 Towards the end of the year 1788, Lord Stanhope, an Anglican, desiring to help the committee, and believing that their supposed Ultramontane principles, and in particular their accredited belief in the deposing power of the pope, were the chief obstacles in their way, drew out a "Protestation" disclaiming these in unmeasured language.The committee adopted the Protestation and early in the following year called upon all Catholics to sign it.Butler admits that it was only with some difficulty that the bishops were induced to sign; but they did.