Leonel Sharp
Encyclopedia
Leonel Sharp was an English churchman and courtier, a royal chaplain and archdeacon of Berkshire, imprisoned for sedition in 1614. As a writer he took a strong anti-papal and anti-Spanish line.
in 1576, and proceeded as fellow to King's College, Cambridge
. He graduated B.A. in 1581, M.A. in 1584, and received from the university the degree of D.D. before 1603.
In 1588 he was present at Tilbury
camp in the capacity of chaplain to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
, and was chosen, as he states, to repeat Queen Elizabeth's oration
to the whole army assembled there. In 1589 and in 1596 he accompanied Essex in his expeditions to Cadiz
and Portugal
. In 1590 Sharp became rector of Malpas, Cheshire
, and in 1597 of Tiverton and Stoke-in-Teignhead in Devon
. When Essex was executed for treason, Sharp was banished to his Devonn parishes. In May 1601, in a letter to Robert Cecil
, he excused himself, and was soon after appointed a royal chaplain. Sharp celebrated the commencement of James I's reign by a laudatory sermon on Solomon and the queen of Sheba, at St. Mary's. He obtained the patronage of Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton
. In 1605 he became archdeacon of Berkshire and rector of North Moreton
in that county. He was also about this time appointed chaplain to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
, and addressed to him a congratulatory epistle to him on his escape from the Gunpowder Plot
.
His career at court soon terminated after Prince Henry's death in 1612. Already, in 1606, he had been summoned to clear himself to the council of the suspicion of endeavouring to stir up strife between the English and the Scottish factions at court. In 1614 John Hoskins
speaking in parliament concerning Scottish favourites, made an allusion to the Sicilian Vespers
. On being called to account he pleaded that he did not understand the nature of his threat, but that it had been suggested to him by Sharp. Both Hoskins and Sharp, together with Sir Charles Cornwallis
, who was also implicated, were committed to the Tower of London
on 22 June. Sharp's health suffered from confinement, but he was not released till 15 June of the following year. Sharp made several attempts to regain favour by means of obsequious sermons. He also wrote to the king and to various ministers, advocating the adoption of Elizabeth's domestic policy. In 1618, according to Chamberlain, he penned the defence of Sir Lewis Stukeley against the charge of betraying Sir Walter Ralegh. In the same year the university of Oxford conferred on him the honorary degree of D.D. In his later years he resided at Boughton Malherb in Kent, one of his parishes. There he died on 1 January 1631, and was buried in the church, a marble monument marking his grave. About 1597 he married Ann, daughter of John Chichester of Hall in Devon.
The last two were jointly translated into English under the title 'A Looking-glass for the Pope,' 1623.
Life
He was second son of Robert Sharpe, a merchant, of London, and of Julian, eldest daughter of Sir Richard Mallorie, lord mayor. He entered Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in 1576, and proceeded as fellow to King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. He graduated B.A. in 1581, M.A. in 1584, and received from the university the degree of D.D. before 1603.
In 1588 he was present at Tilbury
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
camp in the capacity of chaplain to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
, and was chosen, as he states, to repeat Queen Elizabeth's oration
Speech to the Troops at Tilbury
The Speech to the Troops at Tilbury was delivered on 9 August Old Style, 19 August New Style 1588 by Queen Elizabeth I of England to the land forces earlier assembled at Tilbury in Essex in preparation of repelling the expected invasion by the Spanish Armada....
to the whole army assembled there. In 1589 and in 1596 he accompanied Essex in his expeditions to Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. In 1590 Sharp became rector of Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales...
, and in 1597 of Tiverton and Stoke-in-Teignhead in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. When Essex was executed for treason, Sharp was banished to his Devonn parishes. In May 1601, in a letter to Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
, he excused himself, and was soon after appointed a royal chaplain. Sharp celebrated the commencement of James I's reign by a laudatory sermon on Solomon and the queen of Sheba, at St. Mary's. He obtained the patronage of Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton
Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton
Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton was a significant English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspect as a crypto-Catholic throughout his life, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered greatly. He was distinguished for learning, artistic culture and his...
. In 1605 he became archdeacon of Berkshire and rector of North Moreton
North Moreton
North Moreton is a village and civil parish about east of Didcot. It was part of Wallingford Rural District in Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to the new South Oxfordshire District of Oxfordshire....
in that county. He was also about this time appointed chaplain to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, and addressed to him a congratulatory epistle to him on his escape from the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
.
His career at court soon terminated after Prince Henry's death in 1612. Already, in 1606, he had been summoned to clear himself to the council of the suspicion of endeavouring to stir up strife between the English and the Scottish factions at court. In 1614 John Hoskins
John Hoskins (poet)
Serjeant John Hoskins was an English poet, scholar of Greek, and politician.-Life:He was the son of John and Margery Hoskins born in Mownton-upon-Wye, Llanwarne, Herefordshire. His father, impressed by his memory and mental abilities, arranged for him to be taught Greek at the age of ten. He...
speaking in parliament concerning Scottish favourites, made an allusion to the Sicilian Vespers
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to the successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule of the French/Angevin king Charles I, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. Within six weeks three thousand French men and women were slain by...
. On being called to account he pleaded that he did not understand the nature of his threat, but that it had been suggested to him by Sharp. Both Hoskins and Sharp, together with Sir Charles Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis (diplomat)
Sir Charles Cornwallis was an English courtier and diplomat.-Life:He was the second son of Sir Thomas Cornwallis, controller of Queen Mary's household, who had been imprisoned by Elizabeth in 1570. He was probably born at his father's house of Brome Hall, Suffolk.Nothing is known of him till 11...
, who was also implicated, were committed to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
on 22 June. Sharp's health suffered from confinement, but he was not released till 15 June of the following year. Sharp made several attempts to regain favour by means of obsequious sermons. He also wrote to the king and to various ministers, advocating the adoption of Elizabeth's domestic policy. In 1618, according to Chamberlain, he penned the defence of Sir Lewis Stukeley against the charge of betraying Sir Walter Ralegh. In the same year the university of Oxford conferred on him the honorary degree of D.D. In his later years he resided at Boughton Malherb in Kent, one of his parishes. There he died on 1 January 1631, and was buried in the church, a marble monument marking his grave. About 1597 he married Ann, daughter of John Chichester of Hall in Devon.
Works
He was the author of:- 'Dialogus inter Angliam et Scotiam,' Cambridge, 1603.
- 'Oratio Funebris in honorem Henrici Wall. Prin.,' 1612, London, with verses by his brothers Edward, Andrew, and William, prefixed; translated into English by Edward Sharp, 1616.
- 'Novum Fidei Symbolum,' 1612, London.
- 'Speculum Papae,' 1612, London.
The last two were jointly translated into English under the title 'A Looking-glass for the Pope,' 1623.