A
LETTER
to
a
Person
of
Quality
,
written
by
Mr.
Edward
Bagshaw
.
Noble
Sir
,
I
Believe
you
will
be
much
surprized
,
when
you
understand
that
I
write
this
,
just
as
I
am
going
to
London
,
in
obedience
to
a
Warrant
wherewith
I
was
served
last
Saturday
.
And
,
that
I
may
not
qualifie
,
but
heighten
your
wonder
,
I
purpose
to
give
you
a
brief
Account
of
my
Life
and
Studies
,
wherewith
I
think
I
shall
not
only
satisfie
you
,
but
likewise
the
World
(
if
you
think
fit
to
communicate
this
Paper
to
them
)
that
my
carriage
hath
been
such
as
did
not
deserve
this
rigor
,
to
make
it
publickly
taken
notice
of
.
When
I
came
,
or
rather
when
I
was
driven
out
of
Ireland
,
on
September
17.
(
by
the
violence
of
some
men
,
who
could
neither
preach
themselves
,
nor
permit
it
in
others
)
I
took
up
a
resolution
(
as
David
sometimes
did
,
when
he
was
tired
out
with
Saul's
persecution
)
that
as
soon
as
ever
I
arrived
to
some
fixed
place
of
abode
,
I
would
quit
that
Calling
of
the
Ministry
,
which
hitherto
(
almost
ever
since
my
undertaking
it
)
had
only
engaged
my
pains
,
and
exercised
my
patience
;
and
so
betake
my self
to
some
other
employment
,
whereby
I
might
perhaps
equally
profit
others
,
and
likewise
certainly
procure
more
advantage
,
at
least
more
quiet
,
to
my self
.
Nor
did
I
think
this
resolution
could
be
blamed
in
me
by
any
,
especially
by
those
of
the
Episcopal
Perswasion
,
since
they
without
any
such
necessity
lying
upon
them
,
yet
make
no
scruple
to
mix
some
Temporal
with
their
Spiritual
Employment
,
or
rather
so
much
attend
the
first
,
that
they
leave
themselves
very
little
time
for
minding
of
the
other
.
But
how
plausible
soever
my
Change
might
be
,
yet
in
so
important
a
matter
(
wherein
the
whole
course
of
my
Life
and
method
of
my
Studies
was
to
be
altered
)
that
I
might
do
nothing
rashly
,
I
thought
it
my
duty
to
communicate
my
design
unto
my
Father
,
whose
consent
could
I
once
obtain
,
I
purposed
then
to
address
my self
unto
the
study
of
the
Law
,
in
which
his
known
abilities
made
him
so
good
a
guide
,
that
I
promised
my self
much
happiness
in
having
his
Assistance
,
as
a
Clue
,
to
lead
me
through
all
those
tedious
Labyrinths
and
Meanders
of
our
English
Laws
.
Being
full
of
these
thoughts
,
I
arrived
at
Morton
,
my
Fathers
house
,
on
Octob.
4.
and
within
few
hours
obtained
not
only
his
Assent
to
,
but
his
Approbation
of
my
Design
,
which
I
waited
only
his
Recovery
effectually
to
pursue
.
But
it
pleased
God
to
dash
all
this
Project
,
by
putting
an
end
to
my
Father's
dayes
,
who
within
ten
dayes
after
my
arrival
,
exchanged
this
Life
for
a
better
,
and
now
in
an
higher
and
most
impartial
Court
,
hath
received
that
Reward
for
his
Piety
and
Loyalty
,
which
on
Earth
he
neither
had
,
nor
hoped
for
.
With
him
,
my
Plot
upon
the
Law
proved
abortive
,
and
died
too
;
and
now
more
than
ever
,
I
thought
my self
obliged
to
attend
the
Study
of
Divinity
,
as
being
hopeless
of
ever
attaining
to
any
competent
knowledge
in
the
other
,
since
my
Director
was
taken
away
,
who
alone
was
both
able
and
willing
to
smooth
those
rugged
wayes
,
and
make
them
plain
to
my
enquiry
:
And
thus
I
bad
the
Law
adieu
;
first
,
blessing
God
,
for
his
mercy
in
that
,
what
I
thought
to
be
an
harsh
Providence
,
viz.
my
removal
out
of
Ireland
,
was
by
God
over-ruled
,
meerly
to
bring
me
home
,
to
receive
the
last
words
and
Blessing
of
my
honoured
Father
;
who
,
rather
dissolved
by
Age
than
broken
by
Sickness
,
in
a
most
calm
and
Christian
manner
expired
in
my
Arms.
