those whom he served to entrap him with Women His attempting them in dishonest manner but with purpose only as he there pretendeth to learn of them the Practices against him The like Snares laid for him by some of better place and credit than the former Of his affliction in mind that he endured because he so behaved himself toward Women and yet could not learn out by them the plot laid against him Of his going into Hampshire to have been placed there How he was in a place there for the most part of 20 days beat with a Bostonado and into what pitiful state of Body he was thereby brought That this was done partly for his avouching that Christ was Head of the Church against the Pope and for saying That as certain Earthen Pots were there by him broken so should all Papists be broken in Hell and confounded so many as rose up against him in Earth How he was forced to use the Deputy-Lieutenant of Hampshire his Aid to be safely conveyed out of that Country lest he should be murthered by his Enemies That he came thence to one M. Paul Wentworth's House where he remained a Month and was used most Christianly and where he was most deeply exercised in the Spirit How as he passed by the way out of Hampshire he told a Gentleman in company that was privy to his Enemies Complots of a great Practice intended against him and to be done in a Chamber by certain Persons whom he then named aforehand Insomuch as the said Gentleman being made privy to such purpose and knowing that he said true affirmed surely he could conjure or else it had not been possible to tell such things as he did where indeed he saith the Lord in the midst of his former Afflictions revealed it unto him and further shewed him a Place which he had appointed for him and how he would bring all his Enemies Practices to confusion How in performance of that which was so revealed he was afterward in a certain Place in Hartfordshire bound first in a Chamber and then chained in a Sink-hole of a Seller and most grievously many ways afflicted there for 20 days together That in the greatest extremity thereof which was greater than he could express a Cross came upon his Breast as he lay and always when his Torments were at the greatest the Lord unloosed his Feet and Hands from his Fetters and Bands nevertheless he lay still till his Tormentors came and bound him again How the Lord then appeared to him and assured him that he would establish the Gospel by him and shewed him all the Whoredom of Rome in the person of a great Personage since deceased as it were in Candle-light with a great Bell full of iniquity That during that time the Lord shewed him a terrible Famine which he would bring upon a Land but whether this Land or not was not declared That Christ then shewed him his Wisdom and Providence in governing the Seas and all other Waters in their Courses And further shewed him the Man that should sit on Christ's Right hand to judge both the quick and the dead whose Name he well knoweth That then he made his Petition unto the Lord who answered him by a Voice thus What he would how he would and when he would How by the extremity of his Torments his Eyes were fallen down and his Tongue thrust out of his Head so as he could not pull it in again one Barley-corn's breadth but the Lord in that extremity shewed him that he would keep his Body from hursting and that one hair of his Head should not perish That being loosed by his Wife's importunity soon after in a very Rainy-day he his Wife one Richard Dickens and one Palmer rid altogether thence toward Oundell thirty Miles that day and albeit it rained all the day very fore so that great floods came upon it yet never a one of them had any drop thereof fall upon their Clothes That being at Oundell and foreseeing he should be exercised again he prayed his Wife that no man might come at him for he would keep his Chamber And then the Lord appeared unto him and shewed him in what danger the Land was by reason of foreign Enemies at the Sea and commanded him to go round about the Town and that should be a defence to the Land round about That after this he kept himself in his Barn about eight days reasoning with the Lord touching Predestination and Reprobation continually begging of him that he would save all those that fought ignorantly against the Truth or otherwise sinned through want of knowledge How after this betaking himself to his Chamber again the Lord he saith forced him to cry out against two great Subjects and Counsellors in this Land That he was again bound and tormented there other twenty days in eight whereof he neither did eat nor drink and was continually watched for that they knew the Lord would come and loose him if they left him That during this time Witches used their Sorcery strongly upon him That the Lord then told him that he would harden his own heart against Hacket's Tormentors How then also four or five Angels night by night stood by him and watched over him like unto Doves and one night Spirits innumerable And that a white Hand came from the Almighty and took him by the hand whereby all Venome Poison Uncleanness and Corruption departed from him for a time whereupon the Lord shewed him three Heavens together and all the dwelling places contrived in one of them but the highest Heaven was shewed to be without end which glory he was not able to behold but was made able to look upon the Blood of the Saints which was made round like a Wax Cake in very great breadth but the glory which therewith appeared he could not look upon so that he was forced to turn his face upon the Pillow How the Lord also shewed him the murthering of the Wicked even like the slaying of Swine the Father murthering the Son and the Mother the Daughter and every one another all the day long and no man took pity upon them That there was then revealed unto him a very strange fire from Heaven the length whereof he did see consuming all things from the Heaven to Hell mouth but he did not see the breadth thereof Also that he then did see the breadth of the tormenting place of the Damned and what was therein but neither the bottom nor length of the place That he also supposed he saw his Liberty begged by two honourable Personages Notwithstanding which deliverance that he dreamed of he telleth that he was carried afterward to Northampton Gaol where he remained 17 Weeks as afore is remembred Furthermore there is declared That in his Torments the Lord shewed him how he would confound all his Adversaries that were guilty in any practice against him and that one thing which they went about they should never bring to pass for he let
