They said as the crown and its prerogatives were vested in him, they would yield obedience, though they could not acknowledge him as their rightful and lawful king.
Nothing could be more absurd than this distinction, started by men who had actually constituted part of the administration; unless they supposed that the right of king William expired with queen Mary.
The earl of Rochester proposed an expedient in favour of such tender consciences, by altering the words that gave offence; and this was adopted accordingly.

Fifteen of the peers, and ninety-two commoners, signed the association with reluctance.

It was, however, subscribed by all sorts of people in different parts of the kingdom; and the bishops drew up a form for the clergy, which was signed by a great majority.

The commons brought in a bill, declaring all men incapable of public trust, or of sitting in parliament, who would not engage in this association.
At the same time the council issued an order for renewing all the commissions in England, that those who had not signed it voluntarily should be dismissed from the service as disaffected persons.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A LAND-BANK.
After these warm demonstrations of loyalty, the commons proceeded upon ways and means for raising the supplies.

A new bank was constituted as a fund, upon which the sum of two millions five hundred and sixty-four thousand pounds should be raised; and it was called the land-bank, because established on land securities.