A Declaration of the Causes, which mooved the chiefe Commanders of the Nauie of her most excellent Maiestie the Queene of England, in their voyage and expedition for Portingal, to take and arrest in the mouth of the Riuer of Lisbone, certaine Shippes of corne and other prouisions of warre bound for the said Citie Prepared for the seruices of the King of Spaine, in the Ports and Prouinces within and about the Sownde, the 30. day of Iune, in the yeere of our Lord 1589. and of her Maiesties raigne the one and thirtie

In this vivid transcription of a 1589 proclamation, listeners are plunged into the restless world of Elizabethan naval power. The document records the English fleet’s bold mission to seize corn‑laden ships bound for Lisbon, a move aimed at undercutting Spain’s war supplies while asserting the Crown’s rights on the high seas. As the declaration unfolds, it lays out a detailed grievance against the Hanse merchants of Denmark, accusing them of violating ancient treaties and threatening the fragile balance of international law.

The language, preserved with its original spelling and early modern contractions, offers a rare glimpse into the legal rhetoric and diplomatic concerns of the late 16th century. Listeners will hear the fierce loyalty claimed for Queen Elizabeth, the sour rivalry with the Spanish king, and the careful appeal to the Holy Roman Empire for legitimacy. This audio brings a living piece of history to ear, letting you imagine the tension of fleets preparing for confrontation and the political chessboard that shaped the age of exploration.