330 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



great kindness to him, and said, that she had not 

 heard any ill representation of him.'^ 



On March 8, 1709-10, he offered it again, 

 alledging, *' that he had no other consideration 

 that prevailed with him to continue in it, but 

 the prospect he had of doing good to the Church 

 and to worthy persons, by recommending them 

 to her. She told him he should not quit his 

 post."' 



But, as desirous as he was to resign his seal, 

 two things should be remarked, the first is, that 

 so long as he kept it, he would not suffer the 

 Almoner's rights or privileges in the least to be 

 invaded. The Lord Chamberlain claimed some 

 right of presenting two Maundy women, and 

 had firmly asserted it. " But I (says he) per- 

 sisted in denying it ; and March 19, 1706-7, luoidd 

 have rnade him see clearly, that neither he nor any 

 body else could have a right so long as I had the 

 Queen s patent . But I told him, Iivould be as civil 

 to him as my predecessors had been." 



The other is, that he would not offer to resign 

 his seal at any time, when he might be sus- 

 pected to be moved to it by the influence of 

 party. Thus, in 1705, October 25, *' The Duke 

 of Buckingham told him, he ivondered to hear that he 

 had not resigned his almoner s place." And in 1708, 

 April 15, discoursing with the Queen, ** / had 

 some talk (says he) about Mrs. Masham, whom I 