The
Funeral
Solemnities
were
no
sooner
over
,
but
I
went
up
to
London
,
partly
,
to
fit
my self
with
Mourning
,
but
principally
,
to
take
my
final
leave
of
that
Honourable
Family
to
which
I
was
formerly
related
,
and
within
eight
dayes
I
returned
to
discharge
a
double
duty
,
both
to
my
Mother
that
was
living
,
and
to
my
Father
that
was
dead
,
part
of
whose
last
words
were
,
that
I
should
love
my
Mother
;
which
I
thought
I
could
not
more
effectually
manifest
that
I
did
,
than
by
continuing
with
her
in
her
solitude
.
Accordingly
I
brought
all
my
Books
to
Morton
,
and
being
now
fully
setled
upon
the
exercise
of
my
Ministry
,
I
laid
hold
of
such
opportunities
for
Preaching
,
which
in
that
place
the
absence
of
the
Minister
did
afford
me
:
To
which
,
besides
the
Invitation
of
the
People
(
who
were
as
Sheep
scattered
without
a
Shepherd
)
I
had
these
Motives
.
First
,
The
very
Office
of
the
Ministry
is
by
the
Apostle
called
a
Stewardship
,
which
shews
that
the
gifts
whereby
any
is
qualified
for
the
discharge
of
it
,
are
entrusted
not
for
his
use
that
hath
them
,
but
for
theirs
who
need
them
.
Stewards
must
not
lay
up
,
but
lay
out
their
Lord's
Money
;
which
the
Apostle
implies
,
when
having
premised
,
that
he
would
have
himself
and
others
so
accounted
,
as
Ministers
of
Christ
,
and
Stewards
of
the
Mysteries
of
God
,
1
Cor.
4.
1
,
2.
he
presently
subjoyns
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
what
remains
,
it
is
required
in
a
Steward
that
he
be
found
faithful
.
Now
that
this
faithfulness
is
nothing
else
,
but
a
careful
and
diligent
ministring
of
what
he
hath
received
,
appears
in
that
the
Apostle
saith
in
another
place
,
1
Cor.
9.16
,
17.
Yea
,
wo
unto
me
if
I
preach
not
the
Gospel
,
for
a
dispensation
,
or
,
as
in
the
Greek
,
a
Stewardship
is
committed
to
me
;
so
that
without
incurring
that
Woe
,
I
did
not
see
how
I
could
silence
my self
,
or
surcease
from
Preaching
.
Secondly
,
The
nature
of
Ministerial
gifts
,
requires
a
continual
Exercise
for
the
improvement
of
them
;
for
they
encrease
by
using
:
To
him
that
hath
,
i.
e.
to
him
that
well
useth
what
he
hath
,
more
shall
be
given
;
whereas
the
slothful
servant
,
who
pretended
fear
,
and
therefore
would
not
imploy
his
Talent
,
had
it
presently
taken
from
him
:
as
Fire
,
if
not
blown
up
,
insensibly
decayes
;
or
as
Water
,
if
it
hath
not
a
constant
currant
,
dryes
up
,
or
else
corrupts
and
putrifies
:
So
these
Gifts
of
God's
Spirit
,
which
are
compared
to
Fire
and
Water
,
if
they
be
not
imployed
for
the
Edification
of
others
,
for
which
end
they
were
imparted
,
they
are
withdrawn
,
as
the
Kingdom
of
Heaven
was
from
the
Jews
,
and
given
to
those
who
bring
forth
the
fruits
of
them
.
Thirdly
,
In
my
most
impartial
thoughts
,
I
could
see
no
reason
why
I
should
forbear
Preaching
,
but
meerly
such
prudential
motives
,
which
,
though
many
little
streams
,
yet
at
last
resolved
themselves
into
that
great
Channel
,
namely
,
the
fear
of
men
,
against
which
there
are
such
special
Caveats
,
such
positive
Threats
,
such
consolatory
Promises
,
in
Scripture
,
that
of
the
two
,
I
thought
I
did
most
like
a
Christian
and
a
Divine
,
if
I
chose
to
be
wholly
byassed
by
the
fear
of
God
,
in
which
alone
I
promised
to
my self
a
final
peace
,
and
since
I
have
found
the
happy
effects
of
it
.
