134 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



most, and he believed neither of them meant 

 any harm to the Church." And then he asked 

 my Lord Treasurer, whether his lordshiji had 

 heard that he had made any bustle about Parlia- 

 ment-men? A very pertinent question at that 

 junction, considering the vehement struggles 

 of the parties throughout the kingdom at an 

 election just before*. 



The Earl cleared him of that imputation, 

 which was a better proof of his not having any 

 such apprehensions of the Church's danger, as 

 were suggested, and of his not being agitated 

 by party zeal, as was rumoured of him, than 

 any verbal remonstrances he could have made in 

 his own vindication. 



More will be said hereafter, both of his prin- 

 ciples and conduct in party matters. — To pro- 

 ceed at present in the account of his Episcopal 

 acts. 



He took early and extraordinary pains to 



* Bishop Burnet gives the following account of it. — " The 

 election of members of the House of Commons was managed 

 with zeal and industry on both sides. The Clergy took great 

 pains to infuse into all people tragical apprehensions of the 

 danger the Church was in. The Universities were inflamed 

 with this ; and they took all means to spread it over the nation 

 with much vehemence. The danger the Church of England 

 was in, grew to be as the word given in an army. Men were 

 known as they answered it. The Whigs exerted themselves 

 with great activity and zeal." — Vol. II. p. 425. Authors Note. 



