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Chapter 1 Page 1

NOTICE.

The States-General of the United Netherlands, greetings, all who shall see, or hear read the present, Inform.

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Nevertheless, it is that in the recent past and the current years, some strange, worried and contentious People (attempting to innovation and changes of Government) have undertaken to write, create, cause to be printed and scatter among the public several writings, in which not only is spoken of, debated and judged the lawful Government of the aforesaid countries in general and specifically, and of the acts thereof, also laboured to incite concern and distrust in good citizens and residents (who, trusting in its apt experience, faithfulness fortitude, and carefulness of their legal Governments, live well reassured), but also of great Kings and Rulers, and namely those with whose friendship, alliance, and assistance these Lands are honoured, and of their Empires and actions, other than the honour, thankfulness and respect which these Lands owe them for their favours and assistance, to write and judge, as is certain poem entitled the Dutch 'Bycorff' (Beehive) with all the writings related therein (not permitted, according to the specification to follow, by public authority) and in essence the writings entitled Further considerations, Ditto the Buyrpraetgen, having the libel of without depictions of some Characters, and starting with an old Skipper, and thereafter reprinted, without Characters, entitled Faithfull Advice, the libel starting dismayfully etc. Ditto the Echos, and all others of the same ilk.

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Order also everyone to print, buy, or sell no more of them, on penalty of a hundred guilders to be paid for these libels each time, and sentencing by arbitration, And if any such, or like, libels, more than twenty-four hours after the publication of this, will be carried about to be sold, We order and command that those carriers will be punished therefore by flogging, Order, Ordain, and command furthermore that from now on no one may make, or print, carry about, buy or sell any libels, Songs, Rephrains or other writings, in which is admonished on the state, government, or abuse of the lands' matters directly or indirectly, or on the Kings, allied to or friends of these lands, and their actions, without the consent of their lawful Government, and putting on the outside the Author and Printer with full name, place of printing, as well as that act of permission in the cover of the first page, on penalty of three hundred guilders to be paid for each time, and further punishments as according to common Law, and previous Notices, at the expense of both the Authors and the Printers, and against the carriers, buyers, and sellers, the same penalties as are laid down above against them, And hereby is set for the honouring of talebearers of the Authors or Printers violating this from now on, a sum of a hundred pounds of similar groats to the pound.

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Given in the Hague at the meeting of the Hon. Lords of the States-General, xxviith August sixteen hundred and eight. Initialed. Sloeth pres.

Under authority.
In name of the same Lords States, signed.
C. Aerssen.

Parts mentioned in the 'Bycorff' (Beehive) which are not prohibited by the Lords States,

Firstly, the Letter of Your Majesties, and the answer of the Lords States. Ditto the Letter of the ceasefire pact. Ditto the suspension of payment of the King of Spain of eighteenth September 1607. The answer of the Lords States to that, of second November. The Epistle of the Lords States to the King of Spain. The Notice of the Lords States whereby the King of Spain is declared enemy of the Netherlands. The story narrated in paintings, formulating the necessity of the East-Indian Navigation. The Letter of the Imperial Majesty of ninth October 1607,

IN THE HAGUE,
By Hillebrant Iacobsz. Regular printer of Lords of the States-General. The year 1608. With Privilege.



Translation by: Miluska Kooij