WHereas of late there hath beene a commotion in the vnited Prouinces of the Neatherlands, vnder the command of his Princely excellence, Count Maurice of Nassaw, and the Lords generall states there­of, by men of all qualities and conditions v­sing the art of nauigation into diuerse and sun­drie other maritime parts; It is thought fit and conuenient, by the sayd most Princely Excel­lency, and Lords states, for the generall good of their said gouernments, and reformation of abuses concerning the sayd Sea-faring men, to enact and decree by these their Edicts or Pro­clamations as followeth.

[Page] That the sayd most Princely Excellency Count Maurice, and the said generall Estates do by these their Edicts or proclamations ordaine and command that in all the prouinces, cit­ties, towns, gouernments or places of their do­minions, that noe man, what-so-ouer, v­sing the Art of nauigation, presume to im­ploy himselfe in any shippe or shipping apper­taining or any way belonging to any forraine prince or potentate whatsoeuer, and more o­uer that all those that haue heretofore, before these our Edicts or proclamations imployed themselues in any forraine seruice at Sea, forth of our vnited gouernements, do with all speed and dilligence, vpon the notice of these our E­dicts or proclamations, repaire to or tovards our sayd vnited prouinces, citties, Townes or dominions within the space of three months, next ensuing these our Edicts, vpon paine of confiscation of life, lands & goods: and more­ouer we do, by these our Edicts, strickly charge the parents, kinsfolkes or friends of the said Nauigators; imployed in the seruice of any Prince, state, or potentate, forth of our domini­ons, to giue (with all possible speed) notice to [Page] their said parents, kinsfolkes or friends im­ploid in any forrain seruice at sea to make their speedy repaire forth of the said forraigne im­ployments into the dominions, teritories, cit­ties, or townes of our said vnited provinces within the terme of three months aboue said, as they wil be hereafter answerable therevnto. And that the world may take notice of the ne­cessity of our iust proceeding herein, these are to giue them to vnderstand that it is to pre­uent, as nere as in vs lyeth, the imployment of our most expert Pilots and Marriners in o­ther dominions, which could not in time to come but proue very preiudiciall to our said vnited prouinces.

Moreouer hereby we giue notice that his Maiesty the King of great Brittaine hauing giuen leaue to his subiects to send a fleete for the discouery of certaine Ilands depending vpon the Indies, where Christians neuer be­fore inhabited, and that they his said subiects at their great cost and charges by the pru­dence, valour, and Magnanimity of diuers valiant and difcreet commanders haue attai­ned the possession of certaine of the sayd I­lands, [Page] forcing the Sauage people (by their va­lour and courage) to retire farre vp into the Country, and withall building fortresses and townes, inhabiting them with men, women and children of all professions, prouiding for them all necessary prouisions for the vse of Man, as houses to dwell in, oxen, kine, horses, sheepe, goates, and all other sortes of liuing thinges conuenient▪ with all necessary supplies there-vnto belonging; which his Maiesty of Spaine perceiuing (being informed that the Countries and Ilands which his maiesties sub­iects of great Brittaine sought after, were like to proue rich, fruitfull, and florishing, and withall that they were a dependency of the Continent of America, commonly called the Indies) sought by all meanes possible to pre­uent and hinder the plantation of the English in the sayd countries and Ilands, and therefore he caused a great fleete to bee prepared; consi­sting of Caracks, Gallyons, Hulkes, Pynaces and other sorts of shipping, to the number of seauenteene sayle, well prouided with all store of Munition for warre, as ordnance, shot and poulder, ful stuft with marriners and souldiers, [Page] all which fleet (by the command of his sayd Maiesty of Spaine) set sayle (at their appoin­ted time) out of Spaine for their intended voy­age of the Indies, hoping to preuent the de­signes of their enemies, but as the sequel shew­eth it prooued far otherwise with them.

