[299] It had doubtless also occurred to William that if, by governing mildly and justly, and by showing a decent respect for the ceremonies and the ministers of the Roman Catholic religion, he should succeed in obtaining the confidence of the Belgians, he would inevitably raise against himself a storm of obloquy in our island.

He knew by experience what it was to govern two nations strongly attached to two different Churches.

A large party among the Episcopalians of England could not forgive him for having consented to the establishment of the presbyterian polity in Scotland.

A large party among the Presbyterians of Scotland blamed him for maintaining the episcopal polity in England.

If he now took under his protection masses, processions, graven images, friaries, nunneries, and, worst of all, Jesuit pulpits, Jesuit confessionals and Jesuit colleges, what could he expect but that England and Scotland would join in one cry of reprobation?
He therefore refused to accept the government of the Low Countries, and proposed that it should be entrusted to the Elector of Bavaria.