"My nephew's duty," said the King, "is to strengthen my hands.

But he has always taken a pleasure in crossing me." Dykvelt answered that in matters of private concern His Highness had shown, and was ready to show, the greatest deference to the King's wishes; but that it was scarcely reasonable to expect the aid of a Protestant prince against the Protestant religion.

[265] The King was silenced, but not appeased.

He saw, with ill humour which he could not disguise, that Dykvelt was mustering and drilling all the various divisions of the opposition with a skill which would have been creditable to the ablest English statesman, and which was marvellous in a foreigner.

The clergy were told that they would find the Prince a friend to episcopacy and to the Book of Common Prayer.