Thomas Harding: Church History

Thomas Harding (d. 1648), rector of Souldern, Oxfordshire and church historian, attended St John's College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1605 and proceeding MA in 1608. He was second master of Westminster School from 1610 until 1622 when he became rector of Souldern, Oxfordshire. Harding wrote a history of church and state affairs relating chiefly to English church history from the 9th century to the 1600s. Though licensed by a committee of the House of Commons it was never published. He died in 1648.

Draft in 21 sections.

Sections 10-12 and 14-19 missing. With transcript of extract from Section 1 in hand of Canon W. S. Gilly (d. 1855).

Dedication (?) to Francis Tailor of Clapham attached to p. 1 of Section 2. Also attached is parliamentary licence to publish, signed by Sir Edward Dering, 14 May 1641, and endorsed by Obadiah Sedgwicke, 2 Feb. 1652.

Section 4, pp. 244-5, 247-9: verses by Hildebert, archbishop of Tours, with English translations in early 17th-cent. hands. Section 5, p. 197: English translations of epitaphs of Adam of St Victor.

Section 13, attached to fo. 67: defective printed copy of 'Wycliffe's Wycket'; fos 81-3: list of printed books attributed to John Wycliffe.

The MS was sold in 1695 (cf. art. Thomas Harding in DNB). Its history thereafter remains obscure, although it was obviously known to Canon W. S. Gilly in the early 19th cent. Acquired by the Library with Add. 2608 in c. 1885.

Due to the fragile nature of the manuscript only the transcript is available for consultation.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Thomas Harding: Church History, MS Add.2609