LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 283 



have the power in their hands, had not truly the 

 intention they pretended. For my part, I am 

 not of that opinion. I conceive well enough, 

 that they may have their reasons for their re- 

 serve at present. However, their adversaries 

 will one day object it to them as a crime, if they 

 entirely lose the opportunity of making a merit 

 of a thing, the justice of which is acknowledged 

 by all the world, and which is of no little im- 

 portance to the nation and to religion. If my 

 Lord Strafford has an opportunity of entering 

 upon this affair, he may allege the interests of the 

 Church and the opinion of my Lord Archbishop of 

 York, as arguments for itT 



This passage from a privy counsellor of Ha- 

 nover should seem sufficient to justify him, not 

 only as to his general affection to the interests 

 of that court, but as to the particular opposi- 

 tion he had once made to the address about 

 inviting the Electress into England. For though 

 he was against the proposal of a court of the 

 House of Hanover being kept at London, yet 

 he approved of an English court at Hanover ; 

 and at a time too when they who had urged 

 the invitation of the princess into England for- 

 merly, did not appear very forward to shew 

 their respects to her in the same or the like 

 way. But as they had their reasons for their 

 own conduct, so had he for his ; which might 



