Passed by Parliament in December 1689 this gave statutory force to the Declaration of Rights presented to William and Mary on 13 February 1689. The bill closely followed the declaration in its recital of ancient rights, and the recent abuses of the royal prerogative by the catholic James II, deemed to have abdicated and hence vacated the throne. The succession was stated to lie in the heirs of the protestant Mary, and then her younger sister Anne. None could succeed who were of the catholic faith, or had married catholics.