He carried all his points; and a solemn contract was made by which England and the Batavian federation bound themselves to stand firmly by each other against France, and not to make peace except by mutual consent.

But one of the Dutch plenipotentiaries declared that he was afraid of being one day held up to obloquy as a traitor for conceding so much; and the signature of another plainly appeared to have been traced by a hand shaking with emotion, [452] Meanwhile under William's skilful management a treaty of alliance had been concluded between the States General and the Emperor.

To that treaty Spain and England gave in their adhesion; and thus the four great powers which had long been bound together by a friendly understanding were bound together by a formal contract, [453] But before that formal contract had been signed and sealed, all the contracting parties were in arms.

Early in the year 1689 war was raging all over the Continent from the Humus to the Pyrenees.

France, attacked at once on every side, made on every side a vigorous defence; and her Turkish allies kept a great German force fully employed in Servia and Bulgaria.