The Embassy of Everaard van Weede 7 



manners, he possessed insight which made him the supreme 

 diplomat of his time. And feeling what was for Europe the primary 

 need, he saw that if ever he was to succeed in his life-purpose, 

 he must become master of the power of England. Since the cor- 

 onation of the Catholic king in Britain, national and inter- 

 national affairs were assuming an aspect so serious that William 

 at the beginning of the year 1687 realized that if ever he was to 

 win in his struggle against France, he must come to the foreground 

 in such a time as this. He marched forward, coldly and deter- 

 minedly, as the natural protector of religious liberties and the grand 

 Paladin of Europe. 



The Prince of Orange and James II had every reason for pro- 

 pitiating one another. The former hoped to win over his father- 

 in-law to the side against France. So long as this seemed possible, 

 he adopted a conciliatory attitude on every point but one. He 

 was willing to consent to a toleration of popery only with the 

 important (and ironic!) proviso that it were proposed and passed 

 in parliament. 1 * James II, on the other hand, desired but one 

 thing of his son-in-law — and it was the one thing William could 

 not give — consent for a thorough and absolute toleration of 

 Catholicism, which meant the repeal of the Test Act and Penal 

 Laws. The problem came to the fore in 1686 upon the mission of 

 William Penn to the Hague. Although the Prince was willing to 

 conciliate, the famous Quaker demanded, in the name of the 

 English King, 'all or nothing.' 15 



At the beginning of 1687, James II had broken with the parlia- 

 mentary leaders, who had done everything to avoid a rupture. 

 They had rejoiced at his coronation, they had tolerated the 

 Catholic worship in the royal chapel, they had even astonished the 



nicht der Kampf gegen Frankreich mit der gleichen Fruchtlosigkeit fortgefiihrt 

 werde, wie in dem ersten Coalitionskrieg und vvahrend des Widerstands gegen die 

 Reunionen." 



14 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 441. 



Foxcrof t, Life and Letters of Sir George Saville, First Marquis of Halifax, vol . 

 i, p. 477. 



16 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 441. 



91 



