearing God in any Age of the World I conclude with a Concession of Mr. Baxters p. 213. of the Plea It is not in the Subjects power by Vows to withdraw themselves from Obedience to Authority which is proved from Numb 30. And the Reason of it is because Obligatio prior praejudicat posteriori God hath first injoyned Obedience to our Superiours They therefore lawfully requiring our submission to the established Government there can lye
in Church and State to prevent the mischievous consequences whereof I have made the ensuing inquiries And First their respect to the Conforming Clergy will appear in the Epistle before the first part of the Plea inscribed to the Conforming Clergy where he thus reproacheth them to their Faces It is now seventeen years since near 2000 Ministers of Christ were by Law forbidden the exercise of their Office unless they did Conform to Subscriptions Covenants Declarations and Practises which we durst not do because we feared God The reason of which Impositions it is God and not we must have an account of from the Convocation c. by which c. I suppose he means the Parliament that made those Laws He tells them of rendring odious them whom they never heard and urging Rulers to execute the Laws against them i. e. to Excommunicate silence confine imprison and undo them He says he is not so uncharitable as to impute all their false reports to Malignity and Diabolism but that it was strangeness i. e. ignorance of their case which wrath and cross interest kept them from hearing He says he had read the Books of Bishop Morley Mr. Stileman Mr. Faukner Mr. Fulwood Mr. Durel Mr. Fowlis Mr. Nanfen Dr. Boreman Parker Tomkins the Friendly Debate Dr. Ashton Mr. Hollingworth Dr. Good Mr. Hinckly the Countermine Mr. Lestrange Mr. Long c. And I think says he Mr. Tombes hath said more like truth for Anabaptistry the late Hungarian for Polygamy Many for drunkeness stealing and lying in cases of necessity than ever he yet read for the lawfulness of all that is there described viz. the terms of conformity He tells them if they will not hear those will whom God will use to the healing of his Churches He means such Reformers as were in 42. and 43. to whom this Patriarch gives the Blessing of Peace-makers and says they shall be called the Children of God as sure as the Incendiaries in the late War viz. Brook Pym c. are by him called glorious Saints in Heaven p. 83. of his Saints rest And thus reminding them of his pastoral Admonition if any of you be an hinderer or slanderer of Gods word c. he hath sufficiently evidenced what reverence he hath for the Conforming Clergy But how he hath discharged that which he professeth to be his duty p. 246. of his Plea part 1. Most of our acquaintance take it for their duty to do their best to keep up the Reputation of the publick conformable Ministry Let the Reader judge by bis deeds rather than his words seeing he continueth Conventicles himself and defends others in the same Practise And for his Admonition to us By their fruits ye shall know them I shall commend to him one Lesson from our Catechism to keep his Tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering The Second thing I observe in his Plea for the innocency of his party is That no Men on Earth have more sound and Loyal Principles of Government and Obedience Answ While they were Governours none exacted Obedience more severely or Ruled more imperiously but take them in the capacity of Subjects and their practices shew what their principles are But let us hear his Plea to the Accusations The first is that they are Presbyterians and Fanaticks 2. That they began the War in 42. and 43. 3. That they destroyed the King 4. That their principles are disloyal 5. That they are Plotting a Rebellion To the first he tells us what a Presbyterian is viz. such as hold Church Government not only without Bishops but also by Presbyteries consisting of two sorts of Elders Preaching and Ruling and over these Classes and over these a National Assembly consisting of the same two sorts That such a Government was intended by the Long Parliament appears by their Ordinances Anno 1643. for imposing the Covenant rooting out Episcopacy bringing all to an Uniformity with the Church of Scotland and January 44. For taking away the Book of Common-Prayer and establishing the Directory And June 5. 