THe most Serene and most Mighty Prince and Lord, Charles the Second, King of Great Britain, and the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands, reflecting with much grief and trouble on the miseries and calamities of the War which is lately broken out in the Borders between the two Crowns, and which spreading its flame in the Neighbourhood, if not timely prevented, will by an inevitable consequence involve the greatest part of the Princes and States of Christendom in the same evils, have thought they should be much wanting to that duty God hath injoyned them, if now that they have by his mercy so happily renewed and restored the ancient Friend­ship and Alliance between Great Britain and the Uni­ted Netherlands, and at the same time established a [Page 4] Peace between four powerful States, who were par­ties in that bloudy Warre, they should not employ, and with all diligence apply themselves to settle those differences that have arisen between the said two Crowns, and particularly for the quenching the flame of that Warre upon the Confines. And therefore the most Serene King of Great Britain, and the High and Mighty States of the Low-Countreys, having after much pains and great Instance, obtained from the most Christian King, a Promise to the said States General, That he will forthwith and from this time forward lay down his Arms, on condition the Spaniards be ready, formally and solemnly by a Treaty of Peace; to quit to him all those Places and Forts, together with the Chastellenyes and their Appurtenances, which he has by force of Armes taken in, or fortifi'd in the last years Expedition, or otherwise that the Spaniards be brought to transferr to him all the remainder of their Right to the Dutchy of Luxemburgh (or to the [...] of Burgundy) together with Cambray and Cambresis, Douay, Ayre, St. Omers, Bergue St. Winox, Fuernes, and Link, with the Bailywicks, Chastellenyes, and all other their dependencies, and in this last Case; the most Christian King to be obliged to restore to the King of Spain, all Places and Territories which the French have by their Armes taken since their entrance into Flanders, On this Condition. That the High and Mighty Lords the States General, do reciprocally undertake and secure to the most Christian King, that by reasons and other means they will prevail with the Spaniards to consent to the same Conditions: They have thought, that in this season and conjuncture of [Page 5] affairs, they should employ themselves very advan­tagiously, not onely for the Interest of both the said Kings, but of all other neighbouring Princes and States, if by their joynt Counsels and endeavours they should exhort, and as much as in them lies, obliege the two before-mentioned Crowns, to make Peace upon the Articles and Conditions abovesaid: To which end, We whose Names are here subscribed, by virtue of our respective Powers, and in pursuance of our In­structions, have agreed upon these following Points and Articles.

I.

THat the King of Great Britain and the States General of the United Netherlands, joyntly or severally (but alwayes with communication of Coun­sels, and according to what shall be agreed on between them) use all possible diligence and industry with the most Christian King, to induce him by a solemn Treaty, in the best and most authentick Form, to pro­mise and engage to the King of Great Britain and the States General of the United Provinces, to make a Treaty of Peace with the King of Spain, without any Exception or Reserve for any cause or pretence what­soever, if the King of Spain can be induced or pre­vailed with by the King of Great Britain and the Uni­ted States, to quit to the most Christian King, either those places taken from them the last year by force of Armes in the Netherlands, or an Equivalent by the delivery of the places abovementioned, or some others [Page 6] in stead thereof, according as the Parties concerned shall mutually agree between themselves.

II.

That the most Christian King consent to a Cessa­tion of Arms in the Netherlands till the end of May, that in the mean while the King of Great Britain and the United States may use their best endeavour and di­ligence with the King and Queen of Spain and their Council, to consent to the aforesaid Articles and Conditions.

III.

But that the most Christian King may not upon any just reason refuse the Cessation of Arms, the King of Great Britain and the United States shall ob­liege themselves by the same Treaty, that Spain shall quit to France all that the French Forces took from them the last year, or such Equivalent, as shall on both sides be agreed to.

IV.

That the most Christian King be induced and pre­vailed with, to rest satisfied in the aforesaid Promise, and to rely upon it; so, as not for the future to make any farther Warre in the Low-Countries: But if con­trary to all hopes and expectations, the King of Great Britain and the United States cannot by their instances and intreaties prevail with the Spaniards, before the [Page 7] end of May next ensuing, to consent to the aforesaid Conditions, and that consequently it be necessary to come to wayes of more efficacy; nevertheless the French shall not make, or bring the War within or upon the Borders of the said Netherlands; but the King of Great Britain and the United States shall engage and undertake themselves to do whatever shall be necessa­ry effectually to obliege the Spaniards to accept of Peace upon the Conditions abovesaid; and so, it shall not be free for the most Christian King to exer­cise any Acts of Hostility in the said Countreys, nor to take any Town, though it should willingly surrender it self, unless the King of Great Britain and the United States forbear and omit to do what is abovemen­tioned.

V.

That upon a Peace made between the two Crowns, not onely the King of Great Britain and the United States shall be Warranties for it in the best, amplest and securest Form that may be, but also the Empe­rour, and all the Neighbouring Kings and Princes, who shall think it their interest to keep the Peace of Chri­stendom undisturbed, and to restore the Low-Countryes to their former tranquility. To which end the distinct number of military Forces shall be agreed upon, toge­ther with such other means as shall be fit to be used against either of the parties who shall break or violate the Peace, oblieging him to cease the violence, and re­pair the party injured.

VI.

All these Articles agreed upon, and all and every thing therein conteined, shall be confirmed and rati­fied by the said 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 four weeks next ensuing, or sooner if it may be, and mutual Instruments of Ratification Exchanged within the same time.

In witness of all and singular the things herein con­teined, and for the fuller corroboration of these Articles, We have hereunto set our Hands and Seals. At the Hague in Holland Jan. 13/23 1668.