had remained faithful to the policy of Henry IV.
and Richelieu when Philip IV.

died, on the 17th of September, 1665.
Almost at the same time the dissension between England and Holland, after a period of tacit hostility, broke out into action.

The United Provinces claimed the aid of France.
Close ties at that time united France and England.

Monsieur, the king's only brother, had married Henrietta of England, sister of Charles II.
The King of England, poor and debauched, had scarcely been restored to the throne when he sold Dunkerque to France for five millions of livres, to the great scandal of Cromwell's old friends, who had but lately helped Turenne to wrest it from the Spaniards.

"I knew without doubt that the aggression was on the part of England," writes Louis XIV.