foris collocatur sic contra pacem Christi ordinationem atque unitatem Dei rebellatur The First fruits of Hereticks and the first Births and Endeavours of Schismaticks are these to admire themselves and in their swelling Pride to contemn any that are set over them Thus do men fall from the Church of God thus is a foreign unhallowed Altar erected and thus is Christ's Peace and God's Ordination and Unity rebelled against For mine own part I neither have done nor do any thing in these Matters which I do not think my self in conscience and duty bound to do and which her Majesty hath not with earnest Charge committed unto me and which I am not well able to justify to be most requisite for this Church and State whereof next to her Majesty though most unworthy or at the least most unhappy the chief care is committed unto me which I will not by the grace of God neglect whatsoever come upon me therefore Neither may I endure their notorious Contempts unless I will become Aesop ' s Block and undo all that which hither to hath been done And how then shall I be able to perform my Duty according to her Majesty's Expectation It is certain that if way be given unto them upon their unjust Surmises and Clamours it will be the cause of that Confusion which hereafter the State will be sorry for I neither care for the Honour of this Place I hold which is Onus unto me nor the largeness of the Revenue neither any worldly thing I thank God in respect of doing my Duty neither do I fear the displeasure of Man nor the evil Tongue of the uncharitable who call me Tyrant Pope Knave and lay to my charge things that I never did nor thought Scio enim hoc esse opus Diaboli ut Servos Dei mendaciis laceret opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet ut qui conscientiae suae luce clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur For I know that this is the work of that Accuser the Devil that he may tear in pieces the Servants of God with Lies that he may dishonour their glorious Name with false Surmises that they who through the clearness of their own Conscience are shining bright might have the filth of other mens Slanders cast upon them So was Cyprian himself used and other Godly Bishops to whom I am not comparable But that which most of all grieveth me and is to be wondred at and lamented is that some of those which give countenance to these Men and cry out for a learned Ministry should watch their opportunity and be Instruments and means to place most unlearned Men in the chiefest Places and Livings of the Ministry thereby to make the state of the Bishops and Clergy contemptible and I fear saleable This Hypocrisy and dissembling with God and Man in pretending one thing and doing another goeth to my heart and maketh me to think that God's Judgments are not far off The day will come when all mens hearts shall be opened In the mean time I will depend upon him who never faileth those that put their trust in him Thus far his Letters 57. After this he linked himself in a After which he is in strict league with Sir Christopher Hatton by means of Dr. Bancroft firm league of friendship with Sir Christopher Hatton then Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen's Majesty and by the means of Dr. Bancroft his then Houshold Chaplain and afterwards Lord Archbishop of Canterbury had him most firm and ready upon all occasions to impart unto the Queen as well the Crosses offered him at the Council-Table as also sundry impediments whereby he was hindred from the performance of many good Services towards her Majesty and the State He had always the Lord Burley then Lord Treasurer Burley his firm Friend Lord Treasurer of England his firm and constant Friend and one that would omit no opportunity for his advancement who prevailed so far that when the Earl of Leicester one of those honourable Personages afore-mention'd was in the Low-Countries the Archbishop The Archbishop sworn of the Privy Council and the Lord Cobham were first sworn Counsellors of State and Thomas Lord Buckhurst was sworn the day after whereat the Earl was not a little displeased The Lord Buckhurst was joined Lord Buckhurst his faithful Friend in like affection to the Archbishop as the other two were and continued after he came to be Lord Treasurer his faithful and loving Friend to the time of his death 58. When the Archbishop was thus established in friendship with these Noble Personages as aforesaid their Favours and his Place wrought him free He has free access to the Queen access to the Queen and gracious acceptance of his Motions in the Church's behalf His Courses then at the Council-board His Oppositions abated were not so much crossed nor impeached as heretofore but by reason of his daily attendance and access he then oftentimes gave impediment to the Sir Thomas Bromeley Lord Chancellor died April 12. 1587. Earl's Designments in Clergy Causes 59. About this time Sir Thomas Bromely the then Lord Chancellor died whereupon it pleased her Majesty The Queen disposed to make the Archbishop Lord Chancellor to discover her gracious Inclination to have made the Archbishop Lord Chancellor of England But he excusing himself in many respects that he was He excuses himself and recommends Sir Christopher Hatton grown into years and had the burthen of all Ecclesiastical Businesses laid upon his back which was as much as one man could well undergo considering the troubles with so many Sectaries that were then sprung up desired to be spared and besought her Highness to make choice of Sir Christopher Hatton who Sir Christopher Hatton made Lord Chancellor Ap. 29. 1587. shortly after was made Lord Chancellor in the Archbishop's House at Croydon thereby the rather to grace the Archbishop His advancement did much strengthen the Archbishop and his Friends and withal the Earl of Leicester and his Designments came soon after to an end For the Year following taking his Journey to Kenelworth he died in the way at Cornbury Park whereby the Archbishop took himself The Earl of Leicester died Sept. 4. 1588. freed from much opposition 60. Upon the death of the said Earl the Chancellorship of Oxford being Oxford desire the Archbishop for their Chancellor in the Earl's room void divers of the Heads and others of the University made known unto the Archbishop their desire to chuse him their Chancellor although he was a Cambridge man To whom he returned this Answer That he was already their Friend whereof they might rest assured and therefore advised them to make choice of some other in near place about the Queen that might assist him on their behalf And both at the Council-board and other Places of Justice right them many ways both for the benefit of the University and their particular Colleges And
it is pacified by the Archbishop so offended his Friends having laboured exceedingly therein on his behalf that being then Lord General of her Majesty's Forces in France he made open profession of his dislike of the Archbishop But upon his return into England finding how firm her Majesty stood for him and that his stirring in the matter must needs call in question her Majesty's Judgment did therefore in a temperate manner expostulate the matter with the Archbishop from whom he received such an Answer as he knew not well whom to be angry withal unless with the Queen her self who thought him too young a man being yet no Counsellor for so grave a Title and fearing happily lest if she should have committed the guiding of that University unto his young Years and unexperienced Judgment some hot and unruly Spirits there like Phaeton's untamed Horses might have carried him in such an headlong course of government as that the sparks of Contention which were then scarce kindled in that University might have broken forth into open flames to the utter destruction and devastation of the whole State Ecclesiastical And besides this she held the Lord Buckhurst being an ancient Counsellor and her Kinsman more fit for the Place a great deal And so much it seemed the Queen had told The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex the Earl in justification of the Archbishop before his questioning of the matter with him for in effect he acknowledged so much and thereupon they parted in no unkind terms but with due respect of each other in very friendly manner The Queen not long after She makes them firm Friends was the mean of their entring into further Friendship having oftentimes recommended unto the Archbishop the Earl's many excellent Parts and Vertues which she thought then rare in so young Years And the Earl likewise confessed to the Archbishop that her Majesty's often speech of her extraordinary opinion of him and his worth was the cause of his seeking after the Archbishop and therefore did offer to run a course for Clergy Causes according to his directions and advice and to cast off the Novelists as indeed he did immediately after Sir Francis Walsingham's Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles death which was a special cause of the Archbishop's constancy and firmness to the Earl in his disgrace and trouble afterwards 83. But now to return to our former course The Lord Chancellor's death much troubled and perpexed the Archbishop The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death fearing that new Troubles would befal him and the Church Howbeit things were then so well and firmly setled that he had no great ado afterwards saving with their dispersing New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans of Pamphlets and that some few Persons though thanks be to God not powerful both in Court and Country Attempts in Parliament on their behalf did attempt as much as in them lay by motions in Parliament and Bills there preferred to bring in I know not nor they themselves what kind of new Government in the Church but were prevented by the Wisdom of her Majesty who always suppressed those Bills and Motions and still comforted the Archbishop who was oftentimes The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church much grieved with their causeless Complaints and assured him they should not prevail to do any hurt except it were to hurt themselves For she did see in her Princely wisdom how dangerous they were to her and all Imperial Government And when she found them still bent to pursue such Bills and Motions she to deliver the Archbishop from farther trouble and vexation before it was expected and as it were with silence brake up the Parliament 84. AFter the death of Sir Christopher Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Hatton Sir John Puckering was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England of whom because he lived not long I shall not have occasion to say much But for ought that I ever Upon Hatton ' s death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. heard he shewed himself a Friend to the Church unto the Archbishop and his Proceedings and acknowledged him to have been amongst his other good Friends a Furtherer of his Advancement 85. Sir Thomas Egerton Master of the Rolls succeeded him May 6. 1596. Her Majesty and the State had long experience of his Integrity and Wisdom as may appear by the great Places which he worthily held being first her Highness's Sollicitor and then Attorney General In which time besides his many great and weighty Services he was very careful and industrious in labouring earnesty to suppress the aforesaid Libellers a lover of Learning and a most constant Favourer of the Clergy and Church Government He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement established as also a faithful loving Friend to the Archbishop in all his Affairs insomuch as after his advancement to that Honour and that the Earl of Essex and the Archbishop concurred together being also out of the affection of his most honourable Friend the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer further strengthned by the friendship The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends and love of Sir Robert Cecyll principal Secretary and now Earl of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England he began to be fully revived again and as well fortified by them as ever he was when he was most and best friended And her Majesty finding in him a zealous care and faithful performance of his duty and service towards the Church and her Highness shook off those Clergy Cares and laid the burthen The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him of them upon his Shoulders telling him That if any thing went amiss be it upon his Soul and Conscience to answer it for she had rid her hands and looked that he should yield an account on her behalf unto Almighty God 86. And now though the Archbishop He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions was in this singular favour and grace with her Majesty so that he did all in all for the managing of Clergy-Affairs and disposing of Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Promotions yet was he never puffed up with Pride His great Humility and Lenity nor did any thing violently by reason of his Place and greatness with her Majesty against any man For he ever observed this Rule that he would not wound where he could not salve And I leave to the report of the Adversaries themselves when he had that sway in Government and favour with her Highness whether his Carriage were not exceeding mild and temperate and whether he did not endeavour
