The Embassy of Everaard van Weede 13 



The prime intent of James struck deeper than these minor 

 difficulties, however. He knew very well that his son-in-law 

 would be unwilling to act with him if he did nothing to placate 

 him. In private conferences with the Prince and Princess, Albe- 

 ville assured them that the King had no intention of wronging 

 them in the right of succession, 38 — the King had something far 

 more difficult with which to contend. He had to assert the rights 

 of his crown. 39 The Test Act and Penal Laws were restraints upon 

 his royal prerogative. They were unjust restrictions upon his 

 liberties. Therefore he sought to win the support of his children, 

 the Prince and Princess. He even suggested opposition to France 

 as a boon. 40 It would be to the interests of William and Mary to 

 support him. 41 



38 Mackintosh, History of the Revolution of 1688, Continuation , p. 451. 



"The statement of Burnet respecting the King's assurances, through D'Alby- 

 ville, of 'not wronging the Prince and Princess of Orange in the succession to the 

 crown,' is corroborated. Van Citters writes to the States, that the King, in the 

 same audience in which he denied the alliance with France, repudiated with 

 vehemence the supposition of his promoting his religion by defrauding his children 

 of their inheritance.* At a subsequent period he repeated this assurance, in a 

 holograph letter to D'Albyville, which that envoy placed in the hands of 

 D'Avaux."** 



* Dutch Political Correspondence, ubi supra. 



** Negotiations du Comte d'Avaux, 22 Av. 1687. Fox, MSS. 



39 Kramprich's Report of January 23, 1687, as given in Klopp, Dcr Fall des 

 Hauses Stuart, vol. iii, p. 281. 



40 Klopp, Der Fall des Hauses Stuart, p. 281. 

 Burnet, History of His Own Time, p. 451. 



The correspondence that James was keeping with the French court at this 

 time makes it well nigh incredible that this bait, which he allowed Albeville to 

 throw out, was at all genuine. The editor of Mackintosh states his opinion con- 

 cisely, "There are strong grounds for pronouncing against the sincerity of James. 

 He could not, without violences almost inconceivable, overcome his sympathies, 

 and sever his conexion, religious, political, and pecuniary, with Louis XIV. It is 

 true he was a conscientious religionist, but his political morality was like that of 

 other kings and princes, and he would not scruple to deceive a son-in-law, whom 

 with good reason he hated and feared. His proposition, then, of joining the con- 

 federacy against France, may be regarded as a lure to obtain the assent of the 

 Prince to the repeal of the tests, for the purpose of ruining his credit in England." 

 Mackintosh, History of the Revolution in England in 1688, Continuation, p. 456. 



41 Ibid, p. 281. 



97 



