If the throne was vacant, the Estates of the Realm might place William in it.

If it was not vacant, he could succeed to it only after his wife, after Anne, and after Anne's posterity.
It was, according to the followers of Danby, an established maxim that our country could not be, even for a moment, without a rightful prince.
The man might die; but the magistrate was immortal.

The man might abdicate; but the magistrate was irremoveable.

If, these politicians said, we once admit that the throne is vacant, we admit that it is elective.

The sovereign whom we may place on it will be a sovereign, not after the English, but after the Polish, fashion.