Sancroft and his brethren were informed that, if they would consent to perform their spiritual duty, to ordain, to institute, to confirm, and to watch over the faith and the morality of the priesthood, a bill should be brought into Parliament to excuse them from taking the oaths.

[44] This offer was imprudently liberal; but those to whom it was made could not consistently accept it.

For in the ordination service, and indeed in almost every service of the Church, William and Mary were designated as King and Queen.

The only promise that could be obtained from the deprived prelates was that they would live quietly; and even this promise they had not all kept.

One of them at least had been guilty of treason aggravated by impiety.