Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 69

APRIL, 1916] SOME ANGLO-INDIAN WORTHIES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 61
complaint of him some daies since received, he being sent for thence and arrived hither, to discourage others his fellow servants frome the like, forbad him the Honoble. Companies table and ordered him to be ready to proceed on one of the Honoble. Companies sloopes to Ballasore where he should be examined on these and other matters laid to his charge."
Accordingly, Harding was sent to Balasor, where, at a Consultation held on the 14th December 1677,20 he was first examined regarding the accusations of blasphemy brought against him in the preceding August. The Council consisted of Matthias Vincent, four factors, and three captains of Company's ships.
" James Harding haveing been accused of severali Blasphemous Tennets, of which attestations have been sent up to the Fort [Fort St. George, Madras], he was called before the Councell and examined before them concerning his present adherancy to the said Tennets, Vizt.
1. Being asked whither he beleived that when the body died the soule still lived in overlasting bliss or Missery, or whither he beleived it dyed with the body.
He answered that he was in doubts about it, but being further pressed to give his possitive answer, he replyed that he would give noe angwer.
2. Being asked whither he beleived there were threa persons of the holy Trenity.21 To which he refused to give an answer.
3. Being asked whither he had affirmed, as he is accused, that when our blessed Saviour was upon earth that there was noe God in heaven and that Moses and Elias were there.
To this also he refused to give an answer.
4. Being further asked whither he denied the truth of the Holy Scripture, and that they were much corrupted by passing through the hands of Papists, &ca., and that he aflicmed that they were compiled by a few of unlarned and Ignorant Fishermen.
The which he denyes.
This shewes that he can deny what he does not hold, and that the three first opinions, since he will give noe answer to them, are in effect held by him.
However, he, the said James Harding, haveing desired to give in his answer in a paper concerning the three afforesaid abominable Tennets, the Councell and Commanders though[t] fitt to give him 3 hours time to bring in said paper: which, il sattisfactory, Wee should consider what Issue to put to this case, but if otherwise, we are all of opinion that he ought to be sent to Fort St. George there to answer it to the Worshipfull Agent and Councell."
At a second sitting of the Council at Balasor, on the afternoon of the same day, “ James Harding brought in a paper to the Councell, which he pretended to be an answer to the accusations upon which he was examinied in the morning, but upon perusall, both the Councell and Commanders were soe farr from thinkeing it an answer that they judge sit to be raither a continuation of the obstinacy he expressed in the morning. wherefore they unanimusly concluded that this paper and his accusation be sent with him to Fort St. George."
It is unfortunate that this paper" is missing, and consequently no opinion can be formed of Harding's justification of his conduct. He was probably sent forth with to Madras, for, in an abstract of a letter to the Company, from the Council at Fort
20 Factory Records, Hugli, Vol. I.
21 Muggleton's Divino Looking-Glass taught that the distinction of the Three Persons of the Trinity is merely nominal.