A MAGAZINE OF SCANDAL.  
OR, A heap of wickedness of two infamous Ministers, consorts, one named Thomas Fowkes of Earl Soham in Suffolk, convicted by Law for killing a man, and the other named john Lowes of Brandeston, who hath been arraigned for witchcraft, and convicted by law for a common Barrettor.  
Together with the manner how my Lord of Canterbury would put and keep them in the Ministry, notwithstanding the many Petitions and Certificates from their Parishioners, and others, presented to him, they being the head and most notorious of the scandalous Ministers within the County of Suffolk, and well may be said of all England.  
And against whom as chief of the scandalous Ministers the County of Suffolk have petitioned to the Parliament: And desired to be seen by the Parliament, because herein is something mentioned, which is conceived, that one of these scandalous Ministers have abused the authority of the Lords in Parliament.  
And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death:  Levit. 24.17.21. Num. 35.18. etc. Non solum lutum verum & ne tange venenum. 
Printed at London for R. H. 1642.   

A Magazine of Scandal.  
IF I should go about to declare all the devices and evil practices that could be said concerning these two, namely, this common Barretor, and this man-killer, it were an endless piece of work, and labour without end; but having an intent to shoot at some few, which the least of them are too notorious and too intolerable to be suffered in the Church of Christ. I will avoid prolixity, and therefore omit in particular the many vexatious troubles and suits that these two have troubled their parishioners and Neighbours in the towns about them, how many they have undone and beggared to the terror of many others: I will forbear to tell you how many were every Court day tossed and tumbled at the Commissaries Court, so as the common proverb was, that they had made a more beaten road and foot-path to the Commissaries Court, than any market path in all the County; I will not tell how many desperate deboist base and vild persons, and some that have been three or four times arraigned for felony were their dependants, and went with them from Court to Court, from Assizes to Assizes, and from Sessions to Sessions, to act, accomplish, and perform any unlawful and desperate devises, either by their false oaths or desperate forces and violences, and many times some of them by pretence of being Bailiffs to arrest men, have entered into men's houses, and taken away their goods, nothing escaped if it were not too hot or too heavy; I will not publish in what desperate manner these two have joined with these deboist Bailiffs Conjunctim & divisim iojntly and severally in their desperate oaths to accomplish their evil ends, and how they have shared in their booties which these their dependants have so unlawfully purloined▪ I will not express the many wrongs, suits and controversies, they labour and seek after to oppress others and work thereby their own profit and advantage, as namely in enquiring after broken titles and buying of them but never pay for them, in hiring and entering upon any lands where there is any controversy, and so to occupy the same for a very small matter, or for nothing at all, which is unlawful in a Minister to occupy any temporal lands at all, and if neighbour's parishioners be at any controversy with his Minister for his tithes, than one or both of these are the Antagonists and Champions to buy these tithes, and will be sure to terrify the poor parishioner that he must fas or nefas, due or not due pay what is demanded. To speak how these bend their shoulders to uphold one another in their practices, and concur and hang together, it were too tedious: And severally how they use their several postures and qualities apart, the first, I mean the Mankiller setting all thought of his function aside as no part of his calling, doth in as ample husbandlike manner as any husbandman whatsoever go to his labour (when other practices fail) as to ditch, plough, thresh, carry muck, dress his horses, and especially on Sunday mornings, and comes to Church with his coat full of horse hairs, for he keeps a team of horses, and goes by the road to carry timber to Woodbridge and Ipswich, or any other carriage as duly as any carter by the Road whatsoever, being one indeed cut out for such a purpose rather than for the place he hath been suffered to hold, being likewise of a desperate condition, his hands having been in blood, have threatened divers of his adversaries to hurt or wound them, and to that end hath carried about him a most dangerous sharp weapon comprehended closely in a staff, divers others he hath with violence beaten and wounded, yea rather than he would be out of action he will beat his own wife who hath had a feeling in this cause, he hath so feared divers of his parish & others with suits for no cause, most certain it is that he hath extracted and drawn divers several great sums of money both from the able and unable, rather than they would endure his vexations, and upon every occasion threatens my Lord of Canterbury his warrant and great punnishments from my Lord of Canterbury, and who but my Lord of Canterbury, upon whose presumption he was so audacious that he durst