When the government wished to enforce the law, recourse was had to Sawyer.
When the government wished to break the law, recourse was had to Powis.
This arrangement lasted till the king obtained the services of an advocate who was at once baser than Powis and abler than Sawyer.
No barrister living had opposed the court with more virulence than William Williams.

He had distinguished himself in the late reign as a Whig and an Exclusionist.

When faction was at the height, he had been chosen Speaker of the House of Commons.

After the prorogation of the Oxford Parliament he had commonly been counsel for the most noisy demagogues who had been accused of sedition.

He was allowed to possess considerable quickness and knowledge.