nce. To that hope William
fondly clung. He spared no effort to propitiate Charles. The hospitality
which Monmouth found at the Hague is chiefly to be ascribed to the
Prince's anxiety to gratify the real wishes of Monmouth's father.
As soon as Charles died, William, still adhering unchangeably to his
object, again changed his course. He had sheltered Monmouth to please
the late King. That the present King might have no reason to complain
Monmouth was dismissed. We have seen that, when the Western insurrection
broke out, the British regiments in the Dutch service were, by the
active exertions of the Prince, sent over to their own country on the
first requisition. Indeed William even offered to command in person
against the rebels; and that the offer was made in perfect sincerity
cannot be doubted by those who have perused his confidential letters to
Bentinck. [222]

The Prince was evidently at this time inclined to hope that the great
plan to which in his mind everything else was subordinate might obtain
the approbation and support of his father in law. The high tone which
James was then holding towards France, the readiness with which he
consented to a defensive alliance with the United Provinces, the
inclination which he showed to connect himself with the House of
Austria, encouraged this expectation. But in a short time the prospect
was darkened. The disgrace of Halifax, the breach between James and the
Parliament, the prorogation: the announcement distinctly made by the
King to the foreign ministers that continental politics should no longer
divert his attention from internal measures tending to strengthen his
prerogative and to promote the interest of his Church, put an end to
the delusion. It was plain that, when the European crisis came, England
would, if James were her master, either remain inactive or act in
conjunction with France. And the European crisis was drawing near. The
House of Austria had, by a succession of victories, been secured from
danger on the side of Turkey, and was no longer under the necessity
of submitting patiently to the encroachments and insults of Lewis.
Accordingly, in July 1686, a treaty was signed at Augsburg by which the
Princes of the Empire bound themselves closely together for the purpose
of mutual defence. The Kings of Spain and Sweden were parties to this
compact, the King of Spain as sovereign of the provinces contained in
the circle of Burgundy, and the King of Sweden as Duke o