LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 133 



than once he took upon him privately to reprove, 

 and to write letters of monition to Members of 

 Parliament within his diocese; which were 

 equally well taken, and kindly acknowledged 

 by those gentlemen : whereas it is easy to guess 

 what had been the effect of this liberty he took, 

 if he had ever engaged himself in soliciting 

 votjcs, contrary to those gentlemen's interests. 

 These advantages, arising from his prudence 

 and forbearance in these matters, might easily 

 be proved by testimonies, were it not conve- 

 nient to suppress particulars for their sakes who 

 were immediately concerned. 



One short observation more shall conclude 

 this head. It is, that this conduct of his with 

 respect to elections, served him for a justifica- 

 tion of himself when misrepresented as an abet- 

 tor of a faction. Lord Godolphin taxed * him 

 one day upon report, with being " one of those 

 who made a noise and a cry about the Church 

 being in danger." He replied, that " he ought 

 not to be charged with that, for he had declared 

 often, that he did not much apprehend the Church 

 ivas 171 danger ; but that it was a struggle be- 

 tween Whig and Tory, who should be upper- 



* Diary, October 26, 1705. — This was soon after the meeting 

 of the new Parliament, when Lord Godolphin, as Bishop 

 Burnet says, began to declare more openly than he had done 

 formerly, in favour of the Whigs. Vol. II. p. 426. Author's 



Note, 



