booke affirmeth should be in euery parish they want in effect nothing of all their whole platforme if they could but once attaine vnto the publike erecting vp of those thrones And how far it is likely they haue already preuailed therin without staying any longer for her Maiestie let these thinges following whereof some haue beene touched alreadie make it knowne vnto you Mention hath beene made of a Presbytery set vp at Wandesworth It was a decree of the London brethren that the Ministers should by little little as much as possibly they might draw the Discipline into practise though they concealed the names eyther of Presbytery Elder or Deacō making little account of the names for the time so their offices might secretly be established There was an order sette downe in an assembly 1583. as I take it for the conuerting of Churchwardens and Collectors into Elders and Deacons as before in the Actes themselues it appeareth According to this order the brethren afterward sent their directions abroad to their fellowes for their execution of it I receiued saith Master Barbon from our faithfull brother Maister Gelibrande a direction of the brethren concerning the Conuerting of Churchwardens into Elders and Collectors into Deacons Richard Holmes affirmeth that by such speeches as he hath heard hee doth verily thinke that the Ministers in their Classes haue resolued to erect vp their seuerall Presbyteryes in their owne parishes With him agreeth Master Iohnson according to the rules of that booke I thinke that sercetly in most places where the brethren of the Classes are there are Elders chosen and that they put the Discipline in practise so farre as they may amongst themselues without any apparant shew thereof to the ouerthrow of their safe-standing Further also he deposeth that he himselfe hath beene blamed diuers times priuatelie in that he would make no such choise of Elders where he preached to practise the Discipline And what els should Gellibrand meane by these words in a Letter to Field I haue written to Maister Cartwright seuerally and ioyntly to him and the Elders signifying my readines and what aduersaries there are Lastly there was a nomination of Elders at Kilsby in Northampton-shiere made by Maister Lee the Pastor in the yeare 1588. Their names as it was deposed before Sir George Farmer and Sir Iohn Spencer were William Greene Roger Cowley Thomas Hall Richard Wolfe Iohn Browne and William Mariat which sixe saith the deponent Maister Lee thought sufficient to determine and end all matters of controuersie in the said towne Henry Pinson also affirmeth that he being enformed of this election of Elders by the said Browne and others would not yeelde his consent thereunto but said hee would stand to the lawes of this realme appointed by her Maiestie One especiall reason as it was enformed why Pinson refused in this sort to ioyne with his neighbours was for that there should haue beene some punishment inflicted by the said Elders vppon his sonne for flinging a stone at Elder-Mariats window which he would none of but was faine to flie to her Maiesties lawes So here then it appeareth in some sort whether the brethrē meant to stay any more for the ciuile Magistrate in erecting of their Presbyteries then they confesse they did concerning their vniformitie in Sermons and tripartite meetings Besides it doth also appertaine to the further proofe of the said Presbyteries that as it seemeth some of those censures haue beene vsed for example excommunication Which by the rules of the Discipline booke are of right to be exercised by them One Bluet a Minister as I suppose being excōmunicated as it seemeth did write a Letter to Field and Egerton wherein hee is most earnest that vpon his repentaunce hee might bee restored againe to the Church Woe is me saith he that I am cast out of your presence this day but shame and sorrow is vnto the cause And if this woe and shame did but touch the bodie it were tollerable for then at the day of death I should end my miserie and no more heare the words of reproach For now euery one that seeth mee reprooueth me and I am become a rebuke vnto all men But this is not all Woe is me that there is a partition-wall betweene heaven and my conscience c. If my offence may not bee passed by without further confession euen before God and his Church in London will I lie downe and licke the dust at your feet and confesse more against my selfe then any of you know Seuere Catoes I warrant you But is this the matter they contend for that men may fall downe and kisse their feete There is also another example to this effect worthie of your remembrance one La. Thomson writeth in this sort of it I thinke of him as an vnsound member vnfit to bee continued in the bodie vnles he would be subiect to the gouernment of a bodie especially the bodie of our sauing God The partie meant by Thomson