80

HISTORY OF EtfGYAKE.

CHAP.

xi.\.

J6U2.

respect for the ceremonies and the ministers of the RomanCatholic religion, he should succeed in obtaining the con-fidence of the Belgians, he would inevitably raise against him-self a storm of obloquy in our island. He knew by experience■what it was to govern two nations strongly attached to twodifferent Churches. A large party among the Episcopaliansof England could not forgive him for having consented to theestablishment of the presbyterian polity in Scotland. A largeparty among the Presbyterians of Scotland blamed him formaintaining the episcopal polity in England. If he now tookunder his protection masses, processions, graven images,friaries, nunneries, and, worst of all, Jesuit pulpits, Jesuitconfessionals and Jesuit colleges, what could he expect butthat England and Scotland would join in one cry of reproba-tion? He therefore refused to accept the government of theLow Countries, and proposed that it should be entrusted to theElector of Bavaria. The Elector of Bavaria was, after theEmperor, the most powerful of the Roman Catholic potentatesof Germany. He was young, brave, and ambitious of militarydistinction. The Spanish Court was 'willing to appoint him;and he was desirous to be appointed: but much delay wascaused by an absurd difficulty. The Elector thought it beneathhim to ask for what he wished to have. The formalists of theCabinet of Madrid thought it beneath the dignity of theCatholic King to give what had not been asked. Mediationwas necessary, and was at last successful. But much time waslost; and the spring was far advanced before the new Governorof the Netherlands entered on his functions.*

* Monthly Mercuries of January and April 1693; Burnet, ii. 84. In theBurnet MS. Harl. 6584, is a warm eulogy on the Elector of Bavaria. Whenthe MS. was written he was allied with England against France. In theHistory, which was prepared for publication when he was allied with Franceagainst England, the eulogy is omitted.