o the Protestant
Church, of the Lady Mary, eldest daughter of the Duke of York, and after
him heir presumptive to the crown; the second and more important was the
marriage of that princess to William of Orange. This prince was son of
the king's eldest sister, and therefore grandson of Charles I. As a hero
who, by virtue of his statesmanship and indomitable courage, had rescued
Holland from the hateful power of France, he was regarded not only
as the saviour of his country, but as the protector of protestantism.
Already a large section of the English nation turned their eyes towards
him as one whom they might elect some day to weald the sceptre of
Great Britain. Subtle, ambitious, and determined, a silent student of
humanity, a grave observer of politics, a sagacious leader in warfare,
he had likewise begun to look forward towards the chances of succeeding
his uncle in the government of England--in hopes of which he had been
strengthened by the private overtures made him by Shaftesbury, and
sustained by the public prejudices exhibited against the Duke of York.

The proposed union between him and the heiress presumptive to the crown
was regarded by the nation with satisfaction, and by the prince as an
act strongly favouring the realization of his desires for sovereignty.
Cold and grave in temperament, sickly and repulsive in appearance, blunt
and graceless in manner, he was by no means an ideal bridegroom for a
fair princess; but neither she nor her father had any choice given them
in a concern so important to the pacification of the nation. She, it
was whispered at court, had previously given her heart to a brave young
Scottish laird; and her father, it was known, had already taken an
instinctive dislike to the man destined to usurp his throne. In October,
1677, the Prince of Orange came to England, ostensibly to consult with
King Charles regarding the establishment of peace between France and
the Confederates; but the chief motive of his visit was to promote
his marriage, which had some time before been proposed, and owing to
political causes had been coolly received by him. Now, however, his
anxiety for the union was made plain to the king, who quickly agreed to
his desires. "Nephew," said he to the sturdy Dutchman, "it is not good
for man to be alone, and I will give you a help meet for you; and so,"
continues Burnet, "he told him he would bestow his niece on him."

The same afternoon the monarch informed his council