66 James Muilenburg 



Years' War asserted itself. 311 The struggle continued to be one of 

 balance of power. 



At about the time that Dykvelt was making his final prepara- 

 tions for his embassy, Count Kaunitz, the envoy extraordinary 

 of the Emperor, arrived in London. 312 He proceeded at once to 

 make inquiries of the ambassadors of the friendly powers. He 

 interviewed Van Citters, the Dutch ambassador in London, but 

 he did not receive much encouragement. It was his hope — the 

 very purpose of his mission— to try to win over the King of 

 England to the cause of the allies against France. 313 When he 

 suggested this possibility to Van Citters, the latter laughed in his 

 face and told him to go ahead to find out for himself how much was 

 to be attained in foreign affairs with James. 314 On February 6, 

 Kaunitz had his interview with James, but nothing materialized 

 from it. 315 



Don Pedro de Ronquillo, the ambassador of Spain, was greatly 

 influenced by James's offer of opposition to France in return for 

 the repeal of the Test Act and Penal Laws. 316 Dykvelt's tempo- 

 rary approval of the offer of James has already been treated. 317 

 Ronquillo found it hard to explain Dykvelt's change of opinion 

 regarding religious toleration. The exact negotiations of Dykvelt 

 with the ambassadors have not yet been unfolded. The Editor of 

 Mackintosh suggests that the secret may be learned by a study of 

 the archives at Vienna, Madrid, or the Vatican. 318 



311 During the later years of this war, the struggle was no longer religious but 

 commercial. During these years was born the commercial supremacy of Holland 

 and the intense rivalry that characterized the European situation for the next 

 century. 



312 Klopp, p. 285 f., based on the report of Count Kaunitz of January 31, 1687. 

 Ralph, History of England, vol. i, p. 952. 



313 Ralph, idem. 



314 Klopp, p. 286, based on the report of Count Kaunitz of February 3, 1687. 



315 Ibid, p. 286, based on the report of Count Kaunitz of February 7, 1687. 



316 Mackintosh, Appendix, Letter of Don Pedro de Ronquillo to the King of 

 Spain, May 26, 1687, from London, p. 691 ff. 



317 Supra, p. 33 f. 



318 Mackintosh, Continuation, p. 459. 



150 



