The Copy of a Letter and Commission, of the King of Spain, Philip the third, sent unto the Viceroy of Portugal, dated the 20. day of june, In the year of our Lord God. 1602.  
Wherein the dealings and trade of Ships & Merchandise is forbidden, with the subjects of Holland, Zealand and England, etc. with the said Lands and Countries of Spain and Portugal.  
Whereby appeareth the inveterate, and continual malice of the said Spaniards, against the Dominions of England, Holland and Zealand, etc.  
Truly translated out of the Spanish original, into the Dutch tongue; and now translated again out of the Dutch Copy, into English.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pavier, and are to be sold at his shop in Cornhill, at the sign of the Cat and parrots, near the Royal Exchange, 1602.   

To the courteous Reader.  
Courteous Reader, after that Philip the second of that name King of Spain, had vexed these Countries of Holland and Zealand, with tedious and continual wars, and with many Imbargos or arrests, made upon their Ships and Merchandise, to the mighty hindrance of their Navigation and Mariners, & to the great damage and overthrow of many honest Merchants: And not therewith contented, used moreover his great Tiranye against the Masters and Mariners, putting them into his Galleys, and like unto poor miserable slaves, with chains and intolerable travails and labours tormenting them, until such time as the Almighty God (by the wise dealings of the Honourable Lords the States) at last did send release and freedom unto a great number, which then remained alive. And after this, his son, Philip the third, coming to the Crown after the death of his Father, seeketh & practiseth to Imitate herein, the ways & footsteps of his Father, as it appeareth most plainly by this Letter, dated the 20. day of june 1602. sent unto the Viceroy of Portugal: Wherein he declareth those of Holland and Zealand, for enemies and rebels to God and his Majesty: Notwithstanding they were never bound by oath of duty unto him, nor ever were his subjects: meaning in this sort to rule and govern over them as his Father hath done before him: which is nothing at all to be wondered at, seeing he hath been nourished and brought up under the wings of the holy fathers of the Spanish Inquisition: we have in such sort fostered him, that they name him to be Humani generis desiderium, that by him they may fully effect their rage and tyranny according to their own wished desire, to the surpression of these lands and their privileges, and also to the rooting out of God's holy word, from which our merciful God defend and keep us. Amen.   

