William Harrison (18 April 1534 – 24 April 1593) was an English clergyman, whose Description of England was produced as part of the publishing venture of a group of London stationers who produced Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles (1577 and 1587). His contribution to Holinshed's work drew heavily on the earlier work of John Leland.
William Harrison was born in London, in the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, to John and Anne Harrison. As a boy, Harrison attended St Paul's School and the Westminster School of Alexander Nowell. Raised in Protestant circles, Harrison entered Christ Church, Oxford and in 1560 was awarded his bachelor's degree. During the reign of Queen Mary I of England, Christ Church became a centre of Catholic support, and Harrison converted to Catholicism. Harrison claimed that he returned to Protestant belief before Mary's death in 1558 after hearing the words of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, three Protestant martyrs burned at the stake in Oxford.
Adulthood
On 15 February 1559, prior to the award of his bachelor's degree at Oxford, Harrison was instituted as the rector of Radwinter in Essex, by the appointment of Lord Cobham, who owned the right,[1] and to whom he was also household chaplain. The living brought with it an income of £40 a year. Despite being well known to posterity for his description of England, at this time he had only travelled within a small compass in the south of England.[2]
Harrison married Marion Isebrand, the daughter of Flemish immigrants. Continuing his theological studies at Cambridge, Harrison took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1571. In the same year he was instituted vicar of Wimbish in Essex.[3] Harrison also held positions at another two London parishes. Near the end of his life, Harrison received an appointment as a canon at St. George's Chapel at Windsor. Harrison was buried at Windsor following his death in 1593.
Works
Harrison is best known for his Description of England, first published in 1577 as part of Holinshed's Chronicles, and reissued in revised form in 1587. This work enumerated England's geographic, economic, social, religious and political features and represents an important source for historians interested in life in Elizabethan England. He gathered his facts from books, letters, maps, the notes of John Leland, and conversations with antiquaries and local historians like his friends John Stow and William Camden. He also used his own observation, experience and wit, and wrote in a conversational tone without pedantry, which has made the work a classic.[4] The result is a compendium of Elizabethan England during the youth of William Shakespeare. "No work of the time contains so vivid and picturesque a sketch," was the assessment of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature.[5]
Harrison also wrote a number of unpublished manuscripts, including The Great English Chronologie. This work traced fortunes of the Christian church in history, stretching from creation to his own time. In the Chronologie, Harrison revealed his sympathy with the Calvinist perspective of those seeking to reform the Church of England. At the same time, Harrison also indicated his distrust of the political intentions of England's Puritans and his ultimate loyalty to England's ecclesiastical authorities.
^"Untill nowe of late," he wrote to his patron "except it were from the parish where I dwell, unto your Honour in Kent; or out of London where I was borne, unto Oxford and Cambridge where I have bene brought up, I never travelled 40 miles foorthright and at one journey in all my life." (Quoted in The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Vol. III. "Renascence and Reformation", XV. Chroniclers and Antiquaries. 3. Harrison’s Description of England
^Harrison's Description of England found a place among the Harvard Classics, (Vol. 35, Part 3), the "Harvard five-foot shelf".
^The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, eo. loc.
Further reading
Parry, G. J. R. (1987). A Protestant Vision: William Harrison and the Reformation of Elizabethan England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521329973.
(Modern History Sourcebook) William Harrison (1534–1593): Description Of Elizabethan England, 1577 (from Holinshed's Chronicles) Prints Dr. Frederick Furnivall's condensed and modernised text of Harrison's chapters, edited for the New Shakspere Society (1876).
January 14, 2023
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Not to be confused with William Henry Harrison For the English Catholic leader see William Harrison Archpriest of England William Harrison 18 April 1534 24 April 1593 was an English clergyman whose Description of England was produced as part of the publishing venture of a group of London stationers who produced Raphael Holinshed s Chronicles 1577 and 1587 His contribution to Holinshed s work drew heavily on the earlier work of John Leland Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Adulthood 2 Works 3 Notes 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditEarly life and education Edit William Harrison was born in London in the parish of St Thomas the Apostle to John and Anne Harrison As a boy Harrison attended St Paul s School and the Westminster School of Alexander Nowell Raised in Protestant circles Harrison entered Christ Church Oxford and in 1560 was awarded his bachelor s degree During the reign of Queen Mary I of England Christ Church became a centre of Catholic support and Harrison converted to Catholicism Harrison claimed that he returned to Protestant belief before Mary s death in 1558 after hearing the words of Cranmer Ridley and Latimer three Protestant martyrs burned at the stake in Oxford Adulthood Edit On 15 February 1559 prior to the award of his bachelor s degree at Oxford Harrison was instituted as the rector of Radwinter in Essex by the appointment of Lord Cobham who owned the right 1 and to whom he was also household chaplain The living brought with it an income of 40 a year Despite being well known to posterity for his description of England at this time he had only travelled within a small compass in the south of England 2 Harrison married Marion Isebrand the daughter of Flemish immigrants Continuing his theological studies at Cambridge Harrison took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1571 In the same year he was instituted vicar of Wimbish in Essex 3 Harrison also held positions at another two London parishes Near the end of his life Harrison received an appointment as a canon at St George s Chapel at Windsor Harrison was buried at Windsor following his death in 1593 Works EditHarrison is best known for his Description of England first published in 1577 as part of Holinshed s Chronicles and reissued in revised form in 1587 This work enumerated England s geographic economic social religious and political features and represents an important source for historians interested in life in Elizabethan England He gathered his facts from books letters maps the notes of John Leland and conversations with antiquaries and local historians like his friends John Stow and William Camden He also used his own observation experience and wit and wrote in a conversational tone without pedantry which has made the work a classic 4 The result is a compendium of Elizabethan England during the youth of William Shakespeare No work of the time contains so vivid and picturesque a sketch was the assessment of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature 5 Harrison also wrote a number of unpublished manuscripts including The Great English Chronologie This work traced fortunes of the Christian church in history stretching from creation to his own time In the Chronologie Harrison revealed his sympathy with the Calvinist perspective of those seeking to reform the Church of England At the same time Harrison also indicated his distrust of the political intentions of England s Puritans and his ultimate loyalty to England s ecclesiastical authorities Notes Edit GL 9531 12 Episcopal Register Untill nowe of late he wrote to his patron except it were from the parish where I dwell unto your Honour in Kent or out of London where I was borne unto Oxford and Cambridge where I have bene brought up I never travelled 40 miles foorthright and at one journey in all my life Quoted in The Cambridge History of English and American Literature Vol III Renascence and Reformation XV Chroniclers and Antiquaries 3 Harrison s Description of England GL 9531 13 Register Harrison s Description of England found a place among the Harvard Classics Vol 35 Part 3 the Harvard five foot shelf The Cambridge History of English and American Literature eo loc Further reading EditParry G J R 1987 A Protestant Vision William Harrison and the Reformation of Elizabethan England Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521329973 External links EditWorks by William Harrison at Project Gutenberg Works by or about William Harrison at Internet Archive Description of England Full Text Modern History Sourcebook William Harrison 1534 1593 Description Of Elizabethan England 1577 from Holinshed s Chronicles Prints Dr Frederick Furnivall s condensed and modernised text of Harrison s chapters edited for the New Shakspere Society 1876 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Harrison priest amp oldid 1089876904, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
