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Covers his

Wickedness

A

to take his holiness tardy, that belike was fo hard to be entangled. Infomuch as Arthington in the forefront of that History (which he did whilft he was yet feduced by Hacker) doth ftamp this brand and cenfure upon it, That they were prophane Speeches and matters of Women, which he would not have fet down, but that he could not otherwife reveal the villanous practice which Hacker's Enemies intended for the overthrow of the Gospel of Christ, as he most childishly and ridiculously excufed then the matter. For further proof and manifeftation of his lafcivious Difpofition, it is also informed from the Place of his Abode, that on a time (under colour of giving godly Counfel) he attempted to have wickedly ravifhed a poor man's Daughter, whereupon he was forced to ftep afide out of the way for a feafon.

Neither did the wickedness of this Wretch here reft it felf: For he was vehemently holden in fufpicion for committing alfo of fundry Robberies.

But that which maketh up the heap of all Wickedness, is this: That the fink of with Profeffion thefe Sins in him he always fmoothly coverof Religion, and zeal for ed and parieted over (especially for fundr Reformation. late years) with a very rare outward earneftness in profeffion of true Religion, and with a most entire (yea burning) defire of reforming (forfooth) the Church and Commonwealth, by establishing the Presbyterial Difcipline, which he did imagine would

prove like the Box of Pandora, for it promifeth cure for all Maladies and Disorders.

But this his zeal and defire of Reforma- which he then tion, begun then moft of all to enkindle it chiefly pretendfelf in him, and to break forth, after that ed to after he had wasted his (by riotous mifpending and licentious life) Subftance.

to miraculous

he had wafted the Wealth that he had with the Widow, whom he married, whose hap was very hard to match with him, albeit he made more of her than fhe defired, for he made the uttermoft peny. For then he be- He pretended gun with counterfeit Holiness to fet out him- to a Prophefelf (amongst fuch of the fimpler fort as had tick Spirit, and zeal without knowledge) to be a man in- Works, in ordued with an extraordinary and fingular Spi- der to erecting rit, fuch as (in old time) the Prophets and the Discipline. Holy Men of God were; making fhew withall, as if he had fome peculiar Gifts and Qualities, to be able even to tell Secrets and work Miracles, which many believed; whereof fome did attribute them to Sorcery and Enchantments, but the fimpler fort unto his rare Spirit and Holiness.

For he trusted by this perfuafion to get fuch credit with the unftable Multitude, as that by their hands he might one day be able (whofoever fhould withstand it) to bring his Purposes about, for erecting of fuch pretended Difcipline, to his own great eftimation and advancement. In this vain and feducing Humour he is reported (I know not how truly) to have travelled in the North parts unto York: For among the fimpler People (where he was not known) he hoped by the

Vizard of Holinefs and Religion not a little to prevail in fetting forward his Designments. For which purpofe he took upon Afirmed at him there the Office and Spirit of St. John York to have Baptift, affirming, that he was fent thither the Office and by God to prepare the way of the Lord beSpirit of John fore his fecond coming to judgment. But Baptift.

Being detected he was whip Red out of the City

d the fame usage afterwards at Lincoln.

Fancied him Self refer'd of God for fome

great Work.

the counterfeit holiness and lewd feducing purpofe of the Varlet being difcovered unto fome in Authority, he was welcomed not with lofs of his Head (as that holy man unjuftly was, whom he wickedly counterfeited) but was well whipped and after banished that City.

This Medicine wrought not fo effectually with him, as that it could terrify him wholly from the like Attempts. For it is reported, that after this he affayed again to put on the like Perfon or Mask at Lincoln, where he alfo found the fame Cheer and Entertainment for his pains, as he received afore at York.

But this erroneous Opinion (whereby through felf-love and illufion of the Devil, he thought that he was referved of God for fome great and excellent Work, being blown forward by the fhew of zeal, and of an earneftnefs for fuch a Reformation) could not thus eafily be quenched and rooted out of him the rather, for that by use and imitation of fuch as he moft followed and converfed with (though wholly otherwife he were unlettered) he had grown to fuch a dexterity in conceiving of Extemporal Prayers, with

bum

bumbasted and thundering words, as that Was an illitehe was thereby marvailed at, and greatly rate Fellow, but kad at. magnified by fome Brethren and Sifters, as quired a great a man greatly vouchfafed with God, and dexterity in adorned with rare and fingular Endowments Extempore from Heaven, fo that through admiration of Prayers. fuch fuppofed Excellencies in him, he still continued to fancy unto himself, that he had rare Gifts and an extraordinary Calling.

God's Ver

geance.

For he gave out to divers that he was a Pro- Was much adphet of God's Vengeance, where his Mercy mired, and f is refufed Saying, That if Reformation be firm'd himself not established in England this prefent Year, three a Prophet of great Plagues fhall fall upon it, the Sword, Peftilence and Famine. He pretended alfo that God had revealed unto him most wonderful things, Which he would (he faid) utter to none but fuch as himself knew to be very refolute in God's Caufe: But he told unto Arthington and Coppinger, that there should be no more Popes bereafter.

Upon confidence of which Spirit and Gifts in himself, in Places of his refort,

with an intemperate and fanatical boldness, with fanatis (even as if he had fufficient warrant for it) cal boldness utz he dared oftentimes to utter moft vile, lewd, ter'd feditious and feditious Speeches both of the Queen's Speeches a gainst the Majesty, and of certain the greatest Subjects Queen, &€; whom he thought to be hinderers of his Practices. Which his Outrages being once or twice brought unto the Ears of certain in Authority in Northamptonshire, and elfewhere (not fufficiently acquainted with the frange Humours of fuch Anabaptiftical Wi

zards

Was corrected in Northam ptonfhire as

Phrantick.

zards and Fanatical Sectaries) and perhaps unwilling to let his words be drawn fo far against him, as they juftly might; they were therefore content to attribute them to fome fpice of phrenfy in him, and in that quality to be corrected, rather than to contrue them to have proceeded from any setled and advised malice, as the event hath fince made moft manifeft they did. For in the whole courfe befides of other the Speeches and Actions of his Life, both before and after, no alienation of mind or madness could be noted in him.

At one of the times that he was brought in queftion for his Seditious, and indeed Treasonable Speeches, it happened that he was convented before that honourable Counseller Sir Walter Mildmay, who commanded him (for more safegard) to be watched the night before he was to be conPut into Nor- veyed to Northampton Gaol, at what time thampton

Gaol.

the counterfeit diffembling Wretch willed his Wife to let him lie alone in the Chamber that was to be watched, for that he had to confer with one that would come unto him that night: Infinuating unto her, as if he were to have at that time fome fpecial ConPretended to ferences with God, or fome Angel. Wherehave confe- upon it was straightway blown abroad thererence with abouts amongst the credulous multitude of thofe, that either favoured him for fuppofed Zeal, or feared him for Sorceries, that (albeit there were no Candles ufed) yet there was a great light (that night) feen fhining

God or fome
Angel.

in

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