Treaty of Peace and Alliance between England and the Netherlands
1.1008 Treaty of Peace and Alliance between
England and the Netherlands
Alliance Members:England and the Netherlands
Signed On:September 4, 1662, at Whitehall (London, England)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 7, p. 193.
SUMMARY
A series of disputes embroiled the Dutch Republic and England,
largely relating to issues of commerce and navigation. Following an
earlier agreement reached in 1654, the Dutch engaged in ship seizures
in hopes of revising the status quo to be more amenable to Dutch
commercial interests. By 1659, the Dutch and English reached an
agreement regarding compensation for the ships. By 1660, Dutch rep-
resentatives arrived in England to negotiate a more comprehensive
agreement, aimed mostly at reversing the Navigation Act that the
Dutch felt disproportionately favored England.
The negotiations between the Dutch and the English failed to produce
a comprehensive alliance because disagreements between the two
regarding the Navigation Act and incorporation of the colonies into
the text of the alliance were never resolved. In September 1662, the
two parties signed a friendship agreement dealing mostly with dam-
ages sustained during the previous five years by both sides during the
small-scale conflict. In May 1665, the Dutch and English resumed
their series of seventeenth-century wars.
Excerpt of Alliance Text
Charles, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. We wish to make known to
all and singular whom it shall concern or may in any way con-
cern, that whereas, with a desire of renewing their ancient
friendship with us, and of concluding a mutual league, the High
and Mighty lords, the States General of the United Netherlands,
have sent their ambassadors extraordinary to us, it has been
brought to pass that, after commissioners had been appointed
on our part also, and armed with full powers, conferences and
discussions about confirming friendship and concluding a
treaty were held on both sides in London, and the matter was so
far advanced that the following treaty and the articles compre-
hended therein, were duly agreed on :
After Divine Providence had quietly composed the recent
commotions in England, and had brought back the Most Serene
King of Great Britain to his ancestral kingdoms and dominions
with wonderful popular applause, the said lord king at once
turned his attention and thought to continuing or renewing
peace and amity with his neighbors and confederates ; and of all
the nations ever associated with the said lord king or his royal
predecessors, he thought that none should be preferred to the
High and Mighty States General of the United Netherlands,
both because the said lord king and his predecessors have
always shown a favorable and kindly feeling toward the said
lords the States and their republic, and also because the mutual
advantage and trade of the subjects of the said lord king and of
the lords the States General, and especially the profession of the
same religion, seem to call for a certain singular union of senti-
ment and purpose for the stabiliment and development of both
peoples. And whereas the said lords the States, moved by the
reasons aforesaid, have deemed nothing more important than
that the former treaties between the said lord king and the said
lords the States should be entirely renewed and made more
closely and firmly binding, and for that reason have sent their
ambassadors extraordinary into England, the lord Louis of Nas-
sau, lord of Lek, Beverwaert, and Odijk, Simon van Hoorn, ex-
burgomaster and councillor of the city of Amsterdam, deputy
in the ordinary council of Holland and West Friesland, Michael
van Gogh, formerly syndic and councillor of the city of Flush-
ing, deputy to the provincial estates of Zeeland, Joachim Rip-
perda, lord of Farmsum, of the town of Appingedam, Hellum,
Schildwolde, Siddeburen, Oosterwijtwerd, Holwierda,
Uitwierda, Marsum, Birsum, Solwerd, and Eversum, deputies of
Holland, Zeeland, and Groningen and the Ommeland in the
assembly of the States General, for the purpose of entering into
a closer and firmer peace and friendship with the said lord king,
it has pleased the said lord king to depute on his part as his
commissioners and deputies members of his Sacred Majesty’s
Privy Council, John, baron Robartes, keeper of the privy seal,
George, duke of Albemarle, captain general of the armies in
Great Britain and Ireland, and master of the royal horse,
Edward, earl of Manchester, chamberlain of the royal house-
hold, Jerome, earl of Portland, Denzil, baron Hollis, Anthony,
baron Ashley, chancellor of the exchequer and subtreasurer,
Charles Berkeley, knight, treasurer of the royal household,
George Carteret, knight baronet, vice-chamberlain of the royal
household, Edward Nicholas, knight, and William Morice,
knight, the king’s two principal secretaries, in order that they
may treat and conclude with the said ambassadors in respect to
the proposed treaty, in accordance with the letters of full powers
exhibited on both sides, a copy of which is inserted at the end of
this treaty. And at length between the said commissioners of his
Royal Majesty on the one hand, and the ambassadors of the
lords the States on the other hand, it has been covenanted and
agreed :- First, it is concluded and agreed, that from this day forth
there shall be a true, firm, and inviolable peace, a more sincere
friendship, a more intimate and close confederacy and union
between the Most Serene King of Great Britain and the High
and Mighty States General of the United Provinces of the
Netherlands, and the lands, countries, and cities under the obe-
dience of each, without distinction of places, together with their
subjects and inhabitants of whatsoever rank they be.... - Also, that the said lord King of Great Britain and his sub-
jects, and all the inhabitants of his Majesty’s dominions, and
also the said United Provinces and their subjects and inhabi-
tants, of whatsoever rank or condition they may be, shall be
bound to treat each other with humanity and friendliness in all
respects, so that they may freely and safely pass by land or by
water into each other’s countries, cities, towns walled or
unwalled, fortified or not fortified, and their havens, and all