A DECLARATION OR MANIFEST OF The High and Mighty Lords THE STATE'S GENERAL OF THE United netherlands Provinces:  
Comprehending A true Relation of their sincere intention, and lawful proceed in the Treaty with the Extraordinary Ambassadors, and the Commissionaries of the present Government of England, so as the same hath been held here in the Hague, as also at London.  
And likewise Of the unjust and violent proceed of those of the said Government, which have forced the said States General by way of retortion, to defend their State and Subjects against their Oppressions.  
At AMSTERDAM, Translated out of the Original Copy, Printed in the Hague by the Widow and Heirs of Hillebrandt Jacobsz van Wouw. 1652.   

THe State's General of the United Netherlands unto all, which may see or hear this read, send greeting. Whereas all lawful Magistrates (as being ordained by God Almighty to take care of the welfare of their subjects) are bound, not only to govern the same with discretion, and to maintain them in good order and lawful policy; and further, wisely and prudently to prevent and suppress all outward occasions, whereby the rest and tranquillity of their said subjects might be disturbed, or they undergo losses or oppression: and to that end it be esteemed both honourable and profitable with good and due offices to have all, especially their Neighbouring States and Countries obligued to them, whereby they may retain a wel-grounded and assured confidence of each others fidelity, and when any distemper is befallen, may with the most easy and peaceable means compose the same in all love and friendship. But moreover it be required of them, when the cause is so exigent, and no other means can prevail, to use the power and strength given them of God Almighty, and consequently their weapons, and therewith manly and courageously to oppose and suppress all violence and injury done to their said dear subjects, and cause them to obtain satisfaction and reparation for all wrongs and damages which unjustly were inflicted upon them. And we with a complete, upright, and good intention endeavouring alike the performance of both, do thank God, that he hath so blessed our rule, love, and care to and for the good of our subjects, that they have requited the same with manifest expressions of their real love and ready obedience, tending both to their and our welfare, strength and conservation. And in respect of the English Nation, have ever, not only with all unfainedness and holiness on our parts maintained all friendship and good correspondency, which of old used to be observed between them and us: but moreover the said English Nation now of late being disturbed within her own bowels, and rend in factions, and the people highly exasperated one against the other, we have not only with sorrow and sadness of heart beheld the same, and abstained from all partial actions, whereby we might incur the just displeasure or dis●ffaction of either side: and moreover, as much as possibly we could, prevented and stopped all succour from us to either of them, whereby the fire which was kindled might be fomented, the breach made larger, and the cure more difficult and perilous; but also when the aforesaid distractions had in some parts of their Country occasioned waist, desolation, poverty, want of food; and we, by both Houses of Parliament at that time being, were earnestly entreated to admit of a public collection in our Churches for the consolation and sustenance of many impoverished and needy people in the said parts: the representation of the said calamities did so work upon our hearts and the hearts of our good subjects with tender pity and Christian compassion, that upon the said entreaty a considerable sum of money, to the value of certain Tons of gold, was gathered in, and to the said end exported out of this Country, insomuch that the said Houses of Parliament did cause their Letters of Thanksgiving to be dispatched unto us, and to be exhibited and confirmed by the mouth of their public Minister, with external demonstrations of great affection. With all which, finding ourselves not fully satisfied, but being deeply touched with a longing zeal and fervent desire, to see an end put to all these said misunderstandings, and thence arising troubles, and to have a true, upright, and innerly reconciliation made between these two so much each against the other incensed and exasperated parties; trusting we had given such manifest demonstrations of our true intentions herein, that we had hoped we might prove acceptable, and thereby also fitting instruments to help the furtherance of so good and great a work: to that purpose did undertake to make a trial thereof, by sending to the King and both Houses of Parliament an Embassage Extraordinary imposed upon the Lords William Boreel and Johan van Rheede, Lord of Renswoude, etc. But God Almighty in his incomprehensible judgement not seeing good to put an end to the said distractions by appeasing the same, but by other means having settled the state of that Government upon another ground then formerly it was maintained by; and the said Government offering unto us a treaty of mutual Union and nearer Alliance; we believing the same was presented in all sincerity and uprightness, and considering that thereby might be obtained security of Navigation and Commerce, not only for us, but also for all Trading Kingdoms and Countries, especially the Neighbouring, which otherwise in regard of divers common Interests, through misunderstandings arising between us and the said Government, inevitably would be disturbed; we have not only showed ourselves most willing and ready to accept of the said