obedient Persons to him in all things Thus that Thursday passed on On Friday morning Coppinger sent his Man Emerson by Five of the Clock in the morning unto Arthington's Lodging but his Wife would not then awake him so he sent for him again at Six and they two then went together unto Coppinger Then Coppinger and Arthington determined that Friday morning being the 16th day of July last between Six and Seven of the Clock in the forenoon to go unto a certain Gentleman's House about the City of good behaviour and they forsooth to honour him to be chief Governor under her Majesty which they also did that Morning and promised unto him accordingly that he should so be Leaving also with him both the said Prophecy and Hacket's History to peruse but the good Gentleman was unwilling to deal either with them or their Papers any way They flayed not there above half an hour From thence they came betwixt Eight and Nine of the Clock in the Morning unto Wigginton's Chamber being Prisoner in the Counter in Woodstreet with whom having much speech and conference part whereof is touched before among other things they signified unto him as Arthington confesseth that they were provoked to pronounce him the holiest Minister of all others for dealing so plainly and resolutely in God's Causes above all Ministers which God would manifest one day to his comfort Wigginton at his examination confesseth such Conference by him at that time to have been had with them and as he was enjoined by those who examined him hath reported it by writing somewhat largely He therein also setteth down a Conference had by him about the same matters with Hacket himself coming to him thither alone as he saith the self-same Friday morning some while after the other two were departed from him It may be gathered by his own Narration that betwixt the time of Coppinger and Arthington's talk with him Wigginton had set down Article-wise and distincted with number the several Heads of their Speeches had with him And after he also enquired and set down in writing Hacket's Opinion likewise unto every of the said Articles severally And albeit it need not be questioned but that both for Circumstance and Matter he would set it down the least that might be either to his own or any his Complices disadvantage yet may it serve for the fuller understanding of the whole Action and for necessary observation besides to touch some chief Points of those Conferences though it be but as himself telleth them The principal Points of Wigginton's Wigginton ' s Report of his Conference and Speeches with Coppinger Arthington and Hacket own Report touching Conference and Speeches had by him to and fro with Coppinger and Arthington and afterward with Hacket the 16th day of July in the Morning 1591. He saith That Coppinger and Arthington came unto him about Eight or Nine of the Clock of the 16th day of July in the Morning full of courage and comfort saying unto him thus We are come to you now to bring you certain News of great comfort which is this viz. That we have 1. seen Jesus Christ this day in lively and extraordinary shape or fashion presented unto us not in his Body for so he sitteth at the right hand of God in Heaven until the last Judgment but in his effectual or principal Spirit whereby he dwelleth in William Hacket more than in any Creature upon the Earth When Hacket came not long after their departure that Morning unto him Wigginton saith That he examined him about the whole Speeches of Coppinger and Arthington uttered before unto him whereunto Hacket answered first generally thus That he approved them no further than he saw they had warrant for their doings but particularly to this first Article thus viz. Hacket's Answer thereof unto Wigginton To the first That he knew not of that their Vision but he accounted himself to be a chief Messenger of God in such sort as followeth Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches to Wigginton That the said William Hacket is the very same Angel forespoken of by the Scriptures who should come before the last Judgment of Christ with a Fan or Sheephook in his hand to separate the Goats from the Sheep Hacket's Answer To the second That he was the only principal Man sent of God to decide the Controversies of the Gospel of Christ in the World or in England or in Europe into which Controversies some bad Persons being Enemies to him and to the Gospel in England and some of them being great Personages had drawn him to enter by their Cruel Unjust and Extraordinary Practices and Treacheries or Sorceries used against him and that by him as by a principal Angel of God with his Fan in his hand God would now separate the Sheep from the Goats and that God would establish the Gospel by him generally either by his death or by his life but quoth he as it were correcting himself by my life it must be Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That Hacket is a Man dearer or nearer unto God in some respects than Moses or John the 3. Divine who wrote the Revelation because he must as it were bring an accomplishment unto their Prophesies and hath a more excellent spirit or work to do than they in some respects Hacket's Answer To the third That God would do a greater Work by him the said William Hacket than ever he did by any of all the Prophets for the establishment of his Gospel to the confusion of Satan and Antichrist Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That the said Hacket had laid two several Charges in the name of Christ upon them two 4. which they must needs perform or execute the one upon Arthington of Prophecy concerning the end of the World the other upon Coppinger of painting out the good and bad in the World or in these parts of the World and one of them had in purpose or charge to read over the whole Bible for proof of their Office and Business Hacket's Answer To the fourth That God had sent Arthington to be the said Hacket his Writer or Pen and the said Coppinger to be the Expounder of his Mind or Deliverer of his Message to the old Magistrates which were almost gone and to the New and to the World Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches That they had some sight of the glory of the 5. World to come where they found that the Queen was highly in God's favour because she had cut off much of Antichrist's Force or Train but c. That M. Cartwright had done more against 6. Antichrist than any in the World before him since the Apostles time and that Wigginton was Mutuùm muli scabunt comparable unto him and M. Lancaster meaning a Schoolmaster in Shoe-Lane was above them both in the state of heavenly glory because he had kept himself undefiled from the common Corruptions of these Times and had a most single heart to God Hacket's Answer
