34 James Muilenburg 



Dykvelt who fell before James's strategy, but the other ambassa- 

 dors of the allied governments also saw in the English King's 

 offer the solution to their greatest problem. 148 On March 18, 

 James wrote in most amicable terms to his son-in-law. 149 He was 

 of the Prince's opinion that the peace of Christendom would be 

 preserved for at least a year. He was also of the opinion, and 

 had been "all along," that France would be quiet, "believing it 

 not their interest to be otherwise." 



In the same letter, James announced to the Prince that he had 

 that very day prorogued Parliament until November 22. 150 He 

 could not help seeing that he had nothing to hope from a body 

 that was each day growing more hostile and antagonistic. But 

 he did not intend Parliament to stand in his way, nor was he 

 daunted by the Prince's refusal to co-operate with him in his 

 plans for religious toleration. Apparently with the utmost uncon- 

 cern and equanimity, he adds in the same letter of March 18: 

 "That all my subjects may be at ease and quiet, and mind their 

 trades and private concerns, (sic) have resolved to give liberty 

 of conscience to all dissenters whatsoever, having been ever 

 against persecuting any for conscience sake." On the same day, 

 the King informed his Privy Council of his intentions to prorogue 

 Parliament and to grant liberty of conscience to all dissenters. 151 



A letter from Count Avaux to his master a few days later is 

 most significant. He informed the French King that Dykvelt's 

 attempts to unite the Prince and James could only separate them 

 because the designs of the English King to establish the Catholic 

 religion could never harmonize with those of the Prince, who as- 

 pired to make himself the leader of Protestantism and King of 

 England. Avaux adds that he had discovered that the Prince 

 was having important conferences, during the last six days that 

 he had been at the Hague, with the most factious of the English 



148 Dalrymple, Letter from King James to the Prince of Orange, May 10-May 21, 

 1687, from Whitehall, p. 164. 



149 Dalrymple, Letter from King James to the Prince of Orange, March 18- 

 March 29, 1687, from Whitehall, vol. ii, Appendix to Part I, p. 181. 



150 See also London Gazette, March 21, 1687. 



151 Ibid, idem. 



118 



