362 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



" Bedford Row, June 13, 1704. 



" My Lord, 



" Your Grace may reasonably accuse 

 me of disobedience to your commands, whicli 

 I received by your's of the 29th last ; which 1 

 should have more punctually executed, if the 

 weight of the subject had not obliged me to an 

 exact consideration thereof; which at that time 

 the attendance on my business would not per- 

 mit me to take. 



*' As to the non-conformist's marrying, they 

 may be proceeded against in the ecclesiastical 

 court for marrying without license, or publica- 

 tion of the banns, or for clandestine marriages, 

 which the Act of Toleration doth not indulge 

 them in. But as for christenings, churching of 

 women, and burials, I know not how to deal 

 with them ; though that may be fit to be con- 

 sidered upon the stating of the case upon the 

 canon law ; which I have attempted to under- 

 stand upon this occasion, but cannot fix upon 

 any foundation upon which to proceed. 



" I did propose these matters to my brother 

 Powell, and he doth concur with me. If your 

 Grace is pleased to state any patiicular ques- 

 tion to me upon this answer, I shall be very 

 desirous and ready to give the best account 

 thereof which I can. For I shall be always 