Upon
these
and
such-like
Arguments
(
which
I
would
inlarge
,
were
I
not
confined
to
the
limits
of
a
Letter
)
whilst
I
stayed
at
Morton
,
I
constantly
preached
,
and
that
in
the
Church
,
so
oft
as
the
place
was
unsupplied
by
others
;
and
that
I
might
give
an
Evidence
to
the
World
,
how
little
factious
or
humoursome
I
was
in
my
Opinion
(
although
I
have
but
little
reverence
for
Church
Holy-days
,
yet
,
that
I
might
be
instant
out
of
season
,
as
well
as
in
it
)
I
did
on
Christmas-day
give
the
Parish
a
Sermon
,
though
there
hath
been
none
for
above
twelve
years
before
.
Thus
far
I
enjoyed
a
quiet
,
a
greater
than
which
I
could
not
be
ambitious
of
,
when
on
the
sudden
I
was
alarmed
,
first
with
flying
Rumors
,
then
with
certain
Information
that
there
were
Warrants
issued
out
to
apprehend
me
;
and
this
I
heard
above
a
fortnight
before
that
any
was
actually
served
upon
me
.
I
had
time
and
leasure
enough
in
this
interval
to
take
advice
,
what
in
that
juncture
of
time
would
best
become
me
to
do
:
and
though
many
of
my
Friends
did
counsel
me
to
with-draw
my self
,
urging
that
of
Solomon
,
A
prudent
man
foreseeth
the
evil
,
and
hideth
himself
;
but
a
fool
rageth
,
or
rusheth
on
,
and
is
confident
:
and
this
they
enforced
both
by
our
Saviours
advice
to
his
Apostles
(
when
they
persecute
you
in
one
City
,
fly
to
another
)
and
by
his
practice
in
himself
,
who
frequently
concealed
himself
from
the
Peoples
rage
,
and
at
last
when
the
Pharisees
had
fully
concluded
of
his
Arraignment
and
Tryal
,
it
is
said
expresly
,
That
Jesus
therefore
walked
no
more
openly
among
the
Jews
,
but
went
thence
into
a
Country
near
to
the
Wilderness
,
and
there
continued
with
his
Disciples
,
Joh.
11.54
.
These
Examples
joyned
with
the
Entreaties
of
my
nearest
Relations
,
might
have
warranted
me
,
should
I
have
taken
that
way
to
secure
my self
,
which
the
Law
of
Self-preservation
(
without
any
other
inducements
)
doth
prompt
most
others
unto
.
Yet
with
me
none
of
these
Arguments
did
prevail
,
but
I
continued
fixed
in
my
Resolution
,
to
abide
where
I
was
,
and
wait
the
issue
of
all
these
Reports
;
and
that
First
,
Because
I
was
not
conscious
to
my self
,
that
I
had
done
any
thing
to
deserve
either
death
or
bonds
,
and
therefore
I
would
not
by
flight
betray
my
own
innocency
,
or
by
concealment
give
too
just
an
occasion
of
suspition
.
Secondly
,
Because
I
had
writ
many
things
concerning
matters
now
in
controversie
,
for
which
perhaps
I
might
be
questioned
,
and
should
I
have
fled
from
the
Tryal
,
I
could
never
make
amends
to
the
Truths
I
had
formerly
asserted
;
since
he
scarcely
deserves
the
name
of
a
Christian
Writer
,
who
,
in
the
things
of
God
,
is
not
willing
to
die
,
for
what
he
hath
once
upon
good
grounds
defended
.
Thirdly
,
I
had
frequently
exhorted
others
,
not
to
decline
Afflictions
,
but
if
the
cause
was
for
Righteousness
sake
,
to
look
upon
all
such
Tryals
as
marks
of
honour
;
and
should
I
my self
have
flinched
,
and
because
trouble
was
near
,
I
should
not
only
have
contradicted
the
truth
of
my
Doctrine
,
but
likewise
,
amongst
all
my
hearers
at
least
,
have
discredited
the
sincerity
of
my
Profession
.
Fourthly
,
I
found
upon
survey
and
measuring
of
my
own
strength
,
(
I
mean
my
own
,
no
otherwise
than
as
given
me
by
God
)
that
death
was
not
at
all
terrible
to
me
,
but
a
Prison
was
very
dreadful
;
for
having
been
so
long
used
to
the
air
of
liberty
,
I
could
scarcely
with
any
patience
,
think
of
Confinement
.
This
Weakness
I
durst
not
indulge
,
and
therefore
resolved
to
wait
and
see
what
God
would
call
me
to
;
of
whom
I
might
the
more
confidently
beg
assistance
,
when
I
had
done
nothing
for
my
own
ease
,
to
avoid
his
disposal
.
