BEcause reason obligeth the consciences of those that are as props and stayes to the good estate of Christian gouernment, to exo­nerate and quitt Kingdomes and common wealthes of all such things, as are occasions of scandall vnto them, are dommageable vnto good and loyall subiects, dangerous vnto the state and which surpasseth all, offensiue vnto God and pre­iudicall vnto his seruice. And experience hauing sufficiently aduertisde vs, that the residence of the new Christians the Moores, and their abode in the Kingdomes of Granada, Murcia and Andalucia, hath beene the source and fountaine of all these inconueniencies amongst vs.

Because that beyond the manner of such as with mutuall agreement consented to the sub­uersion of the said Kingdome of Granada which began through the most cruell murthering and bloody slaughtering of all the Priestes and the ancient Christians which they could intrap of all those that l [...]ued with them, borrowing ayde and [Page] assistance from the Turkes; and hauing drawen them from the saide Kingdome, and permitted them to liue in our other Kingdomes vpon con­dition of present repenting for their former of­fences, and hopefull promises of future amend­ment, liuing loyally and christianly according to all the decrees and ordinances of their oblige­ment: they not only regardlesse of the accom­plishment of their dutifull obseruance, accor­ding to the bond and obligation of our holy faith; but also haue alwaies declared themselues to be most hatefull despisers and carelesse con­temners of the same, not fearing to offend God himself, as hath been most euidētly demonstrated by a multitude of such as haue bene punnished by the holy Office of the Inquition: besides the committing of many robberies and butcherly murthers vpon the ancient Christians; yet not content with this, haue trecherously conspired the confusion of my Royall Crowne and vtter subuertion of all my Kingdomes, seeking helpe and succour from the Turke, sending too and fro diuers intelligences to this effect, doing the like to other Princes from whose assistant powers they fully perswaded themselues to finde reliefe, proffering vnto them, both their men & meanes.

And sithence for the continuance of so many yeares in the which they haue bene plotting this conspiracie, ther hath not been any one that hath endeuoured to reueale the same, but haue euer bene [Page] wondrous close, secret, and peremptory denyers of this mischieuous designe: it is a most euident and palpable demonstrance that they haue bene alwaies of one opinion, of one desire, against their duty towards God and loyalty to vs and our Kingdomes; although they might haue immita­ted many worthy Caualiers of their owne An­cestors which haue bene noble Actors of very va­lient and memorable deedes, performing aswell their seruice towards God as vnto the former Kings, our Royall Progenitors: yea & vnto our selfe also, as good Christians and loyall subiects.

All this being duly considered, and remem­bring the obligation wherein we stand bound vn­to our Country to deliuer it from ensuing thral­dome by orderly redresse in due oportunity, pro­curing the conuersation of our Kingdomes and subiects, and desiring to be carefully prouident for all; we haue detetermined by the aduice and councell of many learned men and other very good sincere, graue and wise Christians, such as are iealous of the performance of their duty both towards God and our Selfe, to expell from these our Kingdomes of Granada Murcia and Andalucia and from the Citty of Hernach (although it be without the limmits of the said Kingdomes) all the new Christians the Moores which are in the said Kingdomes, both Men Women and Chil­dren. For when as any great and detestable crime is committed in any Colledge or society, [Page] it is not against reason that such a Colledge or sosciety should be destroyed, and that the little for the great, and some of them for other some should be punished: And that such as peruert the good and sincere demeanours of a common wealth and of the Citties and Townes thereof, should be driuen far from other inhabitants, to the end that their wicked and lewde manners may not by their contagious infection corrupt others.