motion, but the said Government to that purpose having sent over unto us the Lords, Oliver S. John, and Walter Strickland their Ambassadors Extraordinary: we have also endeavoured in all manner to comply with them, and to facilitate the means to bring the said treaty to a happy conclusion, as far as the constitution of our present Government was able to suffer. So that the said Lords Ambassadors being entered into conference with our Lords the Committee ordained out of the midst of us to that purpose; and having made unto them a general and unlimited Proposition, after that we had made manifest unto them our sincere inclination and true love to Peace and Unity, they were in our behalf requested, that the said general Proposition by a nearer Exposition might be opened might be opened and distinguished in clear and near points, that thereby upon sure and firm grounds things might be brought to a good conclusion; and although several well-grounded reasons were alleged, and by several contra-propositions good way was made for an agreement: Nevertheless at that time we could advance nothing, but that the said Lords Ambassadors, when a short time was expired after their first audience, the substance itself not once yet being touched, gave countenance that they were to departed. But through sundry persuasions, at last admitting of a willingness to prolong their time of staying, and having since exhibited nearer Propositions, we have with all speed approved ourselves so, that the said Lords Ambassadors, upon the said nearer Propositions (which themselves declared to be of greatest concernment, and of such consequence, that when once we should come to be of one resolution concerning the same, there would be little difficulty in the other) have received from us such reflection, that in the substance there remained no difference, or if any, but very small; and we of our parts moreover revealed all that we found conducing further to the good of both Nations, that might be agreed upon with maintenance of the alliances we have with other Kings, Republics, Princes and States, and so all that was needful for the consummating of the said treaty; whereunto expecting the nearer Declaration of the said Lords Ambassadors, they declined the same by their sudden departure, intimating, that the time granted unto them for their staying was expired, and consequently that they could not possibly proceed to an answer unto that which was propounded by us, to the end aforesaid. And although the said manner of proceeding might afford matter of several suspicions, concerning the intention of the said Government, in relation to the said treaty: because the intercurrence of a short time, which had made no alteration in the cause itself, ought not to have altered the good inteutions, and consequently ought not to have made any such interruption in the progress of the treaty: we notwithstanding on our parts (preferring the dignity and acceptableness of the cause itself before all outward ceremonies, and considering the protestation made by their said Lords Ambassadors at their departure from hence, of the sincere inclination of the said Government towards peace, and of their confidence, that although their endeavours had not been so successive, as to attain to a happy period, the same notwithstanding might not prove unfruitful, when time should come, that we with a contra-visit should please to resort unto them) have not omitted to decree a considerable Embassage to the said Government, and accordingly in December last year sent thither the Lords Jacob Cats, Gerard Schaep, and Paulus van de Par, our Ambassadors Extraordinary, with full power and instructions for a Treaty. Although since the departure from hence of the said Lords S. john and Strickland, by a certain discourteous and unneighbourly Act, published by the said Government, whereby the usual liberty of Trade was manifestly restrained, the good corresdondency between both Nations (whereby true friendship and fidelity were wont best to increase and be confirmed) was in that part evidently cut off, and several of our Ships surprised, all which gave more and more suspicions, that the intentions of the said Government was no way answerable to our unfeigned openheartedness, which afterward did most evidently appear to be so. For after that our said Ambassadors Extraordinary were arrived in England, and there had made an earnest and upright Declaration, of our sincere affection towards the consummating of the  inchoated treaty, with serious Requests, that the same might speedily and happily be brought to a perfection, and to that end all things might stand in the same posture, wherein they were left at that time, when the said Lords St. john and Strickland departed from us; at least till the event of that Treaty might be known: and to that purpose the said Act (by which the life and being of the said Treaty would be infringed) might be repealed, or at least the execution thereof suspended, and the surprised Ships and goods restored: The same hath not only not been taken into consideration by the said Government, as was fitting it should according to reason and equity; but contrarily (during the said Treaty for the renewing and confirming of old Covenants and Amity, and of the entrance into nearer confederacy and compliance of Love and Union) the said Act was put in Execution, and moreover under several unreasonable pretences, as partly with Letters of Mart, granted by the said Government without cause (in respect we never denied or delayed Justice to any of their offended subjects, being therefore contrary to the Laws and practices of all civilised Governments, and