[The case & usage of Mr. Edw. Bagshaw, drawn up by himself, the night before he was to have been sent away, being March 10. 1663/4. With an account of his examination before the King.] Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671. 1664 Approx. 13 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A29056 Wing B406 ESTC R209094 99825423 99825423 29805 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A29056) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29805) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2184:13) [The case & usage of Mr. Edw. Bagshaw, drawn up by himself, the night before he was to have been sent away, being March 10. 1663/4. With an account of his examination before the King.] Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671. 8 p. s.n., [London : 1664] Copy catalogued lacking t.p.; title and imprint from NUC. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685 -- Early works to 1800. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Derek Lee Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Derek Lee Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The CASE and USAGE of Mr. Edward Bagshaw . ON January 3. 1662. I living then peaceably in Northamptonshire , by a Servant of Sir John Bernard , one of the Justices of Peace of our Country , was served with a Warrant , subscribed by Sir Henry Bennet , wherein my Person was commanded to be seized , with my Books and Papers : This was brought to me about seven a clock at night , and though I might well have pleaded the unseasonableness of travelling at that hour , yet to shew how willing I was to clear my self , that very night I rode seven Miles to Sir John Bernard's House , where I lodged , and spent the Lord's Day following . On Monday , Jan. 5. though the Weather was so tempestuous , that Sir John did very civilly intimate his willingness to let me stay ; yet , lest any Delay might seem to argue Guilt , I refused his courteous offer , and that day rode to Dunstable ; which was about 25 Miles , in so much Wet , that nothing but a Zeal to clear my Innocence , could have made me so willingly venture through it . On Tuesday , Jan. 6. from Dunstable I rode to London , where I arrived about one a clock : and though I was desired , after so long a Journey , to stay and refresh my self ; yet , so impatient was I to know my Crime , that , without either eating or drinking , and in my Riding Habit , I went immediately to the Secretary Sir Henry Bennet , by whom I was examined about three in the afternoon , but so slightly , that I plainly saw he was not himself satisfied , that I deserved any of that kind of Rigour ; yet , whether because he was bound by his Place to comply with the Information of my Accusers , o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not able to bear down the Importunity and Address , by Sir Jo●●ies , he sent me forthwith to the Gate-house , and committed me Close-Prisoner , for Dangerous and Seditious Words and Practices . In that place I abode ten dayes , after which time , the Chancellour ( who now appeared as the sole Author of my Imprisonment ) sent for me to Worcester-house , and in his Chamber ( the Secretary being present ) asked me several captious and ensnaring Questions ; As , Whether I had never said that the Long-Parliament was in Being ? And , Whether I did not affirm , That by the Spring there would be a Change ? And , Whether I had never spoken Derogatory words of the King , by saying that he kept Wenches , and the like ? To all which , when I had , as I thought , given satisfactory Answers , I desired I might be brought to a Tryal : but was answered , That should be when the King pleased : Upon which I was remanded to the Gate-house ; but that afternoon , viz. upon Jan. 16. I was fetched from thence , and sent to the Tower , whither I was committed Close-Prisoner by a New Warrant , the words of my former being changed , into , Treasonable Designs and Practices : But for what Reason that Alteration was made , I as yet know not , having often desired a Tryal , but could not obtain it . With what unhandsom Circumstances of Rigorous Restraint I was used there , I shall now forbear to mention , because a few words cannot express that matter : but in short , notwithstanding I was forced to give ten pieces in Gold to Sir John Robinson , to purchase the Liberty of Tower Air , and besides paid thirty shillings a week for my Diet and Lodging , yet I was given to the Arbitrary Disposal of an Absurd and Drunken Keeper , who being himself a slave to his Lusts , was thought the fittest person to oppress the spirit of one , who never was guilty of any State-crime , but the desiring of a sober Liberty . In this condition I continued above a year , so hopeless of Redress , that I never did attempt to seek it ; when on Jan. 30. 1663. one Mr. L'Estrange ( whom I had heard much , and written something of , but never saw before ) came to search my cha 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in my Window found a Paper , which contained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Davis , who was then newly sent to Fangier in a very Extraordinary manner ; In which Paper , there were , it seems , some Marginal Notes likely to give Offence ; and therefore it was in all hast conveyed to Whitehall , as a Discovery worthy the Diligence of such a Needy and Officious Informer . On Feb. 2. following , I was sent for to Whitehall , and by the King himself examined about that Paper ; not whether I contrived or writ it ( for that , as Sir John Robinson afterwards told me , the King was satisfied I had no hand in ) but how , and by whom it was conveyed to me ? To whose Questions , though I answered in words of Truth and Sobriety , yet because I durst not do a thing so unworthy of the Gospel , as to betray another ; and because I could not humble my