LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 169 



is alive ; no, nor after her death, without lawful 

 marriage. 



" I could heartily wish, Sir, you could be 

 prevailed with to send that gentlewoman away. 

 It would both remove a great offence, which, by 

 your keeping her, you have given to the country, 

 and also prevent a great deal of trouble and 

 vexation which will necessarily come upon her 

 and you (and I know not how to help it,) by a 

 prosecution in the ecclesiastical court, if you 

 continue in this course of life. 



" I beseech you, Sir, to take in good part 

 what I thought myself obliged in conscience 

 now to lay before you. I assure you I mean it 

 kindly and respectfully, and should be glad of 

 any opportunity of shewing myself, 

 '* Sir, 

 " Your affectionate friend and servant, 



** Jo. Ebok." 



But as neither this letter nor another that he 

 wrote to the same gentleman, on the same 

 occasion, had the desired effect, he ordered a 

 Citation to be issued out of the Court for bring- 

 ing the matter to a judicial cognizance. 



To conclude this article concerning his con- 

 duct towards the laity in his diocese notoriously 

 misbehaving themselves ; he took care always 

 to be sure of his charge before he laid it, and to 