was as I take it maister Wilcox the author of that admonition which caused the first breaking-out of all those troubles that since haue ensued This appeareth by foure letters written about the yeare 1583. three of them from Field to Wilcox and one from Wilcox to Field What the cause was though it bee expressed in one of the said Letters I omit to rehearse it no waies minding to touch any mans priuate behauiour or infirmities But this I must tel you that the brethren that is in Thomsons sense the body of our sauing God were so displeased and angrie with him that they suspended him from his Ministerie and did vse their censure of excommunication against him If you aske mee how Wilcox tooke this course at their handes I answere euen as Pinson before named did when his sonne should haue beene punished hee disliked it so much as that hee began to call their authoritie for such kind of their proceedings in question he refused to submit himselfe to their censures and told Field plainely that he had bin dealt disorderly withall both for matter and manner adding that hee had perhaps concealed as great infirmities of Fields and of some others as his were With these and many such like words Field was greatly prouoked and for his owne part defied him Whereas saith hee for the hiding of your owne shame you beginne to score vp my faults which you say are sixe in number as great as yours if you should vtter them I say it is no help to you but testifieth that old pride hipocrisie and malice which long time hath lurked in that cankered heart of yours c. But I doe defie you c. And for his refusing of their proceedinges you ought not saith Field so lightly to esteeme that holy censure of the brethren but in true repentance to haue hidden your face c. Againe if God hath made you an instrument to seeke for the aduancement of Christs Scepter kisse it your selfe and bee subiect
iust occasions committed to prison the matter was greatly grudged at so taken to heart amongst the reforming and zealous brotherhoode as that many deuises and complots were as it seemeth in deliberation not onely how the saide prisoners might for the present bee defended and deliuered but also how thereupon they might proceede for the setting vp of their Discipline To this purpose in mine opinion these words of Wiggintons are verie pertinent Maister Cartwright is in the Fleeâ—e for refusall of the othe as I heare and Maister Knewstubs is sent for and sondry worthy ministers are disquieted who haue been spared long So that wee looke for some bickering ere long and then a battel which cannot long endure How far these wordes may bee drawne I leaue it to be considered of by those that can discerne of such like kind of phrases This I can assure you of that vppon what grounds I know not through the course which was held by the magistrats here against the said prisoners there was great expectation and as it were a hope conceiued by their fauorers in another cuntrey of some bickering amongst vs about that time as Wigginton writeth of Thus a man that hath been of especiall account in Scotland did write vnto a friend of his in England I attend your next answere aswell of the estate of your Church as of all other affaires For there is here great worde of sondry vprores which I trust be false or repressedin due season by her Maiestie But that passeth all to this purpose which falleth out most apparantlie by the view taken of such letters and papers as were found vpon the apprehension of Hacket and his Prophets CHAP. VI. One Edmond Copinger tooke vpon him to worke Cartwrightes c. deliuerance he pretendeth an extraordinary calling and acquainteth diuers with it one Gibson a Scot P. Wentwotrh Cartwright Wigginton Charke Trauers Egerton c. WHilest some were deuising of one way and some of an other for the good of the saide prisoners c. One Edmond Coppinger with his familiars could find no meanes to bee looked for except it might please God according to the foresaide positions to stir vp some zealous brethren by some extraordinary calling to effect their desires This cogitation as it seemeth no soner grew vpon theÌ„ but that by and by they fealt as they thought in themselues some certaine slender instigations to such a heauenly purpose It appeareth that towards the latter end of December 1590 Copinger Arthington and Iohn Bentley maister Knightlies man did hold a fast at one Thomas Lancasters house a scholemaister in Shoe-lane It began vpon the Saturday at night and held till Sonday at night In the time of this fast vz. the Saterday at night Coppinger as he said found himself very extraordinarily exercised c. with a wonderfull zeale to set forth Gods glory any waies which lawfully he might enter into At that time also I mean at that last fast Arthington had likewise his extraordinary calling Thus Copinger did write of his matter to Lancaster the