A proclamation set out by the K. of Spain wherein order is taken for the vse and trafficke of merchandise, with those of Holland, Zealand and others, aswell by water as by land / truely translated out of the Dutch copy printed at Andwerpe in February last.

A PROCLAMATION set out by the K. of Spaine.

TO our Skout of Andwerp and Markegraue our of land of Reyn or his deputy, gréeting.

Whereas for to pleasure our good subiects, and to kepe them in the trade and dealing of merchandising, Wée are content to permit the aforesaid dealing with those of Holland and Zealand, & other countries at this present being possessed by our enemies and rebels, for so much as concerneth the permitted wares and merchandises, which by this our present ordinance are not prohibited: in paying certeine dueties of licence, according to the roule thereupon made or yet to be made.

Therefore so it is, That we desiring herein to set downe a gene∣rall rule and order. And hauing therupon had the aduice of our wel∣beloued and trusty the persons of our councell of Estates. Haue with the deliberation of our welbeloued & déere Nephue the Duke of Parma and of Plaissance, knight of our order, Liefe-tenaunt go∣uernour, and Captaine Generall of our countries on this side, Con∣sented and doe consent by these presentes, (vntill otherwise therin) shalbe ordained, That al and singular (aswel our subiects as others) being good and loyall merchants, trading and dealing in the afore∣said countries on this side, may bring into the same out of the afore∣said country of Holland Zealand and other like, and carry thether∣ward, all sortes of wares and merchandises, permitted and not per∣mitted, First paying besides the old and ordinary customes, the du∣ties of Licences according to the tenor of the roule, thereof made or yet to be made, And that throughout all hauens, sluses, and riuers on this side, where on our behalfe certaine officers shalbe commit∣ted to receiue and collect the said dueties, and that in such manner and order, as on our behalfe in euery place and hauen shall be set downe and established, Prouided allwayes that it shall not be law∣full for any merchants or perticular persons to come hetherwarde from the countries of Holland and Zealand and other like, or to go thetherward, for to bring in or carry out any maner of the aforesaid

permitted wares and merchandises, or otherwise without hauinge passeport and safe conduct for their persons or factors and dealers with expressing the names and surnames of them. Which passe∣ports they may obtaine of vs, or of our aforesaid good Nephue the Duke of Parma &c. Or of him who thereunto on his behalfe shalbe assigned, and of none other. Prohibiting all gouernours, generals, chiefetaines, captaines, magistrates of townes, and other our offi∣cers, that they to the effect aforesaid doe not vndertake to geue any passeports or safeconductes vnto any whosoeuer, or to let any body passe without our aforesaid leaue and passeport, as is aforesaid, vp∣on paine of nullity and to be arbitrarily punished, aswell the person which shall haue graunted foorth the same, as hee who would haue holpen himselfe therwith. Euen as also wee doo straightly prohibite them neither to troble nor molest the aforsaid passengers, nor also to demaund or receiue of them any thinge, either in respect of the per∣sons nor of the merchandises, vpon paine to bee seuerely punished. Whereupon we do ordeine our Fiscall, and all other our Iustices and Officers, to take and cause to be taken, good and carefull heede to the end this disorder and abuse do not breake in further. Conside∣ring some haue presumed to do to the contrary, Prohibiting all Ma∣sters of Ships, which shall bring hether any merchandises from the aforesaid countries of Holland Zealland and other rebels that they do not take on boorde their ships any greater nomber of marinors then they shall haue neede of, for the conducting of the said shippes. And if any shall come ouer apparelled like marriners, and shall bee conuicted of any deceit, or to haue done any thing against our seruice and the common wealth, in such case, shall aswell the one as the o∣ther be punished to the example of others, and their shippes forfai∣ted to our vse. And to the end men may know what merchandises are to pay the dueties of Licence. We do declare that all that which shall be growen in the Prouinces being in rebellion against vs or other places holding with our contrary party, shall be subiect to pay the said dueties, whether the same come from the enemies country, or whether it come by anye other way or country of our obedience euen as also all that which shall passe by water or by lande, through the Iurisdictions and limits of the aforesaide countries and prouin∣ces (holding part with our enemies) shall be reputed and taken to come from the enemy, or that which with ships of the enemy shall∣be

brought hether, though so it were that the same were done with passeporte from vs, or of our aforesaide good Nephew the Duke of Parma &c. And also all that which shall passe through the aforesaid countries (taking part against vs) shall be reputed to goe to the en∣nemy.

And to the end all men may know what Marchandises are pro∣hibited and may not be carried out of our said countries, we doo de∣clare the same to be, all sorts of Armor & munitions of warre, corn, and vittels, Bell mettle, and mettle, Teasels, Hops, Barkes of trees, Flax, thred of Flax, and of woosted, Talwood as of Oake-trées, Elme trées and Ashtrees. And touching the marchandizes which we will not to be brought hither, are these following, to wit: All clothes, stammels, and generallie all commodities of wollen, worsted and linnen, wrought and made in England, Holland, zea∣land and like prouinces. And forsomuch as by our saide rebelles, hinderance is doone in the repairing and maintaining of the banks on this side: we will and declare, that as long as suche hinderance shall continue, it shal not be lawfull for any, to carrie out of the pro∣uinces of our obedience, vnto our aforesaid rebels any sorts of wood Bauin wood, stones and other materials, seruing for the repay∣ring and maintaining of the banks on their side, euen as also it shal not be lawfull for any one to bring or cause to be brought hither, a∣ny white or refined salt, vnlesse he do also bring with him like quan∣titie of bay salte. Which duties and licence (euen as they are or shall be specified in the rowle therevpon made or to bee made) the Collectors and Controulers shall not in any manner exceed, or re∣ceiue more, vppon paine to bee deposed from their offices, and to pay the Quadruple value to our vse, and to restore vnto the Mar∣chants or others, that which they vndulie shall haue receiued. It shall be lawfull for the aforesaid officers, as often as they shal think good, to cause the marchants, Marinors, and others, which shall at any time conduct any Marchandizes, to verefie that which they shall haue entred, vpon paine (in case of deniall) that they shall bee reputed guiltie and culpable of that which shall be proposed against them. And to the ende the said officers may the better and without deceit and suspition attend theyr callings, it shall not be lawfull for them, to meddle with any marchandizes, or factorie, nor to haue part or portion with any marchants, Farmers of our customes, or

others vsing trade, muchlesse shall it be lawful for them to keepe a Tauerne and sell wine or béere, vpon paine of loasing their offices, and to be Arbitrarilie punished. Prohibiting and defending al mai∣sters of ships, and carriers, in their ships waggons or other vessels, to lade or vnlade, any Marchandizes or wares, without hauing first paid the dutie of the aforesaid licences vnto the Collectors thervnto committed: who in this case, shall giue vnto euery Marchant a hil, containing good and ample specification of all the parcels of Mar∣chandizes, which they will lade or vnlade togither, also the summe paide for the same, and shall be subscribed by the aforesaid Collec∣tor and other officers therevnto ordained and sealed, if any seale be therevnto appointed. Which bill the saide Marchants shall be hol∣den to exhibite or shew vnto the Controuler, before it shall be law∣full to transport the said marchandizes from any place or Hauen. And the said Controuler shalbe bound, therof to keepe good account, to keepe the same bils in his possession, and to keep counterroule of the summes therein, according to these instructions. And if it shall be found, that any fraud or abuse be committed by the marchants, Factors, Shipmaisters, Carriers, or others, as in being departed, without hauing paid the dutie of the aforesaide Licence, or hauinge entred one thing for another. We will that such wares and Mar∣chandises shall be by the officers of our aforesaide Licences, seized on, and confiscated according to the saide proclamation. And if the same or the like were committed by the Shipmaisters, or carriers, vnto whom the marchandizes doo not apperteine. And that like∣wise the said Shipmaisters and Carriers, had put in practise to de∣part, saile away, or vnlade, and to séeke any vnwoonted way with out hauing entred or aduised our aforesaid officers of the Licences thereof, and satisfied them, according to the order heere before sette down: In such case their Ships, Waggons, & horsse, shalbe confis∣cated, whether the same do appertaine vnto them or no. And shall there besides forfait the summe of one hundred pounds of xl. pence Flemish the pounds. Prohibiting moreouer, all and singular of what qualitie they be, to wrong, iniurie, reuile, molest, or slander in any manner of wise soeuer, any of the Committées, or officers of the said Licences, vpon like paine of one hundred pounds, for euery time, and to be arbitrarilie punished. Considering that all the same

officers haue beene retained (euen as we in effect doo retaine them by these presents, in so much as concerneth their offices and char∣ges) vnder our protection and tuition. And therefore we doo charge and ordaine all gouernors, Captaines, Maiestrates and officers, to assist, protect, and defend them, against the said iniuries, troubles, molestations, and hinderances, which might be doone vnto them.

And to the end none pretend ignorance of all the points and Ar∣ticles aforesaid: we doo will and command you, that you presently and without delay, cause the same to be made knowne, proclaimed, and published, within our Towne of Antwerp, and limits of your iurisdiction, where néede shall require, and you shall finde to apper∣taine. And for the kéeping and obseruing thereof, do you procéede and cause to be procéeded against the transgressors and disobedient, by the execution of the penalties, forfaitures, and fines aforesayde, without fauour, dissimulation, or delaie: for the dooing whereof, we do giue you full power, aucthoritie, and speciall charge.

Willing and commanding, all and singular, that they unto you in dooing the same be dilligent and obedient, For so it pleaseth vs.

Geuen in our Towne of Brussels, vnder our Cruterseale therevpon Printed Subscribed the sixt of December, 1591.

By the King in his Councell.