334 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



shewn hereafter. At present let it be observed, 

 that the interest that he had with her Majesty 

 he chiefly employed in procuring preferments 

 for learned and worthy men; or at least her 

 bounty for such of them as were in distress. 

 He had been formerly, as was related above, an 

 useful friend to men of literature and merit, 

 while he was chaplain to Lord Chancellor 

 Finch, and recommended to preferments in the 

 gift of the seals, and no less so in the commis- 

 sion* appointed by King William for approving 

 and recommending to his Majesty fit persons to 

 succeed in the Crown preferments ; in which 

 he was joined with my Lord of Canterbury, 

 and the Bishops of Ely, Sarum, &c. And the 

 same desire of providing the Church with able 

 men, prompted him to labour this point with 

 the Queen ; in which he had more success than 

 any one man in her reign, though not so much 

 as he might have expected, could she always 

 have followed her own judgment or inclination. 

 For her ministry were constantly interposing and 

 directing her in the disposal of eccclesiastical pre- 

 ferments, as well as of civil and military offices. 

 So that frequently she was not at liberty to 

 yield to his influence, and follow his advice. 



* The first commission was granted April 6, 1695. And 

 a new one was granted. May 9, 1700, which Mr. Le Neve has 

 printed in his Lives and Characters, &c. 



