Britain, and the States General, immediately after the figning and exchange of the ratifications; and his Imperial Majefty, the king of the Romans, and the faid Elector, fhall be invited to approve thereof, at the time of the deceafe of his Catholick Majefty without iffue; and the archduke Charles, as likewise the electoral prince of Bavaria, as foon as they fhall come of age. IX. But if the Emperor, the king of the Romans, or the elector of Bavaria, refuse to enter therein, the two kings, and the States General, fhall hinder the prince, fon, or brother of him that refuses, from entering into poffeffion of that which fhall be affigned him, and his portion fhall remain as it were in fequeftration in the hands of the viceroys, governors, and other regents, who govern on the part of the king of Spain, who fhall not diffeise themfelves thereof, but with the consent of the two kings and the States General, till fuch time as he shall have agreed to the faid partition, and this treaty ; and in case that, notwithstanding, he should endeavour to take poffeffion of his portion, or of that which fhall be affigned to others, the faid two kings, and the States General, as likewise those that shall be contented with their share by virtue of this agreement, fhall hinder him with all their might. X. The king of Spain coming to die without iffue, and the abovefaid cafe by that means happening, the two kings, and the States General, do oblige themselves to leave the whole fucceffion in the condition it fhall then be, without feizing thereof in the whole, or in part, directly or indirealy; but each prince shall and may forthwith, put himfelf in poffeffion of what is affigned him for his share, as foon as he fhall, on his part, have complied with the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th articles preceding and if there be any difficulty therein, the two kings, and the States General, fhall ufe all poffible endeavours, to the end that each one may be put into poffeffion of his portion, according to this agreement, and that the fame may have its full effect; engaging to give, by fea and by land, the fuccours and aids of men and fhips as are neceffary to compel, by force, thofe that fhall oppofe the execution thereof. XI. If the faid kings, and the States General, or any of them, are attacked, by whomfoever it may be, on account of of this agreement, or the executing thereof, they fhall mutually affift each other with all their power; and they fhall make themfelves guarantees of the punctual execution of the faid agreement, and the renunciations made purfuant thereto. XII. All kings, princes and ftates, fhall be admitted in-, to the present treaty, that defire to enter therein; and the faid two kings, and the States General, and each of them in particular, fhall be permitted to requeft and invite all whom they fhall think fit to request and invite, who shall in like manner be guarantees of the execution of this treaty, and of the validity of the renunciations therein contained. XIII. And for the further fecuring of the quiet of Europe, the faid kings, princes and ftates, fhall not only be guarantees of the faid execution of the prefent treaty, and of the validity of the faid renunciations as abovementioned, but if any one of the princes, in favour of whom the faid partition is made, fhould hereafter endeavour to difturb the order fettled by this treaty, make new attempts contrary thereto, and fo aggrandize himfelf to the detriment of the others, under any pretext whatfoever, the fame guaranty of the treaty fhall be judged to extend even to that cafe, in fuch manner as the kings, princes and ftates, who undertake the fame, fhall be obliged to employ their forces in oppofing the faid attempts, and maintaining all things in the condition agreed on by the faid articles. XIV. If any prince whatfoever oppofe the taking poffeffion of the fhares agreed on, the faid two kings, and the States General, fhall be obliged to affift one another againft fuch oppofition, and to hinder the fame with all their power; and it fhall be agreed, immediately after the figning of this prefent treaty, in what proportion each is to contribute, as well by fea as by land. i XV. The prefent treaty fhall be ratified and approved by the faid two kings, and the States General; and the letters of ratification fhall be exchanged within the fpace of three weeks, or fooner, if poffible, to be computed from the day of the figning. In witness whereof we have figned these presents, and fealed fealed the fame with our coats of arms. Made at the Hague, the 11th day of October, 1698. Camille de Hoftrang, Count de Tallard, Portland, William Francis Verbolt, F. B. de Reede, A. Heinfius, Signed, W. Vanharen, Ar. Lemker, And J. de Drewes. Treaty of alliance between William III. King of Great Britain. Charles XII. King of Sweden, and the States General of the United Netherlands; with fecret and feparate articles. Hague, January, A. D. 1700. I. TH HE treaty of alliance concluded on the of May, 1698, fhall remain in force, and be confirmed by virtue of these prefents, in the fame manner as if it was inferted herein verbatim. II. In like manner, all the alliances concluded, as well between the kings aforefaid, as between either of them and the faid lords the States General of the United Netherlands, fhall remain entire and in force, every