LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 249 



Crown grants had usually ran so in the like 

 circumstances. As particularly when Dr. Sharp 

 succeeded Dr. Tillotson, who was removed from 

 the deanery of Canterbury to the deanery of 

 St. Paul's, and Dr. Fairfax succeeded Dr. Sharp 

 at Norwich. And believing, that if it was a 

 blot, it had never been hit since the Reformation 

 but in the present instance, and that the con- 

 sequences it might draw after it in relation to 

 leases signed by deans made by patents so 

 worded, would demand the most favourable 

 construction to be put upon it, he made no 

 great scruple of it himself, and was accordingly 

 instituted and inducted upon his first patent. 



But afterwards taking further advice upon 

 this point, and apprehending his bishop and the 

 chapter of Carlisle might take all advantages 

 against him, he obtained a resignation in form 

 from Dr. Grahme, and had his patent passed 

 the great seal a second time by warrant from 

 the Queen, after the date was so adjusted, that 

 the resignation might precede the grant, and the 

 grant precede the institution. 



However the bishop and the chapter, when 

 they understood the exception that had been 

 made to the first patent, on which he had been 

 admitted dean, were inclinable to dispute the 

 validity of his possession ; and the bishop wrote 

 their doubts about it to the Archbishop, who 



