A NARRATIVE OF THE Proceedings in Ireland ABOUT Mr. EDWARD BAGSHAW Anno 1662.
THere having been many, and most of them false, Reports raised concerning Mr. Edward Bagshaw's Demeanour in Ireland; I being at that time upon the Place, and privy to all that passed, thought good to make this Brief, but True and Impartial Account of all that happened, so far as Mr. Bagshaw, during his stay there, was concerned.
On July 27, 1662. Mr. Bagshaw landed at Hill Hoth in Ireland, and from thence repaired to Capt. Jones his House upon the Colledge Green in Dublin, where the Right Honourable the Earl of Anglesey (upon whom he did attend as his [Page 2] Domestick Chaplain) had provided him a Lodging. After he had spent some few dayes to refresh himself, and to enquire into the state of Affairs, especially those that concerned the Church, he thought himself obliged in Conscience n [...] [...]o b [...]le; but since most of the Ministers, who had any Gift in Preaching, were silenced he conceived he could not do God better Service, then once every Lords Day to spend his [...]ains that way; which he supposed none could take offence at, since he was himself Episcopally Ordained, and thereby freed from that Exception which was taken against the silenced Ministers, who still owned and adhered unto their former Ordination by Presbytery: And besides being Chaplain to a Person of so great Worth and Eminence, as the Earl of Anglesey was known to be, he had reason to think, that his Relation would facilitate his design, and open those Churches to him, which were shut to others, that wanted those Qualifications.
Accordingly he did on July 31. by means of a Friend, address himself to one Mr. Huson, Minister of the Parish Church of St. Warbours, in the Confines of which Parish M. Bagshaw lodged; and desited leave that somtimes he might assist and ease him in his Preaching: which Motion was readily embraced and assented to by Mr. Huson, who did appoint the next Lords Day following in the Morning, to be the time wherein Mr. Bagshaw should begin. But on the Saturday, Mr. Bagshaw was somwhat amazed, when he had News from Mr. Huson, that one Dr. Scile had commanded him to the Bishops Name, to let no Stranger preach, unless he brought with him the Archbishop of Dublins License. Though under the Civil Term of prohibiting a Stranger, Mr. Bagshaw had reason to think himself particularly meant, yet because he did not know what he had done to deserve such an Exclusion, he made his Case known to the Right Honourable the [Page 3] Earl of Anglesey, who on the Lords Day about 7 in the Morning sent his Servant to wait upon the Archbishop of Dublin with this Letter.
My Chaplain Mr Bagshaw, being willing to take pains whilst he stayed to Dublin, got leave of Mr. Huson, to supply his place for him this Morning: But your Grace having given Order, that no Stranger should preach without your License; I do desire it on his behalf, as for one that not only is Episcopally Ordained, but likewise is very Sober, Orthodox, and Inoffensive in his Preaching. Your Graces Permission at this time will be very acceptable to many, and particularly to Mr. Huson, who in confidence of my Chaplains Assistance, hath omitted to provide himself. In ease hereafter you think fit to examine him, I shall some day the next Week send him to wait upon your Grace, and doubt not but he will give you all manner of Satisfaction. I rest,
This Letter so civil in it self, and coming from a Person of so great Eminence, might have prevailed for a much greater Favour; but after two Hours stay, the Messenger returned with this short and Insignificant Answer;
Your Chaplain came not to me, according to your Lordships Directions; and before I speak with him, I cannot dispense [Page 4] with his Preaching in my Diocess; who am otherwise very ready to approve my self,
Two things in this short Letter were somwhat admirable; one was, the wilful Mistake, which the Bishop made, in taking Exception at Mr. Bagshaw's not waiting upon him, according to the Earl of Anglesey's Direction; whereas that Honourable Person mentioned it only for some day in the following Week, but for that day desired he might preach without using that Ceremony. And the other was, the little Reason the Bishop had to subscribe himself my Lords Most Affectionate Servant, since in a thing of so Trivial and Facile a Nature, he had, not only unjustly, but, as some think, uncivilly, refused that Noble Earles Express and Earnest Desire. But however, Mr. Bagshaw submitted to the Bishops Pleasure, and did not only forbear Preaching in publick, but came himself in the Afternoon unto the very place where he had designed to preach; to shew that though he had Reason to [...]e dissatisfied, yet he was no Separatist.
