THe Generall States of the vnited prouinces . To all such as shall sée or heare these presents , make knowne : that whereas it is euery day more then other most apparant and manifest , that the enterprises of the Spanish nation , with their conioyned adherents , hath not béen only pretended to reduce these Netherlands by their deceitfull practises , and the vttermost violence and force , vnder their wilfull and superbious dominion and tyrannicall gouernment , both ouer consciences , bodies , & goods : But also that in the years past , they haue attempted , with their vsual violent complots , to reduce the realmes of England and Fraunce , vnder their power . Which they not being able ( according to their desires to performe ) now openly & by maine force , assault the neighbour countries of the Electors and Princes , and other Neutrall places of the Empire , not refusing to ouer-run the Citties and Fortresses , with all manner of violence , batter them with péeces , ransomming them , and filling them with their souldiors , destroying the flat land , rauishing and deflowring of women and maides , pilling , robbing , murdering and burning , not fauouring the house or Castels of Princes , Earles or Gentlemen , nor yet their persons , as sufficiently appeareth by their barbarous dealings in the bishoprick of Collen . the Dukedomes of Cleue and Bergh , and the Bishopricke of Munster , and other bordering countries . The ministers of this spanish tyrannie boasting , that according to their own pleasures they will proccede in their begunne actions , especially in these places , vntill such time as they shall haue reduced the whole ( besides these Netherlandes ) vnder their Spanish yoake , & wholly rooted out the exercise of the true Christian religion . To which end they haue publikely in diuers places of the Empire , altered the religion and pollicie of the same , by force , threats , and other vndecent dealings . Moreouer , vaunting to bee glad , that in the behalfe of the Princes Electors and others , the armes be taken vp , for that they shall ( as they say ) the better attaine the purpose . Moreouer , that the new king of Spaine , the Infanta , and the Spanish Counsell , as well in Spaine as in the Low countries , deceitfully and forcibly , hinder and disturbe al nauigations , dealings , traffique , & trade , so with inhabitants of the Netherlands , as with those of other kingdomes , countries , and citties , in most barbarous and tyrannicall sort , misvsing the persons , attaching their shippes , & violating their graunted promises by water and land , all vnder the pretence and colour , because that we haue hitherto ioyntly resisted their false & deceitfull dealings and haue not beene mooued to yeeld and subuert the vnited Netherlands , and the good inhabitantes thereof , vnder these barbarous tyrannie , and imperious dominion . And since that by gods mightie power , the assistance of her most excellent M. of England , & other kings , Princes , & Common-weales , togither with our patience and good endeuors , we haue for these many yeres withstood these tyrannicall enterprises , ( which they haue bent against al Christendome ) & hope further , with Gods helpe and assistance ( as aforesaid ) to withstand , & there in are resolued . Also to visit the Spaniards in the kingdoms & lands by them occupied , not onely to hinder their aforesaid tyranous pretence , but also to recouer our losses & damages sustained by them , aswel with our ships of war , as by such as are allowed by our order , hoping assuredly that his diuine Maiestie wil blesse our rightful & néedfull enterprises , and once wholy frée and deliuer the Netherlands from the aforesaid tyrannie of the Spaniards and their adherents . And also will mooue and incite the neighbour Kings , Princes , Electors , Earles Barrons , and Common-wealthes , that vppon good consideration , they may take and vse Armes , to assure their perrillous estate , and to that ende , to driue out the Spaniards and their complices , from the Emperours territories , and so out of the Netherlands : as also wee finde to bee most expedient and necessary for the accomplishment of so Christian lyke , rightfull , and néedfull common cause , against the said Spaniards and their conioyned adherents , to be with all déepe insight looked into , that there be not any Shippes , goods or Marchandizes , sent them by water , land , or otherwise , the same beeing not onely permitted by the common people , but also the emperiall rights and custome of all Kings , Princes , and Common-weales , beeing in warre or controuersie , besides that the same hath beene made knowne by many firme orders and Proclaimations . As well by the aboue named the Queenes Maiestie of England , ( with whome we are in sure alliance ) as also of these countries . And we therefore intend not to permit that any person of the vnited lands , vsing trafficke or fishing at sea , or on the waters within the land , shall suffer himselfe to be deceiued , seduced , and endamaged , by any deceitfull pasports , safegardes , or safe conducts of the said common enemie , as wee vnderstand héeretofore ( against our good meanings ) by some hath been done . So it is , that we vppon ripe and profound deliberation , and by the aduise of the illustrious Prince and Lord Maur●ce , borne Prince of Orange , Counte of Nassou , Marquess● of de Vere , Flushing , &c. Gouernour and Captaine generall of Gelderland , Holland , Zealand , Vtrecht , Ouerysel , &c. as Admirall generall , haue declared , and declare by these presents , for good and lawfull prize , all persons and goods , vnder the dominion of the Spanish king , in all places where they shall or may be got , haue furthermore againe of new , stricktly defended , forbidden , and respectiuely notified : defend , forbid , and notifie by these presents , all and euerie one , of what condition , realme , or land soeuer , none excepted , not to lade , ship , bring , or transport by water or land , directly or indirectly , vnder what colour or pretence soeuer , any ships , goods , wares , or merchandizes , for , or to any hauen , cittie , or place of the enemie , in the kingdomes of Spaine , Portugall , or other places of Europe , vnder the dominion , subiection , or commaund of the new king of Spaine , the Archduke Albertus of Austria , or the Infanta of Spaine , vppon paine of confiscation of the same goods , wares , or merchandizes , together with the shippes , waggons , carts , and horses , wherin , or whereon thy same shall bee laden , and all such further punishment as hereafter shall be declared .

And to preuent all fraudes , subtile practises , and deceits , which might in these vnited Netherlands be pretended by any , of what countrie , condition , or quallitie so euer , against these our orders and defences . Wee ordaine and command stricktly by these presents , all Conuoy-maisters , Controulers , Searchers , and all other our Deputies in all Hauens , Citties , and places of the same landes , vppon the oathe whereby they are bound to their countrie vppon priuation of their offices and arbitrall correction : We authorise likewise all others , dwelling in the aforesaide vnited Netherlands , or frequenting the same : dilligentlye to enquire , and to take sharpe regarde , if this our order bee by any one , of what countrie , condition or qualitie soeuer , violated or broken .

And if in the aforesaid Hauens , Cities , or places , any goods be laden , shipped , or carred , which being found , we will and ordaine them to be ceazed & 〈…〉 without common course or 〈…〉 which shall bee found to haue bene to laden togither with the shippes , waggons , Carts , and horses , to be confiscated , the one third part to the vse of the accuser , be he an officer , or otherwise in seruice of the land or no , and the other two third parts , to the vse of the common causes , wherout the officer who shall follow the matter in law shall be contented . Ordaining moreouer , that the proprietaries , or owners of the said goods , as also maisters of the said ships , waine men , or carmen , in whose ships , or vpon whose waines or carts they shall be found to be laden in the forbidden Hauens , Citties , and places , to be apprehended , and stayed vntill such time as they shall haue paide and accomplished al such further pennalties and corrections , wherein according to the nature of their trespasse ( by the arbitrements of the iudge ) they shall be condemned , which may not be lesse ( for so much as toucheth the Merchants ) then a thousand pounds . And for each of the Shippers or maisters of Ships , fiue hundreth pounds of fortie pence in the pound . And to the end that the foresaid orders may the better be followed , and all fraudes punished : We meane that within a yeare after the aforesaide trespasse , all such which shall bee found to haue violated or broken the same , it shall and may be lawfull , by all officers of the saide lands , and before competent Iudges , to arrest and condemne them for the valew of the said goods and shippes , waggons , carts , and horses , togither with the aboue named penalties and corrections . The sentence whereof by prouision shall