These politicians now acted as it was natural that men profoundly immoral should act at a crisis of which none could predict the issue.

Some of them might have a slight predilection for William; others a slight predilection for James; but it was not by any such predilection that the conduct of any of the breed was guided.

If it had seemed certain that William would stand, they would all have been for William.

If it had seemed certain that James would be restored, they would all have been for James.

But what was to be done when the chances appeared to be almost exactly balanced?
There were honest men of one party who would have answered, To stand by the true King and the true Church, and, if necessary, to die for them like Laud.