120 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



are small, or at least disproportionate to the 

 greatness of the cures, he providently made 

 these dignities in his metropolitical and col- 

 legiate churches serve to support the character 

 and credit of the clergy in those places, v^here- 

 ever he found them deserving such encourage- 

 ment. By M^hich means the chief market towns 

 throughout his diocese, as Hull, Beverley, Leeds, 

 Wakefield, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nottingham, 

 Newark, &c. had by his appointment dignified 

 men residing and officiating in them. 



This hath been before publicly taken notice 

 of by Mr. Willis, who, in his Survey of the 

 Cathedrals, speaks of him in these words : 



" He made it his unalterable practice to elect 

 them (viz. prebendaries,) out of such as lived 

 in his diocese, and had recommended them- 

 selves by doing their duties in their respective 

 parochial cures. By which means no cathedral 

 in England was better attended by clergy, and 

 the service more regularly performed than at 

 York ; or the ministers of small livings in any 

 diocese more encouraged to attend their charge ; 

 because this good Bishop would reward their 

 diligence by such compensations, more espe- 

 cially those in York city, on whose conduct 

 the world had a more especial eye; hoping his 

 ea'ample ivould i?i/luence his successors to take 

 the like course. Which certainly if other 



