326 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



some than he expected, but the Queen more 

 earnest and desirous to retain him in that office, 

 and have him about her. He found trouble and 

 delays in procuring from the Treasury the money 

 allotted for the almonry. And when that was 

 in arrear, he would lend the Queen, and some- 

 times borrow out of her privy purse, what was 

 sufficient to supply the demands of her pen- 

 sioners. He told her once, that "■ if my Lord 

 Treasurer would not imy up his arrears, it would be 

 necessary for them to shut up shop, for they should 

 have no money for the Maundy.'" He used to tell 

 her, in a pleasant way, that ** she owed him so 

 much;" which she would generally pay him 

 with her own hands ; and for a specimen of her 

 private charity through his hand, let us take 

 one of his computations of all that he had re- 

 ceived from her Majesty in a winter. 



April 25, 1711. " I have been casting up 

 what money I have received of the Queen since 

 my coming to town till this day. And find I had of 

 her 270 guineas ; and some time after Christmas 

 1 00 guineas. On February 2Uh, I had 70 guineas ; 

 on March I5th, 100 guineas; March 21th, 5 gui- 

 neas; at Easter, AOO guineas arid 100/." And after- 

 wards, before he left London, 150/. more. Ln all, 

 \2?ni. 5s. 



And then the providing preachers before her 

 Majesty, was another thing that gave him trou- 



