A Magazine of Scandall.
IF I should goe about to declare all the devices and evill practices that could be said concerning these two, namely, this common Barretor, and this man-killer, it were an endlesse peece of worke, 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 townes about them, how many they have undone and beggered to the terror of many others: I will forbeare to tell you how many were every Court day tossed and tumbled at the Commissaries Court, so as the common proverbe was, that they had made a more beaten roade and footpath to the Commissaries Court, then any market path in all the County; I will not tell how many desperat deboist base and vild persons, and some that have been three or foure 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 performe any unlawfull and desperat devises, either by their false oathes or desperat forces and violences, and many times some of them by pretence of being Bailiffs to arrest men, have entred into mens houses, and taken away their goods, nothing escaped if it were not too hot or too heavy; I will not publish in what desperat manner these two have joyned with these deboist Bailiffes Conjunctim & divisim iojntly and severally in their desperat oathes to accomplish their evill ends, and how they have shared in their booties which these their dependants have so unlawfully purloined▪ I will not expresse the many wrongs, suits and controversies, they labour and seeke after to oppresse others and worke thereby their owne profit and advantage, as namely in inquiring [Page]after broken titles and buying of them but never pay for them, in hiring and entring upon any lands where there is any controversie, and so to occupy the same for a very small matter, or for nothing at all, which is unlawfull in a Minister to occupy any temporall lands at all, and if neighbors parishioners be at any controversie with his Minister for his tithes, then one or both of these are the Antagonists and Champions to buy these tithes, and will be sure to terrifie the poore parishioner that he must fas or nefas, due or not due pay what is demanded. To speake how these bend their shoulders to uphold one another in their practices, and concurre and hang together, it were too tedious: And severally how they use their severall postures and qualities apart, the first, I meane 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 faile) as to ditch, plowe, thresh, carry muck, dresse his horses, and especially on Sunday mornings, and comes to Church with his coat full of horse haires, for he keepes a teame of horses, and goes by the rode to carry timber to Woodbridge and Ipswich, or any other carriage as duely as any carter by the Rode whatsoever, being one indeed cut out for such a purpose rather then for the place he hath beene suffered to hold, being likewise of a desperate condition, his hands having been in blood, have threatned divers of his adversaries to hurt or wound them, and to that end hath carried about him a most dangerous sharpe weapon comprehended closly in a staffe, divers others he hath with violence beaten and wounded, yea rather then he would be out of action he will beat his owne 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 then 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 doe any thing, yea in the very act of receiving the Communion, in the presence of neere a hundred persons, most of them kneeling at the Railes, in the Chancell, 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, threatning my Lord of Canterburies warrant, and therewith would fetch them up, using foule tearmes, and would not administer the Sacrament to the rest that sat there kneeling and ready to receive it as aforesaid, but in reproching [Page]tearmes turned them away: And further his impudence is so great, that during the time of this present Parliament in Michaelmas tearme 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 widdow, having gotten an order by petition from the Committee for Petitions from that honorable horse, which did reflect upon this Thomas Fowkes, this Fowkes to crosse that order made a most strong affidavit, of which hee will never be wanting if need require, and therby 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 spirituall as temporall, 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 spirituall, and that his order had the Lords spirituall mentioned therein, and the order from the Committee had not, as by the severall orders now remaining in the said Lords house appear, and so maks by his speeches and reports the said order of the Committee to be of no validity, because it wants the authority of the Lords spirituall as his hath, and in these and many the like, I might go on and have no roome left for an end. I will also give you a tast of the other, I meane the common Barrettor; this title shewes him of a pragmatick 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 spirituall) and enters into every mans businesse that will have him or imploy him, and takes upon him to advise more then all the Counsell in those parts, and declares himselfe to have more knowledge in the lawes of the Kingdome then 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 presse to be an arbitrator for men in many causes, perswading both parties thereunto, promising either party to doe what should be required, but to be sure he served his owne turne, and takes mony of both parties, but he that gave least was sure to be soundly crushed if not undone, probatumest. A pretty conceit he had to bring a poore taylor within compasse of the law, to whom he ought a spleene, whose honest condition was not sutable to his, being a man of such sobriety and constancy that this pragmatick Barretor could not in the space of two years find occasion to vex him, at last making himselfe familiar and loving to the taylor, sent for him upon a Sunday morning to come unto him, and being in his bed desired the taylor to mend his briches presently, for he was to [Page]put them on, which the taylor 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 poore taylor know it was not lawfull to mend britches on the Sabbath day. I can tell you this Barrettor or pragmaticke is also a brave Physitian and Chirurgian, and can doe more hurt in one houre then the best Physitian can doe good in a yeare, he hath much practised this art; And for a souldier he could have conquered more by his art and military skill, then ever Generall Lesly or Spinola, or any other great Commander in the world, for he can build castlos in the aire, and he much wondred (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 wonne 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 Cateline, 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 Anvile. 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 cleane contrary they shal exceed any Round-head in the Ile of great Brittain; they both daily have frequented the company of knowne popish Recusants, entertained some of them, and lodged them, nay which is more, they have had the helpe, advise, and assistance of popish Recusants in many their vild and abhominable actions, and have had them for their greatest and chiefest confederates, agents, and counsellors to procure themselves the unjust getting and obteining of mony, goods, and other advantages. This Barretor (to make short): hath beene so vehemently suspected of witchcraft, that he hath beene twice indicted, and once arraigned for witchcraft.