to all former Covenancs erected betwixt both Nations) partly with Commissions given against the French, the Ships of our said Subjects have been assaulted at Sea, entered, surprised, and brought up into their Havens in a most hostile manner, the Goods plundered, the Masters and Mariners roughly used, as well by their public Ministers, as by those which were enabled by the said Letters or Commissions, and thereby given occasion to all sorts of Robbers under the same pretences, to exercise their piracy, not giving regard to the constant solicit of our said Ambassadors to the said Government, that they would please to cause such actions to cease; much less making restitution to our good Subjects of their surprised and plundered ships and goods. And although by these unneighbourly actions we had just cause given us to manifest our resent, and by retortion to seek reparation of the damages, which our Subjects sustained, from and upon the ships and goods of the Subjects of that Government, 〈◊〉 being thereunto highly provoked through an unsufferable outrage: Nevertheless hoping the said Government would once give place to reason, and that by way of treaty, according to justice and equity, all differences might be composed; we have abstained from all manner of fact; yea though earnestly entreated, have refused to give our Letters of Mart or Commissions to our wronged Subjects for reasons ; and of our side through our Ambassadors Extra-ordinary with all earnestness sought the accomplishing of the said treaty in general, and of the  surprised ships and goods in particular: and on the other side to prevent all piracy and robbery for the future, and to free our Subjects from further losses, and the general commerce from a total ruin and spoil; we resolved to set out at sea a considerable fleet of ships, and to prevent jealousies, and that the said Government might not mis-apprehend of this our doing (as we did like wise to other our friends and neighbouring countries) by our Ambassadors extra-ordinary we gave notice unto them in all sincerity of this our resolution, with open and upright manifestations, that the said ships should not at the least be employed to inflict any hurt upon our friends and confederates, and namely also not upon the Subjects of their Government: but that we were of a settled resolution to maintain all good compliance and friendship with them in sincerity, as was becoming two such neighbouring Nations. And although we expected that this notice given, ought also to have been accepted of by them, as a token of our unfeignedness, especially because the said Government a little time before had manifested their distaste, that a small number of our ships, not giving them timely notice aforehand, had showed themselves near unto some Islands, which then our ships knew not to be under their command: Notwithstanding we observed, that the said Government daily aiming at nothing more, then to gather pretences, whereby to give a colour to the execution of their long threatened designs, have also looked upon the said notification with the same glance: insomuch that our Ambassadors were necessitated in our behalf to bring more proofs whereby to make the truth thereof more apparent unto them. And in the mean time, that the said treaty was seriously followed by our said Ambassadors, who endeavoured to bring the same into such a posture, that the said Government should be induced to declare themselves, and no longer to conceal their secret designs, tending to the destruction of our commerce, and the disabling of the strength of our state, under seeming pretences of friendship, and feeding us with the hopes and appearances of a treaty: as we have most evident proofs of this their doing: Our Lieutenant Admiral Tromp, whom we made General of our said Navy, was by them encountered with a full broad side in an hostile manner, and several of the men of his ship miserably wounded, because he did not strike the flag according to their fancy, though nevertheless according to divers unanimous Declarations and evidences taken of neutral and unpartial men, he was busy with haling in of his Mars-sayle, and causing of his boat to be haled on, whereby to send one of his Officers aboard of the Admiral of the said Government to congratulate him with all due respects; by which encounter our said Lieutenant Admiral, and the rest of the ships under his command, were necessitated to defend themselves, and did moderate their defence so irreprehensibly, in regard of the English Navy, that whereas ours were fare stronger in number of ships, and able to have wholly ruinated their invaders, they refrained themselves and rested satisfied with their only defence. Which discretion notwithstanding by the adverse party was so little respected, that, coming up with a second Esquadron of ships, they did likewise in their former hostile manner assault the hindermost of our ships, which were separated from the body of our fleet, overcame two of them, and took one away. And to make this encounter serve them for a pretence, to break the aforesaid treaty, they gave out and published amongst their people, and have endeavoured to make the whole world believe, that the first assault in the said encounter was made by our side, and thence pretend to be wronged and affronted in the highest degree, and set themselves in a posture of open war against us, before they once made the least complaint thereof unto us, much less damanding reparation for the said trespass, which they pretend to be committed, which reason and respect to the treaty in hand, if ever their intention towards the same had been real, might have persuaded them. On