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That about the 15th of July, or not long before, he heard Hacket finging of certain Songs, who then wifhed that Arthington had alfo fome of them: For it was a very special thing, and (faid he) M. Wiggington hath a great many of them.

Alfo Coppinger had once conference with Wigginton (in the prefence of Arthington) touching his extraordinary Calling. At what time it is pretended, that Wigginton refufed to be made acquainted with the manner of Coppinger's Secrets; and that he used thefe Speeches to Coppinger, viz. You are known to be an honeft Gentleman, and fworn to the Queen, and therefore I will not be acquainted with thofe things which God hath revealed unto you for the good of your Sovereign. And his Opinion of fuch extraordinary Callings (fet down under his own hand) doth elsewhere appear, whereby is argued, that he was made a common Oracle for fuch Fantasticks: That he knew the matter in generality, which by Coppinger was to be wrought upon the Queen, to bring her (forfooth) to repentance, howfoever he refufed to know the particular manner of fuch Secrets: That he acknowledged it to be good for the Queen, and yielded it (without fcruple) to be revealed unto Coppinger from God, fo that it could not be, but that Coppinger hereby was much animated to go forward in his conceived Wickednefs. Befides, Wigginton taketh knowledge (as appeareth by a Paper of his own handwriting found in his Chamber) that Hacket

had

Hacket defaceth the

and uttereth

dangerous

words.

had defaced the Queen's Arms, and had uttered dangerous words, importing himself

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Queen's Arms, to be a King, and his mislike of all Kings now reigning, fince his laft coming to London. Hacket further declared unto M. Young on the 24th of July, that he was once (in company of two Gentlemen, and of Miftrefs Walker and Miftrefs Lawfon) with Wiggington in his Chamber, where and when he heard Wigginton fay, That if the Magiftrates do not govern well, the People might draw themselves together, and to fee à Reformation. This dangerous Opinion of his may be alfo gathered out of a Letter of his own hand-writing (found with him) being dated the fixth of November laft, wherein he thus writeth. M. Cartwright (faith he) is in the Fleet for refufal of the Oath, as I hear, and M. K. is fent for, and fundry worthy Minifters are difquieted, who have been spared long. So that we look for Some bickering ere long, and then a battel, which cannot long endure.

They defign a A fourth Purpose of theirs was not only to Change in the make an alteration in the ftate of ChurchCivil Govern Government, and to plant in every Congreas the Church. gation their Elderships, or Confiftory of Doctor,

ment, as well

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Paftor, and certain Lay Elders, with the Appurtenances; but also to change the Civil Policy of this Realm. For which confideration, they meant to difplace all the Lords and others of the Privy Council; therefore (in their Speeches and Writings touching thefe Counsellors) they ufed of late no Title of Honour, but their bare Names and

Sirnames, or else their Names with this addition; Late L. Ch. or late L. Tr. as if they were already difauthorised, and in their fteads they had nominated and fet down certain others (in truth very honourable and worshipful Perfons) that fhould be Counsellors, of whom every honeft man nevertheless is perfuaded, that they deteft both these and all other fuch Vile, Seditious and Fanatical Perfons and Courfes.

Coppinger (not long afore their rifing as it feemeth) penned a Letter to have been fent to the one of the aforefaid honourable Perfonages. In this Letter he chargeth a great Coppinger and worthy Counsellor (ufing only his Chrifti- chargeth two an Name and Sirname) that he, together with Privy Counhis bellish and infernal Companions (for fo he fellors with Treafon. raveth) bad committed Treafon in the highest degree against her Majefty. He defireth that honourable Perfonage to effect, that the faid Counsellor, bimfelf, and two others of the Lords Meffengers,may be brought before the Queen's Majefty; and if he be not proved a Traytor to God and her, then let me (faith he) for my Pride and Prefumption, be hanged at the Court Gates. Then he exclaimeth against another great Counsellor (terming him but by his bare Name likewife) to whom he had fent Letters and Copies to have been fhewed to her Majefty, and there fheweth himself greatly offended with him; because he was not (as he hoped) brought to her Royal prefence; Note. adding thus thereto, but he and the rest (faith he) of her wicked Counsellors, and ungodly Ma

giftrates,

He appoints to her Majesty a new Council, and recom

mends Wig ginton for her Chaplain

Arthington chargeth the fame Counfellor.

His Fanatical
Propofal.

giftrates, fhall be forced to acknowledge, what they are worthy to have; the Lord pardon their Souls, for in their outward man they must be punished, though they repent: And a little after, thus; I do advise alfo that every one of her Council be commanded to keep their House or Chamber, for fear of ftir or danger. Then he doth appoint to her Majesty a new Council, advising that Wigginton (a man in more favour (he faith) with God, than any man of his Calling whatsoever) be commanded to be near ber Highness, to pray to God,or to preach privately.

By the like refolute vein Arthington alfo chargeth the faid Counsellor as deeply, and upon the like and greater penalty to himself, in a Supplication penned by him to have been sent to her Majesty. But I will give you a tafte how frivoloufly, and upon what fond Proofs he groundeth his Accufation, to the end it may appear, that this was but a colourable Pretence, wherein they repofed no great furety of fuccefs, but hoped at length thereby to have brought themselves and Hacket to her Majefty's prefence. The iffue he tendereth is this, That if in her Majefty's prefence be prove not the faid Counsellor to be the most dangerous Enemy that was discovered fince her Highness's Reign, then let his Body and Soul be for ever damned: Provided always that if her Majesty cannot (by his Evidence) judge him the faid Counsellor to be fo bad as be makes report of him, yet that she would give him the faid Arthington leave in her facred Prefence, to fight the Combat of Prayer with him, wherin,

2

if

if it please him (faith Arthington) I will first New Trial by begin to pray against my felf, that if he be not as combat in deeply guilty as I have charged him, then that Prayer. God's Vengeance may prefently confume me both Body and Soul into Hell for ever, which if it come to pass, the Victory fhall be his, and he return an Innocent. But if he fee me leap up for joy, as one that hath difcovered him to be a Traytor, then if he dare fall down in like fort, and make the fame Prayer, that the like Vengeance may fall upon himself, if he be fo deeply guilty as I bave charged him; and if God's Vengeance fall not upon him before he depart out of her prefence, let me be bang'd, drawn and quartered, for labouring to impeach a Counsellor's Credit; but if be dare not thus enter the lifts with me before ber Majefty, let him be bolden guilty.

Their last and most damnable Defignment Their last Deof all, was the deprivation of her Sacred fign was the Majefty from her Crown and Dignity, and deftruction of the deftruction of her Royal Perfon, whom the Queen. the Eternal God (in mercy) long preserve,

to the confufion of all Seditious Wretches her Enemies of all forts.

The very particular and principal means how these devilish Purposes were meant to. be effected by them, Arthington now faith, that they were not opened unto him; pretending, that though the other two feemed willing to have imparted fome of their Secrets unto him, yet himself was always unwilling to hear any of them. But for the fpecial means that Coppinger had plotted to bring the Queen's Majesty and Counsel to repentance,

he

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