letter was also subscribed vnto by Arthington In your house in your presence and partly by your meanes I had my first extraordinarie calling and of the same minde is my brother Arthington Copinger the next day after the saide fast did ride into Kent and vpon his returne which was with some speed he signified vnto his fellow-fasters how he had been extraordinarily called both before his going the said Satterday at night also in his iourney since he departed from them vz. how God had reuealed vnto him such a secret mystery as was wonderful By the way saith he as I rid I fansied to my selfe that there was leaue giuen mee to speake to God in a more familiar manner then at any time before also I perswaded my self that his spirite did giue me many straunge directions wherein the Lord would vse me to doe seruice to his most glorious Maiestie and to his Church Concerning the substance of his said reuelation hee also tolde Arthington Lancaster thus much vz. that he knew a way how to bring the Queene to repentance and to cause all her Counsell and Nobles to do the like out of hand or els detect them to bee traytors that refused After the relation of these things within a day or two this Copinger and Arthington held another fast by themselues Whereupon saith Copinger I was againe stirred vp to such businesse of such importance as in the eyes of flesh and bloud was likelie to bring much danger to my selfe and vnlikely to bring any good successe to the Church of God Of these his instigations or reuelations hee writ to some preachers in the Realme and to some without as namelie a letter the last day of December 1590. to one Gibson a kinde of preacher in Scotland Wherein hee greatly complayneth of the present state of our Church and desireth of him to bee instructed from the brethren there in diuers points concerning an extraordinarie calling Thee state of our Church saith hee groweth worse and worse our zealous Ministerie and Magistracie are daylye disgraced and displaced the meanes of helpe is taken away except that God woulde eyther moue her Maiestie inwardly shee being bereaued of those holy helpes which Gods seruantes enioy in the publike exercise of religion or else stirre vp some faithfull Zorobabell or Nehemiah to let her see how the Lordes house lyeth waste and how vsurpers of Antichristian tiranny doe keepe Christ Iesus from gouerning in his kingdome And then hee addeth My selfe am acquainted with some who to do seruice herein would aduenture the losse of their liues so that they might haue warrant from the worde for their so doing and haue approbation by the Church And to this end they fancy to themselues to haue receiued an extraordinary calling wherein they feare to be abused by Sathan Then followeth his petitioÌ„ And therefore I thogh most vnworthy haue aduentured to write vnto you to beseech you in the bowels of Christ Iesus to haue conference with such as are most able to aduise you on our behalfe and to returne answere how a man may examine himselfe in this matter and what be the extraordinarie thinges which must bee in him that is so called what course he is to take to haue his extraordinarie calling knowne first to himselfe and then to the Church After hee had sent away this letter into Scotland hee began to draw his doubts into some Methode and did propound them all in eight questions The chiefe summe whereof it this whether in these dayes and in this countrey where there is but preaching heere and there where the Discipline is not established but oppugned by the publike Magistrates whether there bee place for any extraordinarie calling immediately from God of workers and helpers to his Church c. These questions thus contriued hee sent them to his olde acquaintance Wigginton who iustly
know what euerie benefice in the shire was worth how many soules by a generall coniecture were in euerie parish who were the incumbents and of what life paines and qualities they were To this purpose the fittest men and such as were best acquainted in the shire were nominated as Litleton for Haddon Deanerie c. Which duetie he performed for his part to the vttermost and brought a most rayling Discourse against euery Minister which was not of our companie The end propounded of this suruey was vz. that if vpon signification to the brethren abroad what was done there they would likewise make the like suruey in other countries the Parliament if neede required and to the better furthering of their purposes might haue a generall viewe of all the Ministers in England that impugned their desires The second point before mentioned was this vz. a conclusion to send vp to London one or two of euerie Classis in Northhamptonshire with letters of credite to attend at the Parliament to ioine themselues with the brethren of other countries and to offer disputation if it should be so thought meete and to vndertake