78 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



to dispose them to discontent, and to lead them 

 into disobedience and rebellion. These are there- 

 fore to require and command you immediately 

 upon receipt hereof, forthwith to suspend him 

 from further preaching in any parish church 

 or chapel in your diocese, until he hath given 

 us satisfaction, and our further pleasure be 

 known herein. And for your so doing this shall 

 be your warrant, and so we bid you heartily 

 farewell. Given at our court at Windsor the 

 14th day of June, 1686, in the second year of 

 our reign. By his majesty's command. 



** Sunderland." 



The most that hath been or can be said in 

 favour of this step which the King was advised 

 to take, rests upon the following suppositions or 

 jjresumptions ; for so they are, rather than rea- 

 sons or arguments. 1st. That the offence charged 

 upon Dr. Sharp amounted to an ipso facto 

 suspension by our constitutions. Nay, if the 

 opinions of the judges, given in the case of the 

 Puritans, were to be allowed good, it was an 

 offence Jineable at discretion, and very near to 

 treason; and consequently a degradation and 

 deprivation should rather have followed than a 

 suspension. Therefore the King, in this method 

 which he pursued, took the very mildest course 

 with the Doctor, especially as the suspension 