do any thing, yea in the very act of receiving the Communion, in the presence of near a hundred persons, most of them kneeling at the Rails, in the Chancel, where he forced them to come, some of them having received the Sacrament and others ready to receive it, in a most scandalous and irreligious manner railed and used most menacing speeches, threatening my Lord of Canterbury's warrant, and therewith would fetch them up, using foul terms, and would not administer the Sacrament to the rest that sat there kneeling and ready to receive it as aforesaid, but in reproaching terms turned them away: And further his impudence is so great, that during the time of this present Parliament in Michaelmas term last, and divers times since he hath confronted the authority of the Lords house of Parliament, as upon the declaration the honourable house will judge one Margaret Borret widow, having gotten an order by petition from the Committee for Petitions from that honourable horse, which did reflect upon this Thomas Fowkes, this Fowkes to cross that order made a most strong affidavit, of which he will never be wanting if need require, and thereby got an order in some sort opposing the former order, but with this he must have his order (as he said) under the authority as well of the Lords spiritual as temporal, or else is was nothing worth, and so had and hath often boasted that this order from the Committee was nothing worth, because it wanted the authority of the Lords spiritual, and that his order had the Lords spiritual mentioned therein, and the order from the Committee had not, as by the several orders now remaining in the said Lords house appear, and so makes by his speeches and reports the said order of the Committee to be of no validity, because it wants the authority of the Lords spiritual as his hath, and in these and many the like, I might go on and have no room left for an end. I will also give you a taste of the other, I mean the common Barrettor; this title shows him of a pragmatic disposition, he is nimble as a dancer, he will trip it from market to market, yea to London (being a great Solicitor both at common law and spiritual) and enters into every man's business that will have him or employ him, and takes upon him to advise more than all the Counsel in those parts, and declares himself to have more knowledge in the laws of the Kingdom than the best Lawyer of them all, and indeed it hath proved something to that purpose, for he hath advised many to their undoing: I will tell you of one excellent point of learning he practised, that is, he would press to be an arbitrator for men in many causes, persuading both parties thereunto, promising either party to do what should be required, but to be sure he served his own turn, and takes money of both parties, but he that gave lest was sure to be sound crushed if not undone, probatumest. A pretty conceit he had to bring a poor tailor within compass of the law, to whom he ought a spleen, whose honest condition was not suitable to his, being a man of such sobriety and constancy that this pragmatic Barretor could not in the space of two years find occasion to vex him, at last making himself familiar and loving to the tailor, sent for him upon a Sunday morning to come unto him, and being in his bed desired the tailor to mend his briches presently, for he was to put them on, which the tailor very simply did, but before the that day after which was the next Court day, this Barrettor cited him to the Court, and made the poor tailor know it was not lawful to mend breeches on the Sabbath day. I can tell you this Barrettor or pragmatic is also a brave Physician and Chirurgeon, and can do more hurt in one hour then the best Physician can do good in a year, he hath much practised this art; And for a soldier he could have conquered more by his art and military skill, than ever General Lesly or Spinola, or any other great Commander in the world, for he can build castloes in the air, and he much wondered (as he said) why the King did not send for him when the Isle of Rees vioage was, who could have prescribed a way to have saved the lives of all the Commanders, and won all the Country; what should I say of these two that are permitted to be in the place of pastors and teachers of the people but as, Tully said of Catiline, nullum scelus nisi per te, nullum facinus nisi per te, nullum flagitium sine te, for there is scarce an evell project thereabouts but is hammered upon their Anvil. Their Religion is either none, or else as the wind blows: If the ceremonies be tending to Popery, none so forward as they, and if there be orders clean contrary they shall exceed any Round-head in the I'll of great Britain; they both daily have frequented the company of known popish Recusants, entertained some of them, and lodged them, nay which is more, they have had the help, advise, and assistance of popish Recusants in many their vild and abominable actions, and have had them for their greatest and chiefest confederates, agents, and counsellors to procure themselves the unjust getting and obtaining of money, goods, and other advantages. This Barretor (to make short): hath been so vehemently suspected of witchcraft, that he hath been twice indicted, and once arraigned for witchcraft.  
