Probable date of Vermeer s Lacemaker. Louis XIV invades the Spanish Netherlands. Treaty of Breda marks the end of hostilities between England and the Netherlands. War of Devolution begins as French troops invade the Spanish Netherlands. Leeuwenhoeck produces the first accurate description of red blood corpuscles.
Newton constructs reflecting telescope.
Pascal s Pens es published posthumously. Clara Marie van den Enden marries Dr. Kerckrinck, a wealthy Amsterdam physician and disciple of Spinoza. 1672. Louis XIV, having undermined the Triple Alliance, invades the United Provinces. The Dutch open the dikes and manage to hold the French within a day s march of Amsterdam. William of Orange is made Captain-General of the United Provinces.