ABSTRACT
Inanalysingthecausesofthethirdwarof1672-74itisclearthat disputesovertradeservedonlyaspretexts.Theprimaryobjective ofCharles,Jamesandtheministerswhichtheytried-ultimately invain-toconcealwastogainincreasedpowerforthemselves, andtostrengthenroyalauthorityattheexpenseoftheEnglish nationbyeliminatingtheexistingdependenceoftheCrownonthe cooperationofsubjects,asrepresentedbyParliamentandthemilitia. InordertoachievethisobjectiveCharleswasreadytoacquiescein thehegemonyoverwesternEuropewhichheknewwastheprimary objectiveofhisallyLouisXIV.ThealliancewithFrancedifferentiated thiswarfromthefirstandsecond.Inthefirst,Englandhadneeded noallies;inthesecond,MunsterontheEnglishside,andFranceand DenmarkontheDutch,hadnotplayedaveryimportantpart.But inFebruary1673CharlesimpliedhowimportanttheFrenchalliance wasforhim,tellingParliamentthatifhehadnottakenadvantageof theconjunctureof1672,'perhapsIhadnotagainevermetwiththe likeadvantage'.Byconjuncturehepretendedtomeanthecoincidence betweenthehonouroftheCrownandtheinterestofthekingdom, butinreality(andsecret)itwastheconjuncturebetweentheinterests andaimsoftheEnglishandFrenchCrownsthatalonemadethe warof1672possible.WhereasimportantinterestgroupsinEngland hadpressedforanti-Dutchpoliciesin1650-52and1664-65only individualsallowedtheirgrievancesagainsttheDutchtobeexploited in1670-72.Thethirdwarwassolelytheresultofinitiativestaken bytheCourt;parliamentaryassistance(andtherebyimplicitlyits approval)wasnotsoughtuntilthewarhadbeeninprogressfor tenmonths.l
WhiletheFrencharmyachievedastonishingsuccessesinitsinitial blitzkrieginvasionoftheDutchRepublic,theEnglishfleet,although reinforcedbyastrongFrenchforce,failedtowinasinglevictory
The Course of the Anglo-Dutch Wars
during the whole war. De Ruyter evolved and operated what was perhaps the most effective defensive strategy ever undertaken by a fleet of inferior strength. In contrast the Dutch offensive which helped to drive Charles out of the war was not unique: William was to repeat the campaign of propaganda, pressure and subversion, which he organized with great effect in 1673-74, with even greater skill and effect in 1687-88. And one of his main charges against James in 1688, that he had concluded a new secret treaty with Louis XIV aimed against the protestant religion and the liberties of the English nation, had great effect because of what had happened in 1670-72 when Charles and Louis concluded secret treaties to arrange in advance a war of aggression against the Dutch Republic.2