one according to the term fixed for its duration. III. And thefe alliances fhall take place, not only in the cafes therein concluded and determined, but also particularly, if it fhould happen that one or more of the confederates, and contracting parties, be invaded by reason of this alliance, under any colour or pretence whatsoever. IV. And therefore the contracting powers abovementioned, do bind themselves to the reciprocal guaranty of their kingdoms, ftates, provinces, jurifdictions, and territories in Europe; and promife to defend one another in the beft manner, against all attacks, infults, and oppreffions of the enemy whatfoever; fo that, as foon as any one of the confederates is molefted, the other two fhall haften to his defence, according to the conditions of the treaty already entered into with him, and to the ftipulations of the prefent league: and if the fuccours promifed by these treaties be not fufficient, all the neceffary forces that can be be raised, fhall be employed in the defence of him who fhall be injured, and for procuring him due fatisfaction. V. And because the abovementioned confederates are of opinion, that the security of their kingdoms, states, provinces, jurifdictions and territories, depends, in a great measure, on the prefervation of a general peace among the chriftian princes; and forafmuch as it highly concerns them, that their kingdoms, ftates and provinces, be not disturbed in a tract of time, by oppreffions and attacks from any other powers, and that they be not involved with them in war, they have therefore promised one another, and do by these prefents promise each other, that they will defend and ftand by the particular treaties following, viz. VI. The treaties of Ofnabrug and Munfter, Anno 1648; the treaties of Nimeguen, Anno 1678, and 1679; as alfo the treaty of peace between the Emperor and Empire, and the kingdom of France, concluded at Ryfwicke, the 20th day of October, Anno 1697, as far as the fame does not differ from the treaties of peace at Ofnabrug, Munster and Nimeguen. VII. As alfo the treaties of peace concluded at Ryfwicke, the 20th of September, 1697, between the king of Great Britain, the king of France, and the lords the States General of the United Netherlands. VIII. And that the faid engagement or guaranty may have its full efficacy and effect, the aforefaid contracting parties fhall use all their endeavours, that the covenants mentioned in the former articles may remain entire and inviolable; and if they happen to be infringed or violated in any manner whatfoever, they fhall endeavour, by amicable ways and means, feparately and jointly, to obtain reparation of the violation and infringement of the faid treaties of peace. But if these endeavours and offices prove fruitless, or if a war fhould be excited before the parties can be reconciled, each of the confederates fhall furnish 6000 foldiers for performing the faid engagement or gua ranty, and for obtaining reparation of the violation and infringement of the faid treaties of peace, as foon as they fhall be required by any one of the confederates, or as foon as it shall be thought neceffary, till the violations and infringements committed are repaired, and the peace is reftored. IX. Provided nevertheless, that the faid 6000 foldiers fhall not be required as fuccour by any of the confederates any more than once; fo that if they be sent to one of the allies by virtue of this common league, no more are to be fent; but the confederates fhall agree among themselves, about the place where they are moft neceffary. X. That if any of the confederates, upon an exigency, fhall furnish another with the fuccours ftipulated by private conventions, either in whole or in part, then he shall not be obliged to give fuccours to the faid confederate, by virtue of this common league; unless the furplus which remains over and above the number of fuccours ftipulated by the common league, exceeds the number determined by the private treaty. XI. But if it fhall happen, that these fuccours are not fufficient to establish peace, or if the aforefaid confederates, or any one of them, be involved in a war, in that cafe the confederates fhall treat with one another for increafing the fuccours, according to the contents of the fourth article of this treaty. XII. The confederates alfo bind themselves, that they will not furnish fuccours, or give affiftance to the enemies of him or them who fhall be involved in war; but, on the contrary, that they will make it their bufinefs to weaken the enemy's forces: and to this end the allies fhall confult together, for prohibiting commerce with the enemies of fuch confederate or confederates; or how fuch enemies may be weakened, and how all approach of their forces may be prevented. XIII. In cafe that the fuccours abovementioned are to be sent to a certain place, the confederates fhall unite their endeavours to render the paffage of the foldiers fafe and eafy; and to this end they fhall ufe their best offices with the princes whofe countries they are to pass through. XIV. The faid auxiliary forces, fent as is already faid, fhall be under command of the general of the confederate who is required to fend them, and fhall also remain united in one and the fame body, as long as the nature of the war will admit of it; but the faid general fhall be obliged to obey |