A catalogue of the Harsnett Library at Colchester : in which are included a few books presented to the town by various donors since 1631 / compiled, with an introd. by Gordon Goodwin.

Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A catalogue of the Harsnett Library at Colchester : in which are included a few books presented to the town by various donors since 1631 / compiled, with an introd. by Gordon Goodwin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to Cambridge. From a letter of John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, afterwards Viscount Dorchester, dated 16th March, 1614[-15], we learn that Harsnett, as Vice- chancellor, “ did his part every way, as well in moderating the Divinity Act, as in taking great pains in all other things, and keeping exceeding great cheer.” With re- freshing independence, he strove to repress the indiscrimi- nate conferment of honorary degrees, more especially of those in divinity. Secretary Winwood pleaded in vain for Thomas Westfield,1 afterwards Bishop of Bristol, and the King himself for the more famous John Donne.2 “Indeed the Bishop of Chichester, Vice-chancellor, hath been very stiff,” writes Chamberlain, “and carried himself very peremptory that way, wherein he is not much to be blamed, being a matter of more consequence than at first was imagined.” 3 A grace was in fact passed, shortly after the King’s departure, for degrading eight persons who had surreptitiously obtained Masters degrees. Of these two were apothecaries and one a barber.4 Affairs at Pembroke Hall were brought to a crisis in 1616 by the fellows exhibiting to the King an accusation against the Master branching into no fewer than fifty-seven articles. Harsnett was charged principally with favouring popery, absence from college, and improper dealing with the accounts. This lengthy document, the “ Querela Pembrochiana as it was called, was signed by WTen, Read, Bathurst, Bolde, Scarlett, Balcanqual, Browning, Gale, Jefferay, Johnson, Felton, and Tillman.5 The fellows 1 One of Darrel’s many dupes. See Cooper, Athena Cantab., vol ii P- 383- 2 Westfield and Donne subsequently obtained their degrees by royal mandate. 3 3 * Lor0d Hardwicke’s State Papers, vol. i. pp. 396-397 ; Cal. State Papers (Dom. Ser., 1611—1618), p. 278. 1 Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. iii. p. 61, note. 5 Information from the Master of Pembroke.