SAMUEL HARSNETT, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 291
his public activities, but from his conscientious discharge of his
other duties there is little doubt that he saw to the adequate
performance of his cure by competent deputies. He settled at
Chigwell, a district well known to the Essex Field Club, and a
place for which he always cherished a deep affection. About
this date he married Thomazine, widow of William Kempe,
and daughter of one of the influential Waldegrave family, of
Smallbridge, Bures, that charming medieval mansion which
still defies the hand of time. His wife's family and connections
had been ardent adherents of Queen Mary and the Papal party
and suffered accordingly under Elizabeth's policy, but they were
gradually becoming reconciled to the English Church. The
marriage was evidently one of deep affection, but was only of
short duration.
Harsnett now came prominently before the public as one of a
Commission appointed to restrain certain clergy who roamed
from town to town, claiming the power of exorcising demons
from those "possessed," to the admiration of large and credulous
crowds, then, as now, always seeking a sign from heaven.
He published a full account of his action, which resulted in
the exposure of the imposture and the unfrocking of the fraudu-
lent clerks. His only other book that has survived was printed
in 1603, and was a learned and vigorous attack on the Jesuit
plotters, who were busily endeavouring to bring the country again
under Papal rule. On its literary side this work is of interest, as
from internal evidence it has been shown that it supplied material
to authors so diverse in many ways as Shakespeare and Milton.
We have authority for caution when all men speak well of
us, and Harsnett was no exception. As licenser of books under
the Primate he passed, without due examination, a work which
incidentally dealt with that tabooed subject, the succession to
the Crown. Though she was nearing the allotted span Elizabeth
disliked, not only any reminder that she was mortal, but also
that anyone should presume to offer an opinion on a subject on
which she had not yet declared her mind, and for a few months
visions of deprivation and committal to the Tower caused the
Archdeacon much mental discomfort, but eventually the clouds
rolled by.
In 1605 he was elected Master of Pembroke Hall, in suc-
cession to his friend, Lancelot Andrewes, now Bishop of