46. for setling without farther delay of Presbyterial Government in the Church of England And August 28. for Ordination of Ministers by Classical Presbyteries within their respective bounds which Form of Government to be used in the Church of England and Ireland was agreed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament after advice had with the Assembly of Divines The Assembly drew up an Exhortation for the taking of the Covenant where they declare that the Government by Bishops is evil justly offensive and burdensome to the Kingdom This Assembly was called by the Parliament 12 June 43. consisting of Lords Knights Esquires and some Divines who assented to the Ordinances above mentioned and therefore it will be very hard for Mr. Baxter to perswade us that they were Conformists of which more hereafter I shall account them Presbyterians And if ever a Child was like his Father our present Non-conformist is like the Presbyterian in 43. Sic oculos sic ille manus sic ora gerebat And what if as Mr. Baxter says they do not now exercise their beloved Discipline are those Lions no Lions which the King keeps within the Tower Have they not the same appetite to the Church and Crown Lands the same antipathy to Prelacy the same zeal for the Covenant and Directory Were they not generally Ordained by these Presbyterians non tantum absente sed spreto Episcopo as Mr. Baxter says these then I conclude to be Presbyterians and if Mr. Baxter will add the term Fanaticks I cannot help it they who plead aliquid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some impulses on their spirits moving them from ingulphing with this generation by reason whereof they cannot go back from that more spiritual plain and simple zealous Service of Almighty God in the way they are in and reformation they seek against the established Worship and Discipline See p. 9. of the Answer to Doctor Stilling fleets Sermon I say they who for want of reasons to defend their cause do plead impressions on their spirits do prove themselves to be Fanatick and I have proved them to be Presbyterians The Second Accusation is that we began the War in 41. and 42. To this he pleads 1. The King hath said so much for the Act of Oblivion that it is no sign of Loyalty and Peace to violate it Answ An Act of Pardon implies guilt though it exempt from punishment And Secondly God himself will pardon none but the penitent whatever the King may do 2. You plead that false reporters say that the Papists were the Kings party and the Presbyterians the Parliaments in the beginning of the English War Answ They are false reporters indeed that say the Papists were the Kings Party which were not an hundred part of his party and I wonder not that Mr. Baxter calls it a false report because it shews the Papists to have been more Loyal Subjects than the Presbyterians Yet wanted not a number of Papists
some openly and others under hoods to Act for the Parliament and they wanted not invitation and temptations to have been all of that side as the Royal Martyr declared 2. Mr. Baxter says the contrary is so well known to Men yet living that the reporters can hope to seduce none but young men and strangers Doth Mr. Baxter mean by the contrary That the Papists were not the Kings party and the Presbyterians were not the Parliaments party or that the Papists were the Parliaments party and the Presbyterians were the Kings party at the beginning of our War this I take to be contrary and I think no Man living can affirm it But he tells us that the controversie was begun between Arch-bishop Abbot and his adherents and Bishop Laud and those that adhered to him Answ There was no War begun in Arch-bishop Abbots time nor long after but the controversie which made way for the War was of another kind and a more ancient date as Mr. Baxter relates it § 7. of his Plea part 1. To which I suppose he refers the Reader and there he says the root of the difference between the old Non-conformists and the Conformists was this That one sort thought they should stick to the meer Scripture rule and simplicity and go far from all Additions which were found invented or abused by Papists The other side thought they should shew more reverence to the Customs of the Ancient Church and retain that which was not forbidden in Scripture which was introduced before the ripeness of Popery or before the year 600. at least and which was found lawful in the Roman Church and common to them with the Greek And herein I have reason to believe Mr. Baxter was of the same mind with the Conformists against the Non-conformists See Directory part 3. ch 2. This difference was begun among the Exiles at Franckfort says Mr. Baxter some striving for the English Liturgy and others for a freer way of praying i. e. from the present sense and habit of the Speaker which by Mr. Baxters favour was not any where publickly practised at that time no not by Calvin himself at Geneva But farther Queen Elizabeth and King James saith Mr. Baxter discountenancing and suppressing Non-conformists They attempted in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to set and keep up private Churches