Even under such an arrangement the members of the Church of Rome would have obtained near twenty times their fair portion of official appointments; and yet there is no reason to believe that even to such an arrangement the King would have consented.

But, had he consented, what guarantee could he give that he would adhere to his bargain?
The dilemma propounded by Halifax was unanswerable.

If laws are binding on you, observe the law which now exists.

If laws are not binding on you, it is idle to offer us a law as a security.

[262] It is clear, therefore, that the point at issue was not whether secular offices should be thrown open to all sects indifferently.