LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 317 



casuist, with respect to her spiritual concerns ; 

 as a good bishop, with regard to ecclesiastical 

 affairs, and as a faithful counsellor m state points. 



In the first of these capacities, as her pastor, 

 she trusted very much to his fidelity and skill. 

 She not only allowed him to enter with her into 

 warm discourses about religion, which he often 

 did, when he found proper opportunities for it ; 

 but she would send for him on purpose to dis- 

 course with her on practical duties, especially 

 before she received the sacrament ; and lament 

 to him upon some occasions, that she was really 

 so taken up with business j that she had not time to 

 say her prayers. The particulars of these dis- 

 courses were not always noted down by him in 

 his diary, but only mentioned in general. " At 

 this conference I said to her a great many things 

 about religion." December 31, 1705. Or, ** I 

 talked sundry matters with the Queen, but 

 chiefly religious." Or, ** I had a great deal of 

 talk with her about the preparation for receiving 

 the sacrament." Or, *' I had a good deal of talk 

 with her about the exercise of devotion." Or, 

 " All our talk was about religion, the difference 

 between wilful sins and sins of infirmity, and 

 sins of ignorance ; about preparing for the sacra- 

 ment ; about saying one's prayers, &c. In short, 

 I was sent for to-night purely as a confessor" 



March 30, 1711. *' After chapel I went up 

 to the Queen (she having sent me orders by a 