One one of the Clock as he was going from his Majesty unto the Council-chamber to dinner he was taken with a dead Is taken with the dead Palsey Palsey whereby all his Right side was benummed and he bereaved of his Speech From the Council-chamber he was by means of his dearest Friends the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer and the Bishop of London with the aid of the King's Servants carried to the Lord Treasurer's Chamber and afterwards in his Barge conveyed home Is conveyed to Lambeth to Lambeth 133. His Majesty being much troubled with the report of his Sickness came upon the Tuesday following to visit The King visits him and comfort him with very kind and gracious Speeches saying That he would beg him of God in his Prayer Which if he could obtain he should think it one of the greatest temporal Blessings that could be given him in this Kingdom The Archbishop made offer to speak to his Majesty in Latin but neither his Highness nor any there present well understood what he said save only that by the last words pro Ecclesia Dei He earnestly recommends the Church to his Royal Care pro Ecclesia Dei which in earnest manner with his Eyes and Hands lift up he oftentimes iterated his Majesty conceived as it pleased him afterwards to report that he continued the Suit which sundry times before and at his last attendance on his Highness he had earnestly recommended unto his Royal and Special Care in behalf of the Church 134. After his Majesty's departure the Archbishop had neither perfect use of his Speech nor ability to write his mind as he did desire by the signs that he used for Ink and Paper Which being brought unto him and he making offer to write had no feeling of his Pen for it fell out of his Hands When he perceived his impotency to write after two or three assays he setched a great sigh and lay down again and on Wednesday following at Eight of the Clock at night the last of February 1603. He departs this Life Feb. ult 1603. he quietly and like a Lamb died the Servant of Christ as in the time of his Sickness by many infallible signs was manifest unto my self and those that attended him in that time of his visitation Which cannot be better testified by any than by Doctor Barlow the now Bishop of Lincoln together with Doctor Buckeridge now Bishop of Rochester and Doctor Charryor his then Houshold Chaplains who for the most part were continually with him from the beginning of his Sickness unto the end of the same Of the manner of whose death though some undiscreet men have censured uncharitably yet I may truly say as Solon did for the happy ends of Eleobis and Biton who in the absence of their Mother's Oxen did yoke themselves and drew her in her Coach to the Temple and after their Sacrifices performed went to bed and were found the next Morning dead without hurt or sorrow So fared it with this good Archbishop who wanting the assistance of some who by their Places should have undergone with him the Charge of guiding and supporting of Ecclesiastical Affairs took the yoke and burden thereof himself for his Mother the Church's sake And when he had performed his Oblations of Prayer and Thanksgiving to God was carried to bed and there died without suffering hurt or sorrow Thus he as Abraham Gen. 25. 8. of whom he was a true Son yielded up the Spirit and died in a good age an old man and of great years and was gathered unto his people He was Bishop He was Bishop of Worcester six Years and five Months And Archbishop of Canterbury twenty years and five Months Camden Britannia in Com. Kent pag. 338. He was libell'd after his death by Lewis Pickering of Worcester six Years and five Months and Archbishop of Canterbury twenty Years and five Months 135. Now though he lived and died no doubt a chosen and beloved Servant of God and one who as a learned Man truly saith had devoutly consecrated both his whole life to God and his painful labours to the Church yet there wanted not some who after his death fought by an infamous Libel to stain the glory of his ever honourable Name But their Malice was soon discovered and the Author at least the Publisher punished by an honourable Sentence given in the High Court of Star-chamber 136. And if what was then spoken by their Lordships and the rest of that great and judicious Court concerning this Archbishop's Piety Wisdom Learning and Government were published in Print he that would have adventured to write any thing more of him might justly have been condemned of indiscretion Therefore as a burden that I am not able to undergo I forbear to enter into any particular relation of their Speeches and Sentence 137. His Funeral was very honourably Was honourably interr'd at Croydon March 27. 1604. as befitted his Place solemnized at Croydon the 27th of March following 1604. where the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Zouch did him the honour in attending the Hearse and carrying his Banners Doctor Babbington Bishop of Worcester made his Funeral Sermon His Funeral Sermon by Bishop Babington who like wise was his Pupil in Cambridge and performed that Duty among many other due observances of him in his life-life-time with very great commendation chusing for his Text a portion of Scripture most fitting the worthiness of his Person But Jehoida waxed old and The Text. 2 Chron. 24. 15 16. was full of days and died An hundred and thirty years old was he when he died And they buried him in the city of David with the Kings because he had done good in Israel and toward God and his house 138. Having now committed the Body of this most Reverend Personage which was sometimes the Mansion of a most excellent Soul unto his Grave where it rests in assured expectation of a glorious Resurrection I will for conclusion speak somewhat of the outward shape and proportion thereof He was Description of his Person of a middle Stature of a grave Countenance and brown Complexion black Hair and Eyes he wore his Beard neither long nor thick For his small timber he was of a good quick strength straight and well shaped in all his Limbs to the habit of his Body which began somewhat to burnish towards his latter years 139. And thus gentle Reader that I may not extend this Discourse beyond the period of his Life who was the Subject thereof I withdraw my Pen from Paper intreating either thy friendly acceptance of this my Labour or thy farther pains in writing and publishing some more compleat and learned Observations of thine own touching this renowned Archbishop's Actions and Fame which could not without great shame unto my self and others his Followers be buried in Darkness with his Body FINIS THE TABLE TO THE Life of Archbishop WHITGIFT THE Archbishop's Descent Page 2 He was
These Stirs set on foot at the time of the Spanish Invasion 1588. Ib. The Archbishop's preparation for Defence of his Prince and Country 64 The whole Clergy of his Province Armed Ib. Cartwright the Head of the Puritan Party Ib. Hacket Coppinger and Arthington resort to him 65 Penry and Udall his Consorts Ib. Cartwright's words in the Articles in the Star-Chamber Ib. The Disciplinarians Decree about Books to be printed Ib. Barrow and Greenwood infected by Cartwright 66 Bishop Ravis's Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 1592. Ib. Bishop Androws and Bishop Parrey with others their Conference with Barrow and Greenwood 67 Barrow's Vain-glorious Answer 68 The danger of Innovation Ib. Cartwright withdraws privately 69 Brown the Author of a New Sect of that Name 70 His Positions little differing from Barrow and Greenwood Ib. The Archbishop suppresseth many Schisms and also Controversies in the Universities Ib. He procures Cartwright's Pardon of the Queen Ib. Cartwright's Letters March 24. 1601. acknowledging the Archbishop's Favour 71 The Archbishop tolerates Cartwright to preach publickly without Conformity Ib. The Queen requires his Subscription 72 Cartwright dies Rich Ib. The Earl of Essex favours the Puritans as far as he durst Ib. Upon timely execution of the Laws the state of the Church at quiet 73 Sir Christopher Hatton died Novemb. 20. 1591. Ib. Lord Buckhurst chosen Chancellor of Oxford on the Queen's Letters Ib. Earl of Essex offended at it is pacified by the Archbishop Ib. The Queen justifies the Archbishop to Essex 74 She makes them firm Friends 75 Sir Francis Walsingham died Apr. 6. 1590. Ib. The Archbishop's firmness to Essex in his Troubles Ib. The Archbishop fears on the Lord Chancellor's death Ib. New Pamphlets dispersed by the Puritans 76 Attempts in Parliament on their behalf Ib. The Queen comforts the Archbishop with fresh Assurances of her Countenance and Favour to the Church Ib. Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper June 4. 1592. Ib. Upon Hatton's death the Queen offered the Archbishop his Place But he declined it because of his Age and Ecclesiastical Business 77 Sir Thomas Egerton made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. 1596. Ib. He is a constant Friend to the Church before and after his Advancement Ib. The Archbishop cherished and strengthened by union of many Friends 78 The Queen throws the whole care of the Church upon him Ib. He disposeth of Bishopricks and all other Ecclesiastical Promotions Ib. His great Humility and Lenity Ib. The Earl of Salisbury's Observation on him 80 Many favoured and eased by the Archbishop's intercession Ib. The wisdom of the Queen in her moderate Government 81 The Archbishop follows her Example Ib. The Arcbishop a great lover and encourager of Learned and Virtuous Clergy 83 Was bountiful to Foreigners of Learning and Quality Ib. Theod. Beza his Letters to the Archbishop March 8. 1591. Ib. Approving the Policy of the English Church Ib. Beza his high commendation of the Church of England 84 His great respect to the Archbishop Ib. The Archbishop's kindness and charity to Foreign Divines of the Reformation 85 His backwardness to censure other mens Gifts and Performances 86 The Archbishop a constant Preacher when publick Affairs would admit 87 Had an excellent Tallent in Preaching Ib. Learned eloquent and judicious Ib. His Gesture grave and decent without affectation Ib. Of great Integrity and unspotted Life 88 He wrote the Notes of his Sermons Ib. Disapproved trusting only to Memory Ib. When at Worcester he treated the Recusants mildly and won many of them over 89 When he came to be Archbishop he dealt with the Learnedst of them by Authority Ecclesiastical Ib. He kept a straight hand over the Seminary Priests and subtle Papists 90 He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries 91 He hated Ingratitude Ib. Is firm in his Friendships Ib. Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex 92 The Queen displeased at his intercession for the Earl which much grieved him Ib. Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Ib. The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence 93 Well taken at Court Ib. Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower Ib. The Archbishop in the Qucen's good opinion and favour to her dying-day 94 Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. Ib. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness Ib. The Faction take heart on the Queen's death 95 King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. 96 The People are pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King Ib. Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts Ib. His Liberality great 97 He kept many poor Scholars in his House Ib. And maintained divers in the Universities Ib. Is an incourager of Military Exercises Ib. His House a little Academy 98 His Chaplains promoted Ib. The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes 99 His Resolution in Judgment 100 An Instance 101 He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court Ib. His dispatch of Causes to great satisfaction 102 His great Hospitality 103 His State Ib. His entertainment of the Queen Ib. He was always honourably received by the Gentlemen of the Country 104 His first journey into Kent July 1589. with pomp and solemnity 105 A Romish Intelligencer accidentally lands he admires the Appearance and owns a mistaken prejudice concerning the meanness of our Church Ib. The Intelligencer had private speech with Secretary Walsingham 106 The Archbishop's good nature 108 His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry 110 Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift 111 His love to Croydon for retirement 112 Chearful and affable in his Family Ib. Liberal to his Servants Ib. Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous 113 After the manner of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln his usage of his Kinsman Ib. Dr. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by the Archbishop and Clergy into Scotland to King James 115 The King's Answer that he would uphold the Church comforts the Archbishop Ib. Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Apr. 28. 1603. very sumptuously performed Ib. The Archbishop the chief Mourner 116 King James gives him personal assurance of preserving the setled State of the Church Ib. King Jame's Coronation July 25. 1603. by the hands of the Archbishop Ib. Queen Ann also crown'd at the same time Ib. The Conference at Hampton-Court Jan. 14. 1603. betwixt the Bishops and the Puritans in the King's presence 117 The King satisfied with the Bishops Reasonings Ib. And orders the reprinting the Liturgy Ib. A Parliament comes on 118 The Bishops have a meeting at Fulham Ib. The Archbishop 73 years old is seized with a Cold on the Water Ib. Goes to Court has speech with the King about Affairs of the Church 119 Is taken with a dead Palsey Ib. Conveyed to Lambeth Ib. The King visits him Ib. He earnestly recommends the Church to his Royal Care 120 He departs this Life Feb. ult 1603. 121 He was Bishop
Lincoln the space of seven years so long as he remained in Cambridge 34. By his Government in Trinity Norwich Redman Worcester Babbington St. David ' s Rud. Glocester Golsborough Hereford Benet College he made many excellent Scholars that came afterwards to great Preferment in the Church and Common-wealth five whereof were in his time Bishops that then were Fellows of the College when he was Master and some of them his Pupils besides many Deans and others of Dignity and Estimation in the Church at this day 35. He had divers Earls and Noblemens Several Noblemen c. his Pupils Sons to his Pupils as namely the Earls of Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Lord Dunboy of Ireland Sir Nicholas and Sir Francis Bacon now his Majesty's Solicitor General in whom he took great comfort as well for their singular Towardliness as for their observance of him and performance of many good Offices towards him All which Their respects towards him together with the rest of the Scholars of that House he held to their publick He holds the Scholars strictly to their Exercises and Devotion Disputations and Exercises and Prayers which he never missed chiefly for Devotion and withal to observe others absence always severely punishing such Omissions and Negligences 36. He usually dined and supped in the Common Hall as well to have a watchful Eye over the Scholars and to keep them in a mannerly and awful obedience as by his Example to teach them to be contented with a Scholar-like College Diet. 37. The sway and Rule he then did bear through the whole University the Records themselves will sufficiently testify for by his meer travail and labour and the Credit which he had with her Majesty and the Lord Burghly then Lord Treasurer of England and Chancellor of Cambridge he procured an alteration and amendment of the Statutes Procures amendment of the University Statutes of the University In which kind of Affairs and Business all the Heads of the Houses were directed and advised by him as from an Oracle For commonly whatsoever he spake or did they still concurred with him and would do nothing without him 38. He never took the foil at any man's hands during his ten years continuance in Trinity College being therein not unlike unto Pittacus in his Diog. Laert. de vita Philosoph ten years Government of Mitilene Cui nunquam per id tempus contigit in aliquâ causâ quam in se susciperet cadere For as the Causes he dealt in were always just so his Success was ever prosperous wherein his singular Wisdom was to be noted and his Courage and His Wisdom and Courage Stoutness in his Attempts were observed of the greatest and the general Fame thereof remaineth yet fresh in the University and will continue as his Badge and Cognizance so long as his Memory lasteth And yet that Stoutness of his was so well tempered and mingled with his other Virtue of Mildness and Patience His Moderation Mr. Hooker's Character of him in his Eccles Policy that Master Hooker made this true observation of him He always governed with that moderation which useth by patience to suppress boldness and to make them conquer that suffer which I think well suted with his Posey or Motto Vincit Qut Patitur 39. The first Wound which those fervent Reprehenders received at Doctor Whitgift's hands and his prudent order of Government together with his singular gift in Preaching made his Fame spread and gained him so great estimation that her Majesty was pleased to make choice Whitgift's esteem with the Queen Consecrated Bishop of Worcester April 21. 1577. of him before many others of eminent Place in the Church to be Bishop of Worcester Upon which his Advancement he first took his leave of the whole University by a publick Sermon which he preached in St. Mary's Church wherein he exhorted them to peace And afterwards by a private Sermon in Trinity College he gave unto that Society such a godly and learned Exhortation Takes leave of the University with an Exhortation to Peace and Unity for their continuance and constancy in peace and unity as it so moved their Affections that they burst out into Tears insomuch that there were scarce any dry Eyes to be found amongst the whole number He chose for his Text the same Farewel which St. Paul gave to the Corinthians Finally brethren fare His Farewel-Text 2 Cor. 13. 11. you well Be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 40. IN June following he was attended Sets out for Worcester June 1697. attended with the Heads of Houses c. and accompanied on his way from Cambridge towards Worcester with a great Troop of the Heads and others of choice account in the University and with exceeding lamentation and sorrow of all sorts for the loss they conceived they had of so worthy a Governor 41. But their grief for the loss of The Queen forgives his First-fruits and gives him the disposal of all the Prebends of that Church him was not so great as was the joy of them who had found him amongst whom it pleased her Majesty to grace his very first entrance both in forgiving him his First-fruits a Princely and extraordinary Bounty as also in bestowing on him for the better encouragement and provision of his Chaplains and other learned men about him the disposing of all the Prebends of that Church of Worcester during his continuance there 42. He found the Bishoprick at his He finds the Bishoprick impaired by Grants of long Leases first coming much impaired by his Predecessors granting away in long Leases divers Manors Parks and Mansion-houses But that which much troubled him and wherein he most of all stirred Particularly the Rent-Corn of Two of the best Mannors Hollow and Grimly was the letting to Master Abington Cofferer to the late Queen the Rent-corn of his two best Manors Hollow and Grimley which is the chief upholding of the Bishop's Hospitality and without which especially in dear Years he is not able to keep House This Lease being let to Master Abington a great Man then to contend withal his Wife also being sometimes the Queen's Bedfellow the Bishop notwithstanding did He questions the said Lease call it in question having now besides his Honourable Friends the Lord Keeper and the Lord Treasurer gained by his attendance at Court many more about her Majesty who much favoured him and professed great love unto him especially the Earl of Leicester Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlain Has great Friends at Court and Sir Francis Walsingham Principal Secretary all in special grace with her Highness Master Abington by his Wife's greatness procured her Majesty's gracious Letters written very earnestly in his behalf The Bishop returning Satisfies the Queen answer unto her Majesty and enforming her by means of his honourable Friends how
