All the prelates, except two, the bishops of London and Bristol, voted for a regent.

The primate, a disinterested but pusillanimous man, kept at a distance both from the prince's court and from parliament.
The house of peers proceeded next to examine piecemeal the votes sent up to them by the commons.

They debated, "Whether there were an original contract between king and people ?" and the affirmative was carried by fifty-three against forty-six: a proof that the tories were already losing ground.

The next question was, "Whether King James had broken that original contract ?" and, after a slight opposition, the affirmative prevailed.

The lords proceeded to take into consideration the word abdicated; and it was carried that deserted was more proper.