the contrary we on our sides endeavouring with true and upright hearts and minds to reduce into a due Frame and Order, what might be displaced and out of order; our aforesaid Ambassadors Extraordinary, no sooner had received intelligence of the said accident, but with most seriousness protested and declared before the Council of State of the said Government, that if things had been acted, as they related the same, that we were wholly ignorant thereof, and to be done quite contrary to our exprrsse order, which they confirmed by exhibiting the original letter written unto them by the aforesaid our Admiral concerning the said subject, comprehending a perfect relation of the commission we gave him, and solemnly attesting of our intimate desires, and hearty inclinations to have and maintain peace and unity with the said Government by a firm alliance, and indissoluble amity: and with great zeal and earnest instances beseeched them, that there might a nearer search be made into the truth of passages befallen in the said encounter, and thereupon communicated unto them the evidences taken there, to be sent over unto us: and desired that in the mean time the treaty, which they supposed was brought so far, that in a short time it might receive its happy period, might not be retarded by an unexpected casualty, beyond and against will, surely of us, through inconsiderateness and rashness of one of the two parties officers, who were to give account of their actions, and that the same might not put the cause in a farther distance. And although this proposition was of great consequence & highest importance for the common good of both nations, the said government notwithstanding in a long time have not dained our Ambassadors, nor us, in whose behalf the same was propounded, with their answer: being however by our special command a second time put in mind thereof by our said Ambassadors, who again delivered over the said renewed proposition, and afterwards reiterated it once more, with further confirmations of our upright intention & hearty displeasure against the said unexpected and unhappy encouneer of the said Fleets. Yea on the contrary laid hold upon all Ships of traffic and men of war, which they could light on at Sea, belonging to these Provinces, taking or sinking some with violence, misleading others under show, and sending them up into their harbours, also plundering and misusing the Seamen and Soldiers, and imprisoning divers, as if we were in open wars with each other, without a foregoing public denial of their Friendship towards us, which hath occasioned the loss of much innocent blood, and the utter undoing of several of our subjects in their estates. All which extreme provocations we have with patience undergone to justify before the world our peaceable minds, and the uprightness and lawfulness of our proceed, as showing that nothing is more dear unto us then the accomplishment, preservation and augmentation of good union, true confidence, faithfulness and amity with our neighbours; and contrariwise nothing more detestable than the horrible fruits of a consuming war, and direful wasting of innocent Christian blood: And in consideration thereof besides our aforesaid three Ambassadors which we had sent to the aforesaid Government for the making and establishing of the abovesaid alliance, we have moreover resolved upon a second Embassage Extraordinary to be sent to the said Government, and therefore dispatched unto them the Lord Adrian Pauw, Lord of Heemstede, our Pensionary Counsellor of Holland and Westfricsland, especially upon the subject of the said late encounter and its influences, and with more serious expressions of our upright meaning and desire to pacify the matter. And the said Government having in the mean time given out their answer to the aforesaid proposition and iterative representation of the same made unto them by our former Ambassadors, in which answer having bended their affections to embrace a bad & sinister impression, which they wittily fitted and framed for a colour to their unjust and ungodly designs, as if we had set out and managed our said fleet, for to make war against them, and to destroy their Navy, or to show other actions of hostility, violence or oppression against their subjects, without any regard to all former serious attestations and protestations to the contrary, have declared, that they found themselves obliged to endeavour, with God's assistance, as they shall have opportunity, to seek reparation of the wrongs (as they say) already suffered and security that the like be not attempted for the future. And thereby shown they had neither will nor inclination, to bring the matter to an accommodation, but were minded to go on with matters of fact: The abovesaid Lord of Heemstede, both before the Parliament of England, as likewise afterwards before the Council of State, with strong and most clear arguments disproving the truth of the said impression, and calling God almighty, the searcher of all hearts, to witness (he having perfect cognizance of all our affairs, because, in regard of his public charge, he had been present in all our consultations, held both in our assemblies and in the assemblies of the States of Holland and Westfrisland) could and did holily protest and depose for the assured truth, that never any deliberation was held, nor resolution taken, much less any power or commission given directly or indirectly, to give any the least cause of offence to the said Government, which is fare from an intention to of doing any injury to the said Fleet, or any ships belonging to the same, but surely to the contrary, that they had order to manifest unto