be converted to It fell fo out, that at length he pretended Pretended from a Papist or an Atheist, to be converted from a Papil to Religion and knowledge of the truth or theift to At what time he grew to be of familiar and the Truth, got inward acquaintance with the faid Giles intimately acWigginton, and was an efpecial Follower quainted with and Disciple of his, both at publick Sermons Wigginton. and private Conventicles. Of late times he was alfo conforted in Partnership of Maltmaking with Wigginton: Their great acquaintance and familiarity may appear by a Letter fent from Hacket unto him, the third of March laft, and by his lending unto, Hacket of ten Pounds: The Superfcription is, To the Worshipful Minister of God's Word, M. Giles Wigginton at Newgate. In the Letter thus he writeth: M. Wigginton, I defire to communicate my Spirit at large with you, but I know not your Keeper. And in the end thereof, thus: Good M. Wigginton make my found beart known to Mafter Cartwright, Mafter Snape, Mafter Udall, Mafter Lord, &c. By his and fuch others (like affected mens) Grew a forInftructions and Example of life and beha- ward Profeffor, viour, he fo profited, that in fhort space he Railer against proved one that profeffed with the forward the Laws and eft, and practifed with the frowardeft. For Orders of the falling as Fools do, from one extremity to another, Qui dum vitant vitia, in contraria eurrunt, he grew to a moft infolent, proud, and contemptuous difdain of all Preachers and others whomfoever, that flew not his pitch, or lay not to the level of his pretended zeal. But most gladly, and with greatest L 3 felicity and great Church. mity. felicity that might be, he used to spend his mouth largely in Invectives, Railings and Contumelies against Bishops and other Governors of the Church, and alfo against the Laws, Orders, and whole Government Ecclefiaftical, not fticking (as was probably fufpected) to procure alfo fundry lewd infamous Libels against them and other Preachers, &c. to be framed and set up thereabouts. Despised the His deteftation of Ecclefiaftical Orders Town-Minifter commanded was fo great, that he could not for his Confor- endure to frequent the Sermons which Ray the Minifter of that Town did preach, because he seemed to him a little more conformable in fome few matters (by Authority established) than Hacket liked of. Where. fore on Sabboth days Hacket ufually did refort to a Place a Mile off called Stoke (where the Minister fitted his Humour better) in company of fome of like ftrain to himself, and of certain light idle Goffips, whereof fome of the fincereft were faid to love and like him fo little, as that she could oft-times be content to take the Meat off his Trencher, which he had cut for himself, and to eat it up from him. But whenfoever this devout Flock came fo near to Stoke Church, as they might perceive the Minister to be yet at Divine Service and Prayer; then they used to ftay abroad and reft themselves in the Green Churchyard there (without going into the Church) until they heard the Pfalm begun before Sermon, for fear left they should be polluted by thofe Prayers. One Slighted the Divine Ser vice. One most memorable Prank (above others) was plaid in Oundel by Hacket, which is renowned far and near for the unmanly brutishness of it. It happened that M. Huffey his Mafter fell at debate, and was offended with one Freckingham an Artificer of the Town. This Freckingham had a Son which was a Schoolmafter, who (as in nature he was bound) did take part with his Father. Now Hacket meeting this Schoolmafter in an Alehouse or Inn, did lovingly (as feemed) fignify unto him how forry he was, that there fhould be any breach betwixt his Mafter and him the faid Schoolmafter, entertaining him (that fufpected no Treachery) with fuch good Speeches, till fpying an advantage, he fo grafped both Freckingham his Arms, as that he might eafily hold him, and throw him to the ground. Thus having gotten him down on the ground under him, He treacheHacket moft favagely and currifhly bit off rously bit off a the poor Schoolmafter's Nofe with his teeth, man's Nose in which when he had fo barbaroufly performed, both the faid Frecking bam and one Clement (a cunning Surgeon) inftantly defired the Nofe of him again, that whilst the Wound was fresh and green, it might be ftitched on and grow again (as they conceived it would) to avoid fo foul and great deformity: But the Canibal Varlet not only utterly refused fo to part with it, but held it up triumphantly, and fhewed it with great vauntery and glory, to all that would behold it; and after (as fome have reported) a Quarrel. Retain'd in Sir Charles did in a moft fpiteful and divelifh outrage eat it up. In process of time it happened that his Mafter fell out with him, and put him from his Service (I think for no good Conditions) yet it is faid that he was retained afterward the Service of in fervice (by what means I know not) with a very worshipful Gentleman, Sir Charles Morrison, Knight, Nephew to his first Mafter; and one of thofe against whom he lately caufed his two fmall Prophets fo vilely to exclaim, and fo unworthily to charge, even openly in Cheaffide. Morrison Hacket a mer in his Youth. Which after bus pretended Converfion he Befides his former Vertues and good Qualigreat Swearer ties, this Hacket was alfo a very great Swearer and Blafphe- and Blafphemer of the Name of God in his younger years; which courfe, when afterward, to retain the reputation of a Profeffor of the Gofpel (whereof he made great pretence) he was forced to leave, he turned his fingle Oaths (in truth) into worse and more horrible, joined with moft fearful Imprecations against himself, whenfoever he would make any Affeverations, wherein he defired to be credited, as namely thefe: So God judge me, I renounce God, and God confound and damn me, or do fo, or fo unto me, if this be not true: which was fo ufual, and by long cuftom fo inveterate in him, even till the time of his apprehenfion, that in the midst of his counterfeit Holiness (whereby he feduced Coppinger and Arthington) he often burft forth into this kind of execration against himself, as an especial motive turn'd into dreadful Exe Grations. (amongst (amongst others) to have his words to be better believed by them. Arthington noted this courfe of Hacket's as a notable vertue in him, and a matter of rare zeal. His manner (faith he) of praying is as it were Speaking to His strange God face to face, denouncing his Judgments a Expreffions in gainst himself, if he diffemble, lie, or Jeek him- Prayer. felf in any thing, but the honour of God only. He prayed fo confidently for Miftrefs H. that be charged God to have given her unto him, to restore her to her former health and liberty every way, faying, Lord, according to thy promife thou haft power, and I have faith, therefore it shall come to pass. This Miftrefs H. is a Gentlewoman of London, who pretendeth or feareth to be poffeffed with a Devil now fourteen years together. Befides these he was given to quaffing and Addicted to drunkenness: Being not only a Maltfter, Drunkenness but a Malt-worm, and was addicted alfo to and lascivious lafcivious life with Women, which com- Life. monly accompanieth the other vicious Excefs: For credit whereof his own Story or Legend (which himself endited as a notable Monument of his excellent Vertues and fpecial Holiness) may give too fufficient teftimony: For therein he telleth of many temptations in this kind with Women, which (as himself confeffeth) he rejected not altogether, but went further than either godlinefs or yet civil honefty would permit. But he pretendeth that thefe Baits were offered and laid by his Enemies (who fought matter against him) as Snares and Traps whereby ΤΟ |