any other such matter as should then and there be determined of amongst them and that there should be letters written of this resolution to know how the brethren abroad liked it or what other course they would hold at that time for the bringing in of Discipline and Church gouernement These two points were penned by Snape and sent to the brethren abroad as it was ordered What answere was returned to Snape from the brethren in Oxford Cambridge I know not but well I remember that Trauerse did write to Snape a very cunning Letter wherein he shewed himselfe not to mislike the foresaid suruay to be generallie made but signified that the Parliament drawing on so fast it could not be done so soone But for the second point that he writ was liked and meete to be followed Whereupon the Classes of Northamptonshire did send vp some three or fower as Settle for Northampton Rogers for Dauentry c. with a further conclusion that if any of them vpon occasion should be committed others should be sent vp in their places Although the time was short for the generall accomplishing of these forenamed pointes yet this examinate thinketh some thing was done in the first vz. as hee hath heard a suruay was made to the purpose before touched of the Ministers in Northfolke Suffolke and Essex And for the second true it was that many were sent to attend at the Parliament from the most parts of England And one resolution was that some twenty or thirty of them should haue come in their gownes with all grauitie to the Parliament-house-dore and there haue desired by petition a disputation Furthermore concerning some censures vsed there was a generall consent and purpose amongest the brethren touching a secret kinde of excommunication for examples sake A lay man committeth some sinne One of the Elders was to admonish him The partie is obstinate The Elder must take two or three with him the second time And if this serue not then he is to be debarred from the communion In this case if the said party shuld notwithstanding intrude himselfe to communicate then it was agreed to repell him vppon pretence of certaine words in the communion booke So as thereby they might keepe their owne course for their Discipline and yet haue a cloake to couer them withall out of the booke Againe an other thing is notable to this effect About a yeare and a halfe a goe Iohn Nelson of Northampton an Elder or a Deacon of Saint Peters as I thinke hauing eyther his daughter or his sister gotten with childe in his house by one of his seruants Master Snape dealt with the said seruant to vrge him to publicke repentaunce and at the last so farre preuailed with him as it was thought that he promised the next sunday so to doe but came not Whereupon Snape made a verie bitter Sermon against him The next Sonday he came indeede And then Snape made a long praier that God would giue him grace to make a faithfull acknowledgement of his sinne c. That done the penitentiary made publique confession c. Which being perfourmed Snape absolued him and then entred into a great discourse how cleare the partie was and free from that sinne committed euen as though he had bin newlie born charging the congregation that no man should presume at any time after to obiect the same vnto him But that which was most wondred at whereas this poore man was thus dealt withall Snape caused lame Prettie a Souldier of Barwicke who without any calling in the Church at all sauing that he had a tolleration to read did such seruice in that place as was appointed by Snape to bee read till he came to Church the next morning to marrie the saide penitentiarie to the woman with childe before named without anie bringing of her vnto anie such publicke repentance Hereof grew amongst the people great speech that the pore man was so vsed the cicher mans sister or daughter was so freed The saide lame Souldier hath married manie in that place vpon Snapes commaundement for that Snape holdeth that dutie to appertaine no more to the Ministers office then to anie other man And as touching that point mentioned of the bretherens submitting of themselues by subscription to be censured in their Classis it was thus vsed in the Northampton Classis The brethren being together in a chamber the partie to be first censured as they were all to be in course goeth forth out of the chamber Then the moderator asketh euery mans opinion of him how he behaueth himselfe aswell in his life as in his Ministerie and euerie man hauing spoken his opinion the partie is called in and then if he were not any way touched he is greatly commended if otherwise then reprooued as the causes require For example Edwards of Cortnall comming vnder this censure was blamed for vsing the Crosse in Baptisme and at his comming-in againe was wonderfull sharpely dealt withall for the same Thus farre Maister Iohnson of the Northampton Classis With