An Edict or Proclamation; published by the States general of the united provinces, touching an order by them prescribed, how all jesuits, Priests and monks of the Popish or Romish Religion( that are within or hereafter shall come into the said united provinces) shall behave themselves, &c.  
Withall, prohibiting all their Subiects from binding themselves by Oath or otherwise, to maintain and uphold the power and authority of the Pope of Rome, and from making of any assemblies & Collections for the upholding and excecuting of the Romish superstitions, or any other points thereunto depending. given at the Hage the 27. of March Anno. 1612.  
 printer's or publisher's device  
London Printed by E. A. for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Alley. 1612.   

The privilege.  
THis day being the 27. day of March anno 1612 the States general of the united provinces, haue granted and authorized and by these presents do grant and authorize, their sworn and ordinary Printer, Hillebrant jacobson, that he onely within the Netherlands, shall print the Proclamation by them made, concerning the coming and staying of the Iesuites, monks, and other spiritual persons of the Romish religion, into the said Netherlands: as also against frequenting to the schools of the said Iesuites, and other points concerning the same, made and set forth by the said States at this time, vpon pain of forfeiture of all the printed copies, so printed by any other Printer, and of the somme of 150. pound, of 40. groats to the pound: one third part thereof to the Officer that shall bee employed to seize vpon the same, one third part for the poor, and the other third part for the Printer to the said States aforesaid. given at the assembly of the said general States: In the Hage, the day and year abovesaid. Signed.  
John van Oldenbarnevelt. 
 and under 
 By the aid & appointment of the States 
 general of the united provinces. 
 C. Aerssen.   

THE States general of the united provinces of the Nether-lands, to all men to whom these presents come to be seen or red, greeting. Being certainly and truly informed, that daily and continually many Priests, monks and other spiritual or religious persons, which profess the Popish religion, and specially many of the most pernicious and dangerous sect of the jesuits, do enter into and stay and remain within the united provinces of the Nether-lands, wherein they teach service and disperse their strange doctrine and superstitions amongst their good and faithful Subiects: and also establish and over-reached diuers and many superstitions which are expressly forbidden and prohibited by the word of God: & especially labour to maintain & uphold the usurped tyrannous power of the Pope of Rome, placing the same not only in spiritual but also in temporal matters above all Kings, Princes, Potentates and Common-wealths whatsoever, & not content therewith, extending the same so far as that they make it of power to dispose of the very persons of Kings and Princes, and of their kingdoms, lands and sitates at his pleasure, and to divert and withdraw their subiects from the due obedience which they owe and are bound to yield unto them, which their proceedings do openly tend unto an uproar and great perturbation of the common peace and tranquilitie of all Countries and Nations, whereby great occasions are given and opened to move and stir up many grievous and murderous actions, whereof the kingdoms of France, & great britain, as also the Venetian Commonwealth, can give most wonderful and admirable testimonies: which considered, for as much therefore as wee, & some of the States of some of the particular provinces of the united Netherlands, haue heretofore thought it convenient, to make and publish diuers and several Edicts or Proclamations, not onely to let and hinder that the subiects of these Countries should not be infected and lead away, with and by the errors aforesaid,( which wholly resist & are contrary unto the true Christian Religion, as also against the lawful government of these Countries:) and that those that are already lead away and infected with them, or that by oath haue bound themselves to maintain the Popish errors, and to uphold their aforesaid pernicious doctrine, neither may nor shall be admitted to any estate or office in any place of the said united Nether-lands, as also( according to the common laws and ordinances of the land) to restrain all conventicles and assemblies and meetings, whereby any notable and apparent mischief or hurt might grow or happen unto the common State of these provinces, as also all collection & secret gatherings of money, which tend unto the impoverishing of these Countries: And for that in all the said things aforesaid it is requisite and necessary, generally to make provision for these me through out al the aforesaid united provinces, as also that thereby there may a good correspondency held & provision made for good order to be holden and kept, between the subiects of these countries, and the subiects of our neighbours, and that like conversation( according to the prepositions aforesaid with the continuance of freedom, liberty, and security of these countries, under good and wholesome laws, whereby every man may know how to govern himself) may be held and continued, as it is used and observed in other kingdoms and countries.  