For this reason, we will and command that all the new Christians the Moores, not excepting any one of them whatsoeuer, liuing and residing within the said Kingdomes of Granada, Marcia, and Andalucia, and the said Citty of Hernach, as­well men as women, of what age soeuer they be, aswell naturall as not naturall, which in any man­ner, or for any cause whatsoeuer, are arriued and remaine within the said places (such only as are slaues being excepted) doe depart within thirtie dayes immediately following, beginning from the day of the publication of these presents, from all our Kingdomes & Signioryes of Spaine, with­all their children both sonnes and daughters, men seruants and maid seruants, together with all other domestickes of their nation, aswell little as great: & that they presume not to returne nor stay in them, nor in any other place or part of them, either abiding there or passing through, or in any other manner whatsoeuer. [Page] We also prohibit and forbid them to passe in their departure, through the Kingdomes of Va­lence & Arragon, or once to set foot within them, vpon paine of forfeiting their goods, they so do­ing, and not obeying our will & pleasure whole­ly, in such sort as is aboue said; and that they or any of them shall be found within my said King­domes & Signiories, in what manner soeuer, af­ter the expiration of the said tearme of thirty dayes, they shall incurre paine of death and con­fiscation of all their goods, to be imployed ac­cording to our will and pleasure. Which paines they shall incurre for this very deed without any other maner of inditement, declaration, or sen­tence.

We also charge and commaund, that no per­son whatsoeuer, within any of our Kingdomes & Signiories, either being or inhabiting there, of what estate, quallity, preheminence, or condition soeuer they be, presume, or dare to receiue, suc­cour, help, or defend, either publiquely or priuat­ly, any of the said Moores, whether men or women after the thirty daies, (this Edict standing in force for euer) in their lands, houses, or any other place what or wheresoeuer, vpon paine of losing all their goods, slaues, fortresses, Castles, and o­ther hereditaments; yea and besides the forfei­ting all the graces, fauours, and good deedes, which they haue euer receiued from our selfe, to be confiscated to our treasury, and imployed to [Page] our vses. And although I might with equity and iustice confiscate all the goods, moueables, or a­ny other, of the said Moores, as the goods of such as are guilty of high treason, both against God & our Selfe, yet notwithstāding, vsing clemency to­wards them, it pleaseth vs (during the said tearme of thirty dayes) to giue them liberty and power to dispose of all their goods and moueables, and to transport them with them, but not in Mony, Gold, Siluer, Iewels, or letters of exchange, but in marchandises, & such to, as are not prohibited to be transported, being bought from some of our owne subiects of these our Kingdomes, and not from any others: or in fruites of the said king­domes.

And to the end that these Moores (during the said time of thirty daies) may haue fit conueni­ency of disposing both themselues and of their goods and moueables, and of imploying them in marchandises (as is abouesaid) or in fruites of these kingdomes, and to transport such as they shall buy (for asmuch as all that are not mouea­bles, ought to remaine to our selfe to be applyed to godly vses appertaining to Gods seruice, and the common good of the weale publike) we de­clare by these presents that we take and receiue them▪ vnder our protection & royall safegard, as­suring them and their goods, to the end, that du­ring the said time, they may passe to and fro, buy and sell, chop & change, all their said moueables, [Page] and imploy their m [...]y, gold, siluer, and Iewels as aboue said, in ma [...]chandizes not prohibited, being bought from the naturall subiects of our Kingdomes, and in fruites of the said Country, and to transport the said marchandize and fruits freely and according to their owne desires, with­out (during the said time) hauing any hurt or damage done vnto them, eyther in their per­sons or in their goods, contrary to iustice; vpon the paine which such incurre as violate our pro­tection and Royall safegard.

And in like manner we permit and suffer the said Moores to carry with them from our said Kingdomes and Signioryes, the said marchandises and fruites, aswell by sea as land, paying lawfull customes with this prouiso (as aboue is said) that they carry not with them gold, nor siluer, iewels, mony, or other things forbidden to be transpor­ted by the lawes of our Kingdomes, either direct­ly or indirectly, properly or by exchange, saue onely the said marchandize & fruites which are not forbidden.

Yet notwithstanding it is our will and pleasure to permit them to furnish themselues with such monyes as shall be expedient and necessarie as­well for their passage and pasport by land, as for their imbarkment by Sea. And we will and command al Iustices within our said Kingdomes, all Captaines Generall of our Gallyes, and offi­cers whatsoeuer, that they obserue and doe what­soeuer [Page] is herein contained: And that they doe not only not contradict or withstand the same: but also that they imploy their best endeauours for the sudden dispatch and execution hereof, lending ayde and succour as shall be needefull, vpon paine of being depriued of their offices, and of confiscation of their goods. We also com­mand that this our Edict and whatsoeuer is here­in contained, be by them publiquely proclaimed, to the end that it may be generally knowne vnto all, and that no one may haue cause to plead ig­norance: