Cautionary Towns facts for kids
The Cautionary Towns were three important port cities in the Dutch Republic (modern-day Netherlands). In 1585, Elizabeth I of England sent soldiers to help the Dutch fight against Spain during the Eighty Years' War. As a promise that the Dutch would pay her back, England was allowed to control these three towns. They were Brielle (also called Briel), Vlissingen (known to the English as Flushing), and Fort Rammekens, which was on the nearby island of Walcheren.
Why England Held These Ports
English and Scottish volunteers had already helped the Dutch capture Brielle, Rammekens, and Vlissingen in 1572. They also placed their own soldiers there.
When the Anglo-Spanish War started in 1585, it was very important to keep these key ports away from Spain. Spain was a powerful enemy for both England and the Dutch.
The Treaty of Nonsuch
In the Treaty of Nonsuch, the Dutch agreed to let England control these three ports. This was a way to guarantee that England would help them. Queen Elizabeth I agreed to send her soldiers to protect the towns. England would also pay for these soldiers.
Important English leaders were put in charge of the towns. Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester became governor of Vlissingen in 1588. Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter was made governor of Brielle. Later, Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway took over Brielle. He even named his daughter Brilliana after the city!
Returning the Towns
The Treaty of London ended the war between England and Spain in 1604. Spain wanted the Cautionary Towns back, but England said no.
Eventually, Philip III of Spain agreed that England could keep them. He thought that if the towns were neutral, Spain could still use the English Channel nearby. This was a problem for the Dutch.
When it looked like the Twelve Years' Truce (a ceasefire) would end in 1609, the Dutch wanted their towns back. King James I of England needed money. So, the Dutch ambassador offered to buy the towns for a large sum. In May 1616, they agreed on a price of £213,000.
Later, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, England and France attacked the Dutch. Charles II of England demanded that Brielle, Vlissingen, and Sluys become English forever. However, the Dutch refused these terms. They soon managed to recover their position in the war.