So it is, that after many and diuers Proclamations and orders, made, published, and set down, both in these countries in former times, and also in other neighbour kingdoms and countries, by aduise of his excellency, and the counsel of Estate, we haue ordained and established, and by these presents do ordain and establish, that all Priests, monks, Iesuites, and other spiritual or religious persons of the romish religion, of what order or degree soever they be, who within two months after the publication hereof, shall or will come into the united netherland provinces, shall be bound at their entry into the first town thereof, and also in every place afterward, where they will or we●… e to lodge, shall signify their names, qualities, and places of lodging, unto the chief Officer of the said place or places, if he be resident therein, or else to any other meaner Officer there resident: and also after the said two moneths aforesaid, shall be bound to certify and make known unto the said Officers, all the names of the persons of the said qualities aforesaid, which are already come into the said country, and haue no certain place of abode within the same, which shall also by the said Officers be especially and truly noted down and recorded, and the said under Officers shall certify the same unto the head Officers, and the said head Officers in like sort shall inform the Magistrates of the town particularly thereof, to the end that both by the one as well as the other of them, great care and foresight may be had and taken, that by the said strange persons there may be nothing attempted nor done, contrary to the peace, good, and welfare of the united netherland provinces: and if it happen that any of the persons aforesaid, shall not haue so given and certified his name as aforesaid, the said person so offending, shall forfeit for the same offence, the somme of 50. guilders, and besides that fine, shall be charged and commanded to depart out of the united Netherland provinces, and never to return again into the same, vpon pain of open and public banishment. We also command al and every person with whom the said jesuits, Priests, monks, and other spiritual or religious persons, shall come or happen to lodge, to search and inquire whether they haue presented and given up their names as aforesaid, and if they find it not to be done accordingly, that they shall( before the third night of their lodging with them,) make known the names and qualities of the said persons unto the Officers aforesaid, vpon pain of forfeiture of 100. Guilders, without any excuse by any of them to be made or alleged, that he knew not the person or persons so lodging at his house as afore said, common innkeepers or houses of lodging onely excepted, of whom such knowledge cannot well bee had.  
Forbidding further, all and every one of our subiects of these Countries, after the publication hereof, not to enter into any Coledge or school of Iesuites, vpon pain of ever to be disabled, to serve, hold, or haue any office or estate within these Countries, or to enjoy any Prebends or Chanons place, or any other bnfice whatsoever, and further every month that they remain, and continue in the aforesaid schools or colleges, shall forfeit and pay 100. Guilders, and the like penalty both of disabling them, and of pecuniary punishment shall be inflicted vpon all those, who before the publication of these presents, haue entred into the said schools or colleges, and within two moneths after the publication hereof, haue not left and forsaken the same. And if the said persons haue no goods of their own, their pacents or Tutors shall bee bound to pay the same, unless that such persons aforesaid, haue entred into, and remain in the said schools or colleges, without the knowledge and consent of their said Parents or tutors: In which case, the said parents & Tutors shall be expressly forbidden and prohibited to sand or give any money directly or indirectly, unto the said persons, vpon pain and forfeiture as aforesaid, to be taken and deducted out of their own goods and livings: We do also by these presents, pronounce and declare all alienation, or conveyances of goods before hand, made by the persons, that contrary to this our ordinance do stay, or hereafter do enter into the said colleges or schools, to be voided and of no force nor effect, and all their gifts, testaments, bequests, and other conveyances, made or to be made by them, during their staying in the said schools or colleges, likewise to be void.  
We also expressly forbid, that no person whatsoever, being naturally born, or an inhabitant in these countries, shall be admitted or promoted to any estate, office, or public service in the aforesaid countries, villages, or towns thereof, who within two moneths after the publication hereof, shall accept and receive their said promotion or offices, by oath to defend and maintain the Romish errors and superstitions: And that all those that since the pacification made at Gaunt in anno 1576.( having taken such an oath) haue been admitted and received into service, within two moneths after the publication hereof, shall seek to be vnburthened and discharged of the said oath & shall take an oath of allegiance to the States in the place where they shall dwell and inhabit, according to the custom and manner of the said place, unless they haue already taken the same oath of allegiance, or openly haue left and forsaken the said romish superstitions aforesaid: of which their said oath to be discharged, and to take a new oath of allegiance. We haue authorized, and by these presents do authorize the ordinary Magistrate of the place, where any such person shall dwell or inhabit, to do it: and the office or state of all those that shall not do accordingly, shall presently be void, and the said persons utterly and for ever put from their said offices. Wee ordain further, that all those that are promoted or preferred under the aforesaid oath, or that hereafter shall be so premoted or preferred( and dwell within the said united provinces, or that hereafter shall desire to dwell therein, within one month after the publication hereof, or after that they shall hereafter dwell within the said united provinces) shall appear before the Magistrate of the place where they are resident, and there make and take their oaths of allegiance unto these countries, vpon pain, that for not doing so, they shall depart out of the said provinces, and if they do it not, that at the end of the first month next after that ensuing, they shall forfeit 50. guilders: at the end of two moneths 100. guilders, and if they depart not out of the country within the third month, that then they shall be presently banished out of the said united provinces.  