An Edict, set forth & published by the King of Spain, against all Ships and their lading, coming out of England, Holland, and Zealand: terming them by the names of Rebels of God and of his Majesty.  
The King.  
Marquess of castle Rodrigo, principal of my Secret Council, my Viceroy and Captain General in the Kingdom of Portugal. You have understood long since, that causes which moved the K. my Lord (whom God hath taken unto him) to prohibit the trade & dealings, which my rebels of Holland & Zealand used in these Countries & Kingdoms, with the English, & other enemies of our Lord God, & of my kingdoms: as also the reasons which have happened in my time concerning the same matter, & such as have lately happened, yourself being present in Council, when the same was resolved upon and determined. And seeing that at this present time, many reasons concur, moving us to the execution of the said prohibition, and to see that such orders as are therein prescribed, be severely held and maintained: myself being by divers informed (that notwithstanding the said orders) the aforesaid Englishmen, Rebels, and what enemies else soever, have in no other place elsewhere so common and frequent trade, as in the havens of these our dominions, daily arriving in our said Havens, with their own Ships laden, & with false and cullored proofs and Passports, as if they came from free Cities or Towns, or else with the Ships of the high Dutch, or other strange Ships: although that by the nature of the said lading it is presumed that the commodities are of the islands, or English: the keeping of the said ordinances (so made & published upon all these reasons) being of so great importance, that the reducing of the state of the same countries dependeth thereon. Whereof I have resolved, that this contraction and commorce shall be wholly broken and prohibited, to the end that therewith also the molestations (which under colour hereof) have been accustomed to be used towards the ships of my friends and confederates, may cease, which have been esteemed for enemies, and that the one ceasing, the other shall be prohibited. To which end I have consented, that you only, & such persons (as yourself shall nominate) have power and authority to take knowledge of all matters and occurrences appertaining to these arrests. Likewise I give unto you power and authority by virtue of this present commission and faculty, to visit, and to give order that all Ships of strangers which shall come into the Havens of these our said kingdoms may be visited, naming and appointing thereunto in every Haven, some one person of such quality & credit, that yourself may be therein quiet and contented, which shall use therein such faithfulness and integrity, as may be needful and necessary, or at least wise in the most frequented Havens of most importance, with commission that to this effect they may seize on all, or at least wise on such as shall fall first into their hands: & such as shall be found to be of the Rebels, English, or other mine enemies, you shall arrest all the persons which shall come in the same Ships: and shall also attach and lay hands on all the goods and Merchandise which they shall bring, to the end that (the same being convinced, and proved to come from the lands of enemies and Rebels, and the actions being prosecuted according to form of law) you condemn the same to be lost and confiscated, as by me is ordained, applycating the same according to the accustomed manner, as more particularly at large appeareth in the aforesaid ordinances, and others which I esteem as inserted hereunto. And whatsoever you shall in this manner condemn and confiscate, you shall presently cause to be sold, without let or hindrance of any appeal whatsoever, which may in the Interim happen, and the same shall be done by Port sale or Outcry, to the most benefit and profit you can. Unto all which doings, the searcher General Don ivan de Londona, shall repair to be present, as soon as any such Ships or any of them shall be taken or seized: and that the same Ships, and the goods therein laden, shall be Inuentared, if the same do happen where he shall be resident. And for other places thereabouts, such other as shall be appointed for this service in his name. And all such sums of money as shall proceed hereof, you shall give order that the same shall be put into a Christ, with three keys, having different locks, in the presence of the beforenamed searcher General: whereof you shall have one, Don ivan de Londona (aforesaid) the second, and the third shall be delivered unto the Paymaster, who shall receive these moneys. And my will and pleasure is, that no man shall touch the same money, for any cause whatsoever, that shall happen for my service, how special or importunate the same may be, without my particular order before had. And in the havens between Duero and Mino where the like diligence is needful, the same shall be accomplished in the presence of such as shall serve there for searcher of the Martial men in those quarters: who also shall have one key of the Chest which shall there be appointed, and the second shall be given to him whom you shall thereunto nominate, and the third shall serve for the Paymaster general, using such diligence as is before specified. And to the end that men may herein proceed with such justification and upright dealing, as is thereunto necessary or needful: you are hereby advertised, that all the appeals (which for justice sake may in these causes take place, made from the sentences pronounced by you, or by such persons as by your commission shall be thereunto appointed) shall be made before my Council at wars, and not before any others sitting in place of justice, or other Courts whatsoever. To all which, and to every part thereof, & whatsoever else shall thereto appertain, depend thereon, or concern the same: I give and lend you so full power, commission & authority: & to such persons as you shall thereunto appoint or nominate, as thereunto shall be needful and requisite. And I command that no man, of what quality, respect, or condition soever, shall herein intermeddle or intrude himself, but you only, and such persons as you shall thereunto nominate, and that such persons shall remit and send unto you, & to such persons which shall execute this commission by your appointment, all such processes and actions, which are or shall be brought into their Courts, touching questions and differences upon goods, coming out of Holland, Zealand, and England: and also I command that they seize, forbear, and forbidden all farther proceed therein, either directly or undirectly, and all such notaries or other persons, which shall have any manner of such inventaries, or actions, concerning and belonging unto any such arrests or possessions, I command them to deliver unto you the originals, as soon as you shall demand the same, on such penalty as you shall set thereon. Also, I command the Master of the Requests, and the Governor of the Havens, and the Corregidores, and all other judges, and Courts of my Kingdom of Portugal, that they hinder you not in the execution of these matters before written: but that they show unto you all needful favour, help and assistance: and to all others (as is aforesaid) which you shall nominate or appoint: and that they shall inviolably follow and keep, such orders which you shall either give, or send them, because the necessity of our service so requireth.  
Given at S. Lorenco the 20. day of june 1602. Under written, L. the King, by the commandment of our King. Estevan de Ibarra.   

Don john Christoval de Moura Marquis of the castle Rodrigo, great Commander of Altcateo, one of the Privy Council of his Majesty. Viceroy and Captain General in this Kingdom of Portugal.  
Doctor Michiel de la Plaha, the Ship S. jacob, and others are in this Haven arrested and attached, because it is reported that they are of, or come from the Enemy's Countries: and for as much as it is needful that their causes be determined withal such diligence and form as his Majesty hath written unto me in his Kingly letter the xx. of june this present year, whereof the Attenticke copy shall be delivered unto you, herewith I do bind and nominate you, to the end that you follow the contents thereof in such manner as if the same were directed unto you, to determine the cause of the said Ships, withal the incidents, and dependents thereof, and to nominate, Notaries, Alguasyl, & other servants and Officers which thereunto are needful: and to cause such salary to be given unto them as you shall appoint. To all which I give you all, and the same power & authority as I myself have from his Majesty: And for as much as in the mean season, I have not any thing to the contrary to command you: you shall admit and embrace all such denunciations, and informations as shall be brought unto you, concerning this matter: And shall determine the same according to the contents of the said letter.  
Acted at Lisbon the 10. day of August. 1602. Don Christovall. At the commandment of his Excellency. john Basques de Camara.  
FJNIS.