LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 13 



demeaned himself in the college so studiously 

 and virtuously, as to have gained their general 

 esteem ; and there is no doubt, had there been 

 room for him, they w^ould readily have elected 

 him into their society. Proposals, indeed, were 

 made to his father by one of the fellows for the 

 obtaining a fellowship for him; but the offer 

 was made upon such terms, as he did not think 

 to be honest ; and, therefore, how desirous 

 soever he was of that preferment, he had the 

 honour and courage to reject those proposals. 

 The learned Dr. Cudworth could have brought 

 him in, in the year 1669, and proffered to do 

 so; but Mr. Sharp, by that time, had better 

 views, and knew too much of the world to think 

 of a fellowship then. It appears from hence 

 how mistaken the account is, that is usually 

 given of his disappointment, viz. that he had 

 sate once or twice for a fellowship, and could 

 not obtain the favour to be chosen., 



But, however, the prospect of this little pre- 

 ferment (then great in his eyes) was of no small 

 use and service to him while he had it in view ; 

 for it kept him to the hard study of the Greek 

 authors, and especially the poets, from the time 

 of his taking his bachelor's degree, till he com- 

 menced master, the greatest part of which time 

 he spent in and near Cambridge : for* the plague 

 in 1665 and 1666, being at Cambridge, he, as 