We also expressly forbid all the subiects of our said countries, and others, frequenting the same, both within the towns, and also in the villages and countries thereof: To make or hold any assemblies of men or women, within any churches, particular houses, places, fields, ships, or s●… tes, therein to hear mass, or to do, or exercise, or hear any popish superstition, exhortation, instruction, or reading, or otherwise to hold, or help to hold any assembly or any gatherings together of any persons, of the romish religion,( although there be no Priest, monk, nor any other spiritual person there present among them, that should say mass, or teach or instruct them in the said superstitions aforesaid) under what pretence or colour soever it may be, neither secretly nor openly, vpon pain to forfeit 200. guilders, to be levied vpon him in whose house, field, ship, or scute, such assemblies or meetings shall be made: and that he that shall haue so said mass, or taught any popish superstitions, exhortations, instructions, or admonitions, if he be one that cometh out of other parts, or provinces, not subject to the united provinces, shall be perpetually banished out of the said united provinces, vpon pain of corporal punishment, and withall shall be condemned to pay a great fine: And if he be one that is resident within the united provinces, he shall presently depart out of the same, and never return into them again, vpon pain to be openly and perpetually banished from thence, and of corporal punishment if he return again: and that further he shall be deprived of his bnfice or spiritual living,( if he hath any) and shall not bee suffered to stay, lodge, harbour, remain or continue, within any town or place of these Countries, vpon pain of forfeiture for the first time of 100. Guilders, to be paid by him that shall so stay, lodge, harbour, hold or keep him, contrary to this our Proclamation: & for the second time of 200. guilders: for the third time of 300. Guilders, for the fourth time of 400. Guilders, and banish- as aforesaid. And he that shall be found to haue said or to say mass, or taught or teach any popish supestitions, admonitions, instructions, and exhortations oforesaid, shall loose his bnfice or spiritual livings if he haue any, and also be find at the some of 25. Guilders for every time that he shall haue so said mass as aforesaid, whether he be found presently & instantly doing the same, or that afterward it shall be known that he hath done it: and the like pecuniary punishment of 25. Guilders, shall be laid vpon all those that were present at the hearing of the same: and further being found actually present at the same shall loose and forfeit their vpper garment which they then shall wear.  
But if it happen that any man be found to haue dispersed, taught or strewed abroad any doctrine or learning which is contrary and repugnant to the government of these Countries, and tending to the diverting of the subiects of the same from their true obedience, he shall be punished corporally as a seditious and mutinous fellow, and put to death, if the waightines of the cause and matter by him effected and procured doth require the same. We further ordain, that he, who under pretence of being of the Romish Religion, shal suffer or procure himself to be married or baptized again by any Priest, Curate, monk or friar, shall forfeit and pay 100. Guilders, and further be punished at the Magistrates pleasure, and all those that shall be present at the said marriage or baptizing, shall forfeit 50. Guilders, and the Priest, Curate, monk or friar that shall haue done the same shall be punished with the like pain, forfeit, and correction as aforesaid. And that all those either men or women, that shall bee found to haue had any knowledge thereof, or that haue given their consent unto any such assemblies or meetings, shall forfeit four times as much as those or they that were or shall be personally found present at the said assemblies. We also expressly forbid and prohibit, all persons dwelling or inhabiting within these countries, or that frequent the same, to make any collections or gatherings of money, to be carried or conveyed out of these countries, whether it be for any Churches, hospitals, colleges, or covents, or for any other cause or purpose whatsoever, nor yet to contribute to any such collections, without the special consent and licence of the chief commanders of the said provinces, vpon pain that he or they that shall make any such collection or contributions, or that shall carry or convey the said money out of the country, shall be punished corporally, and forfeit and loose all his goods: and all those that shall haue contributed thereunto, shall be arbitrately punished, and further shall pay for a fine four times as much as they shall haue given or paid unto the said contribution.  
All which forfeitures and penalties aforesaid, shall be employed and distributed in this manner: that is, one third part for the Officer that shal see the same executed, one third part for him that shal give notice and information thereof, and one third part to the behoof and common profit of the country: all the particular ordinances and orders heretofore made and set down concerning the said points aforesaid, by the particular provinces, remaining still in their former strength and force.  
And that no man may hereafter pretend any ignorance herein, we require and earnestly desire the States, State-holders, particular counsels, and the deputed States of the provinces of Gelder-land, Zutphen, Holland, West-freezeland, Zealand, utrecht, Freeseland, Ouer-issell, the town of Gweninghe and the country circumiacent. We also will and command the counsels of Brabant and Flanders, the Drossart of Drent, wed, and Wester-wolding-land, and all other Iustices and Officers whom it in any wise concerneth, to make this our ordinance and Proclamation presently to be known published and proclaimed in all places, wherein they are usually, to be publish and proclaim the same: with commandment to the chancellor, Presidents and councils advocates fiscal, and Attorneis general and to all other Officers and Iudges, and having jurisdiction, to execute and cause to be executed, this our ordinance and commission: and to proceed against the repugners and breakers thereof without any grace or favour, dissimulation, er retraction whatsoever. with express commandement unto all Officers, not to make any composition or detraction, touching the mittigatition of any of the pains and penalties set down and specified in this our proclamation, but precisely to execute the contents of the same proclamation, touching the third part of the penalties therein contained belonging unto and appointed to be paid to the profit and behoof of the country, and thereof to yield a just and true account, as far as they are by their commission bound to do. And to suffer and permit the enformers thereof peaceably & without any abridgement of the same to follow and pursue the parties offending, for their third part, vpon pain of deprivation of their Offices, and further to suffer and endure arbitrary punishment, as wee for the profit and the good of the country shall think meet and convenient.  
given in the assembly of the States general of the united Netherlands provinces, in the Hage the 27. of March Anno. 1612. John van Oldenbarnevelt. 
 and under 
 By order of the said States, 
 general. 
 C. Aerssen. 
 Imprimator 
 Henric Mason.