A PROCLAMATION OF THE LORDS THE General States, of the united Provinces, whereby the Spaniards and all their goods are declared to be lawful prize: As also containing a strict defence or restraint of sending any goods, wares, or Merchandizes to the Spaniards or their adherents, enemies to the Netherlandes.  
Faithfully translated out of the Dutch copy Printed at S. graven Hague by Aelbercht Heyndrickson, Printer to the General States.   printer's device bearing the initials "I. W.". 
Imprinted at London by john Wolf, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Alley, near Exchange. 1599   

A Proclamation, of the Lords the general States of the united Provinces, whereby the Spaniards and all their goods are declared to be lawful Prize. As also containing a strict defence or restraint of sending any goods wares, or Merchandizes to the Spaniards or their adherents, enemies to the Netherlands.  
THe General States of the united provinces. To all such as shall see or hear these presents, make known: that whereas it is every day more than other most apparent and manifest, that the enterprises of the Spanish nation, with their conjoined adherents, hath not been only pretended to reduce these Netherlands by their deceitful practices, and the uttermost violence and force, under their wilful and superbious dominion and tyrannical government, both over consciences, bodies, & goods: But also that in the years past, they have attempted, with their usual violent complots, to reduce the realms of England and France, under their power. Which they not being able (according to their desires to perform) now openly & by main force, assault the neighbour countries of the Electors and Princes, and other Neutral places of the Empire, not refusing to overrun the Cities and Fortresses, with all manner of violence, batter them with pieces, ransomming them, and filling them with their soldiers, destroying the flat land, ravishing and deflowering of women and maids, pilling, robbing, murdering and burning, not favouring the house or Castles of Princes, Earls or Gentlemen, nor yet their persons, as sufficiently appeareth by their barbarous dealings in the bishopric of Collen. the Dukedoms of Cleve and Bergh, and the Bishopric of Munster, and other bordering countries. The ministers of this spanish tyranny boasting, that according to their own pleasures they will proceed in their begun actions, especially in these places, until such time as they shall have reduced the whole (besides these Netherlandes) under their Spanish yoke, & wholly rooted out the exercise of the true Christian religion. To which end they have publicly in divers places of the Empire, altered the religion and policy of the same, by force, threats, and other undecent dealings. Moreover, vaunting to be glad, that in the behalf of the Prince's Electors and others, the arms be taken up, for that they shall (as they say) the better attain the purpose. Moreover, that the new king of Spain, the Infanta, and the Spanish Counsel, as well in Spain as in the Low countries, deceitfully and forcibly, hinder and disturb all navigations, dealings, traffic, & trade, so with inhabitants of the Netherlands, as with those of other kingdoms, countries, and cities, in most barbarous and tyrannical sort, misusing the persons, attaching their ships, & violating their granted promises by water and land, all under the pretence and colour, because that we have hitherto jointly resisted their false & deceitful dealings and have not been moved to yield and subvert the united Netherlands, and the good inhabitants thereof, under these barbarous tyranny, and imperious dominion. And since that by gods mighty power, the assistance of her most excellent M. of England, & other kings, Princes, & Commonweals, together with our patience and good endeavours, we have for these many years withstood these tyrannical enterprises, (which they have bend against all Christendom) & hope further, with God's help and assistance (as aforesaid) to withstand, & there in are resolved. Also to visit the Spaniards in the kingdoms & lands by them occupied, not only to hinder their aforesaid tyrannous pretence, but also to recover our losses & damages sustained by them, aswell with our ships of war, as by such as are allowed by our order, hoping assuredly that his divine Majesty will bless our rightful & needful enterprises, and once wholly free and deliver the Netherlands from the aforesaid tyranny of the Spaniards and their adherents. And also will move and incite the neighbour Kings, Princes, Electors, Earls Barons, and commonwealths, that upon good consideration, they may take and use Arms, to assure their perilous estate, and to that end, to drive out the Spaniards