LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 303 



which is to come into the House on Thursday- 

 next. I begged of her Majesty not to lay her 

 commands upon me, for I must vote according 

 to my judgment ; and according as I am satis- 

 fied what is for the interest of her Majesty and 

 of the kingdom, for I would make 7io distinction 

 between them. I am at liberty whether I will 

 attend or no ; and if I attend, I mean to vote as I 

 judge best, however I may displease the queen." 

 1708-9. Tuesday, January 18. "In the morn- 

 ing I went at eleven to the Queen (after much 

 business dispatched with her, it follows). When 

 I was coming away, she told me, she heard my 

 Lord Guernsey meant that day to bring in ques- 

 tion my Lord Duke of Dover's right of sitting 

 in our House, or rather her right to grant him 

 a patent to be duke, and desired my vote for 

 her prerogative. I asked her if that report did 

 not come from the Bishop of Sarum, which she 

 owned. I told her, that I did not know any 

 such thing. But that I believed that patent was 

 questioned by several, and perhaps my Lord 

 Guernsey might be one of them. As for me, I 

 should always serve her Majesty to the utmost 

 of my power ; but I must act according to my 

 judgment. That I did not yet understand on 

 which side the right was, but would well con- 

 sider of the debates, if that matter was brought 

 into the House." 



