THE sincere Desire which the King has had to maintain the Truce concluded in the Year 1684. in­duc'd 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 Sham they have had in the League of Augsbourg; He has likewise been informed of the Part the Governour of the Spanish Low-Countries has had in the Prince of Orange's Enterprize 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 Catholick Majesty to have struck up an Union with him for the Re­storation of the Lawful King in England, and the conservation of the Catholick 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 Catholick 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 Enterprize 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 sollicited him to induce the En­glish to declare War against France; that the Governour of the Spanish Low-Countries raised Forces in all haste; that he promised the States General to joyn them with theirs in the beginning of the Campaign, and solli­cited 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 Catholick King's Ministers, of­fering him the continuation of the Truce, [Page 2] provided he would oblige himself, by keep­ing an exact neutrality not to succour dire­ctly or indirectly his Majesties 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 joyning with the Protestant Princes. His Majesty has also understood at the same time, that the Prince of Orange's Agents re­ceiv'd 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 Catholick King's Governor of the Low-Countries caused the States-General to be sol­licited to order their Army to advance to Bruxells. 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 Catholick King's intention is to joyn 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 enjoyns, to this effect, all his Subjects, Vassals, and Servants, to fall upon the Spaniards, and has most expresly 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, Pasports, 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 de Camp, Colonels, Maistres 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 publish'd and affix'd 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.

[Page 1] 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 [Page 2] de la Tréve, pourvû 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. Avril 1689. Signé, Louis. Et plus bas, COLBERT.