IN the yeare 1612. last past there went out of Holland and Zealand for the East Indies eight very fayre, great, and strong shippes, which meeting together at Englands end, tooke their course to further their voiage with­all speede possible.

And in shorte time they came vnder the Salt Islandes where they spyed many Sayles shewing to be of great burdens, which was the afore sayd Spanish fleete. The Hollanders, hauing descried them, held on still their right course which the Spaniards seeing came with full sayles vpon the Hollanders, for they had the winde with them: The Hol­landers, not thinking, or hauing any purpose to fight, yet seeing they could not beeryd of the Spanish fleete, prepared themselues for the fight. At the first aproach the Spanish Admi­rall came so fiercely vpon them, shooting with [Page] all the terrible fury that could be imagined: which the Holland Admirall perceiuing tur­ned his shippe and got aboue the winde, the Spaniards still mocking and scoffing at him, but the Hollands. Admirall with his fore­peeces of greate ordinance shot him quite through from the hinder-part of the Admirall ship through the fore-part and presently dis­charged all the ordnances of his own ship vp­the said Spanish Admirall, and turning his ship discharged like-wise the other whole side vp­on him and shot so terribly that the bloud in the Spanish Admirall ran out of the scupper holes. At which time another Gallion com­ming to assist the sayd Spanish Admrall in­tangled her-selfe in the great tackle of the Ad­mirall so that hee being all on fire, did sinke and the Gallion also with him.

Then the Hollanders Admirall went to assist his Vice-admirall, which most valiantly was fighting with two Spanish shippes, where af­ter many thundering peales of Ordnance, on both sides interchanged, the Spaniards ha­uing many slaine out-right, and many sore wounded, began to faint, and yeeld; which [Page] the Hollanders perceiuing, entred into these two ships and cast them all ouer boord, posses­sing themselues of all that vvas contained in them, vvhich amounted to a very great summe, they being very richly laden.

In the meane time, the other sixe Holland ships were fighting, likewise, with the other Spanish ships, and most valiantly defended themselues with vehement shooting, so as the very Sea seemed to haue been on fire; Many of the Spanish shippes were fired and sunke: but not one of the Hollanders, onely some fewe men slaine and some wounded: One of the Holland ships had boorded the Spanish Vice-admirall and cast all ouer boord, where they likewise got great store of treasure and ri­ches.

This terrible fight begunne at nine of the clock in the morning, during all that day and the next day vntill euening, the Holland ships got for prize and bootie aboue 3. tunnes of golde, besides all other costly wares: but the honour and praise of this Roman deed is greater, in that 8. Holland ships, haue ouer­come 17. well manned Gallions of the migh­tie [Page] King of Spaine, that did so little esteeme and regard the Holland ships and men.

After this furious and dreadfull fight, the Hollanders Admirall (with aduise and coun­sell of all the officers and ship-companie) cau­sed the prize, bootie and pilledge to be diuided and distributed to euery man according to his ranke and place, or merit and desert: The pil­lage was so great, that euery ordinary man had to his share whole armefuls of silkes, veluets, cloathes ready made, with diuerse other rich commodities.

Thus hauing giuen thanks to God, who is the giuer of victories, relieued their hurt and mayned men, and repayred what was most needfull in their shipping, with merry hearts for the atchieuement of so great a victory, they continued on their former course for the per­formance of their intended voyage to the East Indies.

By this you may perceiue that victory con­sists not in multitudes, and therefore with this admonition to all men in generall, but more particularly to all those that vse the sea, I vvill conclude this relation: that they neither glory [Page] or presume vpon their numbers, or strength, but haue recourse to him who doth and euer will spare the humble and beate downe the proud.

God of his infinite goodnesse and mercy who is the gouernor of land and sea, so steare there course, and direct their purposes, that, to his glory, the honour and profit of their coun­try, the ioy and comfort of their wiues, chil­dren, and friends, they may returne to their desired home with prosperous and speedy successe

Amen.