prejudicial it was unto the Bishoprick she was thereupon much displeased with Master Abington and took part with the Bishop insomuch as Master Abington was willing to have yielded the said Rent-Corn for the Bishop's own time so that his Lease might have still stood on foot against his Successor which the Bishop utterly refused and in the end was rather contented by way of composition notwithstanding Recovers the said Rent Corn paying 300 l out of his own purse that the Lease was void because the Rent-Corn was never before let to give Master Abington Three hundred pounds out of his own Purse to have the Lease surrendred and to redeem the said Corn which yet remaineth and I hope ever will unto his Successor in that See 43. Some have accounted Worcestershire happy in having so kind and loving men to their Bishops and others impute it to the good Nature and Disposition of the People that so love and kindly use their Bishops that thereby unless they be too inflexible and harsh they cannot but in requital of their loves entertain them with reciprocal kindnesses But howsoever it be such He has great respect from the Gentlemen and People in the Country was the mutual love betwixt this Bishop and the Gentlemen there that they delighted much to converse together especially at Assizes and Sessions the Bishop would commonly reside at Worcester to give the Judges and Justices entertainment There was no speeding of Commissions for service of the Country nor any appointment for the Justices meeting for such purposes but ever the Bishop's pleasure was first known for time and place and the rest of the Gentlemen accordingly attended him He would oftentimes make appointment of Meetings either at his own House or some of theirs for some commendable Recreation or Exercises whereby still to keep the Gentlemen by their continual repair to each other in mutual love and concord 44. If he had understood of any Jar Is a great Peace-maker among them or Discord he would send for both Parties unawares to each other under pretence of some service to be done or some meeting appointed and before their departure would make them Friends If he perceived a frowardness in either of them and that by intreaty he could not prevail then would he leave persuasion and intreaty and as being Vice-President of the Marches of Wales which Place her Majesty shortly after he was made a Bishop bestowed upon him threaten the Obstinate with imprisonment or safe custody till he should reform himself Of which his Resolution when the Gentlemen of the chiefest sway and account had experience they then would grow calm and submit themselves and he as mildly and gently did use them when he saw them coming One particular instance among many I will give you of Sir John Russell and Makes up a Remarkable Quarrel betwixt Sir John Russell and Sir Henry Barkeley Sir Henry Barkeley betwixt whom was so deadly a Quarrel as that great Bloodshed was like to have ensued at a Sessions in Worcester by reason of their many Friends and Followers had not the Bishop wisely prevented it by providing a strong Watch at the Gates and about the City and requiring them to bring both Parties with their Attendance well guarded to his Palace where he caused them all to the number of four or five hundred to deliver their Weapons into his own Servants custody and after two hours pains taken sometimes in persuading and otherwhiles in threatning them he made them so good Friends as they both attended him Hand in Hand to the Town-Hall where they performed the Service of their Country in amity and love and ever after held him in great honour and estimation therefore Wherein he was much happier than Bias who reporteth of himself that He never arbitrated Diog. Laert. de vita Philosoph lib. 1. any Controversy between two of his Friends but he made one of them his Enemy 45. A year after his Consecration to that Bishoprick he was as before is mentioned made Vice-President of Is made Vice-President of the Marches of Wales the Marches of Wales Sir Henry Sidney his very honourable Friend being then Lord President and at that time Lord Deputy of Ireland where albeit the Bishop might immediately have taken upon him according to his place to direct the Court having an excellent quick Understanding a good facility in Speech and a deep and sound Judgment gained by his long experience in Government in Cambridge and elsewhere where his Sufficiency and Patience were tried to the proof yet notwithstanding it was a whole Year before He had great experience in Government yet backward to bear sway he would almost speak in the publick Affairs much less take upon him to bear any sway but still observed the Orders and Practice of the Cour t and looked into the Affections and Dispositions of his Associates hearing the Complaints of the Suppliants and enforming himself by others of Integrity and Honesty and sometimes noting their partial Orders and corrupt Dealings but at the Years end he then took upon him the directing and ordering of things himself taking exceeding pains from Morning till Bed-time affording himself only some small times for Meals and Study 46. And when he had found the corruption of some of his Associates as well by his own observation as by the confession of the Parties that corrupted them for the property of some amongst them was to leave nothing unassayed to corrupt any man to serve their own turn for the present though they ever after hated him to the death and would revile him he would dismiss these Associates by sending for others under pretence of ease to the Parties 47. He had also a special care as Has a special Watch over his own Family and Attendants to avoid all colour of corruption behoved him of his own Family and Attendants near unto him and therefore to avoid all colour and suspicion of Corruption he would never hear any Cause or Informations or receive Petition in his private Chamber but abroad by the Petitioners themselves either in going to the Chappel Court Dinner Supper or at the Council-board insomuch as a Gentleman of his Bed chamber imployed sometimes by him making request unto him that he might have the delivery of Suiters Petitions and indorse their Answers he grew into such dislike of the young Gentleman as supposing he had been tampered withal that he presently discharged him of his Chamber and could never afterwards very well brook him 48. For this his Integrity and just dealing Is highly esteemed by the People of Wales the People of Wales especially had a very reverend and honourable opinion of him the rather because they observed His great Integrity Justice and mild Government in him a temperate and mild government without reviling or harsh Speeches and oftentimes moderating their Fines and Punishments which in strictness of Law and opinion of his Associates would have
Papists as fearing lest they conceived an hope of advancing their Cause and Quarrel by help of the aforesaid Contentions betwixt the Bishops and these Sectaries and so soon as they should have found the Forces on both sides sufficiently weakned and enfeebled by a long continuance of the Conflict to have destroyed the Vanquished with the Vanquishers whereby to re establish their Papal Jurisdiction and superstitious Impieties as not long after this Archbishop's death they attempted to do by the divelish Device of that damnable Powder-Treason which if it had succeeded their intendment then was to have put both alike to the Sword 99. You may perceive by the Premisses He is unjustly traduced by the Sectaries how untruly some of the uncharitable and precipitate Sectaries traduced him for a Papist and called him The Pope of Lambeth in their Libels and Conventicles and most unjustly reproached him with the Title of Doctor Pearn ' s Servant whom they likewise taxed with Popery and falsly charged him to have infected the Archbishop therewith because of his affection and love unto him for the reasons specified before The truth is as the Archbishop was of his own nature a very loving kind man so he did hate ingratitude He hated Ingratitude in any and could never be taxed with that fault He was likewise as the Gentlemen of Worcestershire and Kent had daily experience very firm Is firm in his Friendships and marvailous constant where he affected and professed love which brought him in great displeasure in the Cause of the late Earl of Essex with whose Life and Actions though I have nothing to do having only taken upon me to report another Man's yet thus much I may truly say that his misfortune drew upon the Archbishop the greatest discontentment and severest reprehension Censured for his affection to the Earl of Essex from her Majesty that he had ever before undergone in all his life 100. For after that the Earl began to fall upon Courses displeasing and distastful unto her Majesty nevertheless such was the confidence the Archbishop had in the Earl's Loyaly and his own stedfastness in that Friendship which he had formerly professed unto him that he could not be drawn from being a continual Intercessor for him wherewith her Majesty was so highly displeased The Queen displeased at his inter cession for the Earl which much grieves him and so sharply rebuked him for the same that the good old Archbishop came sometimes home much grieved and perplexed 101. Within a while after the Earl forgetting that unto Princes the highest Tacit. Annal lib 4 judgment of things is given and unto us the glory of obedience is left went out indeed The Archbishop being that Sunday Earl of Essex apprehended Feb. 8. 1600. Morning at the Court whether by direction or by his own accord I know not hastned home without any Attendant and commanded as many men as he then had in the House to be presently armed and sent them over unto the Court but not to go within the Gates until Master Secretary Cecill or some other by his instruction should appoint them a Leader There were immediately The Archbishop arms his Servants for the Queen's defence presented unto him Threescore men well armed and appointed who with a Message from the Archbishop shewed themselves before the Court of whose arrival there Master Secretary Cecill with the rest of the Lords of the Council were right glad and said he Well taken at Court was a most worthy Prelate They had speedily a Leader appointed unto them and marched presently and were the first that entred into the Gates of Essex-house and in the first Court made good the place until the Earl yielded himself Earl of Essex brought to Lambeth-house then sent to the Tower and was by the Lord Admiral brought to Lambeth-house where he remained an hour or two and was from thence conveyed to the Tower The Archbishop had likewise in readiness that Afternoon Forty Horsemen well appointed and expected Directions from the Court how to dispose of them The next Morning he sent a Gentleman to know how the Queen did and how she rested all night To whom she made answer that she rested and slept the better for his care the day before but I beshrew his heart said she he would not believe this of Essex though I had often told him it would one day thus come to pass 102. After this when her Majesty understood that her own recommendation of the Earl had wrought that good The Archbishop in the Queen 's good opinion and favour to her dying-day opinion of him in the Archbishop and that she now found his readiness for her defence with Horse and Men and the nearness thereof unto the Court to stand her at that time in great stead she began to entertain him in her wonted favour and grace again and ever after continued her good opinion of him unto her dying day 103. Towards which time though Queen Elizabeth died March 24. 1602. The Archbishop Dr. Bancroft Dr. Watson Dr. Parry attend the Queen in her Sickness by reason of her melancholy Disease she was impatient of others speeches with her yet was she well pleased to hear the Archbishop the then Bishops of London and Chichester and the now Bishop of Worcester with some other Divines give her comfort and counsel to prepare her self to God-ward and most devoutly prayed with them making signs and tokens unto her last remembrance of the sweet comfort which she took in their presence especially when towards her end they put her in mind of the unspeakable Joys she was now going unto where no doubt she remaineth a glorious Saint of God and as a most religious Prince rewarded with a Crown of Immortality and Bliss 104. NOW the much-lamented The Faction take heart on the Queen's death death of this noble Queen gave great hope to the Factious of challenging forth with all exemption from the Censures and subjection of Ecclesiastical Authority But how vain their hopes were the issue hath declared and although the Archbishop was much dejected and grieved for the loss of his dear Sovereign and Mistress who had so highly advanced him yet he with the rest of the Lords repaired immediately to Whitehall and after two hours sitting in Council about the penning of the Proclamation he principally as his Place required with a chearful countenance and the rest of the Lords in like sort accompanying him first at the Court-gate at White-hall with the applause and unspeakable comfort of all the People proclaimed her most rightful Successor JAMES then King James proclaimed King of England March 24. 1602. King of Scotland King of England France and Ireland Afterwards in like chearful sort the Archbishop with the rest of the Lords trooped up to the Cross in Cheapside and there with like acclamation of the Lord Mayor and Citizens Sir Robert Leighe Lord Mayor The People are