whom doe also agree in the principall points Maister Littleton as touching the same Classis Maister Sharpe Maister Walker Preachers and persons deposed concerning the Classis of Dauentry side and Maister Stone a Preacher likewise vpon his oth for that of Kettring side One or two points I may not omitte which Maister Stone hath deliuered He confesseth that at diuers times Maister Snape Master Barbon Maister Sharpe Maister Prowdloe Maister King Maister Iohnson Maister Sibthorp Maister Spicer Maister Baxter Maister Littleton Maister Williamson Maister Bradshaw Maister Fleshware Maister Harrison and hee haue mette in Northampton and likewise at Kettring and at his house the most of them with some others as Maister Rishbrooke Maister Atkinson Maister Dauyes Maister Massye Maister Okes c. about matters of discipline And he saith further
saide articles which herafter shall be likewise declared It appeareth also by the said parties depositions that diuers others did subscribe at the same time or at the least within a short time after but they might not forsooth by reason of their owne consciences name them Howbeit the matter is otherwise plaine inough who they were by a note taken with Maister Litleton vz. Iohn Oxenbridge Edward Gellibrand Hercules Cleuely Anthony Nutter Leonard Fetherstone Mathew Hulme Edward Lord c. This booke hauing thus at the last receaued this great allowance more authentically was carried farre and nere for a generall ratification of all the brethren It was offered to the Dauentry side Classis as Master Sharp and Master Walker haue deposed and likewise at Northampton by Penry as Maister Litleton affirmeth But that which Maister Iohnson hath set downe is worthy the remembrance The effect of it is this that when the booke of Discipline came to Northampton to be subscribed vnto there was a generall censuring vsed amongst the brethren there as it were to sanctifie themselues partly by sustaining a kinde of penance and reproofe for their former conformity to the orders of the Church established by her Maiestie and other matters of conuersation and partly to prepare their mindes for the deuout accepting of the foresaid booke In which course of censuring vsed at that time there was such ripping vp one of anothers life euen from their youth as that they came vnto great bitternes with many reuiling tearms amongst themselues one growing thereby odious to another and some did thereupon vtterly forsake those kinde of assemblies CHAP. VII The booke of the pretended Discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certaine Synodes are kept and of their estimation IT might haue beene deemed that after so many viewes Synodes and subscriptions this worthy draught of discipline would haue growne to great perfection but it falleth out otherwise For as it is confessed vppon othe at Sturbridge Fayre-time the next yeare after the sayd Classicall counsell of the Warwicke-shire brethren vz. in the yeare 1589. there was another Synode or generall meeting helde in Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge Where saith M. Barber they did correct alter and amend diuers imperfections conteined in the booke called Disciplina ecclesiae sacra verbo Dei descripta and as maister Stone affirmeth did not onely perfect the saide forme of Discipline but also did then and there as he remembreth voluntarily agree amongst themselues that so many as would should subscribe to the saide booke of Discipline after that time The persons that met in this assembly were as these two last deponents affirme maister Cartwright maister Snape maister Allen maister Gifford maister Perkins maister Stone maister Barber maister Harrison with others c. I finde mention also of another Synode 1589. held as I take it at Ipswich Thus one Iohn Warde did write that yeare to certaine at Ipswich I thinke not to come ouer till the Synode which is as I take it a moneth after Michaelmas It hath beene obserued before out of maister Edmonds deposition cap. 2. who were the Classicall brethren of London It is also fit to be vnderstood who they are that most commonly met there also at their more generall prouinciall or nationall assemblies or Synodes And this both maister Barber and maister Stone doo sufficiently declare For the space of about foure yeares last past saith maister Barber and since the last Parliament saith maister Stone there haue bin seuerall meetings in London at the houses of maister Gardiner maister Egerton maister Trauers and maister Barber The persons that vsually mette in these assemblies saith maister Barber were maister Cartwright maister Charke maister Trauers maister Egerton maister Gardiner maister Oxenbridge maister Gelibrand maister Culuerwell maister Browne of Oxford maister Allen maister Gifford maister Sommerscales and himselfe Maister Cartwright maister Trauers and maister Egerton were at