Last year’s post covered William of Orange’s marriage to Mary Stuart (November 4, 1677). November 4
was important to William for another reason: it was his birthday. The year was 1650, making him just 27 when he
and Mary wed. The eldest son of the
daughter (also a Mary Stuart) of Charles I of England was never far from the
Stuart’s domain. Sir Walter Scott
portrays some of the background for William’s eventual ascendancy to the English throne in his “Tales
of a Grandfather”.
‘When the Duke of York ascended
the throne on the death of his brother Charles, he
assumed the title of James II. of England, and James VII. of Scotland.
His eldest daughter, Mary (whom he had by his first wife), was married to William, Prince of Orange,
the Stadtholder or President of tfce Dutch United
Provinces; a Prince of great
wisdom, sense, and courage, distinguished by the share he had taken in opposing
the ambition of France. He was now next heir to the
crown of England, unless the King, his
father-in-law, should have a surviving son by his
present Queen, Mary of Este. It was natural to
conclude, that the Prince of Orange viewed with the
most intense interest the various revolutions and changes of
disposition which took place in a kingdom where
he possessed so deep a stake. It did not escape
remark, that the Duke of Monmouth, the Earl of Argyle, and the various malcontents who were compelled
to fly from England or Scotland, seemed to find support, as well as refuge, in
Holland. On this subject James made several remonstrances
to his son-in-law, which the Prince evaded, by alleging that a free state, like the Dutch
republic, could not shut its ports against fugitives, of whatever description; and with
such excuses James was obliged to remain satisfied. Nevertheless, the enemies of the monarch were so completely
subdued, both in Scotland and England, that no prince in Europe seemed more
firmly seated upon his throne…’
