LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 333 



terests of the Church of England, his Grace had 

 adopted in his wishes to succeed him in his 

 pastoral charge. For he was a man of gravity 

 and prudence, of decency and courtesy, of 

 singular presence of mind, of extraordinary re- 

 solution and constancy, and yet of a moderate 

 and cool spirit, and of exemplary regularity 

 and exactness in all parts of life. And he had 

 moreover a very strong and vigorous constitu- 

 tion, which fitted him to execute with ease the 

 most laborious parts of the episcopal function, 

 which in Archbishop Sharp's judgment was of 

 no small moment in the choice of a bishop. Upon 

 these considerations (not to mention Sir Wil- 

 liam's other natural and personal advantages, 

 viz. a tenacious memory, a graceful mien, a fine 

 address, and a sweet elocution). He drew the 

 Queen's affections upon that baronet. And 

 having first procured him the bishopric of Ches- 

 ter, and made experiment of his prudence and 

 assiduity in the management of that large dio- 

 cese, he made the way more easy for his re- 

 moval from thence to the metropolis of the 

 province. 



It was said above, that in the affairs of the 

 Church he was her Majesty's principal guide. 

 This is in good measure true, with respect only 

 to ecclesiastical promotions, though more evi- 

 dently so in other Church affairs, as will be 



