The law of England had settled the point of the subject's security in obeying the king in possession, in the statute made by Henry the Seventh.

So every man knew he was safe under a king, and so would act with zeal and courage.

But all such as should act under a _prince-regent_, created by this convention, were upon a bottom that had not the necessary forms of law for it .-- _Swift._ There is something in this argument.
P.814.

_Burnet._ It was believed, that those of his [King James's] party, who were looked on as men of conscience, had secret orders from him to act upon this pretence; since otherwise they offered to act clearly in contradiction to their own oaths and principles,--_Swift._ This is malice.
_Ibid.

Burnet._ [Others thought] that in our present circumstances the extremity of affairs, by reason of the late ill government, and by King James's flying over to the enemy of the nation, rather than submit to reasonable terms, had put the people of England on the necessity of securing themselves upon a legal bottom .-- _Swift._ This was the best reason.
P.815.