them all tokens of friendship and propitious affection: and once more from the bottom of heart with all uprightness protested, that the above said Sea-fight, between the two Fleets happened without our knowledge or order, to our great sorrowfulness and astonishment. And considering that nevertheless the said Government made another construction of that sad accident, then in truth it could afford, making the said conflict a rock of offence, and in their aforesaid answer spoke of reparation of the wrongs and security for the future: the said Lord of Heemstede, according to instructions which he had received from us, confessing, that the said rock of offence ought accordingly to be removed, and all matter of diffidence taken away, and that he to that purpose and for the compassing thereof especial●y was delegated and sent over unto them, and to facillitate the means thereunto, he laboured diligently to have the said inchoated and already far brought treaty in hand to go on, and that further to the contentation of both States good instructions and orders might be framed and given to the said Fleets on both sides, which might be to them a rule for the future how to carry themselves to each other, assuring them also, that we never was minded to call in question the honour and respect, which in former times by this state was wont to be deferred unto them: Requesting further, that the said Government in the mean time, whilst they might be busy in treating upon so good a matter, would once at length prudently give order, that all further ways of fact so long continued in respect of the aforementioned sad accident, might cease, whereas otherwise the evil was like to grow incurable. And after that in divers particular conferences held with the Lords of the Committee of the said Council of State, further declaring himself in our behalf requested and presented, that a more narrow search might be made into the evidences given in by both parties concerning the said encounter by committees appointed on both sides, and the same being examined and the naked truth found out, which side made the first atach, and thereby gave occasion for the further disorder and distemper thence arising; and if it should appear that our Admiral made the first attach, he not only should undergo reproof, and his action be dissallowed, but also, as having gone beyond his Commission, be punished according as the fact should seem to have deserved: provided that the said Government finding the case to be otherwise, that their Admiral by the evidences being found to have given the first hostile attach, he in like manner undergo punishment according as his act may have deserved: Renewing his and our other Ambassadors their former and so oft reiterated request, that at least whilst this proposition might be taken into consideration, the former treaty in points of most concernment might be insisted upon and furthered, the Ships and goods of our subjects, taken with violence, and brought up into their Harbours, restored, our Captains, Ship-masters and Mariners relaxed and set free, and all further acts of hostility cease. And although this proposition was of such nature, that no reasonable soul, in which is but remaining any spark of inclination to peace, aught to reject the same: and that all this was illustrated with sundry examples observed in like cases between other nations, and was confirmed by divers solemn alleged treaties; notwithstanding the said Council of State, being convicted in their hearts, that their declaration concerning what happened in and about the said Sea-fight could not endure the light, & therefore having no mind to search into the truth (the concealing whereof aught to be counted sacrilege to every man though in a particular case) they have absolutely cast off the said examination, stopped the progress and continuance of the aforesaid principal treaty, and moreover declared, that in the present constitution of things we might not expect from them, but that they would persevere in the prosecution mentioned in their former answer given to the propositions of the aforesaid Lords Cats, Schaep and van de Par, to such end as was there exprssed. Which last answer being tarter than the former, and more unreasonable, full of injustice and violence in respect of our honest presentation: and such as gave cause sufficient to us to desist from all our friendly endeavours, especially and the more because they made no end of taking, robbing, plundering of ships and goods, pertaining to our good subjects: nevertheless the said Lord of Heemstede, for to show our most constant inclination and earnest desire that all to the contentation of both sides with friendship might be brought to a good and wished conclusion, and to that end only setting aside all that otherwise in point of honour and respect might have been considerable, that the treaty might not wholly be broken off desired, that in regard the endeavours on our part could not attain to the honour of an happy issue: the aforesaid Government would please to think upon some other propositions for a peaceable agreement, trusting that once reason might find place with them, and credit be given to our upright and unfeigned protestations, and the sweet influences of a desire to peace consume the turbulent thoughts of war, and the good God laying open unto us such means, the present and further threatened calamities might be averted. But the said Government, as it appeared, misusing the superfluity of our pliantnes to the fomentation of their pride and loftiness; our modesty to kindle their heat towards destruction; our friendly presentations for a ground to work upon us and