168 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



and of the places which might distinguish the 

 case, are purposely concealed. 



" Sir, 



*' It is truly very grievous to me that my first 

 return for the civilities I received from you 

 at and which I do thankfully acknow- 

 ledge, should be a letter of such a nature as I 

 am now to write to you, and which I am sen- 

 sible must be very displeasing to you, but 

 indeed I cannot help it. I heard so much 



at of your cohabiting with a woman that 



is not your wife, and of the great scandal that is 

 thereby given, that I should be extremely want- 

 ing to the duty of my place if I should not take 

 notice of it to you : nay, indeed, my silence in 

 this matter would be an argument to the coun- 

 try that I approved of your practice, I having 

 but the day before publickly admitted you to 

 the Sacrament, which I must confess I would 

 not have done had I then known so much as I 

 was informed of the day after. 



" I have heard what you alledge in your own 

 defence; but it doth by no means satisfy me. 

 Let your circumstances with relation to your 

 Jady be as they will (and truly I am informed 

 that on your side they are very pitiable,) yet I 

 cannot conceive how they will ever justify your 

 living with another woman while your lady 