with the Widow whom he married whose hap was very hard to match with him albeit he made more of her than she desired for he made the uttermost peny For then he begun He pretended to a Prophetick Spirit and to miraculous Works in order to erecting the Discipline with counterfeit Holiness to set out himself amongst such of the simpler sort as had zeal without knowledge to be a man indued with an extraordinary and singular Spirit such as in old time the Prophets and Holy Men of God were making shew withall as if he had some peculiar Gifts and Qualities to be able even to tell Secrets and work Miracles which many believed whereof some did attribute them to Sorcery and Enchantments but the simpler sort unto his rare Spirit and Holiness For he trusted by this persuasion to get such credit with the unstable Multitude as that by their hands he might one day be able whosoever should withstand it to bring his Purposes about for erecting of such pretended Discipline to his own great estimation and advancement In this vain and seducing Humour he is reported I know not how truly to have travelled in the North parts unto York For among the simpler People where he was not known he hoped by the Vizard of Holiness and Religion not a little to prevail in setting forward his Designments For which purpose he took upon him there the Office and Spirit of St. John Affirmed at York to have the Office and Spirit of John Baptist Baptist affirming that he was sent thither by God to prepare the way of the Lord before his second coming to judgment But the counterfeit holiness and lewd seducing purpose of the Varlet being discovered unto some in Authority he was welcomed not with loss of his Head as that holy man unjustly was whom he wickedly counterfeited Being detected he was whipped out of the City but was well whipped and after banished that City This Medicine wrought not so effectually with him as that it could terrify him wholly from the like Attempts For it is reported that after this he assayed again to put on the like Person or Mask at Lincoln where Had the same usage afterwards at Lincoln he also found the same Cheer and Entertainment for his pains as he received afore at York But this erroneous Opinion whereby through self-love and illusion of the Devil he thought that he was reserved of God for Fancied himself reserv'd of God for some great Work some great and excellent Work being blown forward by the shew of zeal and of an earnestness for such a Reformation could not thus easily be quenched and rooted out of him the rather for that by use and imitation of such as he most followed and conversed with though wholly otherwise he were unlettered he had grown to such a dexterity in conceiving of Extemporal Prayers with bumbasted and thundering words as that Was an illiterate Fellow but had acquired a great dexterity in Extempore Prayers he was thereby marvailed at and greatly magnified by some Brethren and Sisters as a man greatly vouchsafed with God and adorned with rare and singular Endowments from Heaven so that through admiration of such supposed Excellencies in him he still continued to fancy unto himself that he had rare Gifts and an extraordinary Calling For he gave out to divers that he was a Prophet Was much admired and affirm'd himself a Prophet of God's Vengeance of God's Vengeance where his Mercy is refused Saying That if Reformation be not established in England this present Year three great Plagues shall fall upon it the Sword Pestilence and Famine He pretended also that God had revealed unto him most wonderful things Which he would he said utter to none but such as himself knew to be very resolute in God's Cause But he told unto Arthington and Coppinger that there should be no more Popes hereafter Upon confidence of which Spirit and Gifts in himself in Places of his resort with an intemperate and fanatical boldness With Fanatical boldness utter'd seditious Speeches against the Queen c. even as if he had sufficient warrant for it he dared oftentimes to utter most vile lewd and seditious Speeches both of the Queen's Majesty and of certain the greatest Subjects whom he thought to be hinderers of his Practices Which his Outrages being once or twice brought unto the Ears of certain in Authority in Northamptonshire and elsewhere not sufficiently acquainted with the strange Humours of such Anabaptistical Wizards and Fanatical Sectaries and perhaps unwilling to let his words be drawn so far against him as they justly might they were therefore content to attribute them to some spice of phrensy in him and in that Was corrected in Northamptonshire as Phrantick quality to be corrected rather than to construe them to have proceeded from any setled and advised malice as the event hath since made most manifest they did For in the whole course besides of other the Speeches and Actions of his Life both before and after no alienation of mind or madness could be noted in him At one of the times that he was brought in question for his Seditious and indeed Treasonable Speeches it happened that he was convented before that honourable Counseller Sir Walter Mildmay who commanded him for more safegard to be watched the night before he was to be conveyed to Northampton Gaol at what time the counterfeit dissembling Wretch willed Put into Northampton Gaol his Wife to let him lie alone in the Chamber that was to be watched for that he had to confer with one that would come unto him that night Insinuating unto her as if he were to have at that time some special Conferences with God or some Angel Whereupon Pretended to have conference with God or some Angel it was straightway blown abroad thereabouts amongst the credulous multitude of those that either favoured him for supposed Zeal or feared him for Sorceries that albeit there were no Candles used yet there was a great light that night seen shining in his Chamber so that by this Tale the erroneous Opinions afore conceived of him were greatly encreased After he had lien in Northampton Gaol a good space and was come unto his Trial in the absence of Sir Walter from thence the matter is thought to have been so handled by some who in favour of his forwardness would needs interpret his Felonies to be but Follies as that no Evidence being given against him he was dismissed for that pull upon Bond entred for his appearance when he should be called for again Now Hacket a man thus qualified as ye Wigginton brings him acquainted with Coppinger hear was of all other men thought by Wigginton most fit and worthy to be recommended and straightly linked unto Coppinger's Familiar acquaintance as most aptly consorting with his humorous Conceit long ere this apprehended by him whereof it seemeth Wigginton was not ignorant nor misliked Their acquaintance
