68 James Muilenburg 



It was a lively meeting. James was not ignorant of Dykvelt's 

 constant negotiations, but he was willing to overlook all that 

 Dykvelt had done if he could but get the Prince to acquiesce in 

 his religious policy. 328 He pressed his demand for the Prince's 

 consent to the repeal of the Test Act. He spoke with firmness and 

 vivacity. He was intent on the repeal. And he did not hesitate 

 to say that he would dissolve Parliament as soon as he saw that 

 it was impossible to obtain his desires. 329 He would dissolve any 

 Parliament that stood in opposition to him. He reproached Dyk- 

 velt severely for his interviews with the most factious elements 

 in England. But Dykvelt defended himself admirably. He did 

 not deny that he had spoken to "the most considerable personnages 

 in England," but he had done it in order to render to the Prince 

 a more correct account of the real feelings of the country. "It 

 is for that very thing that I have permitted myself to speak to 

 you as I have done," he continued, "but I am an honest fellow, 

 and I am incapable of having taken with them any union which 

 could bring prejudice to the interests of your majesty." 330 



Dykvelt certainly had every reason to believe that he had 

 incurred the king's resentment. But James, in his letter to the 

 Prince at the time of Dykvelt's departure, made no complaints 

 against the envoy. 331 In the letter he besought the Prince to 

 agree to what he had asked of Dykvelt. It was for the good of the 

 monarchy and "of our own family." And he adds quite signifi- 

 cantly: 



And though, may be, some persons, that are not well affected to me, nor the 

 government, have misrepresented some things to him and find fault with my 

 proceedings in several things, yet I am satisfied I have not made one step, but 

 what is good for the kingdom in general, as well as for the monarchy, and have more 

 reason every day than other to be pleased with having put out my declaration for 

 liberty of conscience. 



328 Mackintosh, Appendix, Letter of Adda to the Pope, June 20, 1687, p. 640. 

 Quoted also in Klopp, p. 328. 



329 Ranke, History of England, vol. iv, p. 329 f. 



330 Mazure, vol. ii, p. 255. 



331 Dalrymple, Letter from King James to the Prince of Orange, May 28, 1687, 

 from Windsor, p. 183. 



152 



