Select Articles from the Treaty of Utrecht, 1713

Two treaties were signed at Utrecht in 1713, securing peace between the Princess Anne of Denmark (acting for Great Britain) on the one side, and on the other Louis XIV of France and Philip V of Spain. The following select articles are taken from the first of these treaties, signed March 31 (O.S.), April 12 (N.S.), 1713.

A printed version of the full text of both treaties can be found on pages 177 - 239 of volume 1 of Major Peace Treaties of Modern History, 1648-1967, edited by Fred L. Israel (New York: Chelsea House, 1967).

TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE MOST SERENE AND MOST POTENT PRINCESS ANNE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, AND THE MOST SERENE AND MOST POTENT PRINCE LEWIS XIV, THE CHRISTIAN KING

That there be an universal perpetual peace, and a true and sincere friendship, between the most Serene and most Potent Princess Anne, Queen of Great Britain, and the most Serene and most Potent Prince Lewis XIV, the most Christian King, and their Heirs and Successors, as also the Kingdoms, States, and Subjects of both, as well without as within Europe; and that the same be so sincerely and inviolably preserved and cultivated, that the one do promote the interest, honour, and advantage of the other; and that a faithful neighbourhood on all sides, and a secure cultivating of peace and friendship do daily flourish again and increase.

Furthermore, for adding a greater strength to the peace which is restored, and to the faithful friendship which is never to be violated, and for cutting off all occasions of distrust, which might at any time arise from the established right and order of the hereditary succession to the Crown of Great Britain, and the limitation thereof by the laws of Great Britain (made and enacted in the reigns of the late King William the Third, of glorious Memory, and of the present Queen) to the issue of the abovesaid Queen, and in default thereof, to the most Serene Princess Sophia, Dowager of Brunswick Hannover, and her heirs in the Protestant line of Hannover: That therefore the said succession may remain safe and secure, the most Christian King sincerely and solemnly acknowledges the abovesaid limitation of the succession to the Kingdom of Great Britain; and on the faith and word of a king, on the pledge of his own and his successors honour, he does declare and engage, that he accepts and approves the same, and that his heirs and successors do and shall accept and approve the same for ever. And under the same obligation of the word and honour of a king, the most Christian King promises, that no one besides the Queen herself, and her Successors, according to the series of the said limitation, shall ever by him, or by his heirs or successors, be acknowledged, or reputed to be King of Queen of Great Britain. And for adding more ample credit to the said acknowledgement and promises, the most Christian King does engage, that whereas the person who, in the life-time of the late King James the Second, did take upon him the title of Prince of Wales, and since his decease that of King of Great Britain, is lately gone, of his own accord, out of the Kingdom of France, to reside in some other place, he the aforesaid most Christian King, his heirs and successors, will take all possible care, that he shall not at any time hereafter, or under any pretence whatsoever, return into the Kingdom of France, or any the dominions thereof.

Moreover, the most Christian King promises, as well in his own name, as in that of his heirs and successors, that they will at no time whatever disturb, or give any molestation to the Queen of Great Britain, her heirs and successors, descended from the aforesaid Protestant line, who possess the Crown of Great Britain, and the dominions belonging thereunto. Neither will the aforesaid most Christian King, or any one of his heirs, give at any time any aid, succour, favour, or counsel, directly or indirectly, by land of by sea, in money, arms, ammunition, warlike provision, ships, soldiers, seamen, or any other way, to any person or persons, whosoever they be, who for any cause, or under any pretext whatsoever, should hereafter endeavour to oppose the said succession, either by open war, or by fomenting seditions, and forming conspiracies against such Prince or Princess who are in possession of the Throne of Great Britain, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament aforementioned; or against that Prince or Princess, to whom the succession to the Crown of Great Britain shall be open according to the said Acts of Parliament.

[The following select articles are taken from the second treaty, signed July 13, 1713.]

TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE MOST SERENE AND MOST POTENT PRINCESS ANNE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &C. AND THE MOST SERENE AND MOST POTENT PRINCE PHILIP V, THE CATHOLIC KING OF SPAIN

That there be a Christian universal peace, and a perpetual and true friendship between the most Serene and most Mighty Princess Anne, Queen of Great Britain, and the most Serene and most Mighty Prince Philip V, Catholic King of Spain, and their heirs and successors and also the Kingdoms, states, dominions and provinces of both parties, wheresoever situated, and their subjects; and that the same be so sincerely preserved and cultivated, that neither party do, under any colour whatever, endeavour to attempt any thing to the destruction or detriment of the other, or yield any aid, by what name soever it be called, to those who attempt the same, or who endeavour to do any damage; neither may or ought they to help them by any means. On the contrary, their Royal Majesties shall be obliged to promote the advantage, honour and interest of each other, and to direct their counsels to that end with all care, that by mutual proof of friendship, the peace which is now made, may daily receive new additions of strength.

Moreover, for giving a greater and more lasting strength to the peace which is restored, and to this friendship which is never to be violated, and for cutting off all occasions of distrust, which may at any time arise from the established right and order of the hereditary succession to the Crown of Great Britain, and the limitation thereof by the laws of Great Britain (made and enacted in the reign of the late King William III, of glorious memory, and in the Reign of the present Queen) to the issue of the abovenamed Queen, and in failure thereof to the most Serene Princess Sophia, Electress Dowager of Brunswick, and her heirs in the Protestant line of Hannover; that therefore the said succession may be well and securely preserved according to the laws of Great Britain, the Catholic King sincerely and solemnly acknowledges the above-mentioned limitation of the succession to the Kingdom of Great Britain; and declares and engages on the faith and word of a king, and on the pledge of his and his successors' honour, that the same is, and shall for ever be approved and accepted by him and his heirs and successors. And under the same tie of the word of a king and his honour, the Catholic King does promise, that no person, besides the said Queen, and her successors, according to the order of limitation established by the laws and statutes of Great Britain, shall ever be acknowledged or reputed by him, or by his heirs and successors, to be King or Queen of Great Britain.

The Catholic King does further promise, as well in his own name, as in that of his heirs and successors, that they will not at any time disturb or molest the said Queen of Great Britain, her heirs and successors of the Protestant line as foresaid, being in possession of the Crown of Great Britain, and the dominions subject thereunto; neither will the aforesaid Catholic King, or any of his successors, give at any time any aid, succour, favour, counsel, directly or indirectly by Land or by sea, in money, arms, ammunition, warlike instruments, ships, soldiers, seamen, or in any other manner whatever, to any person or persons, whosoever they be, who on any cause or pretext should hereafter endeavour to oppose the said succession, either by open war, or by encouraging sedition, and forming conspiracies against such Prince and Princess, who are in possession of the Throne of Great Britain, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament there made, or against that Prince or Princess, to whom the succession to the Crown of Great Britain shall belong, according to the Acts of Parliament, as abovesaid.