and their complices, from the emperors territories, and so out of the Netherlands: as also we find to be most expedient and necessary for the accomplishment of so Christian like, rightful, and needful common cause, against the said Spaniards and their conjoined adherents, to be with all deep insight looked into, that there be not any Ships, goods or merchandises, sent them by water, land, or otherwise, the same being not only permitted by the common people, but also the imperial rights and custom of all Kings, Princes, and Commonweals, being in war or controversy, besides that the same hath been made known by many firm orders and Proclaimations. As well by the above named the Queen's Majesty of England, (with whom we are in sure alliance) as also of these countries. And we therefore intent not to permit that any person of the united lands, using traffic or fishing at sea, or on the waters within the land, shall suffer himself to be deceived, seduced, and endamaged, by any deceitful passports, safeguards, or safe conducts of the said common enemy, as we understand heretofore (against our good meanings) by some hath been done. So it is, that we upon ripe and profound deliberation, and by the advise of the illustrious Prince and Lord Maur●ce, borne Prince of Orange, Count of Nassou, Marquess of de Vere, Flushing, etc. Governor and Captain general of Gelderland, Holland, Zealand, Vtrecht, Ouerysel, etc. as Admiral general, have declared, and declare by these presents, for good and lawful prize, all persons and goods, under the dominion of the Spanish king, in all places where they shall or may be got, have furthermore again of new, strictly defended, forbidden, and respectively notified: defend, forbidden, and notify by these presents, all and every one, of what condition, realm, or land soever, none excepted, not to lad, ship, bring, or transport by water or land, directly or indirectly, under what colour or pretence soever, any ships, goods, wares, or merchandizes, for, or to any haven, city, or place of the enemy, in the kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, or other places of Europe, under the dominion, subjection, or command of the new king of Spain, the Archduke Albertus of Austria, or the Infanta of Spain, upon pain of confiscation of the same goods, wares, or merchandizes, together with the ships, wagons, carts, and horses, wherein, or whereon thy same shall be laden, and all such further punishment as hereafter shall be declared.  
And to prevent all frauds, subtle practices, and deceits, which might in these united Netherlands be pretended by any, of what country, condition, or quality so ever, against these our orders and defences. We ordain and command strictly by these presents, all Conuoy-maisters, controllers, Searchers, and all other our Deputies in all Havens, Cities, and places of the same lands, upon the oath whereby they are bound to their country upon privation of their offices and arbitral correction: We authorize likewise all others, dwelling in the aforesaid united Netherlands, or frequenting the same: diligently to inquire, and to take sharp regard, if this our order be by any one, of what country, condition or quality soever, violated or broken.  
And if in the aforesaid Havens, Cities, or places, any goods be laden, shipped, or carred, which being found, we will and ordain them to be ceased & 〈…〉 without common course or 〈…〉 which shall be found to have been to laden together with the ships, wagons, Carts, and horses, to be confiscated, the one third part to the use of the accuser, be he an officer, or otherwise in service of the land or no, and the other two third parts, to the use of the common causes, whereout the officer who shall follow the matter in law shall be contented. Ordaining moreover, that the proprietaries, or owners of the said goods, as also masters of the said ships, wain men, or carmen, in whose ships, or upon whose wanes or carts they shall be found to be laden in the forbidden Havens, Cities, and places, to be apprehended, and stayed until such time as they shall have paid and accomplished all such further pennalties and corrections, wherein according to the nature of their trespass (by the arbitrements of the judge) they shall be condemned, which may not be less (for so much as toucheth the Merchants) than a thousand pounds. And for each of the Shippers or masters of Ships, five hundredth pounds of forty pence in the pound. And to the end that the foresaid orders may the better be followed, and all frauds punished: We mean that within a year after the aforesaid trespass, all such which shall be found to have violated or broken the same, it shall and may be lawful, by all officers of the said