234 
IT O L L 
marked, that during the whole courfe of it,,the fubjefts 
of the republic traded to the Spaniih ports, as if there 
had been an entire friendfhip fubfifting between the two 
nations. It was np uncommon practice with them to 
fupply towns with'provifion that were befieged by their 
own armies ; and to furnifh the enemy with ammunition 
and other neceffaries, without which they could not carry 
on the war. Their apology for this conduct was, that 
thus they kept in their own hands the profits by which 
other nations would be enriched. By purfuing this line 
of conduct, making as many prizes as they could by force, 
and at the fame time making as much profit of their ene¬ 
mies as could be obtained by a lucrative trade, it is no 
wonder that the republic fhould rival in wealth the greateil 
nations of Europe. In 1628 the Spaniards met with a 
dreadful blow by the capture of their flota from Mexico. 
This was the greateff prize the Hollanders had ever met 
with, being valued at no lefs than 1 5,000,000 livres. From 
this time the Spaniards were every where defeated and 
baffled in almoff every enterprife they undertook; never- 
thelefs they carried on the war, with an obftinacy hardly 
to be believed, for twenty years longer. At laft, in 1648, 
a treaty was concluded, by which the Spaniih monarch 
again renounced all right and fovereignty over the States- 
general of the United Provinces, who were thenceforth 
declared a free and independent republic; and that both 
fides fhould remain in the unmoleited poffeffion of what 
they held feverally at the figning of the treaty. 
From this time the commerce of Europe contributed 
effientially to the enrichment of the United Provinces. 
By invariably purfuing maxims of prudence, of induftry, 
and frugality, the republic attained the higheft pitch of 
grandeur. Amfterdam became the emporium of Europe, 
and the richelt city in the univerfe. The States dii'patched 
minifters and conluls to China, Siam, a'nd Bengal, to the 
Great Mogul, the king of Periia, the khan of Tartary, 
the Grand Signior, the czar of Mufcovy, and the princes 
of Africa. They were confidered as an important weight 
in the fcale of nations; and no treaty was concluded with¬ 
out their ambaffadors. The triple alliance with England 
and Sweden, into which they had entered, gave Louis 
XIV. fufpicion that they propofed to fet bounds to his 
ambition, and clip thofe bold pinions which had fo fwiftly 
conveyed his conquefts over the Low Countries. The 
French king was fhocked at the prefumption and pride of 
a republic juft ftarted out of obfcurity, and gained, in the 
fpace of a century, from the ocean. But what was moft 
alarming to Louis, was the probability that the Dutch 
would ruin the manufactures of France, and his new-efta- 
blifhed commerce of the Indies. His jealoufy difcovered 
itfelf in divers inftances ; and the penfioner De Witt, who 
at that time had the leading of affairs, his brother, and 
his party, did all in their power to remove thole preju¬ 
dices; but the unhappy differences which then prevailed 
in the United Provinces fruftrated all their endeavours. 
Louis in the mean while fought every opportunity of 
breaking with the Dutch; lefs perhaps from any dread of 
their power, or ability to injure him, than with a view 
to .enlarge his dominions by the entire conqueft of the 
Low Countries. He knew that the whole ftrength of the 
republic confifted in her marine; that her frontier was 
weak, her provinces divided, and the chief power in the 
hands of men jnveterately fet; again ft the family of Orange, 
the ancient faviours of the republic. His ftrft attempt was 
to -diffolve the triple alliance, and difeiigage from it 
Charles II. king of Engfand. In this bufinefs the duchefs 
of Orleans was employed : fhe went to England under 
pretence of vifiting*the king her brother; and her nego¬ 
tiation was fuccefsful. In the mean time Louis poffelled 
himl'elf of Lorraine, under pretence that duke Charles was 
forming alliances in the empire againff France. 
The following year was fpent in negociations witli the 
emperor of Germany, Spain, and Sweden, with the electors 
of Cologne and Brandenburg, with the bifhop of Munfter, 
and other fpiritual and German princes. The deiign of 
A N D. 
