JAMES THE SECOND.

89

The estrangement between the King of England and the chap-Prince of Orange became daily more complete. A serious ■ 1687dispute had arisen concerning the six British regiments which Growingwere in the pay of the United Provinces. The King wished toput these regiments under the command of Roman Catholic Jamesofficers. The Prince resolutely opposed this design. The wuiiam.King had recourse to his favourite commonplaces about to-leration. The Prince replied that he only followed hisMajesty’s example. It was notorious that loyal and able menhad been turned out of office in England merely for beingProtestants. It was then surely competent to the Stadtholderand the States General to withhold high public trusts fromPapists, This answer provoked James to such a degree that,in his rage, he lost sight of veracity and common sense. Itwas false, he vehemently said, that he had ever turned outany body on religious grounds. And if he had, what wasthat to the Prince or to the States? Were they his masters?

Were they to sit in judgment on the conduct of foreign sove-reigns? From that time he became desirous to recall hissubjects who were in the Dutch service. By bringing themover to England he should, he conceived, at once strengthenhimself, and weaken his worst enemies. But there werefinancial difficulties which it was impossible for him to over-look. The number of troops already in his service was asgreat as his revenue, though large beyond all precedent andthough parsimoniously administered, would support. If thebattalions now inHolland were added to the existing establish-ment, the Treasury would be bankrupt. Perhaps Lewismight be induced to take them into his service. They wouldin that case be removed from a country where they were ex-posed to the corrupting influence of a republican governmentand a Calvinistic worship, and would be placed in a countrywhere none ventured to dispute the mandates of the sovereignor the doctrines of the true Church. The soldiers would soonunlearn every political and religious heresy. Their nativeprince might always, at short notice, command their help,and would, on any emergency, be able to rely on theirfidelity.