pleased at the Archbishop's presence in proclaiming the King proclaimed him again 105. I am doubtful to speak lest I might seem to detract from others of the great comfort which the common People and Citizens took in the presence of the Archbishop and how heartily they prayed for him at his return as if they nothing doubted but that all went well for the State in that Counsel among whom he was present 106. He was indeed beloved of all sorts of People yea even of some of them who were the most fervent Reprehenders themselves as they have confessed since his death And well worthy was he so to be for that he carried a most mild and moderate hand over them A more particular love also he deserved of many for his affection Archbishop a lover and incourager of Liberal Arts. unto liberal and ingenious Arts whereof his domestick government and care was no less argument than his publick which I have formerly spoken of For besides the pains which he took himself after he was Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury many years with a number of worthy young Gentlemen in reading unto them thrice aday he took into his House besides his Chaplains divers of quality to instruct them in the Mathematicks and other Lectures of sundry Arts and Languages giving them good allowance and Preferments His Liberality great otherwise as occasion was offered And besides the many poor Scholars He kept many poor Scholars in his House whom he kept in his House till he could provide for them and prefer them as he did sundry to good Estates he also maintained divers in the University And maintained divers in the Universities at his own charge and gave liberally to them and others of any towardliness as he heard of their necessity and wants 107. He kept likewise for the exercise of Military Discipline a good Armory Is an incourager of Military Exercises and a fair Stable of great Horses insomuch as he was able to arm at all points both Horse and Foot and divers times had One hundred Foot and Fifty Horse of his own Servants mustered and trained for which purpose he entertained Captains He had also skilful Riders who taught them to manage their Horses and instructed them in warlike Exercises all whom he rewarded in liberal manner By this means he had divers of his own Gentlemen that afterwards proved good Soldiers many whereof became Captains and Commanders and some for their Valour and Service were Knighted in the Field There were also divers others that for Learning Languages and Qualities were fit to be employed by any Prince in Christendom Insomuch as his House for the Lectures and Scholastical Exercises therein performed might justly be accounted a little Academy and in some His House a little Academy respects superior and more profitable viz. for Martial Affairs and the Experience that Divines and other Scholars had being near and often at the Court and chief Seats of Justice from whence they continually had the Passages and Intelligences both for Matters of State and government in Causes Ecclesiastical and Civil By which their continual Experience many of his * Dr. Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Ravis Bishop of London Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Goldisbury Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Parry Bishop of Worcester Dr. Redman Bishop of Norwich Dr. Buckeridge Bishop of Rochester Domestical His Chaplains promoted Chaplains both before and since his death attained unto the chiesest Honours and Dignities in our Church and Commonwealth 108. And here I may not forget his religious care and provident order for the due execution of his Charge and determination of all such Causes as belonged unto his proper cognizance and place To which end and purpose he appointed every Thursday in Term a solemn and set Commission day upon which he had a Sermon in his Chappel by one of his Houshold Chaplains and entertained the Commissioners and their Attendants though to his great expence which he little esteemed in regard of the well guiding and ordering the Affairs then by him undertaken That day you should have had a Senate of the worthiest and greatest Counsellors of State with the assistance of the chief Prelates Justices Judges and sufficientest Lawyers of both Professions that those Times afforded 109. You may then hereby observe the The Archbishop's care and wisdom in determining Causes Archbishop's exceeding care and singular wisdom in proceeding with the Advice of so many worthy prudent and learned Men of several Faculties whereby the Subjects came chearfully to the hearing of their Causes and without fear of partiality in any particular Person And howsoever the Cause went the Archbishop could not be impeached of rash or inconsiderate proceeding seeing he had the consent and approbation of all Professions For the Archbishop always gave Sentence and ordered matters as the greater part of the Court did encline beginning at the Junior first although himself would sometimes dissent from them in opinion and so he would tell them but without tartness yea in such kind and loving manner as no man was hindered in delivering his mind By which means he was sure always to have the Cause fully debated and every man's opinion fully known which when he found concurring with his own and the Proceedings ordered according to the Rules of Justice he would go on to sentence and determine the Cause 110. Wherein he carried himself His Resolution in Judgment with great resolution and courage were the Persons never so great that were interested in the same as you may perceive by one Instance among many when himself was yet no Counsellor of State A Gentleman of good Note seeing An Instance how the Court was enclined to order his Cause not according to his desire told the Archbishop that upon another occasion there grew some speech of that Cause before the Lords of the Council and their Lordships were of another opinion than his Grace and the rest of the Commissioners seemed to be what tellest thou me said the Archbishop of the Lords of the Council I tell thee they are in these Cases to be advised by us and not we by them He would upon such like Occasions oftentimes say unto his private Friends towards his latter time when they talked familiarly with him and observed his courage and stoutness That two things did help much to make a man confident in good Causes namely Orbitas Senectus and said he they steed me both 111. This orderly proceeding and He upholds the Dignity of the High Commission-Court course upheld the Reputation and Dignity of the Commission Court which albeit it be of great Authority and dealeth for the most part in matters of great weight and importance yet the want of worthy Assistants and Counsel if the like care should not be continued may make it grow to be of little reputation as experience hath somewhat taught us since the decease of this
in hearing the Suppliants and determining their Causes and when night came on the Party followed him still railing upon him till he came to his own House It being now dark Pericles as he entred in commanded one of his Servants to light him home 118. You see now of what an excellent The Archbishop's good nature Nature this Archbishop was how far from giving offence how ready to forgive a wrong merciful compassionate and tender-hearted Yet was he not void as no man is of infirmities The Holy Scripture noteth of Elias that James 5. 17. he was a man subject to the like passions as we are But as Horace saith optimus ille Serm. lib. 1. sat 3. Qui minimis urgetur So may it be confessed of this Archbishop that the greatest or rather only fault known in him was Choler and yet in him so corrected not by Philosophy alone as Socrates confessed of his Faults but by the Word and Grace of God as it rather served for a Whetstone of his Courage in just Causes than any Weapon whetted against the Person Goods or good Name of any other So that it may as I am verily persuaded be rightfully said of him That he was such a Magistrate as Jethro advised Moses to take in judging the People of God and such a Bishop as St. Paul requireth in the Church of Christ Provide saith Exod. 18. Jethro among all the People men of courage fearing God dealing truly hating covetousness and appoint such over them to be rulers And a Bishop saith St. Paul 1 Tim. 3. must be unreproveable the husband of one wife watching temperate modest harbarous apt to teach not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but gentle no fighter not covetous one that can rule his one house honestly He may not be a young Scholar lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil He must also be well reported of even of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the Devil 119. And now what is there that the Devil himself with all his Imps Popish or Schismatical Libellers can rebuke or condemn in this good Archbishop's Saintly Life Let them examine his Actions in all his carriage and course if so they can convince him in any thing that was not agreeable to the directions of Jethro for a Magistrate and answerable unto the Rule of Saint Paul for a Bishop 120. As for good Works whereof His good Works in Lincoln Worcester Wales Kent Surry the Papists so vainly brag as particular effects of their superstitious Doctrines yea for which Heaven it self is a due reward by condignity many Towns Cities and Counties can yield a plentiful Testimony for him in this behalf namely Lincoln Worcester the Marches of Wales Kent and Surry wherein he lived and in particular that notable Monument of our time his Hospital of the Blessed Trinity in Croydon which he built very fair and College-wise for a Warden and Eight and twenty Brothers and Sisters He builed also near unto it a goodly Free school with a Schoolmaster 's House allowing unto the Schoolmaster Twenty pounds by year for ever All which he performed with such alacrity and good success that he hath been heard divers times to profess with great comfort that notwithstanding the charge of the Purchase and Building was not small unto him in comparison of his Estate who neither impaired House-keeping nor Retinue at that time yet when he had finished and done that whole Work he found himself no worse in his Estate than when he first began which he ascribed unto the extraordinary blessing and goodness of God 121. After the finishing of this Hospital among many other his good Deeds the French Lieger Embassador in England called Boys Sisi enquired what Works the Archbishop had published for that he would willingly read his Books who was reputed The Peerless Cambden Britan. in Comit. Lincoln Prelate for Piety and Learning in our days and whom in conference he found so grave godly and judicious when it was answered that he only published certain Books in the English Tongue in defence of the Ecclesiastical Government although it be very well known to many who were near unto him that he left divers learned Treatises in Written-hand well worthy the printing and that it was thereupon incidently told the Embassador that he had founded an Hospital and a School he used these words Profectò Hospitale Boys Sisi the French Embassador his opinion and speech of Archbishop Whitgift ad sublevandam paupertatem Schola ad instruendam Juventutem sunt optimi Libri quos Archiepiscopus conscribere potuit Truly an Hospital to sustain the Poor and a School to train up Youth are the worthiest Books that an Archbishop could set forth 122. And albeit the Archbishop had His love to Croydon for retirement ever a great affection to lie at his Mansion house at Croyáon for the sweetness of the Place especially in Summer time whereby also he might sometimes retire himself from the