The French King's Declaration of War by Sea and Land against the Spaniards, revoking the Passports, Safeguards, and safe Conducts, and making prohibition against having any Commerce, and enjoining his Subjects to fall upon the Spaniards.  
THE sincere Desire which the King has had to maintain the Truce concluded in the Year 1684. induced His Majesty to dissemble the Conduct held by the Ministers of Spain in all the Courts of Europe, where they have made it their whole endeavour to stir them up to take up Arms against France; And His Majesty is no stranger to the Shame they have had in the League of Augsbourg; He has likewise been informed of the Part the Governor of the Spanish Low-Countries has had in the Prince of Orange's Enterprise against England; but in no wise believing that His Conduct in that matter had been prescribed to him by the King His Master, who for so many reasons of Religion, Blood, and Security for all Kings, was bound to oppose such an Usurpation. His Majesty had hoped that He might have prevailed with his Catholic Majesty to have struck up an Union with him for the Restoration of the Lawful King in England, and the conservation of the Catholic Religion, against the Union of the Protestant Princes, and at least to keep an exact neutrality, if the state of the Affairs of Spain did not permit the Catholic King to take such like Engagements: His Majesty had to that intent made him several Proposals since the Month of November last, which have been well received, while the Prince of Orange's Enterprise seemed doubtful. But these favourable Disparitions vanished, as soon as it was known at Madrid; that the King of England had departed his Kingdom, and from that time there has been no other Discourse than of War against France. His Majesty has at the same time understood, that the Spanish Ambassador in England daily saw the Prince of Orange, and solicited him to induce the English to declare War against France; that the Governor of the Spanish Low-Countries raised Forces in all haste; that he promised the State's General to join them with theirs in the beginning of the Campaign, and solicited them, as well as the Prince of Orange, to send Troops into Flanders, for the putting him in a posture of waging War against France: All these intimations having let his Majesty understand, that it became his Prudence to know what to rely upon: He gave order to the Count de Rebenac, his Ambassador at Madrid, to demand a positive Answer of the Catholic King's Ministers, offering him the continuation of the Truce, provided he would oblige himself, by keeping an exact neutrality not to succour directly or indirectly his Majesty's Enemies: But all Counsels having prevailed, his Majesty has been informed, that the Resolution had been taken to favour the Usurper of England, and of joining with the Protestant Princes. His Majesty has also understood at the same time, that the Prince of Orange's Agents received considerable Sums at Cadiz and Madrid, that the Troops of Holland and Brandenbourg are entered into the principal Towns belonging to the Spaniards in Flanders; and that the Catholic King's Governor of the Low-Countries caused the States-General to be solicited to order their Army to advance to Brussels. All these Advertisements, together with the Answer received by the Count de Rebenac at Madrid, leaving his Majesty no room to question, but that the Catholic King's intention is to join with his Enemies; His Majesty thought it became him, not to lose time, for the preventing his ill Designs, and has resolved to declare War against him, as well by Sea as Land, as he does by these presents: Therefore his Majesty orders and enjoins, to this effect, all his Subjects, Vassals, and Servants, to fall upon the Spaniards, and has most expressly forbid, and does forbid such his Subjects from having hereafter with the Spaniards any Communication, Commerce, or Intelligence, upon pain of Death; and to that purpose, His M. has revoked and does revoke all Permissions, Passports, Safeguards, and safe Conducts, which may have been granted by him, or by his Lieutenant Generals, and other his Officers, contrary to these Presents, and has and does declare them null, and of no effect; forbidding all Persons whatsoever from having regard thereunto. His M. commands and orders the Admiral, Mareschals of France, Governors, and L. Generals for his M. in his Provinces and Armies, Mareschals the Camp, Colonels, Mistress de Camps, Captains, Chieftains, and Leaders of his Soldiery, as well of Horse as Foot, French and Foreigners, and all other his Officers to whom it shall belong, that they cause these Presents to be executed as far forth as may concern them, and fall within their Powers and Jurisdictions. For such is his M. Will and Pleasure, his Will and Pleasure being, that these Presents be published and affixed in all his Cities, as well Maritime as other, and in all his Ports, Havens, and all other places of his Realm, and to all Territories under his Command whom it may concern, that so none may pleaad ignorance. Given at Versailles the 15th. of April, 1689. Signed, and lower, COLBERT.   

