Christopher Bagshaw
Encyclopedia
Christopher Bagshaw was an English
academic and Roman Catholic priest.
family. He graduated B.A. on 12 July 1572, at Balliol College, Oxford
, and in the same year was elected probationer fellow of his college. Before going to Oxford he matriculated in 1566 at St John's College, Cambridge
. According to Anthony à Wood he owed his fellowship to the influence of Robert Parsons; but Wood's editor, Philip Bliss
, contradicts him, connecting Bagshaw with the expulsion of Parsons from the college. On 21 June 1575, Bagshaw took the degree of M.A. At this time he was a strong if quarrelsome Protestant.
About 1579 he became Principal of Gloucester Hall, where he made himself very unpopular. He resigned this office, and in 1582 went to France. Here he became a convert to Catholicism
, and was made a priest. Then, with the permission of Cardinal William Allen, he was admitted to the English College, Rome; but his temper made him so unpopular that he was expelled by Cardinal Boncompagno. On leaving Rome he returned to Paris, where he became a doctor of divinity at the Sorbonne
. Jesuit writers styled him derisively doctor erraticus and doctor per saltum.
He went to England as a missioner, and in 1587 was imprisoned in the Tower of London
. In 1593 he was confined with other Catholics in Wisbech Castle
. He clashed with Father William Weston
, who found him disobedient, setting off the "Wisbech Stirs
". When examined at the Tower for treasonable practices, Edward Squire
, an emissary from some English priests in Spain, affirmed that he had come with a letter (which he threw into the sea off Plymouth) from Father Henry Walpole
to Bagshaw at Wisbech. After his liberation, Bagshaw continued to reside abroad.
In 1612 he held a disputation with Daniel Featley
concerning transubstantiation
. Wood says that Bagshaw died and was buried at Paris after 1625, citing Franciscus à Santa Clara.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
academic and Roman Catholic priest.
Life
He came from a DerbyshireDerbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
family. He graduated B.A. on 12 July 1572, at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, and in the same year was elected probationer fellow of his college. Before going to Oxford he matriculated in 1566 at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. According to Anthony à Wood he owed his fellowship to the influence of Robert Parsons; but Wood's editor, Philip Bliss
Philip Bliss (academic)
Philip Bliss was a British book collector who served as Registrar of the University of Oxford from 1824 to 1853.-Life:...
, contradicts him, connecting Bagshaw with the expulsion of Parsons from the college. On 21 June 1575, Bagshaw took the degree of M.A. At this time he was a strong if quarrelsome Protestant.
About 1579 he became Principal of Gloucester Hall, where he made himself very unpopular. He resigned this office, and in 1582 went to France. Here he became a convert to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, and was made a priest. Then, with the permission of Cardinal William Allen, he was admitted to the English College, Rome; but his temper made him so unpopular that he was expelled by Cardinal Boncompagno. On leaving Rome he returned to Paris, where he became a doctor of divinity at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. Jesuit writers styled him derisively doctor erraticus and doctor per saltum.
He went to England as a missioner, and in 1587 was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. In 1593 he was confined with other Catholics in Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech, in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England by William I in 1072. The Norman castle, reputedly was destroyed during a devastating flood of 1236, the original design and layout is still unknown.In the 15th century repairs were...
. He clashed with Father William Weston
William Weston (Jesuit)
William Weston was an English Jesuit missionary priest.-Life:Educated at Oxford, 1564-1569 , and afterwards at Paris and Douai , he went thence on foot to Rome and entered the Society of Jesus, 5 November 1575, leaving all he possessed to Douai College...
, who found him disobedient, setting off the "Wisbech Stirs
Wisbech Stirs
The Wisbech Stirs was a divisive quarrel between English Roman Catholic clergy held prisoner in Wisbech Castle in Cambridgeshire, towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth I of England...
". When examined at the Tower for treasonable practices, Edward Squire
Edward Squire
Edward Squire was an English scrivener and sailor, and an alleged conspirator against the life of Elizabeth I of England. He was executed, after an investigation of a series of obscure circumstances led to conviction for his apparent attempts to poison Queen Elizabeth and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl...
, an emissary from some English priests in Spain, affirmed that he had come with a letter (which he threw into the sea off Plymouth) from Father Henry Walpole
Henry Walpole
-Early life:He was born at Docking, Norfolk, in 1558, the eldest son of Christopher Walpole, by Margery, heiress of Richard Beckham of Narford, and was educated at Norwich School, Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Gray's Inn. Converted to Roman Catholicism by the death of Saint Edmund Campion, he went by...
to Bagshaw at Wisbech. After his liberation, Bagshaw continued to reside abroad.
In 1612 he held a disputation with Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley, also called Fairclough and sometimes called Richard Fairclough/Featley , was an English theologian and controversialist...
concerning transubstantiation
Transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation means the change, in the Eucharist, of the substance of wheat bread and grape wine into the substance of the Body and Blood, respectively, of Jesus, while all that is accessible to the senses remains as before.The Eastern Orthodox...
. Wood says that Bagshaw died and was buried at Paris after 1625, citing Franciscus à Santa Clara.
Works
Bagshaw published at Paris in 1603 'An Answer to certain points of a Libel called An Apology of the Subordination in England,' 8vo. He is also thought to have been concerned in- 'Relatio compendiosa Turbarum quas Jesuitæ Angli una cum D. Georgio Blackwello, Archipresbytero, Sacerdotibus Seminariorum Populoque Catholico concivere,' &c., Rothomagi, 1601, (published under the name of John MushJohn MushJohn Mush was an English Roman Catholic priest, the confessor to Margaret Clitherow.-Life:...
); - 'A true Relation of the Faction begun at Wisbich by Father Emonds, alias Weston, a Jesuit, 1595, and continued since by Father Walley, alias Garnet, the Provincial of the Jesuits in England, and by Father Parsons in Rome,' 1601.