Whether it be so or not, it is most certain that many have so accused him upon their deaths, and it is most certain that he hath used the society and help of those that have been convicted and executed for witchcraft; for whom he protested he would pawn his soul for theirs, and his body for their bodies, and hath had the society and daily frequentation of divers others that are vehemently suspected for witches, and without doubt hath had the help of such to work his intended purposes, and to further his dear brother in iniquity the man killer, as brethren which comply together to destroy all their opposers. And hath declared that if he were prosecuted by his Parishioners, and that they obtained their wills against him in putting him out of his Benefice, than quoth he, there are some of their houses on fire about their ears, two hundred miles hence is as good for me as here. Quis audivit talia horribilia?  
One having lost certain silver spoons, the Barrettor sent post horse and man to one Woolward a notorious reputed Conjurer, to help him to the said plate, reposing (as it seems) trust in the devil to help him to what he desires. Now these two brethren in iniquity dwell within a mile or little more one of another, and are concomitants, fellow Coach-horses, and draw just together. These went to Lambeth Fair together, and bought much of the trinkets that have been reported there to have been sold; and I believe they paid well for them, for they have had special Popish ware, and they have made as good use of their ware as any within the kingdom of England.  
What should I say? all this, & mille talia, which might have been declared, were but talk and bare accusation, if proofs did not appear. Therefore (in a word) I will tell you, the one is by law convicted for killing a man, being a very some act, and so declared by judge Crook, for he did beat out a man's brains: and the other hath been arraigned for Witchcraft, and convicted by Law for a common Barrettor, both lately tried upon their several traverses at Bury Assizes in Suffolk; the common Barrettor before Mr. justice Barkeley, the man-killer before Mr. justice Crook, as by the several Records appear, and one of them for the common Barrettor exemplified, against which Records there is no averment or denial. And these are the two for which the Petition of Suffolk against scandalous Ministers is chief and principally grounded. And thus I doubt not these things appearing to be true, which are ready at all times to be shown, some remaining on Record, and all the rest to be deposed by many witnesses, will give satisfaction of the truth herein.  
And now I come to show you how my Lord of Canterbury would and did hold and support these two precious servants of his scill in the Ministry.  

The manner how my Lord of Canterbury would keep them in the Ministry notwithstanding the many Petitions and Certificates from their neighbours and others presented unto him, they being the head of the scandalous Ministers, against whom the County of Suffolk have petitioned.  
AFter the former taste given of the outward comportment of these two rare birds, I would that it might be a little understood of the inward matter they are endued withal▪ I mean as touching their ability of learning and divinity, for I make account by the former discourse that they cannot have much inward grace, for they never sought for that at Lambeth fair, neither do I think that any was thereto be sold, therefore I will apply myself to the other, I mean their learning because you may understand what good cause my Lord of Canterbury had so strongly to keep them in the Ministry: it may be thought that it was their great learning; Indeed as for that, they had learning enough to preach against them that would not pay triple their tithes and to inveigh against such as they bore malice, and that in many unfitting terms out of points of learning or divinity, but I would know first whether they can read well or no, for I am sure that neither of them can write true English, yet they endeavour to read their sermons, which I would not condemn if they were penned conducing to the interpretation of the Scriptures, and not from any malicious spirit: Scholars they are I confess, and had need to go to school still, for one of them being demanded what Microcosmus was, which by interpretation signifieth a little world, answered that it was Latin for a mist or fog; the demandant replied again it was true, for it was more than a mist, for sure he was in a great cloud of darkness: and one of them at another time being demanded what Plerophoria signified, which signifies, fullness of faith, he answered that he did not like that word, because (as he thought) the Papists did attribute it to the names of pictures and relics; and the demandant replied again that he thought he did not like that word indeed, and believed, that he would never be brought to like it, but quid moramur in istis? let us follow our text, and tell you how my Lord of Canterbury would not by no means be informed nor persuaded to hear any thing against these two for divers of the neighbours having desired their Solicitor to present divers petitions and certificates to his Lordship against the said Fowkes, and of his conviction for killing the man, and also to inform him of the said Lowes, how he was convicted for a common Barretor, amongst many other of the foul actions of them both: And it must be understood that this Fowkes was ipso facto out of his function upon his conviction, until the Lords great grace of Canterbury took great care to put in great good Ministers, and so put him in again, and gave him a dispensation; but before his dispensation, the said Solicitor presented under the hands of his, the Fowkes, his neighbours