multiplicity of Businesses and Suitors in the Vacations yet after he had builded his Hospital and his School he was farther in love with the Place than before The chief comfort of repose or solace that he took was in often dining at the Hospital among his poor Brethren as he called them There he was often visited by his entire and honourable Friends the Earl of Shrewsbury Worcester and Cumberland the Lord Zouch the Bishop of London and others of near place about her Majesty in whose company he chiefly delighted 123. In the absence of his Friends Chearful and affable in his Family he would be exceeding chearful and affable with his own Gentlemen and Servants though his Bounty towards them and the Poor did not consist in words but in deeds for he was very liberal in Liberal to his Servants rewarding them both with Leases Offices and otherwise with Supplies as their Occasions required out of his Purse and would I make no question have done much more for them out of his own Estate if he had had ability and time after his Sickness first seized upon him to dispose of his worldly Affairs 124. As his Bounty was very great Bountiful to the industrious Poor and to the Disabled and Necessitous towards his own for in that number likewise he always accounted the poor Society of his Hospital so were his Hands every-where reached out to the necessities of all sorts Yea such was his Charity that if he had seen poor men addicted to labour he would have given them Money and waste Ground to employ in gardening or some such use as might be for their relief Or if he heard that any of his poor Neighbours were decrepit or destitute of means to follow their Trade he would supply their needs either with Money or Fewel and sometimes poor Watermens wants with Boats and such like wherein he dealt no
was wrought in this An Account thereof out of Hacket's History Arthington's Prophesies Both Manuscripts manner as Hacket testifieth in that Discourse which they since call Hacket's History enlarged endited by himself written by Coppinger and afterward copied out fair by Arthington as it should have gone to the Press being annexed to Arthington's Prophesy For there it is said That the Lord brought Hacket to London about the beginning of Easter Term last to see what would be done against Job Throgmorton and partly to reckon with M. Wigginton about the making of malt between them together At what time Wigginton said That there was a Gentleman in the City a very good man but Hacket as the Lord knoweth did not think that there had been one godly man in the Land and supposed the Twelfth Psalm belonged to this time When Wigginton was describing the Man and the matter that he was entring into viz. that the Man whom he spoke of had a message to say to his Sovereign concerning some practice intended against her from dealing wherein the Preachers in London had wonderfully discouraged him then Hacket answered thus Did you so also No saith Wigginton Then said Hacket encourage him in any wise for what know you what matter it is he hath to say Hereupon Wigginton sent for the said Edmund Coppinger to come to the Counter to speak with him who by God's Providence came forthwith and Wigginton willed them to take acquaintance one of the other assuring Coppinger that he knew Hacket to be a man truly fearing God and such a Person as by whose Conference God might minister some comfort to Coppinger Whereupon they two viz. Coppinger and Hacket went from thence presently unto Hacket ' s Chamber at the Sign of the Castle without Smithfield-Bars So soon as they were entred the Chamber Coppinger desired that before any speech should pass between them they might first pray to God together which they did Hacket speaking to the Lord first After which Prayer Coppinger delivered unto Hacket how he had been very strangely and extraordinarily moved by God to go to her Majesty and to tell her plainly that the Lord's pleasure was that she must with all speed reform her self her Family the Common-wealth and the Church And that the Lord had further told him by what means all the same should be done but that Secret he would not then deliver unto Hacket Then Coppinger also prayed into God desiring him if he would be with him and bless that Business which he had committed to his charge that then he would both furnish him with Gifts fit for so weighty an Action and knit the heart of Hacket and his so together as David ' s and Jonathan ' s Moses ' s and Aaron ' s For answer hereof Hacket took further time till the morning at which time in the morning a Prayer being first made Hacket laid all the Lord's business which was to be done by himself upon Coppinger ' s back telling him the Lord had appointed him to it and would stand with him in it Thus far in this Point goeth that Discourse But long before this time of their two first Acquaintances Coppinger upon his return forth of Kent in Michaelmas Term last had signified unto Arthington and to one T. Lancaster a Schoolmaster in Shoe-lane both being of his familiar Acquaintance and whom he had requested to fast and pray Coppinger pretends to a secret Mystery revealed to him relating to the Discipline and the Queen's repentance about it with him for success in obtaining a Widow that God had shewed him the said Coppinger great favour by revealing such a secret Mystery unto him as was wonderful being in substance thus much viz. That he knew a way how to bring the Queen to repentance and to cause all her Council and Nobles to do the like out of hand or else detect them to be Traitors that refused All they by such Repentance meaning and understanding as it seemeth the erecting of their fanciful Discipline For this Phrase being usual with them in Conferences of this matter he thereby sufficiently declared his mind to them and they well understood what was meant without further a-do Now it had been inconvenient that Coppinger He imparts it to Wigginton should all this while conceal this Mystery which he imparted unto them and after to Hacket from Wigginton who brought them acquainted together unto whom he so oft resorted and so highly above all other Preachers esteemed for his resolute dealings in God's matters as he terms them whom he also after advouched unto Arthington as an irrefragable Witness to be persuaded by that would justify the truth of Hacket's Torments and whom he also knew more often busied for attaining of that Discipline which himself also laboured for than perhaps for Heaven it self And you see that he had accordingly done it Wigginton not discouraging him therein This Proposition so made by Coppinger Arthington and Lancaster mislike the matter as impracticable Arthington saith that he and Lancaster misliked as a matter impossible by Coppinger to be done but by the Lord Jesus only and such whereof the issue could not fall out well any way and so put him off for the first time not understanding in what manner and by what special means Coppinger conceived that such repentance should be wrought in the Queen's Majesty and in others The manner and other circumstances of the first revealing of this pretended Mystery Coppinger himself at large declareth in a Letter written the 4th of February last unto T. C. in Prison The occasion of writing it The manner and circumstances of revealing the Mystery Coppinger declares in a Letter to Cartwright then in Prison desiring an Answer to some Questions he there saith was the said T. C's offer to take knowledge by writing from him of such matter as might induce him to suppose himself to have received some hope of special favour from God to some special use But yet without warrant from the Word direction of the Holy Spirit and approbation of the Church he was he said most unwilling to enter into so great an Action The Letter is long but to this effect That upon some extraordinary humiliation of him he with some other and a Guide of their Exercise joined in a Fast Their Guide in the Evening spake of the use of Fasts c. and then willed the others to add to that which he had delivered either for the general or particular Causes which moved them to humble themselves That a great part of the said Night Coppinger found himself very extraordinarily exercised c. by such a motive as he could not well describe partly comforted with a wonderful Zeal which he found himself to have to set forth God's glory any ways which lawfully he might enter into partly cast down by such a burning fire of Concupiscence as in his greatest strength of body he had not found the like That the next day
used may be furnished with such gifts and graces as every one have or shall have need of That it may appear that the Action now in hand is his own and therefore he will provide safety for his holy ones and destruction for those who are vessels of wrath who have accomplished the number of their sins which call for vengeance from Heaven These Letters Hacket carried to Pamplin Schoolmaster of Oundell to be read unto him for that himself could neither write nor read But I have not yet heard that he complained thereof to any in Authority When Arthington also about the midst of Arthington returns to London Coppinger visits him and magnifies Hacket to him as the Holiest man that ever was except Christ Trinity Term last was returned to London Coppinger hearing thereof came to his Lodging and then with many words extolled and magnified Hacket unto him for the holiest man that ever was Christ only excepted and one that travelled together with him for the good of the Queen and the Land but after an extraordinary manner and not both by one means And albeit Arthington seems not desirous of their Secrets Coppinger persuades him to hear Hacket's extempore Prayers which he admires as divine and esteems him as a most holy man Arthington as now he saith desired them to keep their Secrets to themselves and not to trouble him with them who had other business to attend yet Coppinger importuned him so as he could not avoid but yield to hear Hacket pray before them as a man of a singular Spirit albeit utterly unlearned of the Book The first Prayer of his that Arthington heard was about four or five Weeks before their apprehension All which Prayers conceived by Hacket even since his apprehension the said Arthington praised to be so divine sweet and heavenly that thereby he was drawn into a great admiration of him In all the Prayers that Hacket made in his presence Arthington observed this difference from other mens That he usually therein desired the Lord to confound A horrible execration used in his Prayer him if he did not seek only his honour and glory in all things Which Arthington marking from time to time in him and seeing him still to be so perfectly sound and very well was thereby drawn together with Coppinger's words and experience of him to reckon and esteem of him as of a most holy man This Lesson of wishing themselves confounded his said two Scholars by imitation did so perfectly learn of him that to the great astonishment and horror of such The same used by the other two in their Affirmations that afterward examined them they used this Execration Wishing themselves confounded and damned if they said not the truth in every matter whereof they made any asseveration and wherein they desired to be credited thinking as Arthington confesseth that whatsoever the Spirit as he fansied told him was a truth he was bound to bind it upon his Salvation or Damnation These being joined with the Relation of certain extreme Torments which Hacket had signified Hacket pretends to suffer extream inward torments from the Devil as well as outward from men for trail of the truth of the Gospel which they conclude he is to establish in all Kingdoms and that all Scepters are to be yielded to him unto them that he suffered not only outwardly by the instigation of certain noble and worshipful Persons