Pièce 5 - Letter from C. H. R. Harper to R. B. McKerrow

1 single sheet

West Harling Rectory, Norfolk.—Cites entries in the West Harling parish registers, etc., relating to the Nashe family.

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Transcript

West Harling Rectory, Norfolk.
July 17, -08.

Dear Sir,

The West Harling Register commences in 1538, not in 1583. Both the original parchment volume, and also a very ancient paper copy are in my keeping. The former was much damaged, apparently by water, many years ago, and I have not yet made out in it the entry you seek. But the following is an extract from the copy:—

1587. William Nashe parson of West Harlinge was buryed ye xxiiii th of January

From Tyler’s M.S. in the Diocesan Registrar’s Office at Norwich there is this record:—(appointments to the rectory of West Harling)

1568. Will Franklin ad praes ejusd.
1573. Ric Will Nashe ad praes Bass Gawdy arm.
1587. Will Harvey ad praes ejusd. sen.

Since William Nashe father of Thomas left Lowestoft in 1573, the same year that Ric Will Nashe was appointed to West Harling, the identity seems most probable. In two places at least the name Richard is not given him viz. his burial entry above, and also in another list of appointments to West Harling—I think I copied it from the Institution Books at the Norwich Registry:—

1568 Feb 8. Will Franklinge on Jacksonnes resignation
1573 8 Oct. Will Nash on Franklin’s death
1587 30 March. Will Harvye Chaplain on Nash’s death

At the present moment I cannot stay to search the Register further for traces of the Nash family here between 1573 and 1587, but I will do so later if you wish.

Since you mention the subject of fee, perhaps I may add that a couple of years ago when Mr J. H. Jeayes of the British Museum was editing the Letters of Philip Gawdy {2} for the book which Lord Amherst of Hackney gave to the Roxburghe Club, a fee of one guinea was paid me for opening the registers here, and Lord Amherst also kindly sent me a copy of his book, which I was glad to add to other material I have collected respecting the parish of West Harling. {3}

It is interesting to suppose that the Nashes, including young Thomas, must have known Philip Gawdy, who was writing from Court and elsewhere from 1579 to 1616 to his relations at West Harling etc. I also like to think of him taking his B.A. degree from my college of St John’s Cambridge in the year 1585, and no doubt returning to his home in the Rectory here before going to travel in Italy.

Believe me,
Faithfully yours,
C. H. R. Harper

To R. B. Mc Kerrow Esq.

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Typed, except the signature. Full stops have been added after the dates in the extracts, which are arranged in tabular fashion in the original letter.

{1} McKerrow included a selection of entries from the West Harling parish registers in his Works of Nashe (v, 198), thanking G. C. Moore Smith (who made the transcriptions) and the Rev. Mr Harling for their assistance.

{2} Letters of Philip Gawdy of West Harling, Norfolk, and of London to Various Members of his Family, 1579–1616, ed. Isaac Herbert Jeayes (1906). Harper mistyped Jeayes’ first initial.

{3} Followed by ‘P.T.O.’ A page ends here.