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CHAPTER XV: Charles

Louis now saw that his designs on the Netherlands could not be carried into effect without the co-operation of England; but believing that the profligate court of Charles II. was open to corruption, he easily succeeded, through the medium of Charles' sister Henrietta, the duchess of Orleans, in prevailing on the prodigal king of England to conclude a secret treaty with him, in which it was agreed that Charles should receive a large pension from Louis, and aid him in subduing the United Provinces.

The cabinet of Versailles having also succeeded in detaching Sweden from the triple alliance, both monarchs, under the most frivolous pretences, declared war against the States, A. D. 1672. Without the shadow of a pretext, Louis seized the duchy of Lorraine; and Charles made a base and unsuccessful attempt to capture the Dutch Smyrna fleet, even while the treaty between the two countries existed.

The power that was thus confederated against Holland, it was impossible to withstand.