LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 27 



He was instituted into this rectory, January 

 3, 1675-6, by Dr. Henry Compton; and was 

 the first clergyman whom his lordship gave in- 

 stitution to : and, notwithstanding his lordship 

 was afterwards, in the reign of King James, a 

 great sufferer on his account, that is, for not 

 suspending those powers which he now granted 

 him, yet, it may be presumed, from the respect 

 and friendship that he shewed him upon that, 

 and upon all other occasions, that his lordship 

 never less regretted the admission of a clerk in 

 his whole life ; and never thought otherwise than 

 with satisfaction, on these first fruits of his 

 episcopal acts. 



Towards the end of the spring following, Mr. 

 Sharp married Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer, of the 

 Palmer's, of Winthorp, in Lincolnshire ; her mo- 

 ther was heiress of the Halton's, another ancient 

 family. This lady was recommended to Mr. 

 Sharp by Mr. Rawlinson (afterwards Sir William 

 Rawlinson, and one of the Lords Commissioners 

 of the Great Seal, at the Revolution,) who had 

 married her sister. But Mrs. Mosely (for that 

 was the present name of their mother, who had 

 married again) having past the prime of her life 

 in the late times, and received some taint from 

 the Puritans, and being a particular friend and 

 admirer of the famous Mr. Baxter, would not 

 consent to this treaty for her daughter, till she 



