26

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

VII.

1687 .

During the eighteen months which followed, there wassome hope that the influence of Halifax would prevail, andthat the court of Whitehall would return to the policy of theTriple Alliance. To that hope William fondly clung. Hespared no effort to propitiate Charles. The hospitality whichMonmouth found at the Hague is chiefly to be ascribed to thePrince’s anxiety to gratify the real wishes of Monmouth’sfather. As soon as Charles died, William, still adhering un-changeably to his object, again changed his course. He hadsheltered Monmouth to please the late King. That the pre-sent King might have no reason to complain Monmouth wasdismissed. We have seen that, when the Western insur-rection broke out, the British regiments in the Dutch servicewere, by the active exertions of the Prince, sent over to theirown country on the first requisition. Indeed William evenoffered to command in person against the rebels; and that theoffer was made in perfect sincerity cannot be doubted bythose who have perused his confidential letters to Bentinck. *

The Prince was evidently at this time inclined to hope thatthe great plan to which in his mind everythin else was sub-ordinate might obtain the approbation and support of hisfather-in-law. The high tone which James was then holdingtowards France, the readiness with which he consented to adefensive alliance with the United Provinces, the inclinationwhich he showed to connect himself with the House of Austria,encouraged this expectation. But in a short time the prospectwas darkned. The disgrace of Halifax, the breach betweenJames and the Parliament, the prorogation, the announce-ment distinctly made by the King to the foreign ministers thatcontinental politics should no longer divert his attention frominternal measures tending to strengthen his prerogative and

* For example, “Je crois M. Feversham un trds brave ct honeslehomme. Mais je doute s’il a asser d’expdrience k diriger une si grandeaffaire qu'il a sur Ie bras. Dieu lui donne un succds prompt ct heureux.Mais je ne suis pas hors d’inquidtude.” July T ',. 1C85. Again, after hehad received the news of the battle ofSedgemoor, “Dieu soil loud dubon succds que les troupes du Roy ont eu conlre les rebelles. Je nedoute pas que cette affaire ne soit entidrement assoupie, et que le rdgnedu Roy sera heureux, ce que Dieu veuille." July 18.