and governed them in a Presbyterian way but the attempt was broken by the industry of Arch-bishop Whitgift and Bancroft Some Conformed and some were Connived at which kept them from gathering secret Churches yet some Preached secretly in Houses and some publickly for a day and away some were further Alienated from the English Prelacy and separated from their Churches and some of them called Brownists were so hot at home that they were put to death Mr. Ainsworth Johnson Robinson and others fled beyond Sea and there gathered Churches and broke by divisions among themselves as their Successors did in our memory It will not be impertinent to shew from Mr. Cambden how troublesome this sort of Men were under Queen Elizabeth p. 420. of the English Translation of Cambden They chose that season when the Spaniards amused the whole Nation from abroad by their Invincible Armado as they called it to disturb her at home And never did contumacious impudency against Ecclesiastical Magistrates shew it self more bold and insolent for when the Queen would not give Ear to Innovators in Religion who designed to cut in sunder the very sinews of Ecclesiastical Government and her Royal Prerogative at once some of those Men who were great admirers of the Discipline of Geneva thought there was no better way to be taken for establishing it in England than by inveighing and railing against the English Hierarchy and stirring up the people to a dislike of Bishops They therefore set forth scandalous Books against the Government of the Church and Prelates as Martin Mar Prelate Minerals Diotrephes A Demonstration of Discipline c. in which Libels they belched forth most virulent Calumnies and opprobrious taunts and reproaches in such a manner that the Authors seemed rather scullions out of the Kitchen than pious and godly Men yet the Authors were Penry and Vdal Ministers of the word and George Throckmorton a Learned Man their favourers were Richard Knightly and Wigston Knights Others exercised their Discipline in corners in despight of Authority and the Laws holding Classes in several places and forming Presbyteries for which Thomas Cartwright Edmund Snape Andrew King Proudlow Payne and other Ministers were called in question whom some of the zealots conspired to deliver out of the Magistrates hands p. 451. He tells us how one Hacket insinuated himself into certain Divines which with a burning zeal laboured to bring the Presbyterial Discipline of Geneva into England among whom was one Wiggington a silly Brain-sick Minister a despiser and enemy of the Magistrates by Wiggintons means he was acquainted with Coppinger a Gentleman who perswaded Arthington an admirer of that Discipline First that himself and then that Arthington was extraordinarily called of God for the good of the Church and that way was revealed from Heaven to draw the Queen and Council to a better mind meaning to admit of the Discipline of Geneva Coppinger imparted this to Hacket who by his counterfeit holiness and fervent praying ex tempore his fasting on the Lords days and boasting that he had been buffeted by Satan and had Revelations from God He Prophesied that there should be no more Popes and that England should be lamentably afflicted that year with Pestilence and Famine except the Discipline of the Lord and Reformation were admitted in the Realm They conspired as was proved by their Letters to accuse the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellour of Treason and one of the party stabbed one Hawkins a famous Sea-Captain supposing him to be the Lord Chancellor Hacket had such an implacable malice to the Queen that he said often she had forfeited her right to the Crown he defaced her Arms and Picture striking his Dagger through the Breast of it to omit many things Hacket being Indicted for Treason Confessed it and was Executed dying he lift up his Eyes to Heaven and grinning said Dost thou thus repay me instead of a Kingdom I come to revenge it Coppinger shortly after starved himself in Prison Arthington repented seriously and set forth a Book of it Yet many others opposed the Discipline of the Church reproaching the Prelates and drawing some common Lawyers to their party but the Queen knowing that her authority was struck at through the Bishops sides broke the force of the adversaries without noise and maintained the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction inviolate against all Opposers Presbyterians and Fanaticks Nor were these Men less troublesome under King James having conceived great hopes from his Education in Scotland but he knew them so well that he never shewed them any favour In his first year they frame a Petition in the names of a Thousand Ministers for Reformation which I