"A: C. publick, to make the Hollanders fenfible of their Ingratitude, by convincing them, that only the Family of the Founders of their Commonwealth, was capable to prevent its total Ruin, and to reftore it to its former Grandeur.

Dover

Treaty. 2670.

Dutch
War in

1672.

King Charles II. both by the fubtle Negotiation of Monfieur Colbert, His Moft Chriftian Majesty's Ambaffador, the prevailing infinuations of his French Miftrefs, and the preffing Inftances of the Duke of York, Sign'd a fecret Treaty with France, which was afterwards Ratified at Dover, at an Interview between his Britannick Majefty, and Madame, the Dutchefs of Orleans his Sifter,; whom the King of France had purposely fent over. King Charles was the more easily drawn into this Treaty, in that, befides large Subfidies, the French flatter'd him with the enfnaring Hopes of Arbitrarinefs; a Bait which few Princes are able to reject. Pursuant to this Alliance, the King of Great Britain abandon'd the glorious Work he had undertaken of fettling the Peace of Christendom, by giving stop to the French Career, which was in a fair way to over-run all Europe; Sir William Temple was recall'd from the Hague; the Triple League; which that great Minifter had taken fo much Pains to cement, was fuddenly broken; and the Defign was laid of making War upon Holland, in Conjunction with the French.

As King Charles had entred into the Project of this War without the Advice of his Parliament, fo His Majefty was oblig'd to carry it on without their Affiftance; and to depend upon the Purfe of the King of France for the fitting out his, Navy. Monfieur Colbert, to eafe his Mafter of part of that great Charge, advis'd King Charles to feize the Dutch Smyrna-Fleet, which would Supply him with more Money than the Houfe of Commons was ever like to give him at once. His Majesty approv'd this Overture, and the World was aftonifh'd at the English Declaration of War against Holland in 1672; Firft by Matter of Fact, in falling upon their Smyrna Fleet, and in Confequence of that (however it fail'd) by a formal Manifefto,

in which they gave Reafons for their Quarrel; A. C. whilft the French contented themselves to give no 1672. other for their part of it, than only the Glory n of their Monarch. The Dutch could never be poffeft with a Belief that the English were in Earneft, till the Blow was given, but thought His Britannick Majefty's Unkindness and Expoftulations of late, would end at laft either in Demands of Money, or the Prince of Orange's Reftitution to the Authority of his Predeceffors; nor could the Princes concern'd in their Safety, be lieve that after having fav'd Flanders out of the Hands of the French, His Majefty would fuffer Holland to fall into the fame Danger. But then the French immediately fet out their Declaration, and began their Invafion, which was the moft fuccefsful, as it was the leaft expected.

Memoirs,

pag. 19.

'Tis fcarce to be imagin'd with what a prodigi-Greas Pro ous Torrent the Victorious Arms of France o-gress of the ver-ran all the United Provinces. Of all the French, Towns and Fortreffes on the German fide (held 1672. impregnable in all their former Wars,) not one, be- Sir W fides Maeftricht made any fhew of Refiftance, and Temple's the French became immediately Mafters of all the Inland Places, in as little time as Travellers ufu-" ally employ to view them. Among the reft, Utrecht and Zutphen open'd there Gates at the first approach of the Enemy; for altho' there were numerous Garrifons in both thefe Places, yet being compos'd of Burghers, and commanded by Officers of little or no Experience, they were frighted at the fight of a well Difciplin❜d, Couragious Army, headed by a Monarch that knew how to make the best advantage of his Victory, and the Alarm he had ftruck amongst the Hollan ders. The King of France fixt his Camp and his Court at Utretcht, and from thence began to confider the ways how to Poffefs himself of the other Towns, which were defended not only by their Situation on fome flat Lands; that, as they had by infinite Labour and vaft Expence in Ca nals and Dikes, been either gain'd or preferv'd from Inundations, fo they were fubject to them C

upon

A. C. upon opening the Sluces, whenever the Dutch found 1672. no other way of Saving their Country, but by lofing it. This was the Prefervation of the State: For His Moft Chriftian Majefty unwilling to venture the Glory and Advantage of fuch Conquefts, as he had made that Summer, upon the hazards of a new fort of War, with an uncontroulable Element, where neither Courage nor Conduct were of Ufe, refolv'd to leave the reft to Negotiations of Peace with the States, upon the Terms he stood in, and the fmall diftance of Place between them; or, if thefe fhould prove ineffectual, then he trusted to the Frofts of the following Winter, which feldom fail in that Country, to make all paffable and fafe for Troops and Carriages, that in the Summer would be impaffable, either from the Waters, or the looseness of the Soil.

