s of the Hague so
boldly that his friends reproached him bitterly with his foolhardiness.
[263]

While Burnet was William's secretary for English affairs in Holland,
Dykvelt had been not less usefully employed in London. Dykvelt was one
of a remarkable class of public men who, having been bred to politics
in the noble school of John De Witt, had, after the fall of that great
minister, thought that they should best discharge their duty to the
commonwealth by rallying round the Prince of Orange. Of the diplomatists
in the service of the United Provinces none was, in dexterity, temper,
and manners, superior to Dykvelt. In knowledge of English affairs none
seems to have been his equal. A pretence was found for despatching him,
early in the year 1687, to England on a special mission with credentials
from the States General. But in truth his embassy was not to the
government, but to the opposition; and his conduct was guided by private
instructions which had been drawn by Burnet, and approved by William.
[264]

Dykvelt reported that James was bitterly mortified by the conduct of
the Prince and Princess. "My nephew's duty," said the King, "is to
strengthen my hands. But he has always taken a pleasure in crossing me."
Dykvelt answered that in matters of private concern His Highness had
shown, and was ready to show, the greatest deference to the King's
wishes; but that it was scarcely reasonable to expect the aid of a
Protestant prince against the Protestant religion. [265] The King was
silenced, but not appeased. He saw, with ill humour which he could
not disguise, that Dykvelt was mustering and drilling all the various
divisions of the opposition with a skill which would have been
creditable to the ablest English statesman, and which was marvellous
in a foreigner. The clergy were told that they would find the Prince
a friend to episcopacy and to the Book of Common Prayer. The
Nonconformists were encouraged to expect from him, not only toleration,
but also comprehension. Even the Roman Catholics were conciliated; and
some of the most respectable among them declared, to the King's face,
that they were satisfied with what Dykvelt proposed, and that they
would rather have a toleration, secured by statute, than an illegal and
precarious ascendency. [266] The chiefs of all the important sections
of the nation had frequent conferences in the presence of the dexterous
Envoy. At these meetings the sense of the Tory party was chiefly