26 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



Fields would be more acceptable to him, if 

 ever it became vacant in his time, he should 

 have it ; which his lordship did accordingly 

 offer to him afterwards in the year 1680, (when 

 Dr. Tennison came in upon the removal of Dr. 

 Lloyd to St. Asaph). But he would not then 

 leave his parishioners of St. Giles's, who greatly 

 loved and respected him, purely for the sake of 

 a more profitable benefice. 



He had, indeed, two very early opportunities 

 of recommending himself to his parishioners at 

 St. Giles's, and of obliging them. One was the 

 advantage of the pulpit from the death of Dr. 

 Boreman to the time of his own induction, 

 which made his person and talents known to 

 them before he came to be their minister ; the 

 other was the serviceableness of his interest 

 with the Lord Keeper, which he shewed them 

 the very day after he had taken possession of 

 the church. For it happened that while he was 

 treating his vestrymen, immediately after his 

 induction, that the chests in the vestry were 

 broke open, and all the communion-plate stolen, 

 to the value of above £200 ; but my Lord 

 Keeper, upon Mr. Sharp's mentioning it the 

 next day, was pleased to order, for the use of 

 that church, two large silver gilt flagons, and 

 two chalices, for which he paid above an hun- 

 dred pounds. 



II 