The Dutch thinking themselves fufficiently fecured by the Treaty of Munster; and that no Body could hurt them, but the too great Power of the Houfe of Naffau, by Reafon of its Alliance with France, and particularly with England, had made no Provifion for their Defence, either at Home or Abroad; and the Empire, Spain and Sweden ftood at a Gaze upon the opening of the War, not knowing upon what Measures between England and France it was begun, nor how far the English would fuffer it to go on upon the French Conquefts. Befides, the Animofities of the Parties in Holland, long exprefs'd under their new Conftitution, and De-Witt's Ministry, began to Hame again upon this Misfortune of their State. The Prince's Friends talk'd loud and boldly, that there was no other way to fatisfie Engiand but Reftoring his Highness; and that the bafenefs and Cowardife of their Troops, were the Effects of turning out all Officers of worth and bravery for their Inclinations to the Houfe of Orange, and mean Fellows brought in upon no other Recommendation than their Enmity to it; adding, that as his Highness's Illuftrious Predeceffors had formerly deliver'd them from the Tyranny of the Spaniards,

Spaniards, fo he alone could ftop the Fury and A. C. Progrefs of the French. Upon this all Men expect- 1672. ed a fudden Change, the States were in Diforder, C and Irrefolute what to do: The Troops were without a General, and which is yet worfe, without Heart; and though De Ruyter, by admirable Conduct, kept the Infection of thofe Evils out of his Fleet, which it was the English part to deal with, yet Faction, Diftrust and Sedition caus'd a Difmal Distraction both in the State and in the Army.

In the mean time the Princefs Dowager, GrandMother to his Highness, a Lady of incomparable Prudence, and Mafculine Courage, who fufferr'd with Impatience the Eclipfe of the Houfe of Orange, which the bad beheld in its Splendor, was not a little industrious in awakening those Perfons that were in her Interefts, and who were very numerous. Nor could it be thought a Crime for her to feek the Advantage of her Grand-Child, by the Prefervation of his Country, when fo many ftrive to raise themselves by the Ruin of their Native Land.They therefore rous'd up,and disdaining to fee themselves defpis'd, or that all the Employments of the Common-wealth fhould be beftowed on the Sons of Burgo Masters: And at the fame time making use of the Fury and Difcontents of the People, who juftly alarm'd to fee a Victorious Army in the Bowels of their Country, fpoke of nothing but Sacrificing the De-Witts, managed their Affairs fo dextroufly, that they compaft their Designs. For after the Prince had made a Journey towards the beginning of the Year 1672. to vifit the Fortifications of fome Places, the States of Holland and WeftFriezland being Affembled, it was unanimously a-The Prince greed, that he thould be chofen Captain and Ad. of Orange miral General of the United Provinces, which is made was notified next day to the States General; and Captain on the 24th of February Monfieur De Beverning, ral General John De-Witt, and Gafpar Fagel were deputed by Feb. 24, the States to Inveft his Highness in thofe Ancient 1672. Dignities belonging to his Ancestors. The Prince had no fooner accepted their Offer, and taken the

ufual

and Admi

A. C.

ufual Oaths before the States, but he immediately 1672. repair'd to the Army, which was then Pofted near Nieukop; where all his Highness could do against Repairs to the whole Power of France, Commanded by the the Army. King in Perfon, was to keep his Poft. This he perform'd with fo much Conduct, that the Enemy, as Powerful as he was, could gain no Advantage on that fide; and having attempted to force the Prince out of his Retrenchments, they were compell'd to retire with lofs, and to abandon their Works.

Infurrection All this while the Frontier Towns and Garrisons at Dort. in the Province of Holland falling every Day into the Hands of the Enemy, the People complain'd aloud and openly of thofe that Govern'd. The Inhabitants of Dort were the firft that rofe, and fent one of their Captains to the Magiftrates to know whether they were refolv'd to defend the City or fit ftill? The Magiftrates Anfwer'd, that they were ready to refift the Efforts of thofe that fhould attack them, and to do all that could be expected from them for the fecurity of the City. This Anfwer did not entirely fatisfie the People, who demanded at the fame time to fee the Magazines. But the Keys being miffing, this put the Mob into fo great a Ferment, that there were a Thoufand Voices crying out, That there was Treachery in the Cafe; and that they would have the Prince of Orange to be their Stadtholder; threatning to Murder the Magiftrates upon the fpot, if they did not immediately comply with their Demands. Thefe Menaces fo terrified the Magiftrates, that they dif patch'd Commiffioners that very Moment to his Highness, befeeching him to haften to their City, to appease the Commotions of the People. The Prince alledg'd feveral Reafons to convince them how Dangerous it was for him to leave the Army; but all was to no purpofe; and his Highnefs was forc'd to yield to their Intreaties and Importunity. Being therefore with great Solemnity conducted to the Town Hall, the Magiftrates defir'd him to fignifie his Pleafure to them; to which his Highness anfwer'd, That it was their