LE desir sincere que le Roy a eû de maintenir la Tréve concluë en l'année 1684. a porté Sa Majesté à dissimuler la conduite qu'ont tenuë les Ministres d'Espagne dans toutes les Cours des Princes de l'Europe, où ils ne se sont appliquez qu'à les exciter à prendre les Armes contre la France; Et Sa Majesté n'a pas ignoré la part qu'ils ont cùë dans la negociation de la ligue d'Ausbourg; Elle a aussi esté informée de celle qu'a eû le Gouverneur des Païs-Bas Espagnols, dans l'enterprise que le Prince d'Orange a faite contre l'Angleterre; mais ne pouvant croire que la conduite qu'il a tenuë à cét égard, luy eût esté prescrite par le Roy son Maistre, qui par tant de raisons de Religion, de Sang, & de Seurté pour tous les Roys, estoit obligé de s'opposer à une pareille usurpation, Sa Majesté avoït esperé de pouvoir porter Sa Majesté Catholique à s'unir avec Elle pour le rétablissement du Roy legitime en Angleterre, & la conservation de la Religion Catholique contre l'union des Princes Protestans, & au moins, à garder une neutralité exacte, si l'état des affaires d'Espagne ne permettoit pas au Roy Catholique de prendre de pareils engagemens, Sa Majesté luy a fait faire pour cét effet differentes propositions depuis le mois de Novembre dernier, lesquelles ont esté bien receûës, tandis que le succez de l'enterprise du Prince d'Orange a paru douteux; mais ces favorables dispositions se sont évanouïes dés quae l'on a sceu à Madrid le Roy d'Angleterre sorty de son Royaume, & l'on n'y a plus parlé que de guerre contrel a France. Sa Majesté a appris en mesme temps que l'Ambassadeur d'Espagne en Angleterre voyoit journellement le Prince d'Orange, & le solicitoit de faire que les Anglois déclarassent la Guerre à la France, que le Gouverneur des Païs-Bas Espagnols levoit des troupes avec empressement; qu'il promettoit aux Estats Généraux de les joindre aux leurs au commencement de la Campagne, & les solicitoit aussibien que le Prince d'Orange, à faire passer des Troupes en Flandres pour le mettre en estat de faire la Guerre à la France. Tous ces avis ayant fait juger à Sa Majesté qu'il estoit de sa prudence de scavoir a quoys'en tenir, Elle a donné ordre au Comte de Rebenac, son Ambassadeur à Madrid, de demander une résponse positive aux Ministres du Roy Catholique, luy offrant la continuation de la Tréve, pouruû qu'il volust s'obliger en gardant une neutralité exacte, de ne secourir directement, ny indirectement les ennemis de sa Majesté; mais les mauvais Conseils ayant prévalu, Sa Majesté a esté informée que la resolution avoit esté prise de Favoriser l'usurpareur d'Angleterre, & de se joindre aux Princes Protestans. Sa Majesté a appris aussi, presque en mesme temps que les Agents du Prince d'Orange ont touche des sommes considérables à Cadix, & à Madrid, que les Troupes de Hollande & de Brandenbourgh sont entrées dans les principales Places des Espagnols en Flanders, Eque le Gouverneur des Païs-Bas pour le Roy Catholique faisoit soliciter les Estats Généraux de faire avancer leur Armée sous Bruxelles. Tous ces avis joynts à la réponse que ledit Comte de Rebenac a receûë à Madrid ne laissant à Sa Majesté aucun lieu de douter que l'intention du Roy Catholique ne soit de se joindre à ses Ennemis; Sa Majesté a crû ne devoir pas perdre de temps à prévenir ses mauvais desseins, & a resolu de luy declarer la Guerre, tant par Mer que par Terre, comme Elle fait par la Presente. Ordonne & Enjoint pout cét effet, Sa Majesté, à tous ses Sujets, Vassaux & Serviteurs de courre sus aux Espagnols, & leur a deffendu & deffend trés-expressément, d'avoir cyaprés avec eux aucune communication, commerce, ny intelligence, à pein de la vie; Et à cette fin, Sa Majesté a dés-à-present revoqué & revoque toutes Permissions, Passeports, Sauvegardes, & Sauf-conduits, qui pourroient avoir esté accordez par Elle, ou par ses Lieutenans Généraux, & autres ses Officiers, contraires à la presente, & les a declaré & declarè nuls, & de nul effet & valeur; deffend à qui que ce soit d'y avoir aucun égard. Mande & Ordonne Sa Majesté à Monsieur l'Amiral, aux Mareschaux de France, Gouverneurs & Lieutenans Généraux pour Sa Majesté en fes Provinces & Armées, Mareschaux de Camp, Colonels, Mestres de Camp, Capitaines, Chefs & Conducteurs de ses gens de Guerre, tant de cheval que de pied, François & Estrangers, & tous autres ses Officiers qu'il appartiendra, que le contenu en la presente, ils fassent executer chacun à son égard dans l'étenduë de leurs pouvoirs & jurisdictions; Car telle est la volonté de Sa Majesté, laquelle veut & entend, que la presente soit publiée & affichée en toutes ses Villes, tant Maritimes qu'autres, & en tous ses Ports, Havres & autres lieux de son Royaume, & terres de son obéïssance que besoin sera, à ce qu'aucun n'en prétende cause d'ignorance. Fait à Versailles 15. Auril 1689. Signé, Lovis. Et plus bas, COLBERT.   

Printed in the Year. 1689.