Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 4.djvu/15



Death of Dundee.

CHAPTER I. had now fully succeeded in his enterprise. By the resolution of the two houses of parliament on the 12th of February, 1689, he was admitted to hold the crown for his life in conjunction with his wife, who was not merely queen consort but queen regnant. They were declared to be elected to that office and dignity by the free choice of the nation. They could neither of them claim the crown by direct succession, for James was king, and protesting against the idea of his abdication. Mary could not claim by succession, even if James had abdicated; for, although there had been much endeavour to prove the infant son of James a supposititious child, it had not succeeded. There was no sufficient proof of the fact, but much evidence against it, and nobody now doubts that the infant who