On the Tuesday following, Mr. Bagshaw waited upon the Archbishop, and was much surprized, when for a Salutation, he was told, that he came to set the Nation in a Flame; and when Mr. Bagshaw desired the Bishop to have Nobler, or, at least Cooler Thoughts of him; the Bishop asked him in great heat, whether he were not the Author of the Letter against the Bishop of Worcester? To which Mr. Bagshaw answered, [Page 5] That he did not remember, that his Name was subscribed to any such Letter: Whereupon, the Bishop presently demanded, whether he would deny it? and when M. Bagshaw i [...]sisted, that he thought himself not bound, either to affirm, or, how Innocent soever he was, to deny any such thing, until he was Legally charged with it; the Bishop forthwith told him that unless he would expressely deny he had any hand in writing that Letter, he did forbid him Preaching in his Diocess. Which whether it were a sufficient Reason, upon Supposition that Mr. Bagshaw had been the Author, must be left to others to judge: For how could the writing a Letter in England, disable a man a Year after, from Preaching a Sermon in Ireland? Or why should the Archbishop of Dublin be more fierce for Vindicating the Bishop of Worcesters Honour, in case Mr. Bagshaw had injured him, than either the Bishop of Worcester himself, or all the Bishops in England were; who either thought Mr. Bagshaw Innocent, or else that so petty a Fact did not deserve so sharp a Sentence? for though Mr. Bagshaw often preached publickly, yet he was never so much as once questioned for it.
But though Mr. Bagshaw was thus prohibited by the Bishop, yet he could not look upon himself so discharged from that Duty he owed to God, as to forbear the Exercise of his Ministry, and therefore he did constantly in private, in his own Lodgings, Preach every Lords day in the morning, and gave strict order, that none who were willing to come should be excluded: which occasioned the resort of many, and those of as great Quality as any were then in Dublin, who could not imagine that any Law was broken, in their assembling to hear one, who by Law was qualified to preach, and was alwaies ready in Person to defend both his Fact and Doctrine.
[Page 6] Three Lords daies past thus without any disturbance, when the Arch-Bishop, being much enraged that any should care to contest with his Sovereignty; under pretence of suppressing M [...]sse (which at that time was very frequent in Dublin) got the Maior to send Souldiers up and down the Town; who having it seems their Errand what to do, came only to Mr. Bagshaw's Lodgings, and there, contrary to their Instructions (as the Maior afterwards affirmed) forcibly broke open the doors, and for some hours detained Mr. Bagshaw and all the Company, to the number of above one hundred and twenty Prisoners; though Mr. Bagshaw did very often and earnestly intreat that either he himself might answer for all, or at least, that the Women, whose Health might be much prejudiced by the Alarums of rude souldiers, might be dismissed, but could prevail in neither.
About one a clock the City Marshall came and dismissed the Guard, to the no little grief of the Souldiers, whose Commander expected great summes for Ransom; though such was the Resolution and Courage of all there present, that none did so much as conceal their Names, but freely offered themselves to appear any where, and to justifie the Action.
About four in the afternoon Mr. Bagshaw and the greatest part of his Company, with many others, met again, and performed the remaining duty of the day without any impediment.
Hitherto Mr. Bagshaw had acted upon his own account, without ever acquainting the Right Honourable the Earl of Anglesey with what he had done; whose Name be was resolved never to use in any thing, where the issue might be hazardous; and therefore he concealed from that Noble Person, not only the Archbishops Silencing him, but likewise [Page 7] his own Resolution of continuing to preach in as publick a manner as he could. But now the disturbance he had met with, being so notorious, he presently addressed himself unto that Honourable Person, to beg leave of him, that since there was no Liberty either for Publick or Private preaching, though he had attempted both, he might be dismissed unto his Native Country; for however his Lordships service was dear to him, yet he found he could not continue any further attendance, without creating jealousies of himself, which at last would reflect upon his Lordship; and therefore he praied a discharge, to which that Prudent and Excellent Person readily assented; and an opportunity shortly after presenting it self in the Right Honourable the Vicountess of Valentia's & her Daughters coming for England, M. Bagshaw went to Sea in their Company, to wait upon them, and so came for England: But before he left Ireland, to stop those many slanderous Reports, which were raised about him, he made this Brief Declaration; which he left to be conveyed unto the Hands of his Grace, James Duke of Ormond, by whose Mild and Temperate Government he doth suppose it came to pass, that he was so long Protected.
The Declaration was as followeth,
Understanding that I lie under the Censure of some, and the Calumny of others, as if I were a Person Heretical in my Judgment, Schismatical in my Practise, and Scandalous in my Life; though as to my self, I ought to rejoyce in these Reproaches, (which are no other than our Saviour and his Apostles underwent before me) yet for the sake of others, who possibly may suffer for their more favourable opinion of me; and for the sake of Truth, which I ought to clear from [Page 8] all Mistakes and Prejudices; and lest the Gospel should suffer for my sake, who am, as I hear, condemned as an unworthy Minister of it, I thought fit to make this ensuing Declaration.
First, As to my Faith and Judgment in Points of Doctrine, I do in general firmly believe whatever is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and more particularly, that Collection of Articles, which the Church of England hath made; and so far as by the Act of Q. Elizabeth they are enjoyned, I am ready to subscribe my real Assent unto them: And accordingly I have already, by several Treatises in Print, declared my utter Abhorrence of all Popish, Socinian, and Arminian Tenets, which are expresly condemned in those Articles. In which Judgment I am much confirmed, since I have read the Articles of Ireland, every Clause and Circumstance of which I do hereby acknowledge and own to be Sound and Orthodox.