and divers others, a Certificate of his scandalous life, and of his little desert both in life and doctrine, which was at that time received by Master del his Secretary, and my Lord's Grace took special notice thereof, and kept it, and still hath it, which to any man's judgement had been enough to induce any Bishop in the Christian world not to have dispensed with a man whose hands were in blood, and convicted for killing of a man, which had been much if he had received a Certificate of the said Fowkes honest life, and conversation; but howsoever there was something weighed well with my Lord or Master del, or both, to induce my Lord to give him a dispensation: But to the Ministry my Lord did restore him, by what Law or Canon none can warrant, for none whose hands have been in blood ought there to remain, which being heard and known, to the astonishment of many well governed and able Ministers, as other laymen and religious people, conceived at first that my Lord of Canterbury was abused, presuming he would not have done it, and thereupon at the like request of the parishioners and others, the said Solicitor addressed himself with new petitions from time to time, but now none would be accepted, read, or heard, many of which are still to be seen: And the said Master del his countenance was changed, the Solicitor received nothing but rough speeches, yea threats sometimes, and told him we might have remedy in the high Commission, and no answer could be had, but, go to the high Commission: And my Lord of Canterbury being once pressed by the same Solicitor, said, Away, would you have me undo a man for an unlucky blow? whereas nothing was required but that he might be put ab officio, but not à beneficio, only aiming to have him suspended from so holy a function, that with quiet minds his parishioners might come to Church to serve God without brawlings and rail on the Sabbath days, yea in the time of receiving the Communion, with which they were daily vexed and troubled by him the said Fowkes, but my Lord did excuse the matter and alleged, that he had Certificate from divers of the judges, that his cause was to be pitied, and that he should kill a man in kindness, or something to that effect as he said, which no man will ever believe that any judge will excuse any man after a conviction by law; but it is most certain that Master justice Crook before whom he was tried, never would give the least countenance either in word or writing to extenuate so foul a fact, and none else could (but before whom the trial was) declare how the case deserved: And so after many repulses, and rejections, the parishioners and others were forced (volens nolens) to cease their just complaint, and so rest until it was conceived that my Lord of Canterbury might better consider of his former passages, hoping he might be humbled by his restraint in the Tower, and to salve such things as before he had done; they were advised to repair to him there, and at their said request the Solicitor did repair to him in the Tower, who then seemed to incline and to give ear to their request, and seemed as if he would countermand his former dispensation, so as they could procure something under judge Crook his hand of the true and just desert of the fact, whereupon the said judge being spoken withal to that purpose, answered, that what would my Lord of Canterbury have a better satisfaction than a conviction by law, and if that were not sufficient it must be questioned whether the said Fowkes had a lawful trial or not; whereupon a little before Michaelmas last, the said Solicitor again repaired to him in the Tower, and because all matters of objection might be taken away? viz. the alleged certificate from the judges, and his pretence that he did nothing but upon good grounds, the said Solicitor presented him with this petition and information, with an affidavit annexed herein, after mentioned, and there withal shown him the exemplification under seal of the Conviction of the said Lowes of common Barrery, requiring him (seed vacant) that he would not suffer such in the Ministry, yet it seems he could not dispense with the weight that did hang so heavy on the other party, but raited a new excuse, and answered the said Solicitor, that by reason there was an act of Parliament that the high Commission was taken away (which seemed to stick hard in his stomach) the had no power to put out any out of the Ministry, were they never so bad, with other allegations; but the said Solicitor answered, that he hoped although that the high Commission was taken away, yet as long as he was Bishop of Canterbury his power was not taken away to do the Church right in suspending scandalous Ministers, or at least to countermand that his dispensation which was conceived not to be justly done, and likewise to put out a common Barrettor, so convicted by law, as by the Record which was then showed unto him under seal did appear, which was an evidence of itself without further proof or witnesses: but nothing would prevail, neither could his Lordship give any reasons to avoid this said ensuing Petition or Information, which will more plainly set forth the substance of his wilful perseverance in retaining such wicked and profane persons in the Church, the tenor whereof follows, with an Affidavit annexed in these words, verbatim & literatim, he himself receiving the Original, with the Affidavit, under Master Page his hand, one of the Masters of the Chancery, and doth keep them until this present. Divers other material matters depending upon this cause could be manifested, if they might be examined. But I hope this will suffice to expel these two scandalous consorts, that infect both Church and Common wealth, and all such that are of like condition.   

