Hacket pre

extream in

ward torments

ed and damned, if they faid not the truth, in every matter whereof they made any affeveration, and wherein they defired to be credited, thinking (as Arthington confeffeth) 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 signitends to fuffer fied unto them that he fuffered,not only outwardly by the inftigation of certain noble from the De- and worshipful Perfons (as he untruly made vil, as well as them believe) but more grievously a great outward from deal (he faid) by fuffering whatsoever eimen, for trial ther Devils in Hell, Sorcerers or Witches in of the truth of Earth, could practife againft him (all which the Gospel, which they he pretended to have endured for trial and conclude he is proof, that the Gospel was the true Religion to establish in against Popery, and all other Sects) did fo all Kingdoms, and that all deeply aftonith, or rather infatuate them; that (after great fafting and prayer used, which fafting they ufually performed on the Sabboth days) they all did refolutely conclude, That if Hacket indured in truth all these torments and practices against him, for fo holy an end, no doubt he was a man, which fhould not only eftablish the Gospel in all Kingdoms, but all Kings and Princes fhould alfo yield their Scepters unto him, and he fhould be establifhed chief King over all Europe. Reafoning thus with themselves, that furely the Lord had fome great good to be done by him that had indured fo múch for his fake.

Scepters are to be yielded to him.

Now,

Now, this was the Opinion, which to This was the have firmly planted in them two (as indeed main drift of it was firft in Coppinger, and afterward in Hacket's cunArthington) was the main fcope and drift ning, and it Succeeded. (as may feem) of all Hacket's cunning counterfeiting of fo much Holiness, Piety, Zeal and Religion.

To work this, he handled his Actions fo Coppinger warily with them, that Coppinger feriously avouched that once avouched unto Arthington, how him- God would defelf had by good experience found, that God "y Hacket nothing. would deny unto Hacket nothing which he prayed for or defired, and namely protefted, that Hacket begged of God in a Drought (that was not long afore their apprehenfion) a Shower of Rain, and that it was presently fent in good abundance; Coppinger alfo fo firmly believed Hacket, that he told his own Man Emerfon, how Hacket being imprisoned, the Bolts would (often) fall off his heels miraculously.

But for proof that fuch incredible Torments were indeed fuffered by Hacket, he appealed herein to fome of the Nobility, and to divers others both of worship and good credit. This did Coppinger further con- Coppinger firm unto Arthington, faying, that Mafter and WigginWigginton alfo did juftify the truth of the ton atteft to the truth of Torments that Hacket fuffered, and could Hacket's predo it with a hundred honeft Witneffes more, tended Torif need required. And Arthington himself al- ments. fo once heard Wigginton pitifully tell,,how great and extreme Torments Hacker had endured.

But

Hacket's

frange way to

prove the truth of Religion against Popery, &c.

But being asked by them, why he was fo tormented, and how thefe could tend to prove the Gospel to be the only true Reli gion? Hacket anfwered them thus: That his Tormentors (the better to colour their lewd purposes and malice) gave out and furmised him to be out of his wits, but the truth was (faid he) that being once at Table with one G. H. an obftinate Papist, and reasoning which was the true Religion (I defending this which we now profefs to be the truth, against Popery and all other Sects) amongst other Speeches, I protefted upon my Damnation, that this was the truth, and withal prayed, that I might fink presently down into Hell, if it was not fo: And that, if he the said G. H. would say so much for his Religion, if he did not fink presently into Hell, then would I take Popery to be the true Religion. But he refufing fo to do, and being greatly moved thereby against me, complotted with a Knight (a neer Kinsman of his) and with another Gentleman (being a Papift) and with fundry others, who found fuch means, as that they procured Devils to be raised, Sorcerers, Witches and Enchanters (all which (faid 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 faid words of proteftation, concerning the truth of this Religion, which if I would not do (faid they) but could endure the Torments that they would inflict, then they all would be of my Religion,

Religion, and would make me Emperor over

all Europe.

This Tale to them that had minds afore His Tale creprepared, and took Hacket by reason of his dited. moft earneft Proteftations, Prayers, fhew of zeal pretended, favour with God, and fuch like, to be a man that would not tell an untruth for all the world, feemed no way unprobable, or to be difcredited: 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 midft of Trinity Term become moft refolute, for the advancing of their defignments. For in a Letter written by Coppinger (about that time) to the aforefaid

you

Thr. it is thus contained. Mine own dear Bro- Coppinger's ther,my felf, and my two Brethren, who lately were Letter to together with you in Knight-rider's Street, do J. Thr. much defire conference with you, which will ask fome time. The bufinefs is the Lord's own, and be doth deal in it himself, in a strange and extraordinary manner in poor and fimple Creatures. Much is done fince you did fee us, which will rejoice to bear of, when we shall meet, and therefore I beseech you (fo foon as you receive this Letter) haften an Answer in writing to my Sifter's Houfe; therein advertise (1 beseech you) when I may come to speak with you; for delays are dangerous, and fome of the great Enemies begin to "be fo 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 occafion alfo of bearing Mafter

Chark

:

my

Chark on a Friday about that time at the Black-Fryers, Coppinger faith, he was thereupon moved by God's Spirit to write unto him a Letter, which beareth date the 9th day of July laft. 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 courfe, fuch as bath offered occafion of fufpicion, of my not only doing burt to my self, but also to the best fort of men now in question, and to the Cause it felf. But by what warrant I have done this, that is all For if the Holy Ghost have been Warrant, and carrieth me into fuch 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 defire at your bands, and at all the rest of God's Servants, that you forbear to cenfure me and fuch others, as fhall deal extraordinarily with me in the Lord's bufinefs committed to our charge, and judge of us by the effects that follow; which if you hereafter fee 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 Juftice Seat of God, and fee whether they have walked faithfully before God and man, in feeking the falvation of the Souls of the People, and the advancement of Chrift's Kingdom, and the overthrow of Antichrist's. And if all and every one in their places fhall be forced to confefs, to have failed in not discharge of their duties, let them acknowledge their fin and repent, before Plagues and Punishments fall upon them. The waste of

the