in his Chamber: fo that by this Tale the erroneous Opinions afore conceived of him, were greatly encreafed.

After he had lien in Northampton Gaol a good fpace, and was come unto his Trial (in the abfence of Sir Walter from thence) the matter is thought to have been fo handled by fome (who in favour of his forwardnefs, would needs interpret his Felonies to be but Follies) as that (no Evidence being given against him) he was difmiffed for that pull; upon Bond entred for his appearance, when he should be called for again.

Now Hacket (a man thus qualified as ye Wigginton hear) was of all other men thought by Wig- brings him acginton moft fit and worthy to be recommend- quainted with ed, and straightly linked unto Coppinger's Fa. Coppinger. miliar acquaintance; as moft aptly conforting with his humorous Conceit; long ere this apprehended by him, whereof it feemeth Wigginton was not ignorant, nor mifliked.

Story, Ar

Their acquaintance was wrought in this An Account manner, as Hacket teftifieth in that Dif- thereof out of Hacket's Hicourse (which they fince call Hacket's Hiftory enlarged) endited by himself, written by thington's Coppinger, and afterward copied out fair by prophefies. Arthington, as it fhould have gone to the Both Manu Prefs, being annexed to Arthington's Prophefy. Scripts. For there it is faid: That the Lord brought Hacket to London (about the beginning of Eafter Term laft) to see what would be done against Job Throgmorton, and partly to reckon with M. Wigginton about the making of malt

between

:

between them together: At what time Wigginton faid, 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 Pfalm belonged to this time. When Wigginton was defcribing the Man, and the matter that he was entring into, viz. that the Man whom he spoke of, bad a message to say to his Sovereign, concerning fome practice intended against her, from dealing wherein, the Preachers in London had wonderfully difcouraged him: then Hacket answered thus: Did you so also? No, faith Wigginton: Then faid Hacket, encourage him in any wife for what know you what matter it is he hath to fay? Hereupon Wigginton fent for the faid 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, affuring Coppinger that he knew Hacket to be a man truly fearing God, and fuch a Perfon, as by whofe Conference God might minifter fome comfort to Coppinger: Whereupon they two, (viz. Coppinger and Hacket) went from thence prefently unto Hacket's Chamber, at the Sign of the Caftle without Smithfield-Bars: So foon as they were entred the Chamber, Coppinger defired that before any Speech fhould pafs between them, they might first pray to God toge ther, which they did: Hacket fpeaking to the Lord first. After which Prayer, Coppinger delivered unto Hacket, how he had been very ftrangely and extraordinarily moved by God to go

to

to her Majefty, and to tell her plainly, that the Lord's pleasure was, that she must (with all Speed) reform her felf, ber Family, the Commonwealth, and the Church: And that the Lord had further told him, by what means all the fame fhould be done; but that Secret he would not then deliver unto Hacket. Then Coppinger also prayed unto God, defiring him, if he would be with him, and blefs that Bufinefs (which be bad committed to his charge) that then he would both furnish him with Gifts fit for fo weighty an Action, and knit the heart of Hacket and his fo together,as David's and Jonathan's, Moles's and Aaron's: For answer bereof, Hacket took further time till the morning, at which time in the morning (a Prayer being first made) Hacket laid all the Lord's businejs (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 Difcourfe.

But long before this time of their two firft Acquaintances, Coppinger (upon his return forth of Kent, in Michaelmas Term laft) had fignified unto Arthington, and to one T. Lancaster, a Schoolmafter in Shoe-lane, (both being of his familiar Acquaintance, and whom he had requefted to fait and pray Coppinger with him, for fuccefs in obtaining a Wi- pretends to d dow) that God had fhewed him, the faid Cop- revealed to Secret Mystery pinger, great favour, by revealing fuch a fecret him relating Mystery unto him as was wonderful, being in to the Disci fubftance thus much, viz. That he knew a way pline, and the how to bring the Queen to repentance, and to Queen's repen

M

caufe

tance about it.

He imparts it

ton.

caufe all her Council and Nobles to do the like out of band, or elfe detect them to be Traitors that refufed: All they by fuch Repentance, meaning and understanding (as it feemeth) the erecting of their fanciful Difcipline. For this Phrafe being ufual with them in Conferences of this matter, he thereby fufficiently declared his mind to them, and they well understood what was meant, without further a-do.

Now it had been inconvenient that Copto Wiggin pinger fhould all this while conceal this Myftery (which he imparted unto them, and after to Hacket) from Wigginton, who brought them acquainted together, unto whom he fo oft reforted, and fo highly above all other Preachers efteemed, for his refolute dealings in God's matters, as he terms them; whom he alfo after advouched unto Arthington, as an irrefragable Witness to be perfuaded by, that would juftify the truth of Hacker's Torments, and whom he also knew more often bufied for attaining of that Difcipline (which himfelf alfo laboured for) than perhaps for Heaven it felf. And you fee that he had accordingly done it, Wigginton not difcouraging him therein.

Arthington and Lancaster miflike the

matter as im

practicable.

This Propofition fo made by Coppinger, Arthington faith, that he and Lancaster mifli ked, as a matter impoffible by Coppinger to be done, but by the Lord Jefus only, and fuch, whereof the issue could not fall out well any way, and fo put him off for the first time; not understanding in what manner, and by what

1

fpecial

Ipecial means, Coppinger conceived that such repentance fhould be wrought in the Queen's Majefty, and in others.

in Prifon, de

The manner and other circumftances of the first revealing of this pretended Myftery, Coppinger himself at large declareth in a Letter written the 4th of February laft, unto T. C. in Prison: The occafion of writing it, The manner he there faith, was the faid T. C's offer to and circumtake knowledge (by writing) from him of fuch fances of rematter, as might induce him to fuppofe himself Mystery, Copvealing the to have received fome hope of Special favour from pinger deGod, to fome Special use: But yet, without clares in a warrant from the Word, direction of the Holy Letter to Cart Spirit, and approbation of the Church, he was wright, then (be faid) moft unwilling to enter into fo great an firing an An Action. The Letter is long, but to this ef- fwer to fome fect: That upon fome extraordinary humiliation Questions. of him, be, with fome other, and a Guide of their Exercife, joined in a Faft: Their Guide (in the Evening) Spake of the use of Fafts, &c. and then willed the others to add to that, which be had delivered, either for the general, or particular Caufes, which moved them to bumble themfelves: That a great part of the faid Night, Coppinger found himself very extraordinarily exercifed, &c. by fuch a motive, as he could not well defcribe partly comforted with a wonderful Zeal, which he found himself to have, to fet forth God's glory any ways, which lawfully be might enter into partly caft down by such a burning fire of Concupifcence, as in his greatest Strength of body, he had not found the like: That the next day he riding into the Country (as be M 2

rid)