LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 109 



himself was Dean ; and was himself afterwards 

 consecrated by Dr. Tillotson, in company with 

 others who succeeded to these vacant Bishop- 

 ricks. Neither of which had been consistent 

 with his principle, had he thought it absolutely 

 unlawful or irregular to take those Bishopricks 

 in those circumstances. And as to all pretences 

 of separation from the Established Church, on 

 account of these deprivations and successions, 

 he very warmly opposed them. In the mean 

 time, whatever he might think of the matter 

 himself, his Majesty guessed that he made these 

 difficulties purely upon a principle which would 

 not recommend him much to his Majesty's fa- 

 vour. In fine, the King was not a little dis- 

 gusted at his peremptory refusal of those pre- 

 ferments. 



And here, in all probability, Dr. Sharp had 

 forfeited all further favours from court, at least 

 in that reign, had not his friend. Dr. Tillotson, 

 (who was concerned and grieved to think of Dr. 

 Sharp's being wholly left out in the new promo- 

 tion to Bishopricks,) seasonably interposed an 

 expedient for advancing him not only more 

 agreeably to his inclinations, but also quite be- 

 yond his expectations ; and that was by laying 

 the scheme for his being Archbishop of York, 

 when that See should become vacant. For, on 

 Friday, April 24, 1691, (as appears by a me- 



