But before I enter into that Comparison, it is xequifite first to make narration of this late Confpiracy, with the Circumstances thereof, as it was plotted and carried forward by them, so near, as I could inform my felf therein, either by Depofitions of others, or from their own Letters, Writings, and original Confeffions upon exami nation.

CON

CONSPIRACY

FOR

Pretended Reformation.

NE of the three principal Perfons in this Action (whereof we intreat) was Edmund Edm CopCoppinger, a Gentleman pinger, Gent. defcended of a good a younger BroHouse and Linage, and ther of fmall one of her Majesties Eftate. fworn Servants, but a younger Brother, having no great Livelihood. His chief abode (as I have learned) for fome years past, hath been in and about the City of London.

mean Estate,

Another of them is Henry Arthington, a Henry ArGentleman likewife, whofe place of Birth thington a and Dwelling is faid to be in Yorkshire Yorkshire Gen Howbeit for the greatest part of certain tleman of · years past, he hath remained and fojourned and in debt. in or about London. It is conftantly (how credibly I know not) reported by fome, who pretend to know it, that this Arthington (at the times of his long abodes at London) did moft converse with another GenL tleman

Difperfers of Seditious Books printed in Scotland against the Established English Reformation.

Both zealous

Profefors of the Gospel, and bot for Inno

vation.

tleman of Yorkshire, by whofe means he prefently ftands more deeply engaged, than his mean Estate might well bear, and whofe company is feared to have wrought in him fmall dutiful opinion of the godly Reformation planted and established by the means of her Majefty. It is difcovered by the mutual Letters of Arthington, and the aforefaid other Yorkshire Gentleman, that certain Seditious and Slanderous Books against the Council, Judges, and this whole Eftate, were received and difperfed by them, being printed in Scotland.

Now by fuch remaining about the City of Coppinger and Arthington, they fell to be acquainted together for fome Years past.

These two made femblance, and fo were holden to be Profeffors of the Gofpel, neither of the coldeft or lewk-warm fort (as fuch do untruly term others, who be indeed godly wife, with a fober moderation) but rather of thofe that more juftly may be faid, to be fcalding hot in defire of Innovation, which they falfely call Reformation. They They confort therefore ftanding thus affected, most wilwith fuch who lingly forted themselves in familiarity with Spend their fuch, as by their demeanor may seem to reproaching the pofe a great part of their Chriftian ProfefGovernment fion and Zeal in the only reproacing, and Ecclefiaftical. odious traducing of Governors and Government Ecclefiaftical.

zeal in re

They hear and Thefe two having itching Ears, moft ufufollow chiefly ally heaped to themselves, and made choice fuch Preachers to hear and follow fuch Preachers as were

thought

the Difci

thought fitteft to feed their humour: Which as inveigh a Preachers with their fad looks, frequent gainst and defighs abroad, long and vehement conceived prave the Established EcPrayers, bitter and plain Invectives in pri- clefiaftical Povate, and privy depraving in publick, of the lity, and are Laws and Policy Ecclefiaftical, joined with for advancing their ufual Speeches, befides fundry infamous that they call Libels and other Pamphlets fpread already pline. for advancing that Government (which they ftrangely term The Difcipline) may feem fo to have inflamed thefe two Perfons, as that they thought this Difcipline a worthy Subject whereupon they fhould spend most of their Actions and Cogitations.

cuted in the

Their minds being thus prepared, it hap- Some Preachpened that fome Preachers of this Difcipline ers of the Dif were begun to be proceeded with in the cipline profemoft honourable Court of Star-chamber, a- Star-chambout the fame time that this Coppinger (by ber. means of one Giles Wigginton) came acquaint- Coppinger ed with William Hacket, the third Actor and brought acchief Setter forth of this Tragedy.

tonfhire.

quainted with Hacket by Concerning the faid Wigginton (becaufe Wigginton & this alfo tendeth to the better understanding Puritanical of the whole Action) he was born or bred Minifter of up in Oundel in Northamptonshire (where NorthampHacket dwelt) and he often reforted into that Country by that occafion. He was not long fince a Minifter, and Vicar of Sedbergbe and Dent in the North parts, but for Wigginton his intolerable Infolences and Contempts a- fome time Vi gainst Laws, and the Peace of the Church, car in the was both deprived of that his Benefice, and North, for his deposed from his Miniftry by Authority of infolences and

L 2

her

contempt a

gainst the

Laws and

Peace of the
Church, de-

her Majesty's Commiffion for Caufes Eccle fiaftical, a man (by report of fuch as know him beft, and favour him not a little) whofe prived ex Of zeal never came behind knowledge, nor ficio & Bene- bold-hardy forwardness, at any time went after difcretion in him.

ficio.

Hacket lived at Oundle, Servant to

Mr. Huffey, afterwards to Sir Thomas Treshath; a quarrelsome Fellow.

He frequently reforted to Ser

móns to mock and carp at them.

Married a

Widow with
Substance, but

afted it by Idleness and Lewdness.

This Hacket had dwelt alfo by a lorg fpace in Oundel, where firft he ferved one Master Huffey an Efquire, by the space of ten Years; and after, for fome time, he ferved Sir Tho mas Tresham, Knight: He was a notable bragging and quarelfome Fellow, yet thought in truth to be but a very recreant Daftard.

He long together used one lewd and ungodly practice, which was to refort unto Sermons (of purpose) to gibe, mock, and carp at them; And having a good Memory (which was the only commendable part in him) he ufed in fcoffing manner to preach over again in Alehoufes the Sermons that he had heard, moft infifting and sporting himfelf and others at fuch Paffages thereof which pleafed him leaft, or whereat he imagined any likely matter of deriding might be ga thered.

Whilft thus he ferved Master Hussey, he obtained (by his Mafter's countenance) the marriage of one Moreton's Widow, of reasonable Substance, ha ing alfo a good Farm in that Town. But he following loofe and licentious Company, and an idle courfe of life, without labour or induftry either to get or fave, lewdly and riotoufly mifpent and wafted in fhort space all her Goods.

It