Language to the false and flattering stile of Court ( for though I was called Rogue , and used like one , yet I could not forget that I was a Minister of the Gospel , and therefore was enabled to speak with that Constancy which became one . ) For this I was returned back by the King , in a Passion , much greater than his Title ; and that very night , about eleven a clock at night , I was by Sir John Robinson committed to the Tower-Dungeon ; where I continued four dayes and four nights , without either Bed , Fire , Candle , or any thing else , that , as to humane conveniencies , could make my Life desirable : Besides the Dismal Horrour of that place , being all the time afflicted with the Piles , in so great extremity , that the very vehemence of pain did often put me into a sweat , and so by accident prevented my feeling the cold , which at that time of the year , and in that place , was more than ordinarily piercing . On Saturday , Feb. 6. about three in the afternoon I was released from thence , without any seeking of my own , but by the unwearied Importunity of my Eldest Brother , and ( that I may be just in commemorating , as I think , an Effect of Real Worth ) by the generous and compassionate resentment of Sir Henry Bennet the Secretary , by whose Warrant I was returned to my former Lodgings , and by his Intercession , preserved from being remanded into the Dungeon , which , by Sir John Robinson the very next day after , was most maliciously and inhumanely sollicited . Though I came out of the Dungeon with so much Health , as made it evidently appear that God himself did own and preserve me there , yet within three dayes after , I fell into a violent Feaver , which brought me very low ; And though God did then likewise deliver me from the Fury of it , yet Sir John Robinson was not wanting to do his part that it might prove mortal ; forbidding not onely my Brothers , but likewise my Physician access to me , notwithstanding both He and They had an express Order for their free Admittance . I am scarcely yet well recovered , when this News comes , that I am to be sent away I know not whither ; — And since I understand that every part of this Proceeding against me , is contrary , not only to God's , but likewise to our English Laws , I thought fit to leave this Narrative behind me , that it may be presented to the scanning of all sober and virtuous Men in the approaching Parliament : And if they find that one Innocent Person cannot suffer unjustly , but all are threatned ; and besides , the Honour of the Nation suffers , which consists in having Right done to all its Members ; I shall then expect a Redress , equal to my Injuries ; At least ▪ that I may be restored unto my Birth-right , and that is , my Liberty . March 10. 1663 / 4. 11. at night . Edw. Bagshaw . Postscript to the Reader . I Have carefully perused this Narative ; and if any Dispassionate and Impartial Reader judge , that any expression here is too Sharp and Vehement , let him put himself in my case , and then write more mildly if he can : For , to oppress an INNOCENT Person in his just Rights ; and to break those very Laws , which are not only Righteous in themselves , but made Sacred by being sworn to ; even moderate men , thus provoked , would not have scrupled to call by their True Names ; which I , in civility , have forborn to mention . And though since the writing of this , it hath pleased God to over-rule the Intentions , that were once taken up , and resolved upon , of sending me away , yet I would not alter any part of my Case , that so it might make the deeper impression : Since the words of departing , as well as of dying men , may easily be supposed to be most weighty and serious . March 16. 1663 / 4 Edward Bagshaw . On the 2d . of February , by a Warrant from Sir Henry Bennet , I was sent for to White-Hall , and being conveyed to his Lodgings , he told me , The King within , expected me ; who immediately examined me as followeth . K. Do you know any thing of this Paper ? ( shewing the Paper that L'Estrange took . ) B. I know , that I neither had , hand , or head in it . K. Do not you know who brought it into your Chamber ? B. It 's very possible , Mr. L'Estrange might , for he hath malice enough to do such a thing . K. I perceive my Clemency doth no good , I will take a course with such Rogues as you are . B. Sir , this is not Language becoming a Christian Magistrate . K. You are a Rogue indeed , to teach me what I am to do ; I will make your bones stretch for it , how great soever you think your Party is . Sir Henry Bennet . Pray Mr. Bagshaw , tell the King ingeniously who writ that Paper . B. I have said already , that I had not the least hand in it , and this I speak as in the Presence of God , nor can I positively say , who is the Author . K. But will you say , you know not , who put it into your hand ? B. I do not say so ; but we close-Prisoners , are in that condition , that many things may be done to us , that we can give no certain accompt of . K. Well , I shall teach you the duty of a Christian Subject , you shall stretch for it . B. You say , I must answer for that Paper with my life , so that it is to no purpose for me to say any thing . K. No , Sirra , that shall not serve your turn , I 'le see how well this Pertness mill abide with you . B. Sir , you can do no more than God gives you leave to do , you have no Power but what comes from Him ; that truth I have learn'd of the Scriptures ; and I bless God I have peace in my Conscience , that I have neither spoken or done any thing seditiously , and that I have had a care , to keep a Conscience void of offence both towards God and men . K. I 'le see what peace you will have , your flesh shall pay for it ; Mr. Lieutenant , take him away . B. In the mean time , I wish you true peace , inward peace . Upon the speaking of which words he departed . FINIS .