180 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



(whose character is so well known throughout 

 England, as needs not my enlargement), ex- 

 presses such caution of breaking the just and 

 good laws of men, as that he encourages not 

 men's associating themselves in order to inform 

 against vice, least they thereby bring themselves 

 into a praemunire as offenders. We have the 



promise of a sober, good gentleman 



to take informations from any against immorality 

 and profaneness, and never to discover the in- 

 former This we know that God 



can do great things, and wonderful, and we 

 despair not but that he will effect a wonder for 

 York. Poor York ; the second city in the king- 

 dom, and likely to be the last in reformation ; 

 but better late than never," &c. 



It was said " his Grace's scruple must cease, 

 if once his query was but put into plain English, 

 viz. whether it be lawful for private persons to 

 assist the magistrates by informations, &c. to 

 put the laws in execution for the suppressing 

 vice," &c. And that he should not want proper 

 admonitions and advice, care was taken to pro- 

 cure letters from those persons who were pre- 

 sumed to have good interest with him, begging 

 of him to espouse and encourage this pious de- 

 sign at York. In some of the letters he received 

 from men of note., these societies were repre- 

 sented as " the last effort likely to be made for 



