LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 373 



and scruples about the validity of their baptism, 

 to their great trouble and disquiet, we, the 

 archbishops and bishops whose names are under- 

 written, have thought it incumbent on us to 

 declare our several opinions, in conformity with 

 the judgments and practice of the Catholic 

 Church, and of the Church of England in par- 

 ticular, that such persons as have already been 

 baptized in or with water, in the name of the 

 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, ought not to be 

 baptized again. And to prevent any such prac- 

 tice in our respective dioceses, we do require 

 our several clergy, that they presume not to 

 baptize any adult person whatsoever, without 

 giving us timely notice of the same, as the 

 rubric requires." 



To these papers his Grace of York answered 

 the next day in the words following. 



" Jpril 28, 1712. 



** My Lord, 



" I had the honour of your Grace's 

 letter (with the Declaration enclosed) the last 

 night. I am entirely of the same sentiments 

 that we all declared we were, when we had the 

 honour to dine with your Grace the last week. 

 But yet, for all that, I can by no means come 

 into the proposal your Grace has now made in 

 your letter ; in that we should all declare, under 