sundry times chosen Moderators or Presidents in the said assemblies And afterwardes generally of the office of the Moderators The resolutions conclusions and determinations of such matters as were disputed-of and agreed-vpon by the more number of them that so disputed in the said assemblies were by the saide Moderators or Presidents before named at the times and places of the saide seuerall assemblies summarily and briefly either written in a booke or otherwise set-downe in loose papers as to the saide Moderators or Presidentes should bee thought meet or conuenient As the Classicall assemblies of London were of greater estimation then those in the Country so these more generall meetings or Synodes last mentioned were of highest authoritie and indeed the grand test of all the rest It may be said truely of them both that they haue been the kindling sparkes of all those flames which are in the Church What was there ordered went as perfectly currant From thence the brethren of other places did fetch their light As doubts did arise thither they were sent to be resolued The Classicall and Synodicall decrees in other places were neuer authenticall indeede as it seemeth till there they were ratified The chiefest directions for all the brethren else-where were sent from thence It is wonderfull to consider how men so obstinate and wilfull in their owne waies against the Church of England established by her Maiestie should be brought to submit themselues in such sort as they did to be led by these assemblies as elswhere it doth appeare CHAP. VIII Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed IN the yeare 1590. vpon the detecting before some of her Maiesties Commissioners in causes Ecclesiasticall of the most of these things wherof I haue hitherto spoken Interrogatories were drawen containing in them the effect of all the premisses and diuers such Ministers were sent for as were sayde to haue beene the chiefe ringleaders in all those actions Accordingly they appeared but in the place when they shuld be examined they refused to answere vpon their othes Diuers pretences therof were made as one that first they would see the Interrogatories whereof they should be examined The generall summe of them was imparted vnto them and it was likewise told them that they should bee charged to answere no further then by the lawes of the Realme they were bound to doo But all this would not serue Whervpon the Interrogatories themselues were shewed vnto some as namely to Maister Snape who stood most at the first vppon that point and did pretend that if first hee might see them hee would then aunswere vnto them But the issue was accordingly as it was expected For hauing perused them he was further-of then he was before and writ to his friends what was the summe of them to the intent they might be forewarned and so as he sayd become better armed Which course taken by him was not without the great prouidence of God For thereby their whole plot
from God himselfe You haue heard before how these Ministers haue refused to confer with Coppinger And what shoulde a man thinke the cause might be Surelie a feare they had least he shoulde by entring into some particulars bring them within the compasse of his dangerous complots This may be necessarily there also gathered in that as shewing hee could be content to conferre with the said parties not because he protesteth that he would seeke any approbation from them so doth he likewise remou that doubt saying that he purposed not to acquaint them with the courses which he purposed by Gods assistance to take in hand whereby great daunger might growe to them and little good to him but that they might be witnesses of his humilitie c. You haue heard also of one of Copingers petitions to Maister Cartwright for his aunswere to those questions mentioned that he had before propounded to Wigginton Whereunto it should seeme that although at the first he misliked that motion yet in the end he yeelded My humble desire to you is sayth Coppinger that you in my name giue great thankes to good Maister Cartwright for satisfying mee in some questions which at the first he thought little vse to be made of Likewise it also appeareth that Maister Hockenhull did his aforesaid message vnto Copinger from the preachers in harder manner then he had Commission For sayth he his counsaile that is Cartwrights and cariage of himselfe the Lord did direct and blesse it vnto mee though the Messenger c. in his cariage of himselfe failed somewhat both in that hee deliuered from him and the rest of the Brethren And whereas further more in like sort notice being giuen to the Ministers in prison of one of Copingers fasts it appeared not what regard they had thereof that point also is now cleared in the same Letter I beseech you also giue thankes on my behalfe to the other eight preachers for vpon notice