Secondly, As to Church-Government and Ceremony, the Scripture being more silent about them (as things of leffer Moment) I think I ought not to be blamed, if herein I assume a greater Latitude, than possibly some others do: Yet because the Peace of the Church is much concern'd in a right Stating of those Matters, I do declare;
1. That I am so far from being against the Order of Bishops, that when my Interest did altogether dispose me to an utter renouncing of them, yet then did I chuse to be Ordained by the Learned Bishop Brownrigge; and at the time of my Ordination (which was then when the Commonwealth-Parliament had newly assumed the Government) I had a Testimonial from that worthy Person, in Terms so expressive of his Candid Opinion of me, that I am ashamed to repeat, because I am hopeless of ever deserving it.
2. As for Ceremonies, I hold them to be things, in their [Page 9] own Nature, Indifferent; and were they left so, I should make no scruple somtimes to use them; but because they are now imposed, and made (at least as to the Outward Practise of them) Necessary, and a Condition of Preaching the Gospel, whereby their Indifferent Use pro hic & nunc, is utterly taken away. I therefore now think it my Duty to forbear them: and that, upon this single Reason, because, to fix and establish any thing as a necessary Outward Part of Religious Worship, which God hath no where commanded, is, so far as I yet see, an Entrenchment upon Christs Kingly Office, by which he is the sole Legislator of his Church: and which ought to be preserved Inviolable by us, as well as his Sacerdotal and Prophetical; which two last, our Church, in opposition to the Church of Rome, hath worthily Asserted.
I know very well, that many Learned and Pious men, whom I very much honour, have been, and are of a quite different Judgment; who conceive, that the Imposing of such Indifferent things, doth not only make them Lawful, but likewise doth oblige the Consciences of all to an outward Observance of them: Which Assertion, I should readily grant, could it once be cleared to me, that God had given such power to any, as to make those things Necessary in his Worship, which he hath left Indifferent and Free: But because I am for the present unsatisfied in the Lawfulness of such Imposing, I ought in Conscience to forbear the Practise and Observance of the Imposition.
This being the only thing, that I know of, wherein I differ from those, who are most devotedly for the Church of England, I cannot but wonder, why the Reverend the Bishop of Dublin should think fit to Silence me; since I never yet did make it my Business, to vent that Opinion in the Pulpit, not ever used any Reflexions to alienate mens minds from the Established Forms; for in such things as these, that are not of [Page 10] absolute Necessity to Salvation, I think as none ought to be compelled unto, so neither ought they to be dehorted from the Usage of them.
It was meerly my being Silenced, and thereby hindred from preaching in the Publick places of Worship, which made me in Private, and to that Family I had the charge of, to exercise my Ministry: which Duty I conceive in Law (considering my Qualification) none ought without just cause to debar me from. And though it is possible I may be charged with a love of Separation, yet not only my Practise, but my Preaching doth sufficiently evidence, that I have not, nor ever shall decline Communion with the Church of England. It being one of the Points, which I was handling at the very instant when I was interrupted, to prove, That Errours in Doctrine, and some false mixtures in Worship, if not imposed, are not sufficient grounds to divide and separate from the Publick Assembly, if therein the Essentials be retained: And this I cleared, both from the practise of our Saviour, who did not withdraw himself from the Jewish Worship, though it was then very corrupt; and likewise the Corinthians, though very faulty in many things, are exhorted by the Apostle to amend their Errours, without any intimation that it was their Duty to Separate.
Having thus given an Account of my Faith, I must add, that as for my Life and Conversation, it is, though far from being exact according to the Rule, yet such, that as my own Conscience doth not, so neither can any, who have observed my walking, justly upbraid me therewith. To say more, were to be guilty of that Folly, as if I either courted, or thought I deserved Commendation for a bare doing of my Duty.
Did I think it needful, I would conclude with testifying my Loyalty to his Majesty, but my Actions hitherto, my [Page 11] Writings, and my constant Prayers for him, do it much more than my present Words can: And whether or no, such an one, that is thus qualified, according to the foregoing Declaration, who is not charged with any Errour in Doctrine, with any Vice in his Life, or with Unpeaceableness in his Conversation, even as to those very things wherein he differs; whether such an one may not be allowed to Preach publickly, or at least not be disturbed in private, is humbly left to the Consideration of the Supream Civil Magistrate in this Nation; to whom the Peace of the Nation, and in that the Peace of the Church, doth solely and properly of Light belong.
T [...] Paper▪ As I am Informed, was delivered into the Hand [...] of the Duke of Ormond; and what the Thoughts of that [...]ble Person were upon it, is left to every Indifferent and I [...]artial Reader to Judge.