is by the State suppressed and kept under That it is the will of God to have such a Reformation That impeachment of it is offered by the Queen Counsel and Nobles That this is a great sin meet to be repented of by them That they must be brought to this repentance That the penalty against any of them that refuse to be brought is to be detected as Traytors an offence deserving death That this must be done out of hand That the will of God in great favour for the good of his Church was revealed to him in this behalf being a man of much fasting prayer rare gifts a Coppinger calls it the Cause and Truth of God which must go or and to oppose it is a Sin deserving death That this was revealed to him as a Prophet and not to be discredited Prophet an extraordinary man with an extraordinary Calling such as was not to be judged of or discerned by meer ordinary men and whereinto he entred not rashly or on a sudden but after many conflicts with himself before his yielding to God's extraordinary motion and calling But submitting himself nevertheless to have his Gifts and Calling tried and allowed of by the best reformed Preachers and therefore not worthy to be suspected or discredited That the way to bring them to this repentance was a secret Mystery such as those Preachers and others whom he conferred with albeit The Preachers thought the ways of effecting of it dangerous and refused to be made acquainted with them but consent he should run the hazard they held it a work to be wished at God's hands yet by his talk gathered the manner of bringing it in to be so dangerous as that they feared the success and refused to be made acquainted with the particular ways and means which he had plotted to effect it Thereby making choise rather that Coppinger should venture to put it in practise if he remained resolute herein which they found by him of what dangerous consequence soever such a way might be than that they by bewraying of him to Authority should be any means to break off and prevent his Resolution or quench his Zeal And thus with opinion of safety to themselves they merchandized the hazard of their Friend's life or else the rearing of Sedition in the Realm with the hope that secretly they nourished to have the Discipline which they dream of erected Thus Coppinger remaining still more confirmed Coppinger brought acquainted with Hacket and Arthington and setled in this vein by his Pew-fellow Wigginton about Easter-Term last being as is aforesaid brought acquainted with Hacket as with a most holy man soon after would needs bring Arthington also acquainted with him as one whom upon so small knowledge he had observed to be a very rare man For this purpose he sent for Arthington to Dinner or Supper unto Lawson's House near to Paul's Gate where Arthington met first with Hacket together with another whom he calleth a godly man Of whose ordinary talk then had Arthington liked very well but had as he saith at that time no further conference with him After which time Arthington discontinued from the City Arthington retires into Yorkshire and remained in Yorkshire until Trinity Term leaving Hacket and Coppinger behind him plotting of their purposes together What Purposes they had what Counsel they entred into and what Conferences they entertained betwixt themselves and with others by the Events ensuing will best be discovered After this Hacket stayed Hacket goes also into the Country not long in London but desired Coppinger at his departure to write unto him what succels J. T. had and withal assuring him that whensoever he should write for him he the said Hacket would streightway come up again Hereupon Coppinger writ unto him first Coppinger sends for him to London and provides him Chamber and Board at the end of Easter Term and after again very earnestly to be at London three days before the beginning of Trinity Term last but he could not be here so soon by three or four days When he was come he lodged the first night at Istington but sent his Horse down again into the Country as purposing to stay long in London Then after a night or two one of which nights he lodged at the said Lawson's House by Wiggington's direction he was provided of a Chamber and of his Board at one Ralph Kaye's House in Knight-rider-street by Coppinger's means and at his Charges for he cost Coppinger there Eleven Shillings by the Week But Kayes waxing weary of him in part for that he seared Hacket was a Conjurer or Witch in that the Camomil he saith in his Garden where Hacket either trod or sate did wither up the next night and waxed black therefore Coppinger provided at his own charges likewise another Room for him at one Walker's House by Broken Wharf where he remained until his apprehension Whilst Hacket was at Kaye's House he Hacket leaves the Queen out of his Prayers used before and after Meals to pray as seemed most devoutly and zealously but never for the Queen's Majesty Hacket also told Kayes That if all the Divines in England should pray for Rain if he said the word yet it should not rain The first of the aforesaid Letters which Coppinger writ unto Hacket to move him to come up doth contain matter of note besides not unfit to be known Brother Hacket Coppinger ' s Letter to Hacket saith he the burthen which God hath laid upon me you being the Instrument to make me bold and couragious where I was fearful and faint is greater than I can bear without your help here though I have it where you are The workings of his holy spirit in me since your departure be mighty and great My zeal of spirit burneth like fire so that I cannot contain my self and conceal his mercies towards me And a little after in the same Letter Master Thr. is put off till the next Term the zealous Preachers as it is thought are to be in the Star-Chamber to morrow the Lord by his holy Spirit be with them My self if I can get in am moved to be there And I fear if Sentence with severity be given I shall Note be forced in the name of the great and fearful God of Heaven to protest against it My desire is that you hast up so soon as you can your Charges shall be born by me And somewhat after thus If his most holy Spirit direct you to come come If not stay But write with speed and convey your Letter and inclose it in a Letter to him who brought you and me acquainted viz. Wigginton put not your name to it for discovery Direct your Letter thus To my loving Brother in the Lord give these my Letters I put to no name but the matter you know which sufficeth Pray that the Lord may reign and that his Subjects may obey That all Instruments whatsoever that shall be