Louis was to prevent .their acceding to the triple alliance; 
from which he had already weaned one power, the mcft 
confiderabie of the whole. In Sweden, Louis’s negocia¬ 
tions were equal!y fuccefsful; for he prevailed fo far with 
Charles XI. as to obtain a ftipulation, that if the emperor, 
or any of the princes of the empire, joined their forces to 
the Dutch, a Swedifh army fhould inarch into the very 
heart of Germany and join the French, in order to force 
thofe princes to oblerve the treaty of Weftphaiia. 
Of all the Germanic body, the elector of Brandenburgh 
alone interefted himfelf for the fafety of the States-gene- 
ral. The peace of Weftphaiia had prevented this enter- 
prifing prince from extending his dominions in Germany. 
Fie had long afpired at the ftadtholderfhip of Holland; 
and, though that office had been for fix years fuppreffed, 
yet he flattered himfelf, that in cafe of a war he might 
obtain it, perpetuate it in his family, and in time reduce 
Holland by dint of force, intrigue, and ftratagem. With 
this view, he rejected the propofals of France, endeavour¬ 
ing by every poifible method to iniinuate himfelf into the 
friendfhip and confidence of the States. He therefore con¬ 
cluded a treaty with them, whereby it was ftipulated that 
he fhould affiit the republic with twenty-five thoufand 
men. Beverning, the Dutch ambaffador at Madrid, had 
theaddrefs to dilconcert all the fchemes of France at that 
court, and engaged the queen of Spain to furnifh .money 
and troops for the defence of the United Provinces. Thus 
was the face of Europe furprifingly. changed. France and 
England, who had contributed largely to the railing and 
aggrandizing the republic, were now incited to deftroy 
her; while Spain, which for an age had been endeavour¬ 
ing to fupprefs her, was arming for her fupport. Pierre 
de Groot, the Dutch minifter at the Hague, was employed 
to panetrate into Louis’s defigns; he gave his conftituents 
notice that he forefaw a terrible florm ready to fall upon 
them, which they might neverthelefs break by feafonable 
fubmiffions and proper acknowledgments. Upon this the 
States wrote to the king, endeavouring to appeafe his wrath; 
but, finding him inexorable, they prepared for receiving 
him, and provided for the fecurity of the provinces. 
As foon as matters were ripe for execution, Louis or¬ 
dered an army of one hundred thoufand men to file off 
towards the Rhine. Before the opening of the campaign, 
and previous to his declaration of war, he divided his ar¬ 
my into four columns; commanding one in perfon, with 
the marflial Turerine under him. Another was led by the 
prince of Conde, affifted by the marfhals Humieres and 
Bellefonds; the third was headed by Crequi; and the 
fourth marched to Weftphaiia under the conduct of the 
duke of Luxemburgh, to join the bifhop of Munfter. As 
the marfhals Crequi, Bellefonds, and Humieres, refufed 
to receive orders from Turenne, they were banifhed ; but, 
after fix months exile, were recalled, at the inftance of the 
whole body of marfhals in France, upon their making 
proper fubmiffions. 
Such an army drawing towards their frontiers could not 
hut terrify the Dutch, now torn with civil factions. The 
partifans of the Orange family were for abolifhing the per¬ 
petual edict, and railing William III. to the dignity en¬ 
joyed by his predeceffors; but the De Witt faftion oppofed 
him violently, though they could not prevent the young 
prince from being chofen captain-general and high-ad¬ 
miral. Many pericms hoped that William’s new dignity 
would incline his uncle Charles II. of England, to return 
to the triple alliance : but that hope was fruftrated by the 
conducf: of-his majefty; who, in conjunction with Louis, 
declared war againft the States-general on the 7th of April, 
1671. A month after, the eleftor of Cologne and bifhop 
of Munfter followed the example of the two kings. The 
Dutch put themfelves in the beft pofture of defence that 
circumftances would admit. Maeftricht was ftrongly gar- 
rifoned; the prince of Orange had affembled an army of 
twenty-five thoufand men, with which he advanced to 
the banks of the Iffel, and the Dutch.fleet cruifed off the 
mouth of the Thames, to prevent the junftion of the 
naval 
