Third Anglo-Dutch War - Second Peace of Westminster

Second Peace of Westminster

On 4 January 1674 the States-General drafted a final peace proposal. On 7 January a Dutch trumpeter arrived in Harwich, carrying with him two letters for the Spanish consul. Though the herald was promptly arrested by the town mayor, the letters were sent to Lord Arlington, who hurriedly brought them in person to del Fresno; Arlington was in turn on 15 January impeached by Sir Gilbert Gerard for high treason as by this very act he had shown to have secret dealings with the enemy. On 24 January the consul handed the letters, containing the peace proposal, to Charles, who pretended to be greatly surprised by this, although he had especially recalled Parliament, prorogued by him in November, for this occasion that very same day. While addressing both Houses the King first emphatically denied the existence of the Treaty of Dover and then produced the peace proposal to the great satisfaction of the members — who in turn had to pretend surprise although Parliament had been informed beforehand by the Dutch of the full content. After some days of debate the treaty was approved by Parliament.

This news was met with open joy by the populace. Charles now sent his own trumpeter who was received by the States-General on 1 February. His message was that Charles could announce the absolute agreement of himself and Parliament on this matter, to which institution he gladly deferred. On 5 February a Dutch trumpeter arrived in London, carrying the response of the States-General. That very day Parliament advised the King to conclude a "speedy peace". A Royal Commission was appointed to make a final draft; the Treaty of Westminster was signed by the King on 9 February Old Style, 19 February New Style, 1674. It was ratified by the Lord Keeper on 10 February by placement of the Great Seal; on 17 February it was publicly proclaimed. It was approved by the States of Holland and West Frisia on 4 March (New Style) and ratified by the States-General on 5 March. Due to the different calendars in use in the two countries and the complex procedure, when a single date is given the literature is not in agreement.

The treaty stipulated that New York (formerly New Netherland) would henceforth be an English possession and that Suriname, captured by the Dutch in 1667, would remain their colony, confirming the status quo of 1667. An "indemnity" of two million guilders was paid by the Dutch. Monmouth's brigade would however, not be withdrawn from the French army and be allowed to recruit in Britain until the end of the Franco-Dutch War. An attempt by William to convince his uncle to enter the war against Louis failed in April; Charles would till the end of that war in 1678 try to negotiate between the two parties, at times pretending to really consider a conflict with France, when such pretence was beneficial to him. In 1677 he forced his niece Mary to marry William, one of the fundamental causes of the fall of his brother in 1688.