JAMBS THB SECOND.

25

such a sacrifice was indispensably necessary to his greatdesign. In the days of the Popish plot, therefore, though-he disapproved of the violence with which the oppositionattacked the royal authority, he exhorted the government togive way. The conduct of the Commons, he said, as re-spected domestic affairs, was most unreasonable: but whilethe Commons were discontented the liberties of Europe couldnever be safe; and to that paramount consideration everyother consideration ought to yield. On these principles heacted when the Exclusion Bill had thrown the nation into con-vulsions. There is no reason to believe that he encouragedthe opposition to bring forward that bill or to reject the offersof compromise which were repeatedly made from the throne.But when it became clear that, unless that bill were carried,there would be a serious breach between the Commons andthe court, lie indicated very intelligibly, though with de-corous reserve, his opinion that the representatives of thepeople ought to be conciliated at any price. When a violentand rapid rellux of public feeling had left the Whig party fora time utterly helpless, he attempted to attain his grand objectby a new road perhaps more agreeable to his temper thanthat which he had previously tried. In the altered temperof the nation there was little chance that any Parliament dis-posed to cross the wishes of the sovereign would be elected.Charles was for a time master. To gain Charles, therefore,was the Prince’s first wish. In the summer of 1683, almostat the moment at which the detection of the Rye House Plotmade the discomfiture of the Whigs and the triumph of theKing complete, events took place elsewhere which Williamcould not behold without extreme anxiety and alarm. TheTurkish armies advanced to the suburbs of Vienna. Thegreat Austrian monarchy, on the support of which the Princehad reckoned, seemed to be on the point of destruction.Bentinck was therefore sent in haste from the Hague to Lon-don, was charged to omit nothing which might be necessaryto conciliate the English court, and was particularly in-structed to express in the strongest terms the horror withwhich bis master regarded the Whig conspiracy.

CHAP.

VII.

1687.