HARSNETT

harsnett, samuel (1561-1631), english divine, archbishop of york, was born at colchester in june 1561, and was educated at pembroke hall, cambridge, where he was successively scholar, fellow and master (1605-1616). he was also vice-chancellor of the university in 1606 and 1614. his ecclesiastical career began somewhat unpromisingly, for he was censured by archbishop whitgift for romanist tendencies in a sermon which he preached against predestination in 1584. after holding the living of chigwell (1597-1605) he became chaplain to bancroft (then bishop of london), and afterwards archdeacon of essex (1603-1609), rector of stisted and bishop of chichester (1609-1619) and archbishop of york (1629). he died on the 25th of may 1631. harsnett was no favourite with the puritan community, and charles i. ordered his _considerations for the better settling of church government_ (1629) to be circulated among the bishops. his _declaration of egregious popish impostures_ (1603) furnished shakespeare with the names of the spirits mentioned by edgar in _king lear_.