Nor
had
the
contrary
Arguments
much
weight
in
them
;
For
,
First
,
That
Speech
of
Solomons
,
as
most
of
his
Proverbs
,
holds
true
only
in
Political
Distempers
,
or
State
Commotions
;
then
indeed
it
is
prudence
for
a
wise
man
to
escape
the
danger
;
but
hath
no
place
at
all
in
Christian
Tryals
,
where
he
that
suffers
when
he
is
called
to
it
,
is
alwayes
on
the
safest
side
,
as
acting
most
sutably
to
Gospel
Principles
.
Secondly
,
Our
Saviours
advice
to
his
Apostles
,
was
only
temporary
for
that
season
,
till
they
had
finished
their
Ministry
in
Judea
,
and
possibly
at
that
time
there
might
be
some
respect
had
to
their
weakness
,
by
comparing
this
place
with
that
in
Matth.
9.15
,
17.
but
after
our
Saviours
Resurrection
,
we
read
no
more
of
their
flying
,
but
of
their
persisting
in
Jerusalem
,
even
when
the
violence
of
the
Persecution
had
scattered
others
.
Lastly
,
Our
Saviour
knew
the
exact
and
critical
manner
and
minute
of
his
death
,
and
therefore
it
is
said
more
than
once
,
that
he
did
this
and
that
,
because
he
knew
all
things
that
should
befal
him
,
and
his
time
was
not
yet
fully
come
;
and
this
might
occasion
his
frequent
removal
:
whereas
our
ignorance
of
what
is
to
come
,
ought
to
make
us
conceive
,
that
every
Tryal
which
God
in
his
Providence
brings
upon
us
,
ought
without
demur
to
be
encountered
and
undertaken
by
us
,
as
that
whereby
he
intends
himself
some
glory
,
which
,
by
careing
for
our selves
,
we
may
,
intentionally
at
least
,
defeat
him
of
.
Being
thus
resolved
,
I
waited
with
patience
,
to
see
what
would
be
the
issue
of
all
these
Rumours
;
but
after
a
fortnights
stay
,
finding
no
effect
of
them
,
I
concluded
,
the
whole
fame
to
be
false
and
frivolous
,
and
therefore
went
on
Saturday
,
Jan.
3d.
to
a
Noble
Kinsmans
house
of
mine
(
whose
Name
and
Worth
you
know
)
to
fetch
home
my
Sister
,
who
had
there
spent
her
Christmass
;
within
less
than
an
hour
after
my
arrival
there
,
one
that
was
Clerk
to
Sir
John
Bernard
,
a
Justice
of
Peace
in
our
County
,
brought
the
Warrant
to
me
,
and
that
very
night
,
about
eight
a
clock
without
more
a-do
in
obedience
to
it
,
I
rode
six
or
seven
miles
to
Sir
John
Bernard's
house
;
and
now
from
thence
,
to
use
the
Apostle
Pauls
words
with
a
little
alteration
,
I
go
bound
in
the
Spirit
to
London
,
not
knowing
the
things
that
shall
befal
me
there
,
save
that
my
Friends
are
ready
to
conjecture
,
that
bonds
and
afflictions
abide
me
.
But
none
of
these
things
move
me
,
neither
count
I
my
life
dear
unto
my self
,
so
that
I
may
finish
my
course
with
joy
,
and
the
Ministry
which
I
have
received
of
the
Lord
Jesus
,
to
testifie
the
Gospel
of
the
Grace
of
God
,
Acts
20.22
,
24.
Thus
wishing
you
all
happiness
,
and
begging
your
Prayers
,
that
I
may
be
endued
with
courage
equal
to
my
innocency
.
I
rest
ever
,
Noble
Sir
,
Your
most
affectionate
,
and
humble
Servant
,
Edward
Bagshaw
.
Dunstable
,
Jan.
5.
1662.
POST-SCRIPT
.
SIR
,
I
Have
read
this
Letter
(
though
hastily
writ
)
once
over
,
and
in
case
you
are
not
satisfied
with
the
Reasons
I
give
against
flying
from
Persecution
;
pray
consider
them
not
as
universally
intended
for
all
Persons
,
but
only
to
shew
what
grounds
I
had
for
my
stay
:
hereafter
,
if
it
please
God
to
give
me
life
and
liberty
,
I
may
state
the
whole
Question
more
fully
.
FINIS
.