out of the Church and maintain in their room Officers and Offices of Antichrist Hereupon gathering thus How can God spare this Land any longer wherein both the Magistrates and Messengers of God have dealt so unfaithfully in the Lord's service Adding That the fearful Judgments of God shall be sure to fall on the Reprobate being already prepared and put into the hands of the Mighty Messenger of the Almighty God William Hacket to be poured out upon this great City of London and upon all Places where repentance followeth not this publication Then he goeth about to prove all such Preachers to be Idolaters or consenting to Idolatry which Practise or Consent and suffer others to use Surpless and Cross because he saith they are the marks of Antichrist Preferring herein the Papists afore them as sinning herein only of ignorance seeking also to engreeve their Faults in this behalf for that they are all Hypocritical Idolaters in that nevertheless they profess Reformation Whereunto he addeth he saith a Secret That this their halting and hypocrisy hath so hardned God's heart against their Requests for bringing in the Discipline that for this unfaithful and Note unsingle walking in their Function he hath hitherto denied it Neither shall any one of them or all of them together have that honour given to bring in Reformation For saith he I tell you truly the Almighty God hath put his Cup of Vengeance into his trusty and faithful Servants hand William Hacket to pour it down shortly upon every wilful and obstinate Sinner that doth not repent upon the notice hereof or else the Lord confound me Lastly he giveth a charge to have this Prophecy together with the incredible but most certain History of the holiest Servant of God William Hacket that ever hath been is or shall be born Christ Jesus only excepted with all speed possible printed and published together as in substance true saith he or else the Lord confound me This wise Prophecy is thus subscribed By the most unworthy Servant but yet a faithful Prophet of the Almighty Jesus or else his Wrath confound me Henry Arthington While Arthington was about this his Task Coppinger writes Hacket's History at large to be published with his Prophecy Coppinger as it seemeth was neither idle nor well occupied for he was setting down from Hacket's own mouth a long Ragman's Role of Hacket's Torments Revelations and I know not what called Hacket's History For by Thursday morning Hacket having enlarged the first draught thereof which was at first but scribled out by Coppinger Arthington was to write out again fair the enlarged Copy that being persited it might be annexed unto the aforesaid Prophecy All that Thursday was spent by them in consultation and writing Hacket being also present and assisting them But with what joyfulness amongst them all it is incredible if we may believe their own Reports Yet Arthington was forced for the haste that was made to have all in readiness against the Friday following and for the desire he had to yield unto Hacket all satisfaction and contentment that might be to sit up most of Thursday night writing out again of the said History so enlarged But on Thursday it self being the 15th of July amongst other their Actions Coppinger and Arthington writ a Letter to the aforesaid T. L. which is of this tenor first at the top of it thus viz. If this Letter be not endited by the Holy Ghost Coppinger's and Arthington's Letter ter unto T. Lancaster who hath appeared in a far greater measure to sinful Wretches in the end of the World even to us whose Names are here under-written and to a third Person in Calling above all former Callings whatsoever Christ Jesus excepted the Lord confound us two with vengeance from Heaven and carry us with all violence into the bottomless Pit If we have not taken the name of God in vain it standeth you upon to read this Letter with fear and trembling with joy and gladness with fear that the Lord should wooe you to do him service with joy that he offereth you honour if you accept it We two are Messengers from Heaven who have a good Captain to guide us who have received immediate Callings from God to call the whole World to repentance and amendment of Life otherwise they are to fear that Christ Jesus's second coming in glory will be to them as a Thief in the night If I Edmund Coppinger do not prefer you before any one man in the Land whatsoever for your wise holy loving and religious Course both in the general Calling of a Christian and in your particular Calling the Lord confound me Body and Soul The reason why I chuse you first is because in your House in your presence and under God partly by your means I had my first extraordinary Calling though thereof as of all other things the whole honour and glory be the Lord's And of the same mind is my Brother Arthington In token of our extraordinary love to you we deal as we neither have or will do with any other for we command in the name of the Lord all Creatures upon the Earth and they must obey But with you we will dispense thus far that it shall be your choise to come and take a new Calling for a time wherein we would use you or refuse it So wishing you to commend us and your self to God before you answer us which we expect in word and not in writing c. The Messenger of Mercy to the whole World if they accept me E. Coppinger I avouch whatsoever my Brother hath written to be most true And further I protest that you are a more holy man than any Preacher in London or throughout the whole Land or else the Lord confound me If it please you to come and see me joyful you may hope this is true The Prophet of God's Judgements to the whole World where mercy is rejected Hen. Arthington That the perfit and enlarged History of Hacket be briefly gathered into a Summary and here set down it will not I think be amiss for such as shall be desirous to know what mysteries may be therein contained which drew these two amongst other matters into such a extraordinary admiration and opinion of him First therefore There is declared whom A sum of Hacket's History Hacket served then how he got the execution of the Bailywick of Oundel being void How upon complaint of the Wives there that their Husbands spent their thrift in Alehouses on the Sabbath days he by a Justice of Peace not far off did cause all the Playing Tables that could be come by to be burnt Also the light and enticing behaviour of some Women towards him and his familiarity with them whereby his Wife became jealous of him so that he was forced for her satisfaction to clear himself by his Oath The sundry Baits laid by means of some of his Fellows that envied him for the credit he had with
