The dismission of the two brothers is a great epoch in the reign of James. From that time it was clear that what he really wanted was not liberty of conscience for the members of his own church, but liberty to persecute the members of other churches. Pretending to abhor tests, he had himself imposed a test. He thought it hard, he thought it monstrous, that able and loyal men should be excluded from the public service solely for being Roman Catholics. Yet he had himself turned out of office a Treasurer, whom he admitted to be both loyal and able, solely for being a Protestant. The cry was that a general proscription was at hand, and that every public functionary must make up his mind to lose his soul or to lose his place. [207] Who indeed could hope to stand where the Hydes had fallen? They were the brothers in law of the King, the uncles and natural guardians of his children, his friends from early youth, his steady adherents in adversity and peril, his obsequious servants since he had been on the throne. Their sole crime was their religion; and for this crime they had been discarded. In great perturbation men began to look round for help; and soon all eyes were fixed on one whom a rare concurrence both of personal qualities and of fortuitous circumstances pointed out as the deliverer. CHAPTER VII William, Prince of Orange; his Appearance--His early Life and Education--His Theological Opinions--His Military Qualifications--His Love of Danger; his bad Health--Coldness of his Manners and Strength of his Emotions; his Friendship for Bentinck--Mary, Princess of Orange--Gilbert Burnet--He brings about a good Understanding between the Prince and Princess--Relations between William and English Parties--His Feelings towards England--His Feelings towards Holland and France--His Policy consistent throughout--Treaty of Augsburg--William becomes the Head of the English Opposition--Mordaunt proposes to William a Descent on England--William rejects the Advice--Discontent in England after the Fall of the Hydes--Conversions to Popery; Peterborough; Salisbury--Wycherley; Tindal; Haines--Dryden--The Hind and Panther--Change in the Policy of the Court towards the Puritans--Partial Toleration granted in Scotland--Closeting--It is unsuccessful--Admiral Herbert--Declaration of Indulgence--Feeling of the Protestant Dissenters--Feeling of the Church of England--The Court and the Church--Letter to a Dissenter; Conduct of the Dissenters--Some of the Dissenters side with the Court; Care; Alsop--Rosewell; Lobb--Venn--The Majority of the Puritans are against the Court; Baxter; Howe,--Banyan--Kiffin--The Prince and Princess of Orange hostile to the Declaration of Indulgence--Their Views respecting the English Roman Catholics vindicated--Enmity of James to Burnet--Mission of Dykvelt to England; Negotiations of Dykvelt with English Statesmen--Danby--Nottingham--Halifax--Devonshire--Edward Russell;