Samuel Harsnett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Samuel Harsnett |
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| Archbishop of York | |
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| Province | Province of York |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| Enthroned | 1629 |
| Reign ended | 1631 |
| Predecessor | George Montaigne |
| Successor | Richard Neile |
| Other posts | Bishop of Chichester (1609–1619) Bishop of Norwich (1619–1628) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1583 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Samuel Halsnoth |
| Born | June 1561 Colchester, Essex |
| Died | 25 May 1631 Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire |
| Buried | St Mary's Church, Chigwell |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Parents | William & Agnes Halsnoth |
| Spouse | Thomasine Harsnett |
| Children | Thomasine Harsnett |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
Samuel Harsnett (born Samuel Halsnoth in June 1561) was an important English religious writer. He later became the Archbishop of York in 1629, a very high position in the Church of England. He passed away in May 1631.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Samuel Harsnett was born in June 1561 in Colchester, Essex. His father, William Halsnoth, was a baker. Samuel likely attended the free school in Colchester, which is now called Colchester Royal Grammar School.
In 1576, he started studying at King's College, Cambridge. He later moved to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he earned his first degree in 1581. He became a Fellow (a senior member of the college) in 1583. That same year, he became a priest in the Church of England.
Early Religious Views
Samuel Harsnett was known for his strong opinions. In 1584, he got into trouble with Archbishop Whitgift, a very powerful church leader. Harsnett had preached against certain religious ideas at a famous church in London called St Paul's Cross. He was one of the church thinkers who disagreed with the ideas from a big meeting called the Synod of Dort. He even wrote a detailed book against some of these beliefs.
Academic Career
In March 1587, Harsnett became the headmaster of Colchester Royal Grammar School. The school still honors him today with a "school house" named after him, created in 1908. However, Harsnett didn't enjoy teaching much. He called it a "painful trade." He resigned in November 1588 to go back to Cambridge University. There, he focused on studying theology, which is the study of religious faith.
Leading Pembroke College
He returned to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he had been a Fellow. In 1605, he was chosen to be the Master of the college, a very important leadership role. He stayed in this position until 1616. He resigned after some Fellows at Pembroke made many accusations against him to King James I.
Harsnett also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University in 1606 and 1609. In 1606, he earned his Doctor of Divinity degree, which is a high academic honor in theology.
Ministerial Career
In 1592, Samuel Harsnett became a Junior Proctor, helping to keep order at the university. Five years later, he became a chaplain to Richard Bancroft, who was then the Bishop of London. Bancroft soon became the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior bishop in the Church of England. With Bancroft's help, Harsnett quickly advanced in his career.
He became the rector of St Margaret, New Fish Street in London, but he left that role in 1604. In 1597, he became the vicar of Chigwell in Essex, a position he held until 1605. While living in Chigwell, his wife, Thomazine, passed away in 1601. They had a daughter, also named Thomasine, who died shortly after birth in 1600.
Even after 1605, Harsnett continued to live in Chigwell, where he had bought a house. In 1619, he bought more land in the area. On this land, he founded two schools: a Latin school, which is now Chigwell School, and an English school, both established in 1629.
Rising Through the Church Ranks
In 1598, Harsnett was promoted to a prebendary role in Mapesbury. In 1602, he became the archdeacon of Essex. Bishop Bancroft chose him for both of these important church jobs. In 1604, he was also given the rectory of Shenfield, Essex.
Harsnett became the Bishop of Chichester in 1609. Then, in 1619, he became the Bishop of Norwich. He spent much of his time away from Norwich at a place called Ludham. There, he built a chapel and dedicated it for religious services.
In 1624, people in Norwich accused him of being too bossy. That same year, he also caused trouble for the Puritans in Great Yarmouth. This led to a complaint being made against him to King Charles I in 1627.
Finally, in 1628, he was elected Archbishop of York. This was a very high honor. In 1629, he was also sworn in as a Privy Councillor, an advisor to the King.
Death and Legacy
Towards the end of his life, Samuel Harsnett became ill. He signed his will in February 1631 and added a small change to it in May. He went to Bath in April to take the waters, hoping to feel better. He died on May 25, 1631, in Moreton-in-Marsh while returning from Bath. His body was taken back to Chigwell, a journey that took ten days.
He was buried at St Mary's Church, Chigwell, next to his wife and daughter, both named Thomasine, who had died in 1601. You can find a brass plaque of Harsnett in St Mary's Church, though it's not in its original spot over his grave. The image on the brass is thought to be a very accurate picture of him. It's believed he posed for it not long before he died.
His epitaph (the words on his grave) on the brass reads:
Hic iacet Samuell Harsnett quondam vicarius huius ecclesiæ primo indignus episcopus Cicestrensis deindignior Norwicencis demum indignissim' archiepiscop' Eboraceñ qui obiit XXV die maii anno dñi: 1631
Here lies Samuel Harsnett once vicar of this church, first unworthy bishop of Chichester, then more unworthy bishop of Norwich, finally most unworthy archbishop of York; he died on the 25th day in May in the year of our Lord 1631.
There are two small differences from what he asked for in his will. His name is spelled "Samuell" instead of "Samuel," and one Latin word is slightly different.
In his hometown of Colchester, Samuel Harsnett is remembered in several ways. There is a statue of him on the town hall and a stained glass window in St. Botolph's Church. He left his large collection of religious books to Colchester for local clergy to use. This collection can now be found in the library of the University of Essex.
Religious Views and Writings
Samuel Harsnett was known for his questioning attitude towards demons and witchcraft. As chaplain to Bishop Bancroft, Harsnett was asked to write about the exorcisms (driving out evil spirits) performed by a man named John Darrell in the 1590s. Harsnett was part of the groups that investigated Darrell's actions in 1598. Darrell was a Puritan minister who performed public exorcisms in England. These events caused so much fuss that church leaders in London noticed.
Challenging Beliefs
Harsnett's book, A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel (1599), was written to show that Darrell's actions were fake. It was meant to stop Darrell's Puritan ideas from spreading. But the book also genuinely questioned the belief in demons. Harsnett tried to find natural reasons for things that people thought were supernatural.
In 1603, he wrote another book called A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures. This book was ordered by the Privy Council, a group of royal advisors. It criticized exorcisms done by Roman Catholic priests in the 1580s. The famous writer William Shakespeare used this book as a source for his play King Lear. He took words and phrases from it, especially for the character Edgar when he pretends to be mad. Also, John Milton, another famous writer, may have been influenced by it for his poem L'Allegro.
As a powerful figure in England's church, Harsnett's questioning views helped shape English policy. For example, by almost "denying the reality of witchcraft," he might have helped explain why England had fewer witch hunts compared to other countries. Harsnett was also strongly against some ideas of Calvinism, another branch of Protestantism.
Harsnett's Works
Samuel Harsnett wrote eight known works:
- Nemo necessario damnatur: A book written against Calvinism, possibly his university thesis.
- De Necessitate baptismi.
- Sermon against predestination: A sermon he preached in 1584.
- A Discovery of the Fraudulent practises of Iohn Darrel...: Published in 1599, this book exposed the tricks of John Darrell.
- A Declaration of egregious Popish Impostures...: Published in 1603, this book criticized Catholic exorcisms.
- Defence of Answer against a certain Reply concerning Usury: Written after 1604.
- Consideration of the better settling of Church government: Presented to the King in 1629.
- Instructions concerning certain articles to be observed and put in execution by the several Bishops in his Province: Found in the Lambeth Library.