Whether it be so or not, it is most certaine that many have so accused him upon their deaths, and it is most certaine that he hath used the society and helpe of those that have beene convicted and executed for witchcraft; for whom he protested he would pawne his soule 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 helpe of such to worke his intended purposes, and to further his deare 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, then quoth he, there are some of their houses on fire about [Page]their eares, two hundred miles hence is as good for me as here. Quis audivit talia horribilia?
One having lost certaine silver spoones, the Barrettor sent post horse and man to one Woolward a notorious reputed Conjurer, to helpe him to the said plate, reposing (as it seemes) trust in the devill 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 Fayre together, and bought much of the trinkets that have been reported there to have beene sold; and I beleeve they payd well for them, for they have had speciall Popish ware, and they have made as good use of their ware as any within the kingdome of England.
What should I say? all this, & mille talia, which might have beene declared, were but talke and bare accusation, if proofes did not appeare. 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 Iudge Crooke, for he did beat out a mans braines: and the other hath beene arraigned for Witchcraft, and convicted by Law for a common Barrettor, both lately tried upon their severall traverses at Bury Assizes in Suffolke; the common Barrettor before Mr. Iustice Barkeley, the man-killer before Mr. Iustice Crooke, as by the severall Records appeare, and one of them for the common Barrettor exemplified, against which Records there is no averment or denyall. And these are the two for which the Petition of Suffolke against scandalous Ministers is chiefly and principally grounded. And thus I doubt not these things appearing to bee true, which are ready at all times to bee shewne, 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 shew you how my Lord of Canterbury would and did hold and support these two precious servants of his scill in the Ministery.
The manner how my Lord of Canterbury would keepe them in the Ministry notwithstanding the many Petitions and Certificates from their neighbors and others presented unto him, they being the head of the scandalous Ministers, against whom the County of Suffolke have petitioned.
AFter the former tast 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 indued withall▪ I mean as touching their ability of learning and divinity, for I make accompt by the former discourse that they cannot have much inward grace, for they never sought for that at Lambeth faire, neither do I think that any was thereto be sold, therefore I will apply my selfe to the other, I meane 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 treble their tithes and to enveigh against such as they bore malice, and that in many unfitting termes 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 condemne if they were penned conducing to the interpretation of the Scriptures, and not from any malicious spirit: Scholers they are I confesse, and had need to go to schoole 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 replyed againe it was true, for it was more then a mist, for sure he was in a great cloud of darknesse: and one of them at another time being demanded what Plerophoria signified, which signifies, fulnesse 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 reliques; and the demandant replied againe that hee 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 [Page]text, and tell you how my Lord of Canterbury would not by no meanes be informed nor perswaded to heare 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 informe him of the said Lowes, how he was convicted for a common Barretor, amongst many other of the foule actions of them both: And it must be understood that this Fowkes was ipso facto out of his function upon his conviction, untill the Lords great grace of Canterbury tooke great care to put in great good Ministers, and so put him in againe, 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 Dell his Secretary, and my Lords Grace took speciall notice therof, and kept it, and still hath it, which to any mans judgement had been enough to induce any Bishop in the Christian world not to have dispenced with a man whose hands were in blood, and convicted for killing of a man, which had beene 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 Dell, 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 beene in blood ought there to remaine, which being heard and knowne, 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 hee would not have done it, and thereupon at the like request of the parishioners and others, the said Solicitor addressed himselfe with new petitions from time to time, but now none would be accepted, read, or heard, many of which are still to be seene: And the said Master Dell 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, goe to the high Commission: And my Lord of Canterbury being once pressed by the same Solicitor, said, Away, would you have me undoe a man for an unlucky blow? whereas nothing was required but that he might be put ab officio, but not à beneficio, only ayming 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 railings on the Sabbath dayes, yea in the time of receiving the Communion, with [Page]which they were dayly vexed and troubled by him the said Fowkes, but my Lord did excuse the matter and alledged, that he had Certificate from divers of the Iudges, that his cause was to be pittied, and that he should kill a man in kindnesse, or something to that effect as hee said, which no man will ever believe that any Iudge will excuse any man after a conviction by law; but it is most certaine that Master Iustice Crooke before whom he was tried, never would give the least countenance either in word or writing to extenuate so foule a fact, and none else could (but before whom the triall 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 untill 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 hee had done; they were advised to repaire to him there, and at their said