been put to death for treason, and who was honoured by his
party as a martyr.

The estrangement between the King of England and the Prince of Orange
became daily more complete. A serious dispute had arisen concerning the
six British regiments which were in the pay of the United Provinces. The
King wished to put these regiments under the command of Roman Catholic
officers. The Prince resolutely opposed this design. The King had
recourse to his favourite commonplaces about toleration. The Prince
replied that he only followed his Majesty's example. It was notorious
that loyal and able men had been turned out of office in England merely
for being Protestants. It was then surely competent to the Stadtholder
and the States General to withhold high public trusts from Papists. This
answer provoked James to such a degree that, in his rage, he lost sight
of veracity and common sense. It was false, he vehemently said, that he
had ever turned out any body on religious grounds. And if he had, what
was that to the Prince or to the States? Were they his masters? Were
they to sit in judgment on the conduct of foreign sovereigns? From that
time he became desirous to recall his subjects who were in the Dutch
service. By bringing them over to England he should, he conceived, at
once strengthen himself, and weaken his worst enemies. But there were
financial difficulties which it was impossible for him to overlook. The
number of troops already in his service was as great as his
revenue, though large beyond all precedent and though parsimoniously
administered, would support. If the battalions now in Holland were added
to the existing establishment, the Treasury would be bankrupt. Perhaps
Lewis might be induced to take them into his service. They would in that
case be removed from a country where they were exposed to the corrupting
influence of a republican government and a Calvinistic worship, and
would be placed in a country where none ventured to dispute the mandates
of the sovereign or the doctrines of the true Church. The soldiers would
soon unlearn every political and religious heresy. Their native prince
might always, at short notice, command their help, and would, on any
emergency, be able to rely on their fidelity.

A negotiation on this subject was opened between Whitehall and
Versailles. Lewis had as many soldiers as he wanted; and, had it been
otherwise, he would not have been disposed to take Englishmen into his
service; for the