as he untruly made them believe but more grievously a great deal he said by suffering whatsoever either Devils in Hell Sorcerers or Witches in Earth could practise against him all which he pretended to have endured for trial and proof that the Gospel was the true Religion against Popery and all other Sects did so deeply astonish or rather infatuate them that after great fasting and prayer used which fasting they usually performed on the Sabboth days they all did resolutely conclude That if Hacket indured in truth all these torments and practices against him for so holy an end no doubt he was a man which should not only establish the Gospel in all Kingdoms but all Kings and Princes should also yield their Scepters unto him and he should be established chief King over all Europe Reasoning thus with themselves that surely the Lord had some great good to be done by him that had indured so much for his sake Now this was the Opinion which to This was the main drift of Hacket's cunning and it succeeded have firmly planted in them two as indeed it was first in Coppinger and afterward in Arthington was the main scope and drift as may seem of all Hacket's cunning counterfeiting of so much Holiness Piety Zeal and Religion To work this he handled his Actions so Coppinger avouched that God would deny Hacket nothing warily with them that Coppinger seriously once avouched unto Arthington how himself had by good experience found that God would deny unto Hacket nothing which he prayed for or desired and namely protested that Hacket begged of God in a Drought that was not long afore their apprehension a Shower of Rain and that it was presently sent in good abundance Coppinger also so firmly believed Hacket that he told his own Man Emerson how Hacket being imprisoned the Bolts would often fall off his heels miraculously But for proof that such incredible Torments were indeed suffered by Hacket he appealed herein to some of the Nobility and to divers others both of worship and good credit This did Coppinger further confirm Coppinger and Wigginton attest to the truth of Hacket ' s pretended Torments unto Arthington saying that Master Wigginton also did justify the truth of the Torments that Hacket suffered and could do it with a hundred honest Witnesses more if need required And Arthington himself also once heard Wigginton pitifully tell how great and extreme Torments Hacket had endured But being asked by them why he was so tormented and how these could tend to prove the Gospel to be the only true Religion Hacket answered them thus That his Tormentors the better to colour their lewd purposes and malice gave out and surmised him to be out of his wits but the truth was said he that being once at Table with one G. H. an obstinate Papist and reasoning which was the true Religion I Hacket ' s strange way to prove the truth of Religion against Popery c. defending this which we now profess to be the truth against Popery and all other Sects amongst other Speeches I protested upon my Damnation that this was the truth and withal prayed that I might sink presently down into Hell if it was not so And that if he the said G. H. would say so much for his Religion if he did not sink presently into Hell then would I take Popery to be the true Religion But he refusing so to do and being greatly moved thereby against me complotted with a Knight a neer Kinsman of his and with another Gentleman
being a Papist and with sundry others who found such means as that they procured Devils to be raised Sorcerers Witches and Enchanters all which said he I know and can name and mind one day to help to burn them to work upon my Body with intent to make me call back my said words of protestation concerning the truth of this Religion which if I would not do said they but could endure the Torments that they would inflict then they all would be of my Religion and would make me Emperor over all Europe This Tale to them that had minds afore His Tale credited prepared and took Hacket by reason of his most earnest Protestations Prayers shew of zeal pretended favour with God and such like to be a man that would not tel an untruth for all the world seemed no way unprobable or to be discredited So that these three principal Actors having as well among themselves as with others often conferred hereabouts both by word and writing were by the midst of Trinity Term become most resolute for the advancing of their designments For in a Letter written by Coppinger about that time to the aforesaid J. Thr. it is thus contained Mine own dear Brother Coppinger ' s Letter to J. Thr. my self and my two Brethren who lately were together with you in Knight-rider's Street do much desire conference with you which will ask some time The business is the Lord 's own and he doth deal in it himself in a strange and extraordinary manner in poor and simple Creatures Much is done since you did see us which you will rejoice to hear of when we shall meet and therefore I beseech you so soon as you receive this Letter hasten an Answer in writing to my Sister's House therein advertise I beseech you when I may come to speak with you for delays are dangerous and some of the great Enemies begin to be so pursued by God as they are at their wits end The Lord make us thankful for it who keep us ever to himself to do his will and not ours By occasion also of hearing Master Chark on a Friday about that time at the Coppinger ' s Leter to Chark about his extraordinary Course for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom Black-Fryers Coppinger saith he was thereupon moved by God's Spirit to write unto him a Letter which beareth date the 9th day of July last In which Letter amongst other things thus he writeth unto him I do not deny good Sir but that I have now a good long time taken a strange and extraordinary course such as hath offered occasion of suspicion of my not only doing hurt to my self but also to the best sort of men now in question and to the Cause it self But by what warrant I have done this that is all For if the Holy Ghost have been my Warrant and carrieth me into such Actions as are differing from others of great note in the Church of God what flesh and blood dare speak against me This is it that 1 desire at your hands and at all the rest of God's Servants that you forbear to censure me and such others as shall deal extraordinarily with me in the Lord's business committed to our charge and judge of us by the effects that follow which if you hereafter see to be wonderful great then are all ordinary men placed in Callings within this Land to fear and to call themselves to examination before the Justice Seat of God and see whether they have walked faithfully before God and man in seeking the salvation of the Souls of the People and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom and the overthrow of Antichrist's And if all and every one Note in their places shall be forced to confess to have failed in not discharge of their duties let them acknowledge their sin and repent before Plagues and Punishments fall upon them The waste of the Church cannot be denied to be great so that there is place for extraordinary men though temporizing Christians will not admit this therefore God's mercies shall appear to be wonderful great if amongst us he have raised up such as I know he hath and hereafter I doubt not by God's grace but I with the help of the rest shall be able to avow against all gainsayers whatsoever My desire heretofore hath been to have counsel and direction from others But now by comfortable experience I find that the Action which the Lord hath drawn me into is his own and he will direct it himself by the Holy Ghost and have the full honour of it and therefore I wait upon him and yet most heartily crave the Prayers of the Saints that they will beseech God to bless all his Servants that he hath set awork in his own business And I further beseech you to shew this Letter to Master Traverse and Master Orders it to be shewn to Traverse Egerton and the other Preachers Egerton and all the rest of the godly Preachers in the City and judge charitably of me and others and let every one look to his own Calling that therein he may deal faithfully and let us judge our selves and not judge one another further than we have warrant After this Letter it hapned that M. Chark preached in the same place again the next Sunday after at which time Coppinger took himself to be particularly meant by one part of the Sermon Whereupon he wrote a Letter to another Preacher as I do gather the Thursday after viz. the 15th of July whereby he thus signifieth M. Chark told the People that there were some Persons so desperate that they would willingly thrust themselves upon the Rocks of the Land and Waves of the Sea This I took to be spoken principally to my self and therefore I thought good to advertise you that he spake the truth in those words but he touched not me but himself and the rest of the Ministers of the Land who have not only run desperately themselves upon the Rocks and Waves but carried the whole Ship whereby they all be in danger of Shipwreck and should have perished if the Lord had not immediately called three of his Servants to help to recover it who are not only sent from God to his Church here but also elsewhere through the World My Calling is specially to deal with Magistrates Another hath to do with Ministers who hath written a Letter to you of the City but it cannot be delivered hardly this day The other third is the chiefest He pretends to be chiefly called to deal with Magistrates who can neither write nor read for he is the Lord's Executioner of his most holy will This Letter is thus subscribed The Lord's Messenger of Mercy Ed. Coppinger These three therefore strongly fancying to themselves such extraordinary Callings and standing resolute by all means to advance that which they falsly call Reformation and being thus seduced and bemoped by Hacket it is no marvel though they entred further as by degrees
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
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
