The Scots have one other peculiar peacekeeping institution - tanistry. When the monarch dies, Parliament - or before that, the Clan Chiefs - met and VOTED on who would be next. If the eldest son were an idiot, he would simply be passed over. Now, it might cause some hard feelings, but if the Clans were against ye, laddie, then it were a Bad Idea to stir up too much trouble.

It was a similar idea that had brought William and Mary over some years before.