With Montague was closely allied Michael Godfrey, the brother of that Sir Edmondsbury Godfrey whose sad and mysterious death had, fifteen years before, produced a terrible outbreak of popular feeling.
Michael was one of the ablest, most upright and most opulent of the merchant princes of London.

He was, as might have been expected from his near connection with the martyr of the Protestant faith, a zealous Whig.

Some of his writings are still extant, and prove him to have had a strong and clear mind.
By these two distinguished men Paterson's scheme was fathered.

Montague undertook to manage the House of Commons, Godfrey to manage the City.

An approving vote was obtained from the Committee of Ways and Means; and a bill, the title of which gave occasion to many sarcasms, was laid on the table.