Nicholas Harpesfeild

an eminent Theologist, well skill’d in both the Laws, and in Greek, History, and Poetry; in all, or most of which faculties, having written very well, do report him renowned by those of his own perswasion. His first being in this World, he received in the Parish of St. Marie Magd. (in Old Fishstreet) within the City of London, and his Grammaticals in Wykehams School near to Winchester. In 1536 he was admitted true and perpetual Fellow of New Coll. (after he had served 2 years of probation there) about which time having with great industry gone through all the parts of Philosophy, he applyed himself to the study of the Civil and Canon Law, wherein he became very eminent. In 1544, he being then Bach. of the Civ. Law of about an year standing, was admitted Principal of an ancient hostle (mostly for Civilians) called White hall (on the Site of which, Jesus Coll. was afterwards partly built) and in 1546 he was appointed by K. Hen. 8. to be the Kings Professor of the Greek tongue in the University. In 1553 he left his Fellowship, took the Degree of Doctor of his faculty, and had then considerable practice in the Court of Arches. In 1554 he was made Archdeacon of Canterbury in the place of Edm. Crammer, (Brother to the Archb.) deprived for being married, and in the beginning of Qu. Elizab. he was one of the 7 R. Cath. Divines who were to dispute with those of the Protestant party concerning matters of Religion, when Qu. Eliz. was setting on foot a reformation in the Church of England. But that matter coming to nothing, he was soon after imprison’d for denying the Queens Supremacy over the Church, and thereupon had opportunity given to write several books, some of which follow.

Dialogi sex, contra summi pontificatûs, monasticae vitae, sanctorum, sacrorum imaginum, oppugnatores & pseudo-Martyres. Antw. 1566. qu. Which book being put into the hands of his friend Alan Cope, he put it out under his name, lest danger should befall the Author in Prison. See before in Alan Cope, an. 1580. Our Author Harpesfeild wrot also,

Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, à primis gentis susceptae fi dei incunabilis, ad nostra fere tempora deducta. Duac. 1622. fol. published by Rich. Gibbon a Jesuit. ’Tis a book no less learnedly, than painfully performed, and abating his partiality to his own interest, he well deserves of all posterity. The original of this Ecclesiastical history, written with the Authors own hand, is in the Cottonian Library, under Vitellius. C. 9. num. 12. and a copy of it in two volumes is in the Archbishops Library at Lambeth, L. 3. and 4. But in that copy in the Cottonian, are several things expunged by the Licenser, and not at all remitted into the printed copy. Among which are these to be in p. 422. cap. 2. lin. 4. and to come in between the words inter exitialem, and Qui omnis, &c.—Non ignoro magna Innocentium Romanum pontificem invidiâ propter Johannem (meaning K. John of Engl.) apud quosdam laborare (quâ de re non est hic disceptandi locus, neque ego quidem idoneus arbiter, neque volo eam mihi quam non habeo, jurisdictionem prorogare) qui ut non forsan omni culpâ immodicaque cupiditate librandus sit, it a certe Johannes, qui, &c. Also in the same page and chapter, in the last line from the bottom, saving one, are these words omitted between Innocentio suggerente and Stephanum Langtonum—aut ut quidam tradunt pontificiarum dirarum terroribus exprimente—There are many other things of the like nature omitted in the printed copy, which the MS. in Cottons Libr. had in it before they were expunged, especially matters that laid open the discords, broiles, and ambitious poverty of the begging Fryers.

Historia haeresis Wicliffianae. Published by the said Gibbon with the former book; a MS. copy of which is also in Lambeth Library, l. 5.

Chronicon à diluvio Noae ad an. 1559. Written in lat. verse, and is at this time in the Cottonian Library, under Vitellius C. 9. nu. 11.

Impugnatio contra Bullam Honorii papae primi ad Cantabrigiam. MS.

A treatise concerning marriage, ocasion’d by the pretended divorce between K. Hen. 8. and Qu. Catherine. In 3 books—MS. in New Coll. Library. The beginning of the Epistle to the Reader is, It is an old saying, &c. and of the work it self; Forasmuch as this matter is incident to the life and doings of Sir Tho. More, &c. At the end of the said book is this note. This copy was taken from the original, which was found by Mr. Topcliff in the house of William, somtimes servant to the said Dr. Harpesfield, who confessed that two lines of the said original, were of his said Masters own hand writing. What other things, he hath written, whether published, or in MS. I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that after he had been a Prisoner in London, more than 20 years, 1583 he gave way to fate in Fifteen hundred eighty and three, having had this Encomium given to him by the Antiquarian-Poet (p)(p) In Cygn, Cant. Joh. Leland—Atticae Linguae interpres facilis, disertus, aptus. I find (q)(q) Reg. act. O King ep. B. & Well. another Nich. Harpesfeild who was bred in Oxon. and being 24 years of age 1496 became about that time Minister of Uphill in Somersetshire by the presentation of Joan the relict of Edward Viscount L’isle, and Rector of Ashrengney alias Ryngesash in the Dioc. of Exeter; but what relation the former I had to this, know not.