Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 25.djvu/59

 ‘in the name of a cantel of our English Chronicles, phrased and flourished over, only to show the author's pretty wit.’ Harsnett rashly licensed it without reading it. The book was construed into rank treason by the lawyers, and bore a highly eulogistic Latin dedication to the Earl of Essex, then in disgrace, which was ‘foisted in’ without Harsnett's knowledge. Hayward was forthwith sent to the Tower, and Harsnett himself threatened with imprisonment, if not degradation. Greatly terrified he sought to appease Coke, then attorney-general, with letters which are in pitiable contrast to the bold tone of his published utterances (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1598–1601, pp. 405, 452–3). He succeeded in convincing Coke of his innocence, and was soon restored to favour.

On 17 Jan. 1602–3 he was collated to the archdeaconry of Essex, and during 1603 published, by order of the privy council, a vigorous exposure of popish designs, entitled ‘A Declaration of egregious Popish Impostures, … vnder the pretence of casting out deuils. Practised by Edmvnds, alias Weston, a Iesuit, and diuers Romish Priests, his wicked associates’ (with copies of confessions and examinations of the parties), 4to, London, 1603; with a new title-page, 8vo, London, 1605. From the ‘Declaration,’ as Theobald first pointed out, Shakespeare took the names of the spirits mentioned by Edgar in King Lear, and makes besides one or two other unmistakable allusions to it, while at least one passage in it must have been in Milton's recollection when he wrote ‘L'Allegro.’ J. M. N[orman] in ‘Notes and Queries,’ 2nd ser. vii. 144–5, has cited the parallel passages in full. Harsnett became rector of Shenfield in Essex, 16 April 1604, on the presentation of Sir Thomas Lucas of Colchester, and resigned the rectory of St. Margaret, New Fish Street, London, in the autumn of that year. On 9 Nov. 1605 he was elected master of Pembroke Hall in succession to Lancelot Andrewes. The following year he was chosen vice-chancellor, and received the degree of D.D., his exercise being excused by a special grace. As vice-chancellor he ‘govern'd with a high hand’ (Harl. MS. 7038, f. 56 b). The statutes framed by him may be seen in Addit. (Cole) MS. 5845, f. 231 b. He had resigned in 1605 his vicarage of Chigwell, a place for which he always cherished an attachment, to become on 16 May 1606 vicar of Hutton, in the same county of Essex, which he ceded in 1609 in favour of his relative, Adam Harsnett [q. v.] In 1609 also he resigned his prebend of Mapesbury to John Bancroft, a nephew of the primate, whereupon he was presented on 28 Sept. to the richly endowed rectory of Stisted in Essex. On 13 Nov. 1609 he was elected bishop of Chichester, again in succession to Lancelot Andrewes, translated to Ely, and was consecrated by Bancroft on the following 3 Dec., being allowed to hold his living of Stisted in commendam with that see, but resigning the archdeaconry of Essex. Bancroft, when making his will on 28 Oct. 1610, named Harsnett as an overseer, and as one of those whom he could wish ‘uppon some Sonday within a moneth after my death to preache in Lambith church, and to make such mention of me as may tend to Godes glory’ (registered in P. C. C. 96, Wingfield).

Harsnett still continued to rule over Pembroke Hall, but his high church practices, frequent absences, and financial mismanagement led to many unseemly disputes with the fellows. Andrewes tells Under-secretary Sir Thomas Lake, on 27 July 1612, that the Bishop of Chichester is desirous of resigning his mastership (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1611–18, p. 139). In 1614 Harsnett was again elected vice-chancellor of his university. In March 1614–15 James I, accompanied by his son Prince Charles, paid his first visit to Cambridge. John Chamberlain tells Sir Dudley Carleton on 16 March 1614 [–15] that Harsnett ‘did his part every way’ (Hardwicke State Papers, pp. 396–7). He strove to repress the indiscriminate conferment of honorary degrees, more especially of those in divinity. In 1616 the fellows of Pembroke exhibited to the king an accusation in fifty-seven articles against the master. Harsnett was charged principally with favouring popery, absence from college, and improper dealing with the accounts. The fellows also appealed to Andrewes, the Earl of Suffolk, at that time chancellor of the university, Sir George Villiers, and others. Though Harsnett was compelled to resign, he continued in high favour at court, and these differences did not prevent the ‘miserrimi Pembrochiani,’ as the fellows styled themselves in their lengthy ‘Querela,’ nor indeed the university at large, from writing him complimentary letters on his elevation to the see of York, besides asking for his good offices as a privy councillor (cf. Addit. (Cole) MS. 5873, ff. 37, 44). On the death of Dr. John Overall, Harsnett was translated to Norwich, 17 June 1619, and confirmed in the see on 28 Aug., when he resigned the rectory of Stisted. During his occupancy of the see he is said to have expended 2000l. on the repair of the episcopal palaces of Norwich and Ludham (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1634–5, p. 102). His strictness in enforcing the discipline of the church, added to his harsh and overbear-