In these preparations by no means all, but yet by far the most important part, depended on the United Netherlands themselves.

At the beginning of the year 1688 no one had any ground for thinking that the States-General would aid the Prince in an undertaking against England. The first hint of such a project, which Fagel uttered in the assembly of the councillors-plenipotentiary, was answered by an ironical remark, recalling the undertaking and ruin of Monmouth; even the best friends of the Prince avoided further disclosures as far as possible, as they feared that they might be involved in a dilemma between the conflicting claims of his interest and the Republic's.

In a short time, however, people perceived that these interests touched one another very closely.

We have already mentioned the apprehension of a new alliance between England and France which arose out of the recall of the English regiments from the Dutch service. It was France which incited James to give the order, and a religious motive was urged in support of it; for Albeville constantly represented that those regiments were a nursery of Protestantism which might be expected to exercise a most disagreeable influence in England. This side of the question, its relation to the strife of creeds, was taken into consideration in the Netherlands also. When the affair came before the rulers of Amsterdam for discussion, the remark of one of the burgomasters, who reminded his colleagues that King James intended to employ the troops, on their return to England, for the suppression of Protestantism, made so great an impression that a resolution was carried to persist in refusing their discharge.