Here followeth the Petition and Information with the Affidavit, presented verbatim to the Archbishop.  

To the Right Reverend Father in God William Archbishop of Canterbury.  
The humble Petition and Information of some of the Inhabitants of Earl Soham in Suffolk, and divers other neighbours adjoining.  
Shows,  
THat whereas your Grace hath given dispensation to Thomas Fowkes of Earl Soham aforesaid, Clerk, after he was convicted by Law for felony and manslaughter, your Grace alleging you did it upon good ground, having a Certificate from judges and justices: We therefore, being advised by Council, do offer your Grace these reasons to the contrary, to be no ground, nor safe for your Lordship.  
1. First, for that by lawful trial at an Assizes he stands convict of the fact, which is enough, if no more were said.  
2. Secondly, that no Certificate from either judge or justice ought to be by your Lordship admitted, whereby you should do any thing against any judgement or Confiction by Law.  
3. That if it were allowable that any Certificate either from Lords or any great personages whatsoever, should set a man right after conviction by Law, no man would ever want a Certificate by one friends means or other, which would be even the overthrow of the Common Laws of the Kingdom, and they that allow so do no less.  
4. Fourthly, if the King himself should be persuaded, or rather seduced to cause your Lordship, or any other, bearing authority under him, to do any thing against any judgement or Conviction of Law, it should be your Lordship's part and duty to persuade the King to the contrary, and not to do it, being the Law hath passed.  
5. Fiftly, it doth not appear to what end the Certificate from the judges and justices was obtained, for if it had been to do any thing against a conviction they would never have granted or done it, but it seemed the said Fowkes made the best use of it.  
6. Sixtly, judge Crook hath been spoke withal to certify of the offence, whose answer was, If a conviction at law were not a Certificate enough of the fact: Then it must be questioned whether the said Fowkes had a lawful trial or no.  
It will be alleged against your Grace that you urged this cause against your predecessor Archbishop Abbot, whose cause was far more to be tolerated then this.  
It will be urged and proved what free access the said Fowkes had to your Grace and to your Secretary, with divers conferences, and what rejections have been to your Petitioners and their Certificates and Petitions from time to time proffered, but never accepted, and your Lordship being once pressed upon, your Lordship very angrily answered, that you would not undo a man for an unlucky blow.  
Neither was it or is it desired to have him undone, but only that he may be taken ab officio, but not à beneficio, having only our ends to be quiet in the Church, having often threatened us with punishments your Lordship should inflict, even in the time of receiving the Communion, and many other matters which by Certificate may appear most irreligious, but never were admitted to be seen before the said Fowkes made means to your Lordship. Master del gently did receive one Certificate, which still he hath, but never after would suffer any to be seen.  
Please your Lordship to call to mind whom you have put out of the Ministry, and whom you keep in.  
Please your Lordship to see the affidavit annexed.  
Please your Lordship to see a Record exemplified under seal, that one john Lowes of Brandeston in Suffolk, Clerke, is convicted for a common Barrettor, and to do with him (seed vacant) according to Law, it is evidence of itself, and there is no averment against a Record, so likewise in the former cause.  
We desire not to trouble your Lordship nor ourselves no further, if it shall so please your Grace.   

Here followeth the Affidavit annexed.  
A.S. of Woodbridge in the County of Suffolk Gent. maketh oath that he knows and hath seen john Lowes of Brandeston in Suffolk, Clerke, twice indirected, and once arraigned for witchcraft, and knows him to be convicted by law for a common Barettor upon a full trial at the Assizes in Suffolk, as by record under seal appears: he maketh oath also that Thomas Fowkes of Earl Soham in Suffolk, Clerke, is of a very scandalous life, and hath heard many of his neighbours and others complain of him, and have set their hands against him for divers scandalous matters concerning his life and conversation, and more especially for railing and threatening often them with my Lord of Canterbury, even in the time of receiving the Communion upon Easter day, and another day: and moreover this deponent knows that he hath been very conversant with Popish Recusants, and knows and have been the greatest instruments for him to effect and bring to pass some of his desired ends and practices. And he stands convict upon a full trial at the Assizes in Suffolk for the kill of a man, and was then conceived very foul against him, and was so proved by witnesses in this deponents hearing.  
jur. 4. die Augusti 1641. john Page.   
FINIS.