Editing Third Anglo-Dutch War (section)

=== Anti-war sentiment in England ===
[[File:Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|[[Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury|Anthony Ashley Cooper]], who led opposition to the war]]

In previous conflicts, investing in privateers had been very profitable for the English, but from 1672 to 1673 Dutch raiders captured over 2,800 French and English ships, far more than their counterparts,{{sfn|Shomette|Haslach|2002|p=282}} The province of Zealand alone operated 120 privateers.{{sfn|Doedens|Mulder|2016|p=167}} Having failed to blockade the Dutch coast, English merchants were excluded from the vital [[Baltic maritime trade (c. 1400–1800)|Baltic trade]] in shipbuilding materials. In addition, the Dutch re-capture of [[New Amsterdam]] and attacks on English possessions in [[India]] caused further commercial damage.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2016|p=83}} These losses compounded existing doubts about the war, which many felt was unjustified.{{sfn|Rodger|2004|p=86}}

Stabilising their military position also restored Dutch credit, allowing the Estates to expand the military budget to a hundred million guilders, three times annual tax revenues.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2016|p=83}} Louis had attacked the Republic hoping for a quick victory; once this failed, he faced a war of attrition on multiple fronts. In July 1673, French troops [[Siege of Maastricht (1673)|captured Maastricht]]; on 30 August, the Dutch agreed the Alliance of the Hague with Leopold and Spain.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2009|p=372}} In October, they were joined by [[Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine]], whose duchy was occupied by France, forming the Quadruple Alliance.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2009|p=383}}

William made sure the peace negotiations held in Cologne with France and England failed.{{sfn|Troost|2001|p=123}} In September, he recaptured [[Naarden]], Münster and Cologne made peace, and French troops withdrew from the Dutch Republic, retaining only [[Grave, Netherlands|Grave]] and Maastricht.{{sfn|Young|2004|p=132}} With victory over the Dutch now unlikely, the war became one for control of Flanders, an issue that divided England and France. Tensions between the two increased when Arlington's former secretary [[Peter du Moulin]] fled to the Republic in early 1673. He started a propaganda campaign, flooding England with pamphlets accusing Charles and Louis of conspiring to make the country Catholic again.{{sfn|Troost|2001|pp=126–127}}

[[File:Mary of Modena by William Wissig1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Mary of Modena]]; her marriage to [[James II of England|James]] increased opposition to the war|alt=An informal portrait of Mary. She has a long handsome face, dark eyes and black hair. Her hair, her brown satin dress and plain linen undergarment are in fashionable disarray. She clasps a white dog.]]

Many were convinced of its truth, particularly when Charles gave permission for his [[James II of England|brother and heir James]] to marry [[Mary of Modena]], a devout Catholic. In February 1673, Parliament refused to approve further taxes unless Charles withdrew his proposed Indulgence and accepted a [[Test Act]] barring Catholics from public office.{{sfn|Hutton|1989|pp=345–346}} In June 1673, James resigned as [[Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom|Lord High Admiral]], which was seen as confirmation of rumours he had secretly become a Catholic and could not comply with the Test Act.{{sfn|Troost|2005|p=126}} As Charles had no legitimate offspring, James' marriage now presented the strong prospect of a Catholic dynasty ruling England in the future.{{sfn|Troost|2001|p=131}}

Buckingham, who learned of the secret provisions of the Treaty of Dover the previous year, reacted to the changed public mood by leaking them to other politicians, including Arlington. As a result, the [[Cabal Ministry]] joined those advocating peace with the Dutch; shocked by the revelation of Charles' agreement with Louis, [[Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury|Lord Shaftesbury]] began to consider removing the [[House of Stuart]] entirely. With his backing, [[John Locke]] developed the legal concepts that appeared in his work the [[Two Treatises of Government]], a general denunciation of [[absolute monarchy]].{{sfn|Laslett|1960|p=7}}