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68 respecting the Oaths was evinced by their sacrifices: and their zeal for the Church was never disputed, except by men, who cared neither for the Church nor for religion.

The supporters of the government were greatly divided in opinion respecting the principles, on which the title of King William to the crown was founded. Many were content with the Parliamentary vote, considering it all-sufficient; but others endeavoured to seek out more specious reasons for their conduct. They agreed with the Nonjurors in principle, and laboured to shew, that they acted consistently in adhering to King William. Perhaps the following extract gives the best view of the notions entertained by a very large class of William's supporters:—"My principles are the same as they were; my allegiance has descended in the same manner to King William and Queen Mary as it did to Charles II. and James II. not altered in the least degree or reason of it. They were in their times the ministers of God, and the lawful and undoubted Sovereigns of the English nation, and so are these: the same God that set up Charles II. and James II. when so great a part of the nation did what they could to have the first of them abjured, and the second excluded: the same God, I say, has by his providence set King William and Queen Mary on the throne: and by His grace I will bear the same faith and allegiance to them as I did to the former: and for the same cause. For my part I believe our now most gracious Sovereigns, King William and Queen Mary, are both de jure and de facto as lawful King and Queen of England, by hereditary right, which commenced from the time that the late King James left the throne, though it was not de-