him see that they were all as drunken men and Fools without wit That in the end they should throw all their Books away and be at a great confusion one with another That afterward viz. about the beginning of Easter Term last the Lord brought him to London and how he was made acquainted with Coppinger at that time as hath been afore declared How after his departing out of the City from Coppinger he could not but remember him in his Prayers desiring the Lord to reveal himself extraordinarily to him so that he might be encouraged to go forward in the Action Whereupon as the said Coppinger affirmed he had two extraordinary Seals in very short space after Hacket ' s departure and was wonderfully strengthened to proceed in the Cause Then is told how the Lord commanded him to go from one place to another in and about the City for two days space and how he was commanded to rail against the said two great Counsellors in divers places where he came How being in that time commanded to see the Lyons in the Tower he took the fiercest of them by the Head and had none harm Then is told what Preachers in the City he heard and that going to hear one he saw a Surpless lie in the Church whereupon he would not stay there That he went to certain Preachers in Prison to command them to deal faithfully in the Lord's business And how he was commanded by God to deface the Arms of England in Kaye's House in Knight-Rider's-street Lastly It is said that God hath appointed two others to deal for and with Hacket whom it will stand upon to deal faithfully for the Lord for they know what Hacket is and what shall follow if their Counsels and Directions be not followed Now if any shall marvail how such an absurd and ridiculous lying Legend should seduce men of any consideration so earnest for a supposed Reformation and so exercised in praying and fasting let him remember not only the effectual but the efficacy it self of illusion and the spirit of slumber falling by God's secret yet always just Judgment upon the Children of disobedience such as be wise in their own conceits and not wise with sobriety that they might believe Lies because they have not believed the Truth And that they might ask and not obtain because they ask not as they ought After Arthington On Thursday morning had ended his aforesaid Treatise of Prophecy being the very day before their rising Coppinger told him that God the night before had enlightned him the said Coppinger who they all three were saying that Arthington had unawares prophesied truly for he was the greatest Prophet of God's Judgments against the whole World that ever was but that they both were greater than he for Coppinger himself was he said the greatest that ever was and last Prophet of mercy and that he must describe the new and holy Jerusalem with the several places of joy that the Elect should enjoy after this Life and that they the said Coppinger and Arthington were ordained to separate the Lambs from the Goats before the Lord Jesus at the last day Whereat it is said they were both astonished considering their own unworthiness and unfitness crying out against themselves and their Sins yet submitting themselves to the direction of God's Spirit which they were assured should sufficiently furnish them to do him that service which himself did command Then Coppinger proceeded to tell further That Hacket was greater than either of them and that they two must obey him in whatsoever he commanded but told not then what nor how great he was other than King of Europe which Title was afore this time concluded of amongst them Hereupon according to Coppinger's commandment Arthington offered to honour Hacket with his Title of the King of Europe and to demean himself toward him accordingly But Hacket himself herein dispensed with him until the time should come that he was to honour him before others bidding him withal to be of good cheer for faith he I serve a good Captain who makes so dear accompt of me that all the Devils in Hell nor Men in Earth cannot take my life from me Then Coppinger for confirmation of the like unto them two also said that Arthington and himself were possessed not only with Prophetical but also with Angelical Spirits which Arthington taking to be true by a great burning that he felt in himself after that time did thereupon fancy to himself that no power in Earth nor Hell could hurt either of them because they had the spirit of Angels and they were subject to no Power but to God alone And that God being the master of the whole Work all things should prosper with them they only seeking his glory which he faith he vowed with himself and to deal throughly in his Office to rebuke the World of Sin and to denounce Judgments against whomsoever the Spirit should move him without fear or favour of Men or of Devils in Hell which Spirit he faith then moved him according to his hatred afore conceived against them and his opinion that they were Trayors against the Queen's Majesty to utter and to declare his detestation he had against the aforesaid three worthy Counsellors being by their places the greatest Subjects in the Land But herein may be said with the Poet Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditione querentes Verrem de furto Who can with any patience indure such Seditious Companions as these to appeach others of Treason but especially so Loyal Honourable and Worthy Counsellors as they three are known to the World to be By the way we may note the subtil managing and carriage of this Action by Hacket and Coppinger in this one principal Point which Arthington himself also now observeth Videlicet in that they opened not at any time Hacket's chief pretended Office unto Arthington videlicet to represent and to participate with Jesus Christ's Office of severing with his Fan the good from the bad until the very time they were to go into the Streets to do the Message that Hacket enjoyned them For hereby they prevented a doubt of driving Arthington back who seemed a Man so serviceable for their purpose as that he was worthy to be still retained by them and the rather for that he had not yet finished the writing up of Hacket's History that was to be annexed to the Prophecy until late that Thursday night which was afore their rising for they might have feared if leisure had served him to have considered of it and examined it at full how this could be lest it might have made him at least to stagger and be doubtful of it Besides Hacket kept as Arthington now gathereth that honour wholly to himself to proclaim it to them both together as it were by a Voice from Heaven at that very instant when they should receive their charge of him and thereby have no time to reason against it being straightway to go forward as
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
much more glorious than any of theirs because they had the mark of Antichrist in their hands Thus he in Newgate at that time in the presence of many with great insolency did triumph 75. Men therefore not partially affected The danger of Innovation may hereby observe and conceive what danger Innovation bringeth to the People and what hazard to a State when by little and little it encreaseth like the swelling or flowing of the Sea which if it surpass the bounds wherewith it was confined or gain never so small a Breach it spreadeth it self over a whole Country and groweth to that violence and stream that it cannot by any contrary force be kept back but without pity or mercy putteth all things to wreck where it rageth Which as it seemeth Master Cartwright himself did now find when after his first Conference he perceived how impossible it was for him to make up the Breach which he had unfortunately begun for that Barrow like a tempestuous Surge would have forced him by finding his own oversight and Errors back again from his former Positions or drawn him inevitably to his Conclusions 76. And therefore observable it is Cartwright withdraws privately that Master Cartwright having upon his first discontentment as hath been delivered made a desperate assault and breach in Sion's peaceable and blessed City now like a sly Captain did steal away secretly after Summons given from his own Siege fearing upon his entry by the force and press of his own Soldiers to be environed and kept within the Walls as Pyrrhus was to the loss of his life or doubting belike the outrage and violence of his Army whose Fury he could not have appeased when he list but have been enforced as Titus was to see his Soldiers sack spoil and burn the Holy City of Jerusalem though he vehemently laboured and with great earnestness cried out unto them whom yet himself first set on work to save the Sanctuary of the Lord but could not be heard or at least was not able to stop their rage and fury until it was with fire consumed and destroyed 77. Not much differing from the said Positions of Barrow and Greenwood Brown the Author of a New Sect of that Name were the Opinions of Robert Brown sometimes of Bennet Colledge in Cambridge from whom that Sect beareth the Name even to this day But because His Positions little differing from Barrow and Greenwood in this Archbishop's time the said Brown was changed from those Fancies and afterwards obtained a Benefice called Achurch in Northamptonshire where he became a painful Preacher I will not much insist upon him 78. I let pass many like Schisms in The Archbishop suppresseth many Schisms and also Controversies in the Universities other parts of the Realm which this good Archbishop suppressed and the Controversies in both Universities which by his Wisdom were appeased as also the reverend Opinion which divers honourable Personages had of him for his great temper and moderation in handling these Businesses toward some of great Place whose Reputations if he would he might have blemished with her Majesty for favouring the aforesaid Libellers and Libels which He procures Cartwright's Pardon of the Queen had stowage and vent in their Chambers as also in procuring at her Majesty'y hands both pardon and dismission for Master Cartwright and the rest out of their Troubles 79. For which and sundry other his Favours Master Cartwright held himself much obliged unto him as he confessed in his Letters written with his own hand to that effect In which Letters he is also pleased to vouchsafe him the stile of a Right Reverend Father in God Cartwright's Letters March 24. 1601. acknowledging the Archbishop's favour and his Lord the Archbishop's Grace of Canterbury Which Title of Grace he also often yieldeth him throughout his Letters acknowledging his bond of most humble duty so much the straighter because his Grace's favour proceeded from a frank disposition without any desert of his own Yea the Archbishop hath been heard to say That if Master Cartwright had not so far ingaged himself as he did in the beginning he thought verily he would in his latter time have been drawn to Conformity For when he was freed from his Troubles he often repaired to the Archbishop who used him kindly and was contented to tolerate his Preaching in The Archbishop tolerates Cartwright to perach publickly without Conformity Warwick divers years upon his Promise that he would not impugn the Laws Orders and Government in this Church of England but persuade and procure so much as he could both publickly and privately the estimation and peace of the same Which albeit he accordingly performed yet when her Majesty understood by others that Master Cartwright did preach again tho temperately accordingly to his Promise made to the Archbishop she would by no means indure his Preaching any longer without Subscription and The Queen requires his Subscription grew not a little offended with the Archbishop for such connivency at him Not long after Master Cartwright died rich as it was said by the benevolence Cartwright dies Rich. and bounty of his Followers 80. After these Stirs thus suppressed they began to tamper with the Earl of Essex who was grown into a great height of favour with the Queen and by reason that sundry of his Kindred The Earl of Essex favours the Puritans as far as he durst and Allies were inclined that way they so far prevailed with him that he did privily and far as he durst for fear of the Queen's displeasure give way and countenance to them But upon better consideration finding by the heady Courses of some of them the danger that thereby was like to grow to her Majesty and the State and the Resolution had of all hands to cut them off by the Law aforesaid he grew very calm and was careful how to carry himself uprightly betwixt both And yet the Archbishop had still a vigilant Eye over him that he could not though he would do any great hurt 81. For to say the truth by this Upon timely execution of the Laws the state of the Church at quiet due execution of Laws in the beginning and the provident Courses of the Archbishop with the Assistance and painful Endeavours of Doctor Bancroft and Doctor Cosin and the publishing of their learned and unanswerable Books the state of the Clergy was in good quiet especially so long as Sir Christopher Hatton the Lord Chancellor did live 82. Immediately after whose death Sir Christopher Hatton died Nov. 20. 1591. Lord Buckhurst chosen Chancellor of Oxford on the Queen's Letters the Archbishop attending upon her Majesty and advising with her who was fittest to succeed him in the Chancellorship of Oxford found her graciously enclined toward the Lord Buckhurst in whose behalf she presently dispatched her Letters to the University and prevailed Whereat the Earl of Essex was Earl of Essex offended at