BAGSHAW, EDWARD, son of Edward Bagshaw MP, barrister, of Moreton Pinkney, Northants., and Prudence ---; bapt. 20 Dec 1629; adm.; KS in 1644; elected to Christ Church, Oxford 1646, but was detained at school “through the exigence of warre”, matr. 1 Feb 1646/7, aged 17, Westminster Student to 1662; submitted to the Parliamentary Visitors (see Register of Visitors of the University of Oxford 1647 to 1658, Camden Society, 2nd series, vol. xxix, 74, 268, 484); BA 1649; MA 1651 (incorp. at Cambridge 1654); took a prominent part in an agitation for the abolition of caps and gowns; adm. Gray’s Inn 2 Feb 1651/2; Under Master of the School May 1656; quarrelled with Richard Busby (qv), the Head Master (Barker, Memoir of Richard Busby, 1905, 55-76); suspended by the Governors 1 Dec 1657 and resigned in May 1658; ordained (Exeter) 3 Nov 1659; Vicar of Ambrosden, Oxfordshire 25 Aug 1659 – 1662 [or 1660 ?], when ejected for nonconformity under the Bartholomew Act; also ejected from his Studentship at Christ Church Hilary term 1662; Chaplain to Arthur, Earl of Anglesey 1661; accompanied him to Ireland Jul 1662; returned to England Sep 1662; imprisoned in Tower of London for abusing the King and Government 1663-4 and in Southsea Castle 1664-7; thrown into Newgate Prison for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, but was subsequently allowed out on parole; a man of learning and intellectual accomplishments which were rendered useless by his ungovernable temper and overweening conceit; author, A true and perfect narrative of the differences between Mr Busby and Mr Bagshaw, the First and Second Masters of Westminster School, 1659, and several controversial and religious works; m. Margaret, second dau. of John Peacock, Chawley, Cumnor, Oxfordshire, “a blind gentlewoman who had fallen in love with him for his sermons”; d. 28 Dec 1671. DNB.
