Introduction

The late seventeenth century has not attracted much interest from either Dutch historians, for whom the ‘Golden Age’ came to an end around the middle of the century, or British historians, who have tended to focus primarily on the Civil War. ¹ The 1690s in particular have rather suffered from historiographical neglect. ² The history of Dutch politics after 1688 remains as yet unwritten. Arguably, however, the last decade of the century was pivotal in the political history of both countries. England’s rise to greatness resulted primarily from the developments following the Glorious Revolution, whereas the wars against France marked the demise of the Dutch Republic. The unique character of this decade partly stems from the union between the two countries during the reign of the King-Stadholder, although Anglo-Dutch political relations during this period have been almost completely ignored. ³ The decade signified a unique period in Anglo-Dutch history, because a ‘composite state’ emerged comprising Britain and the United Provinces. The King-Stadholder headed a ‘personal union’, of which the separate parts co-operated on various levels. ⁴ An Anglo-Dutch army operated in the Low Countries under William’s command, and a joint fleet protected the shores and merchant ships of the Allies. British and Dutch diplomats worked together, and counter-espionage networks exchanged intelligence. However, despite a certain degree of integration within the personal union, the three kingdoms and the republic also developed independently, each experiencing distinct domestic political and economic changes. To rule the independent parts of these realms and at the same time to co-ordinate their war efforts was a complex task.