rin, and Rome. For this reason the Prince long abstained from formally
expressing his sentiments. At length it was represented to him that his
continued silence had excited much uneasiness and distrust among his
wellwishers, and that it was time to speak out. He therefore determined
to explain himself.

A Scotch Whig, named James Stewart, had fled, some years before, to
Holland, in order to avoid the boot and the gallows, and had become
intimate with the Grand Pensionary Fagel, who enjoyed a large share of
the Stadtholder's confidence and favour. By Stewart had been drawn up
the violent and acrimonious manifesto of Argyle. When the Indulgence
appeared, Stewart conceived that he had an opportunity of obtaining, not
only pardon, but reward. He offered his services to the government of
which he had been the enemy: they were accepted; and he addressed to
Fagel a letter, purporting to have been written by the direction
of James. In that letter the Pensionary was exhorted to use all his
influence with the Prince and Princess, for the purpose of inducing them
to support their father's policy. After some delay Fagel transmitted a
reply, deeply meditated, and drawn up with exquisite art. No person who
studies that remarkable document can fail to perceive that, though it
is framed in a manner well calculated to reassure and delight English
Protestants, it contains not a word which could give offence, even
at the Vatican. It was announced that William and Mary would, with
pleasure, assist in abolishing every law which made any Englishman
liable to punishment for his religious opinions. But between punishments
and disabilities a distinction was taken. To admit Roman Catholics to
office would, in the judgment of their Highnesses, be neither for the
general interest of England nor even for the interest of the Roman
Catholics themselves. This manifesto was translated into several
languages, and circulated widely on the Continent. Of the English
version, carefully prepared by Burnet, near fifty thousand copies were
introduced into the eastern shires, and rapidly distributed over the
whole kingdom. No state paper was ever more completely successful.
The Protestants of our island applauded the manly firmness with which
William declared that he could not consent to entrust Papists with any
share in the government. The Roman Catholic princes, on the other hand,
were pleased by the mild and temperate style in which his resolution
was expres