LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 165 



of him, as to remonstrate openly against any 

 overstrainings of his power, he had shewed ra- 

 ther a spirit of meanness or pride, than a spirit 

 of discipline or charity ; but he used equal 

 freedom in admonishing and censuring the laity 

 of what quality soever they were, when he 

 saw occasion for it. Whenever they gave any 

 ■public scandal by their immoralities, he would 

 make no scruple to reprimand them and tell 

 them their faults, either by discourse (when that 

 was feasible) or by letters. And if he appre- 

 hended any such persons were likely to offer 

 themselves for receiving the Sacrament, when he 

 was to officiate himself either in his cathedral or 

 in any churches of his diocese where he occa- 

 sionally preached or confirmed, he would take 

 that opportunity of advising them either to 

 clear their characters to him or not be present 

 at those ordinances. And this freedom he 

 would take, when there was occasion given, not 

 only with the chief magistrate of his metropolis, 

 but with gentlemen of the best quality, interest, 

 and fortunes within his diocese. 



The following letter, written and delivered on 

 one of these occasions, will suffice for an instance 

 of his manner of exercising this discipline. 



"My Lord, 

 ** It grieves me to write to you upon such an 



