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it had been called forth by mutual sympathy in stead of by political considerations.

This reconciliation was to become of importance, not only to William and Mary personally, but even to England. After the lapse of three years, the English got so tired of James and of the revolting way, in which showed his predilection for the Roman Catholics and set aside the interests of his country, that they resolved to invite the prince of Orange to come over and deliver England from James's tyranny. William followed the iuvitation and James was compelled to leve the country. But then difficulties arose: There were in England several parties, one of which wanted to establish a Regeney and proclaim William their Regent, while another thought it more convenient to make Mary Queen and give William such part in the administration as she migth please. A small minority was for choosing William and Mary King and Queen and leave the administration to the former. Now the divergence of opinion at this critical moment might have been fatal, if there had not been full agreement between William and Mary. But their conduct soon put an end to the strife. William, after having kept silence as long as he thought silence desirable, at last declared before the Constituent Convention, that if he was not proclaimed King of England for life, and if the administration was not entirely left to him, he meant to return to Holland without consideration. Mary, who was still at the Hague, at the same time wrote a letter to Danby, the leader of the party that wanted to make her Queen without making William King, and reprimanded him severely, declaring her intentions and wishes to be the same as those of her husband. After this, there was but one course to take.

In the spring of the year 1689, William and Mary, after having signed the famons Declaration of Rights, in which they engaged themselves to hold sacred the rights of the English people and the privileges of the English

Parliament, were proclaimed King and Queen of England; both of them should enjoy the rights and privileges of Royalty, but William alone should conduct the administration of the government. As to the order of succession, it was arranged that after the death of the one of them who outlived the other, the crown should fall to their posterity. If they left behind them no children, the posterity of Ann, sister of Mary, should be preferred to any children that William might have by any other wife than Mary. Scotland they were in like manner proclaimed King and Queen, and the succession was settled on the same principles as in England.

In

Thus the good relation between William and Mary, which dated from that happy day of reconciliation at the Hague and which lasted ever since, turned out to be a blessing to their countries as well as to themselves. There is no knowing how the Revolution in England would have ended, if the perfect harmony between the Prince and the princess had not made it possible to arrange things so resolutely and so rapidly, that everything was put in order again before James and Louis could think of intervening.

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2.

William of Orange in 1677 married Mary, daughter of James II, king of England.

His choice had been dictated by political considerations, and their marriage was not happy at first, because they were very different. Mary was a nice girl of seventeen, intelligent and naturally well disposed, but ignorant; for her education had been neglicted. She had learnt nothing but to play on the spinet and to work embroidery, and had read only some religious books. William was about ten years older, and of a stern character, always serious and occupied by state-affairs and field-sports, and

he did not care much for his wife, whom he thought to be more ignorant and insignificant, than was the case. And in the beginning of their marriage he was a negligent husband, and was even drawn away from her by other women, who better understod to partake his cares. Mary knew well that he was not quite faithful to her, though he did all to conceal it, and bore it with a meekness and a patience, which at last won her William's esteem and affection, and never reproached him with anything. There was also another cause of estrangement between them. For Mary was one day to be Queen of England, and William, who was well versed in state-affaires, and knew that he on the whole possessed qualities, which are of great importance for a ruler, was only to take such a share in the administration, as Mary was pleased to give him. And William, who loved to rule, felt it as a humilition that his wife one day might be his superior. He was, as it were, jealous of her. Mary, howewer, knew nothing about this, she had learnt nothing about the constitution of her country, and never thought that the relation between her and her husband might be reversed. William was rather disposed to brood over his griefs than to talk about them, and said nothing, and they had been married for nine years, when Mary by Burnet, her true friend, was informed about the state of things. Her astonishement was great, aud when Burnet told her that she could induce Parliament to give the crown to William, she instantly declared herself willing to do so, saying there was no proof of conjugal submission, which she was not able to bring. She needed no meditation in such a case, she said, and wished to speak with William at once. The next day the interview between them took place, and now Mary warmly declared that she never wished to be his superior, but that it was her intention always to show him obedience, and, in return, she only asked him to love her. William was touched, and tenderly

promised to do so, and from that day to Mary's death in 1694 there was entire confidence and affection between them.

That William and Mary now were reconciled was of great importance; for shortly after, in 1688, the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, in England invited William to invade the country for his father-in-law had been hurled from the throne, having in many ways violated the constitution of the country. William accepted the invitation, and in November 1688 went over to England for the purpose of defending the liberty and the religion of the English people. In a short time all the people were on his side. There now sprang up different parties in England, some wishing Williams to be King, others wishing him only to be a regent with the title of king so long as Mary lived. But the people, when hearing that Mary did not at all wish to be set up as her husband's competitor, and that William would be nothing but King of England, saying he could fill no other office with honour to himself and with benefit for the country, declared William and Mary King aud Queen of England. Then it was resolved that, after their death, the crown was to devolve upon their children, and, if they had none, upon the children whom William might have by any other wife than Mary. Then it was to devolve upon Anne, Mary's sister, and her posterity. William agreed to this resolution, and signed the Declaration of Right, a document that secured the liberties of the English people. In February 1689 Mary, who had been detained. in Holland by ice and strong westerly winds, came over to England, and one day in the middle of February William and Mary were solemnly crowned King and Queen of England.

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3.

William's and Mary's marriage had been determined chiefly by political considerations, and it was therefore very unlikely that any mutual affection should grow up between them. William was much older than his wife, and as to disposition, inclinations and character on the whole they were very different from each other. William was an accomplished warrior and politician, whose thoughts were turned towards state affairs. He was ambitious and felt that he possessed great qualities. Consequently he looked for opportunities to display his ability. But his manners were altogether blunt, and his behaviour wanted the natural grace of fashionable people of the time.

Mary, om the other hand, was a simple-minded, ignorant girl. She was of a religious turn of mind, and her character was more amiable and submissive. In spite of William's reserved nature and chilling manners she was much devoted to him and in her relation to him often showed great disinterestedness. Whenever it was needed, she was willing to make any sacrifice to promote his interests.

At first their married life seemed to get even unhappy. William neglected his duties as a husband and cared nothing about his wife. He was, indeed, drawn away from her by another woman, whose name was Elisabeth Villiers. Though being no beauty the latter possessed qualities that made her excellently fitted to share his cares, and William therefore, appreciated her company very much. William himself was ashamed of his fault and tried to conceal it, but, after all, Mary knew that he was not faithful to her. Although she was deeply afflicted, Mary, however, bore her injuries with meekness and patience, and her touching affection and amiable behaviour gradually gained her William's love.

However, one cause of estrangement remained, a cause of which Mary had not the least idea. According to the

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