be executed , all appellations & prouocations notwithstanding . And if any in the aforesaid vnited Prouinces desired to ship or lade any goods , to transport the same to the neighbour countries or friends : the same shall not bee permitted vnto him , vnlesse he haue leaue and license thereto from vs , the said Lord Admirall generall , or from those which therevnto by vs shall be appointed , and that by the shippes which shall lade the same , sufficient sureties shall be set for the valew of their shippes , that the saide laden goods shall not be carried to any other place but to the hauens , citties , and places of our said friends and allies , and that within a certaine prefixed reasonable time named in their pasports , according to the distance of the hauen , to yeeld sufficient certification and proofe thereof ; or else their bond shall be executed vppon the sureties , for the aforesaid valew , to the vse of the common causes . And further , we charge all Admirals , Vice Admirals Captaines , and Commissioners for sea . All Chieftaines , Generals of horses , Captaines , and officers of men of war by land , to take sharpe regarde , that all such of what lande or condition soeuer , as shall haue any goods , wares , or merchandizes in their shippes , vpon their waines , Cartes , Horses , or otherwise laden , being bound for the saide realmes , countries and citties , held and occupied by the enemies , may be pursued , ouertaken , and brought backe to the colleges of the Admiraltie , and other iustices aforesaide , to be punished according to the tenor of these presents . And we being resolued to kéepe a good and sure order for the defence of the ships of trade and fishing , vsing at sea , against all forraine inuasions & robbings of the enemie , as also against the exorbitant ransomes which the common enemies vse in the pilling and ransoming of the same . We haue therefore forbidden and interdicted , forbid and interdicte by these presents , all inhabitants of the vnited lands , aswel Merchants Ships , Pilots , as other , vsing trafficke or fishing , at Sea or on the Riuers within the land , or transporting any goods beyond the seas , to take or procure any pasports or safegards of the enemies , in no maner of sort , vpon confiscation of the ships and goods of such as shall be found to haue taken any , with further arbitrall correction . Ordaining that the giuers of the said pasports , safegardes , or safe conductes of the common enemie , shall bee for example of other , punished by losse of life , and confiscation of theyr goods , as ayders of the enemy . And if in case any of the ships or Pilots be by the enemie taken , and ouer and aboue the order by vs therto established , be ransomed and endamaged , we will and ordaine that the same vnreasonable ransomes and damages shall be recouered vp●on the Officers , Iustices , and subiects of the vilages of Bra●ant , Flaunders , and others , remaining vnder the enem●●● dominion , besides what they shall pay to the comm●… or for ransome , charging and authorizing the deputed counse● of the States of the respectiue Prouinces , whose subiects against these our orders shall be by the common enemie by exorbitant and vnreasonable ransomes or otherwaies endammaged , to take notice thereof , and to recouer and remburst them as before , by such proceedings and meanes of execution , as in like matter is commonly vsed . And to the ende no man pretend ignorance hereof , we signifie and commaund our beloued , the States , Lieutenants , and appointed Counsailors of the States , and deputed States of the respectiue Prouinces of Gelderland , Holland , Zealand , Verecht , Vriesland , Oueryssel , Grooning , and Omlanden , and all other Iustices , and Officers vnto whom it dooth belong : to cause this our will and ordinance to be euery where published and proclaimed , in the places where the publique Proclimations are vsually proclaimed , we charge likewise the Chauncelor , Presidents , and prouinciall Counsailours , Aduocates , Fiscals , and generall Atturneys : and all other Officers , Iudges and Iustices of the aforesaide Countries , together with all Chéefetaines , Coronels , Admirals , Vice-admirals , Generals of Horses , Captaines , Officers and Commaunders , to follow and ensue these our ordinances , and to cause them to be followed and ensued , procéeding and causing to be procéeded against the transgressors thereof , without grace , fauour , dissimulation or delaye , as we haue found the same for the Lands welfare to bee most néedfull . Giuen in S. Grauen Haghe , the second of Aprill . 1599.