request the Solicitor did repaire to him in the Tower, who then seemed to incline and to give eare to their request, and seemed as if hee would countermand his former dispensation, so as they could procure something under Iudge Crooke his hand of the true and just desert of the fact, whereupon the said Iudge being spoken withall to that purpose, answered, that what would my Lord of Canterbury have a better satisfaction then a conviction by law, and if that were not sufficient it must be questioned whether the said Fowkes had a lawfull triall or not; whereupon a little before Michaelmas last, the said Solicitor againe repaired to him in the Tower, and because all matters of objection might be taken away? viz. the alledged certificate from the Iudges, 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 withall shewed him the exemplification under seale of the Conviction of the said Lowes of common Barrery, requiring him (sede vacante) that he would not suffer such in the Ministry, yet it seemes he could not dispence with the waight 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 stomacke) 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 hee hoped although that the high Commission was taken away, yet as long as hee was Bishop of Canterbury his power was not taken away to doe the Church right in suspending scandalous Ministers, or at least to countermand [Page]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 shewed unto him under seale did appeare, which was an evidence of it selfe without further proofe or witnesses: but nothing would prevaile, 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 wilfull perseverance in retayning such wicked and prophane persons in the Church, the tenour whereof followes, with an Affidavit annexed in these words, verbatim & literatim, hee himselfe receiving the Originall, with the Affidavit, under Master Page his hand, one of the Masters of the Chancery, and doth keepe them untill this present. Divers other materiall matters depending upon this cause could be manifested, if they might be examined. But I hope this will suffise to expell 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 Earle Soham in Suffolke, and divers other neighbours adjoyning.
THat whereas your Grace hath given dispensation to Thomas Fowkes of Earle Soham aforesaid, Clerke, after he was convicted by Law for felony and man-slaughter, your Grace alledging you did it upon good ground, having a Certificate from Iudges and Iustices: We therefore, being advised by Councell, doe offer your Grace these reasons to the contrary, to be no ground, nor safe for your Lordship.
1. First, for that by lawfull tryall at an Assizes he stands convict of the fact, which is enough, if no more were said.
2. Secondly, that no Certificate from either Iudge or Iustice ought to be by your Lordship admitted, whereby you should doe any thing against any Iudgement 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 meanes or other, which would bee even the overthrow of the Common Lawes of the Kingdome, and they that allow so doe no lesse.
4. Fourthly, if the King himselfe should bee perswaded, or rather [Page]seduced to cause your Lordship, or any other, bearing authority under him, to doe any thing against any Iudgement or Conviction of Law, it should be your Lordships part and duty to perswade the King to the contrary, and not to doe it, being the Law hath passed.
5. Fiftly, it doth not appeare to what end the Certificate from the Iudges and Iustices was obtained, for if it had beene to doe 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, Iudge Crooke hath beene spoke withall to certifie 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 lawfull triall or no.
It will be alledged against your Grace that you urged this cause against your predecessor Archbishop Abbot, whose cause was far more to be tollerated then this.
It will be urged and proved what free accesse 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 profered, but never accepted, and your Lordship being once prest upon, your Lordship very angerly answered, that you would not undoe a man for an unlucky blow.
Neither was it or is it desired to have him undone, but onely that he may be taken ab officio, but not à beneficio, having onely our ends to be quiet in the Church, having often threatned us with punishments your Lordship should inflict, even in the time of receiving the Communion, and many other matters which by Certificate may appeare most irreligious, but never were admitted to be seene before the said Fowkes made meanes to your Lordship. Master Dell gently did receive one Certificate, which still he hath, but never after would suffer any to bee seene.
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 seale, that one Iohn Lowes of Brandeston in Suffolke, Clerke, is convicted for a common Barrettor, and to doe with him (sede vacante) according to Law, it is evidence of it selfe, and there is no averment against a Record, so likewise in the former cause.
We desire not to trouble your Lordship nor our selves no further, if it shall so please your Grace.
Here followeth the Affidavit annexed.
A.S. of Woodbridge in the County of Suffolke Gent. maketh oath that he knowes and hath seene Iohn Lowes of Brandeston in Suffolke, Clerke, twice indirected, and once arraigned for witchcraft, and knowes him to be convicted by law for a common Barettor upon a full triall at the Assises in Suffolke, as by record under seale appeares: he maketh oath also that Thomas Fowkes of Earle Soham in Suffolke, Clerke, is of a very scandalous life, and hath heard many of his neighbours and others complaine of him, and have set their hands against him for divers scandalous matters concerning his life and conversation, and more especially for railing and threatning 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 knowes that he hath been very conversant with Popish Recusants, and knows and have beene the greatest instruments for him to effect and bring to passe some of his desired ends and practices. And he stands convict upon a full triall at the Assizes in Suffolke for the killing of a man, and was then conceived very foule against him, and was so proved by witnesses in this deponents hearing.