Rochester had till that day adhered firmly to the royal cause.
He now saw that there was only one way of averting general confusion.
"Call your troop of Guards together," he said to Northumberland, "and declare for the Prince of Orange." The advice was promptly followed.

The principal officers of the army who were then in London held a meeting at Whitehall, and resolved that they would submit to William's authority, and would, till his pleasure should be known, keep their men together and assist the civil power to preserve order.

[575] The Peers repaired to Guildhall, and were received there with all honour by the magistracy of the city.

In strictness of law they were no better entitled than any other set of persons to assume the executive administration.

But it was necessary to the public safety that there should be a provisional government; and the eyes of men naturally turned to the hereditary magnates of the realm.