which were inseparably combined the dearest liberties of the English people, and of establishing a test which would distinguish those who were zealous for that order of succession from those who sullenly and reluctantly acquiesced in it.  Of the five hundred and thirty members of the Lower House about four hundred and twenty voluntarily subscribed the instrument which recognised William as rightful and lawful King of England.  It was moved in the Upper House that the same form should be adopted; but objections were raised by the Tories.  Nottingham, ever conscientious, honourable and narrow minded, declared that he could not assent to the words “rightful and lawful.”  He still held, as he had held from the first, that a prince who had taken the Crown, not by birthright, but by the gift of the Convention, could not properly be so described.  William was doubtless King in fact, and, as King in fact, was entitled to the obedience of Christians.  “No man,” said Nottingham, “has served or will serve His Majesty more faithfully than I. But to this document I cannot set my hand.”  Rochester and Normanby held similar language.  Monmouth, in a speech of two hours and a half, earnestly exhorted the Lords to agree with the Commons.  Burnet was vehement on the same side.  Wharton, whose father had lately died, and who was now Lord Wharton, appeared in the foremost rank of the Whig peers.  But no man distinguished himself more in the debate than one whose life, both public and private, had been one long series of faults and disasters, the incestuous lover of Henrietta Berkeley, the unfortunate lieutenant of Monmouth.  He had recently ceased to be called by the tarnished name of Grey of Wark, and was now Earl of Tankerville.  He spoke on that day with great force and eloquence for the words, “rightful and lawful.”  Leeds, after expressing his regret that a question about a mere phrase should have produced dissension among noble persons who were all equally attached to the reigning Sovereign, undertook the office of mediator.  He proposed that their Lordships, instead of recognising William as rightful and lawful King, should declare that William had the right by law to the English Crown, and that no other person had any right whatever to that Crown.  Strange to say, almost all the Tory peers were perfectly satisfied with what Leeds had suggested.  Among the Whigs there was some unwillingness to consent to a change which, slight as it was, might be thought to indicate a difference of opinion between the two Houses on a subject of grave importance.  But Devonshire and Portland declared themselves content; their authority prevailed; and the alteration was made.  How a rightful and lawful possessor is to be distinguished from a possessor who has the exclusive right by law is a question which a Whig may, without any painful sense of shame, acknowledge to be beyond the reach of his faculties, and leave to be discussed by High Churchmen.  Eighty-three peers immediately affixed their names to the amended form of association; and Rochester was among them.  Nottingham, not yet quite satisfied, asked time for consideration.686