To the fifth and sixth That men should shortly turn their Spears into Mattocks for the making of a true or better Reformation or else a great Plague as it were Fire from Heaven should fall upon them for their rebellion against God And that the Queen was undone and all we Preachers should be damned if we fall not to Reformation speedily And that he knew not of any such Comparisons or Degrees to be in the seat of Glory but sure he was although every man should be rewarded according to his works yet he that would be highest should be lowest there where all be as one in Christ 7. The seventh Article by them then uttered 7. is nothing but a lewd and slanderous railing against two of the said Counsellors whereunto Wigginton shapeth no Answer in Hacket's behalf belike allowing it and therefore did not ask Hacket of it because himself made no doubt of the truth thereof as it seemeth Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches 8. That many of the Preachers and People in 8. England professing Religion were blind and careless in many things yet the Servants of God to be saved upon repentance and that some few which were more forward than others should have more honour or higher places in Heaven than they Hacket's Answer To the eighth That it was true so near as Wigginton could call to remembrance Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches 9. That these things they would confirm unto 9. him by God's Spirit out of his word In the mean while they both used vehement Protestations that it was most true which they spake and that their Doctrine was or should be fetched out of the Third Heaven and they would prove themselves and William Hacket to be extraordinarily called and sent of God as aforesaid and they exhorted him to be constant in the Truth Arthington also pronounced Wigginton to be highly in God's favour and assured him that God's Spirit should be doubled upon him Hacket's Answer To the ninth be avoucheth the full effect thereof and he also pronounced Wigginton to be highly in God's favour And further told after a bold and a resolute manner that he had appointed him and some few others to be Assistants to Coppinger and Arthington in their foresaid Offices c. Besides the Premisses Wigginton hath set down as pleased him best a Dialogue had with Coppinger and Arthington at that time not worth the inserting here Yet this may be observed in it that they then said they Note would prove the things aforesaid by God's Spirit which was above his word and by his Word also Secondly By Wigginton his own Report it appeareth That they answered unto his Speeches very temperately directly and pertinently Thirdly It appeareth also therein that he did not contradict any of their sayings nor rebuke them nor found fault with the absurdity and blasphemy of their Opinions and undutifulness of their Speeches or danger of their Purposes but only warned them to be wary c. lest they might be illuded of the Devil So leaving it at that time doubtful whether he allowed them to be such extraordinary Men or no. In his said Narration he further sheweth That he asking Hacket when he saw the two Wigginton ' s further Report Gentlemen Hacket answered They had been with him that Morning whilst he lay in his Bed and had suddenly departed from him with one cry saying Christ is come Christ is come where at he said he marvailed not knowing what was their meaning in the matter Adding furtherm That he had oft warned Coppinger to take heed of conceiving too much liking of his own spiritual Gifts whom he perceived to be ravished with an exceeding love and extraordinary care for the safety of his Mistress meaning the Queen's Majesty who quoth Hacket is undone and here is put an c. For you and all other Preachers shall be damned unless she for her part and you for your parts do speedily fall to Reformation Wigginton also saith further That Hacket either at that time or not long before did exhort him to deal faithfully in the Lord's business and that he had heard Hacket pray sometimes before in strange terms as these and such like viz. Father I know thou lovest me as well as thou lovest thine own self Thus when Hacket had answered Wigginton's demands touching Coppinger and Arthington's Speeches as is afore set down he said he would depart home into the Country yet he would leave word behind for his Adversaries to know in what place they should find him if they were disposed to call for him And withal made great shew after his former wonted manner as though he neither feared Magistrate nor cared for any punishment nor doubted any danger to ensue upon him for any thing he had done or said or should go about Now touching some things markable in Remarks on Wigginton's Narration this Narration of Wigginton's First If Arthington say true in his Confessions That Hacket published not himself to have that 1. Office of Christ or his principal Spirit till the very moment that they were to go into the City to proclaim as they did and if they went not unto Hacket that day till they had first been with Wigginton which seemeth to be true then could it not be that Wigginton heard that of them two at that time which he reporteth them to have spoken in the first second third and fourth Article and therefore he was made acquainted with it before that time Secondly That which 2. he maketh Hacket to fumble about somewhat doubtfully in answer to the fourth Article touching the old Magistrates that were gone and of new doth argue that Wigginton was also made privy to the Intent of displacing all the old Counsellors and placing of new as was plotted by the Conspirators Thirdly 3. Their lewd and malepert imputation of her Majesty's Honour to be blemished and affirming she was undone though it had been no more were matters of that quality that no dutiful or well-advised Subject would have either concealed or so lightly passed over as he did Fourthly It is probable 4. that Hacket meant rather to have Mattocks turned into Spears than contrariwise for I see no peaceable means that was thought on by them Fifthly We may observe that 5. here is a Reformation moved which upon pain of damnation must be undertaken and that with all speed even Now they say wherein others beside the Queen have their parts to perform in erecting of it some whereof have also extraordinary Gifts and Callings to run in that course of Reforming and Wigginton being yet a Prisoner but belike put in hope of speedy deliverance by their means is appointed a principal Assistant to them yea and is made privy unto some matter for which Hacket thought he was not unlike to be afterward sought for and which he knew might be dangerous unto him had he been such a man as any Magistrate Punishment or Danger might have
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