demand of us things, which by them with no show of equity could be demanded, nor by us with honour and reputation granted, and amongst the rest were so unreasonable as to require of us the charges and damages, which they pretend to have been put upon, and to have suffered by reason of our afoersaid extraordinary preparation of ships, to the value of such a sum as the same might be found to amount unto: & the same being paid or security for it given to their content, then to have all acts of hostility to cease; nor once minding, that our aforesaid setting forth of ships was to no other end undertaken and effected, then is heretofore declared: and that as soon as the same was resolved upon, and before it was put in action, we gave true and public intelligence thereof to the said Government; especially seeing by the same fleet or any other ships belonging to these Provinces, there hath not been given to the said Government, or to any of the subjects thereof, the least token of disaffection, much less of injury; but cantrarily, that ours have been assaulted by theirs, and some sunk, others (amongst which a great number of merchants ships richly lodened pertaining to these Countries) entered, overmastred, taken and carried up into their harbours, whereby we & our subjects have suffered loss of several millions of gilders: yea moreover during the said treaty and conference have sent their fleet to Sea, in all rashness hurling on into the breach and dissolution of all friendship and amity between both nations, with an insatiable lust of making the same incurable, and therewith destroying and taking several of our ships more, enthralling our Government (which by God Almighty for many years hath been preserved in a flourishing condition, and hath given reputation and awsulness with their friends and enemies) into a world of dishonour and losses. All which intolerable and unlawful enterprises, and violent proceed attempted and performed by the said Government, do most perspicuously and palpably declare, that their only design is, wholly to infringe our strength at sea, and to ruinated the commerce of these countries, and thereby to set up their long pretended Sovereignty and dominion over the Sea, which shortly they intent to exercise over us, and in time over all other nations, and if possibly they can, to make us and others their tributaries. And having with great patience and meekness, but all in vain▪ improved all convenient means and rational inductions, whereby to move the said Government for the good and happiness of both their own and our subjects, to stand off from the said resolutions, that the risen distempers might be assuaged and composed, the ships and goods, with violence or otherwise taken and detained from our subjects, restored, the losses, which they have innocently sustained made good; and by an upright and strict binding treaty the old (but now of late times by that Government enforced and violated) friendship resettled, and by mutual confiding offices more and more confirmed; but seeing no hope more of prevailing by such means, We (according to the law of nature finding ourselves obliged to defend our good subjects against all injury, oppression and violence, to cause them obtain reparation for the losses they have suffered, to re-establish the former due liberty of commerce, and to oppose the aforesaid pernicious designs of the said Government, which being drunken with successes within their own countries, seem to know no measure of their further unsatiable appetites abroad) as being hereunto by greatest extremity impelled, with ripe, deliberation of council, have at length resolved and thought good, to use the power and means, which God and nature hath given us, and with our weapons by way of retorsion upon and against the aforesaid Government, and the subjects thereof, to endeavour the obtaining of that, which with reason could not be recovered of them; with a mind and intention not to lay down the same, as long as the said Government doth steer the course they now are in, and till the aforesaid restitution of Ships and goods, and reparation of inferred injuries be obtained. Being confident, that the whole world will approve of this our resolution, forced from us with the utmost violence, and that Almighty God will bless our just cause; trusting also that all Kings, Republikes, Princes and States will take on this our manifest declaration for true, lawful and requisite, and with us will help to oppose and subdue all such pernicious designs, and in this our constrained and no less just and lawful defence, ever and in all places, as occasion shall offer, will lend their assistance to us and our good subjects. Even as we hereby ordain all our said subjects to the United netherlands Provinces, to oppose themselves by way of retorsion, as aforesaid, against all the violence and oppressions, which more and more are threatened against them: and not to suffer themselves further to be deluded by any whatsoever show of friendship, or willingly to have recourse to any place, where they must be used according to the appetite of the said Governmenti: And so both we and our subjects confiding in the justness of our cause, shall hope for the blessing upon the means assumed for our lawful defence from God Almighty.  
Thus concluded and arrested in the Gathering of the said Potent Lords the State's General, in the Hague, the second of August sixteen hundreth and two and fifty. Signed Johan van Reed tot Renswoude ut. and understood: By special command from the same: signed N. Ruysch. And in the further space bearing the impression of the great Seal of the said States General in red wax.