The Embassy of Everaard van Weede 2 1 



would do all in his power to further their interests with the King 

 of England. It was a formality with which he could not dispense. 

 These were the men who represented the great commercial in- 

 terests, and he realized that their support was an asset to him. 79 



Dykvelt's Departure and His Arrival in England 



Events conspired for the success of Dykvelt. Barillon worked 

 diligently with Sunderland, but the latter was too crafty. 80 Louis 

 XIV informed the English king of the Prince's hostile designs, but 

 James II made little effort to prevent the embassy. S1 The men 

 of Amsterdam were strongly pro-French, but they besought 

 Dykvelt "to put them in a good understanding" with the King of 

 England. 82 



News came from England at about this time which greatly 

 strengthened national desire in Holland for an embassy. The 

 English Parliament had been called to meet in February. If James 

 permitted the meeting, it would be evidence to Holland and to 

 Europe that there was no need to fear an Anglo-French alliance. 

 If, on the other hand, the Parliament was prorogued, it would be 

 evidence that national sentiment in England itself distrusted James. 

 On January 27, Kramprich reports the prorogation of the English 

 Parliament: "It was greeted with a general joy in Holland. It 

 provided proof that the distrust of the King was paramount, and 

 gave assurance, at the same time, that the King would spare no 

 money in the completion of his designs. The King of France 

 would supply James II with means." 83 The Prince of Orange 

 now appeared as a champion of the Protestant religion and 

 Parliamentary government. 84 



79 Van Hamel, in describing this period in his Nederland tusschen den Mogendhe- 

 den, calls it a "koopmansgeslacht," — a generation of merchants. 



80 Ellis, The Ellis Correspondence, vol. i, p. 224. 

 Foxcroft, Life and Letters of Halifax, vol. ii, p. 27. 

 Mackintosh, p. 458. 



81 Avaux, p. 41 ff. 



82 Ibid, p. 14. 



83 Kramprich's Report of January 27, 1687, vol. iii, p. 284. 



84 Klopp, vol. iii, p. 285. 



105 