continued his counterfeit vein that he had then undertaken one while crying out Jehovab Messias Jehovab Messias His extravagant Speeches going to Execution another while crying out thus Look look how the Heavens open wide and the Son of God cometh down to deliver me When he came under the Gibbet which was reared hard by the Cross in Cheapside towards the right hand of the Street as you come from Paul's and the noise being appeased he was exhorted to ask God and the Queen Forgiveness and to fall to his Prayers But he persevering in his unprofitable course of dissimulation instead thereof fell to railing and cursing of the Queen's Majesty most villanously He curses the Queen But being more vehemently urged to remember his present state and to give over all hope to do himself good by such dissembling he began to pray this most passionate blasphemous and execrable Prayer viz. O God of Heaven mighty Jebovah His blasphemous execrable Prayer Alpha and Omega Lord of Lords King of Kings and God everlasting that knowest me to be that true Jebovah whom thou hast sent send some miracle out of a cloud to convert these Infidels and deliver me from these mine enemies If not I will fire the heavens and tear thee from thy throne with my hands With other words of most execrable blasphemy against the divine Majesty of God not to be rehearsed by reason that he found not that deliverance which he fancied God to have promised Then turning towards the Executioner he said unto him Ah thou bastards chila wilt thou His words to the Hangman hang Wm. Hacket thy king The Magistrates and people detesting this subtil seditious and blasphemous humour commanded and cried to the Officers to dispatch with him or to have his mouth stopped from blaspheming but they had much ado to get him up the Ladder And when he was up he struggled with his head to and fro as well as he could that he might not have the fatal noose put over his head Then he asked them very fearfully O what do you what do you but seeing by the circumstance what they intended he began to rave again and said Have I this for my kingdom bestowed He dies horridly blaspheming upon thee I come to revenge thee and plague thee and so was turn'd off But the people unwilling that so traitorous and blasphemous a wretch should have any the least favour cried out mightily to have him cut down presently to be quartered and seemed very angry with the Officers that made no more haste therein but as soon almost as he was cut down even with a trice his heart was taken forth and shewed out openly to the people for a most detestable blasphemous Traytor 's heart Thus died the most dangerous firebrand of sedition most detestable Traytor most hypocritical seducer and most execrable blasphemous hellhound that many ages ever saw or heard of in this Land The next day after this being Thursday Coppinger having wilfully abstained Coppinger starves himself and dies next day in Bridewel from meat as is said seven or eight days together died in Bridewell and Arthington liveth yet in the Counter in Woodstreet reserved I hope unto sincere and perfect Arthington in the Counter repents and sues for Pardon repentance For immediately upon Hacket's execution he wrote a Letter unto two great Counsellors whom among others he had lewdly slandered of submission and afterwards more at large he wrote to the body of the Council the whole course as he pretendeth of this action so far as he was made acquainted therewith humbly craving their Lordships mediation unto the Queens most excellent Majesty for his pardon and acknowledging his dangerous error and devilish leduction by Hacket especially into this traiterous action This Declaration is truly taken forth of their own Letters Writings under their hands and their Confessions upon Examinations subscribed by themselves and by sundry honourable and worshipful persons of great gravity and wisdom before whom they were made and therefore may suffice to shew unto all reasonable and well-affected the lewdness and danger of the hypocritical Plots and seditious Conspiracies entred into by these persons But some there are so perversely wedded to The state slandered in these Proceedings their own wills and addicted to their fancies once conceived that they give out they were mad and furious persons choosing therein rather to accuse the honourable Justice of the Realm and all the administers thereof than that any of their factious Crew professing desire of pretended Reformation and to bring in The Discipline as they call it should be noted with so deep disloyalty As it is not the part of any honest Christian by calumniation to charge those that be innocent so doth it not become a loyal Subject to justifie any Traytors especially with slandering of the State It therefore seemeth requisite that this point be not left uncleared whether they or any of them in these practices were indeed transported The Justice vindicated with fury besides themselves so as they needed not to have been regarded nor by Law ought to have suffered death for them In wants of understanding and reason after such time as men should naturally have them there are noted divers degrees that are also of several consideration that is to say Furor sive Rabies Dementia sive Amentia Insania sive Phrenesis Fatuitas Stultitia Lethargia Delirium And albeit the three first by sundry Writers be sometimes confounded and taken for one like as also the fourth is with the fifth and the sixth with the last yet when the diversity espied in the things themselves do drive men to a more exact consideration and distinction of the words by which those passions are to be expressed they are for the most part thus properly termed and distinguished by the best Writers Furor as it is described by Tully est mentis ad omnia coecitas an entire and full Tusc qu. li. 3. blindness or darkening of the understanding of the mind whereby a man knoweth not at all what he doth or saith and is englished madness or woodness He that is Bal In Lsed milites 〈◊〉 autem § ffide excus tuto passim alij possessed herewith is carried with fury of mind into great violences and outrages so that he neither spareth himself nor other men and is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such was the madness of Ajax as is fained by the Poets who whipped and scourged droves of beasts and cattel thinking they were the Groecians that had displeased him and afterward in that rage killed himself Dementia is described there by the same Ibidem Author to be affectio animi lumine mentis carens A passion of the mind bereaving it of the light of understanding Or as another Quintil. Declamat 348. grave and learned Author calleth it ablatus rerum omnium intellectus when a man's perceivance and
