How then could the Princess of Orange be his heir?
The truth was that the laws of England had made full provision for the succession when the power of a sovereign and his natural life terminated together, but had made no provision for the very rare cases in which his power terminated before the close of his natural life; and with one of those very rare cases the Convention had now to deal.

That James no longer filled the throne both Houses had pronounced.

Neither common law nor statute law designated any person as entitled to fill the throne between his demise and his decease.

It followed that the throne was vacant, and that the Houses might invite the Prince of Orange to fill it.

That he was not next in order of birth was true: but this was no disadvantage: on the contrary, it was a positive recommendation.
Hereditary monarchy was a good political institution, but was by no means more sacred than other good political institutions.