LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 21 



being vacant by his death, Sir Heneage Finch, 

 who was now made Attorney-general, applied 

 to Dr. Henchman, the Bishop of London, for it ; 

 but his lordship was pre-engaged for his own 

 chaplain. Dr. William Beveridge, who suc- 

 ceeded in it accordingly. 



But it was not long before the Attorney- 

 general succeeded more happily in his applica- 

 tion; and that was for the Archdeaconry of Berks, 

 vacant by the promotion of Dr. Peter Mew, to 

 the See of Bath and Wells, and in the disposal 

 of the Crown. Mr. Sharp was twenty-eight 

 years of age when this dignity was conferred 

 upon him by the King ; and it is observable, 

 that he never had any preferment afterwards, 

 but what he had under the seals. And though 

 all of them were bestowed upon him without his 

 own seeking or application, and most of them 

 without his knowledge or particular expectation, 

 yet this first was given him even against his in- 

 clination and will. 



For when the Attorney- general told him, 

 (after he came from the court), that the King 

 had given him the Archdeaconry of Berkshire, 

 he answered, that he was too young for that 

 office, and that he knew nothing of the nature 

 of it : whereupon the Attorney-general bid him 

 read Lyndwood ; and for his further encourage- 

 ment paid all the fees of the seals for him ; and 