I. other the common people themselves might every where have the free choice of sincere Ministers Another That Mortuaries might wholly be taken 2. away A Third That they might be disburdened of paying any Tithes to Ecclesiastical Persons but only Corn. And a Fourth That 4. they might also prescribe how these Tithes should be better employed Luther in an Answer that Luther calls this Sedition a Stratagem of Satan he made to that Book of theirs saith he conceived that this Sedition was a very Stratagem of Satan to the intent that the Devil might destroy and kill him and other true and sound Preachers of the Gospel by men making outward shew and profession of the same Religion because he saw he could not effect it nor so far prevail by open Adversaries such as the Pope was and his Adherents For these Rebels called themselves a Christian Congregation and bragged They call themselves a Christian Congregation and pretend to follow the precise Rule of God's Word much that they would in all their actions follow the precise Rule of God's Word And whereas under the pretence of detestation of sin and of their own great sincerity and good lives these Traiterous Rebels noted many Faults in all other sorts and states of men and protested also great Loyalty and Fidelity to the Persons of their Princes so they might but have things amiss reformed he freely and truly putteth them Luther winds them of their Pride and Hypocrisy in mind That whiles they pried thus narrowly into other mens faults the Devil had so blinded them through Pride and Hypocrisy that they could not see their own detestable Treasons with other their Sins and Impieties Adding also That such as wrest away or abate Princes Swords and Jurisdictions will upon any fit opportunity offered no doubt take away their Lives also which is chiefly maintained by their Sovereign Jurisdiction and by Power of the Sword Amongst others Carolastadius a Preacher Carolastadius one of their Encouragers professing the Gospel but fallen into discontentments and emulous oppositions against Luther gave no small advancement to this fearful Commotion This man attributed much to Cabinet Teachers in private Conventicles and unto Visions and pretended Conferences with God But of all other Preachers that pretended Enmity both to the Pope and unto Luther one Thomas Muncer Muncer the hottest and chiefest Leader He exhorts them to great strictness of Life was the hottest and chiefest Boutifeu and Bellows of this Sedition At first he urged and exhorted men in his teaching by a good space together and that with great vehemency unto a singular strait precise and holy course of life namely to fly all even the least shew of actual sin to fast much to array themselves with mean and base Rayment to retain a settled Austerity in Countenance to speak seldom and such like which he called the bearing of the Cross Mortification and Discipline Now when as hereby he had procured unto himself a great Opinion of Holiness and Reputation with the common People he proceeded further He broacheth dangeroas Opinions Teacheth men to pray for Signs and expect Visions from God unto strange and very dangerous Opinions For then he began to teach men in their Prayers to ask a Sign of God Whether they held the Truth in Religion or not That if he gave not a Sign they might importune him and expostulate with him that he dealt not well with them in not giving a Sign to them who in this sort begged but true knowledge of him saying that to shew such Anger in Prayer was acceptable unto God for that hereby men did shew their fervency in Zeal He taught also that God even in these days did reveal his Will by Dreams and Visions That all Judgments civil must be by the Bible or Revelation from God That all in dignity must be equal He railed against Princes and imputed Rails at Princes many faults unto them and namely this That they suffered the Ecclesiastical State with great Impiety This Opinion of Equality of Authority and Dignity made the common People fall from their Work and beginning to gad idly up and down they took away by violence such things as they had need of from those that were more wealthy Muncer in this sort winning many They enter into Leagues to root out wicked Magastrates unto him they entred from time to time into secret Leagues together upon mutual Oaths given to help to root out and kill all wicked Magistrates to the intent new that were more godly might be set in their places for so he said God had given in commandment unto him According to which Plots by a Tumult of the People at Mulhusin he procured the old Officer to be deposed and a new Magistrate to be set up in his place and himself to be chosen a Senator of that City albeit he was still a Preacher and seemed to mislike this course in other men Now when as by these and other like means great multitudes of men to the number of Forty thousand had taken up Arms throughout Franconia and Suevia then Forty thousand arm in Franconia and Suevia One Physer joins them he thought opportunity served him to set forward his purposes by adjoyning himself unto them and in this action one Phyfer a near Companion of his and like affected to him did also Joyn. But when the Rebellious Rout wanted Victuals and many other Necessaries whereby their courages began to Fail then he comforted them in his Sermons and assured them as from God that their Cause and Quarrel was so good that the Frame of the whole World should sooner be changed than they should be forsaken or left destitute of him And when the Prince's Army gathered to subdud them being greater and better furnished than theirs were was ready to joyn in battel he still most resolutely assured them of some evident miraculous help to be manifest from Heaven for the overthrow of their Enemies saying that God would so enfeeble all their Enemies Shot that Muncer himself would receive them all without harm into the Lap of his Coat before they should Light For a token hereof it happened that they had taken the Sign of a Rain-Bow for their Ensign He shewed A Rainbow is their Ensign a token of Victory them as it fell out the self same time a true Rain-Bow in Heaven as an undoubted sign that they should obtain the Victory Whereupon they courageously at first set forward singing a Song for aid by the Holy Ghost But being nevertheless all put in Rout and They are routed Muncer flies is taken be justifies the Fact discomfited Muncer fled away and disguised himself Yet by means of certain Letters that were found with him he was afterward in a House discovered and taken Being brought before the Magistrates he stoutly defended his fact affirming that Princes who refused to establish the purity of the Gospel were in that sort