Deserted by Austria, De Witt turned to
England. He sent his fleet to destroy the British men-of-war in the
Medway, and this catastrophe, coming so soon after the plague and the
fire of London, was too much for the feeble spirit of Charles and his
ministers. They made peace, allied themselves with Holland and with
Sweden, and the progress of the French was arrested. The Triple
Alliance was the earliest of that series of coalitions which ended by
getting the better of the power of Lewis XIV, and is therefore a
landmark in History. But there was nothing lasting in it; the rivalry
of the two commercial countries was not to be reconciled by
politicians. England was on the side of the Prince of Orange, and
desired that he should become sovereign. William had resolved, during
the very negotiations that prepared the alliance, that the way to ruin
De Witt was to exhibit him to Lewis in the light of a friend of the
English. After having been conciliatory to the edge of weakness, he
had turned suddenly into an enemy. Lewis could not continue the war
because of the maritime superiority of his united opponents. He made
peace, restoring Franche Comte, which Conde had occupied, and
contenting himself with an extended frontier in Flanders. Lille,
which had been taken by Vauban, in an otherwise inglorious campaign,
was converted into a great French stronghold. That was the result.

These events exhibit Lewis in his prime, while Colbert and Lionne were
living, and were able to balance the sinister influence of Louvois.
It was a war of ambition, undertaken after the shock of the loss of
Spain and of all that belonged to it. It was not begun from a sense
of right and duty. But the advantage was not pushed to the bitter
end; the terms agreed upon were reasonable; part of the conquests were
restored. Lewis proved himself capable of moderation, of
self-command, even of generosity. The outrageous violence and tyranny
of later years were not immediately apparent. He withdrew from the
fray, preparing for another spring. Then he would avenge himself on
John de Witt, and conquer Belgium in Holland. De Witt was the most
enlightened statesman in Europe, but he was not a war minister.
England was easily detached from him in the hope that the Prince of
Orange might be supreme; and Lewis agreed to whatever was necessary,
that the English fleet might be on his side. Thus the Triple Alliance
was dissolved, and the Dover Treaty took it