lands, and before competent judges, to arrest and condemn them for the value of the said goods and ships, wagons, carts, and horses, together with the above named penalties and corrections. The sentence whereof by provision shall be executed, all appellations & provocations notwithstanding. And if any in the aforesaid united Provinces desired to ship or lad any goods, to transport the same to the neighbour countries or friends: the same shall not be permitted unto him, unless he have leave and licence thereto from us, the said Lord Admiral general, or from those which thereunto by us shall be appointed, and that by the ships which shall lad the same, sufficient sureties shall be set for the value of their ships, that the said laden goods shall not be carried to any other place but to the havens, cities, and places of our said friends and allies, and that within a certain prefixed reasonable time named in their passports, according to the distance of the haven, to yield sufficient certification and proof thereof; or else their bond shall be executed upon the sureties, for the aforesaid value, to the use of the common causes. And further, we charge all Admirals, Vice Admiral's Captains, and Commissioners for sea. All Chieftains, Generals of horses, Captains, and officers of men of war by land, to take sharp regard, that all such of what land or condition soever, as shall have any goods, wares, or merchandizes in their ships, upon their wanes, Cartes, Horses, or otherwise laden, being bound for the said realms, countries and cities, held and occupied by the enemies, may be pursued, overtaken, and brought back to the colleges of the Admiralty, and other justices aforesaid, to be punished according to the tenor of these presents. And we being resolved to keep a good and sure order for the defence of the ships of trade and fishing, using at sea, against all foreign invasions & robbings of the enemy, as also against the exorbitant ransoms which the common enemies use in the pilling and ransoming of the same. We have therefore forbidden and interdicted, forbidden and interdict by these presents, all inhabitants of the united lands, aswell Merchant's Ships, Pilots, as other, using traffic or fishing, at Sea or on the Rivers within the land, or transporting any goods beyond the seas, to take or procure any passports or safeguards of the enemies, in no manner of sort, upon confiscation of the ships and goods of such as shall be found to have taken any, with further arbitral correction. Ordaining that the givers of the said passports, safeguards, or safe conducts of the common enemy, shall be for example of other, punished by loss of life, and confiscation of their goods, as aiders of the enemy. And if in case any of the ships or Pilots be by the enemy taken, and over and above the order by us thereto established, be ransomed and endamaged, we will and ordain that the same unreasonable ransoms and damages shall be recovered vp●on the Officers, justices, and subjects of the villages of Bra●ant, Flaunders, and others, remaining under the enem●●● dominion, besides what they shall pay to the comm●… or for ransom, charging and authorizing the deputed counsel of the States of the respective Provinces, whose subjects against these our orders shall be by the common enemy by exorbitant and unreasonable ransoms or otherways endamaged, to take notice thereof, and to recover and remburst them as before, by such proceed and means of execution, as in like matter is commonly used. And to the end no man pretend ignorance hereof, we signify and command our beloved, the States, Lieutenants, and appointed Counsellors of the States, and deputed States of the respective Provinces of Gelderland, Holland, Zealand, Verecht, Vriesland, Oueryssel, Grooning, and Omlanden, and all other justices, and Officers unto whom it doth belong: to cause this our will and ordinance to be every where published and proclaimed, in the places where the public Proclimations are usually proclaimed, we charge likewise the Chancellor, Precedents, and provincial Counsellors, Advocates, Fiscals, and general Attorneys: and all other Officers, judges and justices of the aforesaid Countries, together with all Chéefetaines, Colonels, Admirals, Vice-admirals, Generals of Horses, Captains, Officers and Commanders, to follow and ensue these our ordinances, and to cause them to be followed and ensued, proceeding and causing to be proceeded against the transgressors thereof, without grace, favour, dissimulation or delay, as we have found the same for the Lands welfare to be most needful. Given in S. graven Hague, the second of April. 1599  
I. van oldenbarnevelt v. By the order of the aforesaid Lords the General States. C. Aerssen,