C to ensure a Protestant monarchy
Explanation:
A few months after the coronation, Jacob, who openly professed the Catholic faith, began to pursue a policy that provoked the extreme displeasure of the Protestant majority. Under the pretext of fighting small rebellions, the king created a standing army, the size of which quickly grew to 40 thousand soldiers, and armed it with powerful artillery; at the same time, the Catholics from Ireland were preferred when recruiting soldiers. In November of the same 1685, the parliament was dissolved. In 1687, the king issued a Declaration on Religious Tolerance, favorable to Catholics. Fears of the Catholic restoration in the country and a new redistribution of property pushed away from the king his natural supporters - the Tories. The king appointed Catholics to all key posts in the country, and all who showed the slightest discontent or disobedience were immediately removed from their posts. The policy of "religious tolerance" in relation to the Catholics provoked a sharp protest from the Anglican bishops, as well as from the public indignant at the beginning expulsion of Protestants from neighboring France after the abolition of the Edict of Nantes (1685).
Opponents of the king (both Tories and Whigs) rallied in secret opposition, the moderate wing of which was led by the Marquis of Halifax, and the more radical one - by Count Danby (Thomas Osborne). Most importantly, part of the army officers, including army commander John Churchill, also participated in the conspiracy. Together, they decided to discuss the option of changing the "tyrant-papist" to the Dutch couple - Maria and Wilhelm.
Prince William of Orange was the largest figure among Protestant rulers throughout Europe, and as the ruler of the Netherlands he was worried about Jacob II's strengthening of the English army and navy, especially in light of the prospect of a possible Anglo-French alliance. Therefore, the removal of Jacob II from power seemed to William extremely desirable even regardless of his own prospects to become the ruler of England. By this time, Wilhelm had visited England several times and gained great popularity there.
