LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 339 



net in the late reign, as is related in his life, 

 much to his honour. His lordship drew up two 

 memorials upon it, which he presented to the 

 King, one in 1696, and the other in the year 

 following; copies of which the Princess of 

 Denmark obtained ; and she also seconded his 

 motion to the King; but it did not then suc- 

 ceed. His Lordship afterwards made Lord So- 

 mers a friend to this scheme, and likewise the 

 Earl of Godolphin, who (as the author of Bishop 

 Burnet's Life observes) afterwards carried this 

 design into ea:ecution. And this he did with the 

 assistance of the Archbishop of York, to whom 

 he gave the first intimation of her Majesty's 

 disposition to give back the first fruits and 

 tenths to the Church, on the 6th of January, 

 1703-4. And also gave him hopes, that upon 

 application of the bishops to her Majesty, some- 

 thing of that kind might be effected. Upon 

 which he went to the Queen, January 10, and 

 spoke to her upon that head, where he met 

 with a disposition equal to his desires, only she 

 thought it was better not to make the design 

 'public till the manner of e.vecuting it was in some 

 measure adjusted with my Lord Treasurer. Which 

 being done, the following message was agreed 

 upon between my Lord Treasurer and the Arch- 

 bishop, to be sent to the House of Commons, 

 then sitting. 



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