giuen vnto them by some of Gods children that somewhat was intended to be don wherein Gods Glory might appeare and request made that the religious desires and godly purposes of the faithful might be strengthned by their holy praiers they thereupon as it is credibly signified vnto me humbled themselues in fasting and prayer and such an extraordinary blessing came to me thereuppon as it is not fitte to be repeated CHAP. IX Of Hackets first comming to Wigginton of his gadding vp and downe and of the designement to haue beene executed in the Star chamber EDmond Copinger hauing thus proceeded in the course you haue heard of at the length he did send againe for Hacket the spirite as it seemeth mouing Hacket before to stay at home Marry now he straitghtly vrgeth him to be at London thre or foure daies before the beginning of Trinity Terme which hee could not be but came vp the first day of the Terme which was the fourth of Iune 1591 and lodged at Islington The day following he went to the Counter and there dined with Wigginton and after dinner he beganne his Pageant vz. to crie out against certaine of her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councell and to vtter against them most villanous speches The next day being Sonday he wēt to haue heard maister Phillippes preach but hee preached not that day there as the Sexton informed him Then hee went to haue heard Maister Cooper but seeing a Surples lie there he departed thence and went to Maister Egertons Sermon At night not knowing where to lie hee went to Wigginton where he mette with Coppinger and by Wiggintons appointment hee lodged at Maister Lawsons The next morning viz. the seuenth of Iune he proceeded with his slanderous outcries against the said honorable Councellors and so continued two dayes after In the one of which two dayes hee was commaunded as is sette downe to goe out of Paules by London gate and say by your leaue London because hee knew he was shortlie to remoue his dwelling The same day also in the forenoone he went to the Fleete to haue spoken with Maister Cartwright but missing of his purpose hee left his message with the porter vz. that maister Cartwright should deale faithfullie in the Lords busines c. Of his afternoones worke thus it is also in the same place recorded He was commaunded to sit that afternoone at maister Lawsons shoppe but the purpose of the Lord in that and what some of the Citizens themselues know he saith I forbeare to speake These courses held by Hacket in the streets of exclaiming against such persons c. did proceede as it seemeth by the aduise or at least by the allowance of Wigginton For it appeareth vnder his owne hand that he approued after his fashion such outcries in the streetes to be lawfull by two examples one out of Iosephus and an other of a Yorkeshire man that heretofore had vsed the like in London as Wigginton recordeth About this tyme vz. in Iune as I gesse one Iohn Boman a seruant in Oundell did write thus to maister Wigginton I desire you to send me a Coppie of a writing which you had from Maister Cartwright vppon the Court matters when Goodman Hacket was with you the first time Also shortlie after the aforesaid outcries were finished and many other things thought vppon amongst them you may be sure to such seditious purposes the end of Trinity Tearme drew neare when it was commonly expected that Cartwright and the other ministers in prison should haue come to their answere openly in the Starre-chamber Whereupon a Letter was written by Copinger to his most deare friend Thomas Lancaster the Schoole-maister from whom he could keepe nothing that Lancaster in pollicy would suffer to be tould him Which Letter Lancaster saith he did teare in peeces but confesseth vnder his hād that in the same these words were contained vz. If our Preachers in prison do appeare to morrow in the Star-chamber and our great men deale with them so as it is thought they will if God doe not throw some fearfull iudgement amongest them so as some of the chiefe of them goe not aliue out of the place then neuer giue credite to me in any thing whilest you liue But maister Cartwright and the rest appeared not this day and so the parties threatned escaped this iudgement CHAP. X. A preparation towardes the intended disloialtie two of Copingers Letters to Maister Charke and to another Cartwright and Wiggintons commendation of Penries being then in London NOt lōg after this time if not before maister Wiginton and Copinger were very busy for the better preparing of the peoples mindes to the readidier acceptation of their further purposes to publishe in print two pamphlettes of Wiggintons penning as he himselfe confesseth The one was of Predestination as though by the abuse of that doctrine they meant to haue had the blame of all the wicked and intended mischiefes both of themselues and of their partakers remoued