BRADSHAW, William, Puritan minister: b. Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, England, 1571; d. 1618. After graduation from Cam bridge College /1595) he became tutor in the family of Sir Thomas Leighton, governor of Guernsey, where he came under the influence of Thomas Cartwright, the famous Puritan leader, who was preaching in the neighborhood. Later he entered the ministry, became fellow in Cambridge and was forced to leave the uni versity on account of having distributed the writings of John Darrel. He preached for a time at Chatham, where he was very popular; but he was suspended on a charge of teaching unsound doctrine. He found a friend in the bishop of Coventry, who granted him a license to preach in any part of his diocese. Brad shaw was very much opposed to ceremonies, which he declared to be unlawful in themselves and imposed by prelates without due authority and he published anonymous tracts against them. In 1605 he published 'English Puritan
ism,' in which he strongly advocated the inde pendence of congregations and the purification of the Church. He also held that no clergyman should hold any civil office. This book stirred the Church authorities against him; and he was forced to go to Derbyshire where he found a safe retreat. From there he continued fight ing for the cause he had so much at heart and his views were carried far and wide by his own publications and those of his friends and fol lowers. His remarks, which are generally of controversial nature, are very numerous. His 'English Puritanism' went through several edi tions and was translated into Latin and since into several modern languages. Consult Neal, 'History of the Puritans' ; Barclay, 'Inner Life of the Religious Societies of the Common wealth> ( 1876).