A perpetual League of mutual Defence and Alliance between His Majesty, and the Estates General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries; Together with a Confirmation of the Articles of Commerce, agreed upon by the Treaty at Breda.
WHereas by the late Treaty concluded at Breda, between the most Serene and most Potent Prince and Lord Charles the Second, King of Great Britain on the one part, and the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces on the other part, the ancient Friendship and good Correspondency between the two Nations has by the mercy of God been restored; And for the taking away all occasions of new Differences for the future, and for preventing such accidents as might happen between the Subjects of either side to the disturbance of the said Amity and good Correspondence; certain Rules and Articles of Commerce and Navigation were then agreed upon, and particularly in the 11. Article of the said Treaty it was agreed, That the said Lord the King, and the said Lords the States General should be [Page 4]and remain Friends, Confederates and Allyes, for the defending the Rights and Priviledges of each others Subjects, against all persons whatsoever, who should endeavour by Land or Sea to disturb the Peace of either State, or who being Inhabitants in eithers Dominions should be declared Publick Enemies of either State: But yet no particular mention being there made of the Aids and Succours wherewith one Party should in such case be oblieged to assist the other; And as well the said King, as the said States General, resolving to strengthen and to bring yet to further perfection the said Agreements, have agreed in the first and principal place to confirm, as by these presents they do confirm, the said Treaty concluded at Breda, and the said Rules and Articles of Commerce thereto belonging, mutually obliging themselves to a sincere and perpetual observation of them, and to cause them to be strictly and religiously observed and fulfilled by the Subjects on either side, according to the genuine sense and meaning of the said Treaty, and the Articles therein contained. And further for ascertaining the Succours to be mutually given, which was omitted in the said Treaty as aforesaid, as well to improve and encrease the Friendship that is between the said Lord the King, and the said Lords the States General, as for seasonably providing by a closer Union and Alliance for the mutual safety and defence of each State against the Hostile attempts and practices of whomsoever, and under what pretence soever, We whose names are underwritten, by vertue of the Powers and Commissions to Us granted, and which are to be inserted in the close hereof, have agreed and [Page 5]concluded, That the said Lord the King of Great Britain, and the said Lords the States General of the United Netherlands, shall be, and by vertue of these Presents they are mutually allied, united and confederate in a perpetual Defensive League, on the Terms and Conditions following.
I.
That if any Prince or State, or any other of what condition soever, none excepted, shall under any pretence whatsoever, invade, or endeavour to invade the Territories, Countries, or any places whatsoever, under the Dominion of the said King of Great Britain, or exercise any other act of Hostility, either by Land or Sea, against the said Lord the King, or his Subjects; the said Lords the States General shall be oblieged, and by vertue of these Presents they are oblieged for the Opposing, Suppressing or Repelling of such Attempts, and acts of Hostility, and for obtaining reparation of damages sustained thereby, to assist the said Lord the King with fourty Ships of War well equipped, of which 14 to carry between 60 and 80 Guns, and 400 men apiece one with another: Fourteen others, from 40 to 60 Guns, and at least 300 men apiece one with another; and none of the rest to carry less then 36 Guns, and 150 men: As also with 6000 Foot, and 400 Horse, or the just value in Money of such succour, at the choice of the said Lord the King, or with such part of the said succour, or the value of it in Money, as the said Lord the King shall desire; the said succours to be given within the space of six weeks after they shall be required; and the said Lord the King to refund and pay back all the [Page 6]Charges to the said Lords the States within three years after the end of the War.
II.
That if any Prince or State, or any other whosoever he be, none excepted, shall upon any pretence whatsoever, invade or endeavour to invade the United Provinces, or any places under the Dominion of the said Lords the States General, or where they have a Garrison, or shall exercise any other act of Hostility by Sea or Land, against the said Lords the States General, or their Subjects, The said Lord the King shall be obliged, and by vertue of these Presents he is obliged for the opposing, suppressing and repelling the said Attempts and Acts of Hostility, and for obtaining reparation of damages thereby received, to assist the said Lords the States with 40 Ships of War well equipped, of which number 14 to carry between 60 and 80 Guns, and 400 men apiece one with another; Fourteen others from 40 to 60 Guns, and at least 300 men one with another, and none of the rest to carry less then 36 Guns, and 150 Men; and also with 6000 Foot and 400 Horse, or a just value in Money for such succour, at the choice of the said Lords the States, or with such part of the said succour, or the value of it in Money as they shall desire; the said succour to be given within the space of six weeks after it shall be required; and the said Lords the States General to refund and pay back to the said Lord the King, all Charges within three years after the end of the War.
III.
The said Ships of War, and the Auxiliary Forces of Horse and Foot, together with the Captains of Ships [Page 7]and Commanders of those Forces, and other the inferior Officers, shall be under the Command of the party injur'd, and shall obey such Orders as they shall receive from him or them who shall have the Command in chief of his Forces by Sea or Land.
IIII.
And for the better settling and agreeing an exact Rule for computing the Charges which are to be paid back within 3 years after the War, or the value in ready Money, which possibly may have been chosen by the party injured, in lieu of all, or part of the said Ships, and Forces of Horse and Foot, It has been thought fit that the Charges of 14 Ships, from 60 to 80 Guns, well equipped, shall be estimated at the rate of eighteen thousand six hundred sixty and six pounds Sterling, or English Money, by the Month; and those 14 from 43 to 60 Guns, at fourteen thousand pounds Sterling; and the other 12 at six thousand pounds of the same Money. That the 6000 Foot be valued at 7500 l. Sterling, and the 400 Horse at one thousand and forty pounds of like Money, by the month. The said Summes to be paid by the said Lord the King of Great Britain, at London; and by the Lords the States General at Amsterdam, according to the course of Exchange at the time when such Payments shall become due: But for the Foot above-mentioned, there shall for the first Month be paid the summe of 6000 l. Sterling, over and above, that summe being found necessary for the raising of them.
V.
This League, with all and every thing therein contained, shall be Confirmed and Ratified by the said [Page 8]Lord the King of Great Britain, and the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces, by Letters Patents on each side, under their Great Seals, in due and authentick Form, within the space of 4 Weeks next ensuing, or sooner if it may be done: And the Instruments of Ratification interchangeably delivered within the same time.
- De Gellicom.
- Asperen.
- Johan de-Witte.
- Van Cromon.
- Adolph V. Unkel.
- Johan V. Schrieck.
- Isbrandts.