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Coppinger, jealous that what he had to reveal would be

more important Intelligence.

afore) unto his Lordship to make paffage to fome better service to her Majesty, which he hoped fhould be done fhortly to her Highnefs's good liking, and to his Lordship's great honour, for that he fhould be the chief Actor therein. Upon fome answer returned from the Lady afore-mentioned, craving fome Particulars of that which they meant to difcover, Coppinger writ to Hacket (being flighted, writes in London) to urge him unto fome more speto Hacket for cial point of Intelligence: Whereunto Hacket (the faid 8th of June) anfwering by Letter to fmall purpose, and fubfcribing his Letter thus, As you find me, fo call me : Coppinger therefore returned in anfwer another Letter presently unto him, whereby he fignified, that Hacket muft manifeft fomewhat more plainly of fome practice worth the revealing, otherwife they both should worthily fall into her Majefty's indignation; for that which he had then writ, would not fatisfy her Majelly and the State, concerning the danger which Hacket fuppofed to be coming upon the Land, and wherewith he feemed to be acquainted.

Both of them

are examin'd by one of the

Lords, who finds little in

Upon fuch overture (as afore is touched) made to one of the faid Lords, he had the faid two Appeachers before him on the roth of June: but finding Hacker's demeanour of himself very ftrange, and their Imputations their Informa- as frivolous, he difmiffed them (as is faid) tion, fo shakes without further ado, to their great difcon them off. tentment. Hereupon Coppinger (in ftomach fo far as he durft) writ another Letter to

the

the faid Nobleman the 11th of June: Hereby he fignified, That were it not that he had been before acquainted with the Graces and Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, which he did affure himself to be in Hacket in an extraordinary manner, he fhould have esteemed of him (by his behaviour) as his Lordship did. Therefore what trouble or danger foever might come to himself by it, he was refolute to abide it; and further chargeth the faid Nobleman (in God's name) to deliver the Letters and Copies there inclosed to her Majesty, fignifying, that what punishment fhould in that refpect be allotted to him, or unto Hacket, they would undergo it, and not depart the City, till they might further understand what God would do therein. Sure it is, that (being thus fhaken They thus off by him) they grew extremely malicious fighted, grow also against the said worthy Nobleman.

Hacket's

name to the

malicious a gainst him. I find alfo a Copy of a Letter written in Coppinger Coppinger's hand, but meant to be fent as writes another from Hacket, unto her Excellent Majefty; Letter in wherein (amongst other things) he desireth he may enjoy that which God hath appoint- Queen, threated him, and then lewdly and falfly accufeth ning dreadful and revileth two great and worthy Counsel Judgments lors. In the end he faith, That if he should from God, and tell her the judgments of God that lie at her Gate offers a Sign. (which the Lord hath shewed him) they would be over-fearful for her to endure, or to bear of And if he doubted of his fending from the Lord, he willeth her to ask a Sign, and if he give it not, let him die.

O 3

A fe

the Council, in

ers, then Pri

foners for Mif.

demeanors.

A fecond courfe taken by them befides They confpire the former Appeachments, was a Confpirathe death of cy of the death of certain of the Lords of the Some Lords of Council, when they fhould be at the Starcafe Judgment chamber, in cafe they fhould give any judgbe given a- ment against certain that were (fometime) gainst fome of Preachers, and are now Prifoners for Miftheir Preach- demeanors perillous to the peaceable ftate of the Realm, as is intended. That this devilish Purpose was rife amongst them, may appear by a Letter fent by Coppinger in Trinity Term laft, unto the aforenamed Lancafter. In which was contained to this effect, That if the Lords fhould give a hard cenJure against thofe Parties (the next day) if God fhewed not fuch a fearful Judgment against some of thofe Lords, as that fome of them should not go alove out of that place, then never trust him. And albeit fome that faw this Letter, could not pick any further matter out of it, than Coppinger's Conceit, that God (without fome fpeedy and miraculous Judgment from himfelf alone) would not fuffer fuch men to be punished; yet Lancaster (to whom it was directed) juftly fufpected fome further meaning, and that the concealing of it might be both accounted undutiful, and further alfo dangerous unto him, and therefore asked counfel of fome more skilful than himfelf, whether he might fafely fupprefs it, and tear the Letter in pieces.

Another Device they alfo had for preparing (as is fuppofed ) of the minds of the People, and to ftir them up to be in readi

nefs

Chamber.

nefs, which was by certain Seditious Letters They scatter that were purpofely fcattered five or fix Seditious LetNights afore, in many of the Streets of Lon- ters among the People. don, by fome of thefe Actors, or by their Complices and Favourers. Likewife there was found in Wigginton's Chamber (in the Great numbers Prifon where he remaineth) about a thou- of Printed Lifand printed Pamphlets of two forts; the bels found in Wigginton's one of Predeftination, the other carrying an odd and needlefs Title to every man that knoweth but the Author. For it is entitled on the first fide, in great Letters thus: viz. The Fools bolt: And immediately under that Title, this Sentence is fet down worthy to be duly confidered, with all his Circumftances now apparent, viz. Such as do furmife the complaint of Innocency to be revenge, and the report of Truth to be flander, fhall never want the due reward of their grofs Error, whilst Innocency and Truth fhall endure. On the other fide of the Sheet the Title is, A Fatherly Exbortation to a certain young Courtier. The matter thereof is conceived into an halting Rime, roving lewdly not only at the Governors Ecclefiaftical, and at other Minifters, but alfo at fundry having Civil Authority and high Places. Amongst the reft, the firft two Staves and laft Stave are most perillous, if ye refpect the prefent Action these Perfons had in hand, their Opinions of this State, and the bafe Condition and State of the chief of them. The firft are these, viz.

Wigginton confeffeth that

they were all to be fent to Women, and by them to be difperfed.

Wigginton in the Confpiracy for advancing the

Difcipline.

My Son if thou a Courtier fue to be,
In flower of youth this Leffon learn of me.
A Chriftian true, although he be a Clown,
May teach a King to wear Scepter and Crown.

And in the laft Stave are thefe, viz.

For God will fure confound fuch as devife
His Ordinance or Church to tyrannize, &c.

Thefe Papers Wigginton (by the means and help of one Brown) procured privily to be printed at Whitfontide laft, and being examined touching them by her Majefty's Council and others, he confeffed, That they were all to be fent to Women, the weaker Veffels: viz. to Miftrefs L. Miftrefs B. and to I know not how many Mistresses, by them to be dispersed abroad; to the intent, that every one (to whom they might come) fhould conceive of them as the Spirit fhould move them. And Hacket alfo confeffed, that a part of certain Writings which Wigginton and Coppinger framed, was, that a Clown might teach a King to wear a Crown.

Now that Wigginton held intelligence in thefe matters with the Confpirators, and that there was mutual and ordinary corref pondence betwixt him and them in all Plots for advancing of their Difcipline per fas & nefas (befides that which in this behalf hath been touched afore) is made alfo manifeft by the confeffion of Arthington, who faith,

That

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