The ill opinion His Majesty has for some time past entertained of the conduct of the States General, having proceeded so far, that His Majesty without the diminution of his glory cannot any longer dissemble the indignation wrought in him for their acting so little conformably to the great obligations, which His Majesty and the Kings his predecessors have so bountifully heaped upon them; His Majesty has declared, as he does now declare, that he has determined and resolved to make war against the said States General of the United Provinces both by sea and land; and so consequently commands all his subjects, vassals, and servants to fall upon the Hollanders; and forbids them for the future to have any commerce, communication, or correspondence with them upon pain of death.
To his end His said Majesty does by these presents revoke all permissions, passports, safeguards, or safe-conducts, which may have been granted for the time past, or perhaps shall be granted by his lieutenant generals, and other officers, contrary to the intent of this Ordinance, declaring them to be all null and of no effect and forbidding anyone whatsoever to have any regard to them.
Moreover, His said Majesty does order and command the count de Vermandois, Great Master, President, and Superintendant General of the navigation and commerce of this kingdom; the merchants of France, the governors and lieutenant generals appointed by His Majesty for his provinces and armies, mareschals de camp, colonels, majors, captains, chiefs, and leaders of his armies, as well foot as horse, Frenchmen and foreigners, and all other officers that belong to him, to put the contents of this present declaration in execution, everyone for himself, according to his command, district, and jurisdiction: for such is His Majesty's pleasure, who wills and requires this Declaration should be made public and set up in all his maritime and other towns, and in all ports, havens, and other places in his kingdom, where it shall be necessary; to the end that nobody may pretend ignorance. Given at the castle of Versailles, April 6, 1672.
Thus signed Louis And a little lower Le Tellier
Charles Cunto, Cryer in Ordinary to His Majesty, is required to publish and set up the King's Declaration of the sixth of this present month and year in all the parts of the city, suburbs, bailiwicks, and viscountships of Paris, where there is occasion; that nobody may pretend ignorance thereof. Given April 6, 1672.
14 April 1672
Proclamation in Pursuance of the Preceding Delcaration By the King
His Majesty being informed that the Hollanders that are at present in this kingdom, are afraid of being molested in their persons, and the enjoyment of their estates, in pursuance to the Declaration of the sixth instant; by which His Majesty has declared his resolution to make war against the States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries both by sea and land; and to this end having ordered all his subjects, vassals, and servants to fall upon the subjects of the said states, and prohibited them to have any commerce, correspondence, or communication with them, upon pain of death: and His Majesty being willing to make his intentions known in respect to the persons of that nation, who have settled in this kingdom upon the faith of treaties of peace, and particularly of that of 1662, His said Majesty has commanded, and does will and require, that the article of the said Treaty of 1662 be put in execution; by virtue of which the subjects of the said States are suffered and allowed to tarry in this kingdom for the space of six months, reckoning from the day of the date of this proclamation, during which time they may sell or safely carry away their goods and merchandise; His said Majesty most expressly forbidding all his subjects to molest the said Dutchmen in their persons or estates, for any cause, or upon any account and pretence whatsoever, unless by way of lawsuit; and everything is to be done in the same manner, as they ought to be before the publishing of the Declaration of the sixth instant. His said Majesty requiring and enjoining all governors, lieutenant generals of his provinces, intendants of his said governor, the magistrates of cities and other places, and everyone in particular to have due regard to the exact observation of this proclamation. Given at St. Germain en Laye, April 14, 1672.
15 April 1672
His Majesty being informed, that there are several Frenchmen residing in Holland and the United Provinces of the Low Countries, and being not willing that after the Declaration of War made against the States General of the said Provinces, any of his subjects should continue there, nor hold any communication or commerce with the Hollanders; His Majesty does most expressly command and require all his subjects, of what quality or condition soever they be, that are in Holland, and within the territories subject to the said States General, whether they have sided with them there or otherwise, to leave that country and to return to this kingdom within fifteen days after the publication of these presents, upon the penalty of being proceeded against as defaulters by forfeiture of body and goods according to the rigor of our edicts. His Majesty commands and requires the governors and lieutenant generals of his provinces, etc., everyone for himself, to have a due regard to the execution and observation of these presents, etc. Given at St. Germain en Laye, April 15, 1672.
A